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At least 181 records · Page 10

Thinking Big and Broad About Isolation and Confinement Analogs: A Community Panel Discussion

As crewed spaceflight missions are set to explore greater distances from Earth and fly longer durations than ever before, we must expand our understanding of the impacts of prolonged isolation and confinement on the health, performance, and well-being of astronauts. In combination with flight research, ground-based analogs that simulate key mission conditions like the social and physical isolation associated with distance from Earth are essential research platforms for characterizing risk and developing validated and feasible countermeasures that support future crews and ground support teams. With several isolation and confinement analogs currently operating, and even more in development, there is great opportunity for a collaborative global analog environment to complement and optimize research efforts. The Research Operations and Integration team will moderate a panel discussion among analog operators and scientists who utilize isolation and confinement analogs. The focus of discussion will be the potential for strategic coordination, portability, and harmonization of science across different platforms; and identifying the valuable similarities and differences among isolation analogs as well as existing gaps within the analog community. A Q&A session will follow with attendees encouraged to ask questions and join in the discussion.

Reanna Elise Whiting↗

Formation of Nucleobases from the UV Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Interstellar Ice Analogs

Previous laboratory simulations showed that complex molecules, including prebiotic compounds/can be formed under interstellar conditions from the vacuum UV irradiation of interstellar ice analogs containing H2O, CO, NH3 etc. Although some complex prebiotic species have not been confirmed In the interstellar medium, they are known to be present in meteorites. Nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, have also been detected in meteorites. Here, we present a study of the formation of pyrimidine-based compounds from the UV irradiation of pyrimidine in H2O- and/or NH3-ices at 20-30 K, Our results show that various derivatives, induding the nucleobases uracil and cytosine, are formed under these conditions.

Milam, Stefanie N.↗

The Effects of Low-Shear Simulated Microgravity on Soil Bacterium Pantoea Agglomerans

As NASA's effort to establish a permanent residence in space continues, research on the effects of microgravity onbiological microorganisms is vital to protect or promote the health of plants and their astronaut counterparts. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of microgravity on Pantoea agglomerans (P. agglomerans), using an analog microgravity simulator; the Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) developed at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX. P. agglomerans has been shown to be a plant growth promoter (PGPR) in ground based studies, but has also been shown to be a pathogen in both plants and immunocompromised patients. In this study, we will determine changes in the growth rate and antibiotic susceptibility of P. agglomerans when exposed to simulated microgravity.

HARV↗

Simulating Meson Scattering on Spin Quantum Simulators

Studying high-energy collisions of composite particles, such as hadrons and nuclei, is an outstanding goal for quantum simulators. However, preparation of hadronic wave packets has posed a significant challenge, due to the complexity of hadrons and the precise structure of wave packets. This has limited demonstrations of hadron scattering on quantum simulators to date. Observations of confinement and composite excitations in quantum spin systems have opened up the possibility to explore scattering dynamics in spin models. In this article, we develop two methods to create entangled spin states corresponding to wave packets of composite particles in analog quantum simulators of Ising spin Hamiltonians. One wave-packet preparation method uses the blockade effect enabled by beyond-nearest-neighbor Ising spin interactions. The other method utilizes a quantum-bus-mediated exchange, such as the native spin-phonon coupling in trapped-ion arrays. With a focus on trapped-ion simulators, we numerically benchmark both methods and show that high-fidelity wave packets can be achieved in near-term experiments. We numerically study scattering of wave packets for experimentally realizable parameters in the Ising model and find inelastic-scattering regimes, corresponding to particle production in the scattering event, with prominent and distinct experimental signals. Our proposal, therefore, demonstrates the potential of observing inelastic scattering in near-term quantum simulators.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Evaluation of Aerobic Capacity in Relation to Simulated Lunar Surface Extravehicular Activities

INTRODUCTION Astronauts will need to be physically prepared to successfully execute strenuous Extravehicular Activities (EVA)on the Lunar surface. Compared to Apollo missions, Artemis missions will include EVAs of increased physical demand, frequency, and duration, thus requiring adequate fitness to successfully and safely complete mission objectives and potential contingency scenarios. Currently, aerobic fitness standards for partial gravity (g)surface EVAs are not well supported by high-fidelity EVA analog data. This investigation aims to characterize metabolic demands from Lunar analog EVA simulations in relation to the current NASA standards for celestial partial-g aerobic fitness(aerobic capacity (VO2pk) ≥36.5ml/kg/min). METHODS To evaluate current Lunar EVA aerobic fitness requirements, a pilot study was performed to characterize metabolic ratesduring6 hour simulated EVAs. The EVAs were