Vortex State Research Articles

In plane magnetization reversal in nanosized thin truncated conical double-disks of permalloy

In plane magnetization reversal of permalloy thin truncated conical double-disk as a function of the is investigated using micromagnetic simulations with fixed base radius (R) of 100 nm. When external magnetic field is applied along the longer axis of the double-disk, the remanent states change gradually from vortex state to S state and then to buckled magnetization state with reduction of σ. When σ ≈ 1 and the conical nanodisk resembles to a regular cylindrical nanodisk, incoherent magnetization reversal is dominant whereas tapering of conical disk reduces extent of incoherence in magnetization reversal. As tapering of nanodisk goes extreme so that σ ≈ 0.1, the magnetization reversal is governed only by coherent rotation. Correspondingly, coercive field reduces monotonically as σ increases. On the other hand, when a field is applied in plane but perpendicular to the long axis, almost zero coercivity is discovered. These variations are explained using a analytical calculation of demagnetization factors which quantifies shape anisotropy as well as the consideration of incoherence in magnetization reversal.

Impact of curvature-induced Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction on magnetic vortex texture in spherical caps

The geometric curvature of nanoscale magnetic shells brings about curvature-induced anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). Here, we derive equations to describe the profile of the magnetic vortex state in a spherical cap. We demonstrate that the azimuthal component of magnetization acquires a finite tilt at the edge of the cap, which results in the increase of the magnetic surface energy. This is different compared to the case of a closed spherical shell, where symmetry of the texture does not allow any tilt of magnetization at the equator of the sphere. Furthermore, we analyze the size of the vortex core in a spherical cap and show that the presence of the curvature-induced DMI leads to the increase of the core size independent of the product of the circulation and polarity of the vortex. This is in contrast to the case of planar disks with intrinsic DMI, where the preferred direction of circulation as well as the decrease or increase of the size of vortex core is determined by the sign of the product of the circulation and polarity with respect to the sign of the constant of the intrinsic DMI.

Metastable states and hidden phase slips in nanobridge SQUIDs

We fabricated an asymmetric nanoscale SQUID consisting of one nanobridge weak link and one Dayem bridge weak link. The current phase relation of these particular weak links is characterized by multivaluedness and linearity. While the latter is responsible for a particular magnetic field dependence of the critical current (so-called vorticity diamonds), the former enables the possibility of different vorticity states (phase winding numbers) existing at one magnetic field value. In experiments the observed critical current value is stochastic in nature, does not necessarily coincide with the current associated with the lowest energy state and critically depends on the measurement conditions. In this work, we unravel the origin of the observed metastability as a result of the phase dynamics happening during the freezing process and while sweeping the current. Moreover, we employ special measurement protocols to prepare the desired vorticity state and identify the (hidden) phase slip dynamics ruling the detected state of these nanodevices. In order to gain insights into the dynamics of the condensate and, more specifically the hidden phase slips, we performed time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations.

Propagable Optical Vortices with Natural Noninteger Orbital Angular Momentum in Free Space

Light beams with optical vortices can propagate in free space only with integer orbital angular momentum. Herein, this scientific consensus theoretically and experimentally is upheaved by proposing light beams carrying natural noninteger orbital angular momentum. These peculiar vortex beams are unique solutions to the Helmholtz equation, which possesses optical vortices with topological charges of l + 0.5, where l is an integer. During propagation in free space, their amplitudes and vortex phases with noninteger topological charges can be maintained stably. The findings of this study provide an alternative state of optical vortices in physics, which can serve as basis for innovations in optics and related scientific fields.

Diverse Surface Signatures of Stratospheric Polar Vortex Anomalies

AbstractThe Arctic stratospheric polar vortex is an important driver of winter weather and climate variability and predictability in North America and Eurasia, with a downward influence that on average projects onto the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). While tropospheric circulation anomalies accompanying anomalous vortex states display substantial case‐by‐case variability, understanding the full diversity of the surface signatures requires larger sample sizes than those available from reanalyses. Here, we first show that a large ensemble of seasonal hindcasts realistically reproduces the observed average surface signatures for weak and strong vortex winters and produces sufficient spread for single ensemble members to be considered as alternative realizations. We then use the ensemble to analyze the diversity of surface signatures during weak and strong vortex winters. Over Eurasia, relatively few weak vortex winters are associated with large‐scale cold conditions, suggesting that the strength of the observed cold signature could be inflated due to insufficient sampling. For both weak and strong vortex winters, the canonical temperature pattern in Eurasia only clearly arises when North Atlantic sea surface temperatures are in phase with the NAO. Over North America, while the main driver of interannual winter temperature variability is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the stratosphere can modulate ENSO teleconnections, affecting temperature and circulation anomalies over North America and downstream. These findings confirm that anomalous vortex states are associated with a broad spectrum of surface climate anomalies on the seasonal scale, which may not be fully captured by the small observational sample size.

