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Articles 301 - 330 of 3639

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Effect Of Boundary Approximation On Visibility, Samridhi Jha May 2021

Effect Of Boundary Approximation On Visibility, Samridhi Jha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The problem of simplifying a complex shape with simpler ones is an important research area in computer science and engineering. In this thesis, we investigate the effect on the visibility properties of polygons when their boundaries are approximated to make them simpler. We present two algorithms for approximating a restricted class of polygons called 1.5 D terrain. We also present experimental investigations on the performance of reviewed and proposed approximation algorithms.


Chronicling Magma Transit Beneath Hawaiian Volcanoes: Every Isotope A Word, Every Crystal A Story, Jonathan Pinko May 2021

Chronicling Magma Transit Beneath Hawaiian Volcanoes: Every Isotope A Word, Every Crystal A Story, Jonathan Pinko

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

At many oceanic volcanoes, such as Hawaii, mantle-derived magmas migrate to crustal level magma chambers, where they accumulate before eruption. Understanding the magma chamber residence times, or the time gaps between the arrivals of new magmas and eruptions, is important in volcanic hazard mitigation. Here I apply iron and magnesium isotope effects in olivines to constrain these times at Hawaiian volcanoes. Combined with published data, I present bulk ?56Fe (-1.706 to 0.489) and ?26Mg (-0.400 to 0.356) in 108 Hawaiian olivines erupted from the pre-shield, shield, and post-shield stages. The Hawaiian olivine ?56Fe and ?26Mg represent the largest Fe-Mg isotope …


Prograde Metamorphism And Upper-Crustal Cooling In The Northern Panamint Range, California: New Insights Into The Jurassic And Mid-Cretaceous Evolution Of The Southern Sevier Fold-Thrust Belt, Elijah A. Turner May 2021

Prograde Metamorphism And Upper-Crustal Cooling In The Northern Panamint Range, California: New Insights Into The Jurassic And Mid-Cretaceous Evolution Of The Southern Sevier Fold-Thrust Belt, Elijah A. Turner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Jurassic-Cretaceous southern Sevier fold-thrust belt, which experiences changes in orientation and structural style as it approaches intersection with the Mesozoic continental arc, has been pervasively overprinted by Neogene-Quaternary faulting, rendering its evolution enigmatic. Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material (RSCM) thermometry data from 14 samples and zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) thermochronology data from 23 samples collected in the northern Panamint Range illuminate the history of metamorphism and upper-crustal cooling associated with this belt of shortening structures. Best estimate peak temperatures derived from RSCM thermometry increase from 166 ± 19°C at 2.5 km structural depth (measured from the top of the exposed …


Experimental Constraint On Axionlike Particles Over Seven Orders Of Magnitude In Mass, Tanya S. Roussy, Daniel A. Palken, William B. Cairncross, Benjamin M. Brubaker, Daniel N. Gresh, Matt Grau, Kevin C. Cossel, Kia Boon Ng, Yuval Shagam, Yan Zhou, Victor V. Flambaum, Konrad W. Lehnert, Jun Ye, Eric A. Cornell Apr 2021

Experimental Constraint On Axionlike Particles Over Seven Orders Of Magnitude In Mass, Tanya S. Roussy, Daniel A. Palken, William B. Cairncross, Benjamin M. Brubaker, Daniel N. Gresh, Matt Grau, Kevin C. Cossel, Kia Boon Ng, Yuval Shagam, Yan Zhou, Victor V. Flambaum, Konrad W. Lehnert, Jun Ye, Eric A. Cornell

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

We use our recent electric dipole moment (EDM) measurement data to constrain the possibility that the HfF+ EDM oscillates in time due to interactions with candidate dark matter axionlike particles (ALPs). We employ a Bayesian analysis method which accounts for both the look-elsewhere effect and the uncertainties associated with stochastic density fluctuations in the ALP field. We find no evidence of an oscillating EDM over a range spanning from 27 nHz to 400 mHz, and we use this result to constrain the ALP-gluon coupling over the mass range 10-22-10-15 eV. This is the first laboratory constraint on the ALP-gluon coupling …


