Scattering Research Articles

Theoretical Prediction of Thermoelectric Performance for Layered LaAgOX (X = S, Se) Materials in Consideration of the Four-Phonon and Multiple Carrier Scattering Processes.

Inspired by the experimental achievement of layered LaCuOX (X = S, Se) with superior thermoelectric (TE) performance, the TE properties of Ag-based isomorphic LaAgOX are systemically investigated by the first-principles calculation. The LaAgOS and LaAgOSe are direct semiconductors with wide bandgaps of ≈2.50 and ≈2.35eV. Essential four-phonon and multiple carrier scattering mechanisms are considered in phonon and electronic transport calculations to improve the accuracy of the figure-of-merit (ZT). The p-type LaAgOX (X = S, Se) shows excellent TE performance on account of the large Seebeck coefficient originated from the band convergency and low thermal conductivity caused by the strong phonon-phonon scattering. Consequently, the optimal ZTs along the out-of-plane direction decrease in the order of n-type LaAgOSe (≈2.88) > p-type LaAgOSe (≈2.50) > p-type LaAgOS (≈2.42) > n-type LaAgOS (≈2.27) at 700K, and the optimal ZTs of ≈1.16 and ≈1.29 are achieved for p-type LaAgOS and LaAgOSe at the same temperature. The present work would provide a deep insight into the phonon and electronic transport properties of LaAgOX (X = S, Se), but also could shed light on the way for the rational design of state-of-the-art heteroanionic materials for TE application.

The Multiple Scattering of Laser Beam Propagation in Advection Fog and Radiation Fog

The laser beams were scattered and attenuated when they propagate in fogs for laser communication, laser remote sensing detection. For different density and droplets distribution of fogs, the laser scatter and attenuation are different, the correspond mechanism need thorough investigation. The characteristics of laser beam scattering in different types of fogs are studied based on the droplet size characteristics of advection fog and radiation fog, the scattering coefficients of droplets with different laser wavelengths(0.86 μm, 0.91 μm, 1.06 μm, 1.3015, and 10.6 μm) are calculated, the multi scattering of laser beam is studied by the Monte Carlo method, the propagation path and scattering direction of photons is analyzed, relations between asymmetry factor, albedo of fog droplets, and the visibility are presented, and the forward scattering intensity and the backward scattering intensity versus scattering angle are gotten and discussed.

A Potential‐Based Boundary Element Implementation for Modeling Multiple Scattering from Local and Nonlocal Plasmonic Nanowires

AbstractA novel boundary element implementation that models multiple scattering of plasmonic nanowires is presented. The modeling is based on potentials and the materials constituting the wires can be local (described by the local response model) or nonlocal (described by the nonlocal hydrodynamic model). The nonlocal hydrodynamic model (HDM) provides an important approximation describing nonclassical effects associated with the collective motion of free electrons in metals. The modeling is challenging as different interface conditions are needed at a boundary which separates 1) a local medium from a local medium; 2) a local (nonlocal) medium from a nonlocal (local) medium; and 3) a nonlocal medium from a nonlocal medium. The algorithm can address constructs of arbitrary geometry and material composition within the HDM; thus, it becomes a complete numerical tool for exploration of nonlocal nanowires. Fictitious sources are imposed at the boundaries, linking the scattered fields to the imposed sources, and matching the interface conditions at the boundaries. This procedure yields a set of Boundary Integral Equations (BIEs). Then, the BIEs are numerically solved utilizing the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The results from the BEM solver are verified quantitatively and qualitatively showing good agreement in both the near‐ and the far‐field regimes.