Vortex, stripe, Skyrmion lattice, and localized states in a spin–orbit coupled dipolar condensate

We investigate a spin-1/2 system containing both dipolar and non-dipolar components in a 52Cr Bose–Einstein condensate with spin–orbit coupling. Combined with energy analysis, phase diagram between contact interaction and Rashba spin–orbit coupling reveals four distinctive ground-state phases: vortex state phase, stripe phase, Skyrmion lattice phase, and localized Skyrmion phase. We adopt the condensate order parameter to characterize the supersolidity and topological charges of the quantum states of matter. In particular, we predict the emergence of a Skyrmion lattice phase with supersolidity which is justified by calculating the crystalline order. Moreover, we find that the critical value of the spin–orbit coupling from stripe to Skyrmion lattice increases with decreasing relative strength of the dipolar and contact interactions. Our results demonstrate the possibility for physicists to realize a wealth of controllable topological configurations in dipolar condensates, including Skyrmion lattices with both supersolidity and different topological charges adjusted by changing the strength of spin–orbit coupling. The topological phases we predict in this work can be realized by using state-of-the-art techniques in ultracold atomic experiments, such as using pulsed magnetic fields to induce and adjust spin–orbit couplings on atom chips of chromium, erbium, or dysprosium condensates.

Experimental base flow modification on a swept wing using plasma forcing

This work experimentally investigates plasma actuator (PA) forcing effects on the base flow and developing crossflow (CF) instabilities in a swept wing boundary layer. Spanwise-invariant plasma forcing near the leading edge is configured according to the base flow modification (BFM) strategy. A simplified predictive model is constructed by coupling an experimentally derived plasma body force and a linear stability theory and is used to infer the stability characteristics of the boundary layer subject to BFM. The base flow velocity is measured by stereo particle image velocimetry (PIV) at various PA operating conditions. Similarly, the developing CF instabilities, triggered through discrete roughness elements, are quantified by planar-PIV. The results demonstrate that a PA can reduce the boundary layer CF component, whereas the control authority shows a high dependence on the momentum coefficient. The dissimilar reduction between the streamline-aligned velocity and CF component leads to a local re-orientation of the base flow. Spanwise spectral analysis of the time-averaged flow indicates that stationary CF instabilities can be favorably manipulated whereas the BFM reduction effects depend on the corresponding initial amplitudes of stationary instabilities. An evident spanwise shift in the trajectory of stationary CF vortices is observed, which appears to result from the local alteration of the boundary layer stability due to the PA forcing. Despite the overall reduction in the amplitude of stationary CF instabilities, unsteady disturbances are found to be enhanced by the PA forcing. The current results shed light on the underlying principles of BFM-based PA operation in the context of laminar flow control.

Existence of vortices for Schrödinger equations with logarithmic and saturable nonlinearity

In this paper, we study the existence of stationary vortex wave solutions of two kinds of nonlinear Schrödinger equations. For the first one, which is equipped with logarithmic nonlinearity arising from Bose–Einstein condensation, we consider two types of boundary value problems. In both cases, we establish the existence of positive solutions through a direct minimization method. For the second one, with a saturable nonlinearity originating from geometric optics, we use a constrained minimization approach to establish the existence of vortex wave solutions. Moreover, some explicit estimates for the bound of the wave propagation constant are derived.

