Electronic structure studies of a clock-reconstructed Al/Pd(1 0 0) surface alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirsch, Janet E.; Tainter, Craig J.

We have employed solid-state Fenske-Hall band structure calculations to examine the electronic structure of Al/Pd(1 0 0), a surface alloy that undergoes a reconstruction, or rearrangement, of the atoms in the top few surface layers. Surface alloys are materials that consist primarily of a single elemental metal, but which have a bimetallic surface composition that is only a few atomic layers in thickness. The results of this study indicate that reconstruction into a clock configuration simultaneously optimizes the intralayer bonding within the surface plane and the bonding between the first and second atomic layers. These results also allow us to examine the fundamental relationship between the electronic and physical structures of this reconstructed surface alloy.

Partially coherent axiconic surface plasmon polariton fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yahong; Norrman, Andreas; Ponomarenko, Sergey A.; Friberg, Ari T.

2018-04-01

We introduce a class of structured polychromatic surface electromagnetic fields, reminiscent of conventional optical axicon fields, through a judicious superposition of partially correlated surface plasmon polaritons. We show that such partially coherent axiconic surface plasmon polariton fields are structurally stable and statistically highly versatile with regard to spectral density, polarization state, energy flow, and degree of coherence. These fields can be created by plasmon coherence engineering and may prove instrumental broadly in surface physics and in various nanophotonics applications.

Development of soils and communities of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on West Virginia surface mines.

PubMed

Levy, Michael A; Cumming, Jonathan R

2014-11-01

Surface mining followed by reclamation to pasture is a major driver of land use and cover change in Appalachia. Prior research suggests that many aspects of ecosystem recovery are either slow or incomplete. We examined ecosystem structure-including soil physical and chemical properties, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) infectivity and community composition, and plant diversity and community composition-on a chronosequence of pasture-reclaimed surface mines and a non-mined pasture in northern West Virginia. Surface mining and reclamation dramatically altered ecosystem structure. Some aspects of ecosystem structure, including many measures of soil chemistry and infectivity of AMF, returned rapidly to levels found on the non-mined reference site. Other aspects of ecosystem structure, notably soil physical properties and AMF and plant communities, showed incomplete or no recovery over the short-to-medium term. In addition, invasive plants were prevalent on reclaimed mine sites. The results point to the need for investigation on how reclamation practices could minimize establishment of exotic invasive plant species and reduce the long-term impacts of mining on ecosystem structure and function.

High-speed manufacturing of highly regular femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures: physical origin of regularity.

PubMed

Gnilitskyi, Iaroslav; Derrien, Thibault J-Y; Levy, Yoann; Bulgakova, Nadezhda M; Mocek, Tomáš; Orazi, Leonardo

2017-08-16

Highly regular laser-induced periodic surface structures (HR-LIPSS) have been fabricated on surfaces of Mo, steel alloy and Ti at a record processing speed on large areas and with a record regularity in the obtained sub-wavelength structures. The physical mechanisms governing LIPSS regularity are identified and linked with the decay length (i.e. the mean free path) of the excited surface electromagnetic waves (SEWs). The dispersion of the LIPSS orientation angle well correlates with the SEWs decay length: the shorter this length, the more regular are the LIPSS. A material dependent criterion for obtaining HR-LIPSS is proposed for a large variety of metallic materials. It has been found that decreasing the spot size close to the SEW decay length is a key for covering several cm 2 of material surface by HR-LIPSS in a few seconds. Theoretical predictions suggest that reducing the laser wavelength can provide the possibility of HR-LIPSS production on principally any metal. This new achievement in the unprecedented level of control over the laser-induced periodic structure formation makes this laser-writing technology to be flexible, robust and, hence, highly competitive for advanced industrial applications based on surface nanostructuring.

Determination of conformation and orientation of immobilized peptides and proteins at buried interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Lei; Ulrich, Nathan W.; Mello, Charlene M.; Chen, Zhan

2015-01-01

Surface immobilized peptides/proteins have important applications such as antimicrobial coating and biosensing. We report a study of such peptides/proteins using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR. Immobilization on surfaces via physical adsorption and chemical coupling revealed that structures of chemically immobilized peptides are determined by immobilization sites, chemical environments, and substrate surfaces. In addition, controlling enzyme orientation by engineering the surface immobilization site demonstrated that structures can be well-correlated to measured chemical activity. This research facilitates the development of immobilized peptides/proteins with improved activities by optimizing their surface orientation and structure.

Optimization of SPR signals: Monitoring the physical structures and refractive indices of prisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maisarah Mukhtar, Wan; Halim, Razman Mohd; Hassan, Hazirah

2017-11-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) can only be achieved if sufficient energy is provided at the boundary between metal and dielectric. An employment of prism as a light coupler by using Kretschmann configuration is one of the alternative for the production of adequate energy to be generated as surface plasmon polaritons (SPP). This work is carried out to investigate the effect of physical structure of the prism and its refractive index to the excitation of SPPs. A 50nm gold thin metal film with dielectric constant of ɛ=-12.45i+1.3 was deposited on the hypotenuse surface of the prisms. The physical structures of the prisms were varied such as triangular, conical, hemispherical and half cylindrical. These prisms were classified into two types of refractive indices (RI), namely n=1.51(type BK7) and n=1.77(type SF11). Based on SPR curve analyses, we discovered that strong SPR signals which consist of 82.98% photons were excited as SPPs can be obtained by using type-BK7 prism with physical structures of hemispherical or half cylindrical. From the view of selectivity ability as sensors, the usage of type-SF11 prisms (half cylindrical and hemispherical) able to enhance this impressive feature in which sharp SPR curves with small FWHM values were obtained. In conclusion, apart from properties of thin film materials, the physical structure of prisms and their RI values play crucial roles to obtain optimum SPR signal. High sensitivity SPR sensor can be established with the appointment of type-BK7 prisms (hemispherical or half cylindrical shape) as light couplers.

Harnessing of radio frequency discharge for production of biologically compatible coatings for ophthalmology

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

Abdullin, I.Sh.; Bragin, V.E.; Bykanov, A.N.

Gas discharge plasma modification of polymer materials and metals is one of the known physical approaches for improving of materials biocompatibility in ophthalmology and surgery. The surface treatment in RF discharges can be effectively realized in the discharge afterglow and in the discharge region itself too. This modification method is more convenient and produces more uniform surfaces in comparison with other discharge types. The carried out experiments and published up to now results show that interaction of UV radiation, fluxes of ions, electrons and metastable particles with material`s surface changes chemical composition and surface structure. The exerting of these agentsmore » on the sample surface produces the following effects. There are processes of physical and plasma-chemical surface etching producing effective surface cleaning of different types of contaminations. It may be surface contaminations by hydrocarbons because of preliminary surface contacts with biological or physical bodies. It may be surface contaminations caused by characteristic properties of chemical technology too. There is a surface layer with thickness from some angstroms up to few hundreds of angstroms. The chemical content and structure of this layer is distinguished from the bulk polymer properties. The presence of such {open_quotes}technological{close_quotes} contaminations produces the layer of material substantially differing from the base polymer. The basic layer physical and chemical properties for example, gas permeation rate may substantially differ from the base polymer. Attempts to clean the surface from these contaminations by chemical methods (solutions) have not been successful and produced contaminations of more deep polymer layers. So the plasma cleaning is the most profitable method of polymer treatment for removing the surface contaminations. The improving of wettability occurs during this stage of treatment.« less

Method of physical vapor deposition of metal oxides on semiconductors

DOEpatents

Norton, David P.

2001-01-01

A process for growing a metal oxide thin film upon a semiconductor surface with a physical vapor deposition technique in a high-vacuum environment and a structure formed with the process involves the steps of heating the semiconductor surface and introducing hydrogen gas into the high-vacuum environment to develop conditions at the semiconductor surface which are favorable for growing the desired metal oxide upon the semiconductor surface yet is unfavorable for the formation of any native oxides upon the semiconductor. More specifically, the temperature of the semiconductor surface and the ratio of hydrogen partial pressure to water pressure within the vacuum environment are high enough to render the formation of native oxides on the semiconductor surface thermodynamically unstable yet are not so high that the formation of the desired metal oxide on the semiconductor surface is thermodynamically unstable. Having established these conditions, constituent atoms of the metal oxide to be deposited upon the semiconductor surface are directed toward the surface of the semiconductor by a physical vapor deposition technique so that the atoms come to rest upon the semiconductor surface as a thin film of metal oxide with no native oxide at the semiconductor surface/thin film interface. An example of a structure formed by this method includes an epitaxial thin film of (001)-oriented CeO.sub.2 overlying a substrate of (001) Ge.

Dependence of toxicity of silver nanoparticles on Pseudomonas putida biofilm structure.

PubMed

Thuptimdang, Pumis; Limpiyakorn, Tawan; Khan, Eakalak

2017-12-01

Susceptibility of biofilms with different physical structures to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied. Biofilms of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 were formed in batch conditions under different carbon sources (glucose, glutamic acid, and citrate), glucose concentrations (5 and 50 mM), and incubation temperatures (25 and 30 °C). The biofilms were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy for their physical characteristics (biomass amount, thickness, biomass volume, surface to volume ratio, and roughness coefficient). The biofilms forming under different growth conditions exhibited different physical structures. The biofilm thickness and the roughness coefficient were found negatively and positively correlated with the biofilm susceptibility to AgNPs, respectively. The effect of AgNPs on biofilms was low (1-log reduction of cell number) when the biofilms had high biomass amount, high thickness, high biomass volume, low surface to volume ratio, and low roughness coefficient. Furthermore, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) stripping process was applied to confirm the dependence of susceptibility to AgNPs on the structure of biofilm. After the EPS stripping process, the biofilms forming under different conditions showed reduction in thickness and biomass volume, and increases in surface to volume ratio and roughness coefficient, which led to more biofilm susceptibility to AgNPs. The results of this study suggest that controlling the growth conditions to alter the biofilm physical structure is a possible approach to reduce the impact of AgNPs on biofilms in engineered and natural systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of Soils and Communities of Plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on West Virginia Surface Mines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levy, Michael A.; Cumming, Jonathan R.

2014-11-01

Surface mining followed by reclamation to pasture is a major driver of land use and cover change in Appalachia. Prior research suggests that many aspects of ecosystem recovery are either slow or incomplete. We examined ecosystem structure—including soil physical and chemical properties, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) infectivity and community composition, and plant diversity and community composition—on a chronosequence of pasture-reclaimed surface mines and a non-mined pasture in northern West Virginia. Surface mining and reclamation dramatically altered ecosystem structure. Some aspects of ecosystem structure, including many measures of soil chemistry and infectivity of AMF, returned rapidly to levels found on the non-mined reference site. Other aspects of ecosystem structure, notably soil physical properties and AMF and plant communities, showed incomplete or no recovery over the short-to-medium term. In addition, invasive plants were prevalent on reclaimed mine sites. The results point to the need for investigation on how reclamation practices could minimize establishment of exotic invasive plant species and reduce the long-term impacts of mining on ecosystem structure and function.

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

Bartels, Ludwig; Ernst, Karl-Heinz; Gao, Hong-Jun

Supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces is one of the most exciting and active fields in Surface Science today. Applications can take advantage of two key properties: (i) versatile pattern formation over a broad length scale and (ii) tunability of electronic structure and transport properties, as well as frontier orbital alignment. It provides a new frontier for Chemical Physics as it uniquely combines the versatility of Organic Synthesis and the Physics of Interfaces. The Journal of Chemical Physics is pleased to publish this Special Topic Issue, showcasing recent advances and new directions.

Effect of Surface Pore Structure of Nerve Guide Conduit on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

PubMed Central

Oh, Se Heang; Kim, Jin Rae; Kwon, Gu Birm; Namgung, Uk; Song, Kyu Sang

2013-01-01

Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Pluronic F127 nerve guide conduits (NGCs) with different surface pore structures (nano-porous inner surface vs. micro-porous inner surface) but similar physical and chemical properties were fabricated by rolling the opposite side of asymmetrically porous PCL/F127 membranes. The effect of the pore structure on peripheral nerve regeneration through the NGCs was investigated using a sciatic nerve defect model of rats. The nerve fibers and tissues were shown to have regenerated along the longitudinal direction through the NGC with a nano-porous inner surface (Nanopore NGC), while they grew toward the porous wall of the NGC with a micro-porous inner surface (Micropore NGC) and, thus, their growth was restricted when compared with the Nanopore NGC, as investigated by immunohistochemical evaluations (by fluorescence microscopy with anti-neurofilament staining and Hoechst staining for growth pattern of nerve fibers), histological evaluations (by light microscopy with Meyer's modified trichrome staining and Toluidine blue staining and transmission electron microscopy for the regeneration of axon and myelin sheath), and FluoroGold retrograde tracing (for reconnection between proximal and distal stumps). The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) immobilized on the pore surfaces of the NGCs on nerve regeneration was not so significant when compared with NGCs not containing immobilized NGF. The NGC system with different surface pore structures but the same chemical/physical properties seems to be a good tool that is used for elucidating the surface pore effect of NGCs on nerve regeneration. PMID:22871377

Common Structure in Different Physical Properties: Electrical Conductivity and Surface Waves Phase Velocity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandolesi, E.; Jones, A. G.; Roux, E.; Lebedev, S.

2009-12-01

Recently different studies were undertaken on the correlation between diverse geophysical datasets. Magnetotelluric (MT) data are used to map the electrical conductivity structure behind the Earth, but one of the problems in MT method is the lack in resolution in mapping zones beneath a region of high conductivity. Joint inversion of different datasets in which a common structure is recognizable reduces non-uniqueness and may improve the quality of interpretation when different dataset are sensitive to different physical properties with an underlined common structure. A common structure is recognized if the change of physical properties occur at the same spatial locations. Common structure may be recognized in 1D inversion of seismic and MT datasets, and numerous authors show that also 2D common structure may drive to an improvement of inversion quality while dataset are jointly inverted. In this presentation a tool to constrain MT 2D inversion with phase velocity of surface wave seismic data (SW) is proposed and is being developed and tested on synthetic data. Results obtained suggest that a joint inversion scheme could be applied with success along a section profile for which data are compatible with a 2D MT model.

MSL DAN Science Investigation: Physical Simulation of DAN

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jun, Insoo

2012-01-01

The main objective of the proposed investigation is to study the characteristics (i.e., hydrogen content, soil composition, layer-structure, etc.) of sub-surface and the surface radiation (neutron in particular) environment.

Controlling the physics and chemistry of binary and ternary praseodymium and cerium oxide systems.

PubMed

Niu, Gang; Zoellner, Marvin Hartwig; Schroeder, Thomas; Schaefer, Andreas; Jhang, Jin-Hao; Zielasek, Volkmar; Bäumer, Marcus; Wilkens, Henrik; Wollschläger, Joachim; Olbrich, Reinhard; Lammers, Christian; Reichling, Michael

2015-10-14

Rare earth praseodymium and cerium oxides have attracted intense research interest in the last few decades, due to their intriguing chemical and physical characteristics. An understanding of the correlation between structure and properties, in particular the surface chemistry, is urgently required for their application in microelectronics, catalysis, optics and other fields. Such an understanding is, however, hampered by the complexity of rare earth oxide materials and experimental methods for their characterisation. Here, we report recent progress in studying high-quality, single crystalline, praseodymium and cerium oxide films as well as ternary alloys grown on Si(111) substrates. Using these well-defined systems and based on a systematic multi-technique surface science approach, the corresponding physical and chemical properties, such as the surface structure, the surface morphology, the bulk-surface interaction and the oxygen storage/release capability, are explored in detail. We show that specifically the crystalline structure and the oxygen stoichiometry of the oxide thin films can be well controlled by the film preparation method. This work leads to a comprehensive understanding of the properties of rare earth oxides and highlights the applications of these versatile materials. Furthermore, methanol adsorption studies are performed on binary and ternary rare earth oxide thin films, demonstrating the feasibility of employing such systems for model catalytic studies. Specifically for ceria systems, we find considerable stability against normal environmental conditions so that they can be considered as a "materials bridge" between surface science models and real catalysts.

Surface signature of Mediterranean water eddies in a long-term high-resolution simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciani, D.; Carton, X.; Barbosa Aguiar, A. C.; Peliz, A.; Bashmachnikov, I.; Ienna, F.; Chapron, B.; Santoleri, R.

2017-12-01

We study the surface signatures of Mediterranean water eddies (Meddies) in the context of a regional, primitive equations model simulation (using the Regional Oceanic Modeling System, ROMS). This model simulation was previously performed to study the mean characteristics and pathways of Meddies during their evolution in the Atlantic Ocean. The advantage of our approach is to take into account different physical mechanisms acting on the evolution of Meddies and their surface signature, having full information on the 3D distribution of all physical variables of interest. The evolution of around 90 long-lived Meddies (whose lifetimes exceeded one year) was investigated. In particular, their surface signature was determined in sea-surface height, temperature and salinity. The Meddy-induced anomalies were studied as a function of the Meddy structure and of the oceanic background. We show that the Meddies can generate positive anomalies in the elevation of the oceanic free-surface and that these anomalies are principally related to the Meddies potential vorticity structure at depth (around 1000 m below the sea-surface). On the contrary, the Meddies thermohaline surface signatures proved to be mostly dominated by local surface conditions and little correlated to the Meddy structure at depth. This work essentially points out that satellite altimetry is the most suitable approach to track subsurface vortices from observations of the sea-surface.

Electronic Structure and Surface Physics of Two-dimensional Material Molybdenum Disulfide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Wencan

The interest in two-dimensional materials and materials physics has grown dramatically over the past decade. The family of two-dimensional materials, which includes graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, phosphorene, hexagonal boron nitride, etc., can be fabricated into atomically thin films since the intralayer bonding arises from their strong covalent character, while the interlayer interaction is mediated by weak van der Waals forces. Among them, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted much interest for its potential applications in opto-electronic and valleytronics devices. Previously, much of the experimental studies have concentrated on optical and transport measurements while neglecting direct experimental determination of the electronic structure of MoS2, which is crucial to the full understanding of its distinctive properties. In particular, like other atomically thin materials, the interactions with substrate impact the surface structure and morphology of MoS2, and as a result, its structural and physical properties can be affected. In this dissertation, the electronic structure and surface structure of MoS2 are directly investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and cathode lens microscopy. Local-probe angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements of monolayer, bilayer, trilayer, and bulk MoS 2 directly demonstrate the indirect-to-direct bandgap transition due to quantum confinement as the MoS2 thickness is decreased from multilayer to monolayer. The evolution of the interlayer coupling in this transition is also investigated using density functional theory calculations. Also, the thickness-dependent surface roughness is characterized using selected-area low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and the surface structural relaxation is investigated using LEED I-V measurements combined with dynamical LEED calculations. Finally, bandgap engineering is demonstrated via tuning of the interlayer interactions in van der Waals interfaces by twisting the relative orientation in bilayer-MoS2 and graphene-MoS 2-heterostructure systems.

Effects of electrode surface structure on the mechanoelectrical transduction of IPMC sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palmre, Viljar; Pugal, David; Kim, Kwang

2014-03-01

This study investigates the effects of electrode surface structure on the mechanoelectrical transduction of IPMC sensors. A physics-based mechanoelectrical transduction model was developed that takes into account the electrode surface profile (shape) by describing the polymer-electrode interface as a Koch fractal structure. Based on the model, the electrode surface effects were experimentally investigated in case of IPMCs with Pd-Pt electrodes. IPMCs with different electrode surface structures were fabricated through electroless plating process by appropriately controlling the synthesis parameters and conditions. The changes in the electrode surface morphology and the corresponding effects on the IPMC mechanoelectrical transduction were examined. Our experimental results indicate that increasing the dispersion of Pd particles near the membrane surface, and thus the polymer-electrode interfacial area, leads to a higher peak mechanoelectrically induced voltage of IPMC. However, the overall effect of the electrode surface structure is relatively low compared to the electromechanical transduction, which is in good agreement with theoretical prediction.

Solid-State Division progress report for period ending March 31, 1983

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

Green, P.H.; Watson, D.M.

1983-09-01

Progress and activities are reported on: theoretical solid-state physics (surfaces; electronic, vibrational, and magnetic properties; particle-solid interactions; laser annealing), surface and near-surface properties of solids (surface, plasma-material interactions, ion implantation and ion-beam mixing, pulsed-laser and thermal processing), defects in solids (radiation effects, fracture, impurities and defects, semiconductor physics and photovoltaic conversion), transport properties of solids (fast-ion conductors, superconductivity, mass and charge transport in materials), neutron scattering (small-angle scattering, lattice dynamics, magnetic properties, structure and instrumentation), and preparation and characterization of research materials (growth and preparative methods, nuclear waste forms, special materials). (DLC)

Laplacian versus topography in the solution of the linear gravimetric boundary value problem by means of successive approximations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holota, Petr; Nesvadba, Otakar

2017-04-01

The aim of this paper is to discuss the solution of the linearized gravimetric boundary value problem by means of the method of successive approximations. We start with the relation between the geometry of the solution domain and the structure of Laplace's operator. Similarly as in other branches of engineering and mathematical physics a transformation of coordinates is used that offers a possibility to solve an alternative between the boundary complexity and the complexity of the coefficients of the partial differential equation governing the solution. Laplace's operator has a relatively simple structure in terms of ellipsoidal coordinates which are frequently used in geodesy. However, the physical surface of the Earth substantially differs from an oblate ellipsoid of revolution, even if it is optimally fitted. Therefore, an alternative is discussed. A system of general curvilinear coordinates such that the physical surface of the Earth is imbedded in the family of coordinate surfaces is used. Clearly, the structure of Laplace's operator is more complicated in this case. It was deduced by means of tensor calculus and in a sense it represents the topography of the physical surface of the Earth. Nevertheless, the construction of the respective Green's function is more simple, if the solution domain is transformed. This enables the use of the classical Green's function method together with the method of successive approximations for the solution of the linear gravimetric boundary value problem expressed in terms of new coordinates. The structure of iteration steps is analyzed and where useful also modified by means of the integration by parts. Comparison with other methods is discussed.

Thermal transfer structures coupling electronics card(s) to coolant-cooled structure(s)

DOEpatents

David, Milnes P; Graybill, David P; Iyengar, Madhusudan K; Kamath, Vinod; Kochuparambil, Bejoy J; Parida, Pritish R; Schmidt, Roger R

2014-12-16

Cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic systems are provided which include thermal transfer structures configured to engage with a spring force one or more electronics cards with docking of the electronics card(s) within a respective socket(s) of the electronic system. A thermal transfer structure of the cooling apparatus includes a thermal spreader having a first thermal conduction surface, and a thermally conductive spring assembly coupled to the conduction surface of the thermal spreader and positioned and configured to reside between and physically couple a first surface of an electronics card to the first surface of the thermal spreader with docking of the electronics card within a socket of the electronic system. The thermal transfer structure is, in one embodiment, metallurgically bonded to a coolant-cooled structure and facilitates transfer of heat from the electronics card to coolant flowing through the coolant-cooled structure.

Development of vehicle model test-bending of a simple structural surfaces model for automotive vehicle sedan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nor, M. K. Mohd; Noordin, A.; Ruzali, M. F. S.; Hussen, M. H.; Mustapa@Othman, N.

2017-04-01

Simple Structural Surfaces (SSS) method is offered as a means of organizing the process for rationalizing the basic vehicle body structure load paths. The application of this simplified approach is highly beneficial in the development of modern passenger car structure design. In Malaysia, the SSS topic has been widely adopted and seems compulsory in various automotive programs related to automotive vehicle structures in many higher education institutions. However, there is no real physical model of SSS available to gain considerable insight and understanding into the function of each major subassembly in the whole vehicle structures. Based on this motivation, a real physical SSS of sedan model and the corresponding model vehicle tests of bending is proposed in this work. The proposed approach is relatively easy to understand as compared to Finite Element Method (FEM). The results prove that the proposed vehicle model test is useful to physically demonstrate the importance of providing continuous load path using the necessary structural components within the vehicle structures. It is clearly observed that the global bending stiffness reduce significantly when more panels are removed from the complete SSS model. The analysis shows the front parcel shelf is an important subassembly to sustain bending load.

Chromospheric Heating in Late-Type Stars: Evidence for Magnetic and Nonmagnetic Surface Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cuntz, Manfred

1996-01-01

The aim of this paper is to evaluate recent observational and theoretical results concerning the physics of chromospheric heating as inferred from IUE, HST-GHRS and ROSAT data. These results are discussed in conjunction with theoretical model calculations based on acoustic and magnetic heating to infer some conclusions about the magnetic and non-magnetic surface structure of cool luminous stars. I find that most types of stars may exhibit both magnetic and nonmagnetic structures. Candidates for pure nonmagnetic surface structure include M-type giants and super-giants. M-type supergiants are also ideal candidates for identifying direct links between the appearance of hot spots on the stellar surface (perhaps caused by large convective bubbles) and temporarily increased chromospheric heating and emission.

Surface emission from neutron stars and implications for the physics of their interiors.

PubMed

Ozel, Feryal

2013-01-01

Neutron stars are associated with diverse physical phenomena that take place in conditions characterized by ultrahigh densities as well as intense gravitational, magnetic and radiation fields. Understanding the properties and interactions of matter in these regimes remains one of the challenges in compact object astrophysics. Photons emitted from the surfaces of neutron stars provide direct probes of their structure, composition and magnetic fields. In this review, I discuss in detail the physics that governs the properties of emission from the surfaces of neutron stars and their various observational manifestations. I present the constraints on neutron star radii, core and crust composition, and magnetic field strength and topology obtained from studies of their broadband spectra, evolution of thermal luminosity, and the profiles of pulsations that originate on their surfaces.

Loss of superhydrophobicity of hydrophobic micro/nano structures during condensation.

PubMed

Jo, HangJin; Hwang, Kyung Won; Kim, DongHyun; Kiyofumi, Moriyama; Park, Hyun Sun; Kim, Moo Hwan; Ahn, Ho Seon

2015-04-23

Condensed liquid behavior on hydrophobic micro/nano-structured surfaces is a subject with multiple practical applications, but remains poorly understood. In particular, the loss of superhydrophobicity of hydrophobic micro/nanostructures during condensation, even when the same surface shows water-repellant characteristics when exposed to air, requires intensive investigation to improve and apply our understanding of the fundamental physics of condensation. Here, we postulate the criterion required for condensation to form from inside the surface structures by examining the grand potentials of a condensation system, including the properties of the condensed liquid and the conditions required for condensation. The results imply that the same hydrophobic micro/nano-structured surface could exhibit different liquid droplet behavior depending on the conditions. Our findings are supported by the observed phenomena: the initiation of a condensed droplet from inside a hydrophobic cavity, the apparent wetted state changes, and the presence of sticky condensed droplets on the hydrophobic micro/nano-structured surface.

Optimal Control Surface Layout for an Aeroservoelastic Wingbox

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stanford, Bret K.

2017-01-01

This paper demonstrates a technique for locating the optimal control surface layout of an aeroservoelastic Common Research Model wingbox, in the context of maneuver load alleviation and active utter suppression. The combinatorial actuator layout design is solved using ideas borrowed from topology optimization, where the effectiveness of a given control surface is tied to a layout design variable, which varies from zero (the actuator is removed) to one (the actuator is retained). These layout design variables are optimized concurrently with a large number of structural wingbox sizing variables and control surface actuation variables, in order to minimize the sum of structural weight and actuator weight. Results are presented that demonstrate interdependencies between structural sizing patterns and optimal control surface layouts, for both static and dynamic aeroelastic physics.

Physical habitat structure of the lake shoreline and littoral zone -- How important is it?

EPA Science Inventory

The recent National Lakes Assessment (NLA) included the first national assessment of littoral and lakeshore physical habitat. It quantified water depth, surface characteristics, bank morphology, lake level fluctuations, substrate, fish concealment features, aquatic macrophytes, l...

Impact of secondary generated minerals on toxic element immobilization for air pollution control fly ash of a municipal solid waste incinerator.

PubMed

Kitamura, Hiroki; Dahlan, Astryd Viandila; Tian, Yu; Shimaoka, Takayuki; Yamamoto, Takashi; Takahashi, Fumitake

2018-05-12

Impacts of secondary generated minerals on mineralogical and physical immobilization of toxic elements were investigated for chelate-treated air pollution control (APC) fly ash of a municipal solid waste incinerator. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that ettringite was generated after the moistening treatment with/without chelate. Although ettringite can incorporate toxic elements into its structure, elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray could not find concentrated points of toxic elements in ettringite structure. This implies that mineralogical immobilization of toxic element by the encapsulation to ettringite structure seems to be limited. Physical immobilization was also investigated by SEM observation of the same APC fly ash particles before and after the moistening treatment. The transfer of soluble elements was inhibited only when insoluble minerals such as gypsum were generated and covered the surface of fly ash particles. Neoformed insoluble minerals prevented soluble elements from leaching and transfer. However, such physical immobilization seems to be limited because insoluble mineral formation with surface coverage was monitored only one time of more than 20 observations. Although uncertainty owing to limited samples with limited observations should be considered, this study concludes that mineralogical and physical immobilization of toxic elements by secondary minerals is limited although secondary minerals are always generated on the surface of APC fly ash particles during chelate treatment.

Composition, structure, and chemistry of interstellar dust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tielens, A. G. G. M.; Allamandola, L. J.

1987-01-01

Different dust components present in the interstellar medium (IM) such as amorphous carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and those IM components which are organic refractory grains and icy grain mantles are discussed as well as their relative importance. The physical properties of grain surface chemistry are discussed with attention given to the surface structure of materials, the adsorption energy and residence time of species on a grain surface, and the sticking probability. Consideration is also given to the contribution of grains to the gas-phase composition of molecular clouds.

Physics based calculation of the fine structure constant

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

Lestone, John Paul

2009-01-01

We assume that the coupling between particles and photons is defined by a surface area and a temperature, and that the square of the temperature is the inverse of the surface area ({Dirac_h}=c= 1). By making assumptions regarding stimulated emission and effects associated with the finite length of a string that forms the particle surface, the fine structure constant is calculated to be {approx}1/137.04. The corresponding calculated fundamental unit of charge is 1.6021 x 10{sup -19} C.

The surface science of nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boles, Michael A.; Ling, Daishun; Hyeon, Taeghwan; Talapin, Dmitri V.

2016-02-01

All nanomaterials share a common feature of large surface-to-volume ratio, making their surfaces the dominant player in many physical and chemical processes. Surface ligands -- molecules that bind to the surface -- are an essential component of nanomaterial synthesis, processing and application. Understanding the structure and properties of nanoscale interfaces requires an intricate mix of concepts and techniques borrowed from surface science and coordination chemistry. Our Review elaborates these connections and discusses the bonding, electronic structure and chemical transformations at nanomaterial surfaces. We specifically focus on the role of surface ligands in tuning and rationally designing properties of functional nanomaterials. Given their importance for biomedical (imaging, diagnostics and therapeutics) and optoelectronic (light-emitting devices, transistors, solar cells) applications, we end with an assessment of application-targeted surface engineering.

Roles of ionic strength and biofilm roughness on adhesion kinetics of Escherichia coli onto groundwater biofilm grown on PVC surfaces

PubMed Central

Janjaroen, Dao; Ling, Fangqiong; Monroy, Guillermo; Derlon, Nicolas; Mogenroth, Eberhard; Boppart, Stephen A.; Liu, Wen-Tso; Nguyen, Thanh H.

2013-01-01

Mechanisms of Escherichia coli attachment on biofilms grown on PVC coupons were investigated. Biofilms were grown in CDC reactors using groundwater as feed solution over a period up to 27 weeks. Biofilm physical structure was characterized at the micro- and meso-scales using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), respectively. Microbial community diversity was analyzed with Terminal Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP). Both physical structure and microbial community diversity of the biofilms were shown to be changing from 2 weeks to 14 weeks, and became relatively stable after 16 weeks. A parallel plate flow chamber coupled with an inverted fluorescent microscope was also used to monitor the attachment of fluorescent microspheres and E. coli on clean PVC surfaces and biofilms grown on PVC surfaces for different ages. Two mechanisms of E. coli attachment were identified. The adhesion rate coefficients (kd) of E. coli on nascent PVC surfaces and 2-week biofilms increased with ionic strength. However, after biofilms grew for 8 weeks, the adhesion was found to be independent of solution chemistry. Instead, a positive correlation between kd and biofilm roughness as determined by OCT was obtained, indicating that the physical structure of biofilms could play an important role in facilitating the adhesion of E. coli cells. PMID:23497979

Generation Mechanism of Nonlinear Rayleigh Surface Waves for Randomly Distributed Surface Micro-Cracks.

PubMed

Ding, Xiangyan; Li, Feilong; Zhao, Youxuan; Xu, Yongmei; Hu, Ning; Cao, Peng; Deng, Mingxi

2018-04-23

This paper investigates the propagation of Rayleigh surface waves in structures with randomly distributed surface micro-cracks using numerical simulations. The results revealed a significant ultrasonic nonlinear effect caused by the surface micro-cracks, which is mainly represented by a second harmonic with even more distinct third/quadruple harmonics. Based on statistical analysis from the numerous results of random micro-crack models, it is clearly found that the acoustic nonlinear parameter increases linearly with micro-crack density, the proportion of surface cracks, the size of micro-crack zone, and the excitation frequency. This study theoretically reveals that nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves are feasible for use in quantitatively identifying the physical characteristics of surface micro-cracks in structures.

Generation Mechanism of Nonlinear Rayleigh Surface Waves for Randomly Distributed Surface Micro-Cracks

PubMed Central

Ding, Xiangyan; Li, Feilong; Xu, Yongmei; Cao, Peng; Deng, Mingxi

2018-01-01

This paper investigates the propagation of Rayleigh surface waves in structures with randomly distributed surface micro-cracks using numerical simulations. The results revealed a significant ultrasonic nonlinear effect caused by the surface micro-cracks, which is mainly represented by a second harmonic with even more distinct third/quadruple harmonics. Based on statistical analysis from the numerous results of random micro-crack models, it is clearly found that the acoustic nonlinear parameter increases linearly with micro-crack density, the proportion of surface cracks, the size of micro-crack zone, and the excitation frequency. This study theoretically reveals that nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves are feasible for use in quantitatively identifying the physical characteristics of surface micro-cracks in structures. PMID:29690580

AFM imaging of natural optical structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dallaeva, Dinara; Tománek, Pavel; Prokopyeva, Elena; Kaspar, Pavel; Grmela, Lubomír.; Škarvada, Pavel

2015-01-01

The colors of some living organisms assosiated with the surface structure. Irridesence butterfly wings is an example of such coloration. Optical effects such as interference, diffraction, polarization are responsible for physical colors appearance. Alongside with amazing beauty this structure represent interest for design of optical devices. Here we report the results of morphology investigation by atomic force microscopy. The difference in surface structure of black and blue wings areas is clearly observed. It explains the angle dependence of the wing blue color, since these micrometer and sub-micrometer quasiperiodical structures could control the light propagation, absorption and reflection.

CROSS-DISCIPLINARY PHYSICS AND RELATED AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Novel Route to Fabrication of Metal-Sandwiched Nanoscale Tapered Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yang; Yu, Da-Peng

2009-08-01

Tapered dielectric structures in metal have exhibited extraordinary performance in both surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waveguiding and SPP focusing. This is crucial to plasmonic research and industrial plasmonic device integration. We present a method that facilitates easy fabrication of smooth-surfaced sub-micron tapered structures in large scale simply with electron beam lithography (EBL). When a PMMA layer is spin-coated on previously-EBL-defined PMMA structures, steep edges can be transformed into a declining slope to form tapered PMMA structures, scaled from 10 nm to 1000 nm. Despite the simplicity of our method, patterns with PMMA surface smoothness can be well-positioned and replicated in large numbers, which therefore gives scientists easy access to research on the properties of tapered structures.

Monolithic phononic crystals with a surface acoustic band gap from surface phonon-polariton coupling.

PubMed

Yudistira, D; Boes, A; Djafari-Rouhani, B; Pennec, Y; Yeo, L Y; Mitchell, A; Friend, J R

2014-11-21

We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate the existence of complete surface acoustic wave band gaps in surface phonon-polariton phononic crystals, in a completely monolithic structure formed from a two-dimensional honeycomb array of hexagonal shape domain-inverted inclusions in single crystal piezoelectric Z-cut lithium niobate. The band gaps appear at a frequency of about twice the Bragg band gap at the center of the Brillouin zone, formed through phonon-polariton coupling. The structure is mechanically, electromagnetically, and topographically homogeneous, without any physical alteration of the surface, offering an ideal platform for many acoustic wave applications for photonics, phononics, and microfluidics.

Surface Characterization Techniques: An Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa

2002-01-01

To understand the benefits that surface modifications provide, and ultimately to devise better ones, it is necessary to study the physical, mechanical, and chemical changes they cause. This chapter surveys classical and leading-edge developments in surface structure and property characterization methodologies. The primary emphases are on the use of these techniques as they relate to surface modifications, thin films and coatings, and tribological engineering surfaces and on the implications rather than the instrumentation.

PREFACE: Nanostructured surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palmer, Richard E.

2003-10-01

We can define nanostructured surfaces as well-defined surfaces which contain lateral features of size 1-100 nm. This length range lies well below the micron regime but equally above the Ångstrom regime, which corresponds to the interatomic distances on single-crystal surfaces. This special issue of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter presents a collection of twelve papers which together address the fabrication, characterization, properties and applications of such nanostructured surfaces. Taken together they represent, in effect, a status report on the rapid progress taking place in this burgeoning area. The first four papers in this special issue have been contributed by members of the European Research Training Network ‘NanoCluster’, which is concerned with the deposition, growth and characterization of nanometre-scale clusters on solid surfaces—prototypical examples of nanoscale surface features. The paper by Vandamme is concerned with the fundamentals of the cluster-surface interaction; the papers by Gonzalo and Moisala address, respectively, the optical and catalytic properties of deposited clusters; and the paper by van Tendeloo reports the application of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to elucidate the surface structure of spherical particles in a catalyst support. The fifth paper, by Mendes, is also the fruit of a European Research Training Network (‘Micro-Nano’) and is jointly contributed by three research groups; it reviews the creation of nanostructured surface architectures from chemically-synthesized nanoparticles. The next five papers in this special issue are all concerned with the characterization of nanostructured surfaces with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The papers by Bolotov, Hamilton and Dunstan demonstrate that the STM can be employed for local electrical measurements as well as imaging, as illustrated by the examples of deposited clusters, model semiconductor structures and real devices, respectively, while the papers by Ledieu and Guo report the structural characterization of novel surface systems—quasicrystal surfaces and supramolecular monolayers, respectively. The final two papers, by Bennett and Smith, demonstrate the positive interplay between experimental measurements and theoretical modelling in the investigation of nanostructured surfaces. The examples discussed include, respectively, the growth of metal clusters on oxide surfaces and the deposition of fullerenes and energetic clusters from the gas phase. We note finally that the last six papers in this special issue have been contributed by members of the Committee of the newly-formed Nanoscale Physics and Technology Group of the Institute of Physics. The Group shares with this special issue the aim of promoting and disseminating exciting advances in the flourishing field of nanoscale physics.

Estimating 3-dimensional colony surface area of field corals

EPA Science Inventory

Colony surface area is a critical descriptor for biological and physical attributes of reef-building (scleractinian, stony) corals. The three-dimensional (3D) size and structure of corals are directly related to many ecosystem values and functions. Most methods to estimate colony...

Large-Deformation Displacement Transfer Functions for Shape Predictions of Highly Flexible Slender Aerospace Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ko, William L.; Fleischer, Van Tran

2013-01-01

Large deformation displacement transfer functions were formulated for deformed shape predictions of highly flexible slender structures like aircraft wings. In the formulation, the embedded beam (depth wise cross section of structure along the surface strain sensing line) was first evenly discretized into multiple small domains, with surface strain sensing stations located at the domain junctures. Thus, the surface strain (bending strains) variation within each domain could be expressed with linear of nonlinear function. Such piecewise approach enabled piecewise integrations of the embedded beam curvature equations [classical (Eulerian), physical (Lagrangian), and shifted curvature equations] to yield closed form slope and deflection equations in recursive forms.

Structure of electroexplosive TiC-Ni composite coatings on steel after electron-beam treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romanov, D. A.; Goncharova, E. N.; Budovskikh, E. A.; Gromov, V. E.; Ivanov, Yu. F.; Teresov, A. D.; Kazimirov, S. A.

2016-11-01

The phase and elemental compositions of the surface layer in Hardox 450 steel after electroexplosive spraying of a TiC-Ni composite coating and subsequent irradiation by a submillisecond high-energy electron beam are studied by the methods of modern physical metallurgy. The electron-beam treatment conditions that result in the formation of dense surface layers having high luster and a submicrocrystalline structure based on titanium carbide and nickel are found. It is shown that electron-beam treatment of an electroexplosive coating performed under melting conditions leads to the formation of a homogeneous (in structure and concentration) surface layer.

Detection of warning surfaces in pedestrian environments: the importance for blind people of kerbs, depth, and structure of tactile surfaces.

PubMed

Ståhl, Agneta; Newman, Emma; Dahlin-Ivanoff, Synneve; Almén, Mai; Iwarsson, Sussane

2010-01-01

The overall purpose was to study whether and how persons with blindness detect warning surfaces with a long white cane in a real pedestrian environment after following a natural guidance surface to the warning surfaces. Of particular interest was the importance of kerb, depth, and structure of the warning surfaces. A concurrently mixed methods approach, with a combination of observation using a structured form together with 'think aloud' and a structured interview, was used. It was done with well-defined samples and study sites in an inter-disciplinary research context. The results show that the most important design characteristic for detection of the warning surfaces with a white cane is the structure of the surface, while the depth of the surface and availability of a kerb do not have any impact on the detection. A precondition was that there is a distinct natural guidance surface leading up to the warning surface. The probability among pedestrians with blindness to detect a tactile surface is not higher if the design solution has a kerb. This study also confirms the complexity of being a blind pedestrian in the traffic environment. The results can be used for evidence-based physical planning. The study also has implications for development of more efficient vision rehabilitation.

Physical Properties of the MER and Beagle II Landing Sites on Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakosky, B. M.; Pelkey, S. M.; Mellon, M. T.; Putzig, N.; Martinez-Alonso, S.; Murphy, N.; Hynek, B.

2003-12-01

The ESA Beagle II and the NASA Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft are scheduled to land on the martian surface in December 2003 and January 2004, respectively. Mission operations and success depends on the physical properties of the surfaces on which they land. Surface structural characteristics such as the abundances of loose, unconsolidated fine material, of fine material that has been cemented into a duricrust, and of rocks affect the ability to safely land and to successfully sample and traverse the surface. Also, physical properties affect surface and atmospheric temperatures, which affect lander and rover functionality. We are in the process of analyzing surface temperature information for these sites, derived from MGS TES and Odyssey THEMIS daytime and nighttime measurements. Our approach is to: (i) remap thermal inertia using TES data at ~3-km resolution, to obtain the most complete coverage possible; (ii) interpret physical properties from TES coverage in conjunction with other remote-sensing data sets; (iii) map infrared brightness using daytime and nighttime THEMIS data at 100-m resolution, and do qualitative analysis of physical properties and processes; and (iv) derive thermal inertia from THEMIS nighttime data in conjunction with daytime albedo measurements derived from TES, THEMIS, and MOC observations. In addition, we will use measured temperatures and derived thermal inertia to predict surface temperatures for the periods of the missions.

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

Michaelides, Angelos, E-mail: angelos.michaelides@ucl.ac.uk; Martinez, Todd J.; Alavi, Ali

This Special Topic section on Advanced Electronic Structure Methods for Solids and Surfaces contains a collection of research papers that showcase recent advances in the high accuracy prediction of materials and surface properties. It provides a timely snapshot of a growing field that is of broad importance to chemistry, physics, and materials science.

Physics of singularities in pressure-impulse theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krechetnikov, R.

2018-05-01

The classical solution in the pressure-impulse theory for the inviscid, incompressible, and zero-surface-tension water impact of a flat plate at zero dead-rise angle exhibits both singular-in-time initial fluid acceleration, ∂v /∂ t |t =0˜δ (t ) , and a near-plate-edge spatial singularity in the velocity distribution, v ˜r-1 /2 , where r is the distance from the plate edge. The latter velocity divergence also leads to the interface being stretched infinitely right after the impact, which is another nonphysical artifact. From the point of view of matched asymptotic analysis, this classical solution is a singular limit when three physical quantities achieve limiting values: sound speed c0→∞ , fluid kinematic viscosity ν →0 , and surface tension σ →0 . This leaves open a question on how to resolve these singularities mathematically by including the neglected physical effects—compressibility, viscosity, and surface tension—first one by one and then culminating in the local compressible viscous solution valid for t →0 and r →0 , demonstrating a nontrivial flow structure that changes with the degree of the bulk compressibility. In the course of this study, by starting with the general physically relevant formulation of compressible viscous flow, we clarify the parameter range(s) of validity of the key analytical solutions including classical ones (inviscid incompressible and compressible, etc.) and understand the solution structure, its intermediate asymptotics nature, characteristics influencing physical processes, and the role of potential and rotational flow components. In particular, it is pointed out that sufficiently close to the plate edge surface tension must be taken into account. Overall, the idea is to highlight the interesting physics behind the singularities in the pressure-impulse theory.

The volume- and surface-binding energies of ice systems containing CO, CO2, and H2O

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sandford, Scott A.; Allamandola, Louis J.

1990-01-01

Laboratory-measured, temperature-dependent sticking efficiencies are presently used to derive the surface-binding energies of CO and CO2 on H2O-rich ices, with a view to determining the condensation and vaporization properties of these systems as well as to the measured energies' implications for both cometary behavior and the evolution of interstellar ices. The molecular volume and the surface binding energies are not found to be necessarily related on the basis of simple nearest-neighbor scaling in surface and bulk sites; this may be due to the physical constraints associated with matrix structure-associated physical constraints, which sometimes dominate the volume-binding energies.

Universal Method for Creating Hierarchical Wrinkles on Thin-Film Surfaces.

PubMed

Jung, Woo-Bin; Cho, Kyeong Min; Lee, Won-Kyu; Odom, Teri W; Jung, Hee-Tae

2018-01-10

One of the most interesting topics in physical science and materials science is the creation of complex wrinkled structures on thin-film surfaces because of their several advantages of high surface area, localized strain, and stress tolerance. In this study, a significant step was taken toward solving limitations imposed by the fabrication of previous artificial wrinkles. A universal method for preparing hierarchical three-dimensional wrinkle structures of thin films on a multiple scale (e.g., nanometers to micrometers) by sequential wrinkling with different skin layers was developed. Notably, this method was not limited to specific materials, and it was applicable to fabricating hierarchical wrinkles on all of the thin-film surfaces tested thus far, including those of metals, two-dimensional and one-dimensional materials, and polymers. The hierarchical wrinkles with multiscale structures were prepared by sequential wrinkling, in which a sacrificial layer was used as the additional skin layer between sequences. For example, a hierarchical MoS 2 wrinkle exhibited highly enhanced catalytic behavior because of the superaerophobicity and effective surface area, which are related to topological effects. As the developed method can be adopted to a majority of thin films, it is thought to be a universal method for enhancing the physical properties of various materials.

Controlled assembly of high-order nanoarray metal structures on bulk copper surface by femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Wanwan; Yang, Jianjun

2017-07-01

We report a new one-step maskless method to fabricate high-order nanoarray metal structures comprising periodic grooves and particle chains on a single-crystal Cu surface using femtosecond laser pulses at the central wavelength of 400 nm. Remarkably, when a circularly polarized infrared femtosecond laser pulse (spectrally centered at 800 nm) pre-irradiates the sample surface, the geometric dimensions of the composite structure can be well controlled. With increasing the energy fluence of the infrared laser pulse, both the groove width and particle diameter are observed to reduce, while the measured spacing-to-diameter ratio of the nanoparticles tends to present an increasing tendency. A physical scenario is proposed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms: as the infrared femtosecond laser pulse pre-irradiates the target, the copper surface is triggered to display anomalous transient physical properties, on which the subsequently incident Gaussian blue laser pulse is spatially modulated into fringe-like energy depositions via the excitation of ultrafast surface plasmon. During the following relaxation processes, the periodically heated thin-layer regions can be transferred into the metastable liquid rivulets and then they break up into nanodroplet arrays owing to the modified Rayleigh-like instability. This investigation indicates a simple integrated approach for active designing and large-scale assembly of complexed functional nanostructures on bulk materials.

Wavelength dependence of picosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures on copper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maragkaki, Stella; Derrien, Thibault J.-Y.; Levy, Yoann; Bulgakova, Nadezhda M.; Ostendorf, Andreas; Gurevich, Evgeny L.

2017-09-01

The physical mechanisms of the laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) formation are studied in this paper for single-pulse irradiation regimes. The change in the LIPSS period with wavelength of incident laser radiation is investigated experimentally, using a picosecond laser system, which provides 7-ps pulses in near-IR, visible, and UV spectral ranges. The experimental results are compared with predictions made under the assumption that the surface-scattered waves are involved in the LIPSS formation. Considerable disagreement suggests that hydrodynamic mechanisms can be responsible for the observed pattern periodicity.

ONR Ocean Wave Dynamics Workshop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

In anticipation of the start (in Fiscal Year 1988) of a new Office of Naval Research (ONR) Accelerated Research Initiative (ARI) on Ocean Surface Wave Dynamics, a workshop was held August 5-7, 1986, at Woods Hole, Mass., to discuss new ideas and directions of research. This new ARI on Ocean Surface Wave Dynamics is a 5-year effort that is organized by the ONR Physical Oceanography Program in cooperation with the ONR Fluid Mechanics Program and the Physical Oceanography Branch at the Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity (NORDA). The central theme is improvement of our understanding of the basic physics and dynamics of surface wave phenomena, with emphasis on the following areas: precise air-sea coupling mechanisms,dynamics of nonlinear wave-wave interaction under realistic environmental conditions,wave breaking and dissipation of energy,interaction between surface waves and upper ocean boundary layer dynamics, andsurface statistical and boundary layer coherent structures.

Surface modification of Ti alloy by electro-explosive alloying and electron-beam treatment

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

Gromov, Victor, E-mail: gromov@physics.sibsiu.ru; Kobzareva, Tatiana, E-mail: kobzarevatanya@mail.ru; Budovskikh, Evgeniy, E-mail: budovskih-ea@physics.sibsiu.ru

2016-01-15

By methods of modern physical metallurgy the analysis of structure phase states of titanium alloy VT6 is carried out after electric explosion alloying with boron carbide and subsequent irradiation by pulsed electron beam. The formation of an electro-explosive alloying zone of a thickness up to 50 µm, having a gradient structure, characterized by decrease in the concentration of carbon and boron with increasing distance to the treatable surface has been revealed. Subsequent electron-beam treatment of alloying zone leads to smoothing of the alloying area surface and is accompanied by the multilayer structure formation at the depth of 30 µm withmore » alternating layers with different alloying degrees having the structure of submicro - and nanoscale level.« less

Detecting forest structure and biomass with C-band multipolarization radar - Physical model and field tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Westman, Walter E.; Paris, Jack F.

1987-01-01

The ability of C-band radar (4.75 GHz) to discriminate features of forest structure, including biomass, is tested using a truck-mounted scatterometer for field tests on a 1.5-3.0 m pygmy forest of cypress (Cupressus pygmaea) and pine (Pinus contorta ssp, Bolanderi) near Mendocino, CA. In all, 31 structural variables of the forest are quantified at seven sites. Also measured was the backscatter from a life-sized physical model of the pygmy forest, composed of nine wooden trees with 'leafy branches' of sponge-wrapped dowels. This model enabled independent testing of the effects of stem, branch, and leafy branch biomass, branch angle, and moisture content on radar backscatter. Field results suggested that surface area of leaves played a greater role in leaf scattering properties than leaf biomass per se. Tree leaf area index was strongly correlated with vertically polarized power backscatter (r = 0.94; P less than 0.01). Field results suggested that the scattering role of leaf water is enhanced as leaf surface area per unit leaf mass increases; i.e., as the moist scattering surfaces become more dispersed. Fog condensate caused a measurable rise in forest backscatter, both from surface and internal rises in water content. Tree branch mass per unit area was highly correlated with cross-polarized backscatter in the field (r = 0.93; P less than 0.01), a result also seen in the physical model.

Ab initio surface properties of Ag-Sn alloys: implications for lead-free soldering.

PubMed

Saleh, Gabriele; Xu, Chen; Sanvito, Stefano

2018-02-07

Ag and Sn are the major components of solder alloys adopted to assemble printed circuit boards. The qualities that make them the alloys of choice for the modern electronic industry are related to their physical and chemical properties. For corrosion resistance and solderability, surface properties are particularly important. Yet, atomic-level information about the surfaces of these alloys is not known. Here we fill this gap by presenting an extensive ab initio investigation of composition, energetics, structure and reactivity of Ag-Sn alloy surfaces. The structure and stability of various surfaces is evaluated, and the main factors determining the energetics of surface formation are uncovered. Oxygen and sulphur chemisorptions are studied and discussed in the framework of corrosion tendency, an important issue for printed circuit boards. Adsorption energy trends are rationalized based on the analysis of structural and electronic features.

The Tunneling Microscope: A New Look at the Atomic World.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Golovchenko, J. A.

1986-01-01

A new instrument called the tunneling microscope has recently been developed that is capable of generating real-space images of surfaces showing atomic structure. Discusses current capabilities, limitations, and the physics involved in the technique. Includes results from a study of silicon crystal surfaces. (JN)

Physical structure changes of solid medium by steam explosion sterilization.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhi-Min; Wang, Lan; Chen, Hong-Zhang

2016-03-01

Physical structure changes of solid medium were investigated to reveal effects of steam explosion sterilization on solid-state fermentation (SSF). Results indicated that steam explosion changed the structure of solid medium at both molecular and three-dimensional structural levels, which exposed hydrophilic groups and enlarged pores and cavities. It was interesting to find that pores where capillary water located were the active sites for SSF, due to the close relationship among capillary water relaxation time, specific surface area and fermentation performance. Therefore, steam explosion sterilization increased the effective contact area for microbial cells on solid medium, which contributed to improving SSF performance. Combined with the previous research, mechanisms of SSF improvement by steam explosion sterilization contained both chemical and physical effects. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Are X-rays the key to integrated computational materials engineering?

DOE PAGES

Ice, Gene E.

2015-11-01

The ultimate dream of materials science is to predict materials behavior from composition and processing history. Owing to the growing power of computers, this long-time dream has recently found expression through worldwide excitement in a number of computation-based thrusts: integrated computational materials engineering, materials by design, computational materials design, three-dimensional materials physics and mesoscale physics. However, real materials have important crystallographic structures at multiple length scales, which evolve during processing and in service. Moreover, real materials properties can depend on the extreme tails in their structural and chemical distributions. This makes it critical to map structural distributions with sufficient resolutionmore » to resolve small structures and with sufficient statistics to capture the tails of distributions. For two-dimensional materials, there are high-resolution nondestructive probes of surface and near-surface structures with atomic or near-atomic resolution that can provide detailed structural, chemical and functional distributions over important length scales. Furthermore, there are no nondestructive three-dimensional probes with atomic resolution over the multiple length scales needed to understand most materials.« less

SITE AMPLIFICATION OF EARTHQUAKE GROUND MOTION.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hays, Walter W.

1986-01-01

When analyzing the patterns of damage in an earthquake, physical parameters of the total earthquake-site-structure system are correlated with the damage. Soil-structure interaction, the cause of damage in many earthquakes, involves the frequency-dependent response of both the soil-rock column and the structure. The response of the soil-rock column (called site amplification) is controversial because soil has strain-dependent properties that affect the way the soil column filters the input body and surface seismic waves, modifying the amplitude and phase spectra and the duration of the surface ground motion.

Femtosecond diffraction dynamics of laser-induced periodic surface structures on fused silica

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

Hoehm, S.; Rosenfeld, A.; Krueger, J.

2013-02-04

The formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on fused silica upon irradiation with linearly polarized fs-laser pulses (50 fs pulse duration, 800 nm center wavelength) is studied experimentally using a transillumination femtosecond time-resolved (0.1 ps-1 ns) pump-probe diffraction approach. This allows to reveal the generation dynamics of near-wavelength-sized LIPSS showing a transient diffraction at specific spatial frequencies even before a corresponding permanent surface relief was observed. The results confirm that the ultrafast energy deposition to the materials surface plays a key role and triggers subsequent physical mechanisms such as carrier scattering into self-trapped excitons.

Material model for physically based rendering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robart, Mathieu; Paulin, Mathias; Caubet, Rene

1999-09-01

In computer graphics, a complete knowledge of the interactions between light and a material is essential to obtain photorealistic pictures. Physical measurements allow us to obtain data on the material response, but are limited to industrial surfaces and depend on measure conditions. Analytic models do exist, but they are often inadequate for common use: the empiric ones are too simple to be realistic, and the physically-based ones are often to complex or too specialized to be generally useful. Therefore, we have developed a multiresolution virtual material model, that not only describes the surface of a material, but also its internal structure thanks to distribution functions of microelements, arranged in layers. Each microelement possesses its own response to an incident light, from an elementary reflection to a complex response provided by its inner structure, taking into account geometry, energy, polarization, . . ., of each light ray. This model is virtually illuminated, in order to compute its response to an incident radiance. This directional response is stored in a compressed data structure using spherical wavelets, and is destined to be used in a rendering model such as directional radiosity.

Optimum deposition conditions of ultrasmooth silver nanolayers

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Reduction of surface plasmon-polariton losses due to their scattering on metal surface roughness still remains a challenge in the fabrication of plasmonic devices for nanooptics. To achieve smooth silver films, we study the dependence of surface roughness on the evaporation temperature in a physical vapor deposition process. At the deposition temperature range 90 to 500 K, the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients of Ag, Ge wetting layer, and sapphire substrate does not deteriorate the metal surface. To avoid ice crystal formation on substrates, the working temperature of the whole physical vapor deposition process should exceed that of the sublimation at the evaporation pressure range. At optimum room temperature, the root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness was successfully reduced to 0.2 nm for a 10-nm Ag layer on sapphire substrate with a 1-nm germanium wetting interlayer. Silver layers of 10- and 30-nm thickness were examined using an atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray reflectometry (XRR), and two-dimensional X-ray diffraction (XRD2). PACS 63.22.Np Layered systems; 68. Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and nanosystems (structure and nonelectronic properties); 81.07.-b Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization PMID:24685115

Freely Suspended Liquid Crystalline Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sonin, A. A.

2003-05-01

Freely Suspended Liquid Crystalline Films Andrei A. Sonin Centre d'Etudes Atomiques de Saclay, France and Institute of Crystallography, Russian Academy of Sciences with a Foreword by Professor Noel Clark University of Colorado, USA This book provides a brief introduction to the physics of liquid crystals and to macroscopic physical parameters characterising freely suspended liquid crystalline (FSLC) films, and then reviews the experimental techniques for preparing these films, measuring their thicknesses, and investigating their physical properties and structural aspects. Molecular structures and defects of FSLC films and the problems of film stability, thinning and rupture are discussed in later chapters. Physical phenomena, such as orientational and phase transitions, Frederick's and flexoelectric effects, hydroelectrodynamics, etc., are also analysed. Finally, some applications of FSLC films in industry and in various branches of science are discussed. Specialists working in the physics of liquid crystals and in surface physics will find this book of interest. Industrial firms and their research centres investigating liquid crystals, biological membranes, detergent/surfactant/biomedical areas; and graduates and postgraduates in solid state physics and crystallography will also benefit from this book. The book has an easy-to-read style with just the minimum amount of mathematics necessary to explain important concepts. This is the first book dedicated exclusively to the physics of FSLC in almost a century since their discovery and last twenty years of their active studies. Andrei Sonin, a scientist in the area of FSLC and author of many articles on surface phenomena in liquid crystals, the properties and behaviour of thin liquid crystalline and surfactant films, has a long standing reputation in liquid crystals and surfactant systems and has been particularly active in issues involving surface interactions.

Search for unconventional superconductors among the YTE 2Si2 compounds (TE  =  Cr, Co, Ni, Rh, Pd, Pt)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pikul, A. P.; Samsel–Czekała, M.; Chajewski, G.; Romanova, T.; Hackemer, A.; Gorzelniak, R.; Wiśniewski, P.; Kaczorowski, D.

2017-05-01

Motivated by the recent discovery of exotic superconductivity in YFe2Ge2 we undertook reinvestigation of formation and physical properties of yttrium-based 1:2:2 silicides. Here we report on syntheses and crystal structures of the YTE 2Si2 compounds with TE  =  Cr, Co, Ni, Rh, Pd and Pt, and their low-temperature physical properties measurements, supplemented by results of fully relativistic full-potential local-orbital minimum basis band structure calculations. We confirm that most of the members of that family crystallize in a tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type structure (space group I4/mmm) and have three-dimensional Fermi surface, while only one of them (YPt2Si2) forms with a closely-related primitive CaBe2Ge2-type unit cell (space group P4/nmm) and possess quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface sheets. Physical measurements indicated that BCS-like superconductivity is observed only in YPt2Si2 (T c  =  1.54 K) and YPd2Si2 (T c  =  0.43 K), while no superconducting phase transition was found in other systems at least down to 0.35 K. Thermal analysis showed no polymorphism in both superconducting phases. No clear relation between the superconductivity and the crystal structure (and dimensionality of the Fermi surface) was observed.

The Dependence of the Circumnuclear Coma Structure on the Properties of the Nucleus. IV. Structure of the Night-Side Gas Coma of a Strongly Sublimating Nucleus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crifo, J. F.; Rodionov, A. V.

2000-12-01

The structure of the nightside coma in the vicinity of a strongly active comet nucleus of pure ice is investigated by solving gasdynamic equations for the flow of water vapour sublimated from—or condensed onto—the nucleus surface. To guarantee the physical validity of the solution, both Euler and Navier-Stokes Equations are solved, and the solutions are compared. A spherical nucleus is considered first and then a triaxial ellipsoidal nucleus. The results show that (1) a fluid coma of significant extent and very complicated physical structure is formed; (2) for low heat conduction transfer across the nucleus from the dayside to the nightside surface, a narrow conical weak shock appears near to the antisolar axis; the whole nightside surface acts as a cold trap for the vapor, part of which recondenses onto it; (3) for intermediate heat conduction, part of the nightside surface becomes weakly sublimating, and a different weak shock pattern is formed; and (4) at high heat conduction, the whole nightside surface is weakly sublimating, and the resulting flow pattern becomes similar to that existing in a coma formed by diffusion from the nucleus interior (see Crifo, Rodionov and Bockelée-Morvan, 1999, Icarus138, 83-106). The results are compared to related model results by other authors, and a discussion is made of their relevance to the 1996 observation of the near-nucleus nightside coma of Comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake.

Preparation of anticoagulant PyC biomaterials with super-hydrophobic surface.

PubMed

Ze, Wang; Wen-Sheng, Tan; Ye-Xia; Ming, Zhang; Xiao-Ping, Li; Jian-Guo, Qiu; Xiao-Hong, Yang

2018-01-01

Pyrolytic carbon (PyC) is a kind of biomaterial which is chemically inert and has excellent biocompatibility. In order to obtain a super-hydrophobic PyC surface to improve anticoagulation and inhibit thrombus, this study prepares grating pair structure, microhole array structure, helix structure on PyC surface by nanoseconds laser etching. Rod-like ZnO film and ball-like ZnO film are prepared on the PyC surface by the hydrothermal method; polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) nanofiber film and PVP/TiO 2 complex nanofiber film are prepared on the PyC surface by the electrospinning method; the PyC surface is silanized. Finally, surface microstructure and surface energy are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle meter (OCA20, German DataPhysics Co.). The periodical microstructures are formed respectively by nanoseconds laser etching. The surface roughness is increased by the hydrothermal and electrospinning method. Through infiltration experiment on rough and smooth PyC surfaces, rough PyC surface with microstructure is super-hydrophobic and has greater than 150° contact angle, which decreases blood flow resistance and inhibits thrombus.

Intercomparison of 7 Planetary Boundary-Layer/Surface-Layer Physics Schemes over Complex Terrain for Battlefield Situational Awareness

DTIC Science & Technology

This study considers the performance of 7 of the Weather Research and Forecast model boundary-layer (BL) parameterization schemes in a complex...schemes performed best. The surface parameters, planetary BL structure, and vertical profiles are important for US Army Research Laboratory

IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVATED CARBON'S OXYGEN SURFACE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS ON ELEMENTAL MERCURY ADSORPTION

EPA Science Inventory

The effect of varying physical and chemical properties of activated carbons on adsorption of elemental mercury [Hg(0)] was studied by treating two activated carbons to modify their surface functional groups and pore structures. Heat treatment (1200 K) in nitrogen (N2), air oxidat...

Correlated topographic and structural modification on Si surface during multi-shot femtosecond laser exposures: Si nanopolymorphs as potential local structural nanomarkers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionin, A. A.; Kudryashov, S. I.; Levchenko, A. O.; Nguyen, L. V.; Saraeva, I. N.; Rudenko, A. A.; Ageev, E. I.; Potorochin, D. V.; Veiko, V. P.; Borisov, E. V.; Pankin, D. V.; Kirilenko, D. A.; Brunkov, P. N.

2017-09-01

High-pressure Si-XII and Si-III nanocrystalline polymorphs, as well as amorphous Si phase, appear consequently during multi-shot femtosecond-laser exposure of crystalline Si wafer surface above its spallation threshold along with permanently developing quasi-regular surface texture (ripples, microcones), residual hydrostatic stresses and subsurface damage, which are characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as by Raman micro-spectroscopy. The consequent yields of these structural Si phases indicate not only their spatially different appearance, but also potentially enable to track nanoscale, transient laser-induced high-pressure, high-temperature physical processes - local variation of ablation mechanism and rate, pressurization/pressure release, melting/resolidification, amorphization, annealing - versus cumulative laser exposure and the related development of the surface topography.

The effect of structured triglycerides on the kinetic stability of total nutrient admixtures.

PubMed

Balogh, Judit; Bubenik, Júlia; Dredán, Judit; Csempesz, Ferenc; Kiss, Dorottya; Zelkó, Romána

2005-10-05

The physical stability of two types of total parenteral nutrient (TPN) admixtures was studied as a function of storage time and temperature. One of them contained only structured triglycerides and the other exclusively long-chain triglycerides as lipid components. Droplet size of the mixtures was followed by photon correlation spectroscopy for 10 days. Zeta potential and dynamic surface tension measurements were carried out to evaluate the possible changes in the charge and interfacial surface tension of the emulsion droplets during the storage. pH values were monitored in order to follow the possible decomposition processes in the course of storage. Droplet size of emulsions prepared with lipids containing exclusively long-chain triglycerides showed remarkable increase after 4 days of storage in contrast with that of the mixtures containing structured lipids. The obtained results indicate that besides the advantageous metabolic effects of structured triglycerides, their application is recommended to improve the physical stability of TPN admixtures.

Composites in small and simple devices to increase mixing on detector surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez, L. F.; Lima, R. R.; Leite, A. R.; Fachini, E. R.; Silva, M. L. P.

2013-03-01

This work aims at three different applications for the betterment of plasma generated-composite thin films: pre-mixing, spray formation in miniaturized structures and an increase in the performance of detector surfaces. Miniaturized structures were projected, simulated with FEMLAB® 3.2 software and then constructed. Clustered films made from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and nonafluoro(iso)butyl ether (HFE®) precursors were deposited on silicon, acrylic and quartz substrates for different kinds of film characterization/or in the projected structures. Physical and chemical characterization guided the selection of best films previous to/after UVC exposure. The active surfaces (plasma-deposited films) in structures were modified by UVC exposure and then tested. The applications include pre-mixing of liquids and/or spray formation, best results being obtained with surface covered by derivative-HFE films, which acted as passivation layers. Preliminary results show good humidity sensing for TEOS-derivative films.

