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Stability and post-bifurcation of film-substrate systems
No full textMorphological instabilities in soft solids with free surfaces lead to an array of deformation modes including wrinkling, creasing, folding and ridge localization. While homogeneous systems tend to form creases, stiff films over soft substrates usually exhibit surface waves. Here, we look to analytically investigate this transition through the effects of film stiffness and finite thickness on the post-bifurcation stability of these surface waves. By considering both the film and substrate as compressible Neo-Hookean solids, we apply bifurcation theory and Lyaponov–Schmidt–Koiter asymptotics to produce a phase diagram of the surface wave stability over the parameter space. While earlier works have studied the effect of film-to-substrate stiffness ratios for thin films on deep substrates in the incompressible setting, we consider the additional effects of both finite film thickness and Poisson ratio. To investigate the further evolution of these surface waves, we turn to computational methods through finite-element simulations with bifurcation branch-following techniques. We see that as the unstable surface waves evolve, they eventually lead to the beginnings of crease formation. Thus, when the surface waves are unstable, we would expect snap-back or snap-through behaviour leading to creases
Integrated Solar‐Driven Device with a Front Surface Semitransparent Catalysts for Unassisted CO₂ Reduction
No full textMonolithic integrated photovoltaic-driven electrochemical (PV-EC) artificial photosynthesis is reported for unassisted CO₂ reduction. The PV-EC structures employ triple junction photoelectrodes with a front mounted semitransparent catalyst layer as a photocathode. The catalyst layer is comprised of an array of microscale triangular metallic prisms that redirect incoming light toward open areas of the photoelectrode to reduce shadow losses. Full wave electromagnetic simulations of the prism array (PA) structure guide optimization of geometries and length scales. An integrated device is constructed with Ag catalyst prisms covering 35% of the surface area. The experimental device has close to 80% of the transmittance with a catalytic surface area equivalent 144% of the glass substrate area. Experimentally this photocathode demonstrates a direct solar-to-CO conversion efficiency of 5.9% with 50 h stability. Selective electrodeposition of Cu catalysts onto the surface of the Ag triangular prisms allows CO₂ conversion to higher value products enabling demonstration of a solar-to-C₂₊ product efficiency of 3.1%. This design featuring structures that have a semitransparent catalyst layer on a PV-EC cell is a general solution to light loss by shadowing for front surface mounted metal catalysts, and opens a route for the development of artificial photosynthesis based on this scalable design approach
Quantifying methane emissions from the global scale down to point sources using satellite observations of atmospheric methane
No full textWe review the capability of current and scheduled satellite observations of atmospheric methane in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) to quantify methane emissions from the global scale down to point sources. We cover retrieval methods, precision and accuracy requirements, inverse and mass balance methods for inferring emissions, source detection thresholds, and observing system completeness. We classify satellite instruments as area flux mappers and point source imagers, with complementary attributes. Area flux mappers are high-precision (<1 %) instruments with 0.1–10 km pixel size designed to quantify total methane emissions on regional to global scales. Point source imagers are fine-pixel (<60 m) instruments designed to quantify individual point sources by imaging of the plumes. Current area flux mappers include GOSAT (2009–present), which provides a high-quality record for interpretation of long-term methane trends, and TROPOMI (2018–present), which provides global continuous daily mapping to quantify emissions on regional scales. These instruments already provide a powerful resource to quantify national methane emissions in support of the Paris Agreement. Current point source imagers include the GHGSat constellation and several hyperspectral and multispectral land imaging sensors (PRISMA, Sentinel-2, Landsat-8/9, WorldView-3), with detection thresholds in the 100–10 000 kg h⁻¹ range that enable monitoring of large point sources. Future area flux mappers, including MethaneSAT, GOSAT-GW, Sentinel-5, GeoCarb, and CO2M, will increase the capability to quantify emissions at high resolution, and the MERLIN lidar will improve observation of the Arctic. The averaging times required by area flux mappers to quantify regional emissions depend on pixel size, retrieval precision, observation density, fraction of successful retrievals, and return times in a way that varies with the spatial resolution desired. A similar interplay applies to point source imagers between detection threshold, spatial coverage, and return time, defining an observing system completeness. Expanding constellations of point source imagers including GHGSat and Carbon Mapper over the coming years will greatly improve observing system completeness for point sources through dense spatial coverage and frequent return times
