Three-Dimensional Mantle Flow and Temperature Structure Beneath the Shatsky Rise Ridge-Ridge-Ridge Triple Junction

The Shatsky Rise ridge-ridge-ridge triple junction is an ancient triple junction in the Western Pacific Ocean whose initial geodynamic process is poorly understood and can only be inferred based on indirect geological and geophysical constraints.In this paper,we present three-dimensional numerical models that simulate the Shatsky Rise triple junction and calculate its coupled mantle flow and temperature structure.The mantle flow velocity field shows several distinctive features:1)stronger mantle upwelling closer to the ridge axis and triple junction;2)greater upwelling velocity at the faster-spreading ridges;and 3)the most significant increase in upwelling velocity for the slowest-spreading ridge toward the triple junction.The calculated mantle temperature field also reveals distinctive characteristics:1)sharp increases in the mantle temperature with depth and increases toward the spreading ridges and triple junction;2)the faster-spreading ridges are associated with higher temperatures at depth and identical distances from the triple junction;and 3)the slowest-spreading ridge shows the greatest increase in the along-ridge-axis temperature toward the triple junction.Compared to many present-day triple junctions with slower spreading rates,the along-ridge-axis velocity and thermal fields of the Shatsky Rise are more altered due to the presence of the triple junction.

Enhanced Efficiency of Metamorphic Triple Junction Solar Cells for Space Applications

Metamorphic In0.55Ga0.45P/In0.06Ga0.94As/Ge triple-junction （3J-MM） solar cells are grown on Ge （100） sub- strates via metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Epi-structural analyses such as high resolution x-ray diffrac- tion, photoluminence, cathodoluminescence and HRTEM are employed and the results show that the high crystal quality of 3J-MM solar cells is obtained with low threading dislocation density of graded buffer （an average value of 6.8× 10^4/cm2）. Benefitting from the optimized bandgap combination, under one sun, AM0 spectrum, 25℃ conditions, the conversion efficiency is achieved about 32%, 5% higher compared with the lattice-matched In0.49Ga0.51P/In0.01Ga0.99As/Ge triple junction （3J-LM） solar cell. Under 1-MeV electron irradiation test, the degradation of the EQE and I-V characteristics of 3J-MM solar cells is at the same level as the 33-LM solar cell. The end-of-life efficiency is -27.1%. Therefore, the metamorphic triple-junction solar cell may be a promising candidate for next-generation space multi-junction solar cells.

Improvement of Surface Flashover Performance of Al_2O_3 Ceramics in Vacuum by Adopting A-B-A Insulation System

A new insulation system with inorganic A-B-A insulators was proposed to improve the surface flashover performance in vacuum. Inorganic A-B-A insulator samples of Mo/Al2O3 cermet-Al2O3 ceramic-Mo/Al2O3 cermet were prepared, in which the conductivity and permittivity of the Mo/Al2O3 cermets were controlled through different amount of metallic molybdenum powder added. The effects of both conductivity and permittivity of Mo/Al2O3 cermets on the DC and impulse surface flashover voltage in vacuum were experimentally investigated. The result showed that the DC and impulse surface flashover voltage were improved by 52% and 95%, respectively. For the distribution of electric field, two triple junctions, i.e., vacuum-layer A-cathode （TJ1） and vacuum-layer A-layer B （TJ2） were prepared with the introduction of layer A into the A-B-A insulation system. Based on the electric field distribution obtained via electrostatic field simulation and Maxwell-Wagner three-layer model, the electric field of T J1 decreases while that of T J2 increases with the increase in conductivity and permittivity of layer A under applied DC and impulse voltage, respectively. Therefore, the improvement of surface flashover performance of A-B-A insulators has been reasonably explained.

Study on the Discharge Characteristics of a Coaxial Pulsed Plasma Thruster

A new coaxial pulsed plasma thruster （PPT） laboratory model is designed and employed in this study. A Teflon sleeve is connected with the anode, which is shaped as a nozzle, and a cathode is mounted in the cavity of the Teflon sleeve and kept in close contact with it. A thread is then designed in the internal surface of the Teflon sleeve, and because of the strong field strength of the cathode triple junction （CTJ）, vacuum flashover occurs and a plasma jet is acquired behind the anode. The electric field distribution of the designed coaxial PPT laboratory model is simulated by MAXWELL 3D simulation software, and the plasma density and thrust are measured by a Langnmir probe and a piezoelectric thin-film sensor, respectively. Through a series of comparative experiments, we discuss the impact of optimal designs, such as the thread and the nozzle-shaped anode, on the discharge characteristics of the coaxial PPT. The experimental and simulation results indicate that the designed coaxial PPT laboratory model presents better discharge characteristics in view of its higher plasma density and greater thrust.

Study on the plasma generation characteristics of an induction-triggered coaxial pulsed plasma thruster

At present,spark plugs are used to trigger discharge in pulsed plasma thrusters（PPT）,which are known to be life-limiting components due to plasma corrosion and carbon deposition.A strong electric field could be formed in a cathode triple junction（CTJ） to achieve a trigger function under vacuum conditions.We propose an induction-triggered electrode structure on the basis of the CTJ trigger principle.The induction-triggered electrode structure could increase the electric field strength of the CTJ without changing the voltage between electrodes,contributing to a reduction in the electrode breakdown voltage.Additionally,it can maintain the plasma generation effect when the breakdown voltage is reduced in the discharge experiments.The induction-triggered electrode structure could ensure an effective trigger when the ablation distance of Teflon increases,and the magnetic field produced by the discharge current could further improve the plasma density and propagation velocity.The induction-triggered coaxial PPT we propose has a simplified trigger structure,and it is an effective attempt to optimize the micro-satellite thruster.

Microstructure Investigation on the Triple Junction with an Adjoining Twin Boundary in Nanocrystalline Palladium

By using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy,a [110] triple junction （TJ） containing a twin boundary （TB） in nanocrystalline palladium has been observed along the common axis direction.Molecular statics calculation and imaging simulation were performed to determine the atomic structure of the TJ.The modeling structure exhibits that the adjoining TB is a distorted one,whilst other two adjoining grain boundaries （GBs） exist in steady equilibrium states.The present observation gives a clear example demonstrating that the adjoining TB can release the larger stresses residing at the junction.

Dy gradient and coercivity in grain boundary diffusion processed Nd-Fe-B magnet

By controlling Dy vapor deposition process, the amount of Dy that diffused into the magnet was increased gradually from 0.1 wt.% to 0.3 wt.%. Compared with the original status, the coercivity increment was not proportional to the Dy diffusion amount. Subsequent H（cj） and Dy content gradient data showed that slope of the 0.3 wt.% sample gradient was bigger than that of 0.1 wt.% one, and the gaps between outer flakes and inner flakes enlarged with the increasement of Dy diffusion amount. Although Dy mostly enriched in triple-junction regions in electron-probe microscope analysis（EPMA） images, the following Auger depth graph showed that Dy content was as high as 3.0 at.% in 1.5 mm deep center. It proved that Dy tended to get into the main phase rather than stayed in the grain boundary during the diffusion process, and over-diffusion of Dy in the main phase was unhelpful for the coercivity enhancement.