Playing with Liquid Foams: Learning Physical Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ritacco, Hernan

2008-01-01

Who has never played with soap bubbles? They are so beautiful and amazing, they have a perfect spherical shape and surprising tints. Foams are structures of bubbles of an incredible complexity and they are a perfect system to stimulate students' interest in the chemistry and physics of surface phenomena. In this article I propose a simple…

LIDAR Measurements of the Vertical Distribution of Aerosol Optical and Physical Properties over Central Asia

EPA Science Inventory

The vertical structure of aerosol optical and physical properties was measured by Lidar in Eastern Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, from June 2008 to May 2009. Lidar measurements were supplemented with surface-based measurements of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ mass and chemical ...

Smallest Nanoelectronics with Adatom Chains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yamada, Toshishige; Saini, Subhash (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

This viewgraph presentation is focused on the general aspect of atomic chain electronics that I have been studying. Results have been published before, but are being rederived here using a new physical/mathematical picture/model, which deepens the physical understanding. Precise adatom structures can be used as a template on a regulated surface with no uncertainty.

[Properties of cell water].

PubMed

Gamaleĭ, I A; Kaulin, A B; Troshin, A S

1977-01-01

An attempt was made to analyse and summarize findings concerning water properties of animal and plant cells. From the physical evidence of surface influence on the structure of vicinal water layers, a conclusion is drawn that the structure and properties of cell water are likely to be affected by intracellular interfaces.

Phobos and Deimos: Satellites of Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zharkov, V. M.; Kozenko, A. V.

1986-01-01

The physical characteristics of Phobos and Deimos, satellites of Mars, are discussed. Phobos and Deimos are used as an example to discuss the probable internal structure of objects of this type and the structural formations on their surfaces. The history of astronomical observations of Mars is also described.

Development and characteristics of Mechanical Porous Ambient Comet Simulants as comet surface analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carey, Elizabeth M.; Peters, Gregory H.; Choukroun, Mathieu; Chu, Lauren; Carpenter, Emma; Cohen, Brooklin; Panossian, Lara; Zhou, Yu Meng; Sarkissian, Ani; Moreland, Scott; Shiraishi, Lori R.; Backes, Paul; Zacny, Kris; Green, Jacklyn R.; Raymond, Carol

2017-11-01

Comets are icy remnants of the Solar System formation, and as such contain some of the most primitive volatiles and organic materials. Sampling the surface of a comet is a high priority for the New Frontiers program. Planetary simulants are crucial to the development of adequate in situ instruments and sample acquisition systems. A high-fidelity comet surface simulant has been developed to support hardware design and development for one Comet Surface Sample Return tool, the BiBlade Comet Sampler. Mechanical Porous Ambient Comet Simulants (MPACS) can be manufactured to cover a wide range of desired physical properties, such as density and cone penetration resistance, and exhibit a brittle fracture mode. The structure of the MPACS materials is an aggregated composite structure of weakly-bonded grains of very small size (diameter ≤ 40 μm) that are most relevant to the structure of the surface of a comet nucleus.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanomaterials and Biopolymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Chengchen

Nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention in recent research due to their wide applications in various fields such as material science, physical science, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering. Researchers have developed many methods for synthesizing different types of nanostructures and have further applied them in various applications. However, in many cases, a molecular level understanding of nanoparticles and their associated surface chemistry is lacking investigation. Understanding the surface chemistry of nanomaterials is of great significance for obtaining a better understanding of the properties and functions of the nanomaterials. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can provide a familiar means of looking at the molecular structure of molecules bound to surfaces of nanomaterials as well as a method to determine the size of nanoparticles in solution. Here, a combination of NMR spectroscopic techniques including one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopies was used to investigate the surface chemistry and physical properties of some common nanomaterials, including for example, thiol-protected gold nanostructures and biomolecule-capped silica nanoparticles. Silk is a natural protein fiber that features unique properties such as excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and non-linear optical properties. These appealing physical properties originate from the silk structure, and therefore, the structural analysis of silk is of great importance for revealing the mystery of these impressive properties and developing novel silk-based biomaterials as well. Here, solid-state NMR spectroscopy was used to elucidate the secondary structure of silk proteins in N. clavipes spider dragline silk and B. mori silkworm silk. It is found that the Gly-Gly-X (X=Leu, Tyr, Gln) motif in spider dragline silk is not in a beta-sheet or alpha-helix structure and is very likely to be present in a disordered structure with evidence for 31-helix confirmation. In addition, the conformations of the Ala, Ser, and Tyr residues in silk fibroin of B. mori were investigated and it indicates that the Ala, Ser, and Tyr residues are all present in disordered structures in silk I (before spinning), while show different conformations in silk II (after spinning). Specifically, in silk II, the Ala and Tyr residues are present in both disordered structures and beta-sheet structures, and the Ser residues are present primarily in beta-sheet structures.

Atomic-scale visualization of surface-assisted orbital order

PubMed Central

Kim, Howon; Yoshida, Yasuo; Lee, Chi-Cheng; Chang, Tay-Rong; Jeng, Horng-Tay; Lin, Hsin; Haga, Yoshinori; Fisk, Zachary; Hasegawa, Yukio

2017-01-01

Orbital-related physics attracts growing interest in condensed matter research, but direct real-space access of the orbital degree of freedom is challenging. We report a first, real-space, imaging of a surface-assisted orbital ordered structure on a cobalt-terminated surface of the well-studied heavy fermion compound CeCoIn5. Within small tip-sample distances, the cobalt atoms on a cleaved (001) surface take on dumbbell shapes alternatingly aligned in the [100] and [010] directions in scanning tunneling microscopy topographies. First-principles calculations reveal that this structure is a consequence of the staggered dxz-dyz orbital order triggered by enhanced on-site Coulomb interaction at the surface. This so far overlooked surface-assisted orbital ordering may prevail in transition metal oxides, heavy fermion superconductors, and other materials. PMID:28948229

Magnetic and electrical control of engineered materials

DOEpatents

Schuller, Ivan K.; de La Venta Granda, Jose; Wang, Siming; Ramirez, Gabriel; Erekhinskiy, Mikhail; Sharoni, Amos

2016-08-16

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for controlling the magnetic and electrical properties of materials. In one aspect, a multi-layer structure includes a first layer comprising a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, and a second layer positioned within the multi-layer structure such that a first surface of the first layer is in direct physical contact with a second surface of the second layer. The second layer includes a material that undergoes structural phase transitions and metal-insulator transitions upon experiencing a change in temperature. One or both of the first and second layers are structured to allow a structural phase change associated with the second layer cause a change magnetic properties of the first layer.

Insights on multivariate updates of physical and biogeochemical ocean variables using an Ensemble Kalman Filter and an idealized model of upwelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Liuqian; Fennel, Katja; Bertino, Laurent; Gharamti, Mohamad El; Thompson, Keith R.

2018-06-01

Effective data assimilation methods for incorporating observations into marine biogeochemical models are required to improve hindcasts, nowcasts and forecasts of the ocean's biogeochemical state. Recent assimilation efforts have shown that updating model physics alone can degrade biogeochemical fields while only updating biogeochemical variables may not improve a model's predictive skill when the physical fields are inaccurate. Here we systematically investigate whether multivariate updates of physical and biogeochemical model states are superior to only updating either physical or biogeochemical variables. We conducted a series of twin experiments in an idealized ocean channel that experiences wind-driven upwelling. The forecast model was forced with biased wind stress and perturbed biogeochemical model parameters compared to the model run representing the "truth". Taking advantage of the multivariate nature of the deterministic Ensemble Kalman Filter (DEnKF), we assimilated different combinations of synthetic physical (sea surface height, sea surface temperature and temperature profiles) and biogeochemical (surface chlorophyll and nitrate profiles) observations. We show that when biogeochemical and physical properties are highly correlated (e.g., thermocline and nutricline), multivariate updates of both are essential for improving model skill and can be accomplished by assimilating either physical (e.g., temperature profiles) or biogeochemical (e.g., nutrient profiles) observations. In our idealized domain, the improvement is largely due to a better representation of nutrient upwelling, which results in a more accurate nutrient input into the euphotic zone. In contrast, assimilating surface chlorophyll improves the model state only slightly, because surface chlorophyll contains little information about the vertical density structure. We also show that a degradation of the correlation between observed subsurface temperature and nutrient fields, which has been an issue in several previous assimilation studies, can be reduced by multivariate updates of physical and biogeochemical fields.

Helicopter- and ship-based measurements of mesoscale ocean color and thermal features in the marginal ice zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanis, Fred J.; Manley, Thomas O.; Mitchell, Brian G.

1990-09-01

Eddies along the Polar Front/Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) in Fram Strait are thought to make important contributions to nutrient flux and stimulation of primary productivity. During the Coordinated Eastern Arctic Regional Experiment (CEAREX) helicopter-based measurements of upwelling radiance were made in four visible spectral bands and in the thermal IR across mesoscale features associated with the MIZ. These structures were mapped by flying a grid pattern over the ocean surface to define eddy boundaries. Subsequently, the area was also sampled vertically with CTD and spectral radiometer profilers. Data obtained from a single structure were integrated to construct a three dimensional picture of physical and optical properties. Volume modeling of temperature, salinity, and density fields obtained from CTD survey define the subsurface eddy structure and are in good agreement with infrared derived characteristics. Maximum temperature in the core was found to be four degrees higher than the surrounding water. Volume modeling further indicates that a subsurface layer of Arctic Intermediate Water is intrinsically associated with the surface expression of the eddy. The ratio of upwelling radiances, L(44l)/L(565), was found to be correlated to surface chlorophyll, particulate absorption coefficient, and in water determinations of L using the optical profiling system. The remote sensing reflectance ratio along with the IR sea surface temperature were found to be useful to detect the surface expression of the eddy and to indicate near surface biological and physical processes.

Modeling 2D and 3D periodic nanostructuring of materials with ultrafast laser pulses (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colombier, Jean-Philippe; Rudenko, Anton; Bévillon, Emile; Zhang, Hao; Itina, Tatiana E.; Stoian, Razvan

2017-03-01

Generation of periodic arrangements of matter on materials irradiated by laser fields of uniform and isotropic energy distribution is a key issue in controlling laser structuring processes below the diffractive limit. Using three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain methods, we evaluate energy deposition patterns below a material's rough surface [1] and in bulk dielectric materials containing randomly distributed nano-inhomogeneities [2]. We show that both surface and volume patterns can be attributed to spatially ordered electromagnetic solutions of linear and nonlinear Maxwell equations. In particular, simulations revealed that anisotropic energy deposition results from the coherent superposition of the incident and the inhomogeneity-scattered light waves. Transient electronic response is also analyzed by kinetic equations of free electron excitation/relaxation processes for dielectrics and by ab initio calculations for metals. They show that for nonplasmonic metals, ultrafast carrier excitation can drastically affect electronic structures, driving a transient surface plasmonic state with high consequences for optical resonances generation [3]. Comparing condition formations of 2D laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) and 3D self-organized nanogratings, we will discuss the role of collective scattering of nanoroughness and the feedback-driven growth of the nanostructures. [1] H. Zhang, J.P. Colombier, C. Li, N. Faure, G. Cheng, and R. Stoian, Physical Review B 92, 174109 (2015). [2] A. Rudenko, J.P. Colombier, and T.E. Itina, Physical Review B 93 (7), 075427 (2016). [3] E. Bévillon, J.P. Colombier, V. Recoules, H. Zhang, C. Li and R. Stoian, Physical Review B 93 (16), 165416 (2016).

Crystalline Structure and Surface Reactivity: Atomistic models are unique tools for dealing with the chemical and physical properties of surfaces.

PubMed

Gatos, H C

1962-08-03

The role of crystalline structure in the surface reactivity of predominantly covalent materials has been examined in terms of chemical bonding concepts. In this context a solid surface can be viewed as a giant lattice defect characterized by dangling bonds. Although it is difficult, at the present stage of development of the quantum mechanical approach to surfaces, to define precisely the perturbations resulting from the abrupt termination of the lattice at the surface, a host of experimental observations can be understood by assuming displacements of surface atoms and distortions of bonding configurations in accordance with simple chemical bonding principles. A purely atomistic approach has been shown to account not only for the chemical behavior but also for certain structural and electrical characteristics of the surfaces considered. A number of phenomena, such as crystal growth and the behavior of certain lattice defects (for example, dislocations), are intimately related to the presence of dangling bonds and the associated distortions of the lattice at the surface (32).

Condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces: the role of local energy barriers and structure length scale.

PubMed

Enright, Ryan; Miljkovic, Nenad; Al-Obeidi, Ahmed; Thompson, Carl V; Wang, Evelyn N

2012-10-09

Water condensation on surfaces is a ubiquitous phase-change process that plays a crucial role in nature and across a range of industrial applications, including energy production, desalination, and environmental control. Nanotechnology has created opportunities to manipulate this process through the precise control of surface structure and chemistry, thus enabling the biomimicry of natural surfaces, such as the leaves of certain plant species, to realize superhydrophobic condensation. However, this "bottom-up" wetting process is inadequately described using typical global thermodynamic analyses and remains poorly understood. In this work, we elucidate, through imaging experiments on surfaces with structure length scales ranging from 100 nm to 10 μm and wetting physics, how local energy barriers are essential to understand non-equilibrium condensed droplet morphologies and demonstrate that overcoming these barriers via nucleation-mediated droplet-droplet interactions leads to the emergence of wetting states not predicted by scale-invariant global thermodynamic analysis. This mechanistic understanding offers insight into the role of surface-structure length scale, provides a quantitative basis for designing surfaces optimized for condensation in engineered systems, and promises insight into ice formation on surfaces that initiates with the condensation of subcooled water.

Coupling physics and biogeochemistry thanks to high-resolution observations of the phytoplankton community structure in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marrec, Pierre; Grégori, Gérald; Doglioli, Andrea M.; Dugenne, Mathilde; Della Penna, Alice; Bhairy, Nagib; Cariou, Thierry; Hélias Nunige, Sandra; Lahbib, Soumaya; Rougier, Gilles; Wagener, Thibaut; Thyssen, Melilotus

2018-03-01

Fine-scale physical structures and ocean dynamics strongly influence and regulate biogeochemical and ecological processes. These processes are particularly challenging to describe and understand because of their ephemeral nature. The OSCAHR (Observing Submesoscale Coupling At High Resolution) campaign was conducted in fall 2015 in which a fine-scale structure (1-10 km/1-10 days) in the northwestern Mediterranean Ligurian subbasin was pre-identified using both satellite and numerical modeling data. Along the ship track, various variables were measured at the surface (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a and nutrient concentrations) with ADCP current velocity. We also deployed a new model of the CytoSense automated flow cytometer (AFCM) optimized for small and dim cells, for near real-time characterization of the surface phytoplankton community structure of surface waters with a spatial resolution of a few kilometers and an hourly temporal resolution. For the first time with this optimized version of the AFCM, we were able to fully resolve Prochlorococcus picocyanobacteria in addition to the easily distinguishable Synechococcus. The vertical physical dynamics and biogeochemical properties of the studied area were investigated by continuous high-resolution CTD profiles thanks to a moving vessel profiler (MVP) during the vessel underway associated with a high-resolution pumping system deployed during fixed stations allowing sampling of the water column at a fine resolution (below 1 m). The observed fine-scale feature presented a cyclonic structure with a relatively cold core surrounded by warmer waters. Surface waters were totally depleted in nitrate and phosphate. In addition to the doming of the isopycnals by the cyclonic circulation, an intense wind event induced Ekman pumping. The upwelled subsurface cold nutrient-rich water fertilized surface waters and was marked by an increase in Chl a concentration. Prochlorococcus and pico- and nano-eukaryotes were more abundant in cold core waters, while Synechococcus dominated in warm boundary waters. Nanoeukaryotes were the main contributors ( > 50 %) in terms of pigment content (red fluorescence) and biomass. Biological observations based on the mean cell's red fluorescence recorded by AFCM combined with physical properties of surface waters suggest a distinct origin for two warm boundary waters. Finally, the application of a matrix growth population model based on high-frequency AFCM measurements in warm boundary surface waters provides estimates of in situ growth rate and apparent net primary production for Prochlorococcus (μ = 0.21 d-1, NPP = 0.11 mg C m-3 d-1) and Synechococcus (μ = 0.72 d-1, NPP = 2.68 mg C m-3 d-1), which corroborate their opposite surface distribution pattern. The innovative adaptive strategy applied during OSCAHR with a combination of several multidisciplinary and complementary approaches involving high-resolution in situ observations and sampling, remote-sensing and model simulations provided a deeper understanding of the marine biogeochemical dynamics through the first trophic levels.

Entropic contributions enhance polarity compensation for CeO2(100) surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capdevila-Cortada, Marçal; López, Núria

2017-03-01

Surface structure controls the physical and chemical response of materials. Surface polar terminations are appealing because of their unusual properties but they are intrinsically unstable. Several mechanisms, namely metallization, adsorption, and ordered reconstructions, can remove thermodynamic penalties rendering polar surfaces partially stable. Here, for CeO2(100), we report a complementary stabilization mechanism based on surface disorder that has been unravelled through theoretical simulations that: account for surface energies and configurational entropies; show the importance of the ion distribution degeneracy; and identify low diffusion barriers between conformations that ensure equilibration. Disordered configurations in oxides might also be further stabilized by preferential adsorption of water. The entropic stabilization term will appear for surfaces with a high number of empty sites, typically achieved when removing part of the ions in a polar termination to make the layer charge zero. Assessing the impact of surface disorder when establishing new structure-activity relationships remains a challenge.

Implications of Polishing Techniques in Quantitative X-Ray Microanalysis

PubMed Central

Rémond, Guy; Nockolds, Clive; Phillips, Matthew; Roques-Carmes, Claude

2002-01-01

Specimen preparation using abrasives results in surface and subsurface mechanical (stresses, strains), geometrical (roughness), chemical (contaminants, reaction products) and physical modifications (structure, texture, lattice defects). The mechanisms involved in polishing with abrasives are presented to illustrate the effects of surface topography, surface and subsurface composition and induced lattice defects on the accuracy of quantitative x-ray microanalysis of mineral materials with the electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). PMID:27446758

Physical experiments and analysis on the generation and evolution of tsunami-induced turbulent coherent structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalligeris, Nikos; Lynett, Patrick

2017-11-01

Numerous historical accounts describe the formation of ``whirpools'' inside ports and harbors during tsunami events, causing port operation disruptions. Videos from the Japan 2011 tsunami revealed complex nearshore flow patters, resulting from the interaction of tsunami-induced currents with the man-made coastline, and the generation of large eddies (or turbulent coherent structures) in numerous ports and harbors near the earthquake epicenter. The aim of this work is to study the generation and evolution of tsunami-induced turbulent coherent structures (TCS) in a well-controlled environment using realistic scaling. A physical configuration is created in the image of a port entrance at a scale of 1:27 and a small-amplitude, long period wave creates a transient flow through the asymmetric harbor channel. A separated region forms, which coupled with the transient flow, leads to the formation of a stable monopolar TCS. The surface flow is examined through mono- and stereo-PTV techniques to extract surface velocity vectors. Surface velocity maps and vortex flow profiles are used to study the experimental TCS generation and evolution, and characterize the TCS structure. Analytical tools are used to describe the TCS growth rate and kinetic energy decay. This work was funded by the National Science Foundation NEES Research program, with Award Number 1135026.

Physical activity alters limb bone structure but not entheseal morphology.

PubMed

Wallace, Ian J; Winchester, Julia M; Su, Anne; Boyer, Doug M; Konow, Nicolai

2017-06-01

Studies of ancient human skeletal remains frequently proceed from the assumption that individuals with robust limb bones and/or rugose, hypertrophic entheses can be inferred to have been highly physically active during life. Here, we experimentally test this assumption by measuring the effects of exercise on limb bone structure and entheseal morphology in turkeys. Growing females were either treated with a treadmill-running regimen for 10 weeks or served as controls. After the experiment, femoral cortical and trabecular bone structure were quantified with μCT in the mid-diaphysis and distal epiphysis, respectively, and entheseal morphology was quantified in the lateral epicondyle. The results indicate that elevated levels of physical activity affect limb bone structure but not entheseal morphology. Specifically, animals subjected to exercise displayed enhanced diaphyseal and trabecular bone architecture relative to controls, but no significant difference was detected between experimental groups in entheseal surface topography. These findings suggest that diaphyseal and trabecular structure are more reliable proxies than entheseal morphology for inferring ancient human physical activity levels from skeletal remains. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A genetic algorithm approach in interface and surface structure optimization

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

Zhang, Jian

The thesis is divided into two parts. In the first part a global optimization method is developed for the interface and surface structures optimization. Two prototype systems are chosen to be studied. One is Si[001] symmetric tilted grain boundaries and the other is Ag/Au induced Si(111) surface. It is found that Genetic Algorithm is very efficient in finding lowest energy structures in both cases. Not only existing structures in the experiments can be reproduced, but also many new structures can be predicted using Genetic Algorithm. Thus it is shown that Genetic Algorithm is a extremely powerful tool for the materialmore » structures predictions. The second part of the thesis is devoted to the explanation of an experimental observation of thermal radiation from three-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal structures. The experimental results seems astounding and confusing, yet the theoretical models in the paper revealed the physics insight behind the phenomena and can well reproduced the experimental results.« less

SPONTANEOUS FORMATION OF SURFACE MAGNETIC STRUCTURE FROM LARGE-SCALE DYNAMO IN STRONGLY STRATIFIED CONVECTION

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

Masada, Youhei; Sano, Takayoshi, E-mail: ymasada@auecc.aichi-edu.ac.jp, E-mail: sano@ile.osaka-u.ac.jp

We report the first successful simulation of spontaneous formation of surface magnetic structures from a large-scale dynamo by strongly stratified thermal convection in Cartesian geometry. The large-scale dynamo observed in our strongly stratified model has physical properties similar to those in earlier weakly stratified convective dynamo simulations, indicating that the α {sup 2}-type mechanism is responsible for the dynamo. In addition to the large-scale dynamo, we find that large-scale structures of the vertical magnetic field are spontaneously formed in the convection zone (CZ) surface only in cases with a strongly stratified atmosphere. The organization of the vertical magnetic field proceedsmore » in the upper CZ within tens of convective turnover time and band-like bipolar structures recurrently appear in the dynamo-saturated stage. We consider several candidates to be possibly be the origin of the surface magnetic structure formation, and then suggest the existence of an as-yet-unknown mechanism for the self-organization of the large-scale magnetic structure, which should be inherent in the strongly stratified convective atmosphere.« less

Electric field effect on the electronic structure of 2D Y2C electride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Youngtek; Lee, Junsu; Park, Jongho; Kwon, Hyeokshin; Jeon, Insu; Wng Kim, Sung; Kim, Gunn; Park, Seongjun; Hwang, Sung Woo

2018-07-01

Electrides are ionic compounds in which electrons confined in the interstitial spaces serve as anions and are attractive owing to their exotic physical and chemical properties in terms of their low work function and efficient charge-transfer characteristics. Depending on the topology of the anionic electrons, the surface electronic structures of electrides can be significantly altered. In particular, the electronic structures of two-dimensional (2D) electride surfaces are of interest because the localized anionic electrons at the interlayer space can be naturally exposed to cleaved surfaces. In this paper, we report the electronic structure of 2D Y2C electride surface using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and first-principles calculations, which reveals that anionic electrons at a cleaved surface are absorbed by the surface and subsequently resurged onto the surface due to an applied electric field. We highlight that the estranged anionic electrons caused by the electric field occupy the slightly shifted crystallographic site compared with a bulk Y2C electride. We also measure the work function of the Y2C single crystal, and it shows a slightly lower value than the calculated one, which appears to be due to the electric field from the STM junction.

Physics through the 1990s: Condensed-matter physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The volume presents the current status of condensed-matter physics from developments since the 1970s to opportunities in the 1990s. Topics include electronic structure, vibrational properties, critical phenomena and phase transitions, magnetism, semiconductors, defects and diffusion, surfaces and interfaces, low-temperature physics, liquid-state physics, polymers, nonlinear dynamics, instabilities, and chaos. Appendices cover the connections between condensed-matter physics and applications of national interest, new experimental techniques and materials, laser spectroscopy, and national facilities for condensed-matter physics research. The needs of the research community regarding support for individual researchers and for national facilities are presented, as are recommendations for improved government-academic-industrial relations.

Structure and Biological Roles of Mucin-type O-glycans at the Ocular Surface

PubMed Central

Guzman-Aranguez, Ana; Argüeso, Pablo

2010-01-01

Mucins are major components in mucus secretions and apical cell membranes on wet-surfaced epithelia. Structurally, they are characterized by the presence of tandem repeat domains containing heavily O-glycosylated serine and threonine residues. O-glycans contribute to maintaining the highly extended and rigid structure of mucins, conferring to them specific physical and biological properties essential for their protective functions. At the ocular surface epithelia, mucin-type O-glycan chains are short and predominantly sialylated, perhaps reflecting specific requirements of the ocular surface. Traditionally, secreted mucins and their O-glycans in the tear film have been involved in the clearance of debris and pathogens from the surface of the eye. New evidence, however, shows that O-glycans on the cell-surface glycocalyx have additional biological roles in the protection of corneal and conjunctival epithelia, such as preventing bacterial adhesion, promoting boundary lubrication, and maintaining the epithelial barrier function through their interaction with galectin-3. Abnormalities in mucin-type O-glycosylation have been identified in many disorders where the stability of the ocular surface is compromised. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the structure, biosynthesis, and function of mucin-type O-glycans at the ocular surface and their alteration in ocular surface disease. PMID:20105403

Stem cell behavior on tailored porous oxide surface coatings.

PubMed

Lavenus, Sandrine; Poxson, David J; Ogievetsky, Nika; Dordick, Jonathan S; Siegel, Richard W

2015-07-01

Nanoscale surface topographies are known to have a profound influence on cell behavior, including cell guidance, migration, morphology, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we have observed the behavior of human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on a range of tailored porous SiO2 and TiO2 nanostructured surface coatings fabricated via glancing angle electron-beam deposition. By controlling the physical vapor deposition angle during fabrication, we could control systematically the deposited coating porosity, along with associated topographic features. Immunocytochemistry and image analysis quantitatively revealed the number of adherent cells, as well as their basic cellular morphology, on these surfaces. Signaling pathway studies showed that even with subtle changes in nanoscale surface structures, the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells was strongly influenced by the precise surface structures of these porous coatings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Algorithms for Determining Physical Responses of Structures Under Load

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, W. Lance; Ko, William L.

2012-01-01

Ultra-efficient real-time structural monitoring algorithms have been developed to provide extensive information about the physical response of structures under load. These algorithms are driven by actual strain data to measure accurately local strains at multiple locations on the surface of a structure. Through a single point load calibration test, these structural strains are then used to calculate key physical properties of the structure at each measurement location. Such properties include the structure s flexural rigidity (the product of the structure's modulus of elasticity, and its moment of inertia) and the section modulus (the moment of inertia divided by the structure s half-depth). The resulting structural properties at each location can be used to determine the structure s bending moment, shear, and structural loads in real time while the structure is in service. The amount of structural information can be maximized through the use of highly multiplexed fiber Bragg grating technology using optical time domain reflectometry and optical frequency domain reflectometry, which can provide a local strain measurement every 10 mm on a single hair-sized optical fiber. Since local strain is used as input to the algorithms, this system serves multiple purposes of measuring strains and displacements, as well as determining structural bending moment, shear, and loads for assessing real-time structural health. The first step is to install a series of strain sensors on the structure s surface in such a way as to measure bending strains at desired locations. The next step is to perform a simple ground test calibration. For a beam of length l (see example), discretized into n sections and subjected to a tip load of P that places the beam in bending, the flexural rigidity of the beam can be experimentally determined at each measurement location x. The bending moment at each station can then be determined for any general set of loads applied during operation.

Biosonar resolving power: echo-acoustic perception of surface structures in the submillimeter range.

PubMed

Simon, Ralph; Knörnschild, Mirjam; Tschapka, Marco; Schneider, Annkathrin; Passauer, Nadine; Kalko, Elisabeth K V; von Helversen, Otto

2014-01-01

The minimum distance for which two points still can be separated from each other defines the resolving power of a visual system. In an echo-acoustic context, the resolving power is usually measured as the smallest perceivable distance of two reflecting surfaces on the range axis and is found to be around half a millimeter for bats employing frequency modulated (FM) echolocation calls. Only few studies measured such thresholds with physical objects, most often bats were trained on virtual echoes i.e., echoes generated and played back by a computer; moreover, bats were sitting while they received the stimuli. In these studies differences in structure depth between 200 and 340 μm were found. However, these low thresholds were never verified for free-flying bats and real physical objects. Here, we show behavioral evidence that the echo-acoustic resolving power for surface structures in fact can be as low as measured for computer generated echoes and even lower, sometimes below 100 μm. We found this exceptional fine discrimination ability only when one of the targets showed spectral interferences in the frequency range of the bats' echolocation call while the other target did not. This result indicates that surface structure is likely to be perceived as a spectral quality rather than being perceived strictly in the time domain. Further, it points out that sonar resolving power directly depends on the highest frequency/shortest wavelength of the signal employed.

Biosonar resolving power: echo-acoustic perception of surface structures in the submillimeter range

PubMed Central

Simon, Ralph; Knörnschild, Mirjam; Tschapka, Marco; Schneider, Annkathrin; Passauer, Nadine; Kalko, Elisabeth K. V.; von Helversen, Otto

2014-01-01

The minimum distance for which two points still can be separated from each other defines the resolving power of a visual system. In an echo-acoustic context, the resolving power is usually measured as the smallest perceivable distance of two reflecting surfaces on the range axis and is found to be around half a millimeter for bats employing frequency modulated (FM) echolocation calls. Only few studies measured such thresholds with physical objects, most often bats were trained on virtual echoes i.e., echoes generated and played back by a computer; moreover, bats were sitting while they received the stimuli. In these studies differences in structure depth between 200 and 340 μm were found. However, these low thresholds were never verified for free-flying bats and real physical objects. Here, we show behavioral evidence that the echo-acoustic resolving power for surface structures in fact can be as low as measured for computer generated echoes and even lower, sometimes below 100 μm. We found this exceptional fine discrimination ability only when one of the targets showed spectral interferences in the frequency range of the bats′ echolocation call while the other target did not. This result indicates that surface structure is likely to be perceived as a spectral quality rather than being perceived strictly in the time domain. Further, it points out that sonar resolving power directly depends on the highest frequency/shortest wavelength of the signal employed. PMID:24616703

A novel approach to enhancement of surface properties of CdO films by using surfactant: dextrin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, Bünyamin; Bayansal, Fatih; Yüksel, Mustafa

2015-12-01

We studied the effect of an organic surfactant, dextrin, concentration on structural, morphological and optical properties of nanostructured CdO films deposited on glass substrates by using an easy and low-cost SILAR method. Microstructures of the nanostructured CdO films were optimized by adjusting dextrin concentration. XRD, SEM and UV-Vis Spectroscopy were used to study phase structure, surface morphology and optical properties of CdO films. Furthermore, effects of dextrin concentration on the surface roughness characteristics of CdO samples were reported. The results showed that the presence of organic surfactant highly affected the physical properties of CdO nanomaterials.

Structure-Property Relationships of Polymer Brushes in Restricted Geometries and their Utilization as Ultra-Low Lubricants

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

Kuhl, Tonya Lynn; Faller, Roland

2015-09-28

Though polymer films are widely used to modify or tailor the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of interfaces in both solid and liquid systems, the rational design of interface- or surface-active polymer modifiers has been hampered by a lack of information about the behavior and structure-property relationships of this class of molecules. This is especially true for systems in which the role of the polymer is to modify the interaction between two solid surfaces in intimate contact and under load, to cause them to be mechanically coupled (e.g. to promote adhesion and wetting) or to minimize their interaction (e.g. lubrication,more » colloidal stabilization, etc.). Detailed structural information on these systems has largely been precluded by the many difficulties and challenges associated with direct experimental measurements of polymer structure in these geometries. As a result, many practitioners have been forced to employ indirect measurements or rely wholly on theoretical modeling. This has resulted in an incomplete understanding of the structure-property relationships, which are relied upon for the rational design of improved polymer modifiers. Over the course of this current research program, we made direct measurements of the structure of polymers at the interface between two solid surfaces under confinement and elucidated the fundamental physics behind these phenomena using atomistic and coarse grained simulations. The research has potential to lead to new lubricants and wear reducing agents to improve efficiency.« less

Recent advances in the biomimicry of structural colours.

PubMed

Dumanli, Ahu Gümrah; Savin, Thierry

2016-12-21

Nature has mastered the construction of nanostructures with well-defined macroscopic effects and purposes. Structural colouration is a visible consequence of the particular patterning of a reflecting surface with regular structures at submicron length scales. Structural colours usually appear bright, shiny, iridescent or with a metallic look, as a result of physical processes such as diffraction, interference, or scattering with a typically small dissipative loss. These features have recently attracted much research effort in materials science, chemistry, engineering and physics, in order to understand and produce structural colours. In these early stages of photonics, researchers facing an infinite array of possible colour-producing structures are heavily inspired by the elaborate architectures they find in nature. We review here the recent technological strategies employed to artificially mimic the structural colours found in nature, as well as some of their current and potential applications.

Anatase (101)-like Structural Model Revealed for Metastable Rutile TiO2(011) Surface.

PubMed

Xu, Meiling; Shao, Sen; Gao, Bo; Lv, Jian; Li, Quan; Wang, Yanchao; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Lijun; Ma, Yanming

2017-03-08

Titanium dioxide has been widely used as an efficient transition metal oxide photocatalyst. However, its photocatalytic activity is limited to the ultraviolet spectrum range due to the large bandgap beyond 3 eV. Efforts to reduce the bandgap to achieve a broader spectrum range of light absorption have been successfully attempted via the experimental synthesis of dopant-free metastable surface structures of rutile-type TiO 2 (011) 2 × 1. This new surface phase possesses a reduced bandgap of ∼2.1 eV, showing great potential for an excellent photocatalyst covering a wide range of visible light. There is a need to establish the atomistic structure of this metastable surface to understand the physical cause for the bandgap reduction and to improve the future design of photocatalysts. Here, we report computational investigations in an effort to unravel this surface structure via swarm structure-searching simulations. The established structure adopts the anatase (101)-like structure model, where the topmost 2-fold O atoms form a quasi-hexagonal surface pattern and bond with the unsaturated 5-fold and 4-fold Ti atoms in the next layer. The predicted anatase (101)-like surface model can naturally explain the experimental observation of the STM images, the electronic bandgap, and the oxidation state of Ti 4+ . Dangling bonds on the anatase (101)-like surface are abundant making it a superior photocatalyst. First-principles molecular dynamics simulations have supported the high photocatalytic activity by showing that water and formic acid molecules dissociate spontaneously on the anatase (101)-like surface.

Biophysical model of bacterial cell interactions with nanopatterned cicada wing surfaces.

PubMed

Pogodin, Sergey; Hasan, Jafar; Baulin, Vladimir A; Webb, Hayden K; Truong, Vi Khanh; Phong Nguyen, The Hong; Boshkovikj, Veselin; Fluke, Christopher J; Watson, Gregory S; Watson, Jolanta A; Crawford, Russell J; Ivanova, Elena P

2013-02-19

The nanopattern on the surface of Clanger cicada (Psaltoda claripennis) wings represents the first example of a new class of biomaterials that can kill bacteria on contact based solely on their physical surface structure. The wings provide a model for the development of novel functional surfaces that possess an increased resistance to bacterial contamination and infection. We propose a biophysical model of the interactions between bacterial cells and cicada wing surface structures, and show that mechanical properties, in particular cell rigidity, are key factors in determining bacterial resistance/sensitivity to the bactericidal nature of the wing surface. We confirmed this experimentally by decreasing the rigidity of surface-resistant strains through microwave irradiation of the cells, which renders them susceptible to the wing effects. Our findings demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating cicada wing nanopatterns into the design of antibacterial nanomaterials. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

MODELING AGGREGATE EXPOSURE AND DOSE OF CHILDREN TO A WOOD TREATMENT PRESERVATIVE FROM PLAYSETS AND HOME DECKS

EPA Science Inventory

Pressure- or non-pressure- treated lumber may pose a potential health hazard to children if the children contact certain chemicals in soils around leaching wood structures and/or in dislodgeable residues that may form on the wood surfaces of the structures. A physically-based,...

Modeling and simulation of protein-surface interactions: achievements and challenges.

PubMed

Ozboyaci, Musa; Kokh, Daria B; Corni, Stefano; Wade, Rebecca C

2016-01-01

Understanding protein-inorganic surface interactions is central to the rational design of new tools in biomaterial sciences, nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. Although a significant amount of experimental research on protein adsorption onto solid substrates has been reported, many aspects of the recognition and interaction mechanisms of biomolecules and inorganic surfaces are still unclear. Theoretical modeling and simulations provide complementary approaches for experimental studies, and they have been applied for exploring protein-surface binding mechanisms, the determinants of binding specificity towards different surfaces, as well as the thermodynamics and kinetics of adsorption. Although the general computational approaches employed to study the dynamics of proteins and materials are similar, the models and force-fields (FFs) used for describing the physical properties and interactions of material surfaces and biological molecules differ. In particular, FF and water models designed for use in biomolecular simulations are often not directly transferable to surface simulations and vice versa. The adsorption events span a wide range of time- and length-scales that vary from nanoseconds to days, and from nanometers to micrometers, respectively, rendering the use of multi-scale approaches unavoidable. Further, changes in the atomic structure of material surfaces that can lead to surface reconstruction, and in the structure of proteins that can result in complete denaturation of the adsorbed molecules, can create many intermediate structural and energetic states that complicate sampling. In this review, we address the challenges posed to theoretical and computational methods in achieving accurate descriptions of the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of protein-surface systems. In this context, we discuss the applicability of different modeling and simulation techniques ranging from quantum mechanics through all-atom molecular mechanics to coarse-grained approaches. We examine uses of different sampling methods, as well as free energy calculations. Furthermore, we review computational studies of protein-surface interactions and discuss the successes and limitations of current approaches.

Controlling surface-plasmon-polaritons launching with hot spot cylindrical waves in a metallic slit structure.

PubMed

Yao, Wenjie; Sun, Chengwei; Gong, Qihuang; Chen, Jianjun

2016-09-23

Plasmonic nanostructures, which are used to generate surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), always involve sharp corners where the charges can accumulate. This can result in strong localized electromagnetic fields at the metallic corners, forming the hot spots. The influence of the hot spots on the propagating SPPs are investigated theoretically and experimentally in a metallic slit structure. It is found that the electromagnetic fields radiated from the hot spots, termed as the hot spot cylindrical wave (HSCW), can greatly manipulate the SPP launching in the slit structure. The physical mechanism behind the manipulation of the SPP launching with the HSCW is explicated by a semi-analytic model. By using the HSCW, unidirectional SPP launching is experimentally realized in an ultra-small metallic step-slit structure. The HSCW bridges the localized surface plasmons and the propagating surface plasmons in an integrated platform and thus may pave a new route to the design of plasmonic devices and circuits.

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

Li, Haoxiang; Zhou, Xiaoqing; Nummy, Thomas

Layered nickelates have the potential for exotic physics similar to high T C superconducting cuprates as they have similar crystal structures and these transition metals are neighbors in the periodic table. Here we present an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of the trilayer nickelate La 4Ni 3O 10 revealing its electronic structure and correlations, finding strong resemblances to the cuprates as well as a few key differences. We find a large hole Fermi surface that closely resembles the Fermi surface of optimally hole-doped cuprates, including its d x2-y2 orbital character, hole filling level, and strength of electronic correlations. However, inmore » contrast to cuprates, La 4Ni 3O 10 has no pseudogap in the d x2-y2 band, while it has an extra band of principally d 3z2-r2 orbital character, which presents a low temperature energy gap. Furthermore, these aspects drive the nickelate physics, with the differences from the cuprate electronic structure potentially shedding light on the origin of superconductivity in the cuprates.« less

Application of normal mode theory to seismic source and structure problems: Seismic investigations of upper mantle lateral heterogeneity. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Okal, E. A.

1978-01-01

The theory of the normal modes of the earth is investigated and used to build synthetic seismograms in order to solve source and structural problems. A study is made of the physical properties of spheroidal modes leading to a rational classification. Two problems addressed are the observability of deep isotropic seismic sources and the investigation of the physical properties of the earth in the neighborhood of the Core-Mantle boundary, using SH waves diffracted at the core's surface. Data sets of seismic body and surface waves are used in a search for possible deep lateral heterogeneities in the mantle. In both cases, it is found that seismic data do not require structural differences between oceans and continents to extend deeper than 250 km. In general, differences between oceans and continents are found to be on the same order of magnitude as the intrinsic lateral heterogeneity in the oceanic plate brought about by the aging of the oceanic lithosphere.

Micro- and nano-scale damage on the surface of W divertor component during exposure to high heat flux loads with He

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, C.; Greuner, H.; Zhao, S. X.; Böswirth, B.; Luo, G. N.; Zhou, X.; Jia, Y. Z.; Liu, X.; Liu, W.

2015-11-01

Micro- and nano-scale surface damage on a W divertor component sample exposed to high heat flux loads generated with He atoms has been investigated through SEM, EBSD, AFM and FIB-SEM. The component sample was supplied by the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and AT&M company, China, and the loading experiment was performed in the GLADIS facility at IPP Garching, Germany. Two typical damage structures were observed on the surface: the first one is characterized by obvious blisters and some grooves formed from ruptured blisters, and the other one is a kind of porous structure accompanying with at least ∼25 nm surface material loss. As the grain orientation is further away from <111>, the damage morphology gradually changes from the former structure to the latter. The possible damage mechanism is discussed.

A Hybrid Numerical Analysis Method for Structural Health Monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forth, Scott C.; Staroselsky, Alexander

2001-01-01

A new hybrid surface-integral-finite-element numerical scheme has been developed to model a three-dimensional crack propagating through a thin, multi-layered coating. The finite element method was used to model the physical state of the coating (far field), and the surface integral method was used to model the fatigue crack growth. The two formulations are coupled through the need to satisfy boundary conditions on the crack surface and the external boundary. The coupling is sufficiently weak that the surface integral mesh of the crack surface and the finite element mesh of the uncracked volume can be set up independently. Thus when modeling crack growth, the finite element mesh can remain fixed for the duration of the simulation as the crack mesh is advanced. This method was implemented to evaluate the feasibility of fabricating a structural health monitoring system for real-time detection of surface cracks propagating in engine components. In this work, the authors formulate the hybrid surface-integral-finite-element method and discuss the mechanical issues of implementing a structural health monitoring system in an aircraft engine environment.

Nanostructured mesoporous silica: influence of the preparation conditions on the physical-surface properties for efficient organic dye uptake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morsi, Rania E.; Mohamed, Rasha S.

2018-03-01

A series of ordered mesoporous silica such as MCM-41, SBA-3 and SBA-15, in addition to silica micro- (SM) and nano- (SN) mesoporous particles, were prepared. The preparation conditions were found to greatly influence the physical-surface properties including morphological structure, porosity, particle size, aggregate average size, surface area, pore size, pore volume and zeta potential of the prepared silica, while the chemical structure, predicted from FT-IR spectra, and the diffraction patterns, predicted from wide-angle X-ray diffraction spectra, were identical. Surface areas of approximately 1500, 1027, 600, 552 and 317 m2 g-1, pore volumes of 0.93, 0.56, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.5 cm3 g-1, radii of 2.48, 2.2, 5.66, 6.6 and 8.98 nm, average aggregate sizes of 56, 65.4, 220.9, 73, 61.1 and 261 nm and zeta potential values of -32.8, -46.1, -26.3, -31.4 and -25.9 mV were obtained for MCM-41, SBA-3, SBA-15, SN and SM, respectively. Methylene blue dye uptake capacity of the prepared silica types was investigated using the batch technique and, in addition, the most effective material was further studied by the column flow system. The kinetics and isotherms of the uptake process were studied. The morphological structure, surface area, pore radius and zeta potential values were the most correlated factors.

Nanostructured mesoporous silica: influence of the preparation conditions on the physical-surface properties for efficient organic dye uptake.

PubMed

Morsi, Rania E; Mohamed, Rasha S

2018-03-01

A series of ordered mesoporous silica such as MCM-41, SBA-3 and SBA-15, in addition to silica micro- (SM) and nano- (SN) mesoporous particles, were prepared. The preparation conditions were found to greatly influence the physical-surface properties including morphological structure, porosity, particle size, aggregate average size, surface area, pore size, pore volume and zeta potential of the prepared silica, while the chemical structure, predicted from FT-IR spectra, and the diffraction patterns, predicted from wide-angle X-ray diffraction spectra, were identical. Surface areas of approximately 1500, 1027, 600, 552 and 317 m 2  g -1 , pore volumes of 0.93, 0.56, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.5 cm 3  g -1 , radii of 2.48, 2.2, 5.66, 6.6 and 8.98 nm, average aggregate sizes of 56, 65.4, 220.9, 73, 61.1 and 261 nm and zeta potential values of -32.8, -46.1, -26.3, -31.4 and -25.9 mV were obtained for MCM-41, SBA-3, SBA-15, SN and SM, respectively. Methylene blue dye uptake capacity of the prepared silica types was investigated using the batch technique and, in addition, the most effective material was further studied by the column flow system. The kinetics and isotherms of the uptake process were studied. The morphological structure, surface area, pore radius and zeta potential values were the most correlated factors.

Simulating and discussion on surface plasmon typical optical properties of patterned periodic metallic nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Runhan; Yuan, Ying; Long, Huabao; Peng, Sha; Wei, Dong; Zhang, Xinyu; Wang, Haiwei; Xie, Changsheng

2018-02-01

The intense surface plasmons (SPs) can be generated by patterned metal nano-structure arrays, through coupling incident light onto the functioned metal surface, so as to construct highly constrained surface electromagnetic modes. Therefore, a localized micro-nano-field array with a highly compressed surface electron distribution, can also be shaped and even nano-focused over the surface, which will lead to a lot of special physical effects such as anti-reflection effect, and thus indicate many new potential applications in the field of nano-photonics and -optoelectronics. In this paper, several typical patterned sub-wavelength metal nano-structure arrays were designed according to the process, in which common silicon wafer was employed as the substrate material and aluminum as the metal film with different structural size and arrangement circle. In addition, by adjusting the dielectric constant of metal material appropriately, the power control effect on metallic nanostructure was simulated. The key properties such as the excitation intensity of the surface plasmons were studied by simulating the reflectivity characteristic curves and the electric field distribution of the nanostructure excited by incident infrared beams. It is found that the angle of corners, the arrangement cycle and the metal material properties of the patterned nano-structures can be utilized as key factors to control the excitation intensity of surface plasmons.

Band structure engineering strategies of metal oxide semiconductor nanowires and related nanostructures: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piyadasa, Adimali; Wang, Sibo; Gao, Pu-Xian

2017-07-01

The electronic band structure of a solid state semiconductor determines many of its physical and chemical characteristics such as electrical, optical, physicochemical, and catalytic activity. Alteration or modification of the band structure could lead to significant changes in these physical and chemical characteristics, therefore we introduce new mechanisms of creating novel solid state materials with interesting properties. Over the past three decades, research on band structure engineering has allowed development of various methods to modify the band structure of engineered materials. Compared to bulk counterparts, nanostructures generally exhibit higher band structure modulation capabilities due to the quantum confinement effect, prominent surface effect, and higher strain limit. In this review we will discuss various band structure engineering strategies in semiconductor nanowires and other related nanostructures, mostly focusing on metal oxide systems. Several important strategies of band structure modulation are discussed in detail, such as doping, alloying, straining, interface and core-shell nanostructuring.

Numerical Simulations of Granular Physics in the Solar System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballouz, Ronald

2017-08-01

Granular physics is a sub-discipline of physics that attempts to combine principles that have been developed for both solid-state physics and engineering (such as soil mechanics) with fluid dynamics in order to formulate a coherent theory for the description of granular materials, which are found in both terrestrial (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, and pharmaceuticals) and extra-terrestrial settings (e.g., asteroids surfaces, asteroid interiors, and planetary ring systems). In the case of our solar system, the growth of this sub-discipline has been key in helping to interpret the formation, structure, and evolution of both asteroids and planetary rings. It is difficult to develop a deterministic theory for granular materials due to the fact that granular systems are composed of a large number of elements that interact through a non-linear combination of various forces (mechanical, gravitational, and electrostatic, for example) leading to a high degree of stochasticity. Hence, we study these environments using an N-body code, pkdgrav, that is able to simulate the gravitational, collisional, and cohesive interactions of grains. Using pkdgrav, I have studied the size segregation on asteroid surfaces due to seismic shaking (the Brazil-nut effect), the interaction of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission sampling head, TAGSAM, with the surface of the asteroid Bennu, the collisional disruptions of rubble-pile asteroids, and the formation of structure in Saturn's rings. In all of these scenarios, I have found that the evolution of a granular system depends sensitively on the intrinsic properties of the individual grains (size, shape, sand surface roughness). For example, through our simulations, we have been able to determine relationships between regolith properties and the amount of surface penetration a spacecraft achieves upon landing. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that this relationship also depends on the strength of the local gravity. By comparing our numerical results to laboratory experiments and observations by spacecraft we can begin to understand which microscopic properties (i.e., grain properties) control the macroscopic properties of the system. For example, we can compare the mechanical response of a spacecraft to landing or Cassini observations of Saturn's ring to understand how the penetration depth of a spacecraft or the complex optical depth structure of a ring system depends on the size and surface properties of the grains in those systems.

Effect of ammonia and methane adsorption on the electronic structure of undoped and Fe-doped 2D silica: a first-principles calculation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chibisov, A. N.; Chibisova, M. A.

2018-05-01

Two-dimensional silicon oxide (2D SiO2) is a unique surface phase with interesting optical, structural and electronic properties. In this study, important novel results on the effect of Fe on the structural and electronic properties of 2D SiO2 during adsorption of CH4 and NH3 molecules are presented. Density functional theory calculations are used to investigate the interaction of CH4 and NH3 molecules with silica. The electronic structure and molecules adsorption energy are studied in detail for undoped and Fe-doped surfaces. The results show that adsorption of CH4 and NH3 molecules on the surface decreases the spin polarization of Fe/SiO2. The results are relevant to understanding the adsorption physics of 2D SiO2 for practical usage in modern nanoelectronic sensors for nanotechnology and optoelectronics.

Activated carbon from biomass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manocha, S.; Manocha, L. M.; Joshi, Parth; Patel, Bhavesh; Dangi, Gaurav; Verma, Narendra

2013-06-01

Activated carbon are unique and versatile adsorbents having extended surface area, micro porous structure, universal adsorption effect, high adsorption capacity and high degree of surface reactivity. Activated carbons are synthesized from variety of materials. Most commonly used on a commercial scale are cellulosic based precursors such as peat, coal, lignite wood and coconut shell. Variation occurs in precursors in terms of structure and carbon content. Coir having very low bulk density and porous structure is found to be one of the valuable raw materials for the production of highly porous activated carbon and other important factor is its high carbon content. Exploration of good low cost and non conventional adsorbent may contribute to the sustainability of the environment and offer promising benefits for the commercial purpose in future. Carbonization of biomass was carried out in a horizontal muffle furnace. Both carbonization and activation were performed in inert nitrogen atmosphere in one step to enhance the surface area and to develop interconnecting porosity. The types of biomass as well as the activation conditions determine the properties and the yield of activated carbon. Activated carbon produced from biomass is cost effective as it is easily available as a waste biomass. Activated carbon produced by combination of chemical and physical activation has higher surface area of 2442 m2/gm compared to that produced by physical activation (1365 m2/gm).

The effects of trawling on the properties of surface sediments in the Lagoon of Venice, Italy.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aspden, R.; Vardy, S.; Perkins, R.; Davidson, I.; Paterson, D. M.

2003-04-01

The effects of trawling for clams in two differently impacted areas of the Lagoon of Venice were investigated. The Lagoon has an area of 55,000 hectares and the trawling of clams (Tapes phippinarum) has important socio-economic and environmental implications for the area. Bottom trawling has been shown to have large disruptive effects on the structure of benthic communities but the relationship of this to the stability and structure of the surface sediments is still unclear. The sediment stability, grain size, bulk and colloidal carbohydrate content, total organic carbon, chlorophyll a content, and sediment dry bulk density were measured in order to determine the effects of dredging on the physical and biological properties of the lagoon surface sediments. The sediments were more stable at the less impacted site and biological measurements from the same site indicated a relatively low capacity for biogenic stabilisation of sediments. Measurements were taken before and after trawling had occurred. At the less impacted site all biological properties were significantly different before and after the disturbance event, the only physical property to be significantly different was water content. At the highly impacted site the disturbance event had only a small effect on the biological and physical properties of the sediments. Only chlorophyll a content was significantly different before and after the trawl. The results suggest that frequent trawling of the lagoon will reduce the stability of the surface sediments due to the effects on the bulk strength of the sediments and on the biological status of the surface sediments.

Assessing uncertainty and sensitivity of model parameterizations and parameters in WRF affecting simulated surface fluxes and land-atmosphere coupling over the Amazon region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Y.; Wang, C.; Huang, M.; Berg, L. K.; Duan, Q.; Feng, Z.; Shrivastava, M. B.; Shin, H. H.; Hong, S. Y.

2016-12-01

This study aims to quantify the relative importance and uncertainties of different physical processes and parameters in affecting simulated surface fluxes and land-atmosphere coupling strength over the Amazon region. We used two-legged coupling metrics, which include both terrestrial (soil moisture to surface fluxes) and atmospheric (surface fluxes to atmospheric state or precipitation) legs, to diagnose the land-atmosphere interaction and coupling strength. Observations made using the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Mobile Facility during the GoAmazon field campaign together with satellite and reanalysis data are used to evaluate model performance. To quantify the uncertainty in physical parameterizations, we performed a 120 member ensemble of simulations with the WRF model using a stratified experimental design including 6 cloud microphysics, 3 convection, 6 PBL and surface layer, and 3 land surface schemes. A multiple-way analysis of variance approach is used to quantitatively analyze the inter- and intra-group (scheme) means and variances. To quantify parameter sensitivity, we conducted an additional 256 WRF simulations in which an efficient sampling algorithm is used to explore the multiple-dimensional parameter space. Three uncertainty quantification approaches are applied for sensitivity analysis (SA) of multiple variables of interest to 20 selected parameters in YSU PBL and MM5 surface layer schemes. Results show consistent parameter sensitivity across different SA methods. We found that 5 out of 20 parameters contribute more than 90% total variance, and first-order effects dominate comparing to the interaction effects. Results of this uncertainty quantification study serve as guidance for better understanding the roles of different physical processes in land-atmosphere interactions, quantifying model uncertainties from various sources such as physical processes, parameters and structural errors, and providing insights for improving the model physics parameterizations.

Software Package Completed for Alloy Design at the Atomic Level

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bozzolo, Guillermo H.; Noebe, Ronald D.; Abel, Phillip B.; Good, Brian S.

2001-01-01

As a result of a multidisciplinary effort involving solid-state physics, quantum mechanics, and materials and surface science, the first version of a software package dedicated to the atomistic analysis of multicomponent systems was recently completed. Based on the BFS (Bozzolo, Ferrante, and Smith) method for the calculation of alloy and surface energetics, this package includes modules devoted to the analysis of many essential features that characterize any given alloy or surface system, including (1) surface structure analysis, (2) surface segregation, (3) surface alloying, (4) bulk crystalline material properties and atomic defect structures, and (5) thermal processes that allow us to perform phase diagram calculations. All the modules of this Alloy Design Workbench 1.0 (ADW 1.0) are designed to run in PC and workstation environments, and their operation and performance are substantially linked to the needs of the user and the specific application.

Evaluation of mechanical properties in metal wire mesh supported selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajath, S.; Siddaraju, C.; Nandakishora, Y.; Roy, Sukumar

2018-04-01

The objective of this research is to evaluate certain specific mechanical properties of certain stainless steel wire mesh supported Selective catalytic reduction catalysts structures wherein the physical properties of the metal wire mesh and also its surface treatments played vital role thereby influencing the mechanical properties. As the adhesion between the stainless steel wire mesh and the catalyst material determines the bond strength and the erosion resistance of catalyst structures, surface modifications of the metal- wire mesh structure in order to facilitate the interface bonding is therefore very important to realize enhanced level of mechanical properties. One way to enhance such adhesion properties, the stainless steel wire mesh is treated with the various acids, i.e., chromic acid, phosphoric acid including certain mineral acids and combination of all those in various molar ratios that could generate surface active groups on metal surface that promotes good interface structure between the metal- wire mesh and metal oxide-based catalyst material and then the stainless steel wire mesh is dipped in the glass powder slurry containing some amount of organic binder. As a result of which the said catalyst material adheres to the metal-wire mesh surface more effectively that improves the erosion profile of supported catalysts structure including bond strength.

The fundamental surface science of wurtzite gallium nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bermudez, V. M.

2017-09-01

A review is presented that covers the experimental and theoretical literature relating to the preparation, electronic structure and chemical and physical properties of the surfaces of the wurtzite form of GaN. The discussion includes the adsorption of various chemical elements and of inorganic, organometallic and organic species. The focus is on work that contributes to a microscopic, atomistic understanding of GaN surfaces and interfaces, and the review concludes with an assessment of possible future directions.

What is Ecosystem Structure?

Treesearch

RANDALL W. MYSTER

2001-01-01

Ecosystems were originally defined as units of the earth’s surface, that is the whole system including the organisms and the physical factors that form the environment (Tansley, 1935). As the study of ecosystem ecology evolved, ecosystems came to be categorized by their function and structure (Odum, 1953) with an emphasis on integration and indirect interaction (Muller...

Laser induced hierarchical calcium phosphate structures.

PubMed

Kurella, Anil; Dahotre, Narendra B

2006-11-01

The surface properties of biomedical implant materials control the dynamic interactions at tissue-implant interfaces. At such interfaces, if the nanoscale features influence protein interactions, those of the microscale and mesoscale aid cell orientation and provide tissue integration, respectively. It seems imperative that the synthetic materials expected to replace natural hard tissues are engineered to mimic the complexity of their hierarchical assembly. However, the current surface engineering approaches are single scaled. It is demonstrated that using laser surface engineering a controlled multiscale surface can be synthesized for bioactive functions. A systematic organization of bioactive calcium phosphate coating with multiphase composition on Ti-alloy substrate ranging from nano- to mesoscale has been achieved by effectively controlling the thermo physical interactions during laser processing. The morphology of the coating consisted of a periodic arrangement of Ti-rich and Ca-P-deficient star-like phases uniformly distributed inside a Ca-P-rich self-assembled cellular structure with the presence of CaO, alpha-tricalcium phosphate, CaTiO(3), TiO(2) and Ti phase in the coating matrix. The cellular structures ranged in diameter from 2.5 microm to 10 microm as an assembly of cuboid shaped particles of dimensions of approximately 200 nm x 1 microm. The multiscale texture also included nanoscale particles that are the precursors for many of these phases. The rapid cooling associated with the laser processing resulted in formation, organization and controlling dimensions of the Ca-P-rich glassy phase into a micron scale cellular morphology and submicron scale clusters of CaTiO(3) phase inside the cellular structures. The self-assembly of the coating into multiscale structure was influenced by chemical and physical interactions among the multiphases that evolved during laser processing.

Using Airborne Radar Stratigraphy to Model Surface Accumulation Anomaly and Basal Control over Deformed Basal Ice in Greenland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, I.; Bell, R. E.; Creyts, T. T.; Wolovick, M.

2013-12-01

Large deformed ice structures have been imaged at the base of northern Greenland ice sheet by IceBridge airborne radar. Numerous deformed structures lie along the base of both Petermann Glacier and Northeast Ice stream catchments covering 10-13% of the catchment area. These structures may be combinations of basal freeze-on and folded ice that overturns and inverts stratigraphy. In the interior, where the ice velocity is low, the radar imaged height of the deformed structures are frequently a significant fraction of the ice thickness. They are related to basal freeze on and stick-slip at the base of the ice sheet and may be triggered by subglacial water, sediments or local geological conditions. The larger ones (at times up to 700 m thick and 140 km long) perturb the ice stratigraphy and create prominent undulations on the ice surface and modify the local surface mass balance. Here, we investigate the relationship between the deformed structures and surface processes using shallow and deep ice radar stratigraphy. The surface undulations caused by the deformed structures modulate the pattern of local surface snow accumulation. Using normalized differences of several near-surface stratigraphic layers, we have calculated the accumulation anomaly over these deformed structures. The accumulation anomalies can be as high as 20% of the local surface accumulation over some of the larger surface depressions caused by these deformed structures. We observe distinct differences in the phases of the near-surface internal layers on the Petermann and Northeast catchments. These differences indicate that the deformed bodies over Petermann are controlled by conditions at the bed different from the Northeast Ice stream. The distinctly different near-surface stratigraphy over the deformed structures in the Petermann and Northeast catchments have opened up a number of questions including their formation and how they influence the ice dynamics, ice stratigraphy and surface mass balance. In this study we will model the different physical conditions at the bed and ice rheology from their distinct signatures in the near-surface strata. The results will identify the distinct mechanisms that form these bodies and their control over the surface morphology and snow accumulation.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering on Tardigrada--towards monitoring and imaging molecular structures in live cryptobiotic organisms.

PubMed

Kneipp, Harald; Møbjerg, Nadja; Jørgensen, Aslak; Bohr, Henrik G; Hélix-Nielsen, Claus; Kneipp, Janina; Kneipp, Katrin

2013-10-01

Tardigrades are microscopic metazoans which are able to survive extreme physical and chemical conditions by entering a stress tolerant state called cryptobiosis. At present, the molecular mechanisms behind cryptobiosis are still poorly understood. We show that surface enhanced Raman scattering supported by plasmonic gold nanoparticles can measure molecular constituents and their local distribution in live tardigrades. Surface enhanced Raman signatures allow to differentiate between two species and indicate molecular structural differences between tardigrades in water and in a dry state. This opens new avenues for exploring cryptobiosis by studying molecular changes in live cryptobiotic organisms. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Phase structuring in metal alloys: Ultrasound-assisted top-down approach to engineering of nanostructured catalytic materials.

PubMed

Cherepanov, Pavel V; Andreeva, Daria V

2017-03-01

High intensity ultrasound (HIUS) is a novel and efficient tool for top-down nanostructuring of multi-phase metal systems. Ultrasound-assisted structuring of the phase in metal alloys relies on two main mechanisms including interfacial red/ox reactions and temperature driven solid state phase transformations which affect surface composition and morphology of metals. Physical and chemical properties of sonication medium strongly affects the structuring pathways as well as morphology and composition of catalysts. HIUS can serve as a simple, fast, and effective approach for the tuning of structure and surface properties of metal particles, opening the new perspectives in design of robust and efficient catalysts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Studies in electron phenomena in MOS structures: The pulsed C-V method. M.S. Thesis. Abstract Only

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaplan, G.

1983-01-01

The pulse hysteresis capacitance voltage (C-V) provides a straight forward technique for measuring the change of various charges in MOS structures and a tool for investigating the kinetics of various electron phenomena is developed and described. The method can be used for measuring the energy distribution and kinetics of surface states with the resolution of about 1/5 x 10 to the -9 power cm eV. Some transients in an MOS structure, particularly, the thermal generation of minority charge carriers via surface states and the relaxation of minority charge carriers supplied from the inversion layer outside the MOS structure are theoretically investigated. Analytical expressions which clearly present the physics of those electron phenomena are derived.

Low-profile wireless passive resonators for sensing

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

Gong, Xun; An, Linan

A resonator for sensing a physical or an environmental parameter includes a support having a top surface that provides a ground plane, and a polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) element positioned on the top surface including a PDC layer, and a metal patch on the PDC layer. The metal patch is electrically isolated from all surrounding structure, and the resonator has a resonant frequency that changes as a function of the physical or environmental parameter. A system for wirelessly sensing a physical or environmental parameter includes at least one resonator and a wireless RF reader located remotely from the resonator for transmittingmore » a wide-band RF interrogation signal that excites the resonator. The wireless RF reader detects a sensing signal retransmitted by the resonator and includes a processor for determining the physical or environmental parameter at the location of the resonator from the sensing signal.« less

Wrinkle structures—a critical review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porada, Hubertus; Bouougri, El Hafid

2007-04-01

In this paper, a variety of so-called 'wrinkle structures' is reviewed in an attempt to help distinguish between crinkly decorations arising from physical processes that acted on siliciclastic bedding surfaces, and true microbially induced 'wrinkle structures'. Two types of small-scale, microbially induced sedimentary structures are prominent due to their distinct geometry and mode of occurrence: (1) 'elephant skin' textures, characterized by reticulate patterns of sharp-crested ridges forming mm- to cm-scale polygons, occurring on argillite or argillaceous veneers above fine-grained sandstone and likely reflecting growth structures of microbial, mats (2) 'Kinneyia' structures, characterized by mm-scale flat-topped, winding ridges and intervening troughs and pits, sometimes resembling small-scale interference ripples. 'Kinneyia' structures usually occur on upper surfaces of siltstone/sandstone beds, themselves frequently event deposits, and are thought to have formed beneath microbial mats. Additionally, more linear variations of mat growth structures, partly resembling small-scale 'α-petees' may be developed. Finally, some wrinkly structures resulting from tractional mat deformation or mat slumping are occasionally preserved. These may appear as arcuate belts of non-penetrative, small-scale folds or as wrinkled bulges on otherwise flat surfaces. 'Wrinkle structures' as indicators for the former presence of mats gain in importance if other mat-related structures are additionally observed in the same clastic succession, e.g. 'sand chips' (sandy intraclasts) or spindle-shaped or sinuously curved to circular sand cracks, frequently combined in networks. Furthermore, appropriate lithologies and facies are required. For instance, if compared with the distribution of modern cohesive microbial mats, laminated siltstone/argillite with intercalated siltstone/sandstone beds representing event deposits in tidal flat successions would be compatible with microbial mat development. Within a variety of physically induced small-scale wrinkly structures, miniature load structures may, above all, be misinterpreted as microbially induced 'wrinkle structures', due to their similar size and appearance, and their comparatively frequent occurrence.

Investigation of the Effect of Dimple Bionic Nonsmooth Surface on Tire Antihydroplaning.

PubMed

Zhou, Haichao; Wang, Guolin; Ding, Yangmin; Yang, Jian; Zhai, Huihui

2015-01-01

Inspired by the idea that bionic nonsmooth surfaces (BNSS) reduce fluid adhesion and resistance, the effect of dimple bionic nonsmooth structure arranged in tire circumferential grooves surface on antihydroplaning performance was investigated by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The physical model of the object (model of dimple bionic nonsmooth surface distribution, hydroplaning model) and SST k - ω turbulence model are established for numerical analysis of tire hydroplaning. By virtue of the orthogonal table L16(4(5)), the parameters of dimple bionic nonsmooth structure design compared to the smooth structure were analyzed, and the priority level of the experimental factors as well as the best combination within the scope of the experiment was obtained. The simulation results show that dimple bionic nonsmooth structure can reduce water flow resistance by disturbing the eddy movement in boundary layers. Then, optimal type of dimple bionic nonsmooth structure is arranged on the bottom of tire circumferential grooves for hydroplaning performance analysis. The results show that the dimple bionic nonsmooth structure effectively decreases the tread hydrodynamic pressure when driving on water film and increases the tire hydroplaning velocity, thus improving tire antihydroplaning performance.