Running Primal-Dual Gradient Method for Time-Varying Nonconvex Problems
No full textThis paper focuses on a time-varying constrained nonconvex optimization problem, and considers the synthesis and analysis of online regularized primal-dual gradient methods to track a Karush--Kuhn--Tucker (KKT) trajectory. The proposed regularized primal-dual gradient method is implemented in a running fashion, in the sense that the underlying optimization problem changes during the execution of the algorithms. In order to study its performance, we first derive its continuous-time limit as a system of differential inclusions. We then study sufficient conditions for tracking a KKT trajectory, and also derive asymptotic bounds for the tracking error (as a function of the time-variability of a KKT trajectory). Further, we provide a set of sufficient conditions for the KKT trajectories not to bifurcate or merge, and also investigate the optimal choice of the parameters of the algorithm. Illustrative numerical results for a time-varying nonconvex problem are provided
TOI-1452 b: SPIRou and TESS Reveal a Super-Earth in a Temperate Orbit Transiting an M4 Dwarf
No full textExploring the properties of exoplanets near or inside the radius valley provides insight on the transition from the rocky super-Earths to the larger, hydrogen-rich atmosphere mini-Neptunes. Here, we report the discovery of TOI-1452b, a transiting super-Earth (Rₚ = 1.67 ± 0.07 R_⊕) in an 11.1 day temperate orbit (T_(eq) = 326 ± 7 K) around the primary member (H = 10.0, T_(eff) = 3185 ± 50 K) of a nearby visual-binary M dwarf. The transits were first detected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, then successfully isolated between the two 3.″2 companions with ground-based photometry from the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic and MuSCAT3. The planetary nature of TOI-1452b was established through high-precision velocimetry with the near-infrared SPIRou spectropolarimeter as part of the ongoing SPIRou Legacy Survey. The measured planetary mass (4.8 ± 1.3 M_⊕) and inferred bulk density (5.6_(-1.6)^(+1.8) g cm⁻³) is suggestive of a rocky core surrounded by a volatile-rich envelope. More quantitatively, the mass and radius of TOI-1452b, combined with the stellar abundance of refractory elements (Fe, Mg, and Si) measured by SPIRou, is consistent with a core-mass fraction of 18% ± 6% and a water-mass fraction of 22₋₁₃⁺²¹%. The water world candidate TOI-1452b is a prime target for future atmospheric characterization with JWST, featuring a transmission spectroscopy metric similar to other well-known temperate small planets such as LHS 1140b and K2-18 b. The system is located near Webb’s northern continuous viewing zone, implying that is can be followed at almost any moment of the year
The distribution of clay minerals and their impact on diagenesis in Glen Torridon, Gale crater, Mars
No full textGlen Torridon (GT) is a recessive-trough feature on the northwestern slope of “Mt. Sharp” in Gale crater, Mars with the highest Fe-/Mg-phyllosilicates abundances detected by the Curiosity rover to date. Understanding the origin of these clay minerals and their relationship with diagenetic processes is critical for reconstructing the nature and habitability of past surface and subsurface environments in Gale crater. We aim to constrain the distribution and extent of diagenesis using compositional and morphological trends observed by visible-to-near infrared reflectance spectra in GT from Mastcam and ChemCam, supported by high-resolution images from the Mars Hand Lens Imager. Spectral features consistent with nontronite and fine-grained red hematite are ubiquitous throughout lower GT, and are strongest where diagenetic features are limited, suggesting that both were formed early, before burial. Diagenetic features increase in both abundance and diversity farther up-section, and we observe morphologic evidence for multiple episodes of diagenesis, with the edge of a diagenetic front partially preserved in the middle stratigraphic member, Knockfarril Hill. Near the contact between GT and the overlying Greenheugh pediment capping unit, we observe a lack of clay minerals with signatures consistent instead with coarse-grained gray hematite, likely formed through late-diagenetic alteration. We hypothesize that the sandstone-dominant Stimson formation acted as a conduit for diagenetic fluid flow into the area and that the clay-rich impermeable GT slowed the flow of those fluids, leading to enhanced alteration surrounding the clay-rich portions of GT, including within the nearby Vera Rubin ridge
Generating coherent phonon waves in narrow-band materials: a twisted bilayer graphene phaser