On The Role Of Resonances In Polluting White Dwarfs By Asteroids, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio, Dimitri Veras Apr 2021

On The Role Of Resonances In Polluting White Dwarfs By Asteroids, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio, Dimitri Veras

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Pollution of white dwarf atmospheres may be caused by asteroids that originate from the locations of secular and mean-motion resonances in planetary systems. Asteroids in these locations experience increased eccentricity, leading to tidal disruption by the white dwarf. We examine how the ν6 secular resonance shifts outwards into a previously stable region of the asteroid belt, as the star evolves to a white dwarf. Analytic secular models require a planet to be engulfed in order to shift the resonance. We show with numerical simulations that as a planet gets engulfed by the evolving star, the secular resonance shifts and the …


Equation Of State For Natural Almandine, Spessartine, Pyrope Garnet: Implications For Quartz-In-Garnet Elastic Geobarometry, Suzanne R. Mulligan, Elissaios Stavrou, Stella Chariton, Oliver Tschauner, Ashkan Salamat, Michael Wells, Alexander G. Smith, Thomas D. Hoisch, Vitali Prakapenka Apr 2021

Equation Of State For Natural Almandine, Spessartine, Pyrope Garnet: Implications For Quartz-In-Garnet Elastic Geobarometry, Suzanne R. Mulligan, Elissaios Stavrou, Stella Chariton, Oliver Tschauner, Ashkan Salamat, Michael Wells, Alexander G. Smith, Thomas D. Hoisch, Vitali Prakapenka

Geoscience Faculty Research

The equation of state (EoS) of a natural almandine74spessartine13pyrope10grossular3 garnet of a typical composition found in metamorphic rocks in Earth’s crust was obtained using single crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction under isothermal room temperature compression. A third-order Birch-Murnaghan EoS was fitted to P-V data and the results are compared with published EoS for iron, manganese, magnesium, and calcium garnet compositional end-members. This comparison reveals that ideal solid solution mixing can reproduce the EoS for this intermediate composition of garnet. Additionally, this new EoS was used to calculate geobarometry on a garnet sample from the same rock, which was collected from the …


A Multiproxy Database Of Western North American Holocene Paleoclimate Records, Cody C. Routson, Darrell S. Kaufman, Nicholas P. Mckay, Michael P. Erb, Stéphanie H. Arcusa, Kendrick J. Brown, Matthew E. Kirby, Jeremiah P. Marsicek, R. Scott Anderson, Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno, Jessica R. Rodysill, Matthew S. Lachniet, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Joseph R. Bennett, Michelle F. Goman, Sarah E. Metcalfe, Jennifer M. Galloway, Gerrit Schoups, David B. Wahl, Jesse L. Morris, Francisca Staines-Urías, Andria Dawson, Bryan N. Shuman, Daniel G. Gavin, Jeffrey S. Munroe, Brian F. Cumming Apr 2021

A Multiproxy Database Of Western North American Holocene Paleoclimate Records, Cody C. Routson, Darrell S. Kaufman, Nicholas P. Mckay, Michael P. Erb, Stéphanie H. Arcusa, Kendrick J. Brown, Matthew E. Kirby, Jeremiah P. Marsicek, R. Scott Anderson, Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno, Jessica R. Rodysill, Matthew S. Lachniet, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Joseph R. Bennett, Michelle F. Goman, Sarah E. Metcalfe, Jennifer M. Galloway, Gerrit Schoups, David B. Wahl, Jesse L. Morris, Francisca Staines-Urías, Andria Dawson, Bryan N. Shuman, Daniel G. Gavin, Jeffrey S. Munroe, Brian F. Cumming