Investigation of the Effect of Dimple Bionic Nonsmooth Surface on Tire Antihydroplaning

PubMed Central

Zhou, Haichao; Wang, Guolin; Ding, Yangmin; Yang, Jian; Zhai, Huihui

2015-01-01

Inspired by the idea that bionic nonsmooth surfaces (BNSS) reduce fluid adhesion and resistance, the effect of dimple bionic nonsmooth structure arranged in tire circumferential grooves surface on antihydroplaning performance was investigated by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The physical model of the object (model of dimple bionic nonsmooth surface distribution, hydroplaning model) and SST k − ω turbulence model are established for numerical analysis of tire hydroplaning. By virtue of the orthogonal table L16(45), the parameters of dimple bionic nonsmooth structure design compared to the smooth structure were analyzed, and the priority level of the experimental factors as well as the best combination within the scope of the experiment was obtained. The simulation results show that dimple bionic nonsmooth structure can reduce water flow resistance by disturbing the eddy movement in boundary layers. Then, optimal type of dimple bionic nonsmooth structure is arranged on the bottom of tire circumferential grooves for hydroplaning performance analysis. The results show that the dimple bionic nonsmooth structure effectively decreases the tread hydrodynamic pressure when driving on water film and increases the tire hydroplaning velocity, thus improving tire antihydroplaning performance. PMID:27018311

iMAST FY2003 Annual Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

The approach being pursued, under this program structure, is to eliminate the use of physical surfaces on the component as datum. The use of physical...will eliminate /minimize fretting and low-cycle fatigue and the blade-disk interface. This optimum coating and/or coating process will be evaluated both...Utilizes MCLB infrastructure Avoids costs associated with existing APCS Biofiltration produces no secondary emissions Biofiltration is the most

Control of spectral transmission enhancement properties of random anti-reflecting surface structures fabricated using gold masking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peltier, Abigail; Sapkota, Gopal; Potter, Matthew; Busse, Lynda E.; Frantz, Jesse A.; Shaw, L. Brandon; Sanghera, Jasbinder S.; Aggarwal, Ishwar D.; Poutous, Menelaos K.

2017-02-01

Random anti-reflecting subwavelength surface structures (rARSS) have been shown to suppress Fresnel reflection and scatter from optical surfaces. The structures effectively function as a gradient-refractive-index at the substrate boundary, and the spectral transmission properties of the boundary have been shown to depend on the structure's statistical properties (diameter, height, and density.) We fabricated rARSS on fused silica substrates using gold masking. A thin layer of gold was deposited on the surface of the substrate and then subjected to a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process at various temperatures. This RTA process resulted in the formation of gold "islands" on the surface of the substrate, which then acted as a mask while the substrate was dry etched in a reactive ion etching (RIE) process. The plasma etch yielded a fused silica surface covered with randomly arranged "rods" that act as the anti-reflective layer. We present data relating the physical characteristics of the gold "island" statistical populations, and the resulting rARSS "rod" population, as well as, optical scattering losses and spectral transmission properties of the final surfaces. We focus on comparing results between samples processed at different RTA temperatures, as well as samples fabricated without undergoing RTA, to relate fabrication process statistics to transmission enhancement values.

Composite patterning devices for soft lithography

DOEpatents

Rogers, John A.; Menard, Etienne

2007-03-27

The present invention provides methods, devices and device components for fabricating patterns on substrate surfaces, particularly patterns comprising structures having microsized and/or nanosized features of selected lengths in one, two or three dimensions. The present invention provides composite patterning devices comprising a plurality of polymer layers each having selected mechanical properties, such as Young's Modulus and flexural rigidity, selected physical dimensions, such as thickness, surface area and relief pattern dimensions, and selected thermal properties, such as coefficients of thermal expansion, to provide high resolution patterning on a variety of substrate surfaces and surface morphologies.

TiO 2 nanotube arrays for photocatalysis: Effects of crystallinity, local order, and electronic structure

DOE PAGES

Liu, Jing; Hosseinpour, Pegah M.; Luo, Si; ...

2014-11-19

To furnish insight into correlations of electronic and local structure and photoactivity, arrays of short and long TiO₂ nanotubes were synthesized by electrochemical anodization of Ti foil, followed by thermal treatment in O₂ (oxidizing), Ar (inert), and H₂ (reducing) environments. The physical and electronic structures of these nanotubes were probed with x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and correlated with their photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic activity of the nanotubes was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange under UV-VIS light irradiation. Results show that upon annealing at 350 °C all as-anodized amorphous TiO₂ nanotube samplesmore » partially transform to the anatase structure, with variations in the degree of crystallinity and in the concentration of local defects near the nanotubes' surface (~5 nm) depending on the annealing conditions. Degradation of methyl orange was not detectable for the as-anodized TiO₂ nanotubes regardless of their length. The annealed long nanotubes demonstrated detectable catalytic activity, which was more significant with the H₂-annealed nanotubes than with the Ar- and O₂-annealed nanotube samples. This enhanced photocatalytic response of the H₂-annealed long nanotubes relative to the other samples is positively correlated with the presence of a larger concentration of lattice defects (such as Ti 3+ and anticipated oxygen vacancies) and a slightly lower degree of crystallinity near the nanotube surface. These physical and electronic structural attributes impact the efficacy of visible light absorption; moreover, the increased concentration of surface defects is postulated to promote the generation of hydroxyl radicals and thus accelerate the photodegradation of the methyl orange. The information obtained from this study provides unique insight into the role of the near-surface electronic and defect structure, crystal structure, and the local chemical environment on the photocatalytic activity and may be employed for tailoring the materials' properties for photocatalysis and other energy-related applications.« less

Fishermen Follow Fine-scaled Physical Ocean Features For Finance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuller, E.; Watson, J. R.; Samhouri, J.; Castruccio, F. S.

2016-12-01

The seascapes on which many millions of people make their living and secure food have complex and dynamic spatial features - the figurative hills and valleys - that control where and how people work at sea. Here, we quantify the physical mosaic of the surface ocean by identifying Lagrangian Coherent Structures for a whole seascape - the California Current - and assess their impact on the spatial distribution of fishing. We show that there is a mixed response: some fisheries track these physical features, and others avoid them. This spatial behavior maps to economic impacts: we find that tuna fishermen can expect to make three times more revenue per trip if fishing occurs on strong coherent structures. These results highlight a connection between the physical state of the oceans, the spatial patterns of human activity and ultimately the economic prosperity of coastal communities.

Method And Apparatus For Two Dimensional Surface Property Analysis Based On Boundary Measurement

DOEpatents

Richardson, John G.

2005-11-15

An apparatus and method for determining properties of a conductive film is disclosed. A plurality of probe locations selected around a periphery of the conductive film define a plurality of measurement lines between each probe location and all other probe locations. Electrical resistance may be measured along each of the measurement lines. A lumped parameter model may be developed based on the measured values of electrical resistance. The lumped parameter model may be used to estimate resistivity at one or more selected locations encompassed by the plurality of probe locations. The resistivity may be extrapolated to other physical properties if the conductive film includes a correlation between resistivity and the other physical properties. A profile of the conductive film may be developed by determining resistivity at a plurality of locations. The conductive film may be applied to a structure such that resistivity may be estimated and profiled for the structure's surface.

Faraday wave lattice as an elastic metamaterial.

PubMed

Domino, L; Tarpin, M; Patinet, S; Eddi, A

2016-05-01

Metamaterials enable the emergence of novel physical properties due to the existence of an underlying subwavelength structure. Here, we use the Faraday instability to shape the fluid-air interface with a regular pattern. This pattern undergoes an oscillating secondary instability and exhibits spontaneous vibrations that are analogous to transverse elastic waves. By locally forcing these waves, we fully characterize their dispersion relation and show that a Faraday pattern presents an effective shear elasticity. We propose a physical mechanism combining surface tension with the Faraday structured interface that quantitatively predicts the elastic wave phase speed, revealing that the liquid interface behaves as an elastic metamaterial.

Quantum Dot Surface Engineering: Toward Inert Fluorophores with Compact Size and Bright, Stable Emission

PubMed Central

Lim, Sung Jun; Ma, Liang; Schleife, André; Smith, Andrew M.

2016-01-01

The surfaces of colloidal nanocrystals are complex interfaces between solid crystals, coordinating ligands, and liquid solutions. For fluorescent quantum dots, the properties of the surface vastly influence the efficiency of light emission, stability, and physical interactions, and thus determine their sensitivity and specificity when they are used to detect and image biological molecules. But after more than 30 years of study, the surfaces of quantum dots remain poorly understood and continue to be an important subject of both experimental and theoretical research. In this article, we review the physics and chemistry of quantum dot surfaces and describe approaches to engineer optimal fluorescent probes for applications in biomolecular imaging and sensing. We describe the structure and electronic properties of crystalline facets, the chemistry of ligand coordination, and the impact of ligands on optical properties. We further describe recent advances in compact coatings that have significantly improved their properties by providing small hydrodynamic size, high stability and fluorescence efficiency, and minimal nonspecific interactions with cells and biological molecules. While major progress has been made in both basic and applied research, many questions remain in the chemistry and physics of quantum dot surfaces that have hindered key breakthroughs to fully optimize their properties. PMID:28344357

Interior and its implications for the atmosphere. [effects of Titan interior structure on its atmospheric composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, J. S.

1974-01-01

The bulk composition and interior structure of Titan required to explain the presence of a substantial methane atmosphere are shown to imply the presence of solid CH4 - 7H2O in Titan's primitive material. Consideration of the possible composition and structure of the present atmosphere shows plausible grounds for considering models with total atmospheric pressures ranging from approximately 20 mb up to approximately 1 kb. Expectations regarding the physical state of the surface and its chemical composition are strongly conditioned by the mass of atmosphere believed to be present. A surface of solid CH4, liquid CH4 solid, CH4 hydrate, H2O ice, aqueous NH3 solution, or even a non-surface of supercritical H2O-NH3-CH4 fluid could be rationalized.

Retrieval with Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer and Validation during JAIVEx

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhou, Daniel K.; Liu, Xu; Larar, Allen M.; Smith, William L.; Taylor, Jonathan P.; Schluessel, Peter; Strow, L. Larrabee; Mango, Stephen A.

2008-01-01

A state-of-the-art IR-only retrieval algorithm has been developed with an all-season-global EOF Physical Regression and followed by 1-D Var. Physical Iterative Retrieval for IASI, AIRS, and NAST-I. The benefits of this retrieval are to produce atmospheric structure with a single FOV horizontal resolution (approx. 15 km for IASI and AIRS), accurate profiles above the cloud (at least) or down to the surface, surface parameters, and/or cloud microphysical parameters. Initial case study and validation indicates that surface, cloud, and atmospheric structure (include TBL) are well captured by IASI and AIRS measurements. Coincident dropsondes during the IASI and AIRS overpasses are used to validate atmospheric conditions, and accurate retrievals are obtained with an expected vertical resolution. JAIVEx has provided the data needed to validate the retrieval algorithm and its products which allows us to assess the instrument ability and/or performance. Retrievals with global coverage are under investigation for detailed retrieval assessment. It is greatly desired that these products be used for testing the impact on Atmospheric Data Assimilation and/or Numerical Weather Prediction.

Market basket analysis visualization on a spherical surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Ming C.; Hsu, Meichun; Dayal, Umeshwar; Wei, Shu F.; Sprenger, Thomas; Holenstein, Thomas

2001-05-01

This paper discusses the visualization of the relationships in e-commerce transactions. To date, many practical research projects have shown the usefulness of a physics-based mass- spring technique to layout data items with close relationships on a graph. We describe a market basket analysis visualization system using this technique. This system is described as the following: (1) integrates a physics-based engine into a visual data mining platform; (2) use a 3D spherical surface to visualize the cluster of related data items; and (3) for large volumes of transactions, uses hidden structures to unclutter the display. Several examples of market basket analysis are also provided.

Physical properties and biocompatibility of UHMWPE-derived materials modified by synchrotron radiation.

PubMed

Bykova, Iu; Weinhardt, V; Kashkarova, A; Lebedev, S; Baumbach, T; Pichugin, V; Zaitsev, K; Khlusov, I

2014-08-01

The applications of synchrotron radiation (SR) in medical imaging have become of great use, particularly in angiography, bronchography, mammography, computed tomography, and X-ray microscopy. Thanks to recently developed phase contrast imaging techniques non-destructive preclinical testing of low absorbing materials such as polymers has become possible. The focus of the present work is characterization and examination of UHMWPE-derived materials widely used in medicine, before and after their exposure to SR during such testing. Physical properties, such as wettability, surface energy, IR-spectroscopy, roughness, optical microscopy, microhardness measurements of UHMWPE samples were studied before and after SR. The relationship between a growth of UHMWPE surface hydrophilicity after SR and surface colonization by stromal cells was studied in vitro. Obtained results demonstrate that SR may be used as prospective direction to examine bulk (porous) structure of polymer materials and/or to modify polymer surface and volume for tissue engineering.

The Sun is Condensed Matter and has a Real Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robitaille, Pierre-Marie

2014-03-01

The idea that the Sun was a gaseous in nature was born from 1858-65. At that time, a group of men, including Herbert Spencer, Father Angelo Secchi, Warren de la Rue, Balfour Stewart, and Benjamin Loewy, advanced that the Sun was a ball of gas. In 1865, Hervé Faye was the first to argue that the solar surface was merely an illusion. Dismissing all signs to the contrary, solar physics has promoted this idea to the present day, as manifested by the Standard Solar Model. In this work, overwhelming observational evidence will be presented that the Sun does indeed possess a distinct surface (see P.M. Robitaille, Forty Lines of Evidence for Condensed Matter -- The Sun on Trial: Liquid Metallic Hydrogen as a Solar Building Block, Progress in Physics, 2013, v. 4, 90-143). Our telescopes and satellites are sampling real structures on the surface of the Sun.

Comparison of WRF local and nonlocal boundary layer Physics in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ooi, M. C. G.; Chan, A.; Kumarenthiran, S.; Morris, K. I.; Oozeer, M. Y.; Islam, M. A.; Salleh, S. A.

2018-02-01

The urban boundary layer (UBL) is the internal advection layer of atmosphere above urban region which determines the exchanges of momentum, water and other atmospheric constituents between the urban land surface and the free troposphere. This paper tested the performance of three planetary boundary layer (PBL) physics schemes of Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) software to ensure the appropriate representation of vertical structure of UBL in Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL). Comparison was conducted on the performance of respective PBL schemes to generate vertical and near-surface weather profile and rainfall. Mellor-Yamada- Janjíc (MYJ) local PBL scheme coupled with Eta MM5 surface layer scheme was found to predict the near-surface temperature and wind profile and mixing height better than the nonlocal schemes during the intermonsoonal period with least influences of the synoptic background weather.

Pulsed ion beam surface analysis as a means of [ital in] [ital situ] real-time analysis of thin films during growth

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

Krauss, A.R.; Lin, Y.; Auciello, O.

1994-07-01

Low-energy (5--15 keV) pulsed ion beam surface analysis comprises several different surface spectroscopies which possess the ability to provide a remarkably wide range of information directly relevant to the growth of single and multicomponent semiconductor, metal and metal-oxide thin films and layered structures. Ion beam methods have not however, been widely used as an [ital in] [ital situ] monitor of thin film growth because existing commercial instrumentation causes excessive film damage, physically conflicts with the deposition equipment, and requires a chamber pressure [similar to]10[sup [minus]7]--10[sup [minus]8] Torr, i.e., much lower than that associated with most deposition processes ([ge]10[sup [minus]4] Torr).more » We have developed time-of-flight ion scattering and recoil spectroscopy (TOF-SARS) as a nondestructive, [ital in] [ital situ], real-time probe of thin film composition and structure which does not physically interfere with the deposition process. Several TOF-SARS implementations are exceptionally surface specific, yet in a properly designed system can yield high-resolution data at ambient pressures well in excess of 10 mTorr (4--6 orders of magnitude higher than conventional surface analytic methods). Because of the exceptional surface specificity of these methods, TOF-SARS is ideally suited as a means of studying ultrathin layers and atomically abrupt interfaces. TOF-SARS instrumentation designed specifically for use as an [ital in] [ital situ], real-time monitor of growth processes for single and multicomponent thin films and layered structures is described here. Representative data are shown for [ital in] [ital situ] analysis of Pb and Zr layers at room temperature and high vacuum, as well as under conditions appropriate to the growth of Pb(Zr[sub [ital x

Optical microtopographic inspection of asphalt pavement surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, Manuel F. M.; Freitas, E. F.; Torres, H.; Cerezo, V.

2017-08-01

Microtopographic and rugometric characterization of surfaces is routinely and effectively performed non-invasively by a number of different optical methods. Rough surfaces are also inspected using optical profilometers and microtopographer. The characterization of road asphalt pavement surfaces produced in different ways and compositions is fundamental for economical and safety reasons. Having complex structures, including topographically with different ranges of form error and roughness, the inspection of asphalt pavement surfaces is difficult to perform non-invasively. In this communication we will report on the optical non-contact rugometric characterization of the surface of different types of road pavements performed at the Microtopography Laboratory of the Physics Department of the University of Minho.

Bio-physical characterisation of polynyas as a key foraging habitat for juvenile male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica

PubMed Central

Bestley, Sophie; Corney, Stuart; Welsford, Dirk; Labrousse, Sara; Sumner, Michael; Hindell, Mark

2017-01-01

Antarctic coastal polynyas are persistent open water areas in the sea ice zone, and regions of high biological productivity thought to be important foraging habitat for marine predators. This study quantified southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) habitat use within and around the polynyas of the Prydz Bay region (63°E– 88°E) in East Antarctica, and examined the bio-physical characteristics structuring polynyas as foraging habitat. Output from a climatological regional ocean model was used to provide context for in situ temperature-salinity vertical profiles collected by tagged elephant seals and to characterise the physical properties structuring polynyas. Biological properties were explored using remotely-sensed surface chlorophyll (Chl-a) and, qualitatively, historical fish assemblage data. Spatially gridded residence time of seals was examined in relation to habitat characteristics using generalized additive mixed models. The results showed clear polynya usage during early autumn and increasingly concentrated usage during early winter. Bathymetry, Chl-a, surface net heat flux (representing polynya location), and bottom temperature were identified as significant bio-physical predictors of the spatio-temporal habitat usage. The findings from this study confirm that the most important marine habitats for juvenile male southern elephant seals within Prydz Bay region are polynyas. A hypothesis exists regarding the seasonal evolution of primary productivity, coupling from surface to subsurface productivity and supporting elevated rates of secondary production in the upper water column during summer-autumn. An advancement to this hypothesis is proposed here, whereby this bio-physical coupling is likely to extend throughout the water column as it becomes fully convected during autumn-winter, to also promote pelagic-benthic linkages important for benthic foraging within polynyas. PMID:28902905

Interface Structure of MoO3 on Organic Semiconductors

PubMed Central

White, Robin T.; Thibau, Emmanuel S.; Lu, Zheng-Hong

2016-01-01

We have systematically studied interface structure formed by vapor-phase deposition of typical transition metal oxide MoO3 on organic semiconductors. Eight organic hole transport materials have been used in this study. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to measure the evolution of the physical, chemical and electronic structure of the interfaces at various stages of MoO3 deposition on these organic semiconductor surfaces. For the interface physical structure, it is found that MoO3 diffuses into the underlying organic layer, exhibiting a trend of increasing diffusion with decreasing molecular molar mass. For the interface chemical structure, new carbon and molybdenum core-level states are observed, as a result of interfacial electron transfer from organic semiconductor to MoO3. For the interface electronic structure, energy level alignment is observed in agreement with the universal energy level alignment rule of molecules on metal oxides, despite deposition order inversion. PMID:26880185

Nanostructured mesoporous silica: influence of the preparation conditions on the physical-surface properties for efficient organic dye uptake

PubMed Central

Mohamed, Rasha S.

2018-01-01

A series of ordered mesoporous silica such as MCM-41, SBA-3 and SBA-15, in addition to silica micro- (SM) and nano- (SN) mesoporous particles, were prepared. The preparation conditions were found to greatly influence the physical-surface properties including morphological structure, porosity, particle size, aggregate average size, surface area, pore size, pore volume and zeta potential of the prepared silica, while the chemical structure, predicted from FT-IR spectra, and the diffraction patterns, predicted from wide-angle X-ray diffraction spectra, were identical. Surface areas of approximately 1500, 1027, 600, 552 and 317 m2 g−1, pore volumes of 0.93, 0.56, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.5 cm3 g−1, radii of 2.48, 2.2, 5.66, 6.6 and 8.98 nm, average aggregate sizes of 56, 65.4, 220.9, 73, 61.1 and 261 nm and zeta potential values of −32.8, −46.1, −26.3, −31.4 and −25.9 mV were obtained for MCM-41, SBA-3, SBA-15, SN and SM, respectively. Methylene blue dye uptake capacity of the prepared silica types was investigated using the batch technique and, in addition, the most effective material was further studied by the column flow system. The kinetics and isotherms of the uptake process were studied. The morphological structure, surface area, pore radius and zeta potential values were the most correlated factors. PMID:29657800

Synthesis of Bi0.9Nd0.1FeO3 multiferroic nanoceramic by sol-gel method and its structural, surface morphology and dielectric analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, S.; Bera, K. P.; Nath, T. K.

2017-05-01

Synthesis of Nd-doped BFO multiferroic nanoceramic by the conventional sol-gel method has been carried out. HRXRD and FESEM have been used for the structural analysis to confirm the triclinic structure and to obtain the surface morphology showing agglomeration and to find out the size of the nanoparticles. A high precision LCR meter has been used to record the dielectric constants at various temperatures. Several anomalies are observed whose physical explanations have been given. Space charge polarization effect and magnetoelectric coupling have been confirmed in the synthesized Bi0.9Nd0.1FeO3 nanoceramic sample.

Detailed electromagnetic simulation for the structural color of butterfly wings.

PubMed

Lee, R Todd; Smith, Glenn S

2009-07-20

Many species of butterflies exhibit interesting optical phenomena due to structural color. The physical reason for this color is subwavelength features on the surface of a single scale. The exposed surface of a scale is covered with a ridge structure. The fully three-dimensional, periodic, finite-difference time-domain method is used to create a detailed electromagnetic model of a generic ridge. A novel method for presenting the three-dimensional observed color pattern is developed. Using these tools, the change in color that is a result of varying individual features of the scale is explored. Computational models are developed that are similar to three butterflies: Morpho rhetenor, Troides magellanus, and Ancyluris meliboeus.

Process-Structure-Property Relationships of Micron Thick Gadolinium Oxide Films Deposited by Reactive Electron Beam-Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD)

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

surface roughness on film properties must be considered. Stability at the interface between the film and the substrate becomes critical with...etc.). Addition of atoms to the growing surface creates additional surface energy. Therefore, nuclei of a critical size 23 must be formed in order... critical nuclei size and a lower nucleation rate. Higher deposition rates result in a decreased critical nuclei size which leads to an increase in

An Analysis of the Magneto-Optic Imaging System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nath, Shridhar

1996-01-01

The Magneto-Optic Imaging system is being used for the detection of defects in airframes and other aircraft structures. The system has been successfully applied to detecting surface cracks, but has difficulty in the detection of sub-surface defects such as corrosion. The intent of the grant was to understand the physics of the MOI better, in order to use it effectively for detecting corrosion and for classifying surface defects. Finite element analysis, image classification, and image processing are addressed.

Near-surface bulk densities of asteroids derived from dual-polarization radar observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virkki, A.; Taylor, P. A.; Zambrano-Marin, L. F.; Howell, E. S.; Nolan, M. C.; Lejoly, C.; Rivera-Valentin, E. G.; Aponte, B. A.

2017-09-01

We present a new method to constrain the near-surface bulk density and surface roughness of regolith on asteroid surfaces using planetary radar measurements. The number of radar observations has increased rapidly during the last five years, allowing us to compare and contrast the radar scattering properties of different small-body populations and compositional types. This provides us with new opportunities to investigate their near-surface physical properties such as the chemical composition, bulk density, porosity, or the structural roughness in the scale of centimeters to meters. Because the radar signal can penetrate into a planetary surface up to a few decimeters, radar can reveal information that is hidden from other ground-based methods, such as optical and infrared measurements. The near-surface structure of asteroids and comets in centimeter-to-meter scale is essential information for robotic and human space missions, impact threat mitigation, and understanding the history of these bodies as well as the formation of the whole Solar System.

Laser-Based Surface Modification of Microstructure for Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wenfeng; Sun, Ting; Cao, Yu; Li, Shaolong; Liu, Chang; Tang, Qingru

2018-05-01

Bonding repair is a powerful feature of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). Based on the theory of interface bonding, the interface adhesion strength and reliability of the CFRP structure will be directly affected by the microscopic features of the CFRP surface, including the microstructure, physical, and chemical characteristics. In this paper, laser-based surface modification was compared to Peel-ply, grinding, and polishing to comparatively evaluate the surface microstructure of CFRP. The surface microstructure, morphology, fiber damage, height and space parameters were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser confocal microscopy (LCM). Relative to the conventional grinding process, laser modification of the CFRP surface can result in more uniform resin removal and better processing control and repeatability. This decreases the adverse impact of surface fiber fractures and secondary damage. The surface properties were significantly optimized, which has been reflected such things as the obvious improvement of surface roughness, microstructure uniformity, and actual area. The improved surface microstructure based on laser modification is more conducive to interface bonding of CFRP structure repair. This can enhance the interfacial adhesion strength and reliability of repair.

High-Aspect-Ratio Ridge Structures Induced by Plastic Deformation as a Novel Microfabrication Technique.

PubMed

Takei, Atsushi; Jin, Lihua; Fujita, Hiroyuki; Takei, A; Fujita, H; Jin, Lihua

2016-09-14

Wrinkles on thin film/elastomer bilayer systems provide functional surfaces. The aspect ratio of these wrinkles is critical to their functionality. Much effort has been dedicated to creating high-aspect-ratio structures on the surface of bilayer systems. A highly prestretched elastomer attached to a thin film has recently been shown to form a high-aspect-ratio structure, called a ridge structure, due to a large strain induced in the elastomer. However, the prestretch requirements of the elastomer during thin film attachment are not compatible with conventional thin film deposition methods, such as spin coating, dip coating, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Thus, the fabrication method is complex, and ridge structure formation is limited to planar surfaces. This paper presents a new and simple method for constructing ridge structures on a nonplanar surface using a plastic thin film/elastomer bilayer system. A plastic thin film is attached to a stress-free elastomer, and the resulting bilayer system is highly stretched one- or two-dimensionally. Upon the release of the stretch load, the deformation of the elastomer is reversible, while the plastically deformed thin film stays elongated. The combination of the length mismatch and the large strain induced in the elastomer generates ridge structures. The morphology of the plastic thin film/elastomer bilayer system is experimentally studied by varying the physical parameters, and the functionality and the applicability to a nonplanar surface are demonstrated. Finally, we simulate the effect of plasticity on morphology. This study presents a new technique for generating microscale high-aspect-ratio structures and its potential for functional surfaces.

Understanding the biological underpinnings of ecohydrological processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huxman, T. E.; Scott, R. L.; Barron-Gafford, G. A.; Hamerlynck, E. P.; Jenerette, D.; Tissue, D. T.; Breshears, D. D.; Saleska, S. R.

2012-12-01

Climate change presents a challenge for predicting ecosystem response, as multiple factors drive both the physical and life processes happening on the land surface and their interactions result in a complex, evolving coupled system. For example, changes in surface temperature and precipitation influence near-surface hydrology through impacts on system energy balance, affecting a range of physical processes. These changes in the salient features of the environment affect biological processes and elicit responses along the hierarchy of life (biochemistry to community composition). Many of these structural or process changes can alter patterns of soil water-use and influence land surface characteristics that affect local climate. Of the many features that affect our ability to predict the future dynamics of ecosystems, it is this hierarchical response of life that creates substantial complexity. Advances in the ability to predict or understand aspects of demography help describe thresholds in coupled ecohydrological system. Disentangling the physical and biological features that underlie land surface dynamics following disturbance are allowing a better understanding of the partitioning of water in the time-course of recovery. Better predicting the timing of phenology and key seasonal events allow for a more accurate description of the full functional response of the land surface to climate. In addition, explicitly considering the hierarchical structural features of life are helping to describe complex time-dependent behavior in ecosystems. However, despite this progress, we have yet to build an ability to fully account for the generalization of the main features of living systems into models that can describe ecohydrological processes, especially acclimation, assembly and adaptation. This is unfortunate, given that many key ecosystem services are functions of these coupled co-evolutionary processes. To date, both the lack of controlled measurements and experimentation has precluded determination of sufficient theoretical development. Understanding the land-surface response and feedback to climate change requires a mechanistic understanding of the coupling of ecological and hydrological processes and an expansion of theory from the life sciences to appropriately contribute to the broader Earth system science goal.

Thin-film chemical sensors based on electron tunneling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khanna, S. K.; Lambe, J.; Leduc, H. G.; Thakoor, A. P.

1985-01-01

The physical mechanisms underlying a novel chemical sensor based on electron tunneling in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunnel junctions were studied. Chemical sensors based on electron tunneling were shown to be sensitive to a variety of substances that include iodine, mercury, bismuth, ethylenedibromide, and ethylenedichloride. A sensitivity of 13 parts per billion of iodine dissolved in hexane was demonstrated. The physical mechanisms involved in the chemical sensitivity of these devices were determined to be the chemical alteration of the surface electronic structure of the top metal electrode in the MIM structure. In addition, electroreflectance spectroscopy (ERS) was studied as a complementary surface-sensitive technique. ERS was shown to be sensitive to both iodine and mercury. Electrolyte electroreflectance and solid-state MIM electroreflectance revealed qualitatively the same chemical response. A modified thin-film structure was also studied in which a chemically active layer was introduced at the top Metal-Insulator interface of the MIM devices. Cobalt phthalocyanine was used for the chemically active layer in this study. Devices modified in this way were shown to be sensitive to iodine and nitrogen dioxide. The chemical sensitivity of the modified structure was due to conductance changes in the active layer.

Experimental investigation on structures and velocity of liquid jets in a supersonic crossflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhen-guo; Wu, Liyin; Li, Qinglian; Li, Chun

2014-09-01

Particle image velocimetry was applied in the study focusing on the structure and velocity of water jets injected into a Ma = 2.1 crossflow. The instantaneous structures of the jet, including surface waves in the near-injector region and vortices in the far-field, were visualized clearly. Spray velocity increases rapidly to 66% of the mainstream velocity in the region of x/d < 15, owing to the strong gas-liquid interaction near the orifice. By contrast, the velocity grows slowly in the far-field region, where the liquid inside the spray is accelerated mainly by the continuous driven force provided by the mainstream with the gas-liquid shear. The injection and atomization of liquid jet in a supersonic crossflow serves as a foundation of scramjet combustion process, by affecting the combustion efficiency and some other performances. With various forces acting on the liquid jet (Mashayek et al. [AIAA J. 46, 2674-2686 (2008)] and Wang et al. [AIAA J. 50, 1360-1366 (2012)]), the atomization process involves very complex flow physics. These physical processes include strong vortical structures, small-scale wave formation, stripping of small droplets from the jet surface, formations of ligaments, and droplets with a wide range of sizes.

Nanocrystals in compression: unexpected structural phase transition and amorphization due to surface impurities.

PubMed

Liu, Gang; Kong, Lingping; Yan, Jinyuan; Liu, Zhenxian; Zhang, Hengzhong; Lei, Pei; Xu, Tao; Mao, Ho-Kwang; Chen, Bin

2016-06-09

We report an unprecedented surface doping-driven anomaly in the compression behaviors of nanocrystals demonstrating that the change of surface chemistry can lead to an interior bulk structure change in nanoparticles. In the synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction experiments, titania nanocrystals with low concentration yttrium dopants at the surface are found to be less compressible than undoped titania nanocrystals. More surprisingly, an unexpected TiO2(ii) phase (α-PbO2 type) is induced and obvious anisotropy is observed in the compression of yttrium-doped TiO2, in sharp contrast to the compression behavior of undoped TiO2. In addition, the undoped brookite nanocrystals remain with the same structure up to 30 GPa, whereas the yttrium-doped brookite amorphizes above 20 GPa. The abnormal structural evolution observed in yttrium-doped TiO2 does not agree with the reported phase stability of nano titania polymorphs, thus suggesting that the physical properties of the interior of nanocrystals can be controlled by the surface, providing an unconventional and new degree of freedom in search for nanocrystals with novel tunable properties that can trigger applications in multiple areas of industry and provoke more related basic science research.

Evaluation of multilayered pavement structures from measurements of surface waves

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ryden, N.; Lowe, M.J.S.; Cawley, P.; Park, C.B.

2006-01-01

A method is presented for evaluating the thickness and stiffness of multilayered pavement structures from guided waves measured at the surface. Data is collected with a light hammer as the source and an accelerometer as receiver, generating a synthetic receiver array. The top layer properties are evaluated with a Lamb wave analysis. Multiple layers are evaluated by matching a theoretical phase velocity spectrum to the measured spectrum. So far the method has been applied to the testing of pavements, but it may also be applicable in other fields such as ultrasonic testing of coated materials. ?? 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Observation of a two-dimensional Fermi surface and Dirac dispersion in YbMnSb2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kealhofer, Robert; Jang, Sooyoung; Griffin, Sinéad M.; John, Caolan; Benavides, Katherine A.; Doyle, Spencer; Helm, T.; Moll, Philip J. W.; Neaton, Jeffrey B.; Chan, Julia Y.; Denlinger, J. D.; Analytis, James G.

2018-01-01

We present the crystal structure, electronic structure, and transport properties of the material YbMnSb2, a candidate system for the investigation of Dirac physics in the presence of magnetic order. Our measurements reveal that this system is a low-carrier-density semimetal with a two-dimensional Fermi surface arising from a Dirac dispersion, consistent with the predictions of density-functional-theory calculations of the antiferromagnetic system. The low temperature resistivity is very large, suggesting that scattering in this system is highly efficient at dissipating momentum despite its Dirac-like nature.

Quantification of Soil Pore Structure Based on Minkowski-Functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vogel, H.; Weller, U.; Schlüter, S.

2009-05-01

The porous structure in soils and other geologic media is typically a complex 3-dimensional object. Most of the physical material properties including mechanical and hydraulic characteristics are immediately linked to this structure which can be directly observed using non-invasive techniques as e.g. X-ray tomography. It is an old dream and still a formidable challenge to related structural features of porous media to their physical properties. In this contribution we present a scale-invariant concept to quantify pore structure based on a limited set of meaningful morphological functions. They are based on d+1 Minkowski functionals as defined for d-dimensional bodies. These basic quantities are determined as a function of pore size obtained by filter procedures using mathematical morphology. The resulting Minkowski functions provide valuable information on pore size, pore surface area and pore topology having the potential to be linked to physical properties. The theoretical background and the related algorithms are presented and the approach is demonstrated for the structure of an arable topsoil obtained by X-ray micro tomography. We also discuss the fundamental problem of limited resolution which is critical for any attempt to quantify structural features at any scale.

Physical Model Study of Cross Vanes and Ice

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-08-01

spacing since, in the pre-scour state, experiments and the HEC - RAS hydraulic model (USACE 2002b) found that water surface ele- vation merged with the...docs/eng-manuals/em1110- 2-1612/toc.htm. USACE (2002b) HEC - RAS , Hydraulic Reference Manual. US Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center...Currently little design guidance is available for constructing these structures on ice-affected rivers . This study used physical and numerical

Conductivity and local structure in LaNiO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fowlie, Jennifer; Gibert, Marta; Tieri, Giulio; Gloter, Alexandre; à+/-Iguez, Jorge; Filippetti, Alessio; Catalano, Sara; Gariglio, Stefano; StéPhan, Odile; Triscone, Jean-Marc

In this study we approach the thickness-dependence of the properties of LaNiO3 films along multiple, complementary avenues: sophisticated ab initio calculations, scanning transmission electron microscopy and electronic transport. Specifically, we find an unexpected maximum in conductivity in films of thickness 6 - 10 unit cells (3 nm) for several series of LaNiO3 films. Ab initio transport based on the detailed crystal structure also reveals a maximum in conductivity at the same thickness. In agreement with the structure obtained from scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), our simulated structures reveal that the substrate- and surface-induced distortions lead to three types of local structure (heterointerface, interior-layer, surface). Based on this observation, a 3-element parallel conductor model neatly reproduces the trend of conductivity with thickness. This study addresses the question of how structural distortions at the atomic scale evolve in a thin film under the influence of the substrate and the surface. This topic is key to the understanding of the physics of heterostructures and the design of functional oxides.

Novel adhesive properties of poly(ethylene-oxide) adsorbed nanolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Wenduo

Solid-polymer interfaces play crucial roles in the multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology and are the confluence of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. There is now growing evidence that polymer chains irreversibly adsorb even onto weakly attractive solid surfaces, forming a nanometer-thick adsorbed polymer layer ("adsorbed polymer nanolayers"). It has also been reported that the adsorbed layers greatly impact on local structures and properties of supported polymer thin films. In this thesis, I aim to clarify adhesive and tribological properties of adsorbed poly(ethylene-oxide) (PEO) nanolayers onto silicon (Si) substrates, which remain unsolved so far. The adsorbed nanolayers were prepared by the established protocol: one has to equilibrate the melt or dense solution against a solid surface; the unadsorbed chains can be then removed by a good solvent, while the adsorbed chains are assumed to maintain the same conformation due to the irreversible freezing through many physical solid-segment contacts. I firstly characterized the formation process and the surface/film structures of the adsorbed nanolayers by using X-ray reflectivity, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. Secondly, to compare the surface energy of the adsorbed layers with the bulk, static contact angle measurements with two liquids (water and glycerol) were carried out using a optical contact angle meter equipped with a video camera. Thirdly, I designed and constructed a custom-built adhesion-testing device to quantify the adhesive property. The experimental results provide new insight into the microscopic structure - macroscopic property relationship at the solid-polymer interface.

Creating Physical 3D Stereolithograph Models of Brain and Skull

PubMed Central

Kelley, Daniel J.; Farhoud, Mohammed; Meyerand, M. Elizabeth; Nelson, David L.; Ramirez, Lincoln F.; Dempsey, Robert J.; Wolf, Alan J.; Alexander, Andrew L.; Davidson, Richard J.

2007-01-01

The human brain and skull are three dimensional (3D) anatomical structures with complex surfaces. However, medical images are often two dimensional (2D) and provide incomplete visualization of structural morphology. To overcome this loss in dimension, we developed and validated a freely available, semi-automated pathway to build 3D virtual reality (VR) and hand-held, stereolithograph models. To evaluate whether surface visualization in 3D was more informative than in 2D, undergraduate students (n = 50) used the Gillespie scale to rate 3D VR and physical models of both a living patient-volunteer's brain and the skull of Phineas Gage, a historically famous railroad worker whose misfortune with a projectile tamping iron provided the first evidence of a structure-function relationship in brain. Using our processing pathway, we successfully fabricated human brain and skull replicas and validated that the stereolithograph model preserved the scale of the VR model. Based on the Gillespie ratings, students indicated that the biological utility and quality of visual information at the surface of VR and stereolithograph models were greater than the 2D images from which they were derived. The method we developed is useful to create VR and stereolithograph 3D models from medical images and can be used to model hard or soft tissue in living or preserved specimens. Compared to 2D images, VR and stereolithograph models provide an extra dimension that enhances both the quality of visual information and utility of surface visualization in neuroscience and medicine. PMID:17971879

Fermiology and electron dynamics of trilayer nickelate La 4Ni 3O 10

DOE PAGES

Li, Haoxiang; Zhou, Xiaoqing; Nummy, Thomas; ...

2017-09-26

Layered nickelates have the potential for exotic physics similar to high T C superconducting cuprates as they have similar crystal structures and these transition metals are neighbors in the periodic table. Here we present an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of the trilayer nickelate La 4Ni 3O 10 revealing its electronic structure and correlations, finding strong resemblances to the cuprates as well as a few key differences. We find a large hole Fermi surface that closely resembles the Fermi surface of optimally hole-doped cuprates, including its d x2-y2 orbital character, hole filling level, and strength of electronic correlations. However, inmore » contrast to cuprates, La 4Ni 3O 10 has no pseudogap in the d x2-y2 band, while it has an extra band of principally d 3z2-r2 orbital character, which presents a low temperature energy gap. Furthermore, these aspects drive the nickelate physics, with the differences from the cuprate electronic structure potentially shedding light on the origin of superconductivity in the cuprates.« less

Structural and biological mimicry of protein surface recognition by [alpha/beta]-peptide foldamers

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

Horne, W. Seth; Johnson, Lisa M.; Ketas, Thomas J.

Unnatural oligomers that can mimic protein surfaces offer a potentially useful strategy for blocking biomedically important protein-protein interactions. Here we evaluate an approach based on combining {alpha}- and {beta}-amino acid residues in the context of a polypeptide sequence from the HIV protein gp41, which represents an excellent testbed because of the wealth of available structural and biological information. We show that {alpha}/{beta}-peptides can mimic structural and functional properties of a critical gp41 subunit. Physical studies in solution, crystallographic data, and results from cell-fusion and virus-infectivity assays collectively indicate that the gp41-mimetic {alpha}/{beta}-peptides effectively block HIV-cell fusion via a mechanism comparablemore » to that of gp41-derived {alpha}-peptides. An optimized {alpha}/{beta}-peptide is far less susceptible to proteolytic degradation than is an analogous {alpha}-peptide. Our findings show how a two-stage design approach, in which sequence-based {alpha} {yields} {beta} replacements are followed by site-specific backbone rigidification, can lead to physical and biological mimicry of a natural biorecognition process.« less

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

Liu, Jing; Hosseinpour, Pegah M.; Lewis, Laura H., E-mail: lhlewis@neu.edu

To furnish insight into correlations of electronic and local structure and photoactivity, arrays of short and long TiO{sub 2} nanotubes were synthesized by electrochemical anodization of Ti foil, followed by thermal treatment in O{sub 2} (oxidizing), Ar (inert), and H{sub 2} (reducing) environments. The physical and electronic structures of these nanotubes were probed with x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and correlated with their photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic activity of the nanotubes was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange under UV-VIS light irradiation. Results show that upon annealing at 350 °C all as-anodized amorphous TiO{submore » 2} nanotube samples partially transform to the anatase structure, with variations in the degree of crystallinity and in the concentration of local defects near the nanotubes' surface (∼5 nm) depending on the annealing conditions. Degradation of methyl orange was not detectable for the as-anodized TiO{sub 2} nanotubes regardless of their length. However, the annealed long nanotubes demonstrated detectable catalytic activity, which was more significant with the H{sub 2}-annealed nanotubes than with the Ar- and O{sub 2}-annealed nanotube samples. This enhanced photocatalytic response of the H{sub 2}-annealed long nanotubes relative to the other samples is positively correlated with the presence of a larger concentration of lattice defects (such as Ti{sup 3+} and anticipated oxygen vacancies) and a slightly lower degree of crystallinity near the nanotube surface. These physical and electronic structural attributes impact the efficacy of visible light absorption; moreover, the increased concentration of surface defects is postulated to promote the generation of hydroxyl radicals and thus accelerate the photodegradation of the methyl orange. The information obtained from this study provides unique insight into the role of the near-surface electronic and defect structure, crystal structure, and the local chemical environment on the photocatalytic activity and may be employed for tailoring the materials' properties for photocatalysis and other energy-related applications.« less

Characterization of the Roman curse tablet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wen; Zhang, Boyang; Fu, Lin

2017-08-01

The Roman curse tablet, produced in ancient Rome period, is a metal plate that inscribed with curses. In this research, several techniques were used to find out the physical structure and chemical composition of the Roman curse tablet, and testified the hypothesis that whether the tablet is made of pure lead or lead alloy. A sample of Roman Curse Tablet from the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum was analyzed using several different characterization techniques to determine the physical structure and chemical composition. The characterization techniques used were including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Because of the small sample size, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) cannot test the sample. Results from optical microscopy and SEM, enlarged images of the sample surface were studied. The result revealed that the sample surface has a rough, non-uniform, and grainy surface. AFM provides three-dimensional topography of the sample surface, studying the sample surface in atomic level. DSC studies the thermal property, which is most likely a lead-alloy, not a pure lead. However, none of these tests indicated anything about the chemical composition. Future work will be required due to the lack of measures finding out its chemical composition. Therefore, from these characterization techniques above, the Roman curse tablet sample is consisted of lead alloy, not pure lead.

Analytical description of concentration dependence of surface tension in multicomponent systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

R, Dadashev; R, Kutuev; D, Elimkhanov

2008-02-01

From the basic fundamental thermodynamic expressions the equation of isotherms of the surface tension of a ternary system is received. Various assumptions concerning the concentration dependence of molar areas are usually made when the equation is derived. The dependence of the molar areas is calculated as an additive function of the structure of a volumetric phase or the structure of a surface layer. To define the concentration dependence of the molar areas we used a stricter thermodynamic expression offered by Butler. In the received equation the dependence of molar areas on the structure of the solution is taken into account. Therefore, the equation can be applied for the calculation of surface tension over a wide concentration range of the components. Unlike the known expressions, the equation includes the surface tension properties of lateral binary systems, which makes the accuracy of the calculated values considerably higher. Thus, among the advantages of the offered equation we can point out the mathematical simplicity of the received equation and the fact that the equation includes physical parameters the experimental definition of which does not present any special difficulties.

Interactions of hyaluronan grafted on protein surfaces studied using a quartz crystal microbalance and a surface force balance.

PubMed

Jiang, Lei; Han, Juan; Yang, Limin; Ma, Hongchao; Huang, Bo

2015-10-07

Vocal folds are complex and multilayer-structured where the main layer is widely composed of hyaluronan (HA). The viscoelasticity of HA is key to voice production in the vocal fold as it affects the initiation and maintenance of phonation. In this study a simple layer-structured surface model was set up to mimic the structure of the vocal folds. The interactions between two opposing surfaces bearing HA were measured and characterised to analyse HA's response to the normal and shear compression at a stress level similar to that in the vocal fold. From the measurements of the quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy and the surface force balance, the osmotic pressure, normal interactions, elasticity change, volume fraction, refractive index and friction of both HA and the supporting protein layer were obtained. These findings may shed light on the physical mechanism of HA function in the vocal fold and the specific role of HA as an important component in the effective treatment of the vocal fold disease.

Shape-Controllable Gold Nanoparticle-MoS2 Hybrids Prepared by Tuning Edge-Active Sites and Surface Structures of MoS2 via Temporally Shaped Femtosecond Pulses.

PubMed

Zuo, Pei; Jiang, Lan; Li, Xin; Li, Bo; Xu, Yongda; Shi, Xuesong; Ran, Peng; Ma, Tianbao; Li, Dawei; Qu, Liangti; Lu, Yongfeng; Grigoropoulos, Costas P

2017-03-01

Edge-active site control of MoS 2 is crucial for applications such as chemical catalysis, synthesis of functional composites, and biochemical sensing. This work presents a novel nonthermal method to simultaneously tune surface chemical (edge-active sites) and physical (surface periodic micro/nano structures) properties of MoS 2 using temporally shaped femtosecond pulses, through which shape-controlled gold nanoparticles are in situ and self-assembly grown on MoS 2 surfaces to form Au-MoS 2 hybrids. The edge-active sites with unbound sulfurs of laser-treated MoS 2 drive the reduction of gold nanoparticles, while the surface periodic structures of laser-treated MoS 2 assist the shape-controllable growth of gold nanoparticles. The proposed novel method highlights the broad application potential of MoS 2 ; for example, these Au-MoS 2 hybrids exhibit tunable and highly sensitive SERS activity with an enhancement factor up to 1.2 × 10 7 , indicating the marked potential of MoS 2 in future chemical and biological sensing applications.

Simulations of molecular self-assembled monolayers on surfaces: packing structures, formation processes and functions tuned by intermolecular and interfacial interactions.

PubMed

Wen, Jin; Li, Wei; Chen, Shuang; Ma, Jing

2016-08-17

Surfaces modified with a functional molecular monolayer are essential for the fabrication of nano-scale electronics or machines with novel physical, chemical, and/or biological properties. Theoretical simulation based on advanced quantum chemical and classical models is at present a necessary tool in the development, design, and understanding of the interfacial nanostructure. The nanoscale surface morphology, growth processes, and functions are controlled by not only the electronic structures (molecular energy levels, dipole moments, polarizabilities, and optical properties) of building units but also the subtle balance between intermolecular and interfacial interactions. The switchable surfaces are also constructed by introducing stimuli-responsive units like azobenzene derivatives. To bridge the gap between experiments and theoretical models, opportunities and challenges for future development of modelling of ferroelectricity, entropy, and chemical reactions of surface-supported monolayers are also addressed. Theoretical simulations will allow us to obtain important and detailed information about the structure and dynamics of monolayer modified interfaces, which will guide the rational design and optimization of dynamic interfaces to meet challenges of controlling optical, electrical, and biological functions.

Low-energy surface states in the normal state of α - PdBi 2 superconductor

DOE PAGES

Choi, Hongchul; Neupane, Madhab; Sasagawa, T.; ...

2017-08-25

Topological superconductors as characterized by Majorana surface states have been actively searched for their significance in fundamental science and technological implication. The large spin-orbit coupling in Bi-Pd binaries has stimulated extensive investigations on the topological surface states in these superconducting compounds. Here we report a study of normal-state electronic structure in a centrosymmetric α-PdBi 2 within density functional theory calculations. By investigating the electronic structure from the bulk to slab geometries in this system, we predict for the first time that α-PdBi 2 can host orbital-dependent and asymmetric Rashba surface states near the Fermi energy. This study suggests that α-PdBimore » 2 will be a good candidate to explore the relationship between superconductivity and topology in condensed matter physics.« less

SILAR derived CdO films: Effect of triethanolamine on the surface morphology and optical bandgap energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, B.; Aydin, R.

2018-07-01

Nanostructured CdO films have been successfully synthesized with different ratios of surfactant triethanolamine (TEA) under SILAR condition. The influence of addition of TEA on the physical properties of CdO nanoparticles was studied. The surface morphology of the films was studied by metallurgical microscope and SEM analysis. Surface topography of the film was studied by AFM. The structural properties of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD studies confirm that the deposited CdO films has cubic structure (111) preferred orientation with well-crystallinity and purity. The optical bandgap energy was estimated based on the UV-vis spectroscopies which were obtained in the range of 2.16 eV-2.46 eV. Our study is encouraging to get enhanced surface topography by surfactant TEA.

Hotspots for allosteric regulation on protein surfaces

PubMed Central

Reynolds, Kimberly A.; McLaughlin, Richard N.; Ranganathan, Rama

2012-01-01

Recent work indicates a general architecture for proteins in which sparse networks of physically contiguous and co-evolving amino acids underlie basic aspects of structure and function. These networks, termed sectors, are spatially organized such that active sites are linked to many surface sites distributed throughout the structure. Using the metabolic enzyme dihydrofolate reductase as a model system, we show that (1) the sector is strongly correlated to a network of residues undergoing millisecond conformational fluctuations associated with enzyme catalysis and (2) sector-connected surface sites are statistically preferred locations for the emergence of allosteric control in vivo. Thus, sectors represent an evolutionarily conserved “wiring” mechanism that can enable perturbations at specific surface positions to rapidly initiate conformational control over protein function. These findings suggest that sectors enable the evolution of intermolecular communication and regulation. PMID:22196731

Absolute Molecular Orientation of Isopropanol at Ceria (100) Surfaces: Insight into Catalytic Selectivity from the Interfacial Structure

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

Doughty, Benjamin; Goverapet Srinivasan, Sriram; Bryantsev, Vyacheslav S.

The initial mechanistic steps underlying heterogeneous chemical catalysis can be described in a framework where the composition, structure, and orientation of molecules adsorbed to reactive interfaces are known. However, extracting this vital information is the limiting step in most cases due in part to challenges in probing the interfacial monolayer with enough chemical specificity to characterize the surface molecular constituents. These challenges are exacerbated at complex or spatially heterogeneous interfaces where competing processes and a distribution of local environments can uniquely drive chemistry. To address these limitations, this work presents a distinctive combination of materials synthesis, surface specific optical experiments,more » and theory to probe and understand molecular structure at catalytic interfaces. Specifically, isopropanol was adsorbed to surfaces of the model CeO 2 catalyst that were synthesized with only the (100) facet exposed. Vibrational sum-frequency generation was used to probe the molecular monolayer, and with the guidance of density functional theory calculations, was used to extract the structure and absolute molecular orientation of isopropanol at the CeO 2 (100) surface. Our results show that isopropanol is readily deprotonated at the surface, and through the measured absolute molecular orientation of isopropanol, we obtain new insight into the selectivity of the (100) surface to form propylene. Our findings reveal key insight into the chemical and physical phenomena taking place at pristine interfaces thereby pointing to intuitive structural arguments to describe catalytic selectivity in more complex systems.« less

Absolute Molecular Orientation of Isopropanol at Ceria (100) Surfaces: Insight into Catalytic Selectivity from the Interfacial Structure

DOE PAGES

Doughty, Benjamin; Goverapet Srinivasan, Sriram; Bryantsev, Vyacheslav S.; ...

2017-06-12

The initial mechanistic steps underlying heterogeneous chemical catalysis can be described in a framework where the composition, structure, and orientation of molecules adsorbed to reactive interfaces are known. However, extracting this vital information is the limiting step in most cases due in part to challenges in probing the interfacial monolayer with enough chemical specificity to characterize the surface molecular constituents. These challenges are exacerbated at complex or spatially heterogeneous interfaces where competing processes and a distribution of local environments can uniquely drive chemistry. To address these limitations, this work presents a distinctive combination of materials synthesis, surface specific optical experiments,more » and theory to probe and understand molecular structure at catalytic interfaces. Specifically, isopropanol was adsorbed to surfaces of the model CeO 2 catalyst that were synthesized with only the (100) facet exposed. Vibrational sum-frequency generation was used to probe the molecular monolayer, and with the guidance of density functional theory calculations, was used to extract the structure and absolute molecular orientation of isopropanol at the CeO 2 (100) surface. Our results show that isopropanol is readily deprotonated at the surface, and through the measured absolute molecular orientation of isopropanol, we obtain new insight into the selectivity of the (100) surface to form propylene. Our findings reveal key insight into the chemical and physical phenomena taking place at pristine interfaces thereby pointing to intuitive structural arguments to describe catalytic selectivity in more complex systems.« less

Understanding of the Formation of Micro/Nanoscale Structures on Metal Surfaces by Ultrafast Pulse Laser Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Edwin

In the recent decades, there has been much interest in functionalized surfaces produced by ultrafast laser processing. Using pulse lasers with nanosecond to femtosecond time scale, a wide range of micro/nanoscale structures can be produced on virtually all metal surfaces. These surface structures create special optoelectronic, wetting, and tribological properties with a diverse range of potential applications. The formation mechanisms of these surface structures, especially microscale, mound-like structures, are not fully understood. There has been wide study of ultrafast laser processing of metals. Yet, the proposed formation models present in current literature often lack sufficient experimental verification. Specifically, many studies are limited to surface characterization, e.g. scanning electron microscopy of the surfaces of these micro/nanoscale structures. Valuable insight into the physical processes responsible for formation can be obtained if standard material science characterization methods are performed across the entire mound. In our study, we examined mound-like structures formed on three metal alloys. Using cross section and 3D slice and view operations by a dual beam scanning electron microscope-focused ion beam, the interior microstructures of these mounds are revealed. Taking advantage of amorphous phase formation during laser processing of Ni60Nb40, we verified the fluence-dependent formation model: mounds formed at low fluence are primarily the result of ablation while mounds formed at high fluence are formed by both ablation and rapid resolidification by hydrodynamical fluid flow. For the first time, we revealed the cross section of a wide variety of mound-like structures on titanium surfaces. The increased contribution to mound formation by fluid flow with increasing fluence was observed. Finally, a 3D scanning electron microscopy technique was applied for mounds produced on silver surface by delayed-pulse laser processing. The interior microstructure demonstrated that most of the volume comprised of resolidified silver grains with 1% porosity.

The Physics and Chemistry of Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gersten, Joel I.; Smith, Frederick W.

2001-06-01

A comprehensive introduction to the structure, properties, and applications of materials This title provides the first unified treatment for the broad subject of materials. Authors Gersten and Smith use a fundamental approach to define the structure and properties of a wide range of solids on the basis of the local chemical bonding and atomic order present in the material. Emphasizing the physical and chemical origins of material properties, the book focuses on the most technologically important materials being utilized and developed by scientists and engineers. Appropriate for use in advanced materials courses, The Physics and Chemistry of Materials provides the background information necessary to assimilate the current academic and patent literature on materials and their applications. Problem sets, illustrations, and helpful tables complete this well-rounded new treatment. Five sections cover these important topics: * Structure of materials, including crystal structure, bonding in solids, diffraction and the reciprocal lattice, and order and disorder in solids * Physical properties of materials, including electrical, thermal, optical, magnetic, and mechanical properties * Classes of materials, including semiconductors, superconductors, magnetic materials, and optical materials in addition to metals, ceramics, polymers, dielectrics, and ferroelectrics * A section on surfaces, thin films, interfaces, and multilayers discusses the effects of spatial discontinuities in the physical and chemical structure of materials * A section on synthesis and processing examines the effects of synthesis on the structure and properties of various materials This book is enhanced by a Web-based supplement that offers advanced material together with an entire electronic chapter on the characterization of materials. The Physics and Chemistry of Materials is a complete introduction to the structure and properties of materials for students and an excellent reference for scientists and engineers.

Nanostructured silicon membranes for control of molecular transport.

PubMed

Srijanto, Bernadeta R; Retterer, Scott T; Fowlkes, Jason D; Doktycz, Mitchel J

2010-11-01

A membrane that allows selective transport of molecular species requires precise engineering on the nanoscale. Membrane permeability can be tuned by controlling the physical structure and surface chemistry of the pores. Here, a combination of electron beam and optical lithography, along with cryogenic deep reactive ion etching, has been used to fabricate silicon membranes that are physically robust, have uniform pore sizes, and are directly integrated into a microfluidic network. Additional reductions in pore size were achieved using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition of silicon dioxide to coat membrane surfaces. Cross sectioning of the membranes using focused ion beam milling was used to determine the physical shape of the membrane pores before and after coating. Functional characterization of the membranes was performed by using quantitative fluorescence microscopy to document the transport of molecular species across the membrane.

Imaging of surface spin textures on bulk crystals by scanning electron microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akamine, Hiroshi; Okumura, So; Farjami, Sahar; Murakami, Yasukazu; Nishida, Minoru

2016-11-01

Direct observation of magnetic microstructures is vital for advancing spintronics and other technologies. Here we report a method for imaging surface domain structures on bulk samples by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Complex magnetic domains, referred to as the maze state in CoPt/FePt alloys, were observed at a spatial resolution of less than 100 nm by using an in-lens annular detector. The method allows for imaging almost all the domain walls in the mazy structure, whereas the visualisation of the domain walls with the classical SEM method was limited. Our method provides a simple way to analyse surface domain structures in the bulk state that can be used in combination with SEM functions such as orientation or composition analysis. Thus, the method extends applications of SEM-based magnetic imaging, and is promising for resolving various problems at the forefront of fields including physics, magnetics, materials science, engineering, and chemistry.

Structural features of biomass in a hybrid MBBR reactor.

PubMed

Xiao, G Y; Ganczarczyk, J

2006-03-01

The structural features of biomass present in the hybrid MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) aeration tank were studied in two subsequent periods, which differed in hydraulic and substrate loads. The physical characteristics of attached-growth biomass, such as, biofilm thickness, density, porosity, inner and surface fractal dimensions, and those of suspended-growth biomass, such as, floc size distribution, density, porosity, inner and surface fractal dimensions, were investigated in each study period and then compared. The results indicated that biofilm always had a higher density, geometric porosity, and a larger boundary fractal dimension than flocs. Both types of biomass were found to exhibit at least two distinct Sierpinski fractal dimensions, indicating two major different pore space populations. With the increasing wastewater flow, both types of biomass were found to shift their structural properties to larger values, except porosity and surface roughness, which decreased. Floc density and biomass Sierpinski fractals were not affected much by the system loadings.

Superconductivity in YTE2Ge2 compounds (TE = d-electron transition metal)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chajewski, G.; Samsel-Czekała, M.; Hackemer, A.; Wiśniewski, P.; Pikul, A. P.; Kaczorowski, D.

2018-05-01

Polycrystalline samples of YTE2Ge2 with TE = Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd and Pt were synthesized and characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction and low-temperature electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements, supplemented by fully relativistic full-potential local-orbital band structure calculations. We confirm that most of the compounds studied crystallize in a body-centered tetragonal ThCr2S2 -type structure (space group I 4 / mmm) and have three-dimensional Fermi surfaces, while only one of them (YPt2Ge2) forms with a primitive tetragonal CaBe2Ge2 -type unit cell (space group P 4 / nmm) and possesses quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface sheets with some nesting. Physical properties data show conventional superconductivity in the phases with TE = Co, Pd and Pt, i.e. independently of the structure type (and hence the dimensionality of the Fermi surface).

Lithological and Surface Geometry Joint Inversions Using Multi-Objective Global Optimization Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lelièvre, Peter; Bijani, Rodrigo; Farquharson, Colin

2016-04-01

Geologists' interpretations about the Earth typically involve distinct rock units with contacts (interfaces) between them. In contrast, standard minimum-structure geophysical inversions are performed on meshes of space-filling cells (typically prisms or tetrahedra) and recover smoothly varying physical property distributions that are inconsistent with typical geological interpretations. There are several approaches through which mesh-based minimum-structure geophysical inversion can help recover models with some of the desired characteristics. However, a more effective strategy may be to consider two fundamentally different types of inversions: lithological and surface geometry inversions. A major advantage of these two inversion approaches is that joint inversion of multiple types of geophysical data is greatly simplified. In a lithological inversion, the subsurface is discretized into a mesh and each cell contains a particular rock type. A lithological model must be translated to a physical property model before geophysical data simulation. Each lithology may map to discrete property values or there may be some a priori probability density function associated with the mapping. Through this mapping, lithological inverse problems limit the parameter domain and consequently reduce the non-uniqueness from that presented by standard mesh-based inversions that allow physical property values on continuous ranges. Furthermore, joint inversion is greatly simplified because no additional mathematical coupling measure is required in the objective function to link multiple physical property models. In a surface geometry inversion, the model comprises wireframe surfaces representing contacts between rock units. This parameterization is then fully consistent with Earth models built by geologists, which in 3D typically comprise wireframe contact surfaces of tessellated triangles. As for the lithological case, the physical properties of the units lying between the contact surfaces are set to a priori values. The inversion is tasked with calculating the geometry of the contact surfaces instead of some piecewise distribution of properties in a mesh. Again, no coupling measure is required and joint inversion is simplified. Both of these inverse problems involve high nonlinearity and discontinuous or non-obtainable derivatives. They can also involve the existence of multiple minima. Hence, one can not apply the standard descent-based local minimization methods used to solve typical minimum-structure inversions. Instead, we are applying Pareto multi-objective global optimization (PMOGO) methods, which generate a suite of solutions that minimize multiple objectives (e.g. data misfits and regularization terms) in a Pareto-optimal sense. Providing a suite of models, as opposed to a single model that minimizes a weighted sum of objectives, allows a more complete assessment of the possibilities and avoids the often difficult choice of how to weight each objective. While there are definite advantages to PMOGO joint inversion approaches, the methods come with significantly increased computational requirements. We are researching various strategies to ameliorate these computational issues including parallelization and problem dimension reduction.

Quaternary schematics for property engineering of CdSe thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chavan, G. T.; Pawar, S. T.; Prakshale, V. M.; Sikora, A.; Pawar, S. M.; Chaure, N. B.; Kamble, S. S.; Maldar, N. N.; Deshmukh, L. P.

2017-12-01

The synthesis of quaternary Cd1-xZnxSySe1-y (0 ≤ x = y ≤ 0.35) thin films was done through indigenously developed chemical solution growth process. As-obtained thin films were subjected to the physical, chemical, structural and optical characterizations. The nearly hydrophobic nature of the as-deposited films except binary CdSe was observed through the wettability studies. The colorimetric studies supported a change in physical color attributes. The elemental analysis done confirmed the formation of Cd(Zn, S)Se and the chemical states of constituent elements as Cd2+, Zn2+, S2- and Se2-. Structural assessment suggested the formation of the polycrystalline quaternary phase of the hexagonal wurtzite structure. The Raman spectroscopy was also employed for the confirmation studies on Cd1-xZnxSySe1-y thin films. Morphological observations indicated microstructural transformation from an aggregated bunch of nano-sized globular grains into a rhomboid network of petal/flakes like crystallites. The atomic force micrographs (AFM) revealed the enhancement in the hillock structures. From advanced AFM characterizations, we observed that the CdSe thin film has leptokurtic (Sku = 3.23) surface, whereas, quaternary Cd(Zn, S)Se films have platykurtic (Sku < 3) surface. The orientation of the surface morphology was observed through the angular spectrum studies. The optical absorption studies revealed direct allowed transition for the films with a continuous modulation of the energy bandgap from 1.8 eV to 2.31 eV.

Anatomy of triply-periodic network assemblies: characterizing skeletal and inter-domain surface geometry of block copolymer gyroids.

PubMed

Prasad, Ishan; Jinnai, Hiroshi; Ho, Rong-Ming; Thomas, Edwin L; Grason, Gregory M

2018-05-09

Triply-periodic networks (TPNs), like the well-known gyroid and diamond network phases, abound in soft matter assemblies, from block copolymers (BCPs), lyotropic liquid crystals and surfactants to functional architectures in biology. While TPNs are, in reality, volume-filling patterns of spatially-varying molecular composition, physical and structural models most often reduce their structure to lower-dimensional geometric objects: the 2D interfaces between chemical domains; and the 1D skeletons that thread through inter-connected, tubular domains. These lower-dimensional structures provide a useful basis of comparison to idealized geometries based on triply-periodic minimal, or constant-mean curvature surfaces, and shed important light on the spatially heterogeneous packing of molecular constituents that form the networks. Here, we propose a simple, efficient and flexible method to extract a 1D skeleton from 3D volume composition data of self-assembled networks. We apply this method to both self-consistent field theory predictions as well as experimental electron microtomography reconstructions of the double-gyroid phase of an ABA triblock copolymer. We further demonstrate how the analysis of 1D skeleton, 2D inter-domain surfaces, and combinations therefore, provide physical and structural insight into TPNs, across multiple length scales. Specifically, we propose and compare simple measures of network chirality as well as domain thickness, and analyze their spatial and statistical distributions in both ideal (theoretical) and non-ideal (experimental) double gyroid assemblies.

Physics through the 1990s: Atomic, molecular and optical physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The volume presents a program of research initiatives in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. The current state of atomic, molecular, and optical physics in the US is examined with respect to demographics, education patterns, applications, and the US economy. Recommendations are made for each field, with discussions of their histories and the relevance of the research to government agencies. The section on atomic physics includes atomic theory, structure, and dynamics; accelerator-based atomic physics; and large facilities. The section on molecular physics includes spectroscopy, scattering theory and experiment, and the dynamics of chemical reactions. The section on optical physics discusses lasers, laser spectroscopy, and quantum optics and coherence. A section elucidates interfaces between the three fields and astrophysics, condensed matter physics, surface science, plasma physics, atmospheric physics, and nuclear physics. Another section shows applications of the three fields in ultra-precise measurements, fusion, national security, materials, medicine, and other topics.

Quantifying the Hydraulic Roughness of Vegetation using Physical Modelling and Through-Water Terrestrial Laser Scanning.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasilopoulos, G.; Leyland, J.; Nield, J. M.

