arXiv subjects

Stephan Schönecker

Publications and source records attributed to Stephan Schönecker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Accelerated Design of Mechanically Hard Magnetically Soft High-entropy Alloys via Multi-objective Bayesian Optimization

Designing high-entropy alloys (HEAs) that are both mechanically hard and possess soft magnetic properties is inherently challenging, as a trade-off is needed for mechanical and magnetic properties. In this study, we optimize HEA compositions using a multi-objective Bayesian optimization (MOBO) framework to achieve simultaneous optimal mechanical and magnetic properties. An ensemble surrogate model is constructed to enhance the accuracy of machine learning surrogate models, while an efficient sampling strategy combining Monte Carlo sampling and acquisition function is applied to explore the high-dimensional compositional space. The implemented MOBO strategy successfully identifies Pareto-optimal compositions with enhanced mechanical and magnetic properties. The ensemble model provides robust and reliable predictions, and the sampling approach reduces the likelihood of entrapment in local optima. Our findings highlight specific elemental combinations that meet the dual design objectives, offering guidance for the synthesis of next-generation HEAs.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

A Self-supervised Multimodal Deep Learning Approach to Differentiate Post-radiotherapy Progression from Pseudoprogression in Glioblastoma

Accurate differentiation of pseudoprogression (PsP) from True Progression (TP) following radiotherapy (RT) in glioblastoma (GBM) patients is crucial for optimal treatment planning. However, this task remains challenging due to the overlapping imaging characteristics of PsP and TP. This study therefore proposes a multimodal deep-learning approach utilizing complementary information from routine anatomical MR images, clinical parameters, and RT treatment planning information for improved predictive accuracy. The approach utilizes a self-supervised Vision Transformer (ViT) to encode multi-sequence MR brain volumes to effectively capture both global and local context from the high dimensional input. The encoder is trained in a self-supervised upstream task on unlabeled glioma MRI datasets from the open BraTS2021, UPenn-GBM, and UCSF-PDGM datasets to generate compact, clinically relevant representations from FLAIR and T1 post-contrast sequences. These encoded MR inputs are then integrated with clinical data and RT treatment planning information through guided cross-modal attention, improving progression classification accuracy. This work was developed using two datasets from different centers: the Burdenko Glioblastoma Progression Dataset (n = 59) for training and validation, and the GlioCMV progression dataset from the University Hospital Erlangen (UKER) (n = 20) for testing. The proposed method achieved an AUC of 75.3%, outperforming the current state-of-the-art data-driven approaches. Importantly, the proposed approach relies on readily available anatomical MRI sequences, clinical data, and RT treatment planning information, enhancing its clinical feasibility. The proposed approach addresses the challenge of limited data availability for PsP and TP differentiation and could allow for improved clinical decision-making and optimized treatment plans for GBM patients.

eess.IV↗

arXiv2023

High-throughput design of all-d-metal Heusler alloys for magnetocaloric applications

Due to their versatile composition and customizable properties, A$_2$BC Heusler alloys have found applications in magnetic refrigeration, magnetic shape memory effects, permanent magnets, and spintronic devices. The discovery of all-$d$-metal Heusler alloys with improved mechanical properties compared to those containing main group elements, presents an opportunity to engineer Heuslers alloys for energy-related applications. Using high-throughput density functional theory calculations, we screened magnetic all-$d$-metal Heusler compounds and identified 686 (meta)stable compounds. Our detailed analysis revealed that the inverse Heusler structure is preferred when the electronegativity difference between the A and B/C atoms is small, contrary to conventional Heusler alloys. Additionally, our calculations of Pugh ratios and Cauchy pressures demonstrated that ductile and metallic bonding are widespread in all-$d$-metal Heuslers, supporting their enhanced mechanical behaviour. We identified 49 compounds with a double-well energy surface based on Bain path calculations and magnetic ground states, indicating their potential as candidates for magnetocaloric and shape memory applications. Furthermore, by calculating the free energies, we propose that 11 compounds exhibit structural phase transitions, and propose isostructural substitution to enhance the magnetocaloric effect.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Ductile and brittle crack-tip response in equimolar refractory high-entropy alloys