Geoscience Faculty Research

Holocene climate reconstructions are useful for understanding the diverse features and spatial heterogeneity of past and future climate change. Here we present a database of western North American Holocene paleoclimate records. The database gathers paleoclimate time series from 184 terrestrial and marine sites, including 381 individual proxy records. The records span at least 4000 of the last 12 000 years (median duration of 10 725 years) and have been screened for resolution, chronologic control, and climate sensitivity. Records were included that reflect temperature, hydroclimate, or circulation features. The database is shared in the machine readable Linked Paleo Data (LiPD) format …


Spike Nozzle Design For Use In Nanosat Orbital Maneuvering, Drew Nemeth Apr 2021

Spike Nozzle Design For Use In Nanosat Orbital Maneuvering, Drew Nemeth

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Annular spike nozzle engines have long been the holy grail of rocket engine design, promising superior performance in a smaller footprint when compared to conventional bell nozzles. However, flaws inherent to the design of spike nozzles have prevented widespread adoption and testing. As a result, research on potential applications has been quite sparse. This project aims to further spike nozzle research by investigating rarely tested materials that literature suggests have potential for use in a spike nozzle design. The goal of the overall research project is to examine 3D printed polycarbonate component longevity under conditions representative of a small satellite …


Investigating The Varying Behaviors Of Magnesium, Tin, And Lead Oxalate Under High-Pressure, Kevin Ayala Pineda Apr 2021

Investigating The Varying Behaviors Of Magnesium, Tin, And Lead Oxalate Under High-Pressure, Kevin Ayala Pineda

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Recent developments in the field of useful hard x-ray induced chemistry synthesized a novel strontium-based CO derived material under extreme conditions. In hopes of synthesizing this material in larger quantities and in less expensive costs, we report three high-pressure Diamond Anvil Cell investigations on Tin Oxalate (SnC2O4), Magnesium Oxalate (MgC2O4), and Lead Oxalate (PbC2O4) subjected to extreme conditions without the use of hard x-rays. MgC2O4 were acquired up to 25 GPa, with a possible phase transition at 2.4 Gpa. SnC2O4 was pressurized up to 31 GPa inducing irreversible changes in both the Raman spectra and its qualitative properties. Three phase …


Modeling Covid-19 Infection Rates Using Sir And Arima Models, Janelle Domantay, Ilya Pivavaruk, Victor Taksheyev Apr 2021

Modeling Covid-19 Infection Rates Using Sir And Arima Models, Janelle Domantay, Ilya Pivavaruk, Victor Taksheyev

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become of increasing interest to both monitor and predict the growth of its infection rates. In order to analyze the accuracy of epidemiological prediction, we consider two different models for prediction, the Susceptible Infected and Removed (SIR), and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. Using a dataset of Clark County COVID-19 infections, we create various ARIMA and SIR models that attempt to predict the progression of COVID-19 infections whilst comparing these predictions to the dataset. We observed that the ARIMA model performed more accurately overall, having a much lower Root Mean …


Overcoming The Overgeneration Of Renewables, Joshua Kaze, Ryan Barnard Apr 2021

Overcoming The Overgeneration Of Renewables, Joshua Kaze, Ryan Barnard

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Many states are addressing the issues of climate change, by changing how they produce their energy. The effects of these policies are causing many renewable sources to be underutilized. This paper analyzes how the diversification of energy generation is leading to inefficiencies in the California energy market and the western US market as a whole. The change in curtailment of non-dispatchable renewables is positively correlated with the growth of renewables. Summary statistics and regression analysis show that an increasing portion of renewables is being wasted as the quantity of renewables is increasing. The Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that California introduced …


Increasing Analysis Efficiency Through Automation Of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (Icp-Ms) Data Reduction Process Using Python, Grace Abigail Martin Apr 2021

Increasing Analysis Efficiency Through Automation Of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (Icp-Ms) Data Reduction Process Using Python, Grace Abigail Martin

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) provides elemental analysis through ionization of samples. Numerous geochemistry laboratories utilize the ICP-MS and has become a community standard. The ICP-MS data reduction process is time intensive and involves correction for blank contribution and sensitivity drift during measurement, as well as construction of standard calibration lines based on measurements of standard solutions. We look to decrease turnaround time and increase efficiency through automation of the data reduction process using Python. The ICP-MS data reduction process was 3 hours or more, in our observations. Python packages such as Openpyxl and Pandas, allow us to …