Resolution estimation in different monolithic PET detectors using neural networks

PurposeWe use neural networks to evaluate and compare the spatial resolution of two different simulated monolithic PET detector elements. The effects of mixing events with single photoeffect interactions and multiple Compton scatterings are also studied. MethodsTwo PET detector models were used in this study. The first one consisted of a LYSO crystal plate with 19.25 × 19.25 × 12 mm3 dimensions and 256-channel photomultiplier with parameters modeled after a Hamamatsu S-13615-1050N-16 SiPM. The second model used a larger LYSO crystal (57.6 × 57.6 × 12 mm3) and a 64-channel Sensl ARRAYC-60035-64P-PCB photomultiplier.A feed-forward neural network was used to reconstruct the point of 511 keV gamma interaction. The number of layers and the number of neurons per layer were varied. ResultsThe best resolution was achieved with the 57.6 × 57.6 mm2 detector model, with an average of 0.74 ± 0.01 mm for the XY plane and an average 1.01 ± 0.01 mm for the Z coordinate (depth of interaction). ConclusionsNeural networks can be a powerful tool that can help to determine the optimal parameters for a design of an experimental device. This study demonstrates how neural networks can be used to evaluate the performance of two detector variants while not being dependent on specific signal and noise functions.

Transmissive angle-multiplexed meta-polarizer based on a multilayer metasurface

Metasurfaces have exhibited great capabilities to control electromagnetic waves, and many multifunctional metasurfaces were recently proposed. However, although angle-multiplexed meta-devices were successfully realized in reflection geometries, their transmission-mode counterparts are difficult to achieve due to the additional requirements. Here, we design and fabricate a transmissive angle-multiplexed meta-polarizer in the microwave regime based on a multilayer metasurface. Coupled-mode-theory analyses reveal that the device exhibits distinct angle-dependent transmissive responses under excitations with different polarizations, and such differences are further enhanced by multiple scatterings inside the device. Microwave experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations and theoretical analyses.

How the Eurasian Jay Expands its Color Palette by Optimizing Multiple Scattering

AbstractThe production of structural color in nature is still incompletely understood. Multiple scattering exerts critical effects on synthetic disordered systems, but its effects on structural colors in natural materials are not yet well known. Here, electron microscopy, optical modeling, and biomimicry are used to show that variation in the thickness of the feather nanostructures creates periodic color variations in Eurasian jay wing covert feathers, with nanostructures within white feather regions being two times thicker than those in blue portions. This finding reveals that multiple scattering expands the natural color palette of the Eurasian jay by extending reflection to longer wavelengths in thicker spongy layers. Furthermore, it is found that the white color of Eurasian jay feathers is produced even in the presence of melanin due to a sufficiently thick spongy layer reflecting all visible wavelengths. Inspired by the Eurasian jay design solution, a one‐step self‐assembly method for mimicking periodic color variations in a synthetic context is described. Thus, the colors of natural color‐producing materials are modulated by changing only the thickness of the materials, leading to multiple scattering effects.

Ultrasound Matrix Imaging-Part I: The Focused Reflection Matrix, the F-Factor and the Role of Multiple Scattering.

This is the first article in a series of two dealing with a matrix approach for aberration quantification and correction in ultrasound imaging. Advanced synthetic beamforming relies on a double focusing operation at transmission and reception on each point of the medium. Ultrasound matrix imaging (UMI) consists in decoupling the location of these transmitted and received focal spots. The response between those virtual transducers form the so-called focused reflection matrix that actually contains much more information than a confocal ultrasound image. In this paper, a time-frequency analysis of this matrix is performed, which highlights the single and multiple scattering contributions as well as the impact of aberrations in the monochromatic and broadband regimes. Interestingly, this analysis enables the measurement of the incoherent input-output point spread function at any pixel of this image. A fitting process enables the quantification of the single scattering, multiple scattering and noise components in the image. From the single scattering contribution, a focusing criterion is defined, and its evolution used to quantify the amount of aberration throughout the ultrasound image. In contrast to the state-of-the-art coherence factor, this new indicator is robust to multiple scattering and electronic noise, thereby providing a contrasted map of the focusing quality at a much better transverse resolution. After a validation of the proof-of-concept based on time-domain simulations, UMI is applied to the in-vivo study of a human calf. Beyond this specific example, UMI opens a new route for speed-of-sound and scattering quantification in ultrasound imaging.

