Giant magnon spin conductivity approaching the two-dimensional transport regime in ultrathin yttrium iron garnet films

Conductivities are key material parameters that govern various types of transport (electronic charge, spin, heat etc.) driven by thermodynamic forces. Magnons, the elementary excitations of the magnetic order, flow under the gradient of a magnon chemical potential in proportion to a magnon (spin) conductivity σm. The magnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is the material of choice for efficient magnon spin transport. Here we report an unexpected giant σm in record-thin YIG films with thicknesses down to 3.7 nm when the number of occupied two-dimensional (2D) subbands is reduced from a large number to a few, which corresponds to a transition from 3D to 2D magnon transport. We extract a 2D spin conductivity (≈1 S) at room temperature, comparable to the (electronic) spin conductivity of the high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs quantum wells at millikelvin temperatures. Such high conductivities offer unique opportunities to develop low-dissipation magnon-based spintronic devices.

Low-dissipation model of three-terminal refrigerator: Performance bounds and comparative analyses

In the present paper, a general non-combined model of three-terminal refrigerator is established based on the low-dissipation assumption. The relation between the optimized cooling power and the corresponding coefficient of performance (COP) is analytically derived, according to which the COP at maximum cooling power (CMP) can be further determined. At two dissipation asymmetry limits, upper and lower bounds of CMP are obtained and found to be in good agreement with experimental and simulated results. Additionally, comparison of the obtained bounds with previous combined model is presented. In particular it is found that the upper bounds are the same, whereas the lower bounds are quite different. This feature indicates that the claimed universal equivalence for the combined and non-combined models under endoreversible assumption is invalid within the frame of low-dissipation assumption. Then, the equivalence between various finite-time thermodynamic models needs to be reevaluated regarding multi-terminal systems. Moreover, the correlation between the combined and non-combined models is further revealed by the derivation of the equivalent condition according to which the identical upper bounds and distinct lower bounds are theoretically shown. Finally, the proposed non-combined model is proved to be the appropriate model for describing various types of thermally driven refrigerator. This work may provide some instructive information for the further establishments and performance analyses of multi-terminal low-dissipation models.

Topological Properties in Strained Monolayer Antimony Iodide

Two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators present a special phase of matter manifesting unique electronic properties. Till now, many monolayer binary compounds of Sb element, mainly with a honeycomb lattice, have been reported as 2D topological insulators. However, research of the topological insulating properties of the monolayer Sb compounds with square lattice is still lacking. Here, by means of the first-principles calculations, a monolayer SbI with square lattice is proposed to exhibit the tunable topological properties by applying strain. At different levels of the strain, the monolayer SbI shows two different structural phases: buckled square structure and buckled rectangular structure, exhibiting attracting topological properties. We find that in the buckled rectangular phase, when the strain is greater than 3.78%, the system experiences a topological phase transition from a nontrivial topological insulator to a trivial insulator, and the structure at the transition point actually is a Dirac semimetal possessing two type-I Dirac points. In addition, the system can achieve the maximum global energy gap of 72.5 meV in the topological insulator phase, implying its promising application at room temperature. This study extends the scope of 2D topological physics and provides a platform for exploring the low-dissipation quantum electronics devices.

Local stability analysis of a low-dissipation cyclic refrigerator

We study the local stability near the maximum figure of merit for the low-dissipation cyclic refrigerator, where the irreversible dissipation occurs not only in the thermal contacts but also the adiabatic strokes. We find that the bounds of the coefficient of performance at maximum figure of merit or maximum cooling rate in presence of internal dissipation are identical to corresponding those in absence of internal dissipation. Using two different scenarios, we prove the existence of a single stable steady state for the refrigerator, and clarify the role of internal dissipation on the stability of thermodynamic steady state, showing that the speed of system evolution to the steady state decreases due to internal dissipation.

Analysis of Trailing Vortex Structure and Turbulent Features of High-Speed Train in Vacuum Pipeline

Through the improved delay-detached eddy simulation (IDDES), this paper establishes a 1:1 model for a high-speed train, and simulates the transient state of the train running 600km/h in a vacuum pipeline with the pressure of 1,000Pa. The results show that, following the Ω criteria, a pair of counterrotating vortexes can be captured, which alternatively shed near the tip of the last carriage, and propagate over a long distance along the flow direction. The motion and expansion of the vortexes are clearly three-dimensional (3D). Judging by the physical meaning of vortexes, the high vorticity vortexes mainly concentrate near the tip of the last carriage, while the low vorticity vortexes scatter across the wake zone. The latter vortexes have a low dissipation rate and are dominated by rotation. The turbulent energy and Reynolds stress of the wake field are very obvious near the tip of the last carriage, and attenuate quickly along the flow direction. This means the vortexes near the tip of the last carriage face a strong shear effect, and undergo apparent dissipation. Low turbulent energy and Reynolds stress are distributed in the downstream far from the tip of the last carriage, i.e., the interaction zone between vortexes and the ground / inner pipe wall.

Hybrid RANS/LES of a generic high-lift aircraft configuration near maximum lift

Purpose The paper aims to assess the feasibility of locally turbulence-resolving flow simulations for a high-lift aircraft configuration near maximum lift. It addresses the aspects of proper grid design and explores the ability of the hybrid turbulence model and the numerical scheme to automatically select adequate modes in different flow regions. By comparison with experimental and numerical reference data, the study aims to provide insights into the predictive potential of the method for high-lift flows. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies numerical flow simulations using well-established tools such as DLR's (German Aerospace Center) TAU solver and the SOLAR grid generator to study “Improved Detached Delayed Eddy Simulations” of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Standard Model at two angles of attack near maximum lift. The simulations apply a hybrid low-dissipation low-dispersion scheme and implicit time stepping with adequate temporal resolution. The simulation results, including pressure distributions and near-wall flow patterns, are assessed by comparison with experimental wind-tunnel data. Findings Apart from demonstrating the general feasibility of the numerical approach for complex high-lift flows, the results indicate somewhat improved maximum lift predictions compared to the Spalart–Allmaras model, which is consistent with a slightly closer agreement with measured pressure distributions and oil-flow pictures. However, the expected lift breakdown caused by an increasing inboard separation in the experiment is not well captured. Originality/value The study not only provides new insight into the feasibility and promising potential of hybrid turbulence-resolving methods for relevant high-lift aircraft flows but also indicates the need for further research on the numerical sensitivities, such as grid resolution or flow initialization.