Toward A Quantum Neural Network: Proposing The Qaoa Algorithm To Replace A Feed Forward Neural Network, Erick Serrano Apr 2021

Toward A Quantum Neural Network: Proposing The Qaoa Algorithm To Replace A Feed Forward Neural Network, Erick Serrano

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

With a surge in popularity of machine learning as a whole, many researchers have sought optimization methods to reduce the complexity of neural networks; however, only recent attempts have been made to optimize neural networks via quantum computing methods. In this paper, we describe the training process of a feed forward neural network (FFNN) and the time complexity of the training process. We highlight the inefficiencies of the FFNN training process, particularly when implemented with gradient descent, and introduce a call to action for optimization of a FFNN. Afterward, we discuss the strides made in quantum computing to improve the …


Maximum Temperatures In Evolving Protoplanetary Discs And Composition Of Planetary Building Blocks, Min Li, Shichun Huang, Zhaohuan Zhu, Michael I. Petaev, Jason H. Steffen Mar 2021

Maximum Temperatures In Evolving Protoplanetary Discs And Composition Of Planetary Building Blocks, Min Li, Shichun Huang, Zhaohuan Zhu, Michael I. Petaev, Jason H. Steffen

Geoscience Faculty Research

The maximum temperature and radial temperature profile in a protoplanetary disc are important for the condensation of different elements in the disc. We simulate the evolution of a set of protoplanetary discs from the collapse of their progenitor molecular cloud cores as well as the dust decoupling within the discs as they evolve. We show how the initial properties of the cloud cores affect the thermal history of the protoplanetary discs using a simple viscous disc model. Our results show that the maximum mid-plane temperature in the disc occurs within 0.5 au. It increases with the initial cloud temperature and …


Pressure- And Temperature-Dependent Inelastic Neutron Scattering Study Of The Phase Transition And Phonon Lattice Dynamics In Para-Terphenyl, Qingan Cai, Michael Mcintire, Luke L. Daemen, Chen Li, Eric Chronister Mar 2021

Pressure- And Temperature-Dependent Inelastic Neutron Scattering Study Of The Phase Transition And Phonon Lattice Dynamics In Para-Terphenyl, Qingan Cai, Michael Mcintire, Luke L. Daemen, Chen Li, Eric Chronister

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Inelastic neutron scattering has been performed on para-terphenyl at temperatures from 10 to 200 K and under pressures from the ambient pressure to 1.51 kbar. The temperature dependence of phonons, especially low-frequency librational bands, indicates strong anharmonic phonon dynamics. The pressure- and temperature-dependence of the phonon modes suggest a lack of phase transition in the region of 0-1.51 kbar and 10-30 K. Additionally, the overall lattice dynamics remains similar up to 200 K under the ambient pressure. The results suggest that the boundary between the ordered triclinic phase and the third solid phase, reported at lower temperatures and higher pressures, …


Steep Sulfur Gradient In Cztsse Solar Cells By H2s-Assisted Rapid Surface Sulfurization, Teoman Taskesen, Devendra Pareek, Dirk Hauschild, Alan Haertel, Lothar Weinhardt, Wanli Yang, Timo Pfeiffelmann, David Nowak, Clemens Heske, Levent Gütay Mar 2021

Steep Sulfur Gradient In Cztsse Solar Cells By H2s-Assisted Rapid Surface Sulfurization, Teoman Taskesen, Devendra Pareek, Dirk Hauschild, Alan Haertel, Lothar Weinhardt, Wanli Yang, Timo Pfeiffelmann, David Nowak, Clemens Heske, Levent Gütay