Understanding the strengthening and deformation mechanisms in refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs), proposed as new high-temperature material, is required for improving their typically insufficient room-temperature ductility. Here, density-functional theory simulations and a continuum mechanics analysis were conducted to systematically investigate the competition between cleavage decohesion and dislocation emission from a crack tip in the body-centered cubic refractory HEAs HfNbTiZr, MoNbTaVW, MoNbTaW, MoNbTiV, and NbTiVZr. This crack-tip competition is evaluated for tensile loading and a totality of 15 crack configurations and slip systems. Our results predict that dislocation plasticity at the crack tip is generally unfavorable -- although the competition is close for some crack orientations, suggesting intrinsic brittleness and low crack-tip fracture toughness in these five HEAs at zero temperature. Fluctuations in local alloy composition, investigated for HfNbTiZr, can locally reduce the resistance to dislocation emission for a slip system relative to the configuration average of that slip system, but do not change the dominant crack-tip response. In the case of single-crystal MoNbTaW, where an experimental, room-temperature fracture-toughness value is available for a crack on a \{100\} plane, theoretical and experimental results agree favorably. Factors that may limit the agreement are discussed. We survey the effect of material anisotropy on preferred crack tip orientations, which are found to be alloy specific. Mixed-mode loadings are found to shift the competition in favor of cleavage or dislocation nucleation, depending on crack configuration and amplified by the effect of material anisotropy on crack tip stresses.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

On the superconducting nature of the Bi-II phase of elemental Bismuth

The superconductivity in the Bi-II phase of elemental Bismuth (transition temperature $T_{\rm c}\simeq3.92$ K at pressure $p\simeq 2.80$ GPa) was studied experimentally by means of the muon-spin rotation as well as theoretically by using the Eliashberg theory in combination with Density Functional Theory calculations. Experiments reveal that Bi-II is a type-I superconductor with a zero temperature value of the thermodynamic critical field $B_{\rm c}(0)\simeq31.97$~mT. The Eliashberg theory approach provides a good agreement with the experimental $T_{\rm c}$ and the temperature evolution of $B_{\rm c}$. The estimated value for the retardation (coupling) parameter $k_{\rm B}T_{\rm c}/ω_{\rm ln} \approx 0.07$ ($ω_{\rm ln}$ is the logarithmically averaged phonon frequency) suggests that Bi-II is an intermediately-coupled superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Superconductivity of Bi-III phase of elemental Bismuth: insights from Muon-Spin Rotation and Density Functional Theory

Using muon-spin rotation the pressure-induced superconductivity in the Bi-III phase of elemental Bismuth (transition temperature $T_{\rm c}\simeq7.05$ K) was investigated. The Ginzburg-Landau parameter $κ=λ/ξ=30(6)$ ($λ$ is the magnetic penetration depth, $ξ$ is the coherence length) was estimated which is the highest among single element superconductors. The temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gap [$Δ(T)$] reconstructed from $λ^{-2}(T)$ deviates from the weak-coupled BCS prediction. The coupling strength $2Δ/k_{\rm B}T_{\rm c}\simeq 4.34$ was estimated thus implying that Bi-III stays within the strong coupling regime. The Density Functional Theory calculations suggest that superconductivity in Bi-III could be described within the Eliashberg approach with the characteristic phonon frequency $ω_{\rm ln}\simeq 5.5$ meV. An alternative pairing mechanism to the electron-phonon coupling involves the possibility of Cooper pairing induced by the Fermi surface nesting.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Understanding the mechanical properties of reduced activation steels

Reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels are structural materials with potential application in Generation-IV fission and fusion reactors. We use density-functional theory to scrutinize the micro-mechanical properties of the main alloy phases of three RAFM steels based on the body-centered cubic FeCrWVMn solid solution. We assess the lattice parameters and elastic properties of ferromagnetic $α$-Fe and Fe$_{91}$Cr$_{9}$, which are the main building blocks of the RAFM steels, and present a detailed analysis of the calculated alloying effects of V, Cr, Mn, and W on the mechanical properties of Fe$_{91}$Cr$_{9}$. The composition dependence of the elastic parameters is decomposed into electronic and volumetric contributions and studied for alloying levels that cover the typical intervals in RAFM steels. A linear superposition of the individual solute effects on the properties of Fe$_{91}$Cr$_{9}$ is shown to provide an excellent approximation for the \emph{ab initio} values obtained for the RAFM steels. The intrinsic ductility is evaluated through Rice's phenomenological theory using the surface and unstable stacking fault energies, and the predictions are contrasted with those obtained by empirical criteria. Alloying with V or W is found to enhance the ductility, whereas additional Cr or Mn turns the RAFM base alloys more brittle.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

First-principles prediction of the stacking fault energy of gold at finite temperature

The intrinsic stacking fault energy (ISFE) $γ$ is a material parameter fundamental to the discussion of plastic deformation mechanisms in metals. Here, we scrutinize the temperature dependence of the ISFE of Au through accurate first-principles derived Helmholtz free energies employing both the super cell approach and the axial Ising model (AIM). A significant decrease of the ISFE with temperature, $-(36$-$39)$\,\% from 0 to 890\,K depending on the treatment of thermal expansion, is revealed, which matches the estimate based on the experimental temperature coefficient $d γ/ d T $ closely. We make evident that this decrease predominantly originates from the excess vibrational entropy at the stacking fault layer, although the contribution arising from the static lattice expansion compensates it by approximately 60\,\%. Electronic excitations are found to be of minor importance for the ISFE change with temperature. We show that the Debye model in combination with the AIM captures the correct sign but significantly underestimates the magnitude of the vibrational contribution to $γ(T)$. The hexagonal close-packed (hcp) and double hcp structures are established as metastable phases of Au. Our results demonstrate that quantitative agreement with experiments can be obtained if all relevant temperature-induced excitations are considered in first-principles modeling and that the temperature dependence of the ISFE is substantial enough to be taken into account in crystal plasticity modeling.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

First-principles approach to thin superconducting slabs and heterostructures

We present a fully first-principles method for superconducting thin films. The layer dependent phonon spectrum is calculated to determine the layer dependence of the electron-phonon coupling for such systems, which is coupled to the Kohn-Sham-Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, and it is solved in a parameter free way. The theory is then applied to different surface facets of niobium slabs and to niobium-gold heterostructures. We investigate the dependence of the transition temperature on the thickness of the slabs and the inverse proximity effect observed in thin superconducting heterostructures.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Tensile strain-induced softening of iron at high temperature

In weakly ferromagnetic materials, already small changes in the atomic configuration triggered by temperature or chemistry can alter the magnetic interactions responsible for the non-random atomic-spin orientation. Different magnetic states, in turn, can give rise to substantially different macroscopic properties. A classical example is iron, which exhibits a great variety of properties as one gradually removes the magnetic long-range order by raising the temperature towards and beyond its Curie point of $T_{\text{C}}^{0}=1043$\,K. Using first-principles theory, here we demonstrate that uniaxial tensile strain can also destabilize the magnetic order in iron and eventually lead to a ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at temperatures far below $T_{\text{C}}^{0}$. In consequence, the intrinsic strength of the ideal single-crystal body-centered cubic iron dramatically weakens above a critical temperature of $\sim 500$\,K. The discovered strain-induced magneto-mechanical softening provides a plausible atomic-level mechanism behind the observed drop of the measured strength of Fe whiskers around $300-500$\,K. Alloying additions which have the capability to partially restore the magnetic order in the strained Fe lattice, push the critical temperature for the strength-softening scenario towards the magnetic transition temperature of the undeformed lattice. This can result in a surprisingly large alloying-driven strengthening effect at high temperature as illustrated here in the case of Fe-Co alloy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Alloying effect on the ideal tensile strength of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic bcc iron