No full textTwisted bilayer graphene (TBG) exhibits extremely low Fermi velocities for electrons, with the speed of sound surpassing the Fermi velocity. This regime enables the use of TBG for amplifying vibrational waves of the lattice through stimulated emission, following the same principles of operation of free-electron lasers. Our work proposes a lasing mechanism relying on the slow-electron bands to produce a coherent beam of acoustic phonons. We propose a device based on undulated electrons in TBG, which we dub the phaser. The device generates phonon beams in a terahertz (THz) frequency range, which can then be used to produce THz electromagnetic radiation. The ability to generate coherent phonons in solids breaks new ground in controlling quantum memories, probing quantum states, realizing non-equilibrium phases of matter, and designing new types of THz optical devices
The Evolution and Mass Dependence of Galaxy Cluster Pressure Profiles at 0.05 ≤ z ≤ 0.60 and 4 × 10¹⁴ M_⊙ ≤ M₅₀₀ ≤ 30 × 10¹⁴ M_⊙
No full textWe have combined X-ray observations from Chandra with Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect data from Planck and Bolocam to measure intra-cluster medium pressure profiles from 0.03R₅₀₀ ≤ R ≤ 5R₅₀₀ for a sample of 21 low-z galaxy clusters with a median redshift ⟨z⟩ = 0.08 and a median mass ⟨M₅₀₀⟩ = 6.1 × 10¹⁴ M_⊙ and a sample of 19 mid-z galaxy clusters with ⟨z⟩ = 0.50 and ⟨M₅₀₀⟩ = 10.6 × 10¹⁴ M_⊙. The mean scaled pressure in the low-z sample is lower at small radii and higher at large radii, a trend that is accurately reproduced in similarly selected samples from The300 simulations. This difference appears to be primarily due to dynamical state at small radii, evolution at intermediate radii, and a combination of evolution and mass dependence at large radii. Furthermore, the overall flattening of the mean scaled pressure profile in the low-z sample compared to the mid-z sample is consistent with expectations due to differences in mass accretion rate and the fractional impact of feedback mechanisms. In agreement with previous studies, the fractional scatter about the mean scaled pressure profile reaches a minimum of ≃20 per cent near 0.5R₅₀₀. This scatter is consistent between the low-z and mid-z samples at all radii, suggesting it is not strongly impacted by sample selection, and this general behavior is reproduced in The300 simulations. Finally, analytic functions that approximately describe the mass and redshift trends in mean pressure profile shape are provided
Optical Entanglement of Distinguishable Quantum Emitters
No full textSolid-state quantum emitters are promising candidates for the realization of quantum networks, owing to their long-lived spin memories, high-fidelity local operations, and optical connectivity for long-range entanglement. However, due to differences in local environment, solid-state emitters typically feature a range of distinct transition frequencies, which makes it challenging to create optically mediated entanglement between arbitrary emitter pairs. We propose and demonstrate an efficient method for entangling emitters with optical transitions separated by many linewidths. In our approach, electro-optic modulators enable a single photon to herald a parity measurement on a pair of spin qubits. We experimentally demonstrate the protocol using two silicon-vacancy centers in a diamond nanophotonic cavity, with optical transitions separated by 7.4 GHz. Working with distinguishable emitters allows for individual qubit addressing and readout, enabling parallel control and entanglement of both colocated and spatially separated emitters, a key step toward scaling up quantum information processing systems
Comprehensive study of amorphous metal oxide and Ta₂O₅-based mixed oxide coatings for gravitational-wave detectors
No full textHigh finesse optical cavities of current interferometric gravitational-wave detectors are significantly limited in sensitivity by laser quantum noise and coating thermal noise. The thermal noise is associated with internal energy dissipation in the materials that compose the test masses of the interferometer. Our understanding of how the internal friction is linked to the amorphous material structure is limited due to the complexity of the problem and the lack of studies that span over a large range of materials. We present a systematic investigation of amorphous metal oxide and Ta₂O₅-based mixed oxide coatings to evaluate their suitability for low Brownian noise experiments. It is shown that the mechanical loss of metal oxides is correlated to their amorphous morphology, with continuous random network materials such as SiO₂ and GeO₂ featuring the lowest loss angles. We evaluated different Ta₂O₅-based mixed oxide thin films and studied the influence of the dopant in the optical and elastic properties of the coating. We estimated the thermal noise associated with high reflectance multilayer stacks that employ each of the mixed oxides as the high index material. We concluded that the current high index material of TiO₂-doped Ta₂O₅ is the optimal choice for reduced thermal noise among Ta₂O₅-based mixed oxide coatings with low dopant concentrations