RCS Calculation of Electrically Large Targets by Iterative Bidirectionally Ray Tracing Method

An efficient electromagnetic (EM) scattering solution of iterative bidirectionally ray tracing method has been proved to analyze the scattering from electrically large bodies with multiple reflection structures. The algorithm starts by building a bidirectionally ray tracing in both incident and backward observed directions. More specifically, both the multiple geometric optical reflections and physical optical scatterings are taken into consideration during the process of ray tracing. Meanwhile, the selected current interactions are iterative accounted so as to obtain the reradiation effect for the multiple reflections. On this bases, the reradiation effect supplements the mechanism of the nonspecular scattering obtained on side lobe directions and achieves higher accuracy than the ray tracing-based method. After that, the target-coupled edge diffraction theory is used to modify the target scattering field to obtain valuable RCS results. The EM scatterings from complex structures are simulated to verify the performance of the proposed method.

Comprehensive investigation of the extremely low lattice thermal conductivity and thermoelectric properties of BaIn2Te4

Recently, an extremely low lattice thermal conductivity value has been reported for the alkali-based telluride material ${\mathrm{BaIn}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{4}$. The value is comparable with low-thermal conductivity metal chalcogenides, and the glass limit is highly intriguing. Therefore, to shed light on this issue, we performed first-principles phonon thermal transport calculations. We predicted highly anisotropic lattice thermal conductivity along different directions via the solution of the linearized phonon Boltzmann transport equation. More importantly, we determined several different factors as the main sources of the predicted ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of this crystal, such as the strong interactions between low-frequency optical phonons and acoustic phonons, small phonon group velocities, and lattice anharmonicity indicated by large negative mode Gr\"uneisen parameters. Along with thermal transport calculations, we also investigated the electronic transport properties by accurately calculating the scattering mechanisms, namely the acoustic deformation potential, ionized impurity, and polar optical scatterings. The inclusion of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) for electronic structure is found to strongly affect the $p$-type Seebeck coefficients. Finally, we calculated the thermoelectric properties accurately, and the optimal $ZT$ value of $p$-type doping, which originated from high Seebeck coefficients, was predicted to exceed unity after 700 K and have a direction averaged value of 1.63 (1.76 in the $y$-direction) at 1000 K around $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{20}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ hole concentration. For $n$-type doping, a $ZT$ around $3.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ concentration was predicted to be a direction-averaged value of 1.40 (1.76 in the $z$-direction) at 1000 K, mostly originating from its high electron mobility. With the experimental evidence of high thermal stability, we showed that the ${\mathrm{BaIn}}_{2}{\mathrm{Te}}_{4}$ compound has the potential to be a promising mid- to high-temperature thermoelectric material for both $p$-type and $n$-type systems with appropriate doping.

Multiple scattering description of multicenter coherent emission with applications to photoionization and electron scattering in diatomic molecules

In the light of a multiple scattering (MS) description of molecular photodiffraction and photoabsorption processes, we present an investigation of the interplay between initial state coherence and intramolecular scattering, leading to a reinterpretation of the molecular interference in diatomic molecules and in particular of the Cohen-Fano (CF) interference term in photoabsorption. Indeed, the delocalization of the initial state electron over different atoms at positions ${\mathbf{R}}_{n}$ introduces in the language of MS theory as many virtual emitters as there are atoms in the molecule, giving rise to new MS paths as compared to the case of a single emitter. Their emission amplitudes interfere via the usual phase factor ${e}^{i\mathbf{k}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}{\mathbf{R}}_{n}}$ and in the case of two emitter photoemission describe how the usual picture of the microscopic Young's experiment is modified by the presence of intramolecular scattering. Photoabsorption follows from photoemission by integrating over the emission directions of the photoelectron and characterizes the CF oscillations as the remnants on the energy scale of the photoemission interference patterns introduced by the new paths joining the two centers, exactly like the extended x-ray absorption fine structure signals are the remnants of the closed paths that begin and end at the same atom. In the same context of initial state coherence we also show that the orientationally averaged scattering of electrons off small molecules can give access to CF type of oscillations, although in a more complicated way, due to the lack of site selectivity in comparison with the photoemission process and the absence of a dipole selection rule. It is shown that this type of modulation has the same physical origin as that found in photoabsorption.