2016-12-01

Plants function as large-scale, flexible obstacles that exert additional drag on water flows, affecting local scale turbulence and the structure of the boundary layer. Hence, vegetation plays a significant role controlling surface water flows and modulating geomorphic change. This makes it an important, but often under considered, component when undertaking flood or erosion control actions, or designing river restoration strategies. Vegetative drag varies depending on flow conditions and the associated vegetation structure and temporary reconfiguration of the plant. Whilst several approaches have been developed to describe this relationship, they have been limited due to the difficulty of accurately and precisely characterising the vegetation itself, especially when it is submerged in flow. In practice, vegetative drag is commonly expressed through bulk parameters that are typically derived from lookup tables. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) has the ability to capture the surface of in situ objects as 3D point clouds, at high resolution (mm), precision and accuracy, even when submerged in water. This allows for the development of workflows capable of quantifying vegetation structure in 3D from dense TLS point cloud data. A physical modelling experiment investigated the impact of a series of structurally variable plants on flow at three different velocities. Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV) was employed to measure the velocity field and the corresponding fluvial drag of the vegetation was estimated using a bulk roughness function calculated from precise measurements of the water surface slope. Simultaneously, through-water TLS was employed to capture snapshots of plant deformation and distinguish plant structure during flow, using a porosity approach. Although plant type is important, we find a good relationship between plant structure, drag and adjustments of the velocity field.

Dynamic apical surface rings in superficial layer cells of koi Cyprinus carpio scale epidermis.

PubMed

DePasquale, J A

2016-09-01

This study examined the novel ring-shaped structures found in the apical surface of individual cells of the scale epidermis of koi Cyprinus carpio. These apical rings are highly dynamic structures with lifetimes ranging from a few to several minutes. While several ring forms were observed, the predominant ring morphology is circular or oval. Two distinct ring forms were identified and designated type I and type II. Type I rings have a well-defined outer border that encircles the surface microridges. Type II rings are smooth-surfaced, dinner-plate-like structures with membranous folds or compressed microridges in the centre. Type II rings appear less frequently than type I rings. Type I rings form spontaneously, arising from swollen or physically interrupted microridges but without initially perturbing the encircled microridges. After persisting for up to several minutes the ring closes in a centripetal movement to form a circular or irregular-shaped structure, the terminal disc. The terminal disc eventually disappears, leaving behind a submembranous vesicle-like structure, the terminal body. Type I rings can undergo multiple cycles of formation and closing. Recycling epidermal apical rings form through centrifugal expansion from the terminal disc followed by apparent contraction back to the disc structure, whereupon the cycle may repeat or cease. The findings demonstrate a novel skin surface structure in fishes and are discussed with respect to communication with the external aqueous environment. © 2016 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Understanding the Physical Structure of the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Fragments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rettig, Terrence

2000-07-01

Images of the fragmented comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 {SL9} as it approached Jupiter in 1994 provided a unique opportunity to {1} probe the comae, {2} understand the structure of the 20 cometary objects, and {3} provide limits on the Jovian impact parameters. The primary cometary questions were: how were the fragments formed and what was their central structure? There still remains a diversity of opinion regarding the structure of the 21 comet-like fragments as well as the specifics of the disruption event itself. We have shown from Monte Carlo modeling of surface brightness profiles that SL9 fragments had unusual dust size distributions and outflow velocities. Further work of a preliminary nature showed some of the central reflecting area excesses derived from surface brightness profile fitting {w/psf} appeared distributed rather than centrally concentrated as would be expected for comet- like objects, some central excesses were negative and also, the excesses could vary with time. With an improved coma subtraction technique we propose to model each coma surface brightness profile, extract central reflecting areas or central brightness excesses for the non-star-contaminated WFPC-2 SL9, to determine the behavior and characteristics of the central excesses as the fragments approached Jupiter. A second phase of the proposal will be to use numerical techniques {in conjunction with D. Richardson} to investigate the various fragment models. This is a difficult modeling process that will allow us to model the structure and physical characteristics of the fragments and thus constrain parameters for the Jovian impact events. The results will be used to constrain the structure of the central fragment cores of SL9 and how the observed dust comae were produced. The results will provide evidence to discriminate between the parent nucleus models {i.e., were the fragments solid objects or swarms of particles?} and provide better constraints on the atmospheric impact models. The physical characteristics of cometary nuclei are not well understood and the SL9 data provides an important opportunity to constrain these parameters.

Physical Biology in Cancer. 3. The role of cell glycocalyx in vascular transport of circulating tumor cells

PubMed Central

Mitchell, Michael J.

2013-01-01

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood are known to adhere to the luminal surface of the microvasculature via receptor-mediated adhesion, which contributes to the spread of cancer metastasis to anatomically distant organs. Such interactions between ligands on CTCs and endothelial cell-bound surface receptors are sensitive to receptor-ligand distances at the nanoscale. The sugar-rich coating expressed on the surface of CTCs and endothelial cells, known as the glycocalyx, serves as a physical structure that can control the spacing and, thus, the availability of such receptor-ligand interactions. The cancer cell glycocalyx can also regulate the ability of therapeutic ligands to bind to CTCs in the bloodstream. Here, we review the role of cell glycocalyx on the adhesion and therapeutic treatment of CTCs in the bloodstream. PMID:24133067

Contributions to DoD Mission Success from High Performance Computing - March 1995

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-03-01

the flow . The physics to be considered may entail additional force fields, coupling to surface physics and microphysics, changes of phase, changes...in this program concerns the structural mechanics of bolted-on propeller blades. An important objective of the program was to determine the effects of...motion between the rotor blades and the airframe. The flow past each component is then computed using an efficient, implicit three-dimensional unsteady

Bacterial surface adaptation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utada, Andrew

2014-03-01

Biofilms are structured multi-cellular communities that are fundamental to the biology and ecology of bacteria. Parasitic bacterial biofilms can cause lethal infections and biofouling, but commensal bacterial biofilms, such as those found in the gut, can break down otherwise indigestible plant polysaccharides and allow us to enjoy vegetables. The first step in biofilm formation, adaptation to life on a surface, requires a working knowledge of low Reynolds number fluid physics, and the coordination of biochemical signaling, polysaccharide production, and molecular motility motors. These crucial early stages of biofilm formation are at present poorly understood. By adapting methods from soft matter physics, we dissect bacterial social behavior at the single cell level for several prototypical bacterial species, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae.

Surface obstacles in pulsatile flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carr, Ian A.; Plesniak, Michael W.

2017-11-01

Flows past obstacles mounted on flat surfaces have been widely studied due to their ubiquity in nature and engineering. For nearly all of these studies, the freestream flow over the obstacle was steady, i.e., constant velocity, unidirectional flow. Unsteady, pulsatile flows occur frequently in biology, geophysics, biomedical engineering, etc. Our study is aimed at extending the comprehensive knowledge base that exists for steady flows to considerably more complex pulsatile flows. Characterizing the vortex and wake dynamics of flows around surface obstacles embedded in pulsatile flows can provide insights into the underlying physics in all wake and junction flows. In this study, we experimentally investigate the wake of two canonical obstacles: a cube and a circular cylinder with an aspect ratio of unity. Our previous studies of a surface-mounted hemisphere in pulsatile flow are used as a baseline for these two new, more complex geometries. Phase-averaged PIV and hot-wire anemometry are used to characterize the dynamics of coherent structures in the wake and at the windward junction of the obstacles. Complex physics occur during the deceleration phase of the pulsatile inflow. We propose a framework for understanding these physics based on self-induced vortex propagation, similar to the phenomena exhibited by vortex rings.

JSEP fellowship

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodman, Alvin M.; Powers, Edward J.

1993-06-01

In this dissertation, the precision of molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) is taken advantage of in order to grow semiconductor reflectors, microcavities, and quantum wells for studies of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's) and the coupling between reflectors and the spatially localized dipoles of semiconductor quantum wells. The design of the structures and the choice of epitaxial growth parameters used for the structures are discussed in detail. Experimental techniques and results are discussed which relate to studies that advance the optoelectronics technology and our understanding of fundamental physics. MBE is used to grow epitaxial structures in which a QW is precisely placed either in close proximity to a DBR, or near the surface of the epitaxial layer, so that a highly reflective mirror can be placed in close proximity to the QW.

Physics and Chemistry on Well-Defined Semiconductor and Oxide Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Peijun

High resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and other surface spectroscopic techniques have been employed to investigate the following two classes of surface/interface phenomena on well-defined semiconductor and oxide surfaces: (i) the fundamental physical and chemical processes involved in gas-solid interaction on silicon single crystal surfaces, and (ii) the physical and chemical properties of metal-oxide interfaces. The particular systems reported in this dissertation are: NH_3, PH_3 and B_ {10}H_{14} on Si(111)-(7 x 7); NH_3 on Si(100) -(2 x 1); atomic H on Si(111)-(7 x 7) and boron-modified Si(111); Al on Al_2O_3 and Sn on SiO_2.. On silicon surfaces, the surface dangling bonds function as the primary adsorption sites where surface chemical processes take place. The unambiguous identification of surface species by vibrational spectroscopy allows the elementary steps involved in these surface chemical processes to be followed on a molecular level. For adsorbate molecules such as NH_3 and PH_3, the nature of the initial low temperature (100 -300 K) adsorption is found to be dissociative, while that for B_{10}H_ {14} is non-dissociative. This has been deduced based upon the presence (or absence) of specific characteristic vibrational mode(s) on surface. By following the evolution of surface species as a function of temperature, the elementary steps leading to silicon nitride thin film growth and doping of silicon are elucidated. In the case of NH_3 on Si(111)-(7 x 7) and Si(100)-(2 x 1), a detailed understanding on the role of substrate surface structure in controlling the surface reactivity has been gained on the basis of a Si adatom backbond-strain relief mechanism on the Si(111) -(7 x 7). The electronic modification to Si(111) surface by subsurface boron doping has been shown to quench its surface chemistry, even for the most aggressive atomic H. This discovery is potentially meaningful to the technology of gas-phase silicon etching. The electron energy loss studies on the excitation of surface plasmon in heavily B-doped Si(111) and the investigation of surface optical phonon modes in aluminum oxide thin films provide insights into the sensitive dependence of the physical properties of a solid upon its chemical modification. Successful interpretations of these elementary excitation features are built upon the understanding of the fundamental physics of low-energy electron-solid interaction. Finally, the temperature behavior of the interfacial properties of Sn/SiO_2 are explored.

Tunable Physical Properties of Ethylcellulose/Gelatin Composite Nanofibers by Electrospinning.

PubMed

Liu, Yuyu; Deng, Lingli; Zhang, Cen; Feng, Fengqin; Zhang, Hui

2018-02-28

In this work, the ethylcellulose/gelatin blends at various weight ratios in water/ethanol/acetic acid solution were electrospun to fabricate nanofibers with tunable physical properties. The solution compatibility was predicted based on Hansen solubility parameters and evaluated by rheological measurements. The physical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, porosity, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and water contact angle. Results showed that the entangled structures among ethylcellulose and gelatin chains through hydrogen bonds gave rise to a fine morphology of the composite fibers with improved thermal stability. The fibers with higher gelatin ratio (75%), possessed hydrophilic surface (water contact angle of 53.5°), and adequate water uptake ability (1234.14%), while the fibers with higher ethylcellulose proportion (75%) tended to be highly water stable with a hydrophobic surface (water contact angle of 129.7°). This work suggested that the composite ethylcellulose/gelatin nanofibers with tunable physical properties have potentials as materials for bioactive encapsulation, food packaging, and filtration applications.

Decay assessment through thermographic analysis in architectural and archaeological heritage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomez-Heras, Miguel; Martinez-Perez, Laura; Fort, Rafael; Alvarez de Buergo, Monica

2010-05-01

Any exposed stone-built structure is subject to thermal variations due to daily, seasonal and secular environmental temperature changes. Surface temperature is a function of air temperature (due to convective heat transfer) and of infrared radiation received through insolation. While convective heat transfer homogenizes surface temperature, stone response to insolation is much more complex and the temporal and spatial temperature differences across structures are enhanced. Surface temperature in stone-built structures will be affected by orientation, sunlight inclination and the complex patterns of light and shadows generated by the often intricate morphology of historical artefacts and structures. Surface temperature will also be affected by different material properties, such as albedo, thermal conductivity, transparency and absorbance to infrared radiation of minerals and rocks. Moisture and the occurrence of salts will also be a factor affecting surface temperatures. Surface temperatures may as well be affected by physical disruptions of rocks due to differences in thermal inertia generated by cracks and other discontinuities. Thermography is a non-invasive, non-destructive technique that measures temperature variations on the surface of a material. With this technique, surface temperature rates of change and their spatial variations can be analysed. This analysis may be used not only to evaluate the incidence of thermal decay as a factor that generates or enhances stone decay, but also to detect and evaluate other factors that affect the state of conservation of architectural and archaeological heritage, as for example moisture, salts or mechanical disruptions.

Effect of alkali treatment on the physical and surface properties of Indian hemp fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangappa, Rao, B. Lakshmeesha; Asha, S.; Somashekar, R.

2013-02-01

The Plant fibers are rich in cellulose and they are a cheap, easily renewable source of fibers with the potential for polymer reinforcement. The presence of surface impurities and the large amount of hydroxyl groups make plant fibers less attractive for reinforcement of polymeric materials. Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) fibers were subjected to alkalization using 1N sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The structural properties and surface morphology of untreated and chemically modified fibers have been studied using X-ray diffraction (WAXS) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively.

Wear of carbide inserts with complex surface treatment when milling nickel alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedorov, Sergey; Swe, Min Htet; Kapitanov, Alexey; Egorov, Sergey

2018-03-01

One of the effective ways of strengthening hard alloys is the creating structure layers on their surface with the gradient distribution of physical and mechanical properties between the wear-resistant coating and the base material. The article discusses the influence of the near-surface layer which is modified by low-energy high-current electron-beam alloying and the upper anti-friction layer in a multi-component coating on the wear mechanism of the replaceable multifaceted plates in the dry milling of the difficult to machine nickel alloys.

The development of surface science in China: retrospect and prospects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xide, Xie

1994-01-01

It is generally agreed that the year of 1977 marked the birth of surface science in China, therefore the length of its history of development is only half of that shown in the title of this volume. Since 1977 laboratories with modern facilities for surface studies have been established in various universities and research institutes. Three open laboratories better equipped than others have been set up in Beijing, Xiamen and Shanghai for surface physics, surface chemistry and applied surface physics, respectively. Five National Conferences on Physics of Surfaces and Interfaces were held in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1991. In 1993 China is going to host the Fourth International Conference on the Structure of Surfaces in Shanghai August 16-19 which will serve as a milestone in the history of development of surface science in China. With the access to many overseas laboratories, quite a number of Chinese scientists and students have had opportunities to work and study abroad and have brought back with them experiences acquired. During the Conferences just mentioned, one could witness a number of steady progresses made over the years. In the present review, a brief description about the establishment of some major research facilities and progresses of some of the research is given with emphasis on work related to semiconductor surfaces, interfaces, superlattices, heterojunctions and quantum wells. Although the review nominally covers the development of research in surface science in China, due to the limitation of the capabilities of the author, mostly work done at Fudan University is included. For this the author would like to express her deep apology to many Chinese colleagues whose works have not been properly mentioned.

Modeling of Surface Geometric Structure State After Integratedformed Milling and Finish Burnishing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berczyński, Stefan; Grochała, Daniel; Grządziel, Zenon

2017-06-01

The article deals with computer-based modeling of burnishing a surface previously milled with a spherical cutter. This method of milling leaves traces, mainly asperities caused by the cutting crossfeed and cutter diameter. The burnishing process - surface plastic treatment - is accompanied by phenomena that take place right in the burnishing ball-milled surface contact zone. The authors present the method for preparing a finite element model and the methodology of tests for the assessment of height parameters of a surface geometrical structure (SGS). In the physical model the workpieces had a cuboidal shape and these dimensions: (width × height × length) 2×1×4.5 mm. As in the process of burnishing a cuboidal workpiece is affected by plastic deformations, the nonlinearities of the milled item were taken into account. The physical model of the process assumed that the burnishing ball would be rolled perpendicularly to milling cutter linear traces. The model tests included the application of three different burnishing forces: 250 N, 500 N and 1000 N. The process modeling featured the contact and pressing of a ball into the workpiece surface till the desired force was attained, then the burnishing ball was rolled along the surface section of 2 mm, and the burnishing force was gradually reduced till the ball left the contact zone. While rolling, the burnishing ball turned by a 23° angle. The cumulative diagrams depict plastic deformations of the modeled surfaces after milling and burnishing with defined force values. The roughness of idealized milled surface was calculated for the physical model under consideration, i.e. in an elementary section between profile peaks spaced at intervals of crossfeed passes, where the milling feed fwm = 0.5 mm. Also, asperities after burnishing were calculated for the same section. The differences of the obtained values fall below 20% of mean values recorded during empirical experiments. The adopted simplification in after-milling SGS modeling enables substantial acceleration of the computing process. There is a visible reduction of the Ra parameter value for milled and burnished surfaces as the burnishing force rises. The tests determined an optimal burnishing force at a level of 500 N (lowest Ra = 0.24 μm). Further increase in the value of burnishing force turned out not to affect the surface roughness, which is consistent with the results obtained from experimental studies.

Time-Dependent Thermally-Driven Interfacial Flows in Multilayered Fluid Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haj-Hariri, Hossein; Borhan, A.

1996-01-01

A computational study of thermally-driven convection in multilayered fluid structures will be performed to examine the effect of interactions among deformable fluid-fluid interfaces on the structure of time-dependent flow in these systems. Multilayered fluid structures in two models configurations will be considered: the differentially heated rectangular cavity with a free surface, and the encapsulated cylindrical liquid bridge. An extension of a numerical method developed as part of our recent NASA Fluid Physics grant will be used to account for finite deformations of fluid-fluid interfaces.

On the spottedness, magnetism and internal structure of stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gershberg, R. E.

Kinematical structures within stellar interiors that are the result of a self-organization of these interiors as thermodynamically open nonlinear systems are proposed as the physical basis for stellar magnetism. It is noted that the ubiquitousness of stellar magnetism that follows from the hypothesis is not in contradiction with observations. These kinematical structures may be energy reservoirs, and changes in these structures may be connected with variations of an energy flux emergent from a stellar surface, while its internal energy sources remain constant, explaining the radiation deficit from sunspots and starspots.

Surface-screening mechanisms in ferroelectric thin films and their effect on polarization dynamics and domain structures

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

Kalinin, Sergei V.; Kim, Yunseok; Fong, Dillon D.

For over 70 years, ferroelectric materials have been one of the central research topics for condensed matter physics and material science, an interest driven both by fundamental science and applications. However, ferroelectric surfaces, the key component of ferroelectric films and nanostructures, still present a significant theoretical and even conceptual challenge. Indeed, stability of ferroelectric phase per se necessitates screening of polarization charge. At surfaces, this can lead to coupling between ferroelectric and semiconducting properties of material, or with surface (electro) chemistry, going well beyond classical models applicable for ferroelectric interfaces. In this review, we summarize recent studies of surface-screening phenomenamore » in ferroelectrics. We provide a brief overview of the historical understanding of the physics of ferroelectric surfaces, and existing theoretical models that both introduce screening mechanisms and explore the relationship between screening and relevant aspects of ferroelectric functionalities starting from phase stability itself. Given that the majority of ferroelectrics exist in multiple-domain states, we focus on local studies of screening phenomena using scanning probe microscopy techniques. We discuss recent studies of static and dynamic phenomena on ferroelectric surfaces, as well as phenomena observed under lateral transport, light, chemical, and pressure stimuli. We also note that the need for ionic screening renders polarization switching a coupled physical-electrochemical process and discuss the non-trivial phenomena such as chaotic behavior during domain switching that stem from this.« less

Mounting structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ganssle, Eugene Robert (Inventor); Scott, Ralph Richard (Inventor); Williams, Richard Jean (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A mounting platform for heat producing instruments operated in a narrow equilibrium temperature range comprises a grid-like structure with relatively large openings therein. The instruments are secured to and thermally coupled with the grid surface facing the instruments. Excess heat from the instruments is selectively radiated to the ambient through openings in the grid, the grid surfaces at these openings exhibiting low thermal emissivity and adsorptivity. The remainder of the grid is maintained at the equilibrium temperature and is covered with a thermal insulating blanket. Thus, the entire system including the platform and instruments is maintained substantially isothermal, whereby the instruments remain in fixed physical relationship to one another.

A tutorial solution to scattering of radiation in a thin atmosphere bounded below by a diffusely reflecting, absorbing surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buglia, J. J.

1982-01-01

A simple tutorial method, based on a photon tracking procedure, is described to determine the spherical albedo for a thin atmosphere overlying a reflecting surface. This procedure is used to provide a physical structure with which to interpret the more detailed but highly mathematical analyses presented. The final equations are shown to be in good numerical agreement with more exact solutions for thin atmospheres.

Tailoring the Electromagnetic Near Field with Patterned Surfaces: Near-Field Plates

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-10

single layer processing. 3 Near-field plates can be viewed as metamaterial surfaces ( metasurfaces or metafilms) [20]. They are textured/structured at a...Applied Physics Letters, vol. 103, 041104, July 2013. 3. C. Pfeiffer and A. Grbic, ”Cascaded metasurfaces for complete phase and polarization control...Antennas and Propagation, pp. 1-2, Memphis, TN, July 6-12, 2014. 5. Pfeiffer and A. Grbic, ”Analysis and synthesis of bianisotropic metasurfaces

Surface and interface sciences of Li-ion batteries. -Research progress in electrode-electrolyte interface-

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minato, Taketoshi; Abe, Takeshi

2017-12-01

The application potential of Li-ion batteries is growing as demand increases in different fields at various stages in energy systems, in addition to their conventional role as power sources for portable devices. In particular, applications in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage are increasing for Li-ion batteries. For these applications, improvements in battery performance are necessary. The Li-ion battery produces and stores electric power from the electrochemical redox reactions between the electrode materials. The interface between the electrodes and electrolyte strongly affects the battery performance because the charge transfer causing the electrode redox reaction begins at this interface. Understanding of the surface structure, electronic structure, and chemical reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface is necessary to improve battery performance. However, the interface is located between the electrode and electrolyte materials, hindering the experimental analysis of the interface; thus, the physical properties and chemical processes have remained poorly understood until recently. Investigations of the physical properties and chemical processes at the interface have been performed using advanced surface science techniques. In this review, current knowledge and future research prospects regarding the electrode-electrolyte interface are described for the further development of Li-ion batteries.

Chemical and structural order in silicon oxynitrides by methods of surface physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finster, J.; Heeg, J.; Klinkenberg, E.-D.

A large number of thin amorphous layers of SiO xN y and several (crystalline) reference compounds (SiO 2, Si 3N 4, Si 2N 2O) are studied. Although XANES and SEXAFS are well sulted to derive structural and chemical order, for these compounds many problems remain to be solved. We show how core level spectra (XPS, AES) can be used to gain such information (e.g. random bonding structure, N coordination, oxidation behaviour).

Characterization of modified zeolite as microbial immobilization media on POME anaerobic digestion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cahyono, Rochim B.; Ismiyati, Sri; Ginting, Simparmin Br; Mellyanawaty, Melly; Budhijanto, Wiratni

2018-03-01

As the world’s biggest palm oil producer, Indonesia generates also huge amount of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) wastewater and causes serious problem in environment. In conventional method, POME was converted into biogas using lagoon system which required extensive land area. Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor (AFBR) proposes more effective biogas producing with smaller land area. In the proposed system, a immobilization media would be main factor for enhancing productivity. This research studied on characterization of Lampung natural zeolite as immobilization media in the AFBR system for POME treatment. Various activation method such as physical and chemical were attempted to create more suitable material which has larger surface area, pore size distribution as well as excellent surface structures. The physical method was applied by heating up the material till 400°C while HCl was used on the chemical activation. Based on the result, the chemical activation increased the surface area significantly into 71 m2/g compared to physical as well as original zeolite. The strong acid material was quite effective to enforce the impurities within zeolite pore structure compared to heating up the material. According to distribution data, the Lampung zeolite owned the pore size with the range of 3 – 5 μm which was mesopore material. The pore size was appropriate for immobilization media as it was smaller than size of biogas microbial. The XRD patterns verified that chemical activation could maintain the zeolite structure as the original. Obviously, the SEM photograph showed apparent structure and pore size on the modified zeolite using chemical method. The testing of modified zeolite on the batch system was done to evaluate the characterization process. The modified zeolite using chemical process resulted fast reduction of COD and stabilized the volatile fatty acid as the intermediate product of anaerobic digestion, especially in the beginning of the process. Therefore, the chemical activation process was most suitable to produce the immobilization media from Lampung natural zeolite for POME waste treatment

Moth eye-inspired anti-reflective surfaces for improved IR optical systems & visible LEDs fabricated with colloidal lithography and etching.

PubMed

Chan, Lesley W; Morse, Daniel E; Gordon, Michael J

2018-05-08

Near- and sub-wavelength photonic structures are used by numerous organisms (e.g. insects, cephalopods, fish, birds) to create vivid and often dynamically-tunable colors, as well as create, manipulate, or capture light for vision, communication, crypsis, photosynthesis, and defense. This review introduces the physics of moth eye (ME)-like, biomimetic nanostructures and discusses their application to reduce optical losses and improve efficiency of various optoelectronic devices, including photodetectors, photovoltaics, imagers, and light emitting diodes. Light-matter interactions at structured and heterogeneous surfaces over different length scales are discussed, as are the various methods used to create ME-inspired surfaces. Special interest is placed on a simple, scalable, and tunable method, namely colloidal lithography with plasma dry etching, to fabricate ME-inspired nanostructures in a vast suite of materials. Anti-reflective surfaces and coatings for IR devices and enhancing light extraction from visible light emitting diodes are highlighted.

Composition and structure of surfaces by time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Jeongheon

1997-10-01

Time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS) was applied to characterize surface structures in order to understand the chemical and physical phenomena on various surfaces. The combination of TOF-SARS, LEED, and classical ion trajectory simulations has allowed characterization of the elemental composition in the outermost atomic layers, surface symmetry, and possible reconstruction or relaxation. The composition and structure of the CdS\\{0001\\}-(1 x 1) and CdS\\{000bar1\\}-(1 x 1) surfaces were investigated. The termination layer of each surface was determined by grazing incidence TOF-SARS. Both (1 x 1) surfaces are bulk-terminated without any reconstruction or relaxation detected by TOF-SARS. Each surface has two domains which are rotated by 60sp° from each other and there exist steps on both surfaces. The CdS\\{0001\\}-(1 x 1) surface is stabilized by O and H covering half a monolayer which are structurally ordered on the surface, while the O and H on the CdS\\{000bar1\\}-(1 x 1) stabilize the surface without ordering. The study of GaN\\{000bar1\\}-(1 x 1) shows the bulk-termination of the surface with no detectable reconstruction or relaxation. The surface is terminated in a N layer with Ga in the 2sp{nd}-layer. H atoms are bound to the outermost N atoms with a coverage of ˜3/4 monolayer and protrude outward from the surface. The surface termination, composition and structure of the Alsb2Osb3 (sapphire) were examined. The surface relaxation was studied quantitatively using classical ion trajectory simulations along with TOF-SARS. The surface undergoes 1sp{st}{-}2sp{nd}-layer relaxation as large as 0.5 A from the bulk value resulting in near coplanarity of Al and O atoms. The reconstruction of the Ni\\{100\\}-(2 x 2)-C surface was studied by TOF-SARS. The surface contained 80% of the (2 x 2)p4g phase and 20% of the unreconstructed (2 x 2) phase. The displacement of Ni atoms was determined by comparing the experimental and simulated results.

Engineering Cu surfaces for the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2: Controlling selectivity toward oxygenates and hydrocarbons

PubMed Central

Hahn, Christopher; Hatsukade, Toru; Kim, Youn-Geun; Vailionis, Arturas; Baricuatro, Jack H.; Higgins, Drew C.; Nitopi, Stephanie A.; Soriaga, Manuel P.; Jaramillo, Thomas F.

2017-01-01

In this study we control the surface structure of Cu thin-film catalysts to probe the relationship between active sites and catalytic activity for the electroreduction of CO2 to fuels and chemicals. Here, we report physical vapor deposition of Cu thin films on large-format (∼6 cm2) single-crystal substrates, and confirm epitaxial growth in the <100>, <111>, and <751> orientations using X-ray pole figures. To understand the relationship between the bulk and surface structures, in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy was conducted on Cu(100), (111), and (751) thin films. The studies revealed that Cu(100) and (111) have surface adlattices that are identical to the bulk structure, and that Cu(751) has a heterogeneous kinked surface with (110) terraces that is closely related to the bulk structure. Electrochemical CO2 reduction testing showed that whereas both Cu(100) and (751) thin films are more active and selective for C–C coupling than Cu(111), Cu(751) is the most selective for >2e− oxygenate formation at low overpotentials. Our results demonstrate that epitaxy can be used to grow single-crystal analogous materials as large-format electrodes that provide insights on controlling electrocatalytic activity and selectivity for this reaction. PMID:28533377

Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziatdinov, M.; Banerjee, A.; Maksov, A.; Berlijn, T.; Zhou, W.; Cao, H. B.; Yan, J.-Q.; Bridges, C. A.; Mandrus, D. G.; Nagler, S. E.; Baddorf, A. P.; Kalinin, S. V.

2016-12-01

A pseudospin-1/2 Mott phase on a honeycomb lattice is proposed to host the celebrated two-dimensional Kitaev model which has an elusive quantum spin liquid ground state, and fascinating physics relevant to the development of future templates towards topological quantum bits. Here we report a comprehensive, atomically resolved real-space study by scanning transmission electron and scanning tunnelling microscopies on a novel layered material displaying Kitaev physics, α-RuCl3. Our local crystallography analysis reveals considerable variations in the geometry of the ligand sublattice in thin films of α-RuCl3 that opens a way to realization of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic ground state at the nanometre length scale. Using scanning tunnelling techniques, we observe the electronic energy gap of ~0.25 eV and intra-unit cell symmetry breaking of charge distribution in individual α-RuCl3 surface layer. The corresponding charge-ordered pattern has a fine structure associated with two different types of charge disproportionation at Cl-terminated surface.

Surface Magnetism on pristine silicon thin film for spin and valley transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jia-Tao

The spin and valley degree of freedom for an electron have received tremendous attention in condensed matters physics because of the potential application for spintronics and valleytronics. It has been widely accepted that d0 light elemental materials of single component are not taken as ferromagnetic candidates because of the absence of odd paired electrons. The ferromagnetism has to be introduced by ferromagnetic impurity, edge functionalization, or proximity with ferromagnetic neighbors etc. These special surface or interface structures require atomically precise control which significantly increases experimental uncertainty and theoretical understanding. By means of density functional theory (DFT) computations, we found that the spin- and valley- polarized state can be introduced in pristine silicon thin films without any alien components. The key point to this aim is the formation of graphene-like hexagonal structures making a spin-polarized Dirac fermion with half-filling. The resulting fundamental physics such as quantum valley Hall effect (QVHE), quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) and magnetoelectric effect will be discussed.

Intrinsic Topological Insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3-xSex Thin Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Li, Li; Zou, Wenqin; He, Liang; Song, Fengqi; Zhang, Rong; Wu, Xiaoshan; Zhang, Fengming

2015-01-01

The quaternary topological insulator (Bi,Sb)2(Te,Se)3 has demonstrated topological surface states with an insulating bulk. Scientists have identified an optimized composition of Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3 with the highest resistivity reported. But the physics that drive to this composition remains unclear. Here we report the crystal structure and the magneto-transport properties of Bi1.5Sb0.5Te3-xSex (BSTS) series. A correlation between the structure and the physical properties has been revealed. We found out that within the rhombohedral structure, the composition with most Te substituting Se has the highest resistivity. On the other hand, segregation of other composition phases will introduce much higher bulk concentration.

The role of SO{sub 4}{sup 2−} surface distribution in arsenic removal by iron oxy-hydroxides

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

Tresintsi, S.; Simeonidis, K., E-mail: ksime@physics.auth.gr; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38334 Volos

2014-05-01

This study investigates the contribution of chemisorbed SO{sub 4}{sup 2−} in improving arsenic removal properties of iron oxy-hydroxides through an ion-exchange mechanism. An analytical methodology was developed for the accurate quantification of sulfate ion (SO{sub 4}{sup 2−}) distribution onto the surface and structural compartments of iron oxy-hydroxides synthesized by FeSO{sub 4} precipitation. The procedure is based on the sequential determination of SO{sub 4}{sup 2−} presence in the diffuse and Stern layers, and the structure of these materials as defined by the sulfate-rich environments during the reaction and the variation in acidity (pH 3–12). Physically sorbed SO{sub 4}{sup 2−}, extracted inmore » distilled water, and physically/chemically adsorbed ions on the oxy-hydroxide's surface leached by a 5 mM NaOH solution, were determined using ion chromatography. Total sulfate content was gravimetrically measured by precipitation as BaSO{sub 4}. To validate the suggested method, results were verified by X-ray photoelectron and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that low precipitation pH-values favor the incorporation of sulfate ions into the structure and the inner double layer, while under alkaline conditions ions shift to the diffuse layer. - Graphical abstract: An analytical methodology for the accurate quantification of sulfate ions (SO{sub 4}{sup 2−}) distribution onto the diffuse layer, the Stern layer and the structure of iron oxy-hydroxides used as arsenic removal agents. - Highlights: • Quantification of sulfate ions presence in FeOOH surface compartments. • Preparation pH defines the distribution of sulfates. • XPS and FTIR verify the presence of SO{sub 4}{sup 2−} in the structure, the Stern layer the diffuse layer of FeOOH. • Chemically adsorbed sulfates control the arsenic removal efficiency of iron oxyhydroxides.« less

Development of Functional Surfaces on High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) via Gas-Assisted Etching (GAE) Using Focused Ion Beams.

PubMed

Sezen, Meltem; Bakan, Feray

2015-12-01

Irradiation damage, caused by the use of beams in electron and ion microscopes, leads to undesired physical/chemical material property changes or uncontrollable modification of structures. Particularly, soft matter such as polymers or biological materials is highly susceptible and very much prone to react on electron/ion beam irradiation. Nevertheless, it is possible to turn degradation-dependent physical/chemical changes from negative to positive use when materials are intentionally exposed to beams. Especially, controllable surface modification allows tuning of surface properties for targeted purposes and thus provides the use of ultimate materials and their systems at the micro/nanoscale for creating functional surfaces. In this work, XeF2 and I2 gases were used in the focused ion beam scanning electron microscope instrument in combination with gallium ion etching of high-density polyethylene surfaces with different beam currents and accordingly different gas exposure times resulting at the same ion dose to optimize and develop new polymer surface properties and to create functional polymer surfaces. Alterations in the surface morphologies and surface chemistry due to gas-assisted etching-based nanostructuring with various processing parameters were tracked using high-resolution SEM imaging, complementary energy-dispersive spectroscopic analyses, and atomic force microscopic investigations.

Interrelation of electret properties of polyethylene foam from the method of cross-linking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilmanov, I. R.; Galikhanov, M. F.; Gilmanova, A. R.

2017-09-01

The electret properties of chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam and physically cross-linked polyethylene foam have been studied. It has been shown that chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam has higher surface potential, effective surface charge density and electric field strength compared to physically bonded polyethylene foam. This is due to the presence of molecules and fragments of dicumyl peroxide, which can play the role of traps for injection charge carriers, a greater degree of cross-linking and with the oxidation of polyethylene, which occurs during irradiation during physical cross-linking. When the foam is deformed, its electret properties are reduced, and when the volume is relaxed, they are restored. This is due to the partial mutual compensation of homo- and heterocharge during compression and the return of the structure of the gas-filled polymer to its former position when the load is removed.

The Key Ingredients of the Electronic Structure of FeSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coldea, Amalia I.; Watson, Matthew D.

2018-03-01

FeSe is a fascinating superconducting material at the frontier of research in condensed matter physics. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the electronic structure of FeSe, focusing in particular on its low-energy electronic structure as determined from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, quantum oscillations, and magnetotransport measurements of single-crystal samples. We discuss the unique place of FeSe among iron-based superconductors, as it is a multiband system exhibiting strong orbitally dependent electronic correlations and unusually small Fermi surfaces and is prone to different electronic instabilities. We pay particular attention to the evolution of the electronic structure that accompanies the tetragonal-orthorhombic structural distortion of the lattice around 90 K, which stabilizes a unique nematic electronic state. Finally, we discuss how the multiband multiorbital nematic electronic structure impacts our understanding of the superconductivity, and show that the tunability of the nematic state with chemical and physical pressure helps to disentangle the role of different competing interactions relevant for enhancing superconductivity.

Photonic surface waves on metamaterial interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takayama, O.; Bogdanov, A. A.; Lavrinenko, A. V.

2017-11-01

A surface wave (SW) in optics is a light wave, which is supported at an interface of two dissimilar media and propagates along the interface with its field amplitude exponentially decaying away from the boundary. Research on surface waves has been flourishing in the last few decades due to their unique properties of surface sensitivity and field localization. These features have resulted in applications in nano-guiding, sensing, light-trapping and imaging based on near-field techniques, contributing to the establishment of nanophotonics as a field of research. Up to now, a wide variety of surface waves has been investigated in numerous material and structure settings. This article reviews the recent progress and development in the physics of SWs localized at metamaterial interfaces, as well as bulk media in order to provide broader perspectives on optical surface waves in general. For each type of surface wave, we discuss the material and structural platforms. We mainly focus on experimental realizations in the visible and near-infrared wavelength ranges. We also address existing and potential application of SWs in chemical and biological sensing, and experimental excitation and characterization methods.

Electrostatic cloaking of surface structure for dynamic wetting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiomi, Junichiro; Nita, Satoshi; Do-Quang, Minh; Wang, Jiayu; Chen, Yu-Chung; Suzuki, Yuji; Amberg, Gustav

2017-11-01

Dynamic wetting problems are fundamental to the understanding of the interaction between liquids and solids. Even in a superficially simple experimental situation, such as a droplet spreading over a dry surface, the result may depend not only on the liquid properties but also strongly on the substrate-surface properties; even for macroscopically smooth surfaces, the microscopic geometrical roughness can be important. In addition, as surfaces may often be naturally charged, or electric fields are used to manipulate fluids, electric effects are crucial components that influence wetting phenomena. Here we investigate the interplay between electric forces and surface structures in dynamic wetting. While surface microstructures can significantly hinder the spreading, we find that the electrostatics can ``cloak'' the microstructures, i.e. deactivate the hindering. We identify the physics in terms of reduction in contact-line friction, which makes the dynamic wetting inertial force dominant and insensitive to the substrate properties. This work was financially supported in part by, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

Finite Element Model Development For Aircraft Fuselage Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buehrle, Ralph D.; Fleming, Gary A.; Pappa, Richard S.; Grosveld, Ferdinand W.

2000-01-01

The ability to extend the valid frequency range for finite element based structural dynamic predictions using detailed models of the structural components and attachment interfaces is examined for several stiffened aircraft fuselage structures. This extended dynamic prediction capability is needed for the integration of mid-frequency noise control technology. Beam, plate and solid element models of the stiffener components are evaluated. Attachment models between the stiffener and panel skin range from a line along the rivets of the physical structure to a constraint over the entire contact surface. The finite element models are validated using experimental modal analysis results.

Structural Characterization of Vapor-deposited Organic Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gujral, Ankit

Physical vapor deposition, a common route of thin film fabrication for organic electronic devices, has recently been shown to produce organic glassy films with enhanced kinetic stability and anisotropic structure. Anisotropic structures are of interest in the organic electronics community as it has been shown that certain structures lead to enhanced device performance, such as higher carrier mobility and better light outcoupling. A mechanism proposed to explain the origin of the stability and anisotropy of vapor-deposited glasses relies on two parameters: 1) enhanced molecular mobility at the free surface (vacuum interface) of a glass, and 2) anisotropic molecular packing at the free surface of the supercooled liquid of the glass-forming system. By vapor-depositing onto a substrate maintained at Tsubstrate < Tg (where Tg is the glass transition temperature), the enhanced molecular mobility at the free surface allows every molecule that lands on the surface to at least partially equilibrate to the preferred anisotropic molecular packing motifs before being buried by further deposition. The extent of equilibration depends on the mobility at the surface, controlled by Tsubstrate, and the residence time on the free surface, controlled by the rate of deposition. This body of work deals with the optimization of deposition conditions and system chemistry to prepare and characterize films with functional anisotropic structures. Here, we show that structural anisotropy can be attained for a variety of molecular systems including a rod-shaped non-mesogen, TPD, a rod-shaped smectic mesogen, itraconazole, two discotic mesogens, phenanthroperylene-ester and triphenylene-ester, and a disc-shaped non-mesogen, m-MTDATA. Experimental evidence is also provided of the anisotropic molecular packing at the free surface (vacuum interface) for the disc-shaped systems that are consistent with the expectations of the proposed mechanism and the final bulk state of the vapor-deposited glasses.

Physical and Chemical Characterization of Therapeutic Iron Containing Materials: A Study of Several Superparamagnetic Drug Formulations with the β-FeOOH or Ferrihydrite Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Funk, Felix; Long, Gary J.; Hautot, Dimitri; Büchi, Ruth; Christl, Iso; Weidler, Peter G.

2001-03-01

The effectiveness of therapeutically used iron compounds is related to their physical and chemical properties. Four different iron compounds used in oral, intravenous, and intramuscular therapy have been examined by X-ray powder diffraction, iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area measurement, potentiometric titration and studied through dissolution kinetics determinations using acid, reducing and chelating agents. All compounds are nanosized with particle diameters, as determined by X-ray diffraction, ranging from 1 to 4.1 nm. The superparamagnetic blocking temperatures, as determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy, indicate that the relative diameters of the aggregates range from 2.5 to 4.1 nm. Three of the iron compounds have an akaganeite-like structure, whereas one has a ferrihydrite-like structure. As powders the particles form large and dense aggregates which have a very low surface area on the order of 1 m2 g-1. There is evidence, however, that in a colloidal solution the surface area is increased by two to three orders of magnitude, presumably as a result of the break up of the aggregates. Iron release kinetics by acid, chelating and reducing agents reflect the high surface area, the size and crystallinity of the particles, and the presence of the protective carbohydrate layer coating the iron compound. Within a physiologically relevant time period, the iron release produced by acid or large chelating ligands is small. In contrast, iron is rapidly mobilized by small organic chelating agents, such as oxalate, or by chelate-forming reductants, such as thioglycolate.

A Numerical Characterization of the Gravito-Electrostatic Sheath Equilibrium Structure in Solar Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karmakar, Pralay Kumar

This article describes the equilibrium structure of the solar interior plasma (SIP) and solar wind plasma (SWP) in detail under the framework of the gravito-electrostatic sheath (GES) model. This model gives a precise definition of the solar surface boundary (SSB), surface origin mechanism of the subsonic SWP, and its supersonic acceleration. Equilibrium parameters like plasma potential, self-gravity, population density, flow, their gradients, and all the relevant inhomogeneity scale lengths are numerically calculated and analyzed as an initial value problem. Physical significance of the structure condition for the SSB is discussed. The plasma oscillation and Jeans time scales are also plotted and compared. In addition, different coupling parameters, and electric current profiles are also numerically studied. The current profiles exhibit an important behavior of directional reversibility, i.e., an electrodynamical transition from negative to positive value. It occurs beyond a few Jeans lengths away from the SSB. The virtual spherical surface lying at the current reversal point, where the net current becomes zero, has the property of a floating surface behavior of the real physical wall. Our investigation indicates that the SWP behaves as an ion current-carrying plasma system. The basic mechanism behind the GES formation and its distinctions from conventional plasma sheath are discussed. The electromagnetic properties of the Sun derived from our model with the most accurate available inputs are compared with those of others. These results are useful as an input element to study the properties of the linear and nonlinear dynamics of various solar plasma waves, oscillations and instabilities.

Photosynthetic Photovoltaic Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-21

OFF (T). B. SPR detection of the binding of Ni2+, RC, and cytochrome to NTA surface. The arrows indicate the periods of time ON (t) and OFF (1) when...photosynthesis. Structure and spectroscopy of reaction centers of purple bacteria . Physics Reports-Review Section of Physics Letters, 1997. 287(1-2): p. 2-247. 7...photosynthetic bacteria reaction centers. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology a-Chemistry, 1997. 111(1-3): p. 111-138. 27. Beratan, D.N., J.N. Betts, and

The role of macrobiota in structuring microbial communities along rocky shores

DOE PAGES

Pfister, Catherine A.; Gilbert, Jack A.; Gibbons, Sean M.

2014-10-16

Rocky shore microbial diversity presents an excellent system to test for microbial habitat specificity or generality, enabling us to decipher how common macrobiota shape microbial community structure. At two coastal locations in the northeast Pacific Ocean, we show that microbial composition was significantly different between inert surfaces, the biogenic surfaces that included rocky shore animals and an alga, and the water column plankton. While all sampled entities had a core of common OTUs, rare OTUs drove differences among biotic and abiotic substrates. For the mussel Mytilus californianus, the shell surface harbored greater alpha diversity compared to internal tissues of themore » gill and siphon. Strikingly, a 7-year experimental removal of this mussel from tidepools did not significantly alter the microbial community structure of microbes associated with inert surfaces when compared with unmanipulated tidepools. However, bacterial taxa associated with nitrate reduction had greater relative abundance with mussels present, suggesting an impact of increased animal-derived nitrogen on a subset of microbial metabolism. Because the presence of mussels did not affect the structure and diversity of the microbial community on adjacent inert substrates, microbes in this rocky shore environment may be predominantly affected through direct physical association with macrobiota.« less

The role of macrobiota in structuring microbial communities along rocky shores

PubMed Central

Gilbert, Jack A.; Gibbons, Sean M.

2014-01-01

Rocky shore microbial diversity presents an excellent system to test for microbial habitat specificity or generality, enabling us to decipher how common macrobiota shape microbial community structure. At two coastal locations in the northeast Pacific Ocean, we show that microbial composition was significantly different between inert surfaces, the biogenic surfaces that included rocky shore animals and an alga, and the water column plankton. While all sampled entities had a core of common OTUs, rare OTUs drove differences among biotic and abiotic substrates. For the mussel Mytilus californianus, the shell surface harbored greater alpha diversity compared to internal tissues of the gill and siphon. Strikingly, a 7-year experimental removal of this mussel from tidepools did not significantly alter the microbial community structure of microbes associated with inert surfaces when compared with unmanipulated tidepools. However, bacterial taxa associated with nitrate reduction had greater relative abundance with mussels present, suggesting an impact of increased animal-derived nitrogen on a subset of microbial metabolism. Because the presence of mussels did not affect the structure and diversity of the microbial community on adjacent inert substrates, microbes in this rocky shore environment may be predominantly affected through direct physical association with macrobiota. PMID:25337459

Thermal decomposition of fullerene nanowhiskers protected by amorphous carbon mask

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Hongxuan; Wang, Chengxiang; Miyazawa, Kun'Ichi; Wang, Hongxin; Masuda, Hideki; Fujita, Daisuke

2016-12-01

Fullerene nanostructures are well known for their unique morphology, physical and mechanical properties. The thermal stability of fullerene nanostructures, such as their sublimation at high temperature is also very important for studying their structures and applications. In this work, We observed fullerene nanowhiskers (FNWs) in situ with scanning helium ion microscopy (HIM) at elevated temperatures. The FNWs exhibited different stabilities with different thermal histories during the observation. The pristine FNWs were decomposed at the temperatures higher than 300 °C in a vacuum environment. Other FNWs were protected from decomposition with an amorphous carbon (aC) film deposited on the surface. Based on high spacial resolution, aC film with periodic structure was deposited by helium ion beam induced deposition (IBID) on the surface of FNWs. Annealed at the high temperature, the fullerene molecules were selectively sublimated from the FNWs. The periodic structure was formed on the surface of FNWs and observed by HIM. Monte Carlo simulation and Raman characterization proved that the morphology of the FNWs was changed by helium IBID at high temperature. This work provides a new method of fabricating artificial structure on the surface of FNWs with periodic aC film as a mask.

Nb3Sn SRF Cavities for Nuclear Physics Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eremeev, Grigory

2017-01-01

Nuclear physics experiments rely increasingly on accelerators, which employ superconducting RF (SRF) technology. CEBAF, SNS, FRIB, ESS, among others exploit the low surface resistance of SRF cavities to efficiently accelerate particle beams towards experimental targets. Niobium is the cavity material of choice for all current or planned SRF accelerators, but it has been long recognized that other superconductors with high superconducting transition temperatures have the potential to surpass niobium for SRF applications. Among the alternatives, Nb3Sn coated cavities are the most advanced on the path to practical applications: Nb3Sn coatings on R&D cavities have Tc consistently close the optimal 18 K, very low RF surface resistances, and very recently were shown to reach above Hc1 without anomalous RF surface resistance increase. In my talk I will discuss the prospects of Nb3Sn SRF cavities, the research efforts to realize Nb3Sn coatings on practical multi-cell accelerating structures, and the path toward possible inclusion in CEBAF. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics.

Experimental investigation on structures and velocity of liquid jets in a supersonic crossflow

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

Wang, Zhen-guo, E-mail: wangzhenguo-wzg@163.com; Wu, Liyin; Li, Qinglian

Particle image velocimetry was applied in the study focusing on the structure and velocity of water jets injected into a Ma = 2.1 crossflow. The instantaneous structures of the jet, including surface waves in the near-injector region and vortices in the far-field, were visualized clearly. Spray velocity increases rapidly to 66% of the mainstream velocity in the region of x/d < 15, owing to the strong gas-liquid interaction near the orifice. By contrast, the velocity grows slowly in the far-field region, where the liquid inside the spray is accelerated mainly by the continuous driven force provided by the mainstream with the gas-liquid shear. Themore » injection and atomization of liquid jet in a supersonic crossflow serves as a foundation of scramjet combustion process, by affecting the combustion efficiency and some other performances. With various forces acting on the liquid jet (Mashayek et al. [AIAA J. 46, 2674–2686 (2008)] and Wang et al. [AIAA J. 50, 1360–1366 (2012)]), the atomization process involves very complex flow physics. These physical processes include strong vortical structures, small-scale wave formation, stripping of small droplets from the jet surface, formations of ligaments, and droplets with a wide range of sizes.« less

Unravel the submesoscale dynamics of the phytoplanktonic community in the NW Mediterranean Sea by in situ observations: the 2015 OSCAHR cruise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marrec, Pierre; Doglioli, Andrea M.; Grégori, Gérald; Della Penna, Alice; Wagener, Thibaut; Rougier, Gille; Bhairy, Nagib; Dugenne, Mathilde; Lahbib, Soumaya; Thyssen, Melilotus

2017-04-01

Submesoscale phenomena have been recently recognized as a key factor in physical-biological-biogeochemical interactions, even if it remains unclear how these processes affect the global state of the ocean. Significant large-scale impacts of submesoscale structures on primary production and influence on the phytoplankton community structure and diversity have also been reported. In the past decade submesoscale dynamics have been predominately studied through the analysis of numerical simulations. Observing the coupled physical and biogeochemical variability at this scale remains challenging due to the ephemeral nature of submesoscale structures. The in-situ study of such structures necessitates multidisciplinary approaches involving in situ observations, remote sensing and modeling. Last progresses in biogeochemical sensor development and advanced methodology including Lagrangian real-time adaptative strategies represent outstanding opportunities. The OSCAHR (Observing Submesoscale Coupling At High Resolution) campaign has been conducted thanks to a multidisciplinary approach in order to improve the understanding of submesoscale processes. An ephemeral submesoscale structure was first identified in the Ligurian Sea in fall 2015 using both satellite and numerical modeling data before the campaign. Afterwards, advanced observing systems for the physical, biological and biogeochemical characterization of the sea surface layer at a high spatial and temporal frequency were deployed during a 10-days cruise. A MVP (Moving Vessel Profiler) was used to obtain high resolution CTD profiles associated to a new pumping system with 1-m vertical resolution. Moreover, along the ship track, in addition to the standard measurements of seawater surface samples (Chl-a, nutrients, O2, SST, SSS …), we deployed an automated flow cytometer for near real-time characterization of phytoplankton functional groups (from micro-phytoplankton down to cyanobacteria). The observed submesoscale feature presented a cyclonic structure with a relatively cold core surrounded by warmer waters. Six phytoplankton groups were identified across the structure with an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. According to our observations, we could quantify the influence of the fast established physical structure on the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton functional groups, giving coherence to the observed community structuration. Moreover, the high resolution of our observations allows us to estimate the growth rate of the main phytoplankton groups. Our innovative adaptative strategy with a multidisciplinary and transversal approach provides a deeper understanding of the marine biogeochemical dynamics through the first trophic levels.

Effect of oxygen plasma modification on refractive index sensing with micro-cavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debowska, Anna K.; Dominik, Magdalena; Koba, Marcin; Janik, Monika; Bock, Wojtek; Śmietana, Mateusz

2016-12-01

A micro-cavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer (μIMZI) is an optical sensing structure fabricated in an optical fiber. Its design allows for refractive index sensing of liquid and gas in picoliter volumes, making it suitable for biochemical and medical sensing where measured material is often scarce. The fabricated structures show satisfactory levels of sensitivity, from about 400 nm/RIU in the near-water range of solutions (nD 1.336+/-0.003 RIU) to about 16 000 nm/RIU for solutions in approximate range from nD = 1.35 RIU to nD = 1.4 RIU. The structures were subjected to oxygen plasma, the process which was supposed to modify physical parameters of the structures, i.e., cavity surface wettability and roughness, and in consequence their sensitivity. As a result of the oxygen plasma modification we have observed a improved wettability of the structure surface, what makes it easier to introduce liquid into the cavity and simplifies the measurement process. In the case where the plasma processing is preceded by biological layer deposition, the bottom surface of the structure is smoothed and slightly deepened, causing a shift in the transmission spectrum and change in sensitivity.

The physics of pollinator attraction.

PubMed

Moyroud, Edwige; Glover, Beverley J

2017-10-01

Contents 350 I. 350 II. 350 III. 352 IV. 353 V. 353 353 References 354 SUMMARY: This Tansley Insight focuses on recent advances in our understanding of how flowers manipulate physical forces to attract animal pollinators and ensure reproductive success. Research has traditionally explored the role of chemical pigments and volatile organic compounds as cues for pollinators, but recent reports have demonstrated the importance of physical and structural means of pollinator attraction. Here we explore the role of petal microstructure in influencing floral light capture and optics, analysing colour, gloss and polarization effects. We discuss the interaction between flower, pollinator and gravity, and how petal surface structure can influence that interaction. Finally, we consider the role of electrostatic forces in pollen transfer and pollinator attraction. We conclude that this new interdisciplinary field is evolving rapidly. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

Changes in pore structure of coal caused by coal-to-gas bioconversion

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

Zhang, Rui; Liu, Shimin; Bahadur, Jitendra

Microbial enhanced coalbed methane (ME-CBM) recovery is critically examined as a viable technology for natural gas recovery from coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. Since the majority of gas-in-place (GIP) is stored as an adsorbed phase in fine pores of coal matrix, the nano-pore structure directly influences gas storage and transport properties. Only limited studies have quantified the alteration of the nano-pore structure due to ME-CBM treatment. This study examines the evolution of the pore structure using a combination of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), low-pressure N 2 and CO 2 adsorption (LPGA) and high-pressure methane adsorption methods. The results show thatmore » the surface fractal dimension decreases for the two bioconverted coals compared to the untreated coal. After bio-treatment, the mesopore surface area and pore volume decrease with the average pore diameter increases, while the micropore surface area increases with pore volume decreases. Both inaccessible meso-/micropore size distributions decrease after bioconversion, while the accessible micropore size distribution increases, making a portion of closed micropore network accessible. In addition, the methane adsorption capacities increase after bio-treatment, which is confirmed by the increase of micropore surface area. A conceptual physical model of methanogenesis is proposed based on the evolution of the pore structure.« less

Changes in pore structure of coal caused by coal-to-gas bioconversion

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Rui; Liu, Shimin; Bahadur, Jitendra; ...

2017-06-19

Microbial enhanced coalbed methane (ME-CBM) recovery is critically examined as a viable technology for natural gas recovery from coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. Since the majority of gas-in-place (GIP) is stored as an adsorbed phase in fine pores of coal matrix, the nano-pore structure directly influences gas storage and transport properties. Only limited studies have quantified the alteration of the nano-pore structure due to ME-CBM treatment. This study examines the evolution of the pore structure using a combination of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), low-pressure N 2 and CO 2 adsorption (LPGA) and high-pressure methane adsorption methods. The results show thatmore » the surface fractal dimension decreases for the two bioconverted coals compared to the untreated coal. After bio-treatment, the mesopore surface area and pore volume decrease with the average pore diameter increases, while the micropore surface area increases with pore volume decreases. Both inaccessible meso-/micropore size distributions decrease after bioconversion, while the accessible micropore size distribution increases, making a portion of closed micropore network accessible. In addition, the methane adsorption capacities increase after bio-treatment, which is confirmed by the increase of micropore surface area. A conceptual physical model of methanogenesis is proposed based on the evolution of the pore structure.« less

Emergent dynamic structures and statistical law in spherical lattice gas automata.

PubMed

Yao, Zhenwei

2017-12-01

Various lattice gas automata have been proposed in the past decades to simulate physics and address a host of problems on collective dynamics arising in diverse fields. In this work, we employ the lattice gas model defined on the sphere to investigate the curvature-driven dynamic structures and analyze the statistical behaviors in equilibrium. Under the simple propagation and collision rules, we show that the uniform collective movement of the particles on the sphere is geometrically frustrated, leading to several nonequilibrium dynamic structures not found in the planar lattice, such as the emergent bubble and vortex structures. With the accumulation of the collision effect, the system ultimately reaches equilibrium in the sense that the distribution of the coarse-grained speed approaches the two-dimensional Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution despite the population fluctuations in the coarse-grained cells. The emergent regularity in the statistical behavior of the system is rationalized by mapping our system to a generalized random walk model. This work demonstrates the capability of the spherical lattice gas automaton in revealing the lattice-guided dynamic structures and simulating the equilibrium physics. It suggests the promising possibility of using lattice gas automata defined on various curved surfaces to explore geometrically driven nonequilibrium physics.

Emergent dynamic structures and statistical law in spherical lattice gas automata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Zhenwei

2017-12-01

Various lattice gas automata have been proposed in the past decades to simulate physics and address a host of problems on collective dynamics arising in diverse fields. In this work, we employ the lattice gas model defined on the sphere to investigate the curvature-driven dynamic structures and analyze the statistical behaviors in equilibrium. Under the simple propagation and collision rules, we show that the uniform collective movement of the particles on the sphere is geometrically frustrated, leading to several nonequilibrium dynamic structures not found in the planar lattice, such as the emergent bubble and vortex structures. With the accumulation of the collision effect, the system ultimately reaches equilibrium in the sense that the distribution of the coarse-grained speed approaches the two-dimensional Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution despite the population fluctuations in the coarse-grained cells. The emergent regularity in the statistical behavior of the system is rationalized by mapping our system to a generalized random walk model. This work demonstrates the capability of the spherical lattice gas automaton in revealing the lattice-guided dynamic structures and simulating the equilibrium physics. It suggests the promising possibility of using lattice gas automata defined on various curved surfaces to explore geometrically driven nonequilibrium physics.

Linking composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to the physical structure and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms.

PubMed

Desmond, Peter; Best, James P; Morgenroth, Eberhard; Derlon, Nicolas

2018-04-01

The effect of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the meso-scale physical structure and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms during gravity driven membrane (GDM) filtration was investigated. Biofilms were developed on the surface of ultrafiltration membranes during dead-end filtration at ultra-low pressure (70 mbar). Biofilm EPS composition (total protein, polysaccharide and eDNA) was manipulated by growing biofilms under contrasting nutrient conditions. Nutrient conditions consisted of (i) a nutrient enriched condition with a nutrient ratio of 100:30:10 (C: N: P), (ii) a phosphorus limitation (C: N: P ratio: 100:30:0), and (iii) a nitrogen limitation (C: N: P ratio: 100:0:10). The structure of the biofilm was characterised at meso-scale using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Biofilm composition was analysed with respect to total organic carbon, total cellular mass and extracellular concentrations of proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA. 2D-confocal Raman mapping was used to characterise the functional group composition and micro-scale distribution of the biofilms EPS. Our study reveals that the composition of the EPS matrix can determine the meso-scale physical structure of membrane biofilms and in turn its hydraulic resistance. Biofilms grown under P limiting conditions were characterised by dense and homogeneous physical structures with high concentrations of polysaccharides and eDNA. Biofilm grown under nutrient enriched or N limiting conditions were characterised by heterogeneous physical structures with lower concentrations of polysaccharides and eDNA. For P limiting biofilms, 2D-confocal Raman microscopy revealed a homogeneous spatial distribution of anionic functional groups in homogeneous biofilm structures with higher polysaccharide and eDNA concentrations. This study links EPS composition, physical structure and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms, with practical relevance for the hydraulic performances of GDM ultrafiltration. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Filaments in curved streamlines: rapid formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm streamers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Minyoung Kevin; Drescher, Knut; Pak, On Shun; Bassler, Bonnie L.; Stone, Howard A.

2014-06-01

Biofilms are surface-associated conglomerates of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics. These bacterial communities can cause chronic infections in humans by colonizing, for example, medical implants, heart valves, or lungs. Staphylococcus aureus, a notorious human pathogen, causes some of the most common biofilm-related infections. Despite the clinical importance of S. aureus biofilms, it remains mostly unknown how physical effects, in particular flow, and surface structure influence biofilm dynamics. Here we use model microfluidic systems to investigate how environmental factors, such as surface geometry, surface chemistry, and fluid flow affect biofilm development of S. aureus. We discovered that S. aureus rapidly forms flow-induced, filamentous biofilm streamers, and furthermore if surfaces are coated with human blood plasma, streamers appear within minutes and clog the channels more rapidly than if the channels are uncoated. To understand how biofilm streamer filaments reorient in flows with curved streamlines to bridge the distances between corners, we developed a mathematical model based on resistive force theory of slender filaments. Understanding physical aspects of biofilm formation of S. aureus may lead to new approaches for interrupting biofilm formation of this pathogen.

Filaments in curved flow: Rapid formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm streamers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Min Young; Drescher, Knut; Pak, On Shun; Bassler, Bonnie L.; Stone, Howard A.

2014-03-01

Biofilms are surface-associated conglomerates of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics. These bacterial communities can cause chronic infections in humans by colonizing, for example, medical implants, heart valves, or lungs. Staphylococcus aureus, a notorious human pathogen, causes some of the most common biofilm-related infections. Despite the clinical importance of S. aureus biofilms, it remains mostly unknown how physical effects, in particular flow, and surface structure influence biofilm dynamics. Here we use model microfluidic systems to investigate how environmental factors, such as surface geometry, surface chemistry, and fluid flow affect biofilm development in S. aureus.We discovered that S. aureus rapidly forms flow-induced, filamentous biofilm streamers, and furthermore if surfaces are coated with human blood plasma, streamers appear within minutes and clog the channels more rapidly than if the channels are uncoated. To understand how biofilm streamer filaments reorient in curved flow to bridge the distances between corners, we developed a mathematical model based on resistive force theory and slender filaments. Understanding physical aspects of biofilm formation in S. aureus may lead to new approaches for interrupting biofilm formation of this pathogen.

Some surface characteristics and gas interactions of Apollo 14 fines and rock fragments.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cadenhead, D. A.; Wagner, N. J.; Jones, B. R.; Stetter, J. R.

1972-01-01

Comprehensive survey of the physical surface characteristics of Apollo 14 fines, two fragments of a breccia (14321), and a crystalline rock (14310). The survey was carried out with optical and both scanning and transmission electron microscopy and by studying the adsorption of a variety of gases including nitrogen, hydrogen, and water vapor. Our objective in the optical microscope study was to relate the visible geological and petrological features to the surface properties. Electron microscopy particularly helped relate surface roughness and particle fusion to gas adsorption and pore structure. The fine sample (14163,111) had a surface area of 0.210 sq m/g and a helium density of 2.9 g/cc. Similar values have been observed with breccia fragments. Other observations include physical adsorption of molecular hydrogen at low temperatures and of water vapor at ambient temperatures. It is concluded that these particular lunar materials, while capable of adsorbing water vapor, do not retain it for any significant time at low pressures, nor, under lunar conditions, is there any indication of absorption or penetration.

A new approach for crystallization of copper(ii) oxide hollow nanostructures with superior catalytic and magnetic response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Inderjeet; Landfester, Katharina; Chandra, Amreesh; Muñoz-Espí, Rafael

2015-11-01

We report the synthesis of copper(ii) oxide hollow nanostructures at ambient pressure and close to room temperature by applying the soft templating effect provided by the confinement of droplets in miniemulsion systems. Particle growth can be explained by considering a mechanism that involves both diffusion and reaction control. The catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol in aqueous media is used as a model reaction to prove the catalytic activity of the materials: the synthesized hollow structures show nearly 100 times higher rate constants than solid CuO microspheres. The kinetic behavior and the order of the reduction reaction change due to the increase of the surface area of the hollow structures. The synthesis also leads to modification of physical properties such as magnetism.We report the synthesis of copper(ii) oxide hollow nanostructures at ambient pressure and close to room temperature by applying the soft templating effect provided by the confinement of droplets in miniemulsion systems. Particle growth can be explained by considering a mechanism that involves both diffusion and reaction control. The catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol in aqueous media is used as a model reaction to prove the catalytic activity of the materials: the synthesized hollow structures show nearly 100 times higher rate constants than solid CuO microspheres. The kinetic behavior and the order of the reduction reaction change due to the increase of the surface area of the hollow structures. The synthesis also leads to modification of physical properties such as magnetism. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Associated structural and morphological analysis, XPS characterization, BET surface area, catalytic measurements, recycle tests of the catalyst, and magnetic characterizations. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05579b

Porosity and thickness effect of porous silicon layer on photoluminescence spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husairi, F. S.; Eswar, K. A.; Guliling, Muliyadi; Khusaimi, Z.; Rusop, M.; Abdullah, S.

2018-05-01

The porous silicon nanostructures was prepared by electrochemical etching of p-type silicon wafer. Porous silicon prepared by using different current density and fix etching time with assistance of halogen lamp. The physical structure of porous silicon measured by the parameters used which know as experimental factor. In this work, we select one of those factors to correlate which optical properties of porous silicon. We investigated the surface morphology by using Surface Profiler (SP) and photoluminescence using Photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer. Different physical characteristics of porous silicon produced when current density varied. Surface profiler used to measure the thickness of porous and the porosity calculated using mass different of silicon. Photoluminescence characteristics of porous silicon depend on their morphology because the size and distribution of pore its self will effect to their exciton energy level. At J=30 mA/cm2 the shorter wavelength produced and it followed the trend of porosity with current density applied.