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Sulfur/selenium grading is a widely used optimization strategy in kesterite thin-film solar cells to obtain a bandgap-graded absorber material and to optimize optical and electrical properties of the solar-cell device. In this work, we present a novel approach to introduce a [S]/([S] + [Se]) grading for Cu ZnSn(S,Se) solar cells. In contrast to commonly used methods with slow process dynamics, the presented approach aims to create a fast sulfurization reaction on the surface of pure selenide kesterite absorbers by using highly reactive H S gas and high sulfurization temperatures in a rapid flash-type process. With a combination of X-ray photoelectron …


Poly(Pyridinium Salt)S Containing 2,7-Diamino-9,9'-Dioctylfluorene Moieties With Various Organic Counterions Exhibiting Both Lyotropic Liquid-Crystalline And Light-Emitting Properties, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Tae S. Jo, Jung J. Koh, Jongwon Park, Bidyut Biswas, Ronald Carlo G. Principe, Haesook Han, András F. Wacha, Matti Knaapila Mar 2021

Poly(Pyridinium Salt)S Containing 2,7-Diamino-9,9'-Dioctylfluorene Moieties With Various Organic Counterions Exhibiting Both Lyotropic Liquid-Crystalline And Light-Emitting Properties, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Tae S. Jo, Jung J. Koh, Jongwon Park, Bidyut Biswas, Ronald Carlo G. Principe, Haesook Han, András F. Wacha, Matti Knaapila

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

A series of poly(pyridinium salt)s-fluorene main-chain ionic polymers with various organic counterions were synthesized by using ring-transmutation polymerization and metathesis reactions. Their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), proton (1H), and fluorine 19 (19F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. These polymers showed a number-average molecular weight (Mns) between 96.5 and 107.8 kg/mol and polydispersity index (PDI) in the range of 1.12-1.88. They exhibited fully-grown lyotropic phases in polar protic and aprotic solvents at different critical concentrations. Small-angle X-ray scattering for one polymer example indicates lyotropic structure formation for 60-80% solvent fraction. A lyotropic smectic phase contains 10 …


Mechanical Characteristics Of Cement Paste In The Presence Of Carbon Nanotubes And Silica Oxide Nanoparticles: An Experimental Study, Moses Karakouzian, Visar Farhangi, Marzieh Ramezani Farani, Alireza Joshaghani, Mehdi Zadehmohamad, Mohammad Ahmadzadeh Mar 2021

Mechanical Characteristics Of Cement Paste In The Presence Of Carbon Nanotubes And Silica Oxide Nanoparticles: An Experimental Study, Moses Karakouzian, Visar Farhangi, Marzieh Ramezani Farani, Alireza Joshaghani, Mehdi Zadehmohamad, Mohammad Ahmadzadeh

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Considering the remarkable characteristics of nanomaterials, previous research studies investigated the effects of incorporating different types of these materials on improving the concrete properties. However, further studies are required to evaluate the complementary hybridization and synergistic influence of nanomaterials. In this research, the combined effect of adding nano silica particles (NS) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on enhancing both the compressive and flexural strengths of the cement paste was investigated. Moreover, the morphology of the interface between cement paste and aggregates was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mixtures were prepared using three different portions of MWCNT and NS. …


Growing Biodiverse Urban Futures: Renaturalization And Rewilding As Strategies To Strengthen Urban Resilience, Steffen Lehmann Mar 2021

Growing Biodiverse Urban Futures: Renaturalization And Rewilding As Strategies To Strengthen Urban Resilience, Steffen Lehmann

Architecture Faculty Research

How are our cities using nature-based solutions to confront the challenges posed by a warming climate, the loss of biodiversity and major resource depletion? This article discusses the opportunities and benefits of applying the concepts of regreening and rewilding of cities. The article engages with key sources and summarizes the background and development of regreening and nature-based solutions and important policies, concerns and perspectives of international and national organizations. It introduces the integration of nature-based solutions (NBS) as a strategy in urban planning with the aim to strengthen urban resilience and to slow down the biodiversity decline. Rewilding areas in …


