Implementation of generalized optimality criteria in a multidisciplinary environment

A generalized optimality criterion method consisting of a dual problem solver combined with a compound scaling algorithm was implemented in the multidisciplinary design tool, ASTROS. This method enables, for the first time in a production design tool, the determination of a minimum weight design using thousands of independent structural design variables while simultaneously considering constraints on response quantities in several disciplines. Even for moderately large examples, the computational efficiency is improved significantly relative to the conventional approach

Structural optimization of framed structures using generalized optimality criteria

The application of a generalized optimality criteria to framed structures is presented. The optimality conditions, Lagrangian multipliers, resizing algorithm, and scaling procedures are all represented as a function of the objective and constraint functions along with their respective gradients. The optimization of two plane frames under multiple loading conditions subject to stress, displacement, generalized stiffness, and side constraints is presented. These results are compared to those found by optimizing the frames using a nonlinear mathematical programming technique

Magnetic fluctuations and superconducting properties of CaKFe4As4 studied by 75As NMR

We report $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on a new iron-based superconductor CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ with $T_{\rm c}$ = 35 K. $^{75}$As NMR spectra show two distinct lines corresponding to the As(1) and As(2) sites close to the K and Ca layers, respectively, revealing that K and Ca layers are well ordered without site inversions. We found that nuclear quadrupole frequencies $\nu_{\rm Q}$ of the As(1) and As(2) sites show an opposite temperature ($T$) dependence. Nearly $T$ independent behavior of the Knight shifts $K$ are observed in the normal state, and a sudden decrease in $K$ in the superconducting (SC) state clearly evidences spin-singlet Cooper pairs. $^{75}$As spin-lattice relaxation rates 1/$T_1$ show a power law $T$ dependence with different exponents for the two As sites. The isotropic antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations characterized by the wavevector ${\bf q}$ = ($\pi$, 0) or (0, $\pi$) in the single-iron Brillouin zone notation are revealed by 1/$T_1T$ and $K$ measurements. Such magnetic fluctuations are necessary to explain the observed temperature dependence of the $^{75}$As quadrupole frequencies, as evidenced by our first-principles calculations. In the SC state, 1/$T_1$ shows a rapid decrease below $T_{\rm c}$ without a Hebel-Slichter peak and decreases exponentially at low $T$, consistent with an $s^{\pm}$ nodeless two-gap superconductor.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.

Magnetic excitations in underdoped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 with x=0.047

The magnetic excitations in the paramagnetic-tetragonal phase of underdoped Ba(Fe0.953Co0.047)2As2, as measured by inelastic neutron scattering, can be well described by a phenomenological model with purely diffusive spin dynamics. At low energies, the spectrum around the magnetic ordering vector Q_AFM consists of a single peak with elliptical shape in momentum space. At high energies, this inelastic peak is split into two peaks across the direction perpendicular to Q_AFM. We use our fittings to argue that such a splitting is not due to incommensurability or propagating spin-wave excitations, but is rather a consequence of the anisotropies in the Landau damping and in the magnetic correlation length, both of which are allowed by the tetragonal symmetry of the system. We also measure the magnetic spectrum deep inside the magnetically-ordered phase, and find that it is remarkably similar to the spectrum of the paramagnetic phase, revealing the strongly overdamped character of the magnetic excitations.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Effect of field dependent core size on reversible magnetization of high-κ\kappa superconductors

The field dependence of the vortex core size $\xi(B)$ is incorporated in the London model, in order to describe reversible magnetization $M(B,T)$ for a number of materials with large Ginzburg-Landau parameter $\kappa$. The dependence $\xi(B)$ is directly related to deviations in $M(\ln B)$ from linear behavior prescribed by the standard London model. A simple method to extract $\xi(B)$ from the magnetization data is proposed. For most materials examined, $\xi(B)$ so obtained decreases with increasing field and is in qualitative agreement both with behavior extracted from $\mu$SR and small angle neutron scattering data and with that predicted theoretically

Magnetic field induced orientation of superconducting MgB2_2 crystallites determined by X-ray diffraction

X-ray diffraction studies of fine polycrystalline samples of MgB$_2$ in the superconducting state reveal that crystals orient with their \emph{c}-axis in a plane normal to the direction of the applied magnetic field. The MgB$_2$ samples were thoroughly ground to obtain average grain size 5 - 10 $\mu$m in order to increase the population of free single crystal grains in the powder. By monitoring Bragg reflections in a plane normal to an applied magnetic field we find that the powder is textured with significantly stronger (\emph{0,0,l}) reflections in comparison to (\emph{h,k,0}), which remain essentially unchanged. The orientation of the crystals with the \emph{ab}-plane parallel to the magnetic field at all temperatures below $T_c$ demonstrates that the sign of the torque under magnetic field does not alter, in disagreement with current theoretical predictions

Remarkably robust and correlated coherence and antiferromagnetism in (Ce1−x_{1-x}Lax_x)Cu2_2Ge2_2

We present magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, specific heat, and thermoelectric power measurements on (Ce$_{1-x}$La$_x$)Cu$_2$Ge$_2$ single crystals (0 $\leq x\leq$ 1). With La substitution, the antiferromagnetic temperature $T_N$ is suppressed in an almost linear fashion and moves below 0.36 K, the base temperature of our measurements for $x>$ 0.8. Surprisingly, in addition to robust antiferromagnetism, the system also shows low temperature coherent scattering below $T_{coh}$ up to $\sim$ 0.9 of La, indicating a small percolation limit $\sim$ 9$\%$ of Ce that separates a coherent regime from a single-ion Kondo impurity regime. $T_{coh}$ as a function of magnetic field was found to have different behavior for $x$ 0.9. Remarkably, $(T_{coh})^2$ at $H$ = 0 was found to be linearly proportional to $T_N$. The jump in the magnetic specific heat $\delta C_{m}$ at $T_N$ as a function of $T_K/T_N$ for (Ce$_{1-x}$La$_x$)Cu$_2$Ge$_2$ follows the theoretical prediction based on the molecular field calculation for the $S$ = 1/2 resonant level model