Topological excitations in rotating spin–orbit-coupled spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensates with in-plane gradient magnetic field

We investigate the topological excitations of rotating spin-1 ferromagnetic Bose–Einstein condensates with spin–orbit coupling (SOC) in an in-plane quadrupole field. Such a system sustains a rich variety of exotic vortex structures due to the spinor order parameter and the interplay among in-plane quadrupole field, SOC, rotation, and interatomic interaction. For the nonrotating case, with the increase of the quadrupole field strength, the system experiences a transition from a coreless polar-core vortex with a bright soliton to a singular polar-core vortex with a density hole. Without rotation but with a fixed quadrupole field, when the SOC strength increases, the system transforms from a central Mermin–Ho vortex into a criss-crossed vortex–antivortex string lattice. For the rotating case, we give a phase diagram with respect to the quadrupole field strength and the SOC strength. It is shown that the rotating system supports four typical quantum phases: vortex necklace, diagonal vortex chain cluster, single diagonal vortex chain, and few vortex states. Furthermore, the system favors novel spin textures and skyrmion excitations including an antiskyrmion, a criss-crossed half-skyrmion–half-antiskyrmion lattice, a skyrmion-meron necklace, a symmetric half-skyrmion lattice, and an asymmetric skyrmion-meron lattice.

Modulation of Atmospheric Rivers by the Arctic Stratospheric Polar Vortex

AbstractVariability in atmospheric river (AR) frequency can drive hydrometeorological extremes with broad societal impacts. Mitigating the impacts of increased or decreased AR frequency requires forewarning weeks to months ahead. A key driver of Northern Hemisphere wintertime mid‐latitude subseasonal‐to‐seasonal climate variability is the stratospheric polar vortex. Here, we quantify AR frequency, landfall, genesis, and termination depending on the strength of the lower stratospheric polar vortex. We find large differences between weak and strong vortex states consistent with a latitudinal shift of the eddy‐driven jet, with the greatest differences over the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Iberia. Significant differences are also found for the Pacific Northwest of North America. Most of the seasonal‐scale stratospheric modulation of precipitation over Europe is explained by modulation of ARs. Our results provide potentially useful statistics for extended‐range prediction, and highlight the importance of ARs in bringing about the precipitation response to anomalous vortex states.

Vortex Solitons in Twisted Circular Waveguide Arrays.

We address the formation of topological states in twisted circular waveguide arrays and find that twisting leads to important differences of the fundamental properties of new vortex solitons with opposite topological charges that arise in the nonlinear regime. We find that such system features the rare property that clockwise and counterclockwise vortex states are nonequivalent. Focusing on arrays with C_{6v} discrete rotation symmetry, we find that a longitudinal twist stabilizes the vortex solitons with the lowest topological charges m=±1, which are always unstable in untwisted arrays with the same symmetry. Twisting also leads to the appearance of instability domains for otherwise stable solitons with m=±2 and generates vortex modes with topological charges m=±3 that are forbidden in untwisted arrays. By and large, we establish a rigorous relation between the discrete rotation symmetry of the array, its twist direction, and the possible soliton topological charges.

Hall anomaly by vacancies in a pinned lattice of vortices: A quantitative analysis based on the thin-film data from Bi2.1Sr1.9CaCu2.0O8+δ

Hall anomaly, as appears in the mixed-state Hall resistivity of type-II superconductors, has had numerous theories but yet a consensus on its origin. In this work, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the magnetotransport measurements on BSCCO thin films by Zhao et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 247001 (2019)] and validate a previously proposed vacancy mechanism [cf. J. Phys. Condens. Matter. 10, L677 (1998)] with many-body vortex correlations for the phenomenon. The model attributes the Hall anomaly to the motion of vacancies in pinned fragments of vortex lattice. Its validity is first examined by an exploration on the vortex states near the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition on the vortex crystal. Comparisons are then carried out between the measured activation energies with the calculated creation energy of the vortex-anti-vortex pair and the vacancy energy on the flux-line lattice, with no adjustable parameter. Our analysis elucidates the theoretical basis and prerequisites of the vacancy model. In particular, the vacancy activation energies are an order of magnitude smaller than that of a sole vortex line. The proposed mechanism may provide a macro-theoretical framework for other studies.

Circular stripe domains and cone state vortices in disk-shaped exchange coupled magnetic heterostructures

Vertically stacked exchange coupled magnetic heterostructures of cylindrical geometry can host complex noncolinear magnetization patterns. By tuning the interlayer exchange coupling between a layer accommodating magnetic vortex state and an out-of-plane magnetized layer, one can efficiently realize new topological chiral textures such as cone state vortices and circular stripe domains. We study how the number of circular stripes can be controlled by both the interlayer exchange coupling and the sample geometrical parameters. By varying geometrical parameters, a continuous phase transition between the homogeneous state, cone state vortex, circular stripe domains, and the imprinted vortex takes place, which is analysed by full scale micromagnetic simulations. The analytical description provides an intuitive pictures of the magnetization textures in each of these phases. The possibility to realize switching between different states allows for engineering magnetic textures with possible applications in spintronic devices.