Physicochemical signatures of natural surfactant sea films from coastal Middle Adriatic stations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frka, Sanja; Pogorzelski, Stanislaw; Kozarac, Zlatica; Ćosović, Božena

2013-04-01

Boundary layers between different environmental compartments represent critical interfaces for biological, chemical and physical processes. The sea surface microlayer (SSM) as a top layer of the sea surface represents natural interface between the atmosphere and ocean. Although < 1 mm in thickness the SML plays a key role in the global biogeochemical cycling because all gaseous, liquid and particulate materials must pass through this interface when exchanging between the ocean and the atmosphere. The SSM thus represents a very important driver enhancing air-water exchange processes. A variety of natural and anthropogenic organic compounds, particularly those which are surface active (SA) are generally enriched in the SML. It is widely acknowledged that the SSM is complex matrix of SA organics as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and humic substances. Although lipid material is much less abundant than carbohydrates and proteins in the SML, their contribution to surface activity may be disproportionately large. The surfactant films at the air-sea interface change its physicochemical properties reducing air-sea exchange possesses by impeding molecular diffusion across the interface and influencing the hydrodynamic characteristics of water motion at the interface. Various biological, chemical and physical processes lead to the alteration of the film chemical composition, surface physical properties, surface concentration and spatial distribution of film-forming components. Instead of analyzing its chemical composition, it should be possible to scale the SML surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms in terms of structural parameters which appear to be a sensitive and quantitative measure of the film physicochemical composition, surface concentration and miscibility of its film-forming components. We will present a large data set obtained by electrochemical and monolayer techniques, accompanied with the novel scaling approach for physicochemical characterization of SA substances of the natural microlayers from coastal Middle Adriatic stations including saline Rogoznica Lake and Krka river estuarine station. Higher primary production during late spring-early autumn is reflected in the presence of microlayers of higher surfactant activity containing on average molecules of lower molecular masses (Mw=0.65±0.27 kDa) and higher miscibility (y=6.46±1.33) and elasticity (E=18.33±2.02 mN/m) modulus in comparison to structural parameters (average Mw=2.15±1.58 kDa; y=3.51±1.46; E=6.41±1.97 mN/m) obtained for microlayers from period of lower organic matter production. Higher inhibition effect on the reduction process of cadmium ions is observed for natural microlayers abundant with SA material from more productive period. This kind of distribution is explained as the consequence of competitive adsorption of hydrophobic lipid-like substances of lower Mw which highly influence the surface structural properties of natural air-water interface forming there segregated surface films during more productive period. This study will offer different perspective on contemporary SML concept taking into account the lipids that act as end-members highly influencing seasonal change of SA concentration and surface structural properties of natural films at the air-water interface.

Influence of water on the surface of graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, Yunus; Kalkan, Yalçin; Veenhof, Rob

2018-02-01

We have studied how water modifies the surface of graphene and in particular how the surface conductivity of graphene is affected. According to the literature, two types of interactions should be distinguished: physical, where a water molecule remains intact and is located at some distance from the mesh, and chemical, where a water molecule is imbricated in the graphene bond structure. We have developed theoretical models for both types of interactions using the density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP hybrid functional combined with the 6-31G(d) basis set. Our calculations show that the surface conductivity of graphene is reduced in the presence of water.

Structural dynamics of surfaces by ultrafast electron crystallography: experimental and multiple scattering theory.

PubMed

Schäfer, Sascha; Liang, Wenxi; Zewail, Ahmed H

2011-12-07

Recent studies in ultrafast electron crystallography (UEC) using a reflection diffraction geometry have enabled the investigation of a wide range of phenomena on the femtosecond and picosecond time scales. In all these studies, the analysis of the diffraction patterns and their temporal change after excitation was performed within the kinematical scattering theory. In this contribution, we address the question, to what extent dynamical scattering effects have to be included in order to obtain quantitative information about structural dynamics. We discuss different scattering regimes and provide diffraction maps that describe all essential features of scatterings and observables. The effects are quantified by dynamical scattering simulations and examined by direct comparison to the results of ultrafast electron diffraction experiments on an in situ prepared Ni(100) surface, for which structural dynamics can be well described by a two-temperature model. We also report calculations for graphite surfaces. The theoretical framework provided here allows for further UEC studies of surfaces especially at larger penetration depths and for those of heavy-atom materials. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Supramolecular self-assembly on the B-Si(111)-(√3x√3) R30° surface: From single molecules to multicomponent networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makoudi, Younes; Jeannoutot, Judicaël; Palmino, Frank; Chérioux, Frédéric; Copie, Guillaume; Krzeminski, Christophe; Cleri, Fabrizio; Grandidier, Bruno

2017-09-01

Understanding the physical and chemical processes in which local interactions lead to ordered structures is of particular relevance to the realization of supramolecular architectures on surfaces. While spectacular patterns have been demonstrated on metal surfaces, there have been fewer studies of the spontaneous organization of supramolecular networks on semiconductor surfaces, where the formation of covalent bonds between organics and adatoms usually hamper the diffusion of molecules and their subsequent interactions with each other. However, the saturation of the dangling bonds at a semiconductor surface is known to make them inert and offers a unique way for the engineering of molecular patterns on these surfaces. This review describes the physicochemical properties of the passivated B-Si(111)-(√3x√3) R30° surface, that enable the self-assembly of molecules into a rich variety of extended and regular structures on silicon. Particular attention is given to computational methods based on multi-scale simulations that allow to rationalize the relative contribution of the dispersion forces involved in the self-assembled networks observed with scanning tunneling microscopy. A summary of state of the art studies, where a fine tuning of the molecular network topology has been achieved, sheds light on new frontiers for exploiting the construction of supramolecular structures on semiconductor surfaces.

Microbial trace fossils in Antarctica and the search for evidence of early life on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Friedmann, E. Imre; Friedmann, Roseli O.

1989-01-01

It is possible to hypothesize that, if microbial life evolved on early Mars, fossil remnants of these organisms may be preserved on the surface. However, the cooling and drying of Mars probably resembled a cold desert and such an environment is not suitable for the process of fossilization. The frigid Ross Desert of Antarctica is probably the closest terrestrial analog to conditions that may have prevailed on the surface of the cooling and drying Mars. In this desert, cryptoendolithic microbial communities live in the airspaces of porous rocks, the last habitable niche in a hostile outside environment. The organisms produce characteristic chemical and physical changes in the rock substrate. Environmental changes (deterioration of conditions) may result in the death of the community. Although no cellular structures are fossilized, the conspicuous changes in the rock substrate are preserved as trace fossils. Likewise, microbial trace fossils (without cellular structures) may also be preserved on Mars: Discontinuities in structure or chemistry of the rock that are independent of physical or chemical gradients may be of biological origin. Ross Desert trace fossils can be used as a model for planning search strategies and for instrument design to find evidence of past Martian life.

Predator-guided sampling reveals biotic structure in the bathypelagic.

PubMed

Benoit-Bird, Kelly J; Southall, Brandon L; Moline, Mark A

2016-02-24

We targeted a habitat used differentially by deep-diving, air-breathing predators to empirically sample their prey's distributions off southern California. Fine-scale measurements of the spatial variability of potential prey animals from the surface to 1,200 m were obtained using conventional fisheries echosounders aboard a surface ship and uniquely integrated into a deep-diving autonomous vehicle. Significant spatial variability in the size, composition, total biomass, and spatial organization of biota was evident over all spatial scales examined and was consistent with the general distribution patterns of foraging Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) observed in separate studies. Striking differences found in prey characteristics between regions at depth, however, did not reflect differences observed in surface layers. These differences in deep pelagic structure horizontally and relative to surface structure, absent clear physical differences, change our long-held views of this habitat as uniform. The revelation that animals deep in the water column are so spatially heterogeneous at scales from 10 m to 50 km critically affects our understanding of the processes driving predator-prey interactions, energy transfer, biogeochemical cycling, and other ecological processes in the deep sea, and the connections between the productive surface mixed layer and the deep-water column. © 2016 The Author(s).

Directed self-assembly of proteins into discrete radial patterns

PubMed Central

Thakur, Garima; Prashanthi, Kovur; Thundat, Thomas

2013-01-01

Unlike physical patterning of materials at nanometer scale, manipulating soft matter such as biomolecules into patterns is still in its infancy. Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with surface density gradient has the capability to drive biomolecules in specific directions to create hierarchical and discrete structures. Here, we report on a two-step process of self-assembly of the human serum albumin (HSA) protein into discrete ring structures based on density gradient of SAM. The methodology involves first creating a 2-dimensional (2D) polyethylene glycol (PEG) islands with responsive carboxyl functionalities. Incubation of proteins on such pre-patterned surfaces results in direct self-assembly of protein molecules around PEG islands. Immobilization and adsorption of protein on such structures over time evolve into the self-assembled patterns. PMID:23719678

BRST theory without Hamiltonian and Lagrangian

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyakhovich, S. L.; Sharapov, A. A.

2005-03-01

We consider a generic gauge system, whose physical degrees of freedom are obtained by restriction on a constraint surface followed by factorization with respect to the action of gauge transformations; in so doing, no Hamiltonian structure or action principle is supposed to exist. For such a generic gauge system we construct a consistent BRST formulation, which includes the conventional BV Lagrangian and BFV Hamiltonian schemes as particular cases. If the original manifold carries a weak Poisson structure (a bivector field giving rise to a Poisson bracket on the space of physical observables) the generic gauge system is shown to admit deformation quantization by means of the Kontsevich formality theorem. A sigma-model interpretation of this quantization algorithm is briefly discussed.

Assessment of physical stability of an antibody drug conjugate by higher order structure analysis: impact of thiol- maleimide chemistry.

PubMed

Guo, Jianxin; Kumar, Sandeep; Prashad, Amarnauth; Starkey, Jason; Singh, Satish K

2014-07-01

To provide a systematic biophysical approach towards a better understanding of impact of conjugation chemistry on higher order structure and physical stability of an antibody drug conjugate (ADC). ADC was prepared using thiol-maleimide chemistry. Physical stabilities of ADC and its parent IgG1 mAb were compared using calorimetric, spectroscopic and molecular modeling techniques. ADC and mAb respond differently to thermal stress. Both the melting temperatures and heat capacities are substantially lower for the ADC. Spectroscopic experiments show that ADC and mAb have similar secondary and tertiary structures, but these are more easily destabilized by thermal stress on the ADC indicating reduced conformational stability. Molecular modeling calculations suggest a substantial decrease in the conformational energy of the mAb upon conjugation. The local surface around the conjugation sites also becomes more hydrophobic in the ADC, explaining the lower colloidal stability and greater tendency of the ADC to aggregate. Computational and biophysical analyses of an ADC and its parent mAb have provided insights into impact of conjugation on physical stability and pinpointed reasons behind lower structural stability and increased aggregation propensity of the ADC. This knowledge can be used to design appropriate formulations to stabilize the ADC.

Atomic Mechanism of Hybridization-Dependent Surface Reconstruction with Tailored Functionality in Hexagonal Multiferroics.

PubMed

Deng, Shiqing; Cheng, Shaobo; Xu, Changsong; Ge, Binghui; Sun, Xuefeng; Yu, Rong; Duan, Wenhui; Zhu, Jing

2017-08-16

The broken symmetry along with anomalous defect structures and charging conditions at multiferroics surface can alter both crystal structures and electronic configurations, bringing in emergent physical properties. Extraordinary surface states are induced into original mutually coupled order parameters in such strongly correlated oxides, which flourish in diverse properties but remain less explored. Here, we report the peculiar surface ferroelectric states and reconfigurable functionalities driven by the relaxation of surface and consequent changes in O 2p and Y 4d orbital (p-d) hybridization within a representative hexagonal multiferroics, YMnO 3 . An unprecedented surface reconstruction is achieved by tailored p-d hybridization coupling with in-plane oxygen vacancies, which is atomically revealed on the basis of the advantages of state-of-the-art aberration-corrected (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. Further ab initio density functional theory calculations verify the key roles of in-plane oxygen vacancies in modulating polarization properties and electronic structure, which should be regarded as the atomic multiferroic element. This surface configuration is found to induce tunable functionalities, such as surface ferromagnetism and conductivity. Meanwhile, the controversial origin of improper ferroelectricity that is unexpectedly free from critical size has also been atomically unraveled. Our findings provide new insights into the design and implementation of surface chemistry devices by simply controlling the oxygen stoichiometry, greatly advance our understandings of surface science in strongly correlated oxides, and enable exciting innovations and new technological functionality paradigms.

Laser-assisted immobilization of colloid silver nanoparticles on polyethyleneterephthalate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegel, Jakub; Lyutakov, Oleksiy; Polívková, Markéta; Staszek, Marek; Hubáček, Tomáš; Švorčík, Václav

2017-10-01

Immobilization of nanoobjects on the surface of underlying material belongs to current issues of material science. Such altered materials exhibits completely exceptional properties exploitable in a broad spectrum of industrially important applications ranging from catalysts up to health-care industry. Here we present unique approach for immobilization of electrochemically synthesized silver nanoparticles on polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) foil whose essence lies in physical incorporation of particles into thin polymer surface layer induced by polarized excimer laser light. Changes in chemical composition and surface structure of polymer after particle immobilization were recorded by wide range of analytical techniques such as ARXPS, EDX, RBS, AAS, Raman, ICP-MS, DLS, UV-vis, SEM, TEM, and AFM. Thorough analysis of both nanoparticles entering the immobilization step as well as modified PET surface allowed revealing the mechanism of immobilization process itself. Silver nanoparticles were physically embedded into a thin surface layer of polymer reaching several nanometers beneath the surface rather than chemically bonded to PET macromolecules. Laser-implanted nanoparticles open up new possibilities especially in the development of the next generation cell-conform antimicrobial coatings of polymeric materials, namely due to the considerable immobilization strength which is strong enough to prevent particle release into the surrounding environment.

Climate changes impact the surface albedo of a forest ecosystem based on MODIS satellite data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zoran, M. A.; Nemuc, A. V.

2007-10-01

Surface albedo is one of the most important biophysical parameter responsible for energy balance control and the surface temperature and boundary-layer structure of the atmosphere. Forest land surface albedo is also highly variable temporally showing both diurnal as well as seasonal variations. In forest systems, albedo controls the microclimate conditions which affects ecosystem physical, physiological, and biogeochemical processes such as energy balance, evapotranspiration, photosynthesis. Due to anthropogenic and natural factors, land cover and land use changes result is the land surfaces albedo change. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the albedo patterns due to the impact of atmospheric pollution and climate variations of a forest ecosystem Branesti-Cernica, placed to the North-East of Bucharest city, Romania based on satellite Landsat ETM+, IKONOS and MODIS data and climate station observations. Our study focuses on 3 years of data (2003-2005), each of which had a different climatic regime. As the physical climate system is very sensitive to surface albedo, forest ecosystems could significantly feedback to the projected climate change modeling scenarios through albedo changes. The results of this research have a number of applications in weather forecasting, climate change, and forest ecosystem studies.

Influence of ion pairing in ionic liquids on electrical double layer structures and surface force using classical density functional approach.

PubMed

Ma, Ke; Forsman, Jan; Woodward, Clifford E

2015-05-07

We explore the influence of ion pairing in room temperature ionic liquids confined by planar electrode surfaces. Using a coarse-grained model for the aromatic ionic liquid [C4MIM(+)][BF4 (-)], we account for an ion pairing component as an equilibrium associating species within a classical density functional theory. We investigated the resulting structure of the electrical double layer as well as the ensuing surface forces and differential capacitance, as a function of the degree of ion association. We found that the short-range structure adjacent to surfaces was remarkably unaffected by the degree of ion pairing, up to several molecular diameters. This was even the case for 100% of ions being paired. The physical implications of ion pairing only become apparent in equilibrium properties that depend upon the long-range screening of charges, such as the asymptotic behaviour of surface forces and the differential capacitance, especially at low surface potential. The effect of ion pairing on capacitance is consistent with their invocation as a source of the anomalous temperature dependence of the latter. This work shows that ion pairing effects on equilibrium properties are subtle and may be difficult to extract directly from simulations.

Grating-assisted surface acoustic wave directional couplers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golan, G.; Griffel, G.; Seidman, A.; Croitoru, N.

1991-07-01

Physical properties of novel grating-assisted Y directional couplers are examined using the coupled-mode theory. A general formalism for the analysis of the lateral perturbed directional coupler properties is presented. Explicit expressions for waveguide key parameters such as coupling length, grating period, and other structural characterizations, are obtained. The influence of other physical properties such as time and frequency response or cutoff conditions are also analyzed. A plane grating-assisted directional coupler is presented and examined as a basic component in the integrated acoustic technology.

Improved Electrochromic Characteristics of a Honeycomb-Structured Film Composed of NiO.

PubMed

Yang, Hyeeun; Lee, Yulhee; Kim, Dong In; Seo, Hyeon Jin; Yu, Jung-Hoon; Nam, Sang-Hun; Boo, Jin-Hyo

2018-09-01

Color changes controlled by electronic energies have been studied for many years in order to fabricate energy-efficient smart windows. Reduction and oxidization of nickel oxide under the appropriate voltage can change the color of a window. For a superior nickel oxide (NiO) electrochromic device (ECD), it is important to control the chemical and physical characteristics of the surface. In this study, we applied polystyrene bead templates to nickel oxide films to fabricate a honeycomb-structured electrochromic (EC) layer. We synthesized uniform polystyrene beads using the chemical wet method and placed them on substrates to create honeycomb-structured NiO films. Then, the EC characteristics of the nickel oxide films with a honeycomb structure were evaluated with UV-Visible and cyclic voltammetry. FE-SEM and AFM were used to measure the morphologies of the nanostructures and the efficiencies of the redox reactions related to the specific surface area.

Age-related changes in the articular cartilage of the stifle joint in non-working and working German Shepherd dogs.

PubMed

Francuski, J V; Radovanović, A; Andrić, N; Krstić, V; Bogdanović, D; Hadzić, V; Todorović, V; Lazarević Macanović, M; Sourice Petit, S; Beck-Cormier, S; Guicheux, J; Gauthier, O; Kovacević Filipović, M

2014-11-01

The aims of this study were to define age-related histological changes in the articular cartilage of the stifle joint in non-chondrodystrophic dogs and to determine whether physical activity has a positive impact on preservation of cartilage structure during ageing. Twenty-eight German shepherd dogs were included in the study. These dogs had no evidence of joint inflammation as defined by clinical assessment, radiology and synovial fluid analysis (specifically absence of synovial fluid serum amyloid A). The dogs were grouped as young working (n ¼ 4), young non-working (n ¼ 5), aged working (n ¼ 13) and aged non-working (n ¼ 6) animals. Gross changes in the stifle joints were recorded and biopsy samples of femoral and tibial articular cartilage were evaluated for thickness; chondrocyte number, density, surface area and morphology; isogenous group morphology; tidemark integrity; subchondral bone structure; presence of proteoglycans/ glycosaminoglycans; and expression of type I, II and X collagens. The major age-related changes, not related to type of physical activity, included elevated chondrocyte density and thinning of tibial cartilage and increased chondrocyte surface area in the superficial and intermediate zone of the femoral cartilage. There was also expression of type X collagen in the femoral and tibial calcified and non-calcified cartilage; however, type X collagen was not detected in the superficial zone of old working dogs. Therefore, ageing, with or without physical activity, leads to slight cartilage degeneration, while physical activity modulates the synthesis of type X collagen in the superficial cartilage zone, partially preserving the structure of hyaline cartilage. 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

3D Printing of Protein Models in an Undergraduate Laboratory: Leucine Zippers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyer, Scott C.

2015-01-01

An upper-division undergraduate laboratory experiment is described that explores the structure/function relationship of protein domains, namely leucine zippers, through a molecular graphics computer program and physical models fabricated by 3D printing. By generating solvent accessible surfaces and color-coding hydrophobic, basic, and acidic amino…

Static force fields simulations of reduced CeO2 (110) surface: Structure and adsorption of H2O molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vives, Serge; Meunier, Cathy

2018-02-01

The CeO2(110) surface properties are largely involved in the catalysis, energy and biological phenomenon. The Static Force Fields simulations are able to describe large atomic systems surface even if no information on the electronic structure can be obtained. We employ those simulations to study the formation of the neutral 2 CeCe‧ VO•• cluster. We focus on seven different cluster configurations and find that the defect formation energy is the lower for the 1N-2N configurations. Two geometries are possible, as it is the case for the ab initio studies, the in plane and the more stable bridging one. We evidence the modifications of the surface energy and the Potential Energy Surface due to the presence of the 2 CeCe‧ VO•• defect. The physical adsorption of a water molecule is calculated and the geometry described for all the cluster configurations. The H2O molecule physisorption stabilizes the Ce(110) surface and the presence of the 2 CeCe‧ VO•• defect increases this effect.

Nanoscale Insight and Control of Structural and Electronic Properties of Organic Semiconductor / Metal Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maughan, Bret

Organic semiconductor interfaces are promising materials for use in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. Current models for metal-organic interfacial electronic structure and dynamics are inadequate for strongly hybridized systems. This work aims to address this issue by identifying the factors most important for understanding chemisorbed interfaces with an eye towards tuning the interfacial properties. Here, I present the results of my research on chemisorbed interfaces formed between thin-films of phthalocyanine molecules grown on monocrystalline Cu(110). Using atomically-resolved nanoscale imaging in combination with surface-sensitive photoemission techniques, I show that single-molecule level interactions control the structural and electronic properties of the interface. I then demonstrate that surface modifications aimed at controlling interfacial interactions are an effective way to tailor the physical and electronic structure of the interface. This dissertation details a systematic investigation of the effect of molecular and surface functionalization on interfacial interactions. To understand the role of molecular structure, two types of phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules are studied: non-planar, dipolar molecules (TiOPc), and planar, non-polar molecules (H2Pc and CuPc). Multiple adsorption configurations for TiOPc lead to configuration-dependent self-assembly, Kondo screening, and electronic energy-level alignment. To understand the role of surface structure, the Cu(110) surface is textured and passivated by oxygen chemisorption prior to molecular deposition, which gives control over thin-film growth and interfacial electronic structure in H2Pc and CuPc films. Overall, the work presented here demonstrates a method for understanding interfacial electronic structure of strongly hybridized interfaces, an important first step towards developing more robust models for metal-organic interfaces, and reliable, predictive tuning of interfacial properties.

Polarization and fluence effects in femtosecond laser induced micro/nano structures on stainless steel with antireflection property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Caizhen; Ye, Yayun; Jia, Baoshen; Li, Yuan; Ding, Renjie; Jiang, Yong; Wang, Yuxin; Yuan, Xiaodong

2017-12-01

In this paper, micro/nano structures on stainless steel were prepared in single spot irradiation mode and scan mode by using femtosecond laser technique. The influence of polarization and fluence on the formation of micro/nano structures were explored. Surface morphology, microstructure, roughness and composition of prepared samples were characterized. The antireflection property and wettability of laser treated samples were also tested and compared with that of original stainless steel.Results showed that the laser-induced spot consists of two distinct regions due to the Gaussian beam profile: a core region of moth-eye-like structure and a peripheral region of nanoparticles-covered laser-induced periodic surface structure (NC-LIPSS). The proportion of the core region and dimension of micro/nano structure increase with increasing laser fluence. Polarization can be used to tune the direction of NC-LIPSS. Atomic ratios of Cr and Mn increase and atomic ratio of Ni decreases after laser irradiation. Oxygen is not detected on laser irradiated samples, indicating that oxidation reactions are not significant during the interaction process between femtosecond laser and 304 stainless steel. These are good for the application of stainless steel as its physical properties would not change or even enhanced. The overlaps between two laser scan lines significantly influence the surface roughness and should be controlled carefully during the preparation process. The laser irradiated surface has a better antireflection property in comparison with that of original stainless steel, which may due to the scattering and absorption of micro/nano structures. Contact angle of micro/nano structured stainless steel decreases with the increase of laser fluence. The hydrophilic property can be explained by Wenzel's model. The interference between the surface plasmon wave and the incident light wave leads to the formation of NC-LIPSS.

Surface obstacles in pulsatile flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carr, Ian A.; Plesniak, Michael W.

2016-11-01

Flows past obstacles mounted on flat surfaces have been widely studied due to their ubiquity in nature and engineering. For nearly all of these studies, the freestream flow over the obstacle was steady, i.e. constant velocity unidirectional flow. Unsteady, pulsatile flows occur frequently in biology, geophysics, biomedical engineering, etc. Our study is aimed at extending the comprehensive knowledge base that exists for steady flows to considerably more complex pulsatile flows. Beyond the important practical applications, characterizing the vortex and wake dynamics of flows around surface obstacles embedded in pulsatile flows can provide insights into the underlying physics in all wake and junction flows. In this study, we experimentally investigated the wake of four canonical surface obstacles: hemisphere, cube, and circular cylinders with aspect ratio of 1:1 and 2:1. Phase-averaged PIV and hot-wire anemometry are used to characterize the dynamics of coherent structures in the wake and at the windward junction of the obstacles. Complex physics occur during the deceleration phase of the pulsatile inflow. We propose a framework for understanding these physics based on self-induced vortex propagation, similar to the phenomena exhibited by vortex rings. This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number CBET-1236351, and GW Centeor Biomimetics and Bioinspired Engineering (COBRE).

Impacts of mesoscale eddies on biogeochemical cycles in the South China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiu, P.; Chai, F.; Guo, M.

2016-02-01

Biogeochemical cycles associated with mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea (SCS) are investigated by using satellite surface chlorophyll concentration, altimeter data, satellite sea surface temperature, and a coupled physical-biogeochemical Pacific Ocean model (ROMS-CoSiNE) simulation for the period from 1991 to 2007. Considering the annual mean, composite analysis reveals that cyclonic eddies are associated with higher concentrations of nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton while the anticyclonic eddies are with lower concentrations compared with surrounding waters, which is generally controlled by the eddy pumping mechanism. Dipole structures of vertical fluxes with net upward motion in cyclonic eddies and net downward motion in anticyclonic eddies are also revealed. During the lifetime of an eddy, the evolutions of physical, biological, and chemical structures are not linearly coupled at the eddy core where plankton grow and composition of the community depend not only on the physical and chemical processes but also on the adjustments by the predator-prey relationship. Considering the seasonal variability, we find eddy pumping mechanisms are generally dominant in winter and eddy advection effects are dominant in summer. Over the space, variability of chlorophyll to the west of Luzon Strait and off northwest of Luzon Island are mainly controlled by eddy pumping mechanism. In regions off the Vietnam coast, chlorophyll distributions are generally associated with horizontal eddy advection. This research highlights different mesoscale mechanisms affecting biological structures that can potentially disturb ocean biogeochemical cycling processes in the South China Sea.

The effect of a combined low-pressure gas discharge on metal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brzhozovskii, B.; Brovkova, M.; Gestrin, S.; Martynov, V.; Zinina, E.

2018-04-01

The properties and effects of a combined gas discharge, obtained by superimposing ultrahigh-frequency electromagnetic and electrostatic fields on the surface of metal products, have been studied. Estimates for the main physical properties characterizing the discharge have been obtained. The paper shows that the properties of a combined discharge essentially depend on the sign of the constant electric potential of the workpiece. In the case of a positive potential, there is a substantial hardening of the metal surface layer. Blanket coating formation, which is a nanocomposite two-phase structure, has been recorded.

On physical and numerical instabilities arising in simulations of non-stationary radiatively cooling shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badjin, D. A.; Glazyrin, S. I.; Manukovskiy, K. V.; Blinnikov, S. I.

2016-06-01

We describe our modelling of the radiatively cooling shocks and their thin shells with various numerical tools in different physical and calculational setups. We inspect structure of the dense shell, its formation and evolution, pointing out physical and numerical factors that sustain its shape and also may lead to instabilities. We have found that under certain physical conditions, the circular shaped shells show a strong bending instability and successive fragmentation on Cartesian grids soon after their formation, while remain almost unperturbed when simulated on polar meshes. We explain this by physical Rayleigh-Taylor-like instabilities triggered by corrugation of the dense shell surfaces by numerical noise. Conditions for these instabilities follow from both the shell structure itself and from episodes of transient acceleration during re-establishing of dynamical pressure balance after sudden radiative cooling onset. They are also easily excited by physical perturbations of the ambient medium. The widely mentioned non-linear thin shell instability, in contrast, in tests with physical perturbations is shown to have only limited chances to develop in real radiative shocks, as it seems to require a special spatial arrangement of fluctuations to be excited efficiently. The described phenomena also set new requirements on further simulations of the radiatively cooling shocks in order to be physically correct and free of numerical artefacts.

Fermi surface interconnectivity and topology in Weyl fermion semimetals TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP

DOE PAGES

Lee, Chi-Cheng; Xu, Su-Yang; Huang, Shin-Ming; ...

2015-12-01

The family of binary compounds including TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP was recently discovered as the first realization of Weyl semimetals. In order to develop a comprehensive description of the charge carriers in these Weyl semimetals, we performed detailed and systematic electronic band structure calculations which reveal the nature of Fermi surfaces and their complex interconnectivity in TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP. In conclusion, our work reports a comparative and comprehensive study of Fermi surface topology and band structure details of all known members of the Weyl semimetal family and hence provides the fundamental knowledge for realizing the many predictedmore » exotic topological quantum physics of Weyl semimetals based on the TaAs class of materials.« less

Analyzing an Aging ISS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scharf, R.

2014-01-01

The ISS External Survey integrates the requirements for photographic and video imagery of the International Space Station (ISS) for the engineering, operations, and science communities. An extensive photographic survey was performed on all Space Shuttle flights to the ISS and continues to be performed daily, though on a level much reduced by the limited available imagery. The acquired video and photo imagery is used for both qualitative and quantitative assessments of external deposition and contamination, surface degradation, dynamic events, and MMOD strikes. Many of these assessments provide important information about ISS surfaces and structural integrity as the ISS ages. The imagery is also used to assess and verify the physical configuration of ISS structure, appendages, and components.

Microengineering as a tool to study substratum modulation and cell behaviour.

PubMed

Keatch, R P; Armoogum, K; Schor, S L; Pridham, M S; Banks, K; Khor, T Y; Matthew, C

2002-01-01

This research is an investigation of the means by which geometrical parameters (e.g. area and shape) and various surface attributes (materials and surface finish) of microengineered structures can modulate cellular response. This is based on biological observations indicating that: (i) the response of tissue cells to injury is determined by the net signal transduction response elicited by soluble regulatory molecules (e.g. cytokines), (ii) common matrix constituents (e.g. collagen) directly affect cell behaviour by the same signal transduction mechanisms mediating cytokine bioactivity, (iii) cellular response to cytokines is modulated by the precise nature of the extracellular matrix to which the target cells are adherent, including its biochemical composition and physical structure.

Nanosecond laser coloration on stainless steel surface.

PubMed

Lu, Yan; Shi, Xinying; Huang, Zhongjia; Li, Taohai; Zhang, Meng; Czajkowski, Jakub; Fabritius, Tapio; Huttula, Marko; Cao, Wei

2017-08-02

In this work, we present laser coloration on 304 stainless steel using nanosecond laser. Surface modifications are tuned by adjusting laser parameters of scanning speed, repetition rate, and pulse width. A comprehensive study of the physical mechanism leading to the appearance is presented. Microscopic patterns are measured and employed as input to simulate light-matter interferences, while chemical states and crystal structures of composites to figure out intrinsic colors. Quantitative analysis clarifies the final colors and RGB values are the combinations of structural colors and intrinsic colors from the oxidized pigments, with the latter dominating. Therefore, the engineering and scientific insights of nanosecond laser coloration highlight large-scale utilization of the present route for colorful and resistant steels.

Effects Of Crystallographic Properties On The Ice Nucleation Properties Of Volcanic Ash Particles

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

Kulkarni, Gourihar R.; Nandasiri, Manjula I.; Zelenyuk, Alla

2015-04-28

Specific chemical and physical properties of volcanic ash particles that could affect their ability to induce ice formation are poorly understood. In this study, the ice nucleating properties of size-selected volcanic ash and mineral dust particles in relation to their surface chemistry and crystalline structure at temperatures ranging from –30 to –38 °C were investigated in deposition mode. Ice nucleation efficiency of dust particles was higher compared to ash particles at all temperature and relative humidity conditions. Particle characterization analysis shows that surface elemental composition of ash and dust particles was similar; however, the structural properties of ash samples weremore » different.« less

Aircraft icing research at NASA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reinmann, J. J.; Shaw, R. J.; Olsen, W. A., Jr.

1982-01-01

Research activity is described for: ice protection systems, icing instrumentation, experimental methods, analytical modeling for the above, and in flight research. The renewed interest in aircraft icing has come about because of the new need for All-Weather Helicopters and General Aviation aircraft. Because of increased fuel costs, tomorrow's Commercial Transport aircraft will also require new types of ice protection systems and better estimates of the aeropenalties caused by ice on unprotected surfaces. The physics of aircraft icing is very similar to the icing that occurs on ground structures and structures at sea; all involve droplets that freeze on the surfaces because of the cold air. Therefore all icing research groups will benefit greatly by sharing their research information.

Solution-processing of chalcogenide materials for device applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zha, Yunlai

Chalcogenide glasses are well-known for their desirable optical properties, which have enabled many infrared applications in the fields of photonics, medicine, environmental sensing and security. Conventional deposition methods such as thermal evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering or pulse laser deposition are efficient for fabricating structures on flat surfaces. However, they have limitations in deposition on curved surfaces, deposition of thick layers and component integration. In these cases, solution-based methods, which involve the dissolution of chalcogenide glasses and processing as a liquid, become a better choice for their flexibility. After proper treatment, the associated structures can have similar optical, chemical and physical properties to the bulk. This thesis presents an in-depth study of solution-processing chalcogenide glasses, starting from the "solution state" to the "film state" and the "structure state". Firstly, chalcogenide dissolution is studied to reveal the mechanisms at molecular level and build a foundation for material processing. Dissolution processes for various chalcogenide solvent pairs are reviewed and compared. Secondly, thermal processing, in the context of high temperature annealing, is explained along with the chemical and physical properties of the annealed films. Another focus is on nanopore formation in propylamine-processed arsenic sulfide films. Pore density changes with respect to annealing temperatures and durations are characterized. Base on a proposed vacancy coalescence theory, we have identified new dissolution strategies and achieved the breakthrough of pore-free film deposition. Thirdly, several solution methods developed along with the associated photonic structures are demonstrated. The first example is "spin-coating and lamination", which produces thick (over 10 mum) chalcogenide structures. Both homogeneous thick chalcogenide structures and heterogeneous layers of different chalcogenide glasses or metals can be fabricated. Second, "micro-molding in capillaries" (MIMIC) and "micro-transfer molding" (muTM) methods are introduced for fabricating waveguides on flat and curved surfaces. The flexibility of the solution process allows waveguides to be patterned, for the first time, on a curved surface. Third, "micro channel filling" is demonstrated to produce the lowest loss among solution-processed chalcogenide waveguides. These results contribute to the advancement of chalcogenide processing technologies and help move closer towards the ultimate goal of fabricating reliable IR sensors.

Quantitative Restoration of the Evolution of Mantle Structures Using Data Assimilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail-Zadeh, A.; Schubert, G.; Tsepelev, I.

2008-12-01

Rapid progress in imaging deep Earth structures and in studies of physical and chemical properties of mantle rocks facilitates research in assimilation of data related to mantle dynamics. We present a quantitative approach to assimilation of geophysical and geodetic data, which allows for incorporating observations and unknown initial conditions for mantle temperature and flow into a three-dimensional dynamic model in order to determine the initial conditions in the geological past. Once the conditions are determined the evolution of mantle structures can be restore backward in time. We apply data assimilation techniques to model the evolution of mantle plumes and lithospheric slabs. We show that the geometry of the mantle structures changes with time diminishing the degree of surface curvature of the structures, because the heat conduction smoothes the complex thermal surfaces of mantle bodies with time. Present seismic tomography images of mantle structures do not allow definition of the sharp shapes of these structures. Assimilation of mantle temperature and flow to the geological past instead provides a quantitative tool to restore thermal shapes of prominent structures in the past from their diffusive shapes at present.

Parallel structure among environmental gradients and three trophic levels in a subarctic estuary

USGS Publications Warehouse

Speckman, Suzann G.; Piatt, John F.; Minte-Vera, C. V.; Parrish, Julia K.

2005-01-01

We assessed spatial and temporal variability in the physical environment of a subarctic estuary, and examined concurrent patterns of chlorophyll α abundance (fluorescence), and zooplankton and forage fish community structure. Surveys were conducted in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, during late July and early August from 1997 through 1999. Principle components analysis (PCA) revealed that spatial heterogeneity in the physical oceanographic environment of lower Cook Inlet could be modeled as three marine-estuarine gradients characterized by temperature, salinity, bottom depth, and turbidity. The gradients persisted from 1997 through 1999, and PCA explained 68% to 92% of the variance in physical oceanography for each gradient-year combination. Correlations between chlorophyll α abundance and distribution and the PCA axes were weak. Chlorophyll was reduced by turbidity, and low levels occurred in areas with high levels of suspended sediments. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was used to order the sample sites based on species composition and to order the zooplankton and forage fish taxa based on similarities among sample sites for each gradient-year. Correlations between the structure of the physical environment (PCA axis 1) and zooplankton community structure (DCA axis 1) were strong (r = 0.43-0.86) in all years for the three marine-estuarine gradients, suggesting that zooplankton community composition was structured by the physical environment. The physical environment (PCA) and forage fish community structure (DCA) were weakly correlated in all years along Gradient 2, defined by halocline intensity and surface temperature and salinity, even though these physical variables were more important for defining zooplankton habitats. However, the physical environment (PCA) and forage fish community structure (DCA) were strongly correlated along the primary marine-estuarine gradient (#1) in 1997 (r = 0.87) and 1998 (r = 0.82). The correlation was poor (r = 0.32) in 1999, when fish community structure changed markedly in lower Cook Inlet. Capelin (Mallotus villosus), walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), and arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) were caught farther north than in previous years. Waters were significantly colder and more saline in 1999, a La Nina year, than in other years of the study. Interannual fluctuations in environmental conditions in lower Cook Inlet did not have substantial effects on zooplankton community structure, although abundance of individual taxa varied significantly. The abundance and distribution of chlorophyll α, zooplankton and forage fish were affected much more by spatial variability in physical oceanography than by interannual variability. Our examination of physical-biological linkages in lower Cook Inlet supports the concept of "bottom-up control," i.e., that variability in the physical environment structures higher trophic-level communities by influencing their distribution and abundance across space.

Parallel structure among environmental gradients and three trophic levels in a subarctic estuary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Speckman, Suzann G.; Piatt, John F.; Minte-Vera, Carolina V.; Parrish, Julia K.

2005-07-01

We assessed spatial and temporal variability in the physical environment of a subarctic estuary, and examined concurrent patterns of chlorophyll α abundance (fluorescence), and zooplankton and forage fish community structure. Surveys were conducted in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska, during late July and early August from 1997 through 1999. Principle components analysis (PCA) revealed that spatial heterogeneity in the physical oceanographic environment of lower Cook Inlet could be modeled as three marine-estuarine gradients characterized by temperature, salinity, bottom depth, and turbidity. The gradients persisted from 1997 through 1999, and PCA explained 68% to 92% of the variance in physical oceanography for each gradient-year combination. Correlations between chlorophyll α abundance and distribution and the PCA axes were weak. Chlorophyll was reduced by turbidity, and low levels occurred in areas with high levels of suspended sediments. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was used to order the sample sites based on species composition and to order the zooplankton and forage fish taxa based on similarities among sample sites for each gradient-year. Correlations between the structure of the physical environment (PCA axis 1) and zooplankton community structure (DCA axis 1) were strong ( r = 0.43-0.86) in all years for the three marine-estuarine gradients, suggesting that zooplankton community composition was structured by the physical environment. The physical environment (PCA) and forage fish community structure (DCA) were weakly correlated in all years along Gradient 2, defined by halocline intensity and surface temperature and salinity, even though these physical variables were more important for defining zooplankton habitats. However, the physical environment (PCA) and forage fish community structure (DCA) were strongly correlated along the primary marine-estuarine gradient (#1) in 1997 ( r = 0.87) and 1998 ( r = 0.82). The correlation was poor ( r = 0.32) in 1999, when fish community structure changed markedly in lower Cook Inlet. Capelin ( Mallotus villosus), walleye pollock ( Theragra chalcogramma), and arrowtooth flounder ( Atheresthes stomias) were caught farther north than in previous years. Waters were significantly colder and more saline in 1999, a La Niña year, than in other years of the study. Interannual fluctuations in environmental conditions in lower Cook Inlet did not have substantial effects on zooplankton community structure, although abundance of individual taxa varied significantly. The abundance and distribution of chlorophyll α, zooplankton and forage fish were affected much more by spatial variability in physical oceanography than by interannual variability. Our examination of physical-biological linkages in lower Cook Inlet supports the concept of “bottom-up control,” i.e., that variability in the physical environment structures higher trophic-level communities by influencing their distribution and abundance across space.

Determination of Surface Potential and Electrical Double-Layer Structure at the Aqueous Electrolyte-Nanoparticle Interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Matthew A.; Abbas, Zareen; Kleibert, Armin; Green, Richard G.; Goel, Alok; May, Sylvio; Squires, Todd M.

2016-01-01

The structure of the electrical double layer has been debated for well over a century, since it mediates colloidal interactions, regulates surface structure, controls reactivity, sets capacitance, and represents the central element of electrochemical supercapacitors. The surface potential of such surfaces generally exceeds the electrokinetic potential, often substantially. Traditionally, a Stern layer of nonspecifically adsorbed ions has been invoked to rationalize the difference between these two potentials; however, the inability to directly measure the surface potential of dispersed systems has rendered quantitative measurements of the Stern layer potential, and other quantities associated with the outer Helmholtz plane, impossible. Here, we use x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy from a liquid microjet to measure the absolute surface potentials of silica nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous electrolytes. We quantitatively determine the impact of specific cations (Li+ , Na+ , K+ , and Cs+ ) in chloride electrolytes on the surface potential, the location of the shear plane, and the capacitance of the Stern layer. We find that the magnitude of the surface potential increases linearly with the hydrated-cation radius. Interpreting our data using the simplest assumptions and most straightforward understanding of Gouy-Chapman-Stern theory reveals a Stern layer whose thickness corresponds to a single layer of water molecules hydrating the silica surface, plus the radius of the hydrated cation. These results subject electrical double-layer theories to direct and falsifiable tests to reveal a physically intuitive and quantitatively verified picture of the Stern layer that is consistent across multiple electrolytes and solution conditions.

Implications of dredging induced changes in sediment particle size composition for the structure and function of marine benthic macrofaunal communities.

PubMed

Cooper, K M; Curtis, M; Wan Hussin, W M R; Barrio Froján, C R S; Defew, E C; Nye, V; Paterson, D M

2011-10-01

A meta-analysis approach was used to assess the effect of dredging induced changes in sediment composition, under different conditions of natural physical disturbance, for the structure and function of marine benthic macrofaunal communities. Results showed the sensitivity of macrofaunal communities increased as both the proportion of gravel increased and the level of natural physical disturbance decreased. These findings may be explained by the close association of certain taxa with the gravel fraction, and the influence of natural physical disturbance which, as it increases, tends to restrict the colonisation by these species. We conclude that maintaining the gravel content of surface sediments after dredging and, where practicable, locating extraction sites in areas of higher natural disturbance will minimise the potential for long-term negative impacts on the macrofauna. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Three-dimensional multi-physics coupled simulation of ignition transient in a dual pulse solid rocket motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yingkun; Chen, Xiong; Xu, Jinsheng; Zhou, Changsheng; Musa, Omer

2018-05-01

In this paper, numerical investigation of ignition transient in a dual pulse solid rocket motor has been conducted. An in-house code has been developed in order to solve multi-physics governing equations, including unsteady compressible flow, heat conduction and structural dynamic. The simplified numerical models for solid propellant ignition and combustion have been added. The conventional serial staggered algorithm is adopted to simulate the fluid structure interaction problems in a loosely-coupled manner. The accuracy of the coupling procedure is validated by the behavior of a cantilever panel subjected to a shock wave. Then, the detailed flow field development, flame propagation characteristics, pressure evolution in the combustion chamber, and the structural response of metal diaphragm are analyzed carefully. The burst-time and burst-pressure of the metal diaphragm are also obtained. The individual effects of the igniter's mass flow rate, metal diaphragm thickness and diameter on the ignition transient have been systemically compared. The numerical results show that the evolution of the flow field in the combustion chamber, the temperature distribution on the propellant surface and the pressure loading on the metal diaphragm surface present a strong three-dimensional behavior during the initial ignition stage. The rupture of metal diaphragm is not only related to the magnitude of pressure loading on the diaphragm surface, but also to the history of pressure loading. The metal diaphragm thickness and diameter have a significant effect on the burst-time and burst-pressure of metal diaphragm.

A radiosity-based model to compute the radiation transfer of soil surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Feng; Li, Yuguang

2011-11-01

A good understanding of interactions of electromagnetic radiation with soil surface is important for a further improvement of remote sensing methods. In this paper, a radiosity-based analytical model for soil Directional Reflectance Factor's (DRF) distributions was developed and evaluated. The model was specifically dedicated to the study of radiation transfer for the soil surface under tillage practices. The soil was abstracted as two dimensional U-shaped or V-shaped geometric structures with periodic macroscopic variations. The roughness of the simulated surfaces was expressed as a ratio of the height to the width for the U and V-shaped structures. The assumption was made that the shadowing of soil surface, simulated by U or V-shaped grooves, has a greater influence on the soil reflectance distribution than the scattering properties of basic soil particles of silt and clay. Another assumption was that the soil is a perfectly diffuse reflector at a microscopic level, which is a prerequisite for the application of the radiosity method. This radiosity-based analytical model was evaluated by a forward Monte Carlo ray-tracing model under the same structural scenes and identical spectral parameters. The statistics of these two models' BRF fitting results for several soil structures under the same conditions showed the good agreements. By using the model, the physical mechanism of the soil bidirectional reflectance pattern was revealed.

Emergence of Metallic Properties at LiFePO4 Surfaces and LiFePO4/Li2S Interfaces: An Ab Initio Study.

PubMed

Timoshevskii, Vladimir; Feng, Zimin; Bevan, Kirk H; Zaghib, Karim

2015-08-26

The atomic and electronic structures of the LiFePO4 (LFP) surface, both bare and reconstructed upon possible oxygenation, are theoretically studied by ab initio methods. On the basis of total energy calculations, the atomic structure of the oxygenated surface is proposed, and the effect of surface reconstruction on the electronic properties of the surface is clarified. While bare LFP(010) surface is insulating, adsorption of oxygen leads to the emergence of semimetallic behavior by inducing the conducting states in the band gap of the system. The physical origin of these conducting states is investigated. We further demonstrate that deposition of Li2S layers on top of oxygenated LFP(010) surface leads to the formation of additional conducting hole states in the first layer of Li2S surface because of the charge transfer from sulfur p-states to the gap states of LFP surface. This demonstrates that oxygenated LFP surface not only provides conducting layers itself, but also induces conducting channels in the top layer of Li2S. These results help to achieve further understanding of potential role of LFP particles in improving the performance of Li-S batteries through emergent interface conductivity.

Local functional descriptors for surface comparison based binding prediction

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Molecular recognition in proteins occurs due to appropriate arrangements of physical, chemical, and geometric properties of an atomic surface. Similar surface regions should create similar binding interfaces. Effective methods for comparing surface regions can be used in identifying similar regions, and to predict interactions without regard to the underlying structural scaffold that creates the surface. Results We present a new descriptor for protein functional surfaces and algorithms for using these descriptors to compare protein surface regions to identify ligand binding interfaces. Our approach uses descriptors of local regions of the surface, and assembles collections of matches to compare larger regions. Our approach uses a variety of physical, chemical, and geometric properties, adaptively weighting these properties as appropriate for different regions of the interface. Our approach builds a classifier based on a training corpus of examples of binding sites of the target ligand. The constructed classifiers can be applied to a query protein providing a probability for each position on the protein that the position is part of a binding interface. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach on a number of benchmarks, demonstrating performance that is comparable to the state-of-the-art, with an approach with more generality than these prior methods. Conclusions Local functional descriptors offer a new method for protein surface comparison that is sufficiently flexible to serve in a variety of applications. PMID:23176080

Electron beam physical vapor deposition of YSZ electrolyte coatings for SOFCs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Xiaodong; Meng, Bin; Sun, Yue; Liu, Bochao; Li, Mingwei

2008-09-01

YSZ electrolyte coatings were prepared by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) at a high deposition rate of up to 1 μm/min. The YSZ coating consisted of a single cubic phase and no phase transformation occurred after annealing treatment at 1000 °C. A typical columnar structure was observed in this coating by SEM and feather-like characteristics appeared in every columnar grain. In columnar grain boundaries there were many micron-sized gaps and pores. In TEM image, many white lines were found, originating from the alignment of nanopores existing within feather-like columnar grains. The element distribution along the cross-section of the coating was homogeneous except Zr with a slight gradient. The coating exhibited a characteristic anisotropic behavior in electrical conductivity. In the direction perpendicular to coating surface the electrical conductivity was remarkably higher than that in the direction parallel to coating surface. This mainly attributed to the typical columnar structure for EB-PVD coating and the existence of many grain boundaries along the direction parallel to coating surface. For as-deposited coating, the gas permeability coefficient of 9.78 × 10 -5 cm 4 N -1 s -1 was obtained and this value was close to the critical value of YSZ electrolyte layer required for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation.

Structural, Physical, and Compositional Analysis of Lunar Simulants and Regolith

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenberg, Paul; Street, Kenneth W.; Gaier, James

2008-01-01

Relative to the prior manned Apollo and unmanned robotic missions, planned Lunar initiatives are comparatively complex and longer in duration. Individual crew rotations are envisioned to span several months, and various surface systems must function in the Lunar environment for periods of years. As a consequence, an increased understanding of the surface environment is required to engineer and test the associated materials, components, and systems necessary to sustain human habitation and surface operations. The effort described here concerns the analysis of existing simulant materials, with application to Lunar return samples. The interplay between these analyses fulfills the objective of ascertaining the critical properties of regolith itself, and the parallel objective of developing suitable stimulant materials for a variety of engineering applications. Presented here are measurements of the basic physical attributes, i.e. particle size distributions and general shape factors. Also discussed are structural and chemical properties, as determined through a variety of techniques, such as optical microscopy, SEM and TEM microscopy, Mossbauer Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman microspectroscopy, inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence mapping. A comparative description of currently available stimulant materials is discussed, with implications for more detailed analyses, as well as the requirements for continued refinement of methods for simulant production.

Temperature dependent droplet impact dynamics on flat and textured surfaces

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

Azar Alizadeh; Vaibhav Bahadur; Sheng Zhong

Droplet impact dynamics determines the performance of surfaces used in many applications such as anti-icing, condensation, boiling and heat transfer. We study impact dynamics of water droplets on surfaces with chemistry/texture ranging from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic and across a temperature range spanning below freezing to near boiling conditions. Droplet retraction shows very strong temperature dependence especially for hydrophilic surfaces; it is seen that lower substrate temperatures lead to lesser retraction. Physics-based analyses show that the increased viscosity associated with lower temperatures can explain the decreased retraction. The present findings serve to guide further studies of dynamic fluid-structure interaction at variousmore » temperatures.« less

Microbial community diversity patterns are related to physical and chemical differences among temperate lakes near Beaver Island, MI

PubMed Central

Hengy, Miranda H.; Horton, Dean J.; Uzarski, Donald G.

2017-01-01

Lakes are dynamic and complex ecosystems that can be influenced by physical, chemical, and biological processes. Additionally, individual lakes are often chemically and physically distinct, even within the same geographic region. Here we show that differences in physicochemical conditions among freshwater lakes located on (and around) the same island, as well as within the water column of each lake, are significantly related to aquatic microbial community diversity. Water samples were collected over time from the surface and bottom-water within four freshwater lakes located around Beaver Island, MI within the Laurentian Great Lakes region. Three of the sampled lakes experienced seasonal lake mixing events, impacting either O2, pH, temperature, or a combination of the three. Microbial community alpha and beta diversity were assessed and individual microbial taxa were identified via high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Results demonstrated that physical and chemical variability (temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH) were significantly related to divergence in the beta diversity of surface and bottom-water microbial communities. Despite its correlation to microbial community structure in unconstrained analyses, constrained analyses demonstrated that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was not strongly related to microbial community structure among or within lakes. Additionally, several taxa were correlated (either positively or negatively) to environmental variables, which could be related to aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms. This study highlights the measurable relationships between environmental conditions and microbial communities within freshwater temperate lakes around the same island. PMID:29062609

Nanosecond Surface Microdischarges in Multilayer Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubinov, A. E.; Lyubimtseva, V. A.

2018-05-01

Multilayer structures in which nanosecond surface microdischarges are generated have been developed, fabricated, and investigated. In these structures, layers are made in the form of thin transparent films, and a plasma discharge channel is formed in thin spacings between the layers. Passage of the discharge channel from one layer into the neighboring layer is implemented via pre-fabricated microholes. Images of microdischarges were obtained which confirmed that their plasma channels are formed according to the route assigned by the holes. The route may follow a fairly complex scheme and have self-intersection points and portions in which the electrons are bound to move in opposition to the electric field. In studying the shape of channels in multilayer strictures, the authors have found a new physical effect which lies in the azimuthal self-orientation of the discharge channel as it passes from one microhole to another.

Pseudogap and electronic structure of electron-doped Sr2IrO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moutenet, Alice; Georges, Antoine; Ferrero, Michel

2018-04-01

We present a theoretical investigation of the effects of correlations on the electronic structure of the Mott insulator Sr2IrO4 upon electron doping. A rapid collapse of the Mott gap upon doping is found, and the electronic structure displays a strong momentum-space differentiation at low doping level: The Fermi surface consists of pockets centered around (π /2 ,π /2 ) , while a pseudogap opens near (π ,0 ) . Its physical origin is shown to be related to short-range spin correlations. The pseudogap closes upon increasing doping, but a differentiated regime characterized by a modulation of the spectral intensity along the Fermi surface persists to higher doping levels. These results, obtained within the cellular dynamical mean-field-theory framework, are discussed in comparison to recent photoemission experiments and an overall good agreement is found.

Fundamental understanding of oxygen reduction and reaction behavior and developing high performance and stable hetero-structured cathodes

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

Liu, Xingbo

2016-11-14

New unique hetero-structured cathode has been developed in this project. La 2NiO 4+δ (LNO) as a surface catalyst with interstitial oxygen defects was introduced onto the state-of-the-art (La 0.6Sr 0.4) 0.95Co 0.2Fe 0.8O 3-δ (LSCF) cathode to enhance the surface-limited ORR kinetics on SOFC cathode. Furthermore, the hetero-structured cathode surface maintains high activity under electrode polarization with much less negative effects from surface cation segregation of Sr, which is known to cause degradation issues for conventional LSCF and LSC cathodes, thus improving the cathode long-term stability. The interface chemistry distribution and oxygen transport properties have been studied to prove themore » enhancement of power out and stability of LNO-infiltrated LSCF cathode. The further investigation demonstrates that CeO 2 & La 2-xNiO 4+δ (x=0-0.2) co-infiltration is a simple and cost-effective method to improve both performance and stability of LSCF cathode by limiting nano-particles growth/delamination and further improve the surface stability. For the first time, a physical model is proposed to illustrate how unique interstitial species on hetero-structured cathode surface work to regulate the exchange rate of the incorporation reaction. Meanwhile, fundamental investigation of the surface oxygen exchange and bulk oxygen transport properties under over-potential conditions across cathode materials have been carried out in this project, which were discussed and compared to the Nernst equation that is generally applied to treat any oxide electrodes under equilibrium.« less

Role of Electrical Double Layer Structure in Ionic Liquid Gated Devices.

PubMed

Black, Jennifer M; Come, Jeremy; Bi, Sheng; Zhu, Mengyang; Zhao, Wei; Wong, Anthony T; Noh, Joo Hyon; Pudasaini, Pushpa R; Zhang, Pengfei; Okatan, Mahmut Baris; Dai, Sheng; Kalinin, Sergei V; Rack, Philip D; Ward, Thomas Zac; Feng, Guang; Balke, Nina

2017-11-22

Ionic liquid gating of transition metal oxides has enabled new states (magnetic, electronic, metal-insulator), providing fundamental insights into the physics of strongly correlated oxides. However, despite much research activity, little is known about the correlation of the structure of the liquids in contact with the transition metal oxide surface, its evolution with the applied electric potential, and its correlation with the measured electronic properties of the oxide. Here, we investigate the structure of an ionic liquid at a semiconducting oxide interface during the operation of a thin film transistor where the electrical double layer gates the device using experiment and theory. We show that the transition between the ON and OFF states of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide transistor is accompanied by a densification and preferential spatial orientation of counterions at the oxide channel surface. This process occurs in three distinct steps, corresponding to ion orientations, and consequently, regimes of different electrical conductivity. The reason for this can be found in the surface charge densities on the oxide surface when different ion arrangements are present. Overall, the field-effect gating process is elucidated in terms of the interfacial ionic liquid structure, and this provides unprecedented insight into the working of a liquid gated transistor linking the nanoscopic structure to the functional properties. This knowledge will enable both new ionic liquid design as well as advanced device concepts.

Will ethylene oxide sterilization influence the application of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite intrauterine devices?

PubMed

Xia, Xianping; Wang, Yun; Cai, Shuizhou; Xie, Changsheng; Zhu, Changhong

2009-01-01

Copper/low-density polyethylene (Cu/LDPE) nanocomposite intrauterine device (IUD) is an implanted medicinal device that must be sterilized before use. Sterilization processes act either chemically or physically, leading to a lethal change in the structure or function of organic macromolecules in microorganisms. Given the nature of their action, sterilization might also attack the macromolecules of polymers by the same mechanisms, resulting in changes in surface functional groups and in the internal structure of the polymer. If sterilization leads to changes in surface functional groups and in the internal structure of the LDPE matrix, which will influence the mechanical property and cupric ions release rate of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs, potential clinical application will be limited. Therefore, it is necessary to study the influence of ethylene oxide sterilization on the potential clinical application of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs. The influence of ethylene oxide sterilization on the internal structure, surface functional groups, mechanical property and cupric ions release rate of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing and absorbance measurement. Ethylene oxide sterilization did not have any influence on the internal structure, surface functional groups, mechanical property and cupric ions release rate of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite intrauterine devices. Ethylene oxide sterilization will not affect the potential application of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs.

Role of Electrical Double Layer Structure in Ionic Liquid Gated Devices

DOE PAGES

Black, Jennifer M.; Come, Jeremy; Bi, Sheng; ...

2017-10-24

Ionic liquid gating of transition metal oxides has enabled new states (magnetic, electronic, metal–insulator), providing fundamental insights into the physics of strongly correlated oxides. However, despite much research activity, little is known about the correlation of the structure of the liquids in contact with the transition metal oxide surface, its evolution with the applied electric potential, and its correlation with the measured electronic properties of the oxide. Here, we investigate the structure of an ionic liquid at a semiconducting oxide interface during the operation of a thin film transistor where the electrical double layer gates the device using experiment andmore » theory. We show that the transition between the ON and OFF states of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide transistor is accompanied by a densification and preferential spatial orientation of counterions at the oxide channel surface. This process occurs in three distinct steps, corresponding to ion orientations, and consequently, regimes of different electrical conductivity. The reason for this can be found in the surface charge densities on the oxide surface when different ion arrangements are present. Overall, the field-effect gating process is elucidated in terms of the interfacial ionic liquid structure, and this provides unprecedented insight into the working of a liquid gated transistor linking the nanoscopic structure to the functional properties. This knowledge will enable both new ionic liquid design as well as advanced device concepts.« less

Role of Electrical Double Layer Structure in Ionic Liquid Gated Devices

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

Black, Jennifer M.; Come, Jeremy; Bi, Sheng

Ionic liquid gating of transition metal oxides has enabled new states (magnetic, electronic, metal–insulator), providing fundamental insights into the physics of strongly correlated oxides. However, despite much research activity, little is known about the correlation of the structure of the liquids in contact with the transition metal oxide surface, its evolution with the applied electric potential, and its correlation with the measured electronic properties of the oxide. Here, we investigate the structure of an ionic liquid at a semiconducting oxide interface during the operation of a thin film transistor where the electrical double layer gates the device using experiment andmore » theory. We show that the transition between the ON and OFF states of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide transistor is accompanied by a densification and preferential spatial orientation of counterions at the oxide channel surface. This process occurs in three distinct steps, corresponding to ion orientations, and consequently, regimes of different electrical conductivity. The reason for this can be found in the surface charge densities on the oxide surface when different ion arrangements are present. Overall, the field-effect gating process is elucidated in terms of the interfacial ionic liquid structure, and this provides unprecedented insight into the working of a liquid gated transistor linking the nanoscopic structure to the functional properties. This knowledge will enable both new ionic liquid design as well as advanced device concepts.« less

Low temperature surface chemistry and nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sergeev, G. B.; Shabatina, T. I.

2002-03-01

The new scientific field of low temperature surface chemistry, which combines the low temperature chemistry (cryochemistry) and surface chemistry approaches, is reviewed in this paper. One of the most exciting achievements in this field of science is the development of methods to create highly ordered hybrid nanosized structures on different organic and inorganic surfaces and to encapsulate nanosized metal particles in organic and polymer matrices. We consider physical and chemical behaviour for the systems obtained by co-condensation of the components vapours on the surfaces cooled down to 4-10 and 70-100 K. In particular the size effect of both types, the number of atoms in the reactive species structure and the thickness of growing co-condensate film, on the chemical activity of the system is analysed in detail. The effect of the internal mechanical stresses on the growing interfacial co-condensate film formation and on the generation of fast (explosive) spontaneous reactions at low temperatures is discussed. The examples of unusual chemical interactions of metal atoms, clusters and nanosized particles, obtained in co-condensate films on the cooled surfaces under different conditions, are presented. The examples of highly ordered surface and volume hybrid nanostructures formation are analysed.

Photonics surface waves on metamaterials interfaces.

PubMed

Takayama, Osamu; Bogdanov, Andrey; Lavrinenko, Andrei V

2017-09-12

A surface wave (SW) in optics is a light wave, which is supported at an interface of two dissimilar media and propagates along the interface with its field amplitude exponentially decaying away from the boundary. The research on surface waves has been flourishing in last few decades thanks to their unique properties of surface sensitivity and field localization. These features have resulted in applications in nano-guiding, sensing, light-trapping and imaging based on the near-field techniques, contributing to the establishment of the nanophotonics as a field of research. Up to present, a wide variety of surface waves has been investigated in numerous material and structure settings. This paper reviews the recent progress and development in the physics of SWs localized at metamaterial interfaces, as well as bulk media in order to provide broader perspectives on optical surface waves in general. For each type of the surface waves, we discuss material and structural platforms. We mainly focus on experimental realizations in the visible and near-infrared wavelength ranges. We also address existing and potential application of SWs in chemical and biological sensing, and experimental excitation and characterization methods. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Plasma Flowfields Around Low Earth Orbit Objects: Aerodynamics to Underpin Orbit Predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capon, Christopher; Boyce, Russell; Brown, Melrose

2016-07-01

Interactions between orbiting bodies and the charged space environment are complex. The large variation in passive body parameters e.g. size, geometry and materials, makes the plasma-body interaction in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) a region rich in fundamental physical phenomena. The aerodynamic interaction of LEO orbiting bodies with the neutral environment constitutes the largest non-conservative force on the body. However in general, study of the LEO plasma-body interaction has not been concerned with external flow physics, but rather with the effects on surface charging. The impact of ionospheric flow physics on the forces on space debris (and active objects) is not well understood. The work presented here investigates the contribution that plasma-body interactions have on the flow structure and hence on the total atmospheric force vector experienced by a polar orbiting LEO body. This work applies a hybrid Particle-in-Cell (PIC) - Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code, pdFoam, to self-consistently model the electrostatic flowfield about a cylinder with a uniform, fixed surface potential. Flow conditions are representative of the mean conditions experienced by the Earth Observing Satellite (EOS) based on the International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-86). The electron distribution function is represented by a non-linear Boltzmann electron fluid and ion gas-surface interactions are assumed to be that of a neutralising, conducting, thermally accommodating solid wall with diffuse reflections. The variation in flowfield and aerodynamic properties with surface potential at a fixed flow condition is investigated, and insight into the relative contributions of charged and neutral species to the flow physics experienced by a LEO orbiting body is provided. This in turn is intended to help improve the fidelity of physics-based orbit predictions for space debris and other near-Earth space objects.

Geometric asymmetry driven Janus micromotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Guanjia; Pumera, Martin

2014-09-01

The production and application of nano-/micromotors is of great importance. In order for the motors to work, asymmetry in their chemical composition or physical geometry must be present if no external asymmetric field is applied. In this paper, we present a ``coconut'' micromotor made of platinum through the partial or complete etching of the silica templates. It was shown that although both the inner and outer surfaces are made of the same material (Pt), motion of the structure can be observed as the convex surface is capable of generating oxygen bubbles. This finding shows that not only the chemical asymmetry of the micromotor, but also its geometric asymmetry can lead to fast propulsion of the motor. Moreover, a considerably higher velocity can be seen for partially etched coconut structures than the velocities of Janus or fully etched, shell-like motors. These findings will have great importance on the design of future micromotors.The production and application of nano-/micromotors is of great importance. In order for the motors to work, asymmetry in their chemical composition or physical geometry must be present if no external asymmetric field is applied. In this paper, we present a ``coconut'' micromotor made of platinum through the partial or complete etching of the silica templates. It was shown that although both the inner and outer surfaces are made of the same material (Pt), motion of the structure can be observed as the convex surface is capable of generating oxygen bubbles. This finding shows that not only the chemical asymmetry of the micromotor, but also its geometric asymmetry can lead to fast propulsion of the motor. Moreover, a considerably higher velocity can be seen for partially etched coconut structures than the velocities of Janus or fully etched, shell-like motors. These findings will have great importance on the design of future micromotors. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Additional SEM images, data analysis, Videos S-1 and S-2. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr02393e

Thermography During Thermal Test of the Gaia Deployable Sunshield Assembly Qualification Model in the ESTEC Large Space Simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simpson, R.; Broussely, M.; Edwards, G.; Robinson, D.; Cozzani, A.; Casarosa, G.

2012-07-01

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) have performed for the first time successful surface temperature measurements using infrared thermal imaging in the ESTEC Large Space Simulator (LSS) under vacuum and with the Sun Simulator (SUSI) switched on during thermal qualification tests of the GAIA Deployable Sunshield Assembly (DSA). The thermal imager temperature measurements, with radiosity model corrections, show good agreement with thermocouple readings on well characterised regions of the spacecraft. In addition, the thermal imaging measurements identified potentially misleading thermocouple temperature readings and provided qualitative real-time observations of the thermal and spatial evolution of surface structure changes and heat dissipation during hot test loadings, which may yield additional thermal and physical measurement information through further research.

Physical and chemical controls on the critical zone

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, S.P.; Von Blanckenburg, F.; White, A.F.

2007-01-01

Geochemists have long recognized a correlation between rates of physical denudation and chemical weathering. What underlies this correlation? The Critical Zone can be considered as a feed-through reactor. Downward advance of the weathering front brings unweathered rock into the reactor. Fluids are supplied through precipitation. The reactor is stirred at the top by biological and physical processes. The balance between advance of the weathering front by mechanical and chemical processes and mass loss by denudation fixes the thickness of the Critical Zone reactor. The internal structure of this reactor is controlled by physical processes that create surface area, determine flow paths, and set the residence time of material in the Critical Zone. All of these impact chemical weathering flux.