Using \emph{ab initio} alloy theory formulated within the exact muffin-tin orbitals theory in combination with the coherent potential approximation, we investigate the ideal tensile strength (ITS) in the $[001]$ direction of bcc ferro-/ferrimagnetic (FFM) and paramagnetic (PM) Fe$_{1-x}M_{x}$ ($M=$ Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, or Ni) random alloys. The ITS of ferromagnetic (FM) Fe is calculated to be $12.6$\,GPa, in agreement with available data, while the PM phase turns out to posses a significantly lower value of $0.7\,$GPa. Alloyed to the FM matrix, we predict that V, Cr, and Co increase the ITS of Fe, while Al and Ni decrease it. Manganese yields a weak non-monotonic alloying behavior. In comparison to FM Fe, the alloying effect of Al and Co to PM Fe is reversed and the relative magnitude of the ITS can be altered more strongly for any of the solutes. All considered binaries are intrinsically brittle and fail by cleavage of the $(001)$ planes under uniaxial tensile loading in both magnetic phases. We show that the previously established ITS model based on structural energy differences proves successful in the PM Fe-alloys but is of limited use in the case of the FFM Fe-based alloys. The different performance is attributed to the specific interplay between magnetism and volume change in response to uniaxial tension. We establish a strong correlation between the compositional effect on the ITS and the one on the shear elastic constant $C'$ for the PM alloys and briefly discuss the relation between hardenability and the ITS.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Stacking fault energy of face-centered cubic metals: thermodynamic and ab initio approaches

The formation energy of the interface between face-centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal close packed (hcp) structures is a key parameter in determining the stacking fault energy (SFE) of fcc metals and alloys using thermodynamic calculations. Often the contribution of the planar fault energy to the SFE has the same order of magnitude as the bulk part, and thus the lack of a precise information about it can become the limiting factor in thermodynamic predictions. Here, we differentiate between the actual interfacial energy for the coherent fcc(111)/hcp(0001) interface and the "pseudo-interfacial energy" that enters the thermodynamic expression for the SFE. Using first-principles calculations, we determine the coherent and pseudo- interfacial energies for six elemental metals (Al, Ni, Cu, Ag, Pt, and Au) and for three paramagnetic Fe-Cr-Ni alloys. Our results show that the two interfacial energies significantly differ from each other. We observe a strong chemistry dependence of both interfacial energies. The calculated pseudo-interfacial energies for the Fe-Cr-Ni steels agree well with the available literature data.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Ab initio prediction of the mechanical properties of alloys: The case of Ni/Mn-doped ferromagnetic Fe

First-principles alloy theory, formulated within the exact muffin-tin orbitals method in combination with the coherent-potential approximation, is used to study the mechanical properties of ferromagnetic body-centered cubic (bcc) Fe$_{1-x}$M$_x$ alloys (M=Mn or Ni, $0\le x \le 0.1$). We consider several physical parameters accessible from \emph{ab initio} calculations and their combinations in various phenomenological models to compare the effect of Mn and Ni on the properties of Fe. Alloying is found to slightly alter the lattice parameters and produce noticeable influence on elastic moduli. Both Mn and Ni decrease the surface energy and the unstable stacking fault energy associated with the $\{110\}$ surface facet and the $\{110\}\langle111\rangle$ slip system, respectively. Nickel is found to produce larger effect on the planar fault energies than Mn. The semi-empirical ductility criteria by Rice and Pugh consistently predict that Ni enhances the ductility of Fe but give contradictory results in the case of Mn doping. The origin of the discrepancy between the two criteria is discussed and an alternative measure of the ductile-brittle behavior based on the theoretical cleavage strength and single-crystal shear modulus $G\{110\}\langle111\rangle$ is proposed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Metastable cubic and tetragonal phases of transition metals predicted by density-functional theory