Experimental study of effect of a pair of weak shock waves on laminar-turbulent transition in the boundary layer of flat plate at Mach number 2

An experimental study of the effect of longitudinal vortices generated by weak shock waves on the laminar-turbulent transition in the boundary layer of a flat plate at a Mach number 2 is conducted. To amplify the effect of the longitudinal vortices generation, a model with leading edge blunting radius of 0,5 mm was used. The disturbance intensity was measured with a constant temperature hotwire anemometer and a single-wire sensor. To change the Reynolds numbers in the flow, the method of varying the pressure in the pretest section of a supersonic wind tunnel was used. According to the experimental conditions, the level of mass flow perturbations in the test section T325 of ITAM SB RAS did not exceed 0,1 % of the mean flow in the frequency range from 0,2 to 50 kHz. In this work, it is obtained for the first time that stationary streamwise vortices that arise in the boundary layer of a flat plate because of the action of a pair of weak shock waves on its leading edge lead to an early laminar-turbulent transition at different Reynolds numbers. In the case of a homogeneous boundary layer, the transition is achieved at Rex≈ 3,1 × 106, and in measurements in the region of vortices from shock waves at Rex≈ 1,5 × 106and Rex≈ 2 × 106.

Experimental Study on Wind Loading Characteristics of Trains under Stationary Tornado-like Vortices

The risk of trains being hit by tornadoes in China continues to increase due to the increasing density of railway lines and the shortening of the train departure intervals and the increasing probability of extreme weather phenomena caused by global climate change. If a train is hit by a tornado, it will cause huge casualties and economic losses, so it is necessary to investigate the tornado-induced effects on trains. A series of rigid-model wind pressure measurement tests on a train car under tornado wind loading were conducted using a tornado-vortex simulator, in order to determine the effects of the distance between the train car and the tornado’s center, the swirl ratio of a tornado-like vortex, and the ground roughness on the wind pressure distributions and wind load characteristics on trains. Apparent discrepancies were observed between tornado-induced wind loading and lateral wind loading obtained from conventional boundary-layer wind tunnel tests. The wind pressure and wind load on the car surface are mainly affected by the combined effects of the aerodynamic flow-structure interaction and the pressure drop accompanying the tornado within 1.5 times the vortex core’s radius, and the impact of tornado-like vortices on the train car is almost negligible as the distance from the train car to the tornado’s center exceeds three times vortex core’s radius. The variation trend of mean/fluctuating pressure coefficients is generally consistent. Large values of fluctuating pressure exist mainly on the top and side surfaces of the train car, especially the side surface proximal to the tornado’s center. The most unfavorable mean sectional side force coefficients were found when the train car is located in the tornado’s core and the largest lift force coefficients at the tornado’s center. The overall side force coefficients peaked when the train car is located at a distance of 1.5 times the tornado’s core radius, whereas the largest lift force coefficients were found when the train car was located at the tornado’s center. The overall distribution patterns of the wind force coefficients of the car under different swirl ratios and ground roughness levels are basically the same. The peak aerodynamic force value increases with increasing swirl ratio, and it decreases as ground roughness increases.

Multiplexed vortex state array toward high-dimensional data multicasting.

Optical vortex array has drawn widespread attention since the boom of special applications such as molecular selecting and optical communication. Here, we propose an integrated phase-only scheme to generate multiple multiplexed vortex beams simultaneously, constituting a multiplexed vortex state array, where the spatial position, as well as the corresponding orbital angular momentum (OAM) spectrum, can be manipulated flexibly as desired. Proof-of-concept experiments are carried out and show a few different multiplexed vortex state arrays that fit well with the simulation. Moreover, regarding the array as a data-carrier, a one-to-many multicasting link through multi-state OAM shift keying, a high-dimensional data coding, is also available in free space. In the experiment, four various OAM states are employed and achieve four bits binary symbols, and finally distribute three different images to three separate receivers independently from the same transmitter, showing great potential in the future high-dimensional optical networks.

Numerical investigation of multiscale lateral microstructures enhancing passive micromixing efficiency via secondary vortex flow

Passive micromixing can efficiently mix laminar flows through molecular and convective diffusion. Microstructures are expected to be efficient, easily integrated into micromixers, and suitable for micromixers over a wide range of Re. This paper presents the enhancement effects of the multiscale lateral microstructures on the flow field characteristics and mixing efficiency through numerical simulations at Re = 0.01–50. Inspired by the regulation of lateral microstructures on the local flow field, cross-scale staggered baffles (CSBs) were established and applied in typical passive micromixers. For low-Re conditions, the paired trapezoidal microstructures (PTMs) of the CSBs improved the mixing effect by increasing the local streamline tortuosity. For high-Re conditions, the PTMs of CSBs increased the number of expanding vortices in the microchannel, which could increase the size of the fluid interfaces, and an optimal mixing index with relatively little pressure drop was achieved. Moreover, the CSBs were applied to the serpentine curved channel, which caused large expanding vortices on the inner side of the curved channel, and then the state of the Dean vortices on the cross section of the curved channel changed. Therefore, compared with the conventional micromixer channel structure, lateral microstructures regulate the local flow field through the enhancement of the streamlines and the secondary flow effects, and lateral microstructures have great potential to improve the mixing efficiency over a wide range of Re.

Twisted Magnon Frequency Comb and Penrose Superradiance.

Quantization effects of the nonlinear magnon-vortex interaction in ferromagnetic nanodisks are studied. We show that the circular geometry twists the spin-wave fields with spiral phase dislocations carrying quantized orbital angular momentum (OAM). Meanwhile, the confluence and splitting scattering of twisted magnons off the gyrating vortex core (VC) generates a frequency comb consisting of discrete and equally spaced spectral lines, dubbed as twisted magnon frequency comb (TMFC). It is found that the mode spacing of the TMFC is equal to the gyration frequency of the VC and the OAM quantum numbers between adjacent spectral lines differ by one. By applying a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of a thick nanodisk, we observe a magnonic Penrose superradiance inside the cone vortex state, which mimics the amplification of particles scattered from a rotating black hole. It is demonstrated that the higher-order modes of TMFC are significantly amplified while the lower-order ones are trapped within the VC gyrating orbit which manifests as the ergoregion. These results suggest a promising way to generate twisted magnons with large OAM and to drastically improve the flatness of the magnon comb.

Numerical Analysis and Parametric Optimization of a Static Wavy Flag for Heat Transfer Enhancement

This work investigates the effect of different parameters of a static wavy flag vortex generator on the heat transfer in a rectangular channel using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. This work encompasses optimizing several parameters of a flag such as flag height from the surface, position in the channel, number of triangular shapes in a flag, and rectangular surface area of the flag. Post analysis results exhibit encouraging results with average Nusselt number in flag height (FH) optimization exceeding that in no flag condition by 41.84%, 47.79%, 54.68% for Re 8236, 12354, and 18344, respectively whereas further position optimization of FH optimized flag exceeds average Nusselt number in no flag condition by 46.86%, 70.68% and 87.26% for the corresponding Re. With significantly less practical application of flags for heat transfer enhancement in industry, this work aims to establish flags as an effective heat transfer enhancement device and demonstrate that with the right optimized parameters, a significant increase of heat transfer in the channel can be achieved.

Towards computational polar-topotronics: Multiscale neural-network quantum molecular dynamics simulations of polar vortex states in SrTiO3/PbTiO3 nanowires

Recent discoveries of polar topological structures (e.g., skyrmions and merons) in ferroelectric/paraelectric heterostructures have opened a new field of polar topotronics. However, how complex interplay of photoexcitation, electric field and mechanical strain controls these topological structures remains elusive. To address this challenge, we have developed a computational approach at the nexus of machine learning and first-principles simulations. Our multiscale neural-network quantum molecular dynamics molecular mechanics approach achieves orders-of-magnitude faster computation, while maintaining quantum-mechanical accuracy for atoms within the region of interest. This approach has enabled us to investigate the dynamics of vortex states formed in PbTiO3 nanowires embedded in SrTiO3. We find topological switching of these vortex states to topologically trivial, uniformly polarized states using electric field and trivial domain-wall states using shear strain. These results, along with our earlier results on optical control of polar topology, suggest an exciting new avenue toward opto-electro-mechanical control of ultrafast, ultralow-power polar topotronic devices.