Implications Of An Improved Water Equation Of State For Water-Rich Planets, Chenling Huang, David R. Rice, Zachary M. Grande, Dean Smith, John H. Boisvert, Oliver Tschauner, Ashkan Salamat, Jason Steffen Mar 2021

Implications Of An Improved Water Equation Of State For Water-Rich Planets, Chenling Huang, David R. Rice, Zachary M. Grande, Dean Smith, John H. Boisvert, Oliver Tschauner, Ashkan Salamat, Jason Steffen

Geoscience Faculty Research

Water (H2O), in all forms, is an important constituent in planetary bodies, controlling habitability and influencing geological activity. Under conditions found in the interior of many planets, as the pressure increases, the H-bonds in water gradually weaken and are replaced by ionic bonds. Recent experimental measurements of the water equation of state (EOS) showed both a new phase of H-bonded water ice, ice-VIIt, and a relatively low transition pressure just above 30 GPa to ionic bonded ice-X, which has a bulk modulus 2.5 times larger. The higher bulk modulus of ice-X produces larger planets for a given mass, thereby either …


Renewable Energy Generation And Ghg Emission Reduction Potential Of A Satellitewater Reuse Plant By Using Solar Photovoltaics And Anaerobic Digestion, Jonathan R. Bailey, Saria Bukhary, Jacimaria R. Batista, Sajjad Ahmad Feb 2021

Renewable Energy Generation And Ghg Emission Reduction Potential Of A Satellitewater Reuse Plant By Using Solar Photovoltaics And Anaerobic Digestion, Jonathan R. Bailey, Saria Bukhary, Jacimaria R. Batista, Sajjad Ahmad

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Wastewater treatment is a very energy-intensive process. The growing population, increased demands for energy and water, and rising pollution levels caused by fossil-fuel-based energy generation, warrants the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This research explored the energy consumption offset of a satellite water reuse plant (WRP) by using solar photovoltaics (PVs) and anaerobic digestion. The analysis was performed for two types of WRPs: conventional (conventional activated sludge system (CAS) bioreactor with secondary clarifiers and dual media filtration) and advanced (bioreactor with membrane filtration (MBR)) treatment satellite WRPs. The associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were also evaluated. For conventional …


Machine Learning Approaches For The Prediction Of Bone Mineral Density By Using Genomic And Phenotypic Data Of 5130 Older Men, Qing Wu, Fatma Nasoz, Jongyun Jung, Bibek Bhattarai, Mira V. Han, Robert A. Greenes, Kenneth G. Saag Feb 2021

Machine Learning Approaches For The Prediction Of Bone Mineral Density By Using Genomic And Phenotypic Data Of 5130 Older Men, Qing Wu, Fatma Nasoz, Jongyun Jung, Bibek Bhattarai, Mira V. Han, Robert A. Greenes, Kenneth G. Saag

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The study aimed to utilize machine learning (ML) approaches and genomic data to develop a prediction model for bone mineral density (BMD) and identify the best modeling approach for BMD prediction. The genomic and phenotypic data of Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (n = 5130) was analyzed. Genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated from 1103 associated SNPs for each participant after a comprehensive genotype imputation. Data were normalized and divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) for analysis. Random forest, gradient boosting, neural network, and linear regression were used to develop BMD prediction models separately. Ten-fold …


Computation And Data Driven Discovery Of Topological Phononic Materials, Jiangxu Li, Jiaxi Liu, Stanley A. Baronett, Mingfeng Liu, Lei Wang, Ronghan Li, Yun Chen, Dianzhong Li, Qiang Zhu, Xing Qiu Chen Feb 2021

Computation And Data Driven Discovery Of Topological Phononic Materials, Jiangxu Li, Jiaxi Liu, Stanley A. Baronett, Mingfeng Liu, Lei Wang, Ronghan Li, Yun Chen, Dianzhong Li, Qiang Zhu, Xing Qiu Chen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

