65 research outputs found
Intergranular stress distributions in polycrystalline aggregates of irradiated stainless steel
In order to predict InterGranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) of
post-irradiated austenitic stainless steel in Light Water Reactor (LWR)
environment, reliable predictions of intergranular stresses are required.
Finite elements simulations have been performed on realistic polycrystalline
aggregate with a recently proposed physically-based crystal plasticity
constitutive equations validated for neutron-irradiated austenitic stainless
steel. Intergranular normal stress probability density functions are found with
respect to plastic strain and irradiation level, for uniaxial loading
conditions. In addition, plastic slip activity jumps at grain boundaries are
also presented. Intergranular normal stress distributions describe, from a
statistical point of view, the potential increase of intergranular stress with
respect to the macroscopic stress due to grain-grain interactions. The
distributions are shown to be well described by a master curve once rescaled by
the macroscopic stress, in the range of irradiation level and strain considered
in this study. The upper tail of this master curve is shown to be insensitive
to free surface effect, which is relevant for IGSC
Shunt analysis in the isolated-target divertor model for plasma detachment measurement in DEMO
Anomalous scaling of conductivity in integrable fermion systems
We analyze the high-temperature conductivity in one-dimensional integrable
models of interacting fermions: the t-V model (anisotropic Heisenberg spin
chain) and the Hubbard model, at half-filling in the regime corresponding to
insulating ground state. A microcanonical Lanczos method study for finite size
systems reveals anomalously large finite-size effects at low frequencies while
a frequency-moment analysis indicates a finite d.c. conductivity. This
phenomenon also appears in a prototype integrable quantum system of
impenetrable particles, representing a strong-coupling limit of both models. In
the thermodynamic limit, the two results could converge to a finite d.c.
conductivity rather than an ideal conductor or insulator scenario.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to PR
Electron Spin Resonance of SrCu2(BO3)2 at High Magnetic Field
We calculate the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the
quasi-two-dimensional dimer spin liquid SrCu2(BO3)2 as a function of magnetic
field B. Using the standard Lanczos method, we solve a Shastry-Sutherland
Hamiltonian with additional Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) terms which are crucial
to explain different qualitative aspects of the ESR spectra. In particular, a
nearest-neighbor DM interaction with a non-zero D_z component is required to
explain the low frequency ESR lines for B || c. This suggests that crystal
symmetry is lowered at low temperatures due to a structural phase transition.Comment: 4 pages, 4 b&w figure
Colloidal ionic complexes on periodic substrates: ground state configurations and pattern switching
We theoretically and numerically studied ordering of "colloidal ionic
clusters" on periodic substrate potentials as those generated by optical
trapping. Each cluster consists of three charged spherical colloids: two
negatively and one positively charged. The substrate is a square or rectangular
array of traps, each confining one such cluster. By varying the lattice
constant from large to small, the observed clusters are first rod-like and form
ferro- and antiferro-like phases, then they bend into a banana-like shape and
finally condense into a percolated structure. Remarkably, in a broad parameter
range between single-cluster and percolated structures, we have found stable
supercomplexes composed of six colloids forming grape-like or rocket-like
structures. We investigated the possibility of macroscopic pattern switching by
applying external electrical fields.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure
Insulated fixation system of plasma facing components to the divertor cassette in Eurofusion-DEMO
The design activities of an insulated Plasma Facing Components-Cassette Body (PFCs-CB) support has been carried out under the pre-conceptual design phase for Eurofusion-DEMO Work Package DIV-1 \u201cDivertor Cassette Design and Integration\u201d - Eurofusion Power Plant Physics & Technology (PPPT) program. The Eurofusion-DEMO divertor is a key in-vessel component with PFCs which directly interact with the plasma scrape-off layer. The PFCs have to cope with high heat loads, neutron irradiation and electromagnetic loads. The mechanical integrity of the PFCs and water cooling pipes can be jeopardized by high heat loads and by electromagnetic loads generated in a disruption event. In European-DEMO the possibility to estimate the heat load by measuring the relative thermocurrents is under investigation. In order to allow thermocurrents measurements, a divertor design option provides that PFCs are electrically insulated from CB. In this work authors aim to analyze the opportunity that the PFC-CB fixing system incorporates an electrical insulation system, thus acquiring also an important diagnostic role in the measurement of the thermocurrents and in the management of the current flows. The possible use of ceramic material (e.g. alumina) as the insulating layer between the support components is investigated
Calculation of excited polaron states in the Holstein model
An exact diagonalization technique is used to investigate the low-lying
excited polaron states in the Holstein model for the infinite one-dimensional
lattice. For moderate values of the adiabatic ratio, a new and comprehensive
picture, involving three excited (coherent) polaron bands below the phonon
threshold, is obtained. The coherent contribution of the excited states to both
the single-electron spectral density and the optical conductivity is evaluated
and, due to the invariance of the Hamiltonian under the space inversion, the
two are shown to contain complementary information about the single-electron
system at zero temperature. The chosen method reveals the connection between
the excited bands and the renormalized local phonon excitations of the
adiabatic theory, as well as the regime of parameters for which the electron
self-energy has notable non-local contributions. Finally, it is shown that the
hybridization of two polaron states allows a simple description of the ground
and first excited state in the crossover regime.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PR
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