EDITORIAL: Focus on Advances in Surface and Interface Science 2008 FOCUS ON ADVANCES IN SURFACE AND INTERFACE SCIENCE 2008

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheffler, Matthias; Schneider, Wolf-Dieter

2008-12-01

Basic research in surface and interface science is highly interdisciplinary, covering the fields of physics, chemistry, biophysics, geo-, atmospheric and environmental sciences, material science, chemical engineering, and more. The various phenomena are interesting by themselves, and they are most important in nearly all modern technologies, as for example electronic, magnetic, and optical devices, sensors, catalysts, lubricants, hard and thermal-barrier coatings, protection against corrosion and crack formation under harsh environments. In fact, detailed understanding of the elementary processes at surfaces is necessary to support and to advance the high technology that very much founds the prosperity and lifestyle of our society. Current state-of-the-art experimental studies of elementary processes at surfaces, of surface properties and functions employ a variety of sophisticated tools. Some are capable of revealing the location and motion of individual atoms. Others measure excitations (electronic, magnetic and vibronic), employing, for example, special light sources such as synchrotrons, high magnetic fields, or free electron lasers. The surprising variety of intriguing physical phenomena at surfaces, interfaces, and nanostructures also pose a persistent challenge for the development of theoretical descriptions, methods, and even basic physical concepts. This second focus issue on the topic of 'Advances in Surface and Interface Science' in New Journal of Physics, following on from last year's successful collection, provides an exciting synoptic view on the latest pertinent developments in the field. Focus on Advances in Surface and Interface Science 2008 Contents Organic layers at metal/electrolyte interfaces: molecular structure and reactivity of viologen monolayers Stephan Breuer, Duc T Pham, Sascha Huemann, Knud Gentz, Caroline Zoerlein, Ralf Hunger, Klaus Wandelt and Peter Broekmann Spin polarized d surface resonance state of fcc Co/Cu(001) K Miyamoto, K Iori, K Sakamoto, H Narita, A Kimura, M Taniguchi, S Qiao, K Hasegawa, K Shimada, H Namatame and S Blügel Activated associative desorption of C + O → CO from Ru(001) induced by femtosecond laser pulses S Wagner, H Öström, A Kaebe, M Krenz, M Wolf, A C Luntz and C Frischkorn Surface structure of Sn-doped In2O3 (111) thin films by STM Erie H Morales, Yunbin He, Mykola Vinnichenko, Bernard Delley and Ulrike Diebold Coulomb oscillations in three-layer graphene nanostructures J Güttinger, C Stampfer, F Molitor, D Graf, T Ihn and K Ensslin Adsorption processes of hydrogen molecules on SiC(001), Si(001) and C(001) surfaces Xiangyang Peng, Peter Krüger and Johannes Pollmann Fermi surface nesting in several transition metal dichalcogenides D S Inosov, V B Zabolotnyy, D V Evtushinsky, A A Kordyuk, B Büchner, R Follath, H Berger and S V Borisenko Probing molecule-surface interactions through ultra-fast adsorbate dynamics: propane/Pt(111) A P Jardine, H Hedgeland, D Ward, Y Xiaoqing, W Allison, J Ellis and G Alexandrowicz A novel method achieving ultra-high geometrical resolution in scanning tunnelling microscopy R Temirov, S Soubatch, O Neucheva, A C Lassise and F S Tautz

Internally heated convection as a possible mechanism at the origin of polygonal structures on Pluto's surface.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilella, K.; Deschamps, F.

2016-12-01

Recently, the New Horizons spacecraft obtained high resolution pictures of Pluto's surface, and revealed, among other surface features, a large nitrogen ice glacier. The surface of this glacier, informally named Sputnik Planum, is separated into a network of polygonal cells with a wavelength of about 30 km. Recent studies (McKinnon et al. 2016, Trowbridge et al. 2016) interpreted this network to the surface expression of thermal convection drives by the heat coming from the icy mantle and constrain the properties of the glacier, including its thickness. Here, we first show that such a bottom heated convective system is not able to produce a polygonal structure as observed on Sputnik Planum. We therefore consider an internally heated system that, for a certain range of parameters, does produce a similar surface planform, which in turn constrains the possible parameters of the glacier. Combining scaling laws, published in earlier studies with the observation of the surface planform, we establish relationships between the critical parameters of Sputnik Planum. In particular, for reasonable temperature jump across the glacier (2-10 K) and nitrogen ice viscosities (1013-5 1014 Pa.s), our calculations indicate that the glacier thickness and the surface heat flux are in the ranges 2-13 km and 0.1-10 mW.m2, respectively. The fact that only internal heating seems able to reproduce the polygonal structure found on Sputnik Planum raises the question of what physical processes produce the internal heating.

Wettability, Polarity, and Water Absorption of Holm Oak Leaves: Effect of Leaf Side and Age1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Fernández, Victoria; Sancho-Knapik, Domingo; Guzmán, Paula; Peguero-Pina, José Javier; Gil, Luis; Karabourniotis, George; Khayet, Mohamed; Fasseas, Costas; Heredia-Guerrero, José Alejandro; Heredia, Antonio; Gil-Pelegrín, Eustaquio

2014-01-01

Plant trichomes play important protective functions and may have a major influence on leaf surface wettability. With the aim of gaining insight into trichome structure, composition, and function in relation to water-plant surface interactions, we analyzed the adaxial and abaxial leaf surface of holm oak (Quercus ilex) as a model. By measuring the leaf water potential 24 h after the deposition of water drops onto abaxial and adaxial surfaces, evidence for water penetration through the upper leaf side was gained in young and mature leaves. The structure and chemical composition of the abaxial (always present) and adaxial (occurring only in young leaves) trichomes were analyzed by various microscopic and analytical procedures. The adaxial surfaces were wettable and had a high degree of water drop adhesion in contrast to the highly unwettable and water-repellent abaxial holm oak leaf sides. The surface free energy and solubility parameter decreased with leaf age, with higher values determined for the adaxial sides. All holm oak leaf trichomes were covered with a cuticle. The abaxial trichomes were composed of 8% soluble waxes, 49% cutin, and 43% polysaccharides. For the adaxial side, it is concluded that trichomes and the scars after trichome shedding contribute to water uptake, while the abaxial leaf side is highly hydrophobic due to its high degree of pubescence and different trichome structure, composition, and density. Results are interpreted in terms of water-plant surface interactions, plant surface physical chemistry, and plant ecophysiology. PMID:24913938

Organic molecules on metal and oxide semiconductor substrates: Adsorption behavior and electronic energy level alignment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruggieri, Charles M.

Modern devices such as organic light emitting diodes use organic/oxide and organic/metal interfaces for crucial processes such as charge injection and charge transfer. Understanding fundamental physical processes occurring at these interfaces is essential to improving device performance. The ultimate goal of studying such interfaces is to form a predictive model of interfacial interactions, which has not yet been established. To this end, this thesis focuses on obtaining a better understanding of fundamental physical interactions governing molecular self-assembly and electronic energy level alignment at organic/metal and organic/oxide interfaces. This is accomplished by investigating both the molecular adsorption geometry using scanning tunneling microscopy, as well as the electronic structure at the interface using direct and inverse photoemission spectroscopy, and analyzing the results in the context of first principles electronic structure calculations. First, we study the adsorption geometry of zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) molecules on three noble metal surfaces: Au(111), Ag(111), and Ag(100). These surfaces were chosen to systematically compare the molecular self-assembly and adsorption behavior on two metals of the same surface symmetry and two surface symmetries of one metal. From this investigation, we improve the understanding of self-assembly at organic/metal interfaces and the relative strengths of competing intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions that influence molecular adsorption geometry. We then investigate the electronic structure of the ZnTPP/Au(111), Ag(111), and Ag(100) interfaces as examples of weakly-interacting systems. We compare these cases to ZnTPP on TiO2(110), a wide-bandgap oxide semiconductor, and explain the intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions that determine the electronic energy level alignment at the interface. Finally we study tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), a strong electron acceptor, on TiO2(110), which exhibits chemical hybridization accompanied by molecular distortion, as well as extreme charge transfer resulting in the development of a space charge layer in the oxide. Thus, we present a broad experimental and theoretical perspective on the study of organic/metal and organic/oxide interfaces, elucidating fundamental physical interactions that govern molecular organization and energy level alignment.

Metallic surface states in elemental electrides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naumov, Ivan I.; Hemley, Russell J.

2017-07-01

Recent high-pressure studies have uncovered an alternative class of materials, insulating electride phases created by compression of simple metals. These exotic insulating phases develop an unusual electronic structure: the valence electrons move away from the nuclei and condense at interstitial sites, thereby acquiring the role of atomic anions or even molecules. We show that they are also topological phases as they exhibit a wide diversity of metallic surface states (SSs) that are controlled by the bulk electronic structure. The electronic reconstruction occurs that involves charge transfer between the surfaces of opposite polarity making both of them metallic, resembling the appearance of the two-dimensional gas at the renowned SrTi O3 /LaAl O3 interface. Remarkably, these materials thus embody seemingly disparate physical concepts—chemical electron localization, topological control of bulk-surface conductivity, and the two-dimensional electron gas. Such metallic SSs could be probed by direct electrical resistance or by standard photoemission measurements on recovery to ambient conditions.

The influence of surface area, porous structure, and surface state on the supercapacitor performance of titanium oxynitride: implications for a nanostructuring strategy.

PubMed

Lee, Eun Joo; Lee, Lanlee; Abbas, Muhammad Awais; Bang, Jin Ho

2017-08-09

A recent surge of interest in metal (oxy)nitride materials for energy storage devices has given rise to the rapid development of various nanostructuring strategies for these materials. In supercapacitor applications, early transition metal (oxy)nitrides have been extensively explored, among which titanium oxynitride stands out due to its great potential for charge storage. Despite recent advances in supercapacitors based on titanium oxynitride, many underlying factors governing their capacitive performance remain elusive. In this work, nanostructured titanium oxynitride is prepared by firing an organic-inorganic hybrid precursor under a hot ammonia atmosphere, and the influence of its physical characteristics on the supercapacitor performance is investigated. New insights into the effects of surface area, porous structure, and surface state of titanium oxynitride on the supercapacitor performance are revealed through which a comprehensive understanding about the capacitive behavior of titanium oxynitride is provided. In addition, the implications of these insights for a nanostructuring strategy striving for higher capacitance and improved stability are discussed.

Nanostructured zinc oxide thin film for application to surface plasmon resonance based cholesterol biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Gurpreet; Tomar, Monika; Gupta, Vinay

2015-11-01

ZnO thin film was deposited on gold coated glass prism by RF sputtering technique in glancing angle deposition (GLAD) configuration. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the deposited film were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. ZnO coated Au prisms (ZnO/Au/prism) were used to excite surface plasmons in Kretschmann configuration at the Au- ZnO interface on a laboratory assembled Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) measurement setup. Cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) enzyme was immobilized on the ZnO/Au/prism structure by physical adsorption technique. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels were fabricated over ChOx/ZnO/Au/prism system and various concentrations of cholesterol were passed over the sensor surface. The concentration of cholesterol was varied from 0.12 to 10.23 mM and the SPR reflectance curves were recorded in both static as well as dynamic modes demonstrating a high sensitivity of 0.36° mM-1.

The Force-Free Magnetosphere of a Rotating Black Hole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Contopoulos, Ioannis; Kazanas, Demosthenes; Papadopoulos, Demetrios B.

2013-01-01

We revisit the Blandford-Znajek process and solve the fundamental equation that governs the structure of the steady-state force-free magnetosphere around a Kerr black hole. The solution depends on the distributions of the magnetic field angular velocity and the poloidal electric current. These are not arbitrary. They are determined self-consistently by requiring that magnetic field lines cross smoothly the two singular surfaces of the problem: the inner "light surface" located inside the ergosphere and the outer "light surface" which is the generalization of the pulsar light cylinder.We find the solution for the simplest possible magnetic field configuration, the split monopole, through a numerical iterative relaxation method analogous to the one that yields the structure of the steady-state axisymmetric force-free pulsar magnetosphere. We obtain the rate of electromagnetic extraction of energy and confirm the results of Blandford and Znajek and of previous time-dependent simulations. Furthermore, we discuss the physical applicability of magnetic field configurations that do not cross both "light surfaces."

High Surface Area Dendrite Nanoelectrodes for Electrochemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesbitt, Nathan; Glover, Jennifer; Goyal, Saurabh; Simidjiysky, Svetoslav; Naughton, Michael

2014-03-01

Solution-based electrodeposition of metal using a low ion concentration, surface passivation agents, and/or electrochemical crystal conditioning has allowed for the formation of high surface area metal electrodes, useful for Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical sensors. Additionally, high frequency electrical oscillations have been used to electrically connect co-planar electrodes, a process called directed electrochemical nanowire assembly (DENA). These approaches aim to control the crystal face that metal atoms in solution will nucleate onto, thus causing anisotropic growth of metal crystals. However, DENA has not been used to create high surface area electrodes, and no study has been conducted on the effect of micron-scale surface topography on the initial nucleation of metal crystals on the electrode surface. When DENA is used to create a high surface area electrode, such a texture has a strong impact on the subsequent topography of the three dimensional dendritic structures by limiting the areal density of crystals on the electrode surface. Such structures both demonstrate unique physics concerning the nucleation of metal dendrites, and offer a unique and highly facile fabrication method of high surface area electrodes, useful for chemical and biological sensing. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. (DGE-1258923).

The evaluation of energy efficiency of convective heat transfer surfaces in tube bundles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigoriev, B. A.; Pronin, V. A.; Salohin, V. I.; Sidenkov, D. V.

2017-11-01

When evaluating the effectiveness of the heat exchange surfaces in the main considered characteristics such as heat flow (Q, Watt), the power required for pumps (N, Watt), and surface area of heat transfer (F, m2). The most correct comparison provides a comparison “ceteris paribus”. Carried out performance comparison “ceteris paribus” in-line and staggered configurations of bundles with a circular pipes can serve as a basis for the development of physical models of flow and heat transfer in tube bundles with tubes of other geometric shapes, considering intertubular stream with attached eddies. The effect of longitudinal and transverse steps of the pipes on the energy efficiency of different configurations would take into account by mean of physical relations between the structure of shell side flow with attached eddies and intensity of transfer processes of heat and momentum. With the aim of energy-efficient placement of tubes, such an approach opens up great opportunities for the synthesis of a plurality of tubular heat exchange surfaces, in particular, the layout of the twisted and in-line-diffuser type with a drop-shaped pipes.

A Vertically Resolved Planetary Boundary Layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helfand, H. M.

1984-01-01

Increase of the vertical resolution of the GLAS Fourth Order General Circulation Model (GCM) near the Earth's surface and installation of a new package of parameterization schemes for subgrid-scale physical processes were sought so that the GLAS Model GCM will predict the resolved vertical structure of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) for all grid points.

Solid State Division progress report for period ending March 31, 1992

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

Green, P.H.; Hinton, L.W.

1992-09-01

During this period, the division conducted a broad, interdisciplinary materials research program with emphasis on theoretical solid state physics, superconductivity, neutron scattering, synthesis and characterization of materials, ion beam and laser processing, and the structure of solids and surfaces. The High Flux Isotope Reactor was returned to full operation.

Rigging the Deck: Selecting Good Problems for Expert-Novice Card-Sorting Experiments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolf, Steven F.; Dougherty, Daniel P.; Kortemeyer, Gerd

2012-01-01

A seminal study by Chi "et al." firmly established the paradigm that novices categorize physics problems by "surface features" (e.g., "incline," "pendulum," "projectile motion," etc.), while experts use "deep structure" (e.g., "energy conservation," "Newton 2," etc.). Yet, efforts to replicate the study frequently fail, since the ability to…

Surface similarity-based molecular query-retrieval

PubMed Central

Singh, Rahul

2007-01-01

Background Discerning the similarity between molecules is a challenging problem in drug discovery as well as in molecular biology. The importance of this problem is due to the fact that the biochemical characteristics of a molecule are closely related to its structure. Therefore molecular similarity is a key notion in investigations targeting exploration of molecular structural space, query-retrieval in molecular databases, and structure-activity modelling. Determining molecular similarity is related to the choice of molecular representation. Currently, representations with high descriptive power and physical relevance like 3D surface-based descriptors are available. Information from such representations is both surface-based and volumetric. However, most techniques for determining molecular similarity tend to focus on idealized 2D graph-based descriptors due to the complexity that accompanies reasoning with more elaborate representations. Results This paper addresses the problem of determining similarity when molecules are described using complex surface-based representations. It proposes an intrinsic, spherical representation that systematically maps points on a molecular surface to points on a standard coordinate system (a sphere). Molecular surface properties such as shape, field strengths, and effects due to field super-positioningcan then be captured as distributions on the surface of the sphere. Surface-based molecular similarity is subsequently determined by computing the similarity of the surface-property distributions using a novel formulation of histogram-intersection. The similarity formulation is not only sensitive to the 3D distribution of the surface properties, but is also highly efficient to compute. Conclusion The proposed method obviates the computationally expensive step of molecular pose-optimisation, can incorporate conformational variations, and facilitates highly efficient determination of similarity by directly comparing molecular surfaces and surface-based properties. Retrieval performance, applications in structure-activity modeling of complex biological properties, and comparisons with existing research and commercial methods demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the approach. PMID:17634096

Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3

PubMed Central

Ziatdinov, M.; Banerjee, A.; Maksov, A.; Berlijn, T.; Zhou, W.; Cao, H. B.; Yan, J.-Q.; Bridges, C. A.; Mandrus, D. G.; Nagler, S. E.; Baddorf, A. P.; Kalinin, S. V.

2016-01-01

A pseudospin-1/2 Mott phase on a honeycomb lattice is proposed to host the celebrated two-dimensional Kitaev model which has an elusive quantum spin liquid ground state, and fascinating physics relevant to the development of future templates towards topological quantum bits. Here we report a comprehensive, atomically resolved real-space study by scanning transmission electron and scanning tunnelling microscopies on a novel layered material displaying Kitaev physics, α-RuCl3. Our local crystallography analysis reveals considerable variations in the geometry of the ligand sublattice in thin films of α-RuCl3 that opens a way to realization of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic ground state at the nanometre length scale. Using scanning tunnelling techniques, we observe the electronic energy gap of ≈0.25 eV and intra-unit cell symmetry breaking of charge distribution in individual α-RuCl3 surface layer. The corresponding charge-ordered pattern has a fine structure associated with two different types of charge disproportionation at Cl-terminated surface. PMID:27941761

Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3.

PubMed

Ziatdinov, M; Banerjee, A; Maksov, A; Berlijn, T; Zhou, W; Cao, H B; Yan, J-Q; Bridges, C A; Mandrus, D G; Nagler, S E; Baddorf, A P; Kalinin, S V

2016-12-12

A pseudospin-1/2 Mott phase on a honeycomb lattice is proposed to host the celebrated two-dimensional Kitaev model which has an elusive quantum spin liquid ground state, and fascinating physics relevant to the development of future templates towards topological quantum bits. Here we report a comprehensive, atomically resolved real-space study by scanning transmission electron and scanning tunnelling microscopies on a novel layered material displaying Kitaev physics, α-RuCl 3 . Our local crystallography analysis reveals considerable variations in the geometry of the ligand sublattice in thin films of α-RuCl 3 that opens a way to realization of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic ground state at the nanometre length scale. Using scanning tunnelling techniques, we observe the electronic energy gap of ≈0.25 eV and intra-unit cell symmetry breaking of charge distribution in individual α-RuCl 3 surface layer. The corresponding charge-ordered pattern has a fine structure associated with two different types of charge disproportionation at Cl-terminated surface.

Micromechanics of ice friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sammonds, P. R.; Bailey, E.; Lishman, B.; Scourfield, S.

2015-12-01

Frictional mechanics are controlled by the ice micro-structure - surface asperities and flaws - but also the ice fabric and permeability network structure of the contacting blocks. Ice properties are dependent upon the temperature of the bulk ice, on the normal stress and on the sliding velocity and acceleration. This means the shear stress required for sliding is likewise dependent on sliding velocity, acceleration, and temperature. We aim to describe the micro-physics of the contacting surface. We review micro-mechanical models of friction: the elastic and ductile deformation of asperities under normal loads and their shear failure by ductile flow, brittle fracture, or melting and hydrodynamic lubrication. Combinations of these give a total of six rheological models of friction. We present experimental results in ice mechanics and physics from laboratory experiments to understand the mechanical models. We then examine the scaling relations of the slip of ice, to examine how the micro-mechanics of ice friction can be captured simple reduced-parameter models, describing the mechanical state and slip rate of the floes. We aim to capture key elements that they may be incorporated into mid and ocean-basin scale modelling.

Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl 3

DOE PAGES

Ziatdinov, Maxim A.; Banerjee, Arnab; Maksov, Artem B.; ...

2016-12-12

A pseudospin-1/2 Mott phase on a honeycomb lattice is proposed to host the celebrated two-dimensional Kitaev model which has an elusive quantum spin liquid ground state, and fascinating physics relevant to the development of future templates towards topological quantum bits. Here we report a comprehensive, atomically resolved real-space study by scanning transmission electron and scanning tunnelling microscopies on a novel layered material displaying Kitaev physics, -RuCl3. Our local crystallography analysis reveals considerable variations in the geometry of the ligand sublattice in thin films of -RuCl3 that opens a way to realization of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic ground state at themore » nanometre length scale. Using scanning tunnelling techniques, we observe the electronic energy gap of 0.25 eV and intra-unit cell symmetry breaking of charge distribution in individual -RuCl3 surface layer. The corresponding charge-ordered pattern has a fine structure associated with two different types of charge disproportionation at Cl-terminated surface.« less

Spatial Patterns in the Efficiency of the Biological Pump: What Controls Export Ratios at the Global Scale?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, J. K.

2016-02-01

The efficiency of the biological pump is influenced by complex interactions between chemical, biological, and physical processes. The efficiency of export out of surface waters and down through the water column to the deep ocean has been linked to a number of factors including biota community composition, production of mineral ballast components, physical aggregation and disaggregation processes, and ocean oxygen concentrations. I will examine spatial patterns in the export ratio and the efficiency of the biological pump at the global scale using the Community Earth System Model (CESM). There are strong spatial variations in the export efficiency as simulated by the CESM, which are strongly correlated with new nutrient inputs to the euphotic zone and their impacts on phytoplankton community structure. I will compare CESM simulations that include dynamic, variable export ratios driven by the phytoplankton community structure, with simulations that impose a near-constant export ratio to examine the effects of export efficiency on nutrient and surface chlorophyll distributions. The model predicted export ratios will also be compared with recent satellite-based estimates.

Aqueous turbulence structure immediately adjacent to the air - water interface and interfacial gas exchange

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Binbin

Air-sea interaction and the interfacial exchange of gas across the air-water interface are of great importance in coupled atmospheric-oceanic environmental systems. Aqueous turbulence structure immediately adjacent to the air-water interface is the combined result of wind, surface waves, currents and other environmental forces and plays a key role in energy budgets, gas fluxes and hence the global climate system. However, the quantification of turbulence structure sufficiently close to the air-water interface is extremely difficult. The physical relationship between interfacial gas exchange and near surface turbulence remains insufficiently investigated. This dissertation aims to measure turbulence in situ in a complex environmental forcing system on Lake Michigan and to reveal the relationship between turbulent statistics and the CO2 flux across the air-water interface. The major objective of this dissertation is to investigate the physical control of the interfacial gas exchange and to provide a universal parameterization of gas transfer velocity from environmental factors, as well as to propose a mechanistic model for the global CO2 flux that can be applied in three dimensional climate-ocean models. Firstly, this dissertation presents an advanced measurement instrument, an in situ free floating Particle Image Velocimetry (FPIV) system, designed and developed to investigate the small scale turbulence structure immediately below the air-water interface. Description of hardware components, design of the system, measurement theory, data analysis procedure and estimation of measurement error were provided. Secondly, with the FPIV system, statistics of small scale turbulence immediately below the air-water interface were investigated under a variety of environmental conditions. One dimensional wave-number spectrum and structure function sufficiently close to the water surface were examined. The vertical profiles of turbulent dissipation rate were intensively studied. Comparison between the turbulence structures measured during the wind wave initiation period and those obtained during the growing period was presented. Significant wave effects on near surface turbulence were found. A universal scaling law was proposed to parameterize turbulent dissipation rate immediately below the air-water interface with friction velocity, significant wave height and wave age. Finally, the gas transfer velocity was measured with a floating chamber (FC) system, along with simultaneously FPIV measurements. Turbulent dissipation rate both at the interface and at a short distance away from the interface (~ 10 cm) were analyzed and used to examine the small scale eddy model. The model coefficient was found to be dependent on the level of turbulence, instead of being a constant. An empirical relationship between the model coefficient and turbulent dissipation rate was provided, which improved the accuracy of the gas transfer velocity estimation by more than 100% for data acquired. Other data from the literature also supported this empirical relation. Furthermore, the relationship between model coefficient and turbulent Reynolds number was also investigated. In addition to physical control of gas exchange, the disturbance on near surface hydrodynamics by the FC was also discussed. Turbulent dissipation rates are enhanced at the short distance away from the interface, while the surface dissipation rates do not change significantly.

A Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the Physical-Chemical Properties of Calicivirus Capsid Protein Adsorption to Fomites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peeler, David; Matysiak, Silvina

2013-03-01

Any inanimate object with an exposed surface bears the possibility of hosting a virus and may therefore be labeled a fomite. This research hopes to distinguish which chemical-physical differences in fomite surface and virus capsid protein characteristics cause variations in virus adsorption through an alignment of in silico molecular dynamics simulations with in vitro measurements. The impact of surface chemistry on the adsorption of the human norovirus (HNV)-surrogate calicivirus capsid protein 2MS2 has been simulated for monomer and trimer structures and is reported in terms of protein-self assembled monolayer (SAM) binding free energy. The coarse-grained MARTINI forcefield was used to maximize spatial and temporal resolution while minimizing computational load. Future work will investigate the FCVF5 and SMSVS4 calicivirus trimers and will extend beyond hydrophobic and hydrophilic SAM surface chemistry to charged SAM surfaces in varying ionic concentrations. These results will be confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance experiments conducted by Dr. Wigginton at the University of Michigan. This should provide a novel method for predicting the transferability of viruses that cannot be studied in vitro such as dangerous foodborne and nosocomially-acquired viruses like HNV.

Quantitative ESD Guidelines for Charged Spacecraft Derived from the Physics of Discharges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frederickson, A. R.

1992-01-01

Quantitative guidelines are proposed for Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) pulse shape on charged spacecraft. The guidelines are based on existing ground test data, and on a physical description of the pulsed discharge process. The guidelines are designed to predict pulse shape for surface charging and internal charging on a wide variety of spacecraft structures. The pulses depend on the area of the sample, its capacitance to ground, and the strength of the electric field in the vacuum adjacent to the charged surface. By knowing the pulse shape, current vs. time, one can determine if nearby circuits are threatened by the pulse. The quantitative guidelines might be used to estimate the level of threat to an existing spacecraft, or to redesign a spacecraft to reduce its pulses to a known safe level. The experiments which provide the data and the physics that allow one to interpret the data will be discussed, culminating in examples of how to predict pulse shape/size. This method has been used, but not confirmed, on several spacecraft.

Evolving application of biomimetic nanostructured hydroxyapatite

PubMed Central

Roveri, Norberto; Iafisco, Michele

2010-01-01

By mimicking Nature, we can design and synthesize inorganic smart materials that are reactive to biological tissues. These smart materials can be utilized to design innovative third-generation biomaterials, which are able to not only optimize their interaction with biological tissues and environment, but also mimic biogenic materials in their functionalities. The biomedical applications involve increasing the biomimetic levels from chemical composition, structural organization, morphology, mechanical behavior, nanostructure, and bulk and surface chemical–physical properties until the surface becomes bioreactive and stimulates cellular materials. The chemical–physical characteristics of biogenic hydroxyapatites from bone and tooth have been described, in order to point out the elective sides, which are important to reproduce the design of a new biomimetic synthetic hydroxyapatite. This review outlines the evolving applications of biomimetic synthetic calcium phosphates, details the main characteristics of bone and tooth, where the calcium phosphates are present, and discusses the chemical–physical characteristics of biomimetic calcium phosphates, methods of synthesizing them, and some of their biomedical applications. PMID:24198477

Hydrophilic directional slippery rough surfaces for water harvesting

PubMed Central

Sun, Nan; Nielsen, Steven O.; Wang, Jing

2018-01-01

Multifunctional surfaces that are favorable for both droplet nucleation and removal are highly desirable for water harvesting applications but are rare. Inspired by the unique functions of pitcher plants and rice leaves, we present a hydrophilic directional slippery rough surface (SRS) that is capable of rapidly nucleating and removing water droplets. Our surfaces consist of nanotextured directional microgrooves in which the nanotextures alone are infused with hydrophilic liquid lubricant. We have shown through molecular dynamics simulations that the physical origin of the efficient droplet nucleation is attributed to the hydrophilic surface functional groups, whereas the rapid droplet removal is due to the significantly reduced droplet pinning of the directional surface structures and slippery interface. We have further demonstrated that the SRS, owing to its large surface area, hydrophilic slippery interface, and directional liquid repellency, outperforms conventional liquid-repellent surfaces in water harvesting applications. PMID:29670942

First-principles calculations of different (001) surface terminations of three cubic perovskites CsCaBr3, CsGeBr3, and CsSnBr3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, C.-G.; Krasnenko, V.; Brik, M. G.

2018-04-01

Three cubic bromide perovskites CsMBr3 (M = Ca, Ge, Sn) with two different surface terminations (CsBr and MBr2) were studied in this work using the first principles method. A wide range of physical properties, including electronic band structures, atom-projected density of states for each layer, surface relaxation effects, and surface energy, were evaluated for each considered surface termination. Differences between the properties of the bulk and slab models were highlighted. It was shown that surfaces with the CsBr termination have a lower energy and a more pronounced surface rumpling than those with the MBr2 termination. As a main result of this study, it was demonstrated that the CsBr-terminated surfaces appear to be energetically more stable in each of these three considered perovskites.

Application of atomic force microscopy to microbial surfaces: from reconstituted cell surface layers to living cells.

PubMed

Dufrêne, Y F

2001-02-01

The application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe the ultrastructure and physical properties of microbial cell surfaces is reviewed. The unique capabilities of AFM can be summarized as follows: imaging surface topography with (sub)nanometer lateral resolution; examining biological specimens under physiological conditions; measuring local properties and interaction forces. AFM is being used increasingly for: (i) visualizing the surface ultrastructure of microbial cell surface layers, including bacterial S-layers, purple membranes, porin OmpF crystals and fungal rodlet layers; (ii) monitoring conformational changes of individual membrane proteins; (iii) examining the morphology of bacterial biofilms, (iv) revealing the nanoscale structure of living microbial cells, including fungi, yeasts and bacteria, (v) mapping interaction forces at microbial surfaces, such as van der Waals and electrostatic forces, solvation forces, and steric/bridging forces; and (vi) probing the local mechanical properties of cell surface layers and of single cells.

A first principles study on the electronic origins of silver segregation at the Ag-Au (111) surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoppe, Sandra; Müller, Stefan

2017-12-01

The special electronic structure of gold gives rise to many interesting phenomena, such as its color. The surface segregation of the silver-gold system has been the subject of numerous experimental and theoretical studies, yielding conflicting results ranging from strong Ag surface enrichment to Au surface segregation. Via a combined approach of density functional theory (DFT) and statistical physics, we have analyzed the segregation at the Ag-Au (111) surface with different Ag bulk concentrations. Interestingly, we observe a moderate Au surface segregation, which is due to a charge transfer from the less electronegative Ag to Au. Canonical Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the calculated concentration profile with a Au-enriched surface layer remains stable up to higher temperatures. However, the presence of adsorbed oxygen reverses the segregation behavior and leads to strong Ag enrichment of the surface layer.

Large heterogeneities in comet 67P as revealed by active pits from sinkhole collapse.

PubMed

Vincent, Jean-Baptiste; Bodewits, Dennis; Besse, Sébastien; Sierks, Holger; Barbieri, Cesare; Lamy, Philippe; Rodrigo, Rafael; Koschny, Detlef; Rickman, Hans; Keller, Horst Uwe; Agarwal, Jessica; A'Hearn, Michael F; Auger, Anne-Thérèse; Barucci, M Antonella; Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Bertini, Ivano; Capanna, Claire; Cremonese, Gabriele; Da Deppo, Vania; Davidsson, Björn; Debei, Stefano; De Cecco, Mariolino; El-Maarry, Mohamed Ramy; Ferri, Francesca; Fornasier, Sonia; Fulle, Marco; Gaskell, Robert; Giacomini, Lorenza; Groussin, Olivier; Guilbert-Lepoutre, Aurélie; Gutierrez-Marques, P; Gutiérrez, Pedro J; Güttler, Carsten; Hoekzema, Nick; Höfner, Sebastian; Hviid, Stubbe F; Ip, Wing-Huen; Jorda, Laurent; Knollenberg, Jörg; Kovacs, Gabor; Kramm, Rainer; Kührt, Ekkehard; Küppers, Michael; La Forgia, Fiorangela; Lara, Luisa M; Lazzarin, Monica; Lee, Vicky; Leyrat, Cédric; Lin, Zhong-Yi; Lopez Moreno, Josè J; Lowry, Stephen; Magrin, Sara; Maquet, Lucie; Marchi, Simone; Marzari, Francesco; Massironi, Matteo; Michalik, Harald; Moissl, Richard; Mottola, Stefano; Naletto, Giampiero; Oklay, Nilda; Pajola, Maurizio; Preusker, Frank; Scholten, Frank; Thomas, Nicolas; Toth, Imre; Tubiana, Cecilia

2015-07-02

Pits have been observed on many cometary nuclei mapped by spacecraft. It has been argued that cometary pits are a signature of endogenic activity, rather than impact craters such as those on planetary and asteroid surfaces. Impact experiments and models cannot reproduce the shapes of most of the observed cometary pits, and the predicted collision rates imply that few of the pits are related to impacts. Alternative mechanisms like explosive activity have been suggested, but the driving process remains unknown. Here we report that pits on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko are active, and probably created by a sinkhole process, possibly accompanied by outbursts. We argue that after formation, pits expand slowly in diameter, owing to sublimation-driven retreat of the walls. Therefore, pits characterize how eroded the surface is: a fresh cometary surface will have a ragged structure with many pits, while an evolved surface will look smoother. The size and spatial distribution of pits imply that large heterogeneities exist in the physical, structural or compositional properties of the first few hundred metres below the current nucleus surface.

2 + 1 dimensional de Sitter universe emerging from the gauge structure of a nonlinear quantum system.

PubMed

Kam, Chon-Fai; Liu, Ren-Bao

2017-08-29

Berry phases and gauge structures are fundamental quantum phenomena. In linear quantum mechanics the gauge field in parameter space presents monopole singularities where the energy levels become degenerate. In nonlinear quantum mechanics, which is an effective theory of interacting quantum systems, there can be phase transitions and hence critical surfaces in the parameter space. We find that these critical surfaces result in a new type of gauge field singularity, namely, a conic singularity that resembles the big bang of a 2 + 1 dimensional de Sitter universe, with the fundamental frequency of Bogoliubov excitations acting as the cosmic scale, and mode softening at the critical surface, where the fundamental frequency vanishes, causing a causal singularity. Such conic singularity may be observed in various systems such as Bose-Einstein condensates and molecular magnets. This finding offers a new approach to quantum simulation of fundamental physics.

Effects of (Oxy-)Fluorination on Various High-Performance Yarns.

PubMed

Kruppke, Iris; Bartusch, Matthias; Hickmann, Rico; Hund, Rolf-Dieter; Cherif, Chokri

2016-08-26

In this work, typical high-performance yarns are oxy-fluorinated, such as carbon fibers, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, poly(p-phenylene sulfide) and poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide). The focus is on the property changes of the fiber surface, especially the wetting behavior, structure and chemical composition. Therefore, contact angle, XPS and tensile strength measurements are performed on treated and untreated fibers, while SEM is utilized to evaluate the surface structure. Different results for the fiber materials are observed. While polyethylene exhibits a relevant impact on both surface and bulk properties, polyphenylene terephthalamide and polyphenylene sulfide are only affected slightly by (oxy-)fluorination. The wetting of carbon fiber needs higher treatment intensities, but in contrast to the organic fibers, even its textile-physical properties are enhanced by the treatment. Based on these findings, the capability of (oxy-)fluorination to improve the adhesion of textiles in fiber-reinforced composite materials can be derived.

Imaging and Laser Spectroscopy Investigation of Insect Wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiver, Tegan; Lawhead, Carlos; Anderson, Josiah; Cooper, Nathan; Ujj, Laszlo; Pall Life Sciences Collaboration

2014-03-01

Measuring the surface morphology and chemical composition of insect wings is important to understand the extreme mechanical properties and the biophysical functionalities of the wings. We have measured the image of the membrane of the cicada (genus Tibicen) wing with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results confirm the existing periodic structure of the wing measured previously. The SEM imaging can be used to measure the surface morphology of any insect species wings. The physical surface structure of the cicada wing is an example of a new class of biomaterials that can kill bacteria on contact. In order to identify the chemical composition of the wing, we have measured the vibrational spectra of the wing's membrane (Raman and CARS). The measured spectra are consistent with the original assumption that the wing membrane is composed of protein, wax, and chitin. The results of these studies can be used to make artificial materials in the future.

Ideal Weyl points and helicoid surface states in artificial photonic crystal structures.

PubMed

Yang, Biao; Guo, Qinghua; Tremain, Ben; Liu, Rongjuan; Barr, Lauren E; Yan, Qinghui; Gao, Wenlong; Liu, Hongchao; Xiang, Yuanjiang; Chen, Jing; Fang, Chen; Hibbins, Alastair; Lu, Ling; Zhang, Shuang

2018-03-02

Weyl points are the crossings of linearly dispersing energy bands of three-dimensional crystals, providing the opportunity to explore a variety of intriguing phenomena such as topologically protected surface states and chiral anomalies. However, the lack of an ideal Weyl system in which the Weyl points all exist at the same energy and are separated from any other bands poses a serious limitation to the further development of Weyl physics and potential applications. By experimentally characterizing a microwave photonic crystal of saddle-shaped metallic coils, we observed ideal Weyl points that are related to each other through symmetry operations. Topological surface states exhibiting helicoidal structure have also been demonstrated. Our system provides a photonic platform for exploring ideal Weyl systems and developing possible topological devices. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Observations of NEA 1998 QE2 with the SMA and VLA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, Bryan J.; Gurwell, M. A.; Moullet, A.

2013-10-01

Long wavelength (submm to cm) observations of NEAs are an important tool in their physical characterization. Such observations offer a unique probe into the subsurfaces of these bodies, to depths of 10's of cm, and reveal the surface and near-surface temperatures. These temperatures are critical in constraining the magnitude of the Yarkovsky effect, which is important for these small bodies in the inner solar system as it forces orbital drift [1]. Such observations also probe the physical state of the material in the upper layer of the NEAs; notably the thermal inertia. This is a strong indicator of bulk surface properties and can be utilized to distinguish rocky from porous surfaces. Very low thermal inertia may also indicate "rubble pile" type internal structure in NEAs [2]. Asteroid 1998 QE2 approached to within 0.04 AU on June 1, 2013; its closest approach in two centuries. With a diameter of ~2.5 km [3], it was a relatively bright target for radio wavelength observations, even given the weakness of the emission at those wavelengths (10's of microJy in the cm to 100's of milliJy in the submm). We used the SubMillimeter Array (SMA) and Very Large Array (VLA) to observe the asteroid from wavelengths of 1 mm to 7 cm. We will present the observed brightness temperatures as a function of wavelength, and implications for temperature and physical state of the surface and near-surface. [1] Delbo et al. 2007, Icarus, 190, 236. [2] Muller et al. 2007, IAUS 236, 261. [3] Trilling et al. 2010, AJ, 140, 770.

Modification of the surfaces of medical devices to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation.

PubMed

Desrousseaux, C; Sautou, V; Descamps, S; Traoré, O

2013-10-01

The development of devices with surfaces that have an effect against microbial adhesion or viability is a promising approach to the prevention of device-related infections. To review the strategies used to design devices with surfaces able to limit microbial adhesion and/or growth. A PubMed search of the published literature. One strategy is to design medical devices with a biocidal agent. Biocides can be incorporated into the materials or coated or covalently bonded, resulting either in release of the biocide or in contact killing without release of the biocide. The use of biocides in medical devices is debated because of the risk of bacterial resistance and potential toxicity. Another strategy is to modify the chemical or physical surface properties of the materials to prevent microbial adhesion, a complex phenomenon that also depends directly on microbial biological structure and the environment. Anti-adhesive chemical surface modifications mostly target the hydrophobicity features of the materials. Topographical modifications are focused on roughness and nanostructures, whose size and spatial organization are controlled. The most effective physical parameters to reduce bacterial adhesion remain to be determined and could depend on shape and other bacterial characteristics. A prevention strategy based on reducing microbial attachment rather than on releasing a biocide is promising. Evidence of the clinical efficacy of these surface-modified devices is lacking. Additional studies are needed to determine which physical features have the greatest potential for reducing adhesion and to assess the usefulness of antimicrobial coatings other than antibiotics. Copyright © 2013 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Nanophase Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhong Lin

2000-01-01

Engineering of nanophase materials and devices is of vital interest in electronics, semiconductors and optics, catalysis, ceramics and magnetism. Research associated with nanoparticles has widely spread and diffused into every field of scientific research, forming a trend of nanocrystal engineered materials. The unique properties of nanophase materials are entirely determined by their atomic scale structures, particularly the structures of interfaces and surfaces. Development of nanotechnology involves several steps, of which characterization of nanoparticles is indespensable to understand the behavior and properties of nanoparticles, aiming at implementing nanotechnolgy, controlling their behavior and designing new nanomaterials systems with super performance. The book will focus on structural and property characterization of nanocrystals and their assemblies, with an emphasis on basic physical approach, detailed techniques, data interpretation and applications. Intended readers of this comprehensive reference work are advanced graduate students and researchers in the field, who are specialized in materials chemistry, materials physics and materials science.

Properties of carbonate rocks related to SO2 reactivity

USGS Publications Warehouse

Borgwardt, R.H.; Harvey, R.D.

1972-01-01

Petrographic examination and grain size-distribution measurements were made on 11 specimens representing a broad spectrum of limestones and dolomites. The SO2 reaction kinetics of calcines prepared from each rock type were determined at 980??C. Stones of various geological types yield calcines of distinctly different physical structures that show correspondingly large differences in both rate of reaction and capacity for SO2 sorption. Pore size and particle size together determine the extent to which the interiors of individual particles react. Particles smaller than 0.01 cm with pores larger than 0.1 ?? react throughout their internal pore structure at a rate directly proportional to the BET surface. The rate decays exponentially as sulfation proceeds until the pores are filled with reaction product. The ultimate capacity of small particles is determined by the pore volume available for product accumulation, which is generally equivalent to about 50% conversion of the CaO in limestones. Variations in effectiveness of carbonate rocks for flue gas desulfurization are explained by the physical properties of their calcines, which are related to the crystal structure of the original rock. The high reaction rates achieved in the limestone injection process apparently result from the large surface area existing for short periods immediately following the dissociation of CaCO3.

Finite Element Modeling of the Thermographic Inspection for Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bucinell, Ronald B.

1996-01-01

The performance of composite materials is dependent on the constituent materials selected, material structural geometry, and the fabrication process. Flaws can form in composite materials as a result of the fabrication process, handling in the manufacturing environment, and exposure in the service environment to anomalous activity. Often these flaws show no indication on the surface of the material while having the potential of substantially degrading the integrity of the composite structure. For this reason it is important to have available inspection techniques that can reliably detect sub-surface defects such as inter-ply disbonds, inter-ply cracks, porosity, and density changes caused by variations in fiber volume content. Many non-destructive evaluation techniques (NDE) are capable of detecting sub-surface flaws in composite materials. These include shearography, video image correlation, ultrasonic, acoustic emissions, and X-ray. The difficulty with most of these techniques is that they are time consuming and often difficult to apply to full scale structures. An NDE technique that appears to have the capability to quickly and easily detect flaws in composite structure is thermography. This technique uses heat to detect flaws. Heat is applied to the surface of a structure with the use of a heat lamp or heat gun. A thermographic camera is then pointed at the surface and records the surface temperature as the composite structure cools. Flaws in the material will cause the thermal-mechanical material response to change. Thus, the surface over an area where a flaw is present will cool differently than regions where flaws do not exist. This paper discusses the effort made to thermo-mechanically model the thermography process. First the material properties and physical parameters used in the model will be explained. This will be followed by a detailed discussion of the finite element model used. Finally, the result of the model will be summarized along with recommendations for future work.

Plasmon Resonance Methods in GPCR Signaling and Other Membrane Events

PubMed Central

Alves, I.D.; Park, C.K.; Hruby, V.J.

2005-01-01

The existence of surface guided electromagnetic waves has been theoretically predicted from Maxwell’s equations and investigated during the first decades of the 20th century. However, it is only since the late 1960’s that they have attracted the interest of surface physicists and earned the moniker of “surface plasmon”. With the advent of commercially available instruments and well established theories, the technique has been used to study a wide variety of biochemical and biotechnological phenomena. Spectral response of the resonance condition serves as a sensitive indicator of the optical properties of thin films immobilized within a wavelength of the surface. This enhanced surface sensitivity has provided a boon to the surface sciences, and fosters collaboration between surface chemistry, physics and the ongoing biological and biotechnological revolution. Since then, techniques based on surface plasmons such as Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), SPR Imaging, Plasmon Waveguide Resonance (PWR) and others, have been increasingly used to determine the affinity and kinetics of a wide variety of real time molecular interactions such as protein-protein, lipid-protein and ligand-protein, without the need for a molecular tag or label. The physical-chemical methodologies used to immobilize membranes at the surface of these optical devices are reviewed, pointing out advantages and limitations of each method. The paper serves to summarize both historical and more recent developments of these technologies for investigating structure-function aspects of these molecular interactions, and regulation of specific events in signal transduction by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). PMID:16101432

Characterization of Structural and Pigmentary Colors in Common Emigrant (Catopsilia Pomona) Butterfly

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

Ghate, Ekata; Kulkarni, G. R.; Bhoraskar, S. V.

2011-10-20

Study of structural colors in case of insects and butterflies is important for their biomimic and biophotonics applications. Structural color is the color which is produced by physical structures and their interaction with light while pigmentary color is produced by absorption of light by pigments. Common Emigrant butterfly is widely distributed in India. It is of moderate size with wing span of about 60-80 mm. The wings are broadly white with yellow or sulphur yellow coloration at places as well as few dark black patches. It belongs to family Pieridae. A study of structural color in case of Common Emigrantmore » butterfly has been carried out in the present work. The characterization of wing color was performed using absorption spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopic study of the wings of Common Emigrant butterfly showed that three different types of scales are present on the wing surface dorsally. Diffracting structures are present in certain parts of the surfaces of the various scales. Bead like structures are embedded in the intricate structures of the scales. Absorption spectra revealed that a strong absorption peak is seen in the UV-range. Crystalline structure of beads was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis.« less

Adhesion force interactions between cyclopentane hydrate and physically and chemically modified surfaces.

PubMed

Aman, Zachary M; Sloan, E Dendy; Sum, Amadeu K; Koh, Carolyn A

2014-12-07

Interfacial interactions between liquid-solid and solid-solid phases/surfaces are of fundamental importance to the formation of hydrate deposits in oil and gas pipelines. This work establishes the effect of five categories of physical and chemical modification to steel on clathrate hydrate adhesive force: oleamide, graphite, citric acid ester, nonanedithiol, and Rain-X anti-wetting agent. Hydrate adhesive forces were measured using a micromechanical force apparatus, under both dry and water-wet surface conditions. The results show that the graphite coating reduced hydrate-steel adhesion force by 79%, due to an increase in the water wetting angle from 42 ± 8° to 154 ± 7°. Two chemical surface coatings (nonanedithiol and the citric acid ester) induced rapid hydrate growth in the hydrate particles; nonanedithiol increased hydrate adhesive force by 49% from the baseline, while the citric acid ester coating reduced hydrate adhesion force by 98%. This result suggests that crystal growth may enable a strong adhesive pathway between hydrate and other crystalline structures, however this effect may be negated in cases where water-hydrocarbon interfacial tension is minimised. When a liquid water droplet was placed on the modified steel surfaces, the graphite and citric acid ester became less effective at reducing adhesive force. In pipelines containing a free water phase wetting the steel surface, chemical or physical surface modifications alone may be insufficient to eliminate hydrate deposition risk. In further tests, the citric acid ester reduced hydrate cohesive forces by 50%, suggesting mild activity as a hybrid anti-agglomerant suppressing both hydrate deposition and particle agglomeration. These results demonstrate a new capability to develop polyfunctional surfactants, which simultaneously limit the capability for hydrate particles to aggregate and deposit on the pipeline wall.

Thermal structure and cooling of neutron stars with magnetized envelopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potekhin, A. Y.; Yakovlev, D. G.

2001-07-01

The thermal structure of neutron stars with magnetized envelopes is studied using modern physics input. The relation between the internal (Tint) and local surface temperatures is calculated and fitted by analytic expressions for magnetic field strengths B from 0 to 1016 G and arbitrary inclination of the field lines to the surface. The luminosity of a neutron star with dipole magnetic field is calculated and fitted as a function of B, Tint, stellar mass and radius. In addition, we simulate cooling of neutron stars with magnetized envelopes. In particular, we analyse ultramagnetized envelopes of magnetars and also the effects of the magnetic field of the Vela pulsar on the determination of critical temperatures of neutron and proton superfluids in its core.

Three-dimensional spin mapping of antiferromagnetic nanopyramids having spatially alternating surface anisotropy at room temperature.

PubMed

Wang, Kangkang; Smith, Arthur R

2012-11-14

Antiferromagnets play a key role in modern spintronic devices owing to their ability to modify the switching behavior of adjacent ferromagnets via the exchange bias effect. Consequently, detailed measurements of the spin structure at antiferromagnetic interfaces and surfaces are highly desirable, not only for advancing technologies but also for enabling new insights into the underlying physics. Here using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy at room-temperature, we reveal in three-dimensions an orthogonal spin structure on antiferromagnetic compound nanopyramids. Contrary to expected uniaxial anisotropy based on bulk properties, the atomic terraces are found to have alternating in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropies. The observed layer-wise alternation in anisotropy could have strong influences on future nanoscale spintronic applications.

Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Interaction with Soft Materials as Fundamental Processes in Plasma Medicine.

PubMed

Takenaka, Kosuke; Miyazaki, Atsushi; Uchida, Giichiro; Setsuhara, Yuichi

2015-03-01

Molecular-structure variation of organic materials irradiated with atmospheric pressure He plasma jet have been investigated. Optical emission spectrum in the atmospheric-pressure He plasma jet has been measured. The spectrum shows considerable emissions of He lines, and the emission of O and N radicals attributed to air. Variation in molecular structure of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film surface irradiated with the atmospheric-pressure He plasma jet has been observed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). These results via XPS and FT-IR indicate that the PET surface irradiated with the atmospheric-pressure He plasma jet was oxidized by chemical and/or physical effect due to irradiation of active species.

Adsorption and Electronic Structure of Sr and Ag Atoms on Graphite Surfaces: a First-Principles Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Xiao-Feng; Fang, Chao; Li, Xin; Lai, Wen-Sheng; Sun, Li-Feng; Liang, Tong-Xiang

2013-06-01

The adsorption behaviors of radioactive strontium and silver nuclides on the graphite surface in a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor are studied by first-principles theory using generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local density approximation (LDA) pseudo-potentials. It turns out that Sr prefers to be absorbed at the hollow of the carbon hexagonal cell by 0.54 eV (GGA), while Ag likes to sit right above the carbon atom with an adsorption energy of almost zero (GGA) and 0.45 eV (LDA). Electronic structure analysis reveals that Sr donates its partial electrons of the 4p and 5s states to the graphite substrate, while Ag on graphite is a physical adsorption without any electron transfer.

Estimation of the solubility parameters of model plant surfaces and agrochemicals: a valuable tool for understanding plant surface interactions

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Most aerial plant parts are covered with a hydrophobic lipid-rich cuticle, which is the interface between the plant organs and the surrounding environment. Plant surfaces may have a high degree of hydrophobicity because of the combined effects of surface chemistry and roughness. The physical and chemical complexity of the plant cuticle limits the development of models that explain its internal structure and interactions with surface-applied agrochemicals. In this article we introduce a thermodynamic method for estimating the solubilities of model plant surface constituents and relating them to the effects of agrochemicals. Results Following the van Krevelen and Hoftyzer method, we calculated the solubility parameters of three model plant species and eight compounds that differ in hydrophobicity and polarity. In addition, intact tissues were examined by scanning electron microscopy and the surface free energy, polarity, solubility parameter and work of adhesion of each were calculated from contact angle measurements of three liquids with different polarities. By comparing the affinities between plant surface constituents and agrochemicals derived from (a) theoretical calculations and (b) contact angle measurements we were able to distinguish the physical effect of surface roughness from the effect of the chemical nature of the epicuticular waxes. A solubility parameter model for plant surfaces is proposed on the basis of an increasing gradient from the cuticular surface towards the underlying cell wall. Conclusions The procedure enabled us to predict the interactions among agrochemicals, plant surfaces, and cuticular and cell wall components, and promises to be a useful tool for improving our understanding of biological surface interactions. PMID:23151272

Estimation of the solubility parameters of model plant surfaces and agrochemicals: a valuable tool for understanding plant surface interactions.

PubMed

Khayet, Mohamed; Fernández, Victoria

2012-11-14

Most aerial plant parts are covered with a hydrophobic lipid-rich cuticle, which is the interface between the plant organs and the surrounding environment. Plant surfaces may have a high degree of hydrophobicity because of the combined effects of surface chemistry and roughness. The physical and chemical complexity of the plant cuticle limits the development of models that explain its internal structure and interactions with surface-applied agrochemicals. In this article we introduce a thermodynamic method for estimating the solubilities of model plant surface constituents and relating them to the effects of agrochemicals. Following the van Krevelen and Hoftyzer method, we calculated the solubility parameters of three model plant species and eight compounds that differ in hydrophobicity and polarity. In addition, intact tissues were examined by scanning electron microscopy and the surface free energy, polarity, solubility parameter and work of adhesion of each were calculated from contact angle measurements of three liquids with different polarities. By comparing the affinities between plant surface constituents and agrochemicals derived from (a) theoretical calculations and (b) contact angle measurements we were able to distinguish the physical effect of surface roughness from the effect of the chemical nature of the epicuticular waxes. A solubility parameter model for plant surfaces is proposed on the basis of an increasing gradient from the cuticular surface towards the underlying cell wall. The procedure enabled us to predict the interactions among agrochemicals, plant surfaces, and cuticular and cell wall components, and promises to be a useful tool for improving our understanding of biological surface interactions.

Infrared thermography applied to the study of heated and solar pavement: from numerical modeling to small scale laboratory experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Touz, N.; Toullier, T.; Dumoulin, J.

2017-05-01

The present study addresses the thermal behaviour of a modified pavement structure to prevent icing at its surface in adverse winter time conditions or overheating in hot summer conditions. First a multi-physic model based on infinite elements method was built to predict the evolution of the surface temperature. In a second time, laboratory experiments on small specimen were carried out and the surface temperature was monitored by infrared thermography. Results obtained are analyzed and performances of the numerical model for real scale outdoor application are discussed. Finally conclusion and perspectives are proposed.

Minimum Surface-Effect Microgripper Design for Force-Reflective Telemanipulation of a Microscopic Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldfarb, Michael; Celanovic, Nikola

1996-01-01

This paper describes the fundamental physical motivations for minimum surface effect design, and presents a microgripper that incorporates a piezoelectric ceramic actuator and a flexure-based structure and transmission. The microgripper serves effectively as a one degree-of-freedom prototype of minimum surface effect micromanipulator design. Data is presented that characterizes the microgripper performance under both pure position and pure force control, followed by a discussion of the attributes and limitations of flexure-based design. The microgripper is interfaced with a force-reflective macrogripper, and the pair controlled with a hybrid position/force scheme. Data is presented that illustrates the effective operation of the telerobotic pair.

Final Report: Mechanisms of sputter ripple formation: coupling among energetic ions, surface kinetics, stress and composition

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

Chason, Eric; Shenoy, Vivek

Self-organized pattern formation enables the creation of nanoscale surface structures over large areas based on fundamental physical processes rather than an applied template. Low energy ion bombardment is one such method that induces the spontaneous formation of a wide variety of interesting morphological features (e.g., sputter ripples and/or quantum dots). This program focused on the processes controlling sputter ripple formation and the kinetics controlling the evolution of surfaces and nanostructures in high flux environments. This was done by using systematic, quantitative experiments to measure ripple formation under a variety of processing conditions coupled with modeling to interpret the results.

Surface Orientation Affects the Direction of Cone Growth by Leptolyngbya sp. Strain C1, a Likely Architect of Coniform Structures Octopus Spring (Yellowstone National Park)

PubMed Central

Reyes, Kristina; Gonzalez, Nicolas I.; Stewart, Joshua; Ospino, Frank; Nguyen, Dickie; Cho, David T.; Ghahremani, Nahal; Spear, John R.

2013-01-01

Laminated, microbially produced stromatolites within the rock record provide some of the earliest evidence for life on Earth. The chemical, physical, and biological factors that lead to the initiation of these organosedimentary structures and shape their morphology are unclear. Modern coniform structures with morphological features similar to stromatolites are found on the surface of cyanobacterial/microbial mats. They display a vertical element of growth, can have lamination, can be lithified, and observably grow with time. To begin to understand the microbial processes and interactions required for cone formation, we determined the phylogenetic composition of the microbial community of a coniform structure from a cyanobacterial mat at Octopus Spring, Yellowstone National Park, and reconstituted coniform structures in vitro. The 16S rRNA clone library from the coniform structure was dominated by Leptolyngbya sp. Other cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria were present in much lower abundance. The same Leptolyngbya sp. identified in the clone library was also enriched in the laboratory and could produce cones in vitro. When coniform structures were cultivated in the laboratory, the initial incubation conditions were found to influence coniform morphology. In addition, both the angle of illumination and the orientation of the surface affected the angle of cone formation demonstrating how external factors can influence coniform, and likely, stromatolite morphology. PMID:23241986

Physical properties of the natural satellites. [excluding the Moon and including Saturnian Rings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morrison, D.; Cruikshank, D. P.

1974-01-01

Review of the physical nature of all of the known satellites except the moon. Following a summary of the basic data regarding the size, mass, and density of satellite systems and a description of models that have been proposed for the composition and structure of these systems, a detailed analysis is made of the satellites of Mars, the Galilean satellites, Titan, the other satellites of Saturn, the rings of Saturn, and the remaining objects, with emphasis on studies of their surfaces by imaging, photometry, spectrophotometry, polarimetry, and radiometry.

Assessment of Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy Modes Inspecting Electron Confinement in Surface-Confined Supramolecular Networks

PubMed Central

Krenner, Wolfgang; Kühne, Dirk; Klappenberger, Florian; Barth, Johannes V.

2013-01-01

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) enables the local, energy-resolved investigation of a samples surface density of states (DOS) by measuring the differential conductance (dI/dV) being approximately proportional to the DOS. It is popular to examine the electronic structure of elementary samples by acquiring dI/dV maps under constant current conditions. Here we demonstrate the intricacy of STS mapping of samples exhibiting a strong corrugation originating from electronic density and local work function changes. The confinement of the Ag(111) surface state by a porous organic network is studied with maps obtained under constant-current (CC) as well as open-feedback-loop (OFL) conditions. We show how the CC maps deviate markedly from the physically more meaningful OFL maps. By applying a renormalization procedure to the OFL data we can mimic the spurious effects of the CC mode and thereby rationalize the physical effects evoking the artefacts in the CC maps. PMID:23503526

Structure of the Small Amplitude Motion on Transversely Sheared Mean Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldstein, Marvin E.; Afsar, Mohamed Z.; Leib, Stewart J.

2013-01-01

This paper considers the small amplitude unsteady motion of an inviscid non-heat conducting compressible fluid on a transversely sheared mean flow. It extends a previous result given in Goldstein (1978(b) and 1979(a)) which shows that the hydrodynamic component of the motion is determined by two arbitrary convected quantities in the absence of solid surfaces or other external sources. The result is important because it can be used to specify appropriate boundary conditions for unsteady surface interaction problems on transversely sheared mean flows in the same way that the vortical component of the Kovasznay (1953) decomposition is used to specify these conditions for surface interaction problems on uniform mean flows. But unlike the Kovasznay (1953) case the arbitrary convected quantities no longer bear a simple relation to the physical variables. One purpose of this paper is to derive a formula that relates these quantities to the (physically measurable) vorticity and pressure fluctuations in the flow.

Implications of Europa's broadband seismic response calculated from physically consistent models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manga, M.; Panning, M. P.; Lekic, V.; Cammarano, F.; Romanowicz, B. A.

2005-12-01

Measurements of the seismic response of Europa remotely from an orbiter or using a lander can greatly expand our knowledge of the internal structure and thermal evolution and therefore of the potential for life. We explore a range of reasonable physical models of Europan 1D structure to determine the types of seismic signals relevant for discriminating between the various models. We calculate a range of thermodynamically consistent models constrained by the mass and moment of inertia. We start with either pyrolitic or chondritic mantle composition, and use a range of thermal structures consistent with the surface temperature and the presence of a liquid water ocean. These range from hot, convective mantle models where internal heating from tidal dissipation is important at all depths to relatively cold mantle with much less dissipation. The core can be either pure solid iron or liquid with iron and sulfur at eutectic concentrations. These models are used to calculate free oscillation catalogs that define the broadband seismic response for periods less than 10 seconds to many 1000's of seconds. Surface waves with periods between 10 and 100 seconds, which may be measurable from orbit, can be used to discriminate between different thicknesses of the ice shell, an important result for estimates of the availability of liquid water for life as well as for any potential lander mission. Thin shells with thicknesses of 5 km or less produce very dispersive surface wave trains with large amplitudes of displacement up to a few cm at distances of 400 km for a reasonable M_W 5 event, while thicker ice shells have somewhat lower amplitude and more impulsive surface waves. The lower frequency oscillations allow determination of the deep structure, including core radius and light element content as well as the attenuation structure, which is important to understand the thermal evolution and current heat budget of the icy moon. The presence of a liquid ocean layer also allows for very long-period modes which may allow strong tidal coupling with Io which can be another important input for the heat budget.

Physical and Chemical Behaviors of HCl on Ice Surface: Insights from an XPS and NEXAFS Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, X.; Waldner, A.; Orlando, F.; Birrer, M.; Artiglia, L.; Ammann, M.; Bartels-Rausch, T.

2016-12-01

Ice and snow play active roles for the water cycle, the energy budget of the Earth, and environmental chemistry in the atmosphere and cryosphere. Trace gases can be taken up by ice, and physical and chemical fates of the impurities could modify surface properties significantly and consequently influence atmospheric chemistry and the climate system. However, the understanding of chemical behaviour of impurities on ice surface are very poor, which is largely limited by the difficulties to apply high sensitivity experimental approaches to ambient air conditions, e.g. studies of volatile surfaces, because of the strict requirements of vacuum experimental conditions. In this study, we employed synchrotron-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and partial electron yield Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) in a state-of-the-art near-ambient pressure photoelectron (NAPP) spectroscopy end station. The NAPP enables to utilize the surface sensitive experimental methods, XPS and NEXAFS, on volatile surfaces, i.e. ice at temperatures approaching 0°C. XPS and NEXAFS together provide unique information of hydrogen bonding network, dopants surface concentration, dopant depth profile, and acidic dissociation on the surfaces1. Taking the advantages of the highly sensitive techniques, the adsorption, dissociation and depth profile of Hydrogen Chloride (HCl) on ice were studied. In brief, two states of Chloride on ice surface are identified from the adsorbed HCl, and they are featured with different depth profiles along the ice layers. Combining our results and previously reported constants from literatures (e.g. HCl diffusion coefficients in ice)2, a layered kinetic model has been constructed to fit the depth profiles of two states of Chloride. On the other side, pure ice and doped ice are compared for their surface structure change caused by temperature and the presence of HCl, which shows how the strong acid affect the ice surface in turn. 1. Orlando, F., et al., Top Catal 2016, 59, 591-604. 2. Huthwelker, T.; Malmstrom, M. E.; Helleis, F.; Moortgat, G. K.; Peter, T., J Phys Chem A 2004, 108, 6302-6318.

Polar decomposition of the Mueller matrix: a polarimetric rule of thumb for square-profile surface structure recognition.

PubMed

Sanz, J M; Saiz, J M; González, F; Moreno, F

2011-07-20

In this research, the polar decomposition (PD) method is applied to experimental Mueller matrices (MMs) measured on two-dimensional microstructured surfaces. Polarization information is expressed through a set of parameters of easier physical interpretation. It is shown that evaluating the first derivative of the retardation parameter, δ, a clear indication of the presence of defects either built on or dug in the scattering flat surface (a silicon wafer in our case) can be obtained. Although the rule of thumb thus obtained is established through PD, it can be easily implemented on conventional surface polarimetry. These results constitute an example of the capabilities of the PD approach to MM analysis, and show a direct application in surface characterization. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Toxicity of Carbon Nanotubes and its Implications for Occupational and Environmental Health

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lam, Chiu-wing; James, John T.

2007-01-01

This viewgraph document reviews the sources of Nano particles in the environment, the structure and properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), the physical characteristics of CNT materials, pulmonary and other health concerns of exposure to CNTs. The toxicity of CNT in rodents is summarized and some natural, and man-made sources of CNTs are shown. CNTs are electrically and thermally conductive, fibrous, biopersistent and very complicated in structures. The factors affecting toxicity of CNTs are more than size and surface area.

Photo-control of nanointeractions.

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

Thomes, William Joseph, Jr.; Potter, Barrett George, Jr.; Jiang, Liu

2005-02-01

The manipulation of physical interactions between structural moieties on the molecular scale is a fundamental hurdle in the realization and operation of nanostructured materials and high surface area microsystem architectures. These include such nano-interaction-based phenomena as self-assembly, fluid flow, and interfacial tribology. The proposed research utilizes photosensitive molecular structures to tune such interactions reversibly. This new material strategy provides optical actuation of nano-interactions impacting behavior on both the nano- and macroscales and with potential to impact directed nanostructure formation, microfluidic rheology, and tribological control.

Factors determining electrostatic fields in molecular dynamics simulations of the Ras/effector interface.

PubMed

Ensign, Daniel L; Webb, Lauren J

2011-12-01

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we explore geometric and physical factors contributing to calculated electrostatic fields at the binding surface of the GTPase Ras with a spectroscopically labeled variant of a downstream effector, the Ras-binding domain of Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (RalGDS). A related system (differing by mutation of one amino acid) has been studied in our group using vibrational Stark effect spectroscopy, a technique sensitive to electrostatic fields. Electrostatic fields were computed using the AMBER 2003 force field and averaged over snapshots from molecular dynamics simulation. We investigate geometric factors by exploring how the orientation of the spectroscopic probe changes on Ras-effector binding. In addition, we explore the physical origin of electrostatic fields at our spectroscopic probe by comparing contributions to the field from discrete components of the system, such as explicit solvent, residues on the Ras surface, and residues on the RalGDS surface. These models support our experimental hypothesis that vibrational Stark shifts are caused by Ras binding to its effector and not the structural rearrangements of the effector surface or probe reorientation on Ras-effector binding, for at least some of our experimental probes. These calculations provide physical insight into the origin, magnitude, and importance of electrostatic fields in protein-protein interactions and suggest new experiments to probe the field's role in protein docking. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A 3-D Approach for Teaching and Learning about Surface Water Systems through Computational Thinking, Data Visualization and Physical Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caplan, B.; Morrison, A.; Moore, J. C.; Berkowitz, A. R.

2017-12-01

Understanding water is central to understanding environmental challenges. Scientists use `big data' and computational models to develop knowledge about the structure and function of complex systems, and to make predictions about changes in climate, weather, hydrology, and ecology. Large environmental systems-related data sets and simulation models are difficult for high school teachers and students to access and make sense of. Comp Hydro, a collaboration across four states and multiple school districts, integrates computational thinking and data-related science practices into water systems instruction to enhance development of scientific model-based reasoning, through curriculum, assessment and teacher professional development. Comp Hydro addresses the need for 1) teaching materials for using data and physical models of hydrological phenomena, 2) building teachers' and students' comfort or familiarity with data analysis and modeling, and 3) infusing the computational knowledge and practices necessary to model and visualize hydrologic processes into instruction. Comp Hydro teams in Baltimore, MD and Fort Collins, CO are integrating teaching about surface water systems into high school courses focusing on flooding (MD) and surface water reservoirs (CO). This interactive session will highlight the successes and challenges of our physical and simulation models in helping teachers and students develop proficiency with computational thinking about surface water. We also will share insights from comparing teacher-led vs. project-led development of curriculum and our simulations.