© 2021, The Author(s). The discovery of topological quantum states marks a new chapter in both condensed matter physics and materials sciences. By analogy to spin electronic system, topological concepts have been extended into phonons, boosting the birth of topological phononics (TPs). Here, we present a high-throughput screening and data-driven approach to compute and evaluate TPs among over 10,000 real materials. We have discovered 5014 TP materials and grouped them into two main classes of Weyl and nodal-line (ring) TPs. We have clarified the physical mechanism for the occurrence of single Weyl, high degenerate Weyl, individual nodal-line (ring), nodal-link, nodal-chain, …


The Pencil Code, A Modular Mpi Code For Partial Differential Equations And Particles: Multipurpose And Multiuser-Maintained, The Pencil Code Collaboration, Chao-Chin Yang Feb 2021

The Pencil Code, A Modular Mpi Code For Partial Differential Equations And Particles: Multipurpose And Multiuser-Maintained, The Pencil Code Collaboration, Chao-Chin Yang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The Pencil Code is a highly modular physics-oriented simulation code that can be adapted to a wide range of applications. It is primarily designed to solve partial differential equations (PDEs) of compressible hydrodynamics and has lots of add-ons ranging from astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) (A. Brandenburg & Dobler, 2010) to meteorological cloud microphysics (Li et al., 2017) and engineering applications in combustion (Babkovskaia et al., 2011). Nevertheless, the framework is general and can also be applied to situations not related to hydrodynamics or even PDEs, for example when just the message passing interface or input/output strategies of the code are to …


Constraining Protoplanetary Disc Accretion And Young Planets Using Alma Kinematic Observations, Ian Rabago, Zhaohuan Zhu Feb 2021

Constraining Protoplanetary Disc Accretion And Young Planets Using Alma Kinematic Observations, Ian Rabago, Zhaohuan Zhu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Recent ALMA molecular line observations have revealed 3D gas velocity structure in protoplanetary discs, shedding light on mechanisms of disc accretion and structure formation. (1) By carrying out viscous simulations, we confirm that the disc's velocity structure differs dramatically using vertical stress profiles from different accretion mechanisms. Thus, kinematic observations tracing flows at different disc heights can potentially distinguish different accretion mechanisms. On the other hand, the disc surface density evolution is mostly determined by the vertically integrated stress. The sharp disc outer edge constrained by recent kinematic observations can be caused by a radially varying alpha in the disc. …


Piezomagnetic Switching And Complex Phase Equilibria In Uranium Dioxide, Daniel J. Antonio, Joel T. Weiss, Katherine S. Shanks, Jacob P.C. Ruff, Marcelo Jaime, Andres Saul, Thomas Swinburne, Myron Salamon, Keshav Shrestha, Barbara Lavina, Daniel Koury, Sol M. Gruner, David A. Andersson, Christopher R. Stanek, Tomasz Durakiewicz, James L. Smith, Zahirul Islam, Krzysztof Gofryk Feb 2021

Piezomagnetic Switching And Complex Phase Equilibria In Uranium Dioxide, Daniel J. Antonio, Joel T. Weiss, Katherine S. Shanks, Jacob P.C. Ruff, Marcelo Jaime, Andres Saul, Thomas Swinburne, Myron Salamon, Keshav Shrestha, Barbara Lavina, Daniel Koury, Sol M. Gruner, David A. Andersson, Christopher R. Stanek, Tomasz Durakiewicz, James L. Smith, Zahirul Islam, Krzysztof Gofryk

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Actinide materials exhibit strong spin-lattice coupling and electronic correlations, and are predicted to host new emerging ground states. One example is piezomagnetism and magneto-elastic memory effect in the antiferromagnetic Mott-Hubbard insulator uranium dioxide, though its microscopic nature is under debate. Here, we report X-ray diffraction studies of oriented uranium dioxide crystals under strong pulsed magnetic fields. In the antiferromagnetic state a [888] Bragg diffraction peak follows the bulk magnetostriction that expands under magnetic fields. Upon reversal of the field the expansion turns to contraction, before the [888] peak follows the switching effect and piezomagnetic 'butterfly' behaviour, characteristic of two structures …