By means of density-functional calculations, we systematically investigated 24 transition metals for possible metastable phases in body-centered tetragonal structure (bct), including face-centered cubic (fcc) and body-centered cubic (bcc) geometries. A total of 36 structures not coinciding with equilibrium phases were found to minimize the total energy for the bct degrees of freedom. Among these, the fcc structures of Sc, Ti, Co, Y, Zr, Tc, Ru, Hf, Re, and Os, and bct Zr with $c/a=0.82$ were found to be metastable according to their computed phonon spectra. Eight of these predicted phases are not known from the respective pressure-temperature phase diagrams. Possible ways to stabilize the predicted metastable phases are illustrated.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Prediction of first-order martensitic transitions in strained epitaxial films

Coherent epitaxial growth allows to produce crystalline films with strained structures which are unstable in the bulk. Thereby, the relationship between the lattice parameters of the overlayer in the interface plane, $(a,b)$, and its minimum-energy out-of-plane lattice parameter, $c_{\text{min}}(a,b)$, need not be continuous. This general statement is proven by examples of total energy calculations. As a consequence, $c_{\text{min}}$, which is determined by the choice of the substrate, and $c_{\text{min}}$-dependent intrinsic properties of the overlayer cannot always be tuned in a continuous way as one may aim to do by means of strained epitaxy. Employing the model of the epitaxial Bain path we predict that such discontinuities occur in films of the elements V, Nb, Ru, La, Os, and Ir. The abrupt change of $c_{\text{min}}$ can be exploited to switch properties specific to the overlayer material. This is demonstrated for the example of the superconducting critical temperature of a V film which we predict to jump by 20% at a discontinuity of $c_{\text{min}}$

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Anomalous ideal tensile strength of ferromagnetic Fe and Fe-rich alloys

Within the same failure mode, iron has the lowest ideal tensile strength among the transition metals crystallizing in the body-centered cubic structure. Here, we demonstrate that this anomalously low strength of Fe originates partly from magnetism and is reflected in unexpected alloying effects in dilute Fe(\emph{M}) (\emph{M} = Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni) binaries. We employ the structural energy difference and the magnetic pressure to disentangle the magnetic effect on the ideal tensile strength from the chemical effect. We find that the investigated solutes strongly alter the magnetic response of the Fe host from the weak towards a stronger ferromagnetic behavior, which is explained based on single-particle band energies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Ideal strength of random alloys from first-principles theory

The all-electron exact muffin-tin orbitals method in combination with the coherent-potential appproximation has been employed to investigate the ideal tensile strengths of elemental V, Mo solids and V- and Mo-based random solid solutions. The present ideal tensile strengths, calculated assuming isotropic Poisson contraction, are 16.1, 26.7 and 37.6 GPa for bcc V in the [001], [111] and [110] directions, respectively, and 26.7 GPa for bcc Mo in the [001] direction, which are all in good agreement with the available theoretical data. When a few percent Tc is introduced in Mo, it is found that the ideal strength decreases in the [001] direction. For the V-based alloys, Cr increases and Ti decreases the ideal tensile strength in all principal directions. Adding the same concentration of Cr and Ti to V leads to ternary alloys with similar ideal strength values as that of pure V. The alloying effects on the ideal strength is explained using the electronic band structure.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2013

Surface parameters of ferritic iron-rich Fe-Cr alloy

Using first-principles density functional theory in the implementation of the exact muffin-tin orbitals method and the coherent potential approximation, we studied the surface energy and the surface stress of the thermodynamically most stable surface facet (100) of the homogeneous disordered body-centred cubic iron-chromium system in the concentration interval up to 20 at.% Cr. For the low-index surface facets of Fe and Cr, the surface energy of Cr is slightly larger than the one of Fe, while the surface stress of Cr is considerably smaller than the one of Fe. We find that Cr addition to Fe generally increases the surface energy of the Fe-Cr alloy, however, an increase of the bulk amount of Cr also increases the surface stress. As a result of this unexpected trend, the (100) surface of Fe-Cr becomes more stable against reconstruction with increasing Cr concentration. We show that the observed trends are of magnetic origin. In addition to the homogeneous alloy case, we also investigated the impact of surface segregation on both surface parameters.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