Nanoscale Structure of Organic Matter Could Explain Litter Decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papa, G.; Adani, F.

2014-12-01

According to the literature biochemical catalyses are limited in their actions because of the complex macroscopic and, above all, microscopic structures of cell wall that limit mass transportation (i.e. 3D structure). Our study on energy crop showed that plant digestibility increased by modifying the 3D cell wall microstructure. Results obtained were ascribed to the enlargement, such as effectively measured, of the pore spaces between cellulose fibrils. Therefore we postulated that 3 D structure of plant residues drives degradability in soil determining its recalcitrance in short time. Here we focused on the drivers of short-term decomposition of organic matter (plant residues) in soils evaluating the architecture of plant tissues, captured via measurements of the microporosiy of the cell walls. Decomposition rates of a wide variety of biomass types were studied conducting experiments in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. Different analytical approaches were applied in order to characterize biomass at both chemical and physical level. Combined statistical approaches were used to examine the relationships between carbon mineralization and chemical/physical characteristics. The results revealed that degradation was significantly and negatively correlated with the micro-porosity surface (MiS) (surface of pores of 0.3-1.5 nm of diameter). The multiple regressions performed by using partial least square model enabled describing biomass biodegradability under either aerobic and anaerobic condition by using micro-porosity and aromatic-C content (assumed to be representative of lignin) as independent variables (R2 =0.97, R2cv =0.95 for aerobic condition; R2 =0.99, R2cv =0.98 for anaerobic condition, respectively). These results corroborate the hypothesis that plant tissues are physically protected from enzymatic attack by a microporous "sheath" that limit penetration into cell wall, and demonstrate the key role played by aromatic carbon, because of its chemical protection of the other cell wall polymers and its contribution to the three-dimensional (3D) cell wall structure.

Dynamic structural disorder in supported nanoscale catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rehr, J. J.; Vila, F. D.

2014-04-01

We investigate the origin and physical effects of "dynamic structural disorder" (DSD) in supported nano-scale catalysts. DSD refers to the intrinsic fluctuating, inhomogeneous structure of such nano-scale systems. In contrast to bulk materials, nano-scale systems exhibit substantial fluctuations in structure, charge, temperature, and other quantities, as well as large surface effects. The DSD is driven largely by the stochastic librational motion of the center of mass and fluxional bonding at the nanoparticle surface due to thermal coupling with the substrate. Our approach for calculating and understanding DSD is based on a combination of real-time density functional theory/molecular dynamics simulations, transient coupled-oscillator models, and statistical mechanics. This approach treats thermal and dynamic effects over multiple time-scales, and includes bond-stretching and -bending vibrations, and transient tethering to the substrate at longer ps time-scales. Potential effects on the catalytic properties of these clusters are briefly explored. Model calculations of molecule-cluster interactions and molecular dissociation reaction paths are presented in which the reactant molecules are adsorbed on the surface of dynamically sampled clusters. This model suggests that DSD can affect both the prefactors and distribution of energy barriers in reaction rates, and thus can significantly affect catalytic activity at the nano-scale.

Femtosecond laser-induced cross-periodic structures on a crystalline silicon surface under low pulse number irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Xu; Jiang, Lan; Li, Xiaowei; Han, Weina; Liu, Yang; Wang, Andong; Lu, Yongfeng

2015-01-01

A cross-patterned surface periodic structure in femtosecond laser processing of crystalline silicon was revealed under a relatively low shots (4 < N < 10) with the pulse energy slightly higher than the ablation threshold. The experimental results indicated that the cross-pattern was composed of mutually orthogonal periodic structures (ripples). Ripples with a direction perpendicular to laser polarization (R⊥) spread in the whole laser-modified region, with the periodicity around 780 nm which was close to the central wavelength of the laser. Other ripples with a direction parallel to laser polarization (R‖) were found to be distributed between two of the adjacent ripples R⊥, with a periodicity about the sub-wavelength of the irradiated laser, 390 nm. The geometrical morphology of two mutually orthogonal ripples under static femtosecond laser irradiation could be continuously rotated as the polarization directions changed, but the periodicity remained almost unchanged. The underlying physical mechanism was revealed by numerical simulations based on the finite element method. It was found that the incubation effect with multiple shots, together with the redistributed electric field after initial ablation, plays a crucial role in the generation of the cross-patterned periodic surface structures.

Resolving the structure of Ti 3C 2T x MXenes through multilevel structural modeling of the atomic pair distribution function

DOE PAGES

Wesolowski, David J.; Wang, Hsiu -Wen; Page, Katharine L.; ...

2015-12-08

MXenes are a recently discovered family of two-dimensional (2D) early transition metal carbides and carbonitrides, which have already shown many attractive properties and great promise in energy storage and many other applications. But, a complex surface chemistry and small coherence length have been obstacles in some applications of MXenes, also limiting the accuracy of predictions of their properties. In this study, we describe and benchmark a novel way of modeling layered materials with real interfaces (diverse surface functional groups and stacking order between the adjacent monolayers) against experimental data. The structures of three kinds of Ti 3C 2T x MXenesmore » (T stands for surface terminating species, including O, OH, and F) produced under different synthesis conditions were resolved for the first time using atomic pair distribution function obtained by high-quality neutron total scattering. We present the true nature of the material can be easily captured with the sensitivity of neutron scattering to the surface species of interest and the detailed “third-generation” structure model. The modeling approach leads to new understanding of MXene structural properties and can replace the currently used idealized models in predictions of a variety of physical, chemical, and functional properties of Ti 3C 2-based MXenes. Moreover, the developed models can be employed to guide the design of new MXene materials with selected surface termination and controlled contact angle, catalytic, optical, electrochemical, and other properties. Finally, we suggest that the multilevel structural modeling should form the basis for a generalized methodology on modeling diffraction and pair distribution function data for 2D and layered materials.« less

Surface shape affects the three-dimensional exploratory movements of nocturnal arboreal snakes.

PubMed

Jayne, Bruce C; Olberding, Jeffrey P; Athreya, Dilip; Riley, Michael A

2012-12-01

Movement and searching behaviors at diverse spatial scales are important for understanding how animals interact with their environment. Although the shapes of branches and the voids in arboreal habitats seem likely to affect searching behaviors, their influence is poorly understood. To gain insights into how both environmental structure and the attributes of an animal may affect movement and searching, we compared the three-dimensional exploratory movements of snakes in the dark on two simulated arboreal surfaces (disc and horizontal cylinder). Most of the exploratory movements of snakes in the dark were a small fraction of the distances they could reach while bridging gaps in the light. The snakes extended farther away from the edge of the supporting surface at the ends of the cylinder than from the sides of the cylinder or from any direction from the surface of the disc. The exploratory movements were not random, and the surface shape and three-dimensional directions had significant interactive effects on how the movements were structured in time. Thus, the physical capacity for reaching did not limit the area that was explored, but the shape of the supporting surface and the orientation relative to gravity did create biased searching patterns.

Ab initio study of the temperature-dependent structural properties of Al(110)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scharoch, Pawel

2009-09-01

Temperature-dependent structural properties of Al(110) surface have been studied ab initio employing the concepts of the potential-energy surface (PES) and the free-energy surface (FES), with the latter based on the harmonic approximation for lattice dynamics. Three effects have been identified as contributing to the temperature-dependent multilayer relaxation: the bulk-substrate thermal expansion, the effect of asymmetry of PESs, and the entropy-driven shift of the minima of FESs. Thanks to the proper choice of constraints for PESs and FESs, it was possible to find relative contribution of the three effects to variation with temperature of the first three interlayer distances. A very satisfactory agreement of the calculation results with experimental data has been obtained. Also, a reference of the theoretical data to the experimentally observed anisotropic surface melting has been noticed. A softening phonon mode has been identified which is responsible for both: the entropy-driven spectacular expansion of the second interlayer distance and the loss of the surface stability. The latter can be associated with the anisotropic surface melting. The methodology applied has been found to be complementary to previous theoretical works [N. Marzari, D. Vanderbilt, A. De Vita, and M. C. Payne, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 3296 (1999); S. Narasimhan, Phys. Rev. B 64, 125409 (2001)], by offering another point of view and additional insight into the relative contribution of different physical effects to the temperature-dependent structural phenomena in Al(110) surface.

Cargo-shell and cargo-cargo couplings govern the mechanics of artificially loaded virus-derived cages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Llauró, Aida; Luque, Daniel; Edwards, Ethan; Trus, Benes L.; Avera, John; Reguera, David; Douglas, Trevor; Pablo, Pedro J. De; Castón, José R.

2016-04-01

Nucleic acids are the natural cargo of viruses and key determinants that affect viral shell stability. In some cases the genome structurally reinforces the shell, whereas in others genome packaging causes internal pressure that can induce destabilization. Although it is possible to pack heterologous cargoes inside virus-derived shells, little is known about the physical determinants of these artificial nanocontainers' stability. Atomic force and three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy provided mechanical and structural information about the physical mechanisms of viral cage stabilization beyond the mere presence/absence of cargos. We analyzed the effects of cargo-shell and cargo-cargo interactions on shell stability after encapsulating two types of proteinaceous payloads. While bound cargo to the inner capsid surface mechanically reinforced the capsid in a structural manner, unbound cargo diffusing freely within the shell cavity pressurized the cages up to ~30 atm due to steric effects. Strong cargo-cargo coupling reduces the resilience of these nanocompartments in ~20% when bound to the shell. Understanding the stability of artificially loaded nanocages will help to design more robust and durable molecular nanocontainers.Nucleic acids are the natural cargo of viruses and key determinants that affect viral shell stability. In some cases the genome structurally reinforces the shell, whereas in others genome packaging causes internal pressure that can induce destabilization. Although it is possible to pack heterologous cargoes inside virus-derived shells, little is known about the physical determinants of these artificial nanocontainers' stability. Atomic force and three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy provided mechanical and structural information about the physical mechanisms of viral cage stabilization beyond the mere presence/absence of cargos. We analyzed the effects of cargo-shell and cargo-cargo interactions on shell stability after encapsulating two types of proteinaceous payloads. While bound cargo to the inner capsid surface mechanically reinforced the capsid in a structural manner, unbound cargo diffusing freely within the shell cavity pressurized the cages up to ~30 atm due to steric effects. Strong cargo-cargo coupling reduces the resilience of these nanocompartments in ~20% when bound to the shell. Understanding the stability of artificially loaded nanocages will help to design more robust and durable molecular nanocontainers. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: 6 figures, 3 tables and theory. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01007e

Hydrophobic potential of mean force as a solvation function for protein structure prediction.

PubMed

Lin, Matthew S; Fawzi, Nicolas Lux; Head-Gordon, Teresa

2007-06-01

We have developed a solvation function that combines a Generalized Born model for polarization of protein charge by the high dielectric solvent, with a hydrophobic potential of mean force (HPMF) as a model for hydrophobic interaction, to aid in the discrimination of native structures from other misfolded states in protein structure prediction. We find that our energy function outperforms other reported scoring functions in terms of correct native ranking for 91% of proteins and low Z scores for a variety of decoy sets, including the challenging Rosetta decoys. This work shows that the stabilizing effect of hydrophobic exposure to aqueous solvent that defines the HPMF hydration physics is an apparent improvement over solvent-accessible surface area models that penalize hydrophobic exposure. Decoys generated by thermal sampling around the native-state basin reveal a potentially important role for side-chain entropy in the future development of even more accurate free energy surfaces.

Surface and ultrastructural characterization of raw and pretreated switchgrass.

PubMed

Donohoe, Bryon S; Vinzant, Todd B; Elander, Richard T; Pallapolu, Venkata Ramesh; Lee, Y Y; Garlock, Rebecca J; Balan, Venkatesh; Dale, Bruce E; Kim, Youngmi; Mosier, Nathan S; Ladisch, Michael R; Falls, Matthew; Holtzapple, Mark T; Sierra-Ramirez, Rocio; Shi, Jian; Ebrik, Mirvat A; Redmond, Tim; Yang, Bin; Wyman, Charles E; Hames, Bonnie; Thomas, Steve; Warner, Ryan E

2011-12-01

The US Department of Energy-funded Biomass Refining CAFI (Consortium for Applied Fundamentals and Innovation) project has developed leading pretreatment technologies for application to switchgrass and has evaluated their effectiveness in recovering sugars from the coupled operations of pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. Key chemical and physical characteristics have been determined for pretreated switchgrass samples. Several analytical microscopy approaches utilizing instruments in the Biomass Surface Characterization Laboratory (BSCL) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have been applied to untreated and CAFI-pretreated switchgrass samples. The results of this work have shown that each of the CAFI pretreatment approaches on switchgrass result in different structural impacts at the plant tissue, cellular, and cell wall levels. Some of these structural changes can be related to changes in chemical composition upon pretreatment. There are also apparently different structural mechanisms that are responsible for achieving the highest enzymatic hydrolysis sugar yields. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Imaging quasiperiodic electronic states in a synthetic Penrose tiling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, Laura C.; Witte, Thomas G.; Silverman, Rochelle; Green, David B.; Gomes, Kenjiro K.

2017-06-01

Quasicrystals possess long-range order but lack the translational symmetry of crystalline solids. In solid state physics, periodicity is one of the fundamental properties that prescribes the electronic band structure in crystals. In the absence of periodicity and the presence of quasicrystalline order, the ways that electronic states change remain a mystery. Scanning tunnelling microscopy and atomic manipulation can be used to assemble a two-dimensional quasicrystalline structure mapped upon the Penrose tiling. Here, carbon monoxide molecules are arranged on the surface of Cu(111) one at a time to form the potential landscape that mimics the ionic potential of atoms in natural materials by constraining the electrons in the two-dimensional surface state of Cu(111). The real-space images reveal the presence of the quasiperiodic order in the electronic wave functions and the Fourier analysis of our results links the energy of the resonant states to the local vertex structure of the quasicrystal.

Imaging quasiperiodic electronic states in a synthetic Penrose tiling.

PubMed

Collins, Laura C; Witte, Thomas G; Silverman, Rochelle; Green, David B; Gomes, Kenjiro K

2017-06-22

Quasicrystals possess long-range order but lack the translational symmetry of crystalline solids. In solid state physics, periodicity is one of the fundamental properties that prescribes the electronic band structure in crystals. In the absence of periodicity and the presence of quasicrystalline order, the ways that electronic states change remain a mystery. Scanning tunnelling microscopy and atomic manipulation can be used to assemble a two-dimensional quasicrystalline structure mapped upon the Penrose tiling. Here, carbon monoxide molecules are arranged on the surface of Cu(111) one at a time to form the potential landscape that mimics the ionic potential of atoms in natural materials by constraining the electrons in the two-dimensional surface state of Cu(111). The real-space images reveal the presence of the quasiperiodic order in the electronic wave functions and the Fourier analysis of our results links the energy of the resonant states to the local vertex structure of the quasicrystal.

Chemical modulation of M13 bacteriophage and its functional opportunities for nanomedicine

PubMed Central

Chung, Woo-Jae; Lee, Doe-Young; Yoo, So Young

2014-01-01

M13 bacteriophage (phage) has emerged as an attractive bionanomaterial owing to its genetically tunable surface chemistry and its potential to self-assemble into hierarchical structures. Furthermore, because of its unique nanoscopic structure, phage has been proposed as a model system in soft condensed physics and as a biomimetic building block for structured functional materials. Genetic engineering of phage provides great opportunities to develop novel nanomaterials with functional surface peptide motifs; however, this biological approach is generally limited to peptides containing the 20 natural amino acids. To extend the scope of phage applications, strategies involving chemical modification have been employed to incorporate a wider range of functional groups, including synthetic chemical compounds. In this review, we introduce the design of chemoselective phage functionalization and discuss how such a strategy is combined with genetic engineering for a variety of medical applications, as reported in recent literature. PMID:25540583

Chemical modulation of M13 bacteriophage and its functional opportunities for nanomedicine.

PubMed

Chung, Woo-Jae; Lee, Doe-Young; Yoo, So Young

2014-01-01

M13 bacteriophage (phage) has emerged as an attractive bionanomaterial owing to its genetically tunable surface chemistry and its potential to self-assemble into hierarchical structures. Furthermore, because of its unique nanoscopic structure, phage has been proposed as a model system in soft condensed physics and as a biomimetic building block for structured functional materials. Genetic engineering of phage provides great opportunities to develop novel nanomaterials with functional surface peptide motifs; however, this biological approach is generally limited to peptides containing the 20 natural amino acids. To extend the scope of phage applications, strategies involving chemical modification have been employed to incorporate a wider range of functional groups, including synthetic chemical compounds. In this review, we introduce the design of chemoselective phage functionalization and discuss how such a strategy is combined with genetic engineering for a variety of medical applications, as reported in recent literature.

Characterization of Pb-Doped GaN Thin Films Grown by Thermionic Vacuum Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Özen, Soner; Pat, Suat; Korkmaz, Şadan

2018-03-01

Undoped and lead (Pb)-doped gallium nitride (GaN) thin films have been deposited by a thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method. Glass and polyethylene terephthalate were selected as optically transparent substrates. The structural, optical, morphological, and electrical properties of the deposited thin films were investigated. These physical properties were interpreted by comparison with related analysis methods. The crystalline structure of the deposited GaN thin films was hexagonal wurtzite. The optical bandgap energy of the GaN and Pb-doped GaN thin films was found to be 3.45 eV and 3.47 eV, respectively. The surface properties of the deposited thin films were imaged using atomic force microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, revealing a nanostructured, homogeneous, and granular surface structure. These results confirm that the TVA method is an alternative layer deposition system for Pb-doped GaN thin films.

Ab initio theory of point defects in oxide materials: structure, properties, chemical reactivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pacchioni, Gianfranco

2000-05-01

Point defects play a fundamental role in determining the physical and chemical properties of inorganic materials. This holds not only for the bulk properties but also for the surface of oxides where several kinds of point defects exist and exhibit a rich and complex chemistry. A particularly important defect in oxides is the oxygen vacancy. Depending on the electronic structure of the material the nature of oxygen vacancies changes dramatically. In this article we provide a rationalization of the very different electronic structure of neutral and charged oxygen vacancies in SiO 2 and MgO, two oxide materials with completely different electronic structure (from very ionic, MgO, to largely covalent, SiO 2). We used methods of ab initio quantum chemistry, from density functional theory (DFT) to configuration interaction (CI), to determine the ground and excited state properties of these defects. The theoretical results are combined with recent spectroscopic measurements. A series of observable properties has been determined in this way: defect formation energies, hyperfine interactions in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of paramagnetic centers, optical spectra, surface chemical reactivity. The interplay between experimental and theoretical information allows one to unambiguously identify the structure of oxygen vacancies in these binary oxides and on their surfaces.

Linking Precursor Alterations to Nanoscale Structure and Optical Transparency in Polymer Assisted Fast-Rate Dip-Coating of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films

PubMed Central

Glynn, Colm; Creedon, Donal; Geaney, Hugh; Armstrong, Eileen; Collins, Timothy; Morris, Michael A.; Dwyer, Colm O’

2015-01-01

Solution processed metal oxide thin films are important for modern optoelectronic devices ranging from thin film transistors to photovoltaics and for functional optical coatings. Solution processed techniques such as dip-coating, allow thin films to be rapidly deposited over a large range of surfaces including curved, flexible or plastic substrates without extensive processing of comparative vapour or physical deposition methods. To increase the effectiveness and versatility of dip-coated thin films, alterations to commonly used precursors can be made that facilitate controlled thin film deposition. The effects of polymer assisted deposition and changes in solvent-alkoxide dilution on the morphology, structure, optoelectronic properties and crystallinity of vanadium pentoxide thin films was studied using a dip-coating method using a substrate withdrawal speed within the fast-rate draining regime. The formation of sub-100 nm thin films could be achieved rapidly from dilute alkoxide based precursor solutions with high optical transmission in the visible, linked to the phase and film structure. The effects of the polymer addition was shown to change the crystallized vanadium pentoxide thin films from a granular surface structure to a polycrystalline structure composed of a high density of smaller in-plane grains, resulting in a uniform surface morphology with lower thickness and roughness. PMID:26123117

Functional patterned coatings by thin polymer film dewetting.

PubMed

Telford, Andrew M; Thickett, Stuart C; Neto, Chiara

2017-12-01

An approach for the fabrication of functional polymer surface coatings is introduced, where micro-scale structure and surface functionality are obtained by means of self-assembly mechanisms. We illustrate two main applications of micro-patterned polymer surfaces obtained through dewetting of bilayers of thin polymer films. By tuning the physical and chemical properties of the polymer bilayers, micro-patterned surface coatings could be produced that have applications both for the selective attachment and patterning of proteins and cells, with potential applications as biomaterials, and for the collection of water from the atmosphere. In all cases, the aim is to achieve functional coatings using approaches that are simple to realize, use low cost materials and are potentially scalable. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Applying the Coupled-Cluster Ansatz to Solids and Surfaces in the Thermodynamic Limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruber, Thomas; Liao, Ke; Tsatsoulis, Theodoros; Hummel, Felix; Grüneis, Andreas

2018-04-01

Modern electronic structure theories can predict and simulate a wealth of phenomena in surface science and solid-state physics. In order to allow for a direct comparison with experiment, such ab initio predictions have to be made in the thermodynamic limit, substantially increasing the computational cost of many-electron wave-function theories. Here, we present a method that achieves thermodynamic limit results for solids and surfaces using the "gold standard" coupled cluster ansatz of quantum chemistry with unprecedented efficiency. We study the energy difference between carbon diamond and graphite crystals, adsorption energies of water on h -BN, as well as the cohesive energy of the Ne solid, demonstrating the increased efficiency and accuracy of coupled cluster theory for solids and surfaces.

A multi-scale ''soil water structure'' model based on the pedostructure concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braudeau, E.; Mohtar, R. H.; El Ghezal, N.; Crayol, M.; Salahat, M.; Martin, P.

2009-02-01

Current soil water models do not take into account the internal organization of the soil medium and, a fortiori, the physical interaction between the water film surrounding the solid particles of the soil structure, and the surface charges of this structure. In that sense they empirically deal with the physical soil properties that are all generated from this soil water-structure interaction. As a result, the thermodynamic state of the soil water medium, which constitutes the local physical conditions, namely the pedo-climate, for biological and geo-chemical processes in soil, is not defined in these models. The omission of soil structure from soil characterization and modeling does not allow for coupling disciplinary models for these processes with soil water models. This article presents a soil water structure model, Kamel®, which was developed based on a new paradigm in soil physics where the hierarchical soil structure is taken into account allowing for defining its thermodynamic properties. After a review of soil physics principles which forms the basis of the paradigm, we describe the basic relationships and functionality of the model. Kamel® runs with a set of 15 soil input parameters, the pedohydral parameters, which are parameters of the physically-based equations of four soil characteristic curves that can be measured in the laboratory. For cases where some of these parameters are not available, we show how to estimate these parameters from commonly available soil information using published pedotransfer functions. A published field experimental study on the dynamics of the soil moisture profile following a pounded infiltration rainfall event was used as an example to demonstrate soil characterization and Kamel® simulations. The simulated soil moisture profile for a period of 60 days showed very good agreement with experimental field data. Simulations using input data calculated from soil texture and pedotransfer functions were also generated and compared to simulations of the more ideal characterization. The later comparison illustrates how Kamel® can be used and adapt to any case of soil data availability. As physically based model on soil structure, it may be used as a standard reference to evaluate other soil-water models and also pedotransfer functions at a given location or agronomical situation.

A volumetric ablation model of EPDM considering complex physicochemical process in porous structure of char layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Liu; Xiao-Jing, Yu; Jian-Ming, Ma; Yi-Wen, Guan; Jiang, Li; Qiang, Li; Sa, Yang

2017-06-01

A volumetric ablation model for EPDM (ethylene- propylene-diene monomer) is established in this paper. This model considers the complex physicochemical process in the porous structure of a char layer. An ablation physics model based on a porous structure of a char layer and another model of heterogeneous volumetric ablation char layer physics are then built. In the model, porosity is used to describe the porous structure of a char layer. Gas diffusion and chemical reactions are introduced to the entire porous structure. Through detailed formation analysis, the causes of the compact or loose structure in the char layer and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reaction between pyrolysis gas and char layer skeleton are introduced. The Arrhenius formula is adopted to determine the methods for calculating carbon deposition rate C which is the consumption rate caused by thermochemical reactions in the char layer, and porosity evolution. The critical porosity value is used as a criterion for char layer porous structure failure under gas flow and particle erosion. This critical porosity value is obtained by fitting experimental parameters and surface porosity of the char layer. Linear ablation and mass ablation rates are confirmed with the critical porosity value. Results of linear ablation and mass ablation rate calculations generally coincide with experimental results, suggesting that the ablation analysis proposed in this paper can accurately reflect practical situations and that the physics and mathematics models built are accurate and reasonable.

Evaluation of the biocompatibility of NiTi dental wires: a comparison of laboratory experiments and clinical conditions.

PubMed

Toker, S M; Canadinc, D

2014-07-01

Effects of intraoral environment on the surface degradation of nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy orthodontic wires was simulated through ex situ static immersion experiments in artificial saliva. The tested wires were compared to companion wires retrieved from patients in terms of chemical changes and formation of new structures on the surface. Results of the ex situ experiments revealed that the acidic erosion effective at the earlier stages of immersion led to the formation of new structures as the immersion period approached 30 days. Moreover, comparison of these results with the analysis of wires utilized in clinical treatment evidenced that ex situ experiments are reliable in terms predicting C-rich structure formation on the wire surfaces. However, the formation of C pileups at the contact sites of arch wires and brackets could not be simulated with the aid of static immersion experiments, warranting the simulation of the intraoral environment in terms of both chemical and physical conditions, including mechanical loading, when evaluating the biocompatibility of NiTi orthodontic arch wires. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mechanical Properties of Laminate Materials: From Surface Waves to Bloch Oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Z.; Willatzen, M.; Christensen, J.

2015-10-01

We propose hitherto unexplored and fully analytical insights into laminate elastic materials in a true condensed-matter-physics spirit. Pure mechanical surface waves that decay as evanescent waves from the interface are discussed, and we demonstrate how these designer Scholte waves are controlled by the geometry as opposed to the material alone. The linear surface wave dispersion is modulated by the crystal filling fraction such that the degree of confinement can be engineered without relying on narrow-band resonances but on effective stiffness moduli. In the same context, we provide a theoretical recipe for designing Bloch oscillations in classical plate structures and show how mechanical Bloch oscillations can be generated in arrays of solid plates when the modal wavelength is gradually reduced. The design recipe describes how Bloch oscillations in classical structures of arbitrary dimensions can be generated, and we demonstrate this numerically for structures with millimeter and centimeter dimensions in the kilohertz to megahertz range. Analytical predictions agree entirely with full wave simulations showing how elastodynamics can mimic quantum-mechanical condensed-matter phenomena.

Dependency properties of the amorphous alloy Co58Ni10Fe5Si11B16 on technological parameters of spinning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frolov, A. M.; Tkachev, V. V.; Fedorets, A. N.; Pustovalov, E. V.; Kraynova, G. S.; Dolzhikov, S. V.; Ilin, N. V.; Tsesarskaya, A. K.

2017-09-01

The tapes are quickly quenched onto a rotating drum. The structure of mechanical and physical properties is studied depending on the spinning parameters. An approach is proposed for the classification of obtained bands based on the statistics of the microrelief of their surfaces.

Friction, wear, and lubrication in vacuum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckley, D. H.

1971-01-01

A review of studies and observations on the friction, wear, and lubrication behavior of materials in a vacuum environment is presented. The factors that determine and influence friction and wear are discussed. They include topographical, physical, mechanical, and the chemical nature of the surface. The effects of bulk properties such as deformation characteristics, fracture behavior, and structure are included.

Surface-screening mechanisms in ferroelectric thin films and their effect on polarization dynamics and domain structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalinin, Sergei V.; Kim, Yunseok; Fong, Dillon D.; Morozovska, Anna N.

2018-03-01

For over 70 years, ferroelectric materials have been one of the central research topics for condensed matter physics and material science, an interest driven both by fundamental science and applications. However, ferroelectric surfaces, the key component of ferroelectric films and nanostructures, still present a significant theoretical and even conceptual challenge. Indeed, stability of ferroelectric phase per se necessitates screening of polarization charge. At surfaces, this can lead to coupling between ferroelectric and semiconducting properties of material, or with surface (electro) chemistry, going well beyond classical models applicable for ferroelectric interfaces. In this review, we summarize recent studies of surface-screening phenomena in ferroelectrics. We provide a brief overview of the historical understanding of the physics of ferroelectric surfaces, and existing theoretical models that both introduce screening mechanisms and explore the relationship between screening and relevant aspects of ferroelectric functionalities starting from phase stability itself. Given that the majority of ferroelectrics exist in multiple-domain states, we focus on local studies of screening phenomena using scanning probe microscopy techniques. We discuss recent studies of static and dynamic phenomena on ferroelectric surfaces, as well as phenomena observed under lateral transport, light, chemical, and pressure stimuli. We also note that the need for ionic screening renders polarization switching a coupled physical–electrochemical process and discuss the non-trivial phenomena such as chaotic behavior during domain switching that stem from this. ).

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

Malik, Hitendra K., E-mail: hkmalik@physics.iitd.ac.in; Singh, Omveer; Dahiya, Raj P.

We have established a hot cathode arc discharge plasma system, where different stainless steel samples can be treated by monitoring the plasma parameters and nitriding parameters independently. In the present work, a mixture of 70% N{sub 2} and 30% H{sub 2} gases was fed into the plasma chamber and the treatment time and substrate temperature were optimized for treating 304L Stainless Steel samples. Various physical techniques such as x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and micro-vickers hardness tester were employed to determine the structural, surface composition and surface hardness of the treated samples.

Computational Study on Atomic Structures, Electronic Properties, and Chemical Reactions at Surfaces and Interfaces and in Biomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takano, Yu; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Morikawa, Yoshitada

2018-06-01

Through computer simulations using atomistic models, it is becoming possible to calculate the atomic structures of localized defects or dopants in semiconductors, chemically active sites in heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale structures, and active sites in biological systems precisely. Furthermore, it is also possible to clarify physical and chemical properties possessed by these nanoscale structures such as electronic states, electronic and atomic transport properties, optical properties, and chemical reactivity. It is sometimes quite difficult to clarify these nanoscale structure-function relations experimentally and, therefore, accurate computational studies are indispensable in materials science. In this paper, we review recent studies on the relation between local structures and functions for inorganic, organic, and biological systems by using atomistic computer simulations.

Physical properties of ionic liquids consisting of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation with various anions and the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion with various cations.

PubMed

Jin, Hui; O'Hare, Bernie; Dong, Jing; Arzhantsev, Sergei; Baker, Gary A; Wishart, James F; Benesi, Alan J; Maroncelli, Mark

2008-01-10

Physical properties of 4 room-temperature ionic liquids consisting of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation with various perfluorinated anions and the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf2N-) anion with 12 pyrrolidinium-, ammonium-, and hydroxyl-containing cations are reported. Electronic structure methods are used to calculate properties related to the size, shape, and dipole moment of individual ions. Experimental measurements of phase-transition temperatures, densities, refractive indices, surface tensions, solvatochromic polarities based on absorption of Nile Red, 19F chemical shifts of the Tf2N- anion, temperature-dependent viscosities, conductivities, and cation diffusion coefficients are reported. Correlations among the measured quantities as well as the use of surface tension and molar volume for estimating Hildebrand solubility parameters of ionic liquids are also discussed.

Physical conditions in molecular clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, Neal J., II

1989-01-01

Recent developments have complicated the picture of the physical conditions in molecular clouds. The discoveries of widespread emission from high-J lines of CD and 12-micron IRAS emission have revealed the presence of considerably hotter gas and dust near the surfaces of molecular clouds. These components can complicate interpretation of the bulk of the cloud gas. Commonly assumed relations between column density or mean density and cloud size are called into question by conflicting results and by consideration of selection effects. Analysis of density and density structure through molecular excitation has shown that very high densities exist in star formation regions, but unresolved structure and possible chemical effects complicate the interpretation. High resolution far-IR and submillimeter observations offer a complementary approach and are beginning to test theoretical predictions of density gradients in clouds.

Foreword

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1997-03-01

The field of nanoscale physics is now widely regarded both as a frontier of science and as a generic foundation for a wide range of new technologies in sectors as diverse as optics, electronics, chemicals, magnetics and sensors. The development of a body of good science in this field depends on the careful preparation and characterization of well-defined nanometre-scale structures. The development of genuine and viable nanotechnologies requires that scientists are alert to the connections between their model systems and the practical requirements of technological applications. This is the domain of applied physics, and it is fitting that in this issue Journal of Physics D should play host to a set of papers which reviews some of the frontiers of this exciting field. The subject of the first paper, by Perez et al from Lyon, concerns a new method for the controlled fabrication of novel nanostructures which are rich in potential - cluster assembled materials. This `bottom-up' approach defines a series of nanoscale building blocks, atomic clusters of a specific size, and assembles a thin film by the deposition of the clusters onto a surface. The paper discusses both the nature of the growth process and some of the intriguing physical properties of the films so formed - structural, optical and magnetic. Structural characterization of these and other nanosystems is one of the foundation issues in the development of a science of nanostructures, and the second paper in the set, by Castle and Zhdan from Surrey, is concerned with two of the principal scientific tools which are employed, i.e. the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the (whole array of) scanning probe microscopes (in this case, the scanning force microscope (SFM)). Interest in truly nanometre-scale structures is pushing the veritable old SEM to its limits, though it has the advantage over its younger cousins, illustrated by the SFM, to whom atomic resolution is a mere trifle, of a much wider scan range as well as chemical analysis. The paper presents a careful analysis of what these complementary techniques can offer, and includes parallel images of the same regions of the same samples - precisely the kind of investigation which is required to develop a reliable metrology on the nanometre scale. But nanostructures need not be static; indeed, there is already a whole industry, heterogeneous catalysis, which depends on the evolution of the structural and electronic properties of supported nanoscale particles. The third paper, by Leibsle et al from Liverpool, shows how the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) provides some searching insights into the spatial evolution of nanostructures during a chemical reaction in model surface systems. The paper also explores the fascinating domain of spontaneous (`self-organized') nanostructures (in this case, at oxide surfaces), a topic which may come to assume considerable importance for the large-scale production of nanostructured systems. It is to be hoped that this short series of articles will allow readers to take stock of a fast moving, if somewhat `hyped', field. Genuine advances are taking place as a result of imaginative and careful experiments, and a coherent level of understanding of the distinctive properties of nanometre-scale structures is taking shape. R E Palmer Nanoscale Physics Research Laboratory School of Physics and Space Research University of Birmingham, UK 31 December 1996

Soft- and reactive landing of ions onto surfaces: Concepts and applications: CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS

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

Johnson, Grant E.; Gunaratne, Don; Laskin, Julia

2015-04-16

Soft- and reactive landing of mass-selected ions is gaining attention as a promising approach for the precisely-controlled preparation of materials on surfaces that are not amenable to deposition using conventional methods. A broad range of ionization sources and mass-filters are available that make ion soft-landing a versatile tool for surface modification using beams of hyperthermal (< 100 eV) ions. The ability to select the mass-to-charge ratio of the ion, its kinetic energy and charge state, along with precise control of the size, shape, and position of the ion beam on the deposition target distinguishes ion soft landing from other surfacemore » modification techniques. Soft- and reactive landing have been used to prepare interfaces for practical applications as well as precisely-defined model surfaces for fundamental investigations in chemistry, physics, and materials science. For instance, soft- and reactive landing have been applied to study the surface chemistry of ions isolated in the gas-phase, prepare arrays of proteins for high-throughput biological screening, produce novel carbon-based and polymer materials, enrich the secondary structure of peptides and the chirality of organic molecules, immobilize electrochemically-active proteins and organometallics on electrodes, create thin films of complex molecules, and immobilize catalytically active organometallics as well as ligated metal clusters. In addition, soft landing has enabled investigation of the size-dependent behavior of bare metal clusters in the critical subnanometer size regime where chemical and physical properties do not scale predictably with size. The morphology, aggregation, and immobilization of larger bare metal nanoparticles, which are directly relevant to the design of catalysts as well as improved memory and electronic devices, have also been studied using ion soft landing. This review article begins in section 1 with a brief introduction to the existing applications of ion soft- and reactive landing. Section 2 provides an overview of the ionization sources and mass filters that have been used to date for soft landing of mass-selected ions. A discussion of the competing processes that occur during ion deposition as well as the types of ions and surfaces that have been investigated follows in section 3. Section 4 discusses the physical phenomena that occur during and after ion soft landing including retention and reduction of ionic charge along with factors that impact the efficiency of ion deposition. The influence of soft landing on the secondary structure and biological activity of complex ions is addressed in section 5. Lastly, an overview of the structure and mobility as well as the catalytic, optical, magnetic, and redox properties of bare ionic clusters and nanoparticles deposited onto surfaces is presented in section 6.« less

Manipulation of photons at the surface of three-dimensional photonic crystals.

PubMed

Ishizaki, Kenji; Noda, Susumu

2009-07-16

In three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystals, refractive-index variations with a periodicity comparable to the wavelength of the light passing through the crystal give rise to so-called photonic bandgaps, which are analogous to electronic bandgaps for electrons moving in the periodic electrostatic potential of a material's crystal structure. Such 3D photonic bandgap crystals are envisioned to become fundamental building blocks for the control and manipulation of photons in optical circuits. So far, such schemes have been pursued by embedding artificial defects and light emitters inside the crystals, making use of 3D bandgap directional effects. Here we show experimentally that photons can be controlled and manipulated even at the 'surface' of 3D photonic crystals, where 3D periodicity is terminated, establishing a new and versatile route for photon manipulation. By making use of an evanescent-mode coupling technique, we demonstrate that 3D photonic crystals possess two-dimensional surface states, and we map their band structure. We show that photons can be confined and propagate through these two-dimensional surface states, and we realize their localization at arbitrary surface points by designing artificial surface-defect structures through the formation of a surface-mode gap. Surprisingly, the quality factors of the surface-defect mode are the largest reported for 3D photonic crystal nanocavities (Q up to approximately 9,000). In addition to providing a new approach for photon manipulation by photonic crystals, our findings are relevant for the generation and control of plasmon-polaritons in metals and the related surface photon physics. The absorption-free nature of the 3D photonic crystal surface may enable new sensing applications and provide routes for the realization of efficient light-matter interactions.

Directional Canopy Emissivity Estimation Based on Spectral Invariants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, M.; Cao, B.; Ren, H.; Yongming, D.; Peng, J.; Fan, W.

2017-12-01

Land surface emissivity is a crucial parameter for estimating land surface temperature from remote sensing data and also plays an important role in the physical process of surface energy and water balance from local to global scales. To our knowledge, the emissivity varies with surface type and cover. As for the vegetation, its canopy emissivity is dependent on vegetation types, viewing zenith angle and structure that changes in different growing stages. Lots of previous studies have focused on the emissivity model, but few of them are analytic and suited to different canopy structures. In this paper, a new physical analytic model is proposed to estimate the directional emissivity of homogenous vegetation canopy based on spectral invariants. The initial model counts the directional absorption in six parts: the direct absorption of the canopy and the soil, the absorption of the canopy and soil after a single scattering and after multiple scattering within the canopy-soil system. In order to analytically estimate the emissivity, the pathways of photons absorbed in the canopy-soil system are traced using the re-collision probability in Fig.1. After sensitive analysis on the above six absorptions, the initial complicated model was further simplified as a fixed mathematic expression to estimate the directional emissivity for vegetation canopy. The model was compared with the 4SAIL model, FRA97 model, FRA02 model and DART model in Fig.2, and the results showed that the FRA02 model is significantly underestimated while the FRA97 model is a little underestimated, on basis of the new model. On the contrary, the emissivity difference between the new model with the 4SAIL model and DART model was found to be less than 0.002. In general, since the new model has the advantages of mathematic expression with accurate results and clear physical meaning, the model is promising to be extended to simulate the directional emissivity for the discrete canopy in further study.

Integration of Quartz Crystal Microbalance-Dissipation and Reflection-Mode Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors for Biomacromolecular Interaction Analysis.

PubMed

Ferhan, Abdul Rahim; Jackman, Joshua A; Cho, Nam-Joon

2016-12-20

The combination of label-free, surface-sensitive measurement techniques based on different physical principles enables detailed characterization of biomacromolecular interactions at solid-liquid interfaces. To date, most combined measurement systems have involved experimental techniques with similar probing volumes, whereas the potential of utilizing techniques with different surface sensitivities remains largely unexplored, especially for data interpretation. Herein, we report a combined measurement approach that integrates a conventional quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) setup with a reflection-mode localized surface plasmon (LSPR) sensor. Using this platform, we investigate vesicle adsorption on a titanium oxide-coated sensing substrate along with the amphipathic, α-helical (AH) peptide-induced structural transformation of surface-adsorbed lipid vesicles into a supported lipid bilayer (SLB) as a model biomacromolecular interaction. While the QCM-D and LSPR signals both detected mass uptake arising from vesicle adsorption, tracking the AH peptide-induced structural transformation revealed more complex measurement responses based on the different surface sensitivities of the two techniques. In particular, the LSPR signal recorded an increase in optical mass near the sensor surface which indicated SLB formation, whereas the QCM-D signals detected a significant loss in net acoustic mass due to excess lipid and coupled solvent leaving the probing volume. Importantly, these measurement capabilities allowed us to temporally distinguish the process of SLB formation at the sensor surface from the overall structural transformation process. Looking forward, these label-free measurement capabilities to simultaneously probe adsorbates at multiple length scales will provide new insights into complex biomacromolecular interactions.

Wettability, polarity, and water absorption of holm oak leaves: effect of leaf side and age.

PubMed

Fernández, Victoria; Sancho-Knapik, Domingo; Guzmán, Paula; Peguero-Pina, José Javier; Gil, Luis; Karabourniotis, George; Khayet, Mohamed; Fasseas, Costas; Heredia-Guerrero, José Alejandro; Heredia, Antonio; Gil-Pelegrín, Eustaquio

2014-09-01

Plant trichomes play important protective functions and may have a major influence on leaf surface wettability. With the aim of gaining insight into trichome structure, composition, and function in relation to water-plant surface interactions, we analyzed the adaxial and abaxial leaf surface of holm oak (Quercus ilex) as a model. By measuring the leaf water potential 24 h after the deposition of water drops onto abaxial and adaxial surfaces, evidence for water penetration through the upper leaf side was gained in young and mature leaves. The structure and chemical composition of the abaxial (always present) and adaxial (occurring only in young leaves) trichomes were analyzed by various microscopic and analytical procedures. The adaxial surfaces were wettable and had a high degree of water drop adhesion in contrast to the highly unwettable and water-repellent abaxial holm oak leaf sides. The surface free energy and solubility parameter decreased with leaf age, with higher values determined for the adaxial sides. All holm oak leaf trichomes were covered with a cuticle. The abaxial trichomes were composed of 8% soluble waxes, 49% cutin, and 43% polysaccharides. For the adaxial side, it is concluded that trichomes and the scars after trichome shedding contribute to water uptake, while the abaxial leaf side is highly hydrophobic due to its high degree of pubescence and different trichome structure, composition, and density. Results are interpreted in terms of water-plant surface interactions, plant surface physical chemistry, and plant ecophysiology. © 2014 American Society of Plant Biologists. All Rights Reserved.

Defining the Magnitude: Patterns, Regularities and Direct TOA-Surface Flux Relationships in the 15-Year Long CERES Satellite Data — Observations, Model and Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zagoni, M.

2017-12-01

Over the past fifteen years, the NASA Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) satellite mission has provided the scientific community with the most reliable Earth radiation budget data. This presentation offers quantitative assessment of the published CERES Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) Edition 2.8 and Edition 4.0 data products, and reveals several internal patterns, ratios and regularities within the annual global mean flux components of the all-sky and clear-sky surface and atmospheric energy budgets. The found patterns, among others, include: (i) direct relationships between the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative and surface radiative and non-radiative fluxes (contradicting the expectation that TOA and surface fluxes are physically decoupled); (ii) integer ratios and relationships between the absorbed and emitted surface and atmospheric energy flow elements; and (iii) definite connections among the clear-sky and the all-sky shortwave, longwave and non-radiative (turbulent) flux elements and the corresponding greenhouse effect. Comparison between the EBAF Ed2.8 and Ed4.0 SFC and TOA data products and trend analyses of the normalized clear-sky and all-sky greenhouse factors are presented. Longwave cloud radiative effect (LW CRE) proved to be playing a principal role in organizing the found numerical patterns in the surface and atmospheric energy flow components. All of the revealed structures are quantitatively valid within the one-sigma range of uncertainty of the involved individual flux elements. This presentation offers a conceptual framework to interpret the found relationships and shows how the observed CERES fluxes can be deduced from this proposed physical model. An important conclusion drawn from our analysis is that the internal atmospheric and surface energy flow system forms a definite structure and seems to be more constrained to the incoming solar energy than previously thought.

Oxide surfaces and metal/oxide interfaces studied by grazing incidence X-ray scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renaud, Gilles

Experimental determinations of the atomic structure of insulating oxide surfaces and metal/oxide interfaces are scarce, because surface science techniques are often limited by the insulating character of the substrate. Grazing incidence X-ray scattering (GIXS), which is not subject to charge effects, can provide very precise information on the atomic structure of oxide surfaces: roughness, relaxation and reconstruction. It is also well adapted to analyze the atomic structure, the registry, the misfit relaxation, elastic or plastic, the growth mode and the morphology of metal/oxide interfaces during their growth, performed in situ. GIXS also allows the analysis of thin films and buried interfaces, in a non-destructive way, yielding the epitaxial relationships, and, by variation of the grazing incidence angle, the lattice parameter relaxation along the growth direction. On semi-coherent interfaces, the existence of an ordered network of interfacial misfit dislocations can be demonstrated, its Burger's vector determined, its ordering during in situ annealing cycles followed, and sometimes even its atomic structure can be addressed. Careful analysis during growth allows the modeling of the dislocation nucleation process. This review emphasizes the new information that GIXS can bring to oxide surfaces and metal/oxide interfaces by comparison with other surface science techniques. The principles of X-ray diffraction by surfaces and interfaces are recalled, together with the advantages and properties of grazing angles. The specific experimental requirements are discussed. Recent results are presented on the determination of the atomic structure of relaxed or reconstructed oxide surfaces. A description of results obtained during the in situ growth of metal on oxide surfaces is also given, as well as investigations of thick metal films on oxide surfaces, with lattice parameter misfit relaxed by an array of dislocations. Recent work performed on oxide thin films having important physical properties such as superconductivity or magnetism is also briefly reviewed. The strengths and limitations of the technique, such as the need for single crystals and surfaces of high crystalline quality are discussed. Finally, an outlook of future prospects in the field is given, such as the study of more complex oxide surfaces, vicinal surfaces, reactive metal/oxide interfaces, metal oxidation processes, the use of surfactants to promote wetting of a metal deposited on an oxide surface or the study of oxide/liquid interfaces in a non-UHV environment.

Advantages and pitfalls of using free-hand sections of frozen needles for three-dimensional analysis of mesophyll by stereology and confocal microscopy

PubMed Central

LHOTÁKOVÁ, Z; ALBRECHTOVÁ, J; JANÁČEK, J; KUBÍNOVÁ, L

2008-01-01

The anatomical structure of mesophyll tissue in the leaf is tightly connected with many physiological processes in plants. One of the most important mesophyll parameters related to photosynthesis is the internal leaf surface area, i.e. the surface area of mesophyll cell walls exposed to intercellular spaces. An efficient design-based stereological method can be applied for estimation of this parameter, using software-randomized virtual fakir test probes in stacks of optical sections acquired by a confocal microscope within thick physical free-hand sections (i.e. acquired using a hand microtome), as we have shown in the case of fresh Norway spruce needles recently. However, for wider practical use in plant ecophysiology, a suitable form of sample storage and other possible technical constraints of this methodology need to be checked. We tested the effect of freezing conifer needles on their anatomical structure as well as the effect of possible deformations due to the cutting of unembedded material by a hand microtome, which can result in distortions of cutting surfaces. In the present study we found a higher proportion of intercellular spaces in mesophyll in regions near to the surface of a physical section, which means that the measurements should be restricted only to the middle region of the optical section series. On the other hand, the proportion of intercellular spaces in mesophyll as well as the internal needle surface density in mesophyll did not show significant difference between fresh and frozen needles; therefore, we conclude that freezing represents a suitable form of storage of sampled material for proposed stereological evaluation. PMID:19017201

Advantages and pitfalls of using free-hand sections of frozen needles for three-dimensional analysis of mesophyll by stereology and confocal microscopy.

PubMed

Lhotáková, Z; Albrechtová, J; Janácek, J; Kubínová, L

2008-10-01

The anatomical structure of mesophyll tissue in the leaf is tightly connected with many physiological processes in plants. One of the most important mesophyll parameters related to photosynthesis is the internal leaf surface area, i.e. the surface area of mesophyll cell walls exposed to intercellular spaces. An efficient design-based stereological method can be applied for estimation of this parameter, using software-randomized virtual fakir test probes in stacks of optical sections acquired by a confocal microscope within thick physical free-hand sections (i.e. acquired using a hand microtome), as we have shown in the case of fresh Norway spruce needles recently. However, for wider practical use in plant ecophysiology, a suitable form of sample storage and other possible technical constraints of this methodology need to be checked. We tested the effect of freezing conifer needles on their anatomical structure as well as the effect of possible deformations due to the cutting of unembedded material by a hand microtome, which can result in distortions of cutting surfaces. In the present study we found a higher proportion of intercellular spaces in mesophyll in regions near to the surface of a physical section, which means that the measurements should be restricted only to the middle region of the optical section series. On the other hand, the proportion of intercellular spaces in mesophyll as well as the internal needle surface density in mesophyll did not show significant difference between fresh and frozen needles; therefore, we conclude that freezing represents a suitable form of storage of sampled material for proposed stereological evaluation.

CO2 and Nd:YAP laser interaction with lithium disilicate and Zirconia dental ceramics: A preliminary study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocca, Jean-Paul; Fornaini, Carlo; Brulat-Bouchard, Nathalie; Bassel Seif, Samy; Darque-Ceretti, Evelyne

2014-04-01

Lithium disilicate and Zirconia ceramics offer a high level of accuracy when used in prosthetic dentistry. Their bonding using different resins is highly dependent on micro-mechanical interlocking and adhesive chemical bonding. Investigation of the performances of high strength ceramics when their surface is modified for chemical and mechanical bonding is then required. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of using laser for surface treatment of different high strength CAD/CAM ceramics and thus to improve their mechanical and chemical properties. Thirty two CAD/CAM ceramic discs were divided into two different groups: lithium disilicate ceramics (IPS e.max CAD®, Ivoclar, Vivadent, Italy) and Zirconia ceramics (IPS e.max ZirCAD®, Ivoclar, Vivadent, Italy). The Laser surface treatment was performed by Carbon Dioxide laser (Dream Pulse Laser®, Daeshin Enterprise Corp., Korea) at 20 W, 25 W and 30 W CW and by Neodymium Yttrium Aluminum Perovskite laser (Nd:YAP Lokki®, Lobel Medical, France) at 10 W and 30 Hz. Physical modifications of the irradiated ceramic discs were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chemically analyzed by Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Surface wettability was tested using the water drop test and the crystalline structure was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The macroscopic observation showed a shinier structure in all the groups, while at the SEM observation only CO2 25 W and 30 W treated groups showed cracks and fissures. In the conditions of this study, CO2 laser and Nd:YAP laser with the parameters used create chemical and physical surface modifications of the ceramics, indicating the possibility of an improvement in adhesion of the tested ceramics.

Realization of a Hole-Doped Mott Insulator on a Triangular Silicon Lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ming, Fangfei; Johnston, Steve; Mulugeta, Daniel; Smith, Tyler S.; Vilmercati, Paolo; Lee, Geunseop; Maier, Thomas A.; Snijders, Paul C.; Weitering, Hanno H.

2017-12-01

The physics of doped Mott insulators is at the heart of some of the most exotic physical phenomena in materials research including insulator-metal transitions, colossal magnetoresistance, and high-temperature superconductivity in layered perovskite compounds. Advances in this field would greatly benefit from the availability of new material systems with a similar richness of physical phenomena but with fewer chemical and structural complications in comparison to oxides. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we show that such a system can be realized on a silicon platform. The adsorption of one-third monolayer of Sn atoms on a Si(111) surface produces a triangular surface lattice with half filled dangling bond orbitals. Modulation hole doping of these dangling bonds unveils clear hallmarks of Mott physics, such as spectral weight transfer and the formation of quasiparticle states at the Fermi level, well-defined Fermi contour segments, and a sharp singularity in the density of states. These observations are remarkably similar to those made in complex oxide materials, including high-temperature superconductors, but highly extraordinary within the realm of conventional s p -bonded semiconductor materials. It suggests that exotic quantum matter phases can be realized and engineered on silicon-based materials platforms.

Magnetar Giant Flares in Multipolar Magnetic Fields. III. Multipolar Magnetic Field Structure Variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Guang-Rui; Huang, Lei; Yu, Cong; Shen, Zhi-Qiang

2018-02-01

We have analyzed the multipolar magnetic field structure variation at neutron star surface by means of the catastrophic eruption model and find that the variation of the geometry of multipolar fields on the magnetar surface could result in the catastrophic rearrangement of the magnetosphere, which provides certain physical mechanism for the outburst of giant flares. The magnetospheric model we adopted consists of two assumptions: (1) a helically twisted flux rope is suspended in an ideal force-free magnetosphere around the magnetar, and (2) a current sheet emerges during the flux rope evolution. Magnetic energy accumulates during the flux rope’s gradual evolution along with the variation of magnetar surface magnetic structure before the eruption. The two typical behaviors, either state transition or catastrophic escape, would take place once the flux rope loses equilibrium; thus, tremendous accumulated energy is radiated. We have investigated the equilibrium state of the flux rope and the energy release affected by different multipolar structures and find structures that could trigger violent eruption and provide the radiation approximately 0.5% of the total magnetic energy during the giant flare outburst. Our results provide certain multipolar structures of the neutron star’s magnetic field with an energy release percentage 0.42% in the state transition and 0.51% in the catastrophic escape case, which are sufficient for the previously reported energy release from SGR 1806–20 giant flares.

Targeting Neuroblastoma Cell Surface Proteins: Recommendations for Homology Modeling of hNET, ALK, and TrkB.

PubMed

Haddad, Yazan; Heger, Zbyněk; Adam, Vojtech

2017-01-01

Targeted therapy is a promising approach for treatment of neuroblastoma as evident from the large number of targeting agents employed in clinical practice today. In the absence of known crystal structures, researchers rely on homology modeling to construct template-based theoretical structures for drug design and testing. Here, we discuss three candidate cell surface proteins that are suitable for homology modeling: human norepinephrine transporter (hNET), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 2 (NTRK2 or TrkB). When choosing templates, both sequence identity and structure quality are important for homology modeling and pose the first of many challenges in the modeling process. Homology modeling of hNET can be improved using template models of dopamine and serotonin transporters instead of the leucine transporter (LeuT). The extracellular domains of ALK and TrkB are yet to be exploited by homology modeling. There are several idiosyncrasies that require direct attention throughout the process of model construction, evaluation and refinement. Shifts/gaps in the alignment between the template and target, backbone outliers and side-chain rotamer outliers are among the main sources of physical errors in the structures. Low-conserved regions can be refined with loop modeling method. Residue hydrophobicity, accessibility to bound metals or glycosylation can aid in model refinement. We recommend resolving these idiosyncrasies as part of "good modeling practice" to obtain highest quality model. Decreasing physical errors in protein structures plays major role in the development of targeting agents and understanding of chemical interactions at the molecular level.

A response surface methodology based damage identification technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, S. E.; Perera, R.

2009-06-01

Response surface methodology (RSM) is a combination of statistical and mathematical techniques to represent the relationship between the inputs and outputs of a physical system by explicit functions. This methodology has been widely employed in many applications such as design optimization, response prediction and model validation. But so far the literature related to its application in structural damage identification (SDI) is scarce. Therefore this study attempts to present a systematic SDI procedure comprising four sequential steps of feature selection, parameter screening, primary response surface (RS) modeling and updating, and reference-state RS modeling with SDI realization using the factorial design (FD) and the central composite design (CCD). The last two steps imply the implementation of inverse problems by model updating in which the RS models substitute the FE models. The proposed method was verified against a numerical beam, a tested reinforced concrete (RC) frame and an experimental full-scale bridge with the modal frequency being the output responses. It was found that the proposed RSM-based method performs well in predicting the damage of both numerical and experimental structures having single and multiple damage scenarios. The screening capacity of the FD can provide quantitative estimation of the significance levels of updating parameters. Meanwhile, the second-order polynomial model established by the CCD provides adequate accuracy in expressing the dynamic behavior of a physical system.

Overview on the Surface Functionalization Mechanism and Determination of Surface Functional Groups of Plasma Treated Carbon Nanotubes.

PubMed

Saka, Cafer

2018-01-02

The use of carbon materials for many applications is due to the unique diversity of structures and properties ranging from chemical bonds between the carbon atoms of the materials to nanostructures, crystallite alignment, and microstructures. Carbon nanotubes and other nanoscale carbonaceous materials draw much attention due to their physical and chemical properties, such as high strength, high resistance to corrosion, electrical and thermal conductivity, stability and a qualified adsorbent. Carbon-based nanomaterials, which have a relatively large specific area and layered structure, can be used as an adsorbent for efficient removal of organic and inorganic contaminants. However, one of the biggest obstacles to the development of carbon-based nanomaterials adsorbents is insolubility and the lack of functional groups on the surface. There are several approaches to introduce functional groups on carbon nanotubes. One of these approaches, plasma applications, now has an important place in the creation of surface functional groups as a flexible, fast, and environmentally friendly method. This review focuses on recent information concerning the surface functionalization and modification of plasma treated carbon nanotube. This review considers the surface properties, advantages, and disadvantages of plasma-applied carbon nanotubes. It also examines the reaction mechanisms involved in the functional groups on the surface.

From coherent to incoherent mismatched interfaces: A generalized continuum formulation of surface stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dingreville, Rémi; Hallil, Abdelmalek; Berbenni, Stéphane

2014-12-01

The equilibrium of coherent and incoherent mismatched interfaces is reformulated in the context of continuum mechanics based on the Gibbs dividing surface concept. Two surface stresses are introduced: a coherent surface stress and an incoherent surface stress, as well as a transverse excess strain. The coherent surface stress and the transverse excess strain represent the thermodynamic driving forces of stretching the interface while the incoherent surface stress represents the driving force of stretching one crystal while holding the other fixed and thereby altering the structure of the interface. These three quantities fully characterize the elastic behavior of coherent and incoherent interfaces as a function of the in-plane strain, the transverse stress and the mismatch strain. The isotropic case is developed in detail and particular attention is paid to the case of interfacial thermo-elasticity. This exercise provides an insight on the physical significance of the interfacial elastic constants introduced in the formulation and illustrates the obvious coupling between the interface structure and its associated thermodynamics quantities. Finally, an example based on atomistic simulations of Cu/Cu2O interfaces is given to demonstrate the relevance of the generalized interfacial formulation and to emphasize the dependence of the interfacial thermodynamic quantities on the incoherency strain with an actual material system.

From coherent to incoherent mismatched interfaces. A generalized continuum formulation of surface stresses

DOE PAGES

Dingreville, Rémi; Hallil, Abdelmalek; Berbenni, Stéphane

2014-08-19

The equilibrium of coherent and incoherent mismatched interfaces is reformulated in the context of continuum mechanics based on the Gibbs dividing surface concept. Two surface stresses are introduced: a coherent surface stress and an incoherent surface stress, as well as a transverse excess strain. Additionally, the coherent surface stress and the transverse excess strain represent the thermodynamic driving forces of stretching the interface while the incoherent surface stress represents the driving force of stretching one crystal while holding the other fixed and thereby altering the structure of the interface. These three quantities fully characterize the elastic behavior of coherent andmore » incoherent interfaces as a function of the in-plane strain, the transverse stress and the mismatch strain. The isotropic case is developed in detail and particular attention is paid to the case of interfacial thermo-elasticity. This exercise provides an insight on the physical significance of the interfacial elastic constants introduced in the formulation and illustrates the obvious coupling between the interface structure and its associated thermodynamics quantities. Finally, an example based on atomistic simulations of Cu/Cu 2O interfaces is given to demonstrate the relevance of the generalized interfacial formulation and to emphasize the dependence of the interfacial thermodynamic quantities on the incoherency strain with an actual material system.« less

Surface modification induced by UV nanosecond Nd:YVO4 laser structuring on biometals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorucci, M. Paula; López, Ana J.; Ramil, Alberto

2014-08-01

Laser surface texturing is a promising tool for improving metallic biomaterials performance in dental and orthopedic bone-replacing applications. Laser ablation modifies the topography of bulk material and might alter surface properties that govern the interactions with the surrounding tissue. This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of surface modifications in two biometals, stainless steel 316L and titanium alloy Ti6Al4V by UV nanosecond Nd:YVO4. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface textured by parallel micro-grooves reveals a thin layer of remelted material along the grooves topography. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction allowed us to appreciate a grain refinement of original crystal structure and consequently induced residual strain. Changes in the surface chemistry were determined by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; in this sense, generalized surface oxidation was observed and characterization of the oxides and other compounds such hydroxyl groups was reported. In case of titanium alloy, oxide layer mainly composed by TiO2 which is a highly biocompatible compound was identified. Furthermore, laser treatment produces an increase in oxide thickness that could improve the corrosion behavior of the metal. Otherwise, laser treatment led to the formation of secondary phases which might be detrimental to physical and biocompatibility properties of the material.

Acquired pellicle as a modulator for dental erosion.

PubMed

Vukosavljevic, Dusa; Custodio, William; Buzalaf, Marilia A R; Hara, Anderson T; Siqueira, Walter L

2014-06-01

Dental erosion is a multifactorial condition that can result in the loss of tooth structure and function, potentially increasing tooth sensitivity. The exposure of enamel to acids from non-bacterial sources is responsible for the progression of erosion. These erosive challenges are counteracted by the anti-erosive properties of the acquired pellicle (AP), an integument formed in vivo as a result of selective adsorption of salivary proteins on the tooth surface, containing also lipids and glycoproteins. This review provides an in-depth discussion regarding how the physical structure of the AP, along with its composition, contributes to AP anti-erosive properties. The physical properties that contribute to AP protective nature include pellicle thickness, maturation time, and site of development. The pellicle contains salivary proteins embedded within its structure that demonstrate anti-erosive properties; however, rather than individual proteins, protein-protein interactions play a fundamental role in the protective nature of the AP. In addition, dietary and synthetic proteins can modify the pellicle, enhancing its protective efficiency against dental erosion. The salivary composition of the AP and its corresponding protein-profile may be employed as a diagnostic tool, since it likely contains salivary biomarkers for oral diseases that initiate at the enamel surface, including dental erosion. Finally, by modifying the composition and structure of the AP, this protein integument has the potential to be used as a target-specific treatment option for oral diseases related to tooth demineralization. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Effects of structural imperfection on gelatinization characteristics of amylopectin starches with A- and B-type crystallinity.

PubMed

Genkina, Natalia K; Wikman, Jeanette; Bertoft, Eric; Yuryev, Vladimir P

2007-07-01

The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of physical structures on the properties of starch granules. Starches with a high amylopectin content possessing A- and B-type crystallinity were chosen for the study. The gelatinization temperature decreased in the following order: maize (A) > potato (B) > wheat (A) > barley (A), which did not reflect a correlation with the type of crystallinity. Low values of gelatinization temperature were accompanied with high free surface energy of the crystallites. It is proposed that these data are caused by different types of imperfections in starch crystals. Annealing resulted in an enhancement of the gelatinization temperature and a decrease of the free surface energy of the crystallites for all starches reflecting a partial improvement of crystalline perfection. A limited acid hydrolysis (lintnerization) of the starches decreased the gelatinization temperature because of a partial disruption of the crystalline lamellae and an increase of the amount of defects on the edges of the crystallites. Annealing of the lintnerized starches improved the structure of maize and potato starch, giving them similar structural and physicochemical parameters, which was opposite the behavior of the annealed sample from wheat. The possible nature of removable and nonremovable defects inside the crystalline region of the starch granules is discussed. It is concluded that, besides the allomorphic A- and B-types of crystal packing, physical defects in the crystals possess a major impact on starch gelatinization.

Gracility of the modern Homo sapiens skeleton is the result of decreased biomechanical loading.

PubMed

Ryan, Timothy M; Shaw, Colin N

2015-01-13

The postcranial skeleton of modern Homo sapiens is relatively gracile compared with other hominoids and earlier hominins. This gracility predisposes contemporary humans to osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. Explanations for this gracility include reduced levels of physical activity, the dissipation of load through enlarged joint surfaces, and selection for systemic physiological characteristics that differentiate modern humans from other primates. This study considered the skeletal remains of four behaviorally diverse recent human populations and a large sample of extant primates to assess variation in trabecular bone structure in the human hip joint. Proximal femur trabecular bone structure was quantified from microCT data for 229 individuals from 31 extant primate taxa and 59 individuals from four distinct archaeological human populations representing sedentary agriculturalists and mobile foragers. Analyses of mass-corrected trabecular bone variables reveal that the forager populations had significantly higher bone volume fraction, thicker trabeculae, and consequently lower relative bone surface area compared with the two agriculturalist groups. There were no significant differences between the agriculturalist and forager populations for trabecular spacing, number, or degree of anisotropy. These results reveal a correspondence between human behavior and bone structure in the proximal femur, indicating that more highly mobile human populations have trabecular bone structure similar to what would be expected for wild nonhuman primates of the same body mass. These results strongly emphasize the importance of physical activity and exercise for bone health and the attenuation of age-related bone loss.

Controlled implant/soft tissue interaction by nanoscale surface modifications of 3D porous titanium implants.

PubMed

Rieger, Elisabeth; Dupret-Bories, Agnès; Salou, Laetitia; Metz-Boutigue, Marie-Helene; Layrolle, Pierre; Debry, Christian; Lavalle, Philippe; Vrana, Nihal Engin

2015-06-07

Porous titanium implants are widely employed in the orthopaedics field to ensure good bone fixation. Recently, the use of porous titanium implants has also been investigated in artificial larynx development in a clinical setting. Such uses necessitate a better understanding of the interaction of soft tissues with porous titanium structures. Moreover, surface treatments of titanium have been generally evaluated in planar structures, while the porous titanium implants have complex 3 dimensional (3D) architectures. In this study, the determining factors for soft tissue integration of 3D porous titanium implants were investigated as a function of surface treatments via quantification of the interaction of serum proteins and cells with single titanium microbeads (300-500 μm in diameter). Samples were either acid etched or nanostructured by anodization. When the samples are used in 3D configuration (porous titanium discs of 2 mm thickness) in vivo (in subcutis of rats for 2 weeks), a better integration was observed for both anodized and acid etched samples compared to the non-treated implants. If the implants were also pre-treated with rat serum before implantation, the integration was further facilitated. In order to understand the underlying reasons for this effect, human fibroblast cell culture tests under several conditions (directly on beads, beads in suspension, beads encapsulated in gelatin hydrogels) were conducted to mimic the different interactions of cells with Ti implants in vivo. Physical characterization showed that surface treatments increased hydrophilicity, protein adsorption and roughness. Surface treatments also resulted in improved adsorption of serum albumin which in turn facilitated the adsorption of other proteins such as apolipoprotein as quantified by protein sequencing. The cellular response to the beads showed considerable difference with respect to the cell culture configuration. When the titanium microbeads were entrapped in cell-laden gelatin hydrogels, significantly more cells migrated towards the acid etched beads. In conclusion, the nanoscale surface treatment of 3D porous titanium structures can modulate in vivo integration by the accumulative effect of the surface treatment on several physical factors such as protein adsorption, surface hydrophilicity and surface roughness. The improved protein adsorption capacity of the treated implants can be further exploited by a pre-treatment with autologous serum to render the implant surface more bioactive. Titanium microbeads are a good model system to observe these effects in a 3D microenvironment and provide a better representation of cellular responses in 3D.

Identification of surface domain structure on enamel crystals using polyamidoamine dendrimer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Haifeng; Clarkson, Brian H.; Orr, Bradford; Majoros, Istvan; Banaszak Holl, Mark M.

2002-03-01

The control of hydroxyapatite crystal nucleation and crystal growth is central to the mineralization and remineralization of enamel and dentin of teeth. However, the precise biomolecular mechanisms involved remain obscure. The intimate association between the crystal's surface and extracellular protein components implies a modulating role for organic crystal interactions probably mediated via specific crystal surface domains. These include lattice defects and specific stereochemical arrays on associated organic molecules. The nature of protein-crystal interaction depends upon the physical forces of attraction / repulsion between specific biomolecular groups and crystal surface domains. The proposed study is to utilize specific polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, also known as “artificial proteins”, acting as nanoprobe. These will be used to probe specific surface domain on the surface of the naturally derived crystals of hydroxyapatite and to determine how control of growth and dissolution may be affected at the biomolecular level. The hydroxyapatite crystals are extracted from the maturation stage enamel of rats. Three types of PAMAM dendrimers, respectively with amine-, carboxylic acid and methyl-capped surface, will be applied in the study. The dendrimer binding on the surface of the hydoxyapatite crystals will be characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The different dendrimer binding on the crystals will disclose the specific surface domain structure on the crystals, which is assumed to be important in binding the extracellular protein.

Theoretical aspects of the equivalence principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damour, Thibault

2012-09-01

We review several theoretical aspects of the equivalence principle (EP). We emphasize the unsatisfactory fact that the EP maintains the absolute character of the coupling constants of physics, while general relativity and its generalizations (Kaluza-Klein, …, string theory) suggest that all absolute structures should be replaced by dynamical entities. We discuss the EP-violation phenomenology of dilaton-like models, which is likely to be dominated by the linear superposition of two effects: a signal proportional to the nuclear Coulomb energy, related to the variation of the fine-structure constant, and a signal proportional to the surface nuclear binding energy, related to the variation of the light quark masses. We recall various theoretical arguments (including a recently proposed anthropic argument) suggesting that the EP be violated at a small, but not unmeasurably small level. This motivates the need for improved tests of the EP. These tests are probing new territories in physics that are related to deep, and mysterious, issues in fundamental physics.

Methods and devices for fabricating three-dimensional nanoscale structures

DOEpatents

Rogers, John A.; Jeon, Seokwoo; Park, Jangung

2010-04-27

The present invention provides methods and devices for fabricating 3D structures and patterns of 3D structures on substrate surfaces, including symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns of 3D structures. Methods of the present invention provide a means of fabricating 3D structures having accurately selected physical dimensions, including lateral and vertical dimensions ranging from 10s of nanometers to 1000s of nanometers. In one aspect, methods are provided using a mask element comprising a conformable, elastomeric phase mask capable of establishing conformal contact with a radiation sensitive material undergoing photoprocessing. In another aspect, the temporal and/or spatial coherence of electromagnetic radiation using for photoprocessing is selected to fabricate complex structures having nanoscale features that do not extend entirely through the thickness of the structure fabricated.

Lightness Constancy in Surface Visualization

PubMed Central

Szafir, Danielle Albers; Sarikaya, Alper; Gleicher, Michael

2016-01-01

Color is a common channel for displaying data in surface visualization, but is affected by the shadows and shading used to convey surface depth and shape. Understanding encoded data in the context of surface structure is critical for effective analysis in a variety of domains, such as in molecular biology. In the physical world, lightness constancy allows people to accurately perceive shadowed colors; however, its effectiveness in complex synthetic environments such as surface visualizations is not well understood. We report a series of crowdsourced and laboratory studies that confirm the existence of lightness constancy effects for molecular surface visualizations using ambient occlusion. We provide empirical evidence of how common visualization design decisions can impact viewers’ abilities to accurately identify encoded surface colors. These findings suggest that lightness constancy aids in understanding color encodings in surface visualization and reveal a correlation between visualization techniques that improve color interpretation in shadow and those that enhance perceptions of surface depth. These results collectively suggest that understanding constancy in practice can inform effective visualization design. PMID:26584495

Controllable synthesizing DLC nano structures as a super hydrophobic layer on cotton fabric using a low-cost ethanol electrospray-assisted atmospheric plasma jet.

PubMed

Sohbatzadeh, F; Eshghabadi, M; Mohsenpour, T

2018-06-29

The surface modification of cotton samples was carried out using a liquid (ethanol) electrospray-assisted atmospheric pressure plasma jet. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman analysis confirmed the successful deposition of diamond like carbon (DLC) nano structures on the cotton surface. The super hydrophobic state of the samples was probed by contact angle measurements. The water repellency of the layers was tuned by controlling the voltage applied to the electrospray electrode. An investigation of the morphological and chemical structures of the samples by field emission scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and XPS indicated that the physical shape, distribution and amorphization of the DLC structures were successfully adjusted and improved by applying a voltage to the electrospray electrode. Finally wash durability of the best sample was tested for 35 cycles. In this work, the use of a well-developed atmospheric pressure plasma jet for DLC nano structures deposition can enable a promising environmentally friendly and low-cost approach for modifying cotton fabrics for super water-repellent fabric applications.

Convection roll-driven generation of supra-wavelength periodic surface structures on dielectrics upon irradiation with femtosecond pulsed lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsibidis, George D.; Skoulas, Evangelos; Papadopoulos, Antonis; Stratakis, Emmanuel

2016-08-01

The significance of the magnitude of the Prandtl number of a fluid in the propagation direction of induced convection rolls is elucidated. Specifically, we report on the physical mechanism to account for the formation and orientation of previously unexplored supra-wavelength periodic surface structures in dielectrics, following melting and subsequent capillary effects induced upon irradiation with ultrashort laser pulses. Counterintuitively, it is found that such structures exhibit periodicities, which are markedly, even multiple times, higher than the laser excitation wavelength. It turns out that the extent to which the hydrothermal waves relax depends upon the laser beam energy, produced electron densities upon excitation with femtosecond pulsed lasers, the magnitude of the induced initial local roll disturbances, and the magnitude of the Prandtl number with direct consequences on the orientation and size of the induced structures. It is envisaged that this elucidation may be useful for the interpretation of similar, albeit large-scale periodic or quasiperiodic structures formed in other natural systems due to thermal gradients, while it can also be of great importance for potential applications in biomimetics.

Front surface structured targets for enhancing laser-plasma interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snyder, Joseph; George, Kevin; Ji, Liangliang; Yalamanchili, Sasir; Simonoff, Ethan; Cochran, Ginevra; Daskalova, Rebecca; Poole, Patrick; Willis, Christopher; Lewis, Nathan; Schumacher, Douglass

2016-10-01

We present recent progress made using front surface structured interfaces for enhancing ultrashort, relativistic laser-plasma interactions. Structured targets can increase laser absorption and enhance ion acceleration through a number of mechanisms such as direct laser acceleration and laser guiding. We detail experimental results obtained at the Scarlet laser facility on hollow, micron-scale plasma channels for enhancing electron acceleration. These targets show a greater than three times enhancement in the electron cutoff energy as well as an increased slope temperature for the electron distribution when compared to a flat interface. Using three-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, we have modeled the interaction to give insight into the physical processes responsible for the enhancement. Furthermore, we have used PIC simulations to design structures that are more advantageous for ion acceleration. Such targets necessitate advanced target fabrication methods and we describe techniques used to manufacture optimized structures, including vapor-liquid-solid growth, cryogenic etching, and 3D printing using two-photon-polymerization. This material is based upon work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Award Number FA9550-14-1-0085.

Burial preservation of trace fossils as indicator of storm deposition

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

Martin, A.J.

Positive semirelief epichnia (ridgelike trace fossils on the top surface of a bed) commonly represent burrow structures, perhaps originally supported by a mucoidal matrix, that have been infilled by sediment. The preservation of these structures, in addition to other trace fossils on a bed superface, suggests an instantaneous burial event and a minimum of concomitant erosion. This supposition can be verified by an absence of paucity of biogenic sedimentary structures accompanied by certain physical sedimentary structures (laminated shell hashes, graded bedding, fissile shales) in strata directly overlying bioturbated surfaces. The main process involved in this burial preservation (the rapid burialmore » of biogenic sedimentary structures with minimum erosion) are probably storm-generated in most instances. Sediments would be deposited primarily in the suspension mode, and mean storm wave base would be slightly above the sediment-water interface. This burial preservation model is most applicable to relatively small stratigraphic intervals (several centimeters or decimeters) representing deposition on an open-marine shelf. Positive semirelief epichnia, interpreted as burrow system infilling, from the Cincinnatian Series (Upper Ordovician) of Ohio and Indiana are used to illustrate these concepts.« less

Experimental study on spatio-temporal behavior of a single particle forming a particle accumulation structure (PAS) in half-zone liquid bridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oba, Takeru; Ueno, Ichiro; Kaneko, Toshihiro

2017-11-01

We focus on particle behavior due to thermocapillary-driven convection in a half-zone liquid bridge of high-Prandtl number fluid. It has been known that the suspended particles exhibit a unique solid-like structure known as 'particle accumulation structure (PAS)' in a rotating frame of reference with traveling-type hydrothermal wave. It is said that PAS is caused by interaction between particles and the free surface of a half-zone liquid bridge. Such structures arise even under small Stokes number conditions. When observing PAS two-dimensionally, it looks like a closed single string, but the actual movement of particles is different. Therefore we employ three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry to the half-zone liquid bridge of 2.5 mm in radius and 1.7 mm in height, and detect the particle behaviors close to the free surface. We explain the spatio-temporal correlation between the solid-like global structure of PAS and the local particle motions, and make comparisons with proposed physical models of PAS formation.

Controllable synthesizing DLC nano structures as a super hydrophobic layer on cotton fabric using a low-cost ethanol electrospray-assisted atmospheric plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohbatzadeh, F.; Eshghabadi, M.; Mohsenpour, T.

2018-06-01

The surface modification of cotton samples was carried out using a liquid (ethanol) electrospray-assisted atmospheric pressure plasma jet. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman analysis confirmed the successful deposition of diamond like carbon (DLC) nano structures on the cotton surface. The super hydrophobic state of the samples was probed by contact angle measurements. The water repellency of the layers was tuned by controlling the voltage applied to the electrospray electrode. An investigation of the morphological and chemical structures of the samples by field emission scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and XPS indicated that the physical shape, distribution and amorphization of the DLC structures were successfully adjusted and improved by applying a voltage to the electrospray electrode. Finally wash durability of the best sample was tested for 35 cycles. In this work, the use of a well-developed atmospheric pressure plasma jet for DLC nano structures deposition can enable a promising environmentally friendly and low-cost approach for modifying cotton fabrics for super water-repellent fabric applications.

Progress in Applied Surface, Interface and Thin Film Science 2015. Solar Renewable Energy News IV, November 23-26, 2015, Florence, Italy (SURFINT-SREN IV)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2017-02-01

The main goal of the conference is to contribute to new knowledge in surface, interface, ultra-thin films and very-thin films science of inorganic and organic materials by the most rapid interactive manner - by direct communication among scientists of corresponding research fields. The list of topics indicates that conference interests cover the development of basic theoretical physical and chemical principles and performance of surfaces-, thin films-, and interface-related procedures, and corresponding experimental research on atomic scale. Topical results are applied at development of new inventive industrial equipments needed for investigation of electrical, optical, and structural properties, and other parameters of atomic-size research objects. The conference range spreads, from physical point of view, from fundamental research done on sub-atomic and quantum level to production of devices built on new physical principles. The conference topics include also presentation of principally new devices in following fields: solar cells, liquid crystal displays, high-temperature superconductivity, and sensors. During the event, special attention will be given to evaluation of scientific and technical quality of works prepared by PhD students, to deep ecological meaning of solar cell energy production, and to exhibitions of companies.

Liquid interfacial water and brines in the upper surface of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moehlmann, Diedrich

2013-04-01

Liquid interfacial water and brines in the upper surface of Mars Diedrich T.F. Möhlmann DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstr. 2, D - 12489 Berlin, Germany dirk.moehlmann@dlr.de Interfacial water films and numerous brines are known to remain liquid at temperatures far below 0° C. The physical processes behind are described in some detail. Deliquescence, i.e. the liquefaction of hygroscopic salts at the threshold of a specific "Deliquescence Relative Humidity", is shown to be that process, which on present Mars supports the formation of stable interfacial water and bulk liquids in form of temporary brines on and in a salty upper surface of present Mars in a diurnally temporary and repetitive process. Temperature and relative humidity are the governing conditions for deliquescence (and the counterpart "efflorescence") to evolve. The current thermo-dynamical conditions on Mars support these processes to evolve on present Mars. The deliquescence-driven presence of liquid brines in the soil of the upper surface of Mars can expected to be followed by physical and chemical processes like "surface cementation", down-slope flows, and physical and chemical weathering processes. A remarkable and possibly also biologically relevant evolution towards internally interfacial water bearing structures of dendritic capillaries is related to their freezing - thawing driven formation. The internal walls of these network-pores or -tubes can be covered by films of interfacial water, providing that way possibly habitable crack-systems in soil and rock. These evolutionary processes of networks, driven by their tip-growth, can expected to be ongoing also at present.

An all-water-based system for robust superhydrophobic surfaces.

PubMed

Liu, Mingming; Hou, Yuanyuan; Li, Jing; Tie, Lu; Guo, Zhiguang

2018-06-01

Superhydrophobic surfaces with micro-/nanohierarchical structures are mechanically weak. Generally, organic solvents are used to dissolve or disperse organic adhesives and modifiers to enhance the mechanical strength of superhydrophobic surfaces. In this work, an all-water-based spraying solution is developed for the preparation of robust superhydrophobic surfaces, which contains ZnO nanoparticles, aluminum phosphate as an inorganic adhesive, and polytetrafluoroethylene with low surface energy. The all-water-based system is appreciated for low price and less pollution. Importantly, the prepared superhydrophobic surfaces are durable enough against various harsh conditions (such as UV irradiation for 12 h, pH values from 1 to 13, and temperatures from -10 to 300 °C for 12 h) and physical damages (including sandpaper abrasion and sand impact tests for 50 cycles). In addition, the obtained interfacial materials show promise for practical applications such as anti-icing and oil-water separation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Complex technology of vacuum-arc processing of structural material surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arustamov, V. N.; Ashurov, Kh. B.; Kadyrov, Kh. Kh.; Khudoikulov, I. Kh.

2015-08-01

The development of environmentally friendly and energy-resource-saving technologies based on vacuum arc discharge is a topical problem in science and engineering. In view of their unique properties, cathode spots of a vacuum arc induce cleaning of the surface of an article (cathode) from various contaminations and pulsed thermal action on the surface layers. These processes occur in complex with vacuum-arc deposition of coatings in the same technological cycle, which makes it possible to considerably increase the efficiency of methods for changing physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the surface of steel articles, which considerably increase their service life. Analysis of the formation of the temperature regime of the surface during vacuum arc action and of the parameters of the deposited coating will make it possible to optimize the regimes of complex treatment of the surfaces of articles and is of considerable theoretical and practical importance.

Research of Adhesion Bonds Between Gas-Thermal Coating and Pre-Modified Base

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovalevskaya, Z.; Zaitsev, K.; Klimenov, V.

2016-08-01

Nature of adhesive bonds between gas-thermal nickel alloy coating and carbon steel base was examined using laser profilometry, optical metallography, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The steel surface was plastically pre-deformed by an ultrasonic tool. Proved that ultrasound pre-treatment modifies the steel surface. Increase of dislocation density and formation of sub micro-structure are base elements of surface modification. While using high-speed gas-flame, plasma and detonation modes of coatings, surface activation occurs and durable adhesion is formed. Ultrasonic pre-treatment of base material is effective when sprayed particles and base material interact through physical-chemical bond formation. Before applying high-speed gas flame and plasma sprayed coatings, authors recommend ultrasonic pretreatment, which creates periodic wavy topography with a stroke of 250 microns on the steel surface. Before applying detonation sprayed coatings, authors recommend ultrasound pretreatment that create modified surface with a uniform micro-topography.

Improvement and mechanism of interfacial adhesion in PBO fiber/bismaleimide composite by oxygen plasma treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dong; Chen, Ping; Mu, Jujie; Yu, Qi; Lu, Chun

2011-05-01

The improved interfacial adhesion of PBO fiber-reinforced bismaleimide composite by oxygen plasma processing was investigated in this paper. After treatment, the maximum value of interlaminar shear strength was 57.5 MPa, with an increase of 28.9%. The oxygen concentration of the fiber surface increased, as did the surface roughness, resulting in improvement of the surface wettability. The cleavage and rearrangement of surface bonds created new functional groups O dbnd C sbnd O, N sbnd C dbnd O and N sbnd O, thereby activating the fiber surface. And long-time treatment increased the reaction degree of surface groups while destroyed the newly-created physical structures. The enhancement of adhesion relied primarily on the strengthening of chemical bonding and mechanical interlocking between the fiber and the matrix. The composite rupture planes indicated that the fracture failure shifted from the interface to the matrix or the fiber.

Effects of Accelerated Deglaciation on Chemical Characteristics of Sub-arctic Lakes and Rivers in South and West Iceland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritter, M.; Strock, K.; Edwards, B. R.

2017-12-01

Glaciers and their associated paraglacial landscapes have changed rapidly over the past century, and may see increased rates of melt as temperatures increase in high latitude environments. As glaciers recede, glacial meltwater subsidies increase to inland freshwater systems, influencing their structure and function. Evidence suggests melting ice influences the chemical characteristics of systems by providing nutrient subsidies, while inputs of glacial flour influence their physical structure by affecting temperature, reducing water clarity and increasing turbidity. Together, changes in physical and chemical structure of these systems have subsequent effects on biota, with the potential to lower taxonomic richness. This study characterized the chemistry of rivers and lakes fed by glacial meltwater in sub-arctic environments of Iceland, where there is limited limnological data. The survey characterized nutrient chemistry, dissolved organic carbon, and ion chemistry. We surveyed glacial meltwater from six glaciers in south and west Iceland, using the drainage basin of Gigjökull glacier along the southern coast as a detailed study area to examine the interactions between groundwater and surface runoff. The southern systems, within the Eastern Volcanic Zone, have minimal soil development and active volcanoes produce ash input to lakes. Lakes in the Western Volcanic Zone were more diverse, located in older bedrock with more extensively weathered soil. Key differences were observed between aquatic environments subsidized with glacial meltwater and those without. This included physical effects, such as lower temperatures and chemical effects such as lower conductivity and higher pH in glacially fed systems. In the drainage basin of Gigjökull glacier, lakes formed after the former lagoon was emptied and then partly refilled with debris from jokulhlaups during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption. These newly formed lakes resembled non-glacial melt systems despite receiving glacial melt via indirect pathways. The effects of changing glacial inputs to inland freshwater systems are complex, and will be felt over a wide range of time scales. The systems in Gigjökull basin suggest once systems no longer receive glacial surface water melt, they will experience rapid shifts in physical and chemical structure.

National Synchrotron Light Source annual report 1991

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

Hulbert, S.L.; Lazarz, N.M.

1992-04-01

This report discusses the following research conducted at NSLS: atomic and molecular science; energy dispersive diffraction; lithography, microscopy and tomography; nuclear physics; UV photoemission and surface science; x-ray absorption spectroscopy; x-ray scattering and crystallography; x-ray topography; workshop on surface structure; workshop on electronic and chemical phenomena at surfaces; workshop on imaging; UV FEL machine reviews; VUV machine operations; VUV beamline operations; VUV storage ring parameters; x-ray machine operations; x-ray beamline operations; x-ray storage ring parameters; superconducting x-ray lithography source; SXLS storage ring parameters; the accelerator test facility; proposed UV-FEL user facility at the NSLS; global orbit feedback systems; and NSLSmore » computer system.« less

Minimum surface-effect microgripper design for force-reflective telemanipulation of a microscopic environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldfarb, Michael; Celanovic, Nikola

1996-01-01

This paper describes the fundamental physical motivations for a minimum surface effect design, and presents a microgripper that incorporates a piezoelectric ceramic actuator and a flexure-based structure and transmission. The microgripper serves effectively as a one degree-of-freedom prototype of a minimum surface effect micromanipulator design. Data is presented that characterizes the microgripper performance under both pure position and pure force control, followed by a discussion of the attributes and limitations of flexure-based design. The microgripper is interfaced with a force reflective macrogripper, and the pair is controlled with a hybrid position/force scheme. Data is presented that illustrates the effective operation of the telerobotic pair.

The Characteristics of Fatigue Damage in the Fuselage Riveted Lap Splice Joint

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Piascik, Robert S.; Willard, Scott A.

1997-01-01

An extensive data base has been developed to form the physical basis for new analytical methodology to predict the onset of widespread fatigue damage in the fuselage lap splice joint. The results of detailed destructive examinations have been cataloged to describe the physical nature of MSD in the lap splice joint. ne catalog includes a detailed description, e.g., crack initiation, growth rates, size, location, and fracture morphology, of fatigue damage in the fuselage lap splice joint structure. Detailed examinations were conducted on a lap splice joint panel removed from a full scale fuselage test article after completing a 60,000 cycle pressure test. The panel contained a four bay region that exhibited visible outer skin cracks and regions of crack link-up along the upper rivet row. Destructive examinations revealed undetected fatigue damage in the outer skin, inner skin, and tear strap regions. Outer skin fatigue cracks were found to initiate by fretting damage along the faying surface. The cracks grew along the faying surface to a length equivalent to two to three skin thicknesses before penetrating the outboard surface of the outer skin. Analysis of fracture surface marker bands produced during full scale testing revealed that all upper rivet row fatigue cracks contained in a dim bay region grow at similar rates; this important result suggests that fracture mechanics based methods can be used to predict the growth of outer skin fatigue cracks in lap splice structure. Results are presented showing the affects of MSD and out-of-plane pressure loads on outer skin crack link-up.

Comprehensive surface treatment of high-speed steel tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedorov, Sergey V.; Aleshin, Sergey V.; Swe, Min Htet; Abdirova, Raushan D.; Kapitanov, Alexey V.; Egorov, Sergey B.

2018-03-01

One of the promising directions of hardening of high-speed steel tool is the creation on their surface of the layered structures with the gradient of physic-chemical properties between the wear-resistant coatings to the base material. Among the methods of such surface modification, a special process takes place based on the use of pulsed high-intensity charged particle beams. The high speed of heating and cooling allows structural-phase transformations in the surface layer, which cannot be realized in a stationary mode. The treatment was conducted in a RITM-SP unit, which constitutes a combination of a source of low-energy high-current electron beams "RITM" and two magnetron spraying systems on a single vacuum chamber. The unit enables deposition of films on the surface of the desired product and subsequent liquid-phase mixing of materials of the film and the substrate by an intense pulse electron beam. The article discusses features of the structure of the subsurface layer of high-speed steel M2, modified by surface alloying of a low-energy high-current electron beam, and its effect on the wear resistance of the tool when dry cutting hard to machine Nickel alloy. A significant decrease of intensity of wear of high-speed steel with combined treatment happens due to the displacement of the zone of wear and decrease the radius of rounding of the cutting edge because of changes in conditions of interaction with the material being treated.

Quantification of microscopic surface features of single point diamond turned optics with subsequent chemical polishing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardenas, Nelson; Kyrish, Matthew; Taylor, Daniel; Fraelich, Margaret; Lechuga, Oscar; Claytor, Richard; Claytor, Nelson

2015-03-01

Electro-Chemical Polishing is routinely used in the anodizing industry to achieve specular surface finishes of various metals products prior to anodizing. Electro-Chemical polishing functions by leveling the microscopic peaks and valleys of the substrate, thereby increasing specularity and reducing light scattering. The rate of attack is dependent of the physical characteristics (height, depth, and width) of the microscopic structures that constitute the surface finish. To prepare the sample, mechanical polishing such as buffing or grinding is typically required before etching. This type of mechanical polishing produces random microscopic structures at varying depths and widths, thus the electropolishing parameters are determined in an ad hoc basis. Alternatively, single point diamond turning offers excellent repeatability and highly specific control of substrate polishing parameters. While polishing, the diamond tool leaves behind an associated tool mark, which is related to the diamond tool geometry and machining parameters. Machine parameters such as tool cutting depth, speed and step over can be changed in situ, thus providing control of the spatial frequency of the microscopic structures characteristic of the surface topography of the substrate. By combining single point diamond turning with subsequent electro-chemical etching, ultra smooth polishing of both rotationally symmetric and free form mirrors and molds is possible. Additionally, machining parameters can be set to optimize post polishing for increased surface quality and reduced processing times. In this work, we present a study of substrate surface finish based on diamond turning tool mark spatial frequency with subsequent electro-chemical polishing.

Capillary Assembly of Colloids: Interactions on Planar and Curved Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Iris B.; Sharifi-Mood, Nima; Stebe, Kathleen J.

2018-03-01

In directed assembly, small building blocks are assembled into an organized structure under the influence of guiding fields. Capillary interactions provide a versatile route for structure formation. Colloids adsorbed on fluid interfaces distort the interface, which creates an associated energy field. When neighboring distortions overlap, colloids interact to minimize interfacial area. Contact line pinning, particle shape, and surface chemistry play important roles in structure formation. Interface curvature acts like an external field; particles migrate and assemble in patterns dictated by curvature gradients. We review basic analysis and recent findings in this rapidly evolving literature. Understanding the roles of assembly is essential for tuning the mechanical, physical, and optical properties of the structure.

Modelling periodic structure formation on 100Cr6 steel after irradiation with femtosecond-pulsed laser beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsibidis, George D.; Mimidis, Alexandros; Skoulas, Evangelos; Kirner, Sabrina V.; Krüger, Jörg; Bonse, Jörn; Stratakis, Emmanuel

2018-01-01

We investigate the periodic structure formation upon intense femtosecond pulsed irradiation of chrome steel (100Cr6) for linearly polarised laser beams. The underlying physical mechanism of the laser-induced periodic structures is explored, their spatial frequency is calculated and theoretical results are compared with experimental observations. The proposed theoretical model comprises estimations of electron excitation, heat transfer, relaxation processes, and hydrodynamics-related mass transport. Simulations describe the sequential formation of sub-wavelength ripples and supra-wavelength grooves. In addition, the influence of the laser wavelength on the periodicity of the structures is discussed. The proposed theoretical investigation offers a systematic methodology towards laser processing of steel surfaces with important applications.

The Influence of Abrasion on Martian Dust Grains: Evidence from a Study of Antigorite Grains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bishop, Janice L.; Drief, Ahmed; Dyar, M. Darby

2003-01-01

Grinding was shown to greatly affect the structure and a number of properties of antigorite grains in a study by Drief and Nieto. Grinding is likely to influence the structure of most clay mineral grains and has been shown recently to influence the structure of kaolinite. The antigorite structure includes curved waves of layered silicate as shown by D dony et al.. Our study was performed in order to characterize in detail changes in the mineral grains resulting from grinding and to assess the influence of physical processes on clay minerals on the surface of Mars. This project includes a combination of SEM, reflectance spectroscopy and Moessbauer spectroscopy.

Flow Physics of Synthetic Jet Interactions on a Sweptback Model with a Control Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monastero, Marianne; Amitay, Michael

2016-11-01

Active flow control using synthetic jets can be used on aerodynamic surfaces to improve performance and increase fuel efficiency. The flowfield resulting from the interaction of the jets with a separated crossflow with a spanwise component must be understood to determine actuator spacing for aircraft integration. The current and previous work showed adjacent synthetic jets located upstream of a control surface hingeline on a sweptback model interact with each other under certain conditions. Whether these interactions are constructive or destructive is dependent on the spanwise spacing of the jets, the severity of separation over the control surface, and the magnitude of the spanwise flow. Measuring and understanding the detailed flow physics of the flow structures emanating from the synthetic jet orifices and their interactions with adjacent jets of varying spacings is the focus of this work. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Subsonic Wind Tunnel using stereo particle image velocimetry (SPIV) and pressure measurements to study the effect that varying the spanwise spacing has on the overall performance. Initial SPIV data gave insight into defining and understanding the mechanisms behind the beneficial or detrimental jets interactions.

Dispersionless Manipulation of Reflected Acoustic Wavefront by Subwavelength Corrugated Surface

PubMed Central

Zhu, Yi-Fan; Zou, Xin-Ye; Li, Rui-Qi; Jiang, Xue; Tu, Juan; Liang, Bin; Cheng, Jian-Chun

2015-01-01

Free controls of optic/acoustic waves for bending, focusing or steering the energy of wavefronts are highly desirable in many practical scenarios. However, the dispersive nature of the existing metamaterials/metasurfaces for wavefront manipulation necessarily results in limited bandwidth. Here, we propose the concept of dispersionless wavefront manipulation and report a theoretical, numerical and experimental work on the design of a reflective surface capable of controlling the acoustic wavefront arbitrarily without bandwidth limitation. Analytical analysis predicts the possibility to completely eliminate the frequency dependence with a specific gradient surface which can be implemented by designing a subwavelength corrugated surface. Experimental and numerical results, well consistent with the theoretical predictions, have validated the proposed scheme by demonstrating a distinct phenomenon of extraordinary acoustic reflection within an ultra-broad band. For acquiring a deeper insight into the underlying physics, a simple physical model is developed which helps to interpret this extraordinary phenomenon and predict the upper cutoff frequency precisely. Generations of planar focusing and non-diffractive beam have also been exemplified. With the dispersionless wave-steering capability and deep discrete resolution, our designed structure may open new avenue to fully steer classical waves and offer design possibilities for broadband optical/acoustical devices. PMID:26077772

Microbial shaping of wrinkle structures in siliciclastic deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bosak, T.; Mariotti, G.; Pruss, S. B.; Perron, J.; O'Grady, M.

2013-12-01

Wrinkle structures are millimeter- to centimeter-scale elongated or reticulate sedimentary structures that resemble symmetric ripples. Sharp-crested and flat-topped wrinkle structures up to 1 cm wide occur on numerous bedding planes in the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian, as well as in some Archean and Phanerozoic siliciclastic deposits. Because similar, but unlithified structures occur in some modern, microbially-colonized sands, wrinkle structures are typically interpreted as microbially induced sedimentary structures. However, it is unclear if physical processes, such as the motion of suspended sand grains, can produce similar features in sand even before microbial colonization. We introduced mat fragments to the surface of silica sand in wave tanks and generated sharp-crested, flat-topped and pitted wrinkle structures. The abrasion of the sandy surface by rolling, low density, millimeter-size fragments of microbial mats produces wrinkle structures at extremely weak orbital velocities that cannot move sand grains in the absence of light particles. Wrinkle structures form in a few hours and can become colonized by microbial mats within weeks. Thus, wrinkle structures are patterns formed by microbially mediated sand motion at low orbital velocities in the absence of bioturbation. Once formed, wrinkle structures can be colonized and stabilized by microbial mats, but the shape of these mats does not dictate the shape of wrinkle structures. These experiments bolster the interpretation of wrinkle structures as morphological signatures of organic particles and early life in Archean and Proterozoic siliciclastic deposits.

Investigation of Surface Enhanced Coherent Raman Scattering on Nano-patterned Insect Wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ujj, Laszlo; Lawhead, Carlos

2015-03-01

Many insect wings (cicadas, butterflies, mosquitos) poses nano-patterned surface structure. Characterization of surface morphology and chemical composition of insect wings is important to understand the extreme mechanical properties and the biophysical functionalities of the wings. We have measured the image of the membrane of a cicada's wing with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results confirm the existing periodic structure of the wing measured previously. In order to identify the chemical composition of the wing, we have deposited silver nanoparticles on it and applied Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy to measure the vibrational spectra of the molecules comprising the wing for the first time. The measured spectra are consistent with the original assumption that the wing membrane is composed of protein, wax, and chitin. The results of these studies can be used to measure other nano-patterned surfaces and to make artificial materials in the future. Authors grateful for financial support from the Department of Physics of the College of Sciences Engineering and Health of UWF and the Pall Corporation for SEM imaging.

Reorientation of the diagonal double-stripe spin structure at Fe 1+yTe bulk and thin-film surfaces

DOE PAGES

Hanke, Torben; Singh, Udai Raj; Cornils, Lasse; ...

2017-01-06

Here, establishing the relation between ubiquitous antiferromagnetism in the parent compounds of unconventional superconductors and their superconducting phase is important for understanding the complex physics in these materials. Going from bulk systems to thin films additionally affects their phase diagram. For Fe 1+yTe, the parent compound of Fe 1+ySe 1$-x$Tex superconductors, bulk-sensitive neutron diffraction revealed an in-plane oriented diagonal double-stripe antiferromagnetic spin structure. Here we show by spin-resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy that the spin direction at the surfaces of bulk Fe 1+yTe and thin films grown on the topological insulator Bi 2Te 3 is canted out of the high-symmetry directionsmore » of the surface unit cell resulting in a perpendicular spin component, keeping the diagonal double-stripe order. As the magnetism of the Fe d-orbitals is intertwined with the superconducting pairing in Fe-based materials, our results imply that the superconducting properties at the surface of the related superconducting compounds might be different from the bulk.« less

Reorientation of the diagonal double-stripe spin structure at Fe 1+yTe bulk and thin-film surfaces

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

Hanke, Torben; Singh, Udai Raj; Cornils, Lasse

Here, establishing the relation between ubiquitous antiferromagnetism in the parent compounds of unconventional superconductors and their superconducting phase is important for understanding the complex physics in these materials. Going from bulk systems to thin films additionally affects their phase diagram. For Fe 1+yTe, the parent compound of Fe 1+ySe 1$-x$Tex superconductors, bulk-sensitive neutron diffraction revealed an in-plane oriented diagonal double-stripe antiferromagnetic spin structure. Here we show by spin-resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy that the spin direction at the surfaces of bulk Fe 1+yTe and thin films grown on the topological insulator Bi 2Te 3 is canted out of the high-symmetry directionsmore » of the surface unit cell resulting in a perpendicular spin component, keeping the diagonal double-stripe order. As the magnetism of the Fe d-orbitals is intertwined with the superconducting pairing in Fe-based materials, our results imply that the superconducting properties at the surface of the related superconducting compounds might be different from the bulk.« less

Tensegrity II. How structural networks influence cellular information processing networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ingber, Donald E.

2003-01-01

The major challenge in biology today is biocomplexity: the need to explain how cell and tissue behaviors emerge from collective interactions within complex molecular networks. Part I of this two-part article, described a mechanical model of cell structure based on tensegrity architecture that explains how the mechanical behavior of the cell emerges from physical interactions among the different molecular filament systems that form the cytoskeleton. Recent work shows that the cytoskeleton also orients much of the cell's metabolic and signal transduction machinery and that mechanical distortion of cells and the cytoskeleton through cell surface integrin receptors can profoundly affect cell behavior. In particular, gradual variations in this single physical control parameter (cell shape distortion) can switch cells between distinct gene programs (e.g. growth, differentiation and apoptosis), and this process can be viewed as a biological phase transition. Part II of this article covers how combined use of tensegrity and solid-state mechanochemistry by cells may mediate mechanotransduction and facilitate integration of chemical and physical signals that are responsible for control of cell behavior. In addition, it examines how cell structural networks affect gene and protein signaling networks to produce characteristic phenotypes and cell fate transitions during tissue development.

Development of a cyber physical apparatus for investigating fluid structure interaction on leading edge vortex evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghu Gowda, Belagumba Venkatachalaiah

This dissertation examines how simple structural compliance impacts a specific transient vortex phenomenon that occurs on high angle of attack lifting surfaces termed dynamic stall. In many Fluid structure interaction (FSI) research efforts, a purely physical or purely computational approach is taken. In this work a low cost cyber-physical (CPFD) system is designed and developed for representing the FSI in the leading edge vortex (LEV) development problem. The leading edge compliance appears to be favorable in a specific spring constant range for a given wing. When the leading edge compliance prescribed via CPFD system is too low compared with the moment due to dynamic pressure or fluid unsteady effect, the LEV behavior is similar to that of a rigid wing system. When the leading edge compliance is too high, excessive compliance is introduced into the wing system and the leading edge vortex evolution is affected by the large change in wing angle. At moderate leading edge compliance, a balance appears to be achieved in which the leading edge vorticity shedding rate supports the long term evolution of the leading edge vortex. Further investigation is required to determine specific parameters governing these leading edge compliance ranges.

Surface- and Contour-Preserving Origamic Architecture Paper Pop-Ups.

PubMed

Le, Sang N; Leow, Su-Jun; Le-Nguyen, Tuong-Vu; Ruiz, Conrado; Low, Kok-Lim

2013-08-02

Origamic architecture (OA) is a form of papercraft that involves cutting and folding a single sheet of paper to produce a 3D pop-up, and is commonly used to depict architectural structures. Because of the strict geometric and physical constraints, OA design requires considerable skill and effort. In this paper, we present a method to automatically generate an OA design that closely depicts an input 3D model. Our algorithm is guided by a novel set of geometric conditions to guarantee the foldability and stability of the generated pop-ups. The generality of the conditions allows our algorithm to generate valid pop-up structures that are previously not accounted for by other algorithms. Our method takes a novel image-domain approach to convert the input model to an OA design. It performs surface segmentation of the input model in the image domain, and carefully represents each surface with a set of parallel patches. Patches are then modified to make the entire structure foldable and stable. Visual and quantitative comparisons of results have shown our algorithm to be significantly better than the existing methods in the preservation of contours, surfaces and volume. The designs have also been shown to more closely resemble those created by real artists.

Surface and contour-preserving origamic architecture paper pop-ups.

PubMed

Le, Sang N; Leow, Su-Jun; Le-Nguyen, Tuong-Vu; Ruiz, Conrado; Low, Kok-Lim

2014-02-01

Origamic architecture (OA) is a form of papercraft that involves cutting and folding a single sheet of paper to produce a 3D pop-up, and is commonly used to depict architectural structures. Because of the strict geometric and physical constraints, OA design requires considerable skill and effort. In this paper, we present a method to automatically generate an OA design that closely depicts an input 3D model. Our algorithm is guided by a novel set of geometric conditions to guarantee the foldability and stability of the generated pop-ups. The generality of the conditions allows our algorithm to generate valid pop-up structures that are previously not accounted for by other algorithms. Our method takes a novel image-domain approach to convert the input model to an OA design. It performs surface segmentation of the input model in the image domain, and carefully represents each surface with a set of parallel patches. Patches are then modified to make the entire structure foldable and stable. Visual and quantitative comparisons of results have shown our algorithm to be significantly better than the existing methods in the preservation of contours, surfaces, and volume. The designs have also been shown to more closely resemble those created by real artists.

Environmental barriers and enablers to physical activity participation among rural adults: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Cleland, Verity; Hughes, Clarissa; Thornton, Lukar; Squibb, Kathryn; Venn, Alison; Ball, Kylie

2015-08-01

Social-ecological models of health behaviour acknowledge environmental influences, but research examining how the environment shapes physical activity in rural settings is limited. This study aimed to explore the environmental factors that act as barriers or facilitators to physical activity participation among rural adults. Forty-nine adults from three regions of rural Tasmania, Australia, participated in semi-structured interviews that explored features of the environment that supported or hindered physical activity. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Four key themes emerged: functionality, diversity, spaces and places for all and realistic expectations. 'Functionality' included connectivity with other destinations, distance, safety, continuity, supporting infrastructure and surfacing. While there was limited 'diversity' of structured activities and recreational facilities, the importance of easy and convenient access to a natural environment that accommodated physical activity was highlighted. 'Spaces and places for all' highlighted the importance of shared-use areas, particularly those that were family- and dog-friendly. Despite desires for more physical activity opportunities, many participants had 'realistic expectations' of what was feasible in rural settings. Functionality, diversity, spaces and places for all and realistic expectations were identified as considerations important for physical activity among rural adults. Further research using quantitative approaches in larger samples is needed to confirm these findings. SO WHAT? Urban-centric views of environmental influences on physical activity are unlikely to be entirely appropriate for rural areas. Evidence-based recommendations are provided for creating new or modifying existing infrastructure to support active living in rural settings.

Observation of water mass characteristics in the southwestern Mariana Trench

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, H.; Xie, Q.; Hong, B.

2016-12-01

The identification of large water mass characteristic can help oceanographer to better understand the oceanic circulation structures and other physical processes in open oceans. In current stage, the water mass characteristics were recognized well by extensive observation in the upper ocean, however, it was rarely studied in deep oceans, especially for deep trench with > 6000 m depth. In this study, we use observed data collected by CTDs during several surveys to investigate the water mass physical characteristic and transport in the world deepest trench, `Challenger Deep', in the southwestern Mariana Trench. The preliminary results show complex vertical structures of water mass in this trench. From surface to 4500 m, the water masses are occupied by typical tropical surface water, NPTUW, NPMW, NPIW and NPDW. Under 4500m, the water mass shows mixing characteristics of NPDW and AABW, which indicate AABW can be transported by form the deep ocean of the South Ocean to Northwestern Pacific and it can affect local water mass characteristics. The baroclinic geostrophic current calculated from the CTDs data shows the westerly transport of water mass can reach about 1.0 SV in the trench which is close to previous results.

Molecule formation and infrared emission in fast interstellar shocks. I Physical processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollenbach, D.; Mckee, C. F.

1979-01-01

The paper analyzes the structure of fast shocks incident upon interstellar gas of ambient density from 10 to the 7th per cu cm, while focusing on the problems of formation and destruction of molecules and infrared emission in the cooling, neutral post shock gas. It is noted that such fast shocks initially dissociate almost all preexisting molecules. Discussion covers the physical processes which determine the post shock structure between 10 to the 4 and 10 to the 2 K. It is shown that the chemistry of important molecular coolants H2, CO, OH, and H2O, as well as HD and CH, is reduced to a relatively small set of gas phase and grain surface reactions. Also, the chemistry follows the slow conversion of atomic hydrogen into H2, which primarily occurs on grain surfaces. The dependence of this H2 formation rate on grain and gas temperatures is examined and the survival of grains behind fast shocks is discussed. Post shock heating and cooling rates are calculated and an appropriate, analytic, universal cooling function is developed for molecules other than hydrogen which includes opacities from both the dust and the lines.

Surface microtopography modulates sealing zone development in osteoclasts cultured on bone

PubMed Central

Addadi, Lia; Geiger, Benjamin

2017-01-01

Bone homeostasis is continuously regulated by the coordinated action of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Imbalance between these two cell populations leads to pathological bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteopetrosis. Osteoclast functionality relies on the formation of sealing zone (SZ) rings that define the resorption lacuna. It is commonly assumed that the structure and dynamic properties of the SZ depend on the physical and chemical properties of the substrate. Considering the unique complex structure of native bone, elucidation of the relevant parameters affecting SZ formation and stability is challenging. In this study, we examined in detail the dynamic response of the SZ to the microtopography of devitalized bone surfaces, taken from the same area in cattle femur. We show that there is a significant enrichment in large and stable SZs (diameter larger than 14 µm; lifespan of hours) in cells cultured on rough bone surfaces, compared with small and fast turning over SZ rings (diameter below 7 µm; lifespan approx. 7 min) formed on smooth bone surfaces. Based on these results, we propose that the surface roughness of the physiologically relevant substrate of osteoclasts, namely bone, affects primarily the local stability of growing SZs. PMID:28202594

Membrane mimetic surface functionalization of nanoparticles: Methods and applications

PubMed Central

Weingart, Jacob; Vabbilisetty, Pratima; Sun, Xue-Long

2013-01-01

Nanoparticles (NPs), due to their size-dependent physical and chemical properties, have shown remarkable potential for a wide range of applications over the past decades. Particularly, the biological compatibilities and functions of NPs have been extensively studied for expanding their potential in areas of biomedical application such as bioimaging, biosensing, and drug delivery. In doing so, surface functionalization of NPs by introducing synthetic ligands and/or natural biomolecules has become a critical component in regards to the overall performance of the NP system for its intended use. Among known examples of surface functionalization, the construction of an artificial cell membrane structure, based on phospholipids, has proven effective in enhancing biocompatibility and has become a viable alternative to more traditional modifications, such as direct polymer conjugation. Furthermore, certain bioactive molecules can be immobilized onto the surface of phospholipid platforms to generate displays more reminiscent of cellular surface components. Thus, NPs with membrane-mimetic displays have found use in a range of bioimaging, biosensing, and drug delivery applications. This review herein describes recent advances in the preparations and characterization of integrated functional NPs covered by artificial cell membrane structures and their use in various biomedical applications. PMID:23688632

Low-energy electron diffraction study of Si(111)-(√3x √3)R30∘ -B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marino, K. E.; Huang, Y. T.; Diehl, R. D.; Tu, Weison; Mulugeta, Daniel; Snijders, P. C.; Weitering, H. H.

2014-03-01

Metal-semiconductor interfaces are important for the function and manufacture of advanced electronics, such as those used in computers, tablets and phones. They also exhibit many interesting physical phenomena that are interesting from a fundamental point of view, including exotic phases and phase transitions. This study involves the analysis and modeling of the surface structure of a thin film of boron on the Si(111) surface. The addition of metal atoms to the surface of Si(111) simplifies its structure by removing a ``rippling'' that is present on the clean surface. The low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) data were measured at a surface temperature of 80 K at ORNL. The LEED analysis utilized the SATLEED analysis programs. The results are similar to those obtained in an earlier LEED study for this interface, but the precision is higher due to the larger dataset employed., The results of this study will be compared to other studies of this and similar systems. We acknowledge the Eberly College of Science for funding this project. González, Guo, Ortega, Flores, Weitering. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 115501 (2009)

Superhydrophobic nanostructured Kapton® surfaces fabricated through Ar + O2 plasma treatment: Effects of different environments on wetting behaviour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barshilia, Harish C.; Ananth, A.; Gupta, Nitant; Anandan, C.

2013-03-01

Kapton® [poly (4,4'-oxy diphenylene pyromellitimide)] polyimides have widespread usage in semiconductor devices, solar arrays, protective coatings and space applications, due to their excellent chemical and physical properties. In addition to their inherent properties, imparting superhydrophobicity on these surfaces will be an added advantage. Present work describes the usage of Ar + O2 plasma treatment for the preparation of superhydrophobic Kapton® surfaces. Immediately after the plasma treatment, the surfaces showed superhydrophilicity as a result of high energy dangling bonds and polar group concentration. But the samples kept in low vacuum for 48 h exhibited superhydrophobicity with high water contact angles (>150°). It is found that the post plasma treatment process, called ageing, especially in low vacuum plays an important role in delivering superhydrophobic property to Kapton®. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to probe the physical changes in the surface of the Kapton®. The surfaces showed formation of nano-feathers and nano-tussock microstructures with variation in surface roughness against plasma treatment time. A thorough chemical investigation was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy, which revealed changes in the surface of the Ar + O2 plasma treated Kapton®. Surface chemical species of Kapton® were confirmed again by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra for untreated surfaces whereas Ar + O2 plasma treated samples showed the de-bonding and re-organization of structural elements. Creation of surface roughness plays a dominant role in the contribution of superhydrophobicity to Kapton® apart from the surface modifications due to Ar + O2 plasma treatment and ageing in low vacuum.

SURFACE DENSITY EFFECTS IN QUENCHING: CAUSE OR EFFECT?

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

Lilly, Simon J.; Carollo, C. Marcella

2016-12-10

There are very strong observed correlations between the specific star formation rates (sSFRs) of galaxies and their mean surface mass densities, Σ, as well as other aspects of their internal structure. These strong correlations have often been taken to argue that the internal structure of a galaxy must play a major physical role, directly or indirectly, in the control of star formation. In this paper we show by means of a very simple toy model that these correlations can arise naturally without any such physical role once the observed evolution of the size–mass relation for star-forming galaxies is taken intomore » account. In particular, the model reproduces the sharp threshold in Σ between galaxies that are star-forming and those that are quenched and the evolution of this threshold with redshift. Similarly, it produces iso-quenched-fraction contours in the f {sub Q}( m , R {sub e}) plane that are almost exactly parallel to lines of constant Σ for centrals and shallower for satellites. It does so without any dependence on quenching on size or Σ and without invoking any differences between centrals and satellites, beyond the different mass dependences of their quenching laws. The toy model also reproduces several other observations, including the sSFR gradients within galaxies and the appearance of inside-out build-up of passive galaxies. Finally, it is shown that curvature in the main-sequence sSFR–mass relation can produce curvature in the apparent B / T ratios with mass. Our analysis therefore suggests that many of the strong correlations that are observed between galaxy structure and sSFR may well be a consequence of things unrelated to quenching and should not be taken as evidence of the physical processes that drive quenching.« less

Surface modification of titanium nitride film by a picosecond Nd:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gakovic, B.; Trtica, M.; Batani, D.; Desai, T.; Panjan, P.; Vasiljevic-Radovic, D.

2007-06-01

The interaction of a picosecond Nd:YAG laser (wavelength 532 nm, pulse duration 40 ps) with a polycrystalline titanium nitride (TiN) film was studied. The TiN thin film was deposited by physical vapour deposition on a silicon substrate. The titanium nitride/silicon system was modified with an energy fluence from 0.2 to 5.9 J cm-2. Multi-pulse irradiation was performed in air by a focused laser beam. Surface modifications were analysed after 1 100 successive laser pulses. Depending on the laser pulse energy and pulse count, the following phenomena were observed: (i) increased surface roughness, (ii) titanium nitride film cracking, (iii) silicon substrate modification, (iv) film exfoliation and (v) laser-induced periodical surface structures on nano- (NPSS) and micro-dimensions (MPSS).

Communication: transition state theory for dissipative systems without a dividing surface.

PubMed

Revuelta, F; Bartsch, Thomas; Benito, R M; Borondo, F

2012-03-07

Transition state theory is a central cornerstone in reaction dynamics. Its key step is the identification of a dividing surface that is crossed only once by all reactive trajectories. This assumption is often badly violated, especially when the reactive system is coupled to an environment. The calculations made in this way then overestimate the reaction rate and the results depend critically on the choice of the dividing surface. In this Communication, we study the phase space of a stochastically driven system close to an energetic barrier in order to identify the geometric structure unambiguously determining the reactive trajectories, which is then incorporated in a simple rate formula for reactions in condensed phase that is both independent of the dividing surface and exact. © 2012 American Institute of Physics

Water at surfaces with tunable surface chemistries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanders, Stephanie E.; Vanselous, Heather; Petersen, Poul B.

2018-03-01

Aqueous interfaces are ubiquitous in natural environments, spanning atmospheric, geological, oceanographic, and biological systems, as well as in technical applications, such as fuel cells and membrane filtration. Where liquid water terminates at a surface, an interfacial region is formed, which exhibits distinct properties from the bulk aqueous phase. The unique properties of water are governed by the hydrogen-bonded network. The chemical and physical properties of the surface dictate the boundary conditions of the bulk hydrogen-bonded network and thus the interfacial properties of the water and any molecules in that region. Understanding the properties of interfacial water requires systematically characterizing the structure and dynamics of interfacial water as a function of the surface chemistry. In this review, we focus on the use of experimental surface-specific spectroscopic methods to understand the properties of interfacial water as a function of surface chemistry. Investigations of the air-water interface, as well as efforts in tuning the properties of the air-water interface by adding solutes or surfactants, are briefly discussed. Buried aqueous interfaces can be accessed with careful selection of spectroscopic technique and sample configuration, further expanding the range of chemical environments that can be probed, including solid inorganic materials, polymers, and water immiscible liquids. Solid substrates can be finely tuned by functionalization with self-assembled monolayers, polymers, or biomolecules. These variables provide a platform for systematically tuning the chemical nature of the interface and examining the resulting water structure. Finally, time-resolved methods to probe the dynamics of interfacial water are briefly summarized before discussing the current status and future directions in studying the structure and dynamics of interfacial water.

Electronic structure studies of adsorbate-induced surface reconstructions: oxygen on Rh(1 0 0)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirsch, Janet E.; Harris, Suzanne

2004-03-01

Solid-state Fenske-Hall band structure calculations have been used to study the electronic structure and bonding that occur on an "asymmetric" clock reconstructed Rh(1 0 0) surface with a half-monolayer of O atom adsorbates. The displacement of the top-layer Rh atoms on reconstructed O/Rh(1 0 0) is similar to that observed when a half-monolayer of C or N atoms adsorb onto clean Ni(1 0 0). Unlike the five-coordinate C or N adsorbates that adsorb into effectively coplanar sites on the Ni(1 0 0) surface, however, O atoms sit well above the Rh surface plane and occupy three-coordinate adsorption sites. The results of these calculations show that the asymmetric clock reconstruction of O/Rh(1 0 0) increases the negative charge localized on the highly electronegative O atoms and strengthens the O-Rh bonding relative to an unreconstructed surface. This suggests that, in contrast to the C(N)/Ni(1 0 0) clock, which appears to be driven primarily by the restoration of metal-metal bonding, the asymmetric O/Rh(1 0 0) clock reconstruction is driven by the optimization of the O atom bonding environment. Comparisons of the O/Rh(1 0 0) and C(N, O)/Ni(1 0 0) surfaces further indicate that the electronegativity and electron count of the adsorbed species, as well as the electron count and physical size of the metal, all play a role in determining the preferred atomic geometries of these adsorbate-covered transition metal surfaces.

Mutual influence of molecular diffusion in gas and surface phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hori, Takuma; Kamino, Takafumi; Yoshimoto, Yuta; Takagi, Shu; Kinefuchi, Ikuya

2018-01-01

We develop molecular transport simulation methods that simultaneously deal with gas- and surface-phase diffusions to determine the effect of surface diffusion on the overall diffusion coefficients. The phenomenon of surface diffusion is incorporated into the test particle method and the mean square displacement method, which are typically employed only for gas-phase transport. It is found that for a simple cylindrical pore, the diffusion coefficients in the presence of surface diffusion calculated by these two methods show good agreement. We also confirm that both methods reproduce the analytical solution. Then, the diffusion coefficients for ink-bottle-shaped pores are calculated using the developed method. Our results show that surface diffusion assists molecular transport in the gas phase. Moreover, the surface tortuosity factor, which is known to be uniquely determined by physical structure, is influenced by the presence of gas-phase diffusion. This mutual influence of gas-phase diffusion and surface diffusion indicates that their simultaneous calculation is necessary for an accurate evaluation of the diffusion coefficients.

The Lunar dusty plasmas -levitation and transport.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atamaniuk, Barbara; Rothkaehl, Hanna

Lunar dust can exhibit unusual behavior -due to electron photoemission via solar-UV radiation the lunar surface represents a complex plasma -"dusty plasma". The dust grains and lunar surface are electrostatically charged by the Moon's interaction with the local plasma environ-ment and the photoemission of electrons due to solar UV and X-rays. This effect causes the like-charged surface and dust particles to repel each other, and creates a near-surface electric field. Lunar dust must be treated as a dusty plasma. Using analytic (kinetic (Vlasov) and magnetohydrodynamic theory ) and numerical modeling we show physical processes related to levitation and transport dusty plasma on the Moon. These dust grains could affect the lunar environment for radio wave and plasma diagnostics and interfere with exploration activities. References: 1. Wilson T.L. (1992), in Analysis of Interplanetary Dust, M. Zolensky et al. AIP Conf.Proc. 310, 33-44 (AIP, NY), 2.Wilson T.L."LUNAR DUST AND DUSTY PLASMA PHYSICS".40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2009), 3. Grün E., et al.(1993),Nature 363, 144. 4. Morfill G. and Grün E.(1979), Planet. Space Sci.. 27, 1269, 1283, 5. Manka R. and Michel F. (1971), Proc. 2nd Lun. Sci. Conf. 2, 1717 (MIT Press, Cambridge). 6. Manka R. et al.(1973), Lun. Sci.-III, 504. 7. Barbara Atamaniuk "Kinetic Description of Localized Plasma Structure in Dusty Plasmas". Czechoslovak Journal of Physics Vol.54 C 2004

Physical Processing of Cometary Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weissman, Paul R.; Stern, S. Alan

1997-01-01

Cometary nuclei preserve a cosmo-chemical record of conditions and processes in the primordial solar nebula, and possibly even the interstellar medium. However, that record is not perfectly preserved over the age of the solar system due to a variety of physical processes which act to modify cometary surfaces and interiors. Possible structural and/or internal processes include: collisional accretion, disruption, and reassembly during formation; internal heating by long and short-lived radionuclides; amorphous to crystalline phase transitions, and thermal stresses. Identified surface modification processes include: irradiation by galactic cosmic rays, solar protons, UV photons, and the Sun's T Tauri stage mass outflow; heating by passing stars and nearby supernovae; gardening by debris impacts; the accretion of interstellar dust and gas and accompanying erosion by hypervelocity dust impacts and sputtering; and solar heating with accompanying crust formation. These modification processes must be taken into account in both the planning and the interpretation of the results of a Comet Nucleus Sample Return Mission. Sampling of nuclei should be done at as great a depth below the surface crust as technically feasible, and at vents or fissures leading to exposed volatiles at depth. Samples of the expected cometary crust and near-surface layers also need to be returned for analysis to achieve a better understanding of the effects of these physical processes. We stress that comets are still likely less modified dm any other solar system bodies, but the degree of modification can vary greatly from one comet to the next.

Background and survey of bioreplication techniques.

PubMed

Pulsifer, Drew Patrick; Lakhtakia, Akhlesh

2011-09-01

Bioreplication is the direct reproduction of a biological structure in order to realize at least one specific functionality. Current bioreplication techniques include the sol-gel technique, atomic layer deposition, physical vapor deposition, and imprint lithography and casting. The combined use of a focused ion beam and a scanning electron microscope could develop into a bioreplication technique as well. Some of these techniques are more suitable for reproducing surface features, others for bulk three-dimensional structures. Industrial upscaling appears possible only for imprint lithography and casting (which can be replaced by stamping).

Singular structures on liquid rims

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayer, Hans C.; Krechetnikov, Rouslan

2014-03-01

This experimental note is concerned with a new effect we discovered in the course of studying water hammering phenomena. Namely, the ejecta originating from the solid plate impact on a water surface brings about a liquid rim at its edge with the fluid flowing towards the rim center and forming a singular structure resembling a "pancake." Here, we present the experimental observations and a qualitative physical explanation for the effect, which proves to be fundamental to the situation when the size and speed of the impacting body are such that the capillary effects become important.

Combined use of visible, reflected infrared, and thermal infrared images for mapping Hawaiian lava flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abrams, Michael; Abbott, Elsa; Kahle, Anne

1991-01-01

The weathering of Hawaiian basalts is accompanied by chemical and physical changes of the surfaces. These changes have been mapped using remote sensing data from the visible and reflected infrared and thermal infrared wavelength regions. They are related to the physical breakdown of surface chill coats, the development and erosion of silica coatings, the oxidation of mafic minerals, and the development of vegetation cover. These effects show systematic behavior with age and can be mapped using the image data and related to relative ages of pahoehoe and aa flows. The thermal data are sensitive to silica rind development and fine structure of the scene; the reflectance data show the degree of oxidation and differentiate vegetation from aa and cinders. Together, data from the two wavelength regions show more than either separately. The combined data potentially provide a powerful tool for mapping basalt flows in arid to semiarid volcanic environments.

Unraveling the Molecular Weight Dependence of Interfacial Interactions in Poly(2-vinylpyridine)/Silica Nanocomposites

DOE PAGES

Voylov, Dmitry N.; Holt, Adam P.; Doughty, Benjamin; ...

2017-01-10

In this paper, the structure and polymer–nanoparticle interactions among physically adsorbed poly(2-vinylpyridine) chains on the surface of silica nanoparticles (NPs) were systematically studied as a function of molecular weight (MW) by sum frequency generation (SFG) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. Analysis of XPS data identified hydrogen bonds between the polymer and NPs, while SFG evaluated the change in the number of free OH sites on the NP’s surface. Our data revealed that the hydrogen bonds and amount of the free ¯OH sites have a significant dependence on the polymer’s MW. Finally, these results provide clear experimental evidence that the interactionmore » of physically adsorbed chains with nanoparticles is strongly MW dependent and aids in unraveling the microscopic mechanism responsible for the strong MW dependence of dynamics of the interfacial layer in polymer nanocomposites.« less

The Microstructure of Lunar Micrometeorite Impact Craters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noble, S. K.; Keller, L. P.; Christoffersen, R.; Rahman, Z.

2016-01-01

The peak of the mass flux of impactors striking the lunar surface is made up of objects approximately 200 micrometers in diameter that erode rocks, comminute regolith grains, and produce agglutinates. The effects of these micro-scale impacts are still not fully understood. Much effort has focused on evaluating the physical and optical effects of micrometeorite impacts on lunar and meteoritic material using pulsed lasers to simulate the energy deposited into a substrate in a typical hypervelocity impact. Here we characterize the physical and chemical changes that accompany natural micrometeorite impacts into lunar rocks with long surface exposure to the space environment (12075 and 76015). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations were obtained from cross-sections of approximately 10-20 micrometers diameter craters that revealed important micro-structural details of micrometeorite impact processes, including the creation of npFe (sup 0) in the melt, and extensive deformation around the impact site.

Production of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass

PubMed Central

Molgaard, Joshua J.; Auxier, John D.; Giminaro, Andrew V.; Oldham, Colton J.; Gill, Jonathan; Hall, Howard L.

2016-01-01

Realistic surrogate nuclear debris is needed within the nuclear forensics community to test and validate post-detonation analysis techniques. Here we outline a novel process for producing bulk surface debris using a high temperature furnace. The material developed in this study is physically and chemically similar to trinitite (the melt glass produced by the first nuclear test). This synthetic nuclear melt glass is assumed to be similar to the vitrified material produced near the epicenter (ground zero) of any surface nuclear detonation in a desert environment. The process outlined here can be applied to produce other types of nuclear melt glass including that likely to be formed in an urban environment. This can be accomplished by simply modifying the precursor matrix to which this production process is applied. The melt glass produced in this study has been analyzed and compared to trinitite, revealing a comparable crystalline morphology, physical structure, void fraction, and chemical composition. PMID:26779720

Unraveling the Molecular Weight Dependence of Interfacial Interactions in Poly(2-vinylpyridine)/Silica Nanocomposites

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

Voylov, Dmitry N.; Holt, Adam P.; Doughty, Benjamin

In this paper, the structure and polymer–nanoparticle interactions among physically adsorbed poly(2-vinylpyridine) chains on the surface of silica nanoparticles (NPs) were systematically studied as a function of molecular weight (MW) by sum frequency generation (SFG) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. Analysis of XPS data identified hydrogen bonds between the polymer and NPs, while SFG evaluated the change in the number of free OH sites on the NP’s surface. Our data revealed that the hydrogen bonds and amount of the free ¯OH sites have a significant dependence on the polymer’s MW. Finally, these results provide clear experimental evidence that the interactionmore » of physically adsorbed chains with nanoparticles is strongly MW dependent and aids in unraveling the microscopic mechanism responsible for the strong MW dependence of dynamics of the interfacial layer in polymer nanocomposites.« less

The Mass Surface Density Distribution of a High-Mass Protocluster forming from an IRDC and GMC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Wanggi; Tan, Jonathan C.; Kainulainen, Jouni; Ma, Bo; Butler, Michael

2016-01-01

We study the probability distribution function (PDF) of mass surface densities of infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G028.36+00.07 and its surrounding giant molecular cloud (GMC). Such PDF analysis has the potential to probe the physical processes that are controlling cloud structure and star formation activity. The chosen IRDC is of particular interest since it has almost 100,000 solar masses within a radius of 8 parsecs, making it one of the most massive, dense molecular structures known and is thus a potential site for the formation of a high-mass, "super star cluster". We study mass surface densities in two ways. First, we use a combination of NIR, MIR and FIR extinction maps that are able to probe the bulk of the cloud structure that is not yet forming stars. This analysis also shows evidence for flattening of the IR extinction law as mass surface density increases, consistent with increasing grain size and/or growth of ice mantles. Second, we study the FIR and sub-mm dust continuum emission from the cloud, especially utlizing Herschel PACS and SPIRE images. We first subtract off the contribution of the foreground diffuse emission that contaminates these images. Next we examine the effects of background subtraction and choice of dust opacities on the derived mass surface density PDF. The final derived PDFs from both methods are compared, including also with other published studies of this cloud. The implications for theoretical models and simulations of cloud structure, including the role of turbulence and magnetic fields, are discussed.

Surface Tension and Viscosity of SCN and SCN-acetone Alloys at Melting Points and Higher Temperatures Using Surface Light Scattering Spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tin, Padetha; deGroh, Henry C., III.

2003-01-01

Succinonitrile has been and is being used extensively in NASA's Microgravity Materials Science and Fluid Physics programs and as well as in several ground-based and microgravity studies including the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE). Succinonitrile (SCN) is useful as a model for the study of metal solidification, although it is an organic material, it has a BCC crystal structure and solidifies dendriticly like a metal. It is also transparent and has a low melting point (58.08 C). Previous measurements of succinonitrile (SCN) and alloys of succinonitrile and acetone surface tensions are extremely limited. Using the Surface Light Scattering technique we have determined non invasively, the surface tension and viscosity of SCN and SCN-Acetone Alloys at different temperatures. This relatively new and unique technique has several advantages over the classical methods such as, it is non invasive, has good accuracy and measures the surface tension and viscosity simultaneously. The accuracy of interfacial energy values obtained from this technique is better than 2% and viscosity about 10 %. Succinonitrile and succinonitrile-acetone alloys are well-established model materials with several essential physical properties accurately known - except the liquid/vapor surface tension at different elevated temperatures. We will be presenting the experimentally determined liquid/vapor surface energy and liquid viscosity of succinonitrile and succinonitrile-acetone alloys in the temperature range from their melting point to around 100 C using this non-invasive technique. We will also discuss about the measurement technique and new developments of the Surface Light Scattering Spectrometer.

Long range surface plasmons on asymmetric suspended thin film structures for biosensing applications.

PubMed

Min, Qiao; Chen, Chengkun; Berini, Pierre; Gordon, Reuven

2010-08-30

We show that long-range surface plasmons (LRSPs) are supported in a physically asymmetric thin film structure, consisting of a low refractive index medium on a metal slab, supported by a high refractive index dielectric layer (membrane) over air, as a suspended waveguide. For design purposes, an analytic formulation is derived in 1D yielding a transcendental equation that ensures symmetry of the transverse fields of the LRSP within the metal slab by constraining its thicknesses and that of the membrane. Results from the formulation are in quantitative agreement with transfer matrix calculations for a candidate slab waveguide consisting of an H(2)O-Au-SiO(2)-air structure. Biosensor-relevant figures of merit are compared for the asymmetric and symmetric structures, and it is found that the asymmetric structure actually improves performance, despite higher losses. The finite difference method is also used to analyse metal stripes providing 2D confinement on the structure, and additional constraints for non-radiative LRSP guiding thereon are discussed. These results are promising for sensors that operate with an aqueous solution that would otherwise require a low refractive index-matched substrate for the LRSP.