Coexistence Of Metamagnetism And Slow Relaxation Of Magnetization In Ammonium Hexafluoridorhenate, James Louis-Jean, Samundeeswari M. Balasekaran, Keith V. Lawler, Adrián Sanchis-Perucho, José Martínez-Lillo, Dean Smith, Paul M. Forster, Ashkan Salamat, Frederic Poineau Feb 2021

Coexistence Of Metamagnetism And Slow Relaxation Of Magnetization In Ammonium Hexafluoridorhenate, James Louis-Jean, Samundeeswari M. Balasekaran, Keith V. Lawler, Adrián Sanchis-Perucho, José Martínez-Lillo, Dean Smith, Paul M. Forster, Ashkan Salamat, Frederic Poineau

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021. The (NH4)2[ReF6] (1) salt was studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical calculations, and magnetic measurements.1crystallizes in the trigonal space groupP3̄m1 (Re-F = 1.958(5) Å). In the Raman spectrum of1, splitting of the observed peaks was observed and correlated to the valence frequencies of vibration of the [ReF6]2−anion. The study of the magnetic properties of1, through DC and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements, reveals the coexistence of metamagnetism and slow relaxation of magnetization at low temperature, which is unusual in the molecular systems based on the paramagnetic 5d metal ions reported so far.


Kozai–Lidov Oscillations Triggered By A Tilt Instability Of Detached Circumplanetary Discs, Rebecca G. Martin, Zhaohuan Zhu, Philip J. Armitage, Chao-Chin Yang, Hans Baehr Jan 2021

Kozai–Lidov Oscillations Triggered By A Tilt Instability Of Detached Circumplanetary Discs, Rebecca G. Martin, Zhaohuan Zhu, Philip J. Armitage, Chao-Chin Yang, Hans Baehr

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Circumplanetary discs can be linearly unstable to the growth of disc tilt in the tidal potential of the star–planet system. We use 3D hydrodynamical simulations to characterize the disc conditions needed for instability, together with its long-term evolution. Tilt growth occurs for disc aspect ratios, evaluated near the disc outer edge, of H/r ≳ 0.05, with a weak dependence on viscosity in the wave-like regime of warp propagation. Lower mass giant planets are more likely to have circumplanetary discs that satisfy the conditions for instability. We show that the tilt instability can excite the inclination to above the threshold where …


Science In Your Naturehood, Alison Sloat Jan 2021

Science In Your Naturehood, Alison Sloat

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Engaging students in hands-on scientific research in their NatureHoods, or local neighborhoods, improves student outcomes, learning, and success in remote learning environments.


Nickel Isotopic Evidence For Late-Stage Accretion Of Mercury-Like Differentiated Planetary Embryos, Shui Jiong Wang, Wenzhong Wang, Jian Ming Zhu, Zhongqing Wu, Jingao Liu, Guilin Han, Fang Zhen Teng, Shichun Huang, Hongjie Wu, Yujian Wang, Guangliang Wu, Weihan Li Jan 2021

Nickel Isotopic Evidence For Late-Stage Accretion Of Mercury-Like Differentiated Planetary Embryos, Shui Jiong Wang, Wenzhong Wang, Jian Ming Zhu, Zhongqing Wu, Jingao Liu, Guilin Han, Fang Zhen Teng, Shichun Huang, Hongjie Wu, Yujian Wang, Guangliang Wu, Weihan Li

Geoscience Faculty Research

© 2021, The Author(s). Earth’s habitability is closely tied to its late-stage accretion, during which impactors delivered the majority of life-essential volatiles. However, the nature of these final building blocks remains poorly constrained. Nickel (Ni) can be a useful tracer in characterizing this accretion as most Ni in the bulk silicate Earth (BSE) comes from the late-stage impactors. Here, we apply Ni stable isotope analysis to a large number of meteorites and terrestrial rocks, and find that the BSE has a lighter Ni isotopic composition compared to chondrites. Using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we show that core-mantle …