Shedding light on the formation and stability of mesostructures in ternary “Ouzo” mixtures

Hypothesis: Ternary systems made of water, a water-miscible solvent, and hydrophobic solutes spontaneously produce metastable particles by the “Ouzo effect” and thermodynamically stable “Surfactant-Free Micro Emulsions” (SFME). However, the use of different analyses has led to a variability in the criteria to determine the boundaries of the Ouzo domain. We hypothesized that this could be clarified by investigating the stability and the physical state of the particles.Experiments: We investigate four systems using both solid and liquid solutes and two different solvents, and achieved a careful investigation of their phase diagrams, using DLS, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, NMR, Multiple Light Scattering, electrophoretic mobility, and fluorescence analysis.Findings: Our results evidence that the transition from the monophasic to the Ouzo domains does not coincide with the cloudiness curve, and that compositions in the Ouzo domain can look fully transparent, in contrast to what is often considered. This transition is best determined by stability analysis. The cloudiness curve corresponds to the formation of particles with a large size dispersity. In the Ouzo domain, we observed an exchange of solute between the continuous phase and solute particles swollen with solvent. In addition, the particles are stabilized against coalescence by their high negative charge.

Multiple Coulomb scattering of muons in lithium hydride

Multiple Coulomb Scattering (MCS) is a well known phenomenon occurring when charged particles traverse materials. Measurements of muons traversing low $Z$ materials made in the MuScat experiment showed that theoretical models and simulation codes, such as GEANT4 (v7.0), over-estimated the scattering. The Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment (MICE) measured the cooling of a muon beam traversing a liquid hydrogen or lithium hydride (LiH) energy absorber as part of a programme to develop muon accelerator facilities, such as a Neutrino Factory or a Muon Collider. The energy loss and MCS that occur in the absorber material are competing effects that alter the performance of the cooling channel. Therefore measurements of MCS are required in order to validate the simulations used to predict the cooling performance in future accelerator facilities. We report measurements made in the MICE apparatus of MCS using a LiH absorber and muons within the momentum range 160 to 245 MeV/c. The measured RMS scattering width is about 9% smaller than that predicted by the approximate formula proposed by the Particle Data Group. Data at 172, 200 and 240 MeV/c are compared to the GEANT4 (v9.6) default scattering model. These measurements show agreement with this more recent GEANT4 (v9.6) version over the range of incident muon momenta.

The Cylindrical Drift Chamber of the MEG II experiment

The MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) represents the state of the art in the search for the charged Lepton Flavor Violating μ+→e+γ decay, setting the most stringent upper limit on the BR (μ+→e+γ)≤4.2×10−13 (90% C.L.). An upgrade of MEG, MEG II, was designed, commissioned and recently started the physics data taking. Its goal is to reach a sensitivity level of 6×10−14. In order to reconstruct the positron momentum vector a Cylindrical Drift CHamber (CDCH) with unprecedented peculiarities was built, featuring angular and momentum resolutions at the 6.5 mrad and 100 keV/c level. The CDCH is a 2-meter long, 60 cm in diameter, low-mass, single volume detector with high granularity: 9 layers of 192 drift cells, few mm wide, defined by ∼12000 wires in a stereo configuration for longitudinal hit localization. The filling gas mixture is Helium:Isobutane 90:10. The total radiation length is 1.5×10−3 X0, thus minimizing the Multiple Coulomb Scattering and allowing for a single-hit resolution <120μm. After the assembly at INFN Pisa, the CDCH was transported to PSI and integrated into the MEG II experimental apparatus since 2018. The commissioning phase lasted for the past three years until the operational stability was reached in 2020. The analysis software is continuously developing and the tuning of the reconstruction algorithms is one of the main activities. The latest updates on the positron momentum vector resolutions and tracking efficiency are presented.

Electrospinning of hierarchical carbon fibers with multi-dimensional magnetic configurations toward prominent microwave absorption

Hierarchical microstructures and synergistic dielectric-magnetic effect are expected to satisfy the improvement of microwave absorption, but still face considerable challenges. Herein, we employ the electrospinning strategy and thermal reduction engineering to fabricate hierarchical carbon fibers with multi-dimensional magnetic configurations, in which Ni spheres are embedded in carbon fibers and Co sheets are anchored on the surface of carbon fibers. The results indicate that abundant hetero-interfaces combined with electromagnetic synergy promote impedance characteristics and strengthen interfacial polarization, magnetic domains with multi-dimensional configurations contribute to magnetic loss by means of intrinsic ferromagnetic resonance and magnetic coupling, and unique hierarchical architectures result in multiple scatterings. As a result, the minimum reflection loss (RL,min) achieves a high value of −45.9 dB at 4 mm and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reaches 5.9 GHz at a thickness of 2.8 mm. It is believed that this design concept opens up a novel strategy in fabricating multi-dimensional magnetic configurations and the absorbers with high-efficient absorption performance exhibit promising the potential in managing electromagnetic radiation.

Jet broadening in flowing matter: Resummation

In this work, we obtain the leading corrections to the jet momentum broadening distribution in a QCD medium arising from the transverse flow of the matter. We first derive the single-particle propagator of a highly energetic parton resumming its multiple interactions with the homogeneous flowing matter, explicitly keeping the leading subeikonal flow terms. Then, we use this propagator to obtain the jet broadening distribution and its leading moments. We show that this distribution becomes anisotropic in the presence of transverse flow, since its odd moments are generally non-zero and proportional to the transverse velocity of the medium. Finally, we evaluate several odd moments, which we compare to the corresponding results at first order in opacity, showing that accounting for multiple in-medium scatterings is essential to describe some observables in dense nuclear matter.

Momentum reconstruction of charged particles using multiple Coulomb scatterings in a nuclear emulsion detector

Abstract This paper describes a new method for momentum reconstruction of charged particles using multiple Coulomb scatterings in a nuclear emulsion detector with a layered structure of nuclear emulsion films and target materials. The method utilizes the scattering angles of particles precisely measured in the emulsion films. The method is based on the maximum likelihood to include the new information on the decrease of the energy as the particle travels through the detector. According to the Monte Carlo simulations, this method can measure momentum with a resolution of 10% for muons of ${500}\, {\rm MeV}/c$ passing through the detector perpendicularly. The momentum resolution is evaluated to be 10–20%, depending on the momentum and emission angle of the particle. By accounting for the effect of the energy decrease, the momentum can be reconstructed correctly with less bias, particularly in the low-momentum region. We apply this method to measure the momentum of muon tracks detected in the Neutrino Interaction research with Nuclear emulsion and J-PARC Accelerator (NINJA) experiment where the momentum is also measured independently by using the track range. The two measurements agree well within experimental uncertainties, verifying the method experimentally. This method will extend the measurable phase space of muons and hadrons in the NINJA experiment.

A Boundary Integral Equation Formalism for Modeling Multiple Scattering of Light from 3D Nanoparticles Incorporating Nonlocal Effects

AbstractA novel computational scheme that models the scattering of light at interfaces in a deep‐nanometric (deep‐nm) plasmonic system is presented. The nonclassical effects associated with the collective motion of free electrons in metals of the system are investigated by a nonlocal hydrodynamic (HD) model. Due to the HD model, three types of interfaces, that is, the dielectric–dielectric interface, the dielectric–metal interface, and the metal–metal interface, are distinguished. The scattering of light at these interfaces is described by Boundary Integral Equations (BIEs), which are constructed by using the surface equivalence principle, the concept of the Green' function and the interface conditions. The BIEs are numerically solved by the boundary element method (BEM) for 3D nanoparticles of arbitrary shapes. To validate, the computed results are first quantitatively contrasted with analytical solutions from the Mie theory for spherical core–shell structures, with good agreements being demonstrated in both the near field and the far field. Then, a qualitative study is performed for dimers consisting of spheres with various gap sizes for both the classical local response model and the nonlocal HD model. The observed trends agree well with the results reported in previous works.

Broadband microwave absorption with ultra low filler ratio through one step direct calcination of the pappi of Ceiba speciosa (A. St.-Hil.)

The fast growing demand for constant updating of information technology has made its side effect of electronic interfere and radiation a prominently serious problem. Compared with other types of MA(microwave absorption) absorbers, biomass-based absorbers are a highly promising sort, due to their low weight, possession of unique intrinsic structures, and low cost, which is essential for practical use. However, owing to their exorbitant relative complex permittivity, the undesirable impedance mismatching has often been obtained, which typically leads to both limited MA capabilities and a narrow effective absorption band. Hence, various strategies such as activation processes or doping of magnetic materials have been employed to boost the MA performances of biomass based materials, and these further modifications will inevitably add cost, making the advantage of low cost for biomass at least compromised or even lost. This research employs the silky pappi of the fruit of Ceiba speciosa (A. St.-Hil.) to furnish biomass-derived absorbers through one-step direct calcination. Together with high aspect ratio, its unique tubular hollow structures can act as resonators, which allows for multiple reflections and scatterings, highly facilitating the dissipation of undesirable energies. The results show that the sample annealed at 700 ℃ (Cs-700) has effective absorption bandwidth as wide as 9.3 GHz (8.7–18 GHz) at the thickness of 3.36 mm under the ultra low filler sample ratio of only 7%. Moreover Cs-700 presents broadband absorption at all the five tested thicknesses with the narrowest band of 6.2 GHz. Furthermore, when calcination temperature was risen to 800 ℃, much inferior effective bandwidth, the maximum of which is only 5.8 GHz, has been found. Thus, high aspect ratio, unique hollow tubular structures, as well as a subtle balance of between attenuating abilities and impedance matching account for the exceptional MA performance of Cs-700. We believe these findings open a window for the future structure design of biomass based MA materials.

Parameterization of a Refined Model Aimed at Simulating Laser-Induced Incandescence of Soot Using a Visible Excitation Wavelength of 532 nm

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) is one of the most powerful techniques for soot detection in combustion media. It is therefore commonly used to perform experiments in lab-scale flames and industrial combustors with a view to elucidating the formation mechanisms leading to combustion-generated fine carbonaceous particles while assessing their intrinsic properties. Quantitatively interpreting LII measurements, however, requires a firm knowledge of the optical properties of soot, including their wavelength-dependent absorption function (). Among the approaches used to evaluate such a crucial parameter, one can implement a LII model to derive the value which has to be set to reproduce a series of LII signals measured in a well-characterized environment. In this context, the present work aims at parameterizing a refined LII model built upon a comprehensive version of soot heat- and mass-balance equations for assessment when using a visible excitation wavelength of 532 nm. The proposed model integrates terms representing the saturation of linear, single- and multi-photon absorption processes, cooling by sublimation, conduction, radiation and thermionic emission, in addition to mechanisms depicting soot oxidation and annealing, non-thermal photodesorption of carbon clusters, as well as corrective factors accounting for the shielding effect and multiple scattering (MS) within aggregates. To parameterize this advanced simulation tool, an optimization procedure coupling design of experiments with a genetic algorithm-based solver was implemented. Doing so allowed to estimate the values of different factors involved in absorption and sublimation terms, including the multi-photon absorption cross-section for C2 photodesorption, the saturation coefficients for linear- and multi-photon absorption, as well as the value. Obtained parameters turned out to be well-suited to reproduce a set of LII signals acquired in a Diesel flame. While leading to predictions merging on a single curve with measured data, the so-parameterized model notably led to infer values of 0.3 and 0.38 when considering or neglecting MS within aggregates, respectively. Finally, the / ratio estimated based on data collected herein and in a former modeling work was found to be consistent with results issued from two-excitation wavelength LII measurements previously reported in the literature.

Optimization of surface high-order harmonic generation by tailoring nanostructures

Many applications in attosecond science, lensless imaging, and industrial metrology need coherent extreme-ultraviolet pulses from high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in solids. However, the efficiency of the HHG plateau and the higher cutoff energy are nontrivial due to the limitation of the lower damage threshold of solids irradiated by laser fields. Here, we propose nanoengineered solid bowtie samples to overcome this limitation, which enables one to tailor the characteristic spacing between two nanotips. The near-field effect combined with recombined emissions with multiple scatterings can robustly increase conversion efficiencies and extend the cutoff energies of the HHG plateau. Our result paves the way to the manipulation of harmonic emissions in nanostructures and introduces imaging of the sub-cycle resolution of ultrafast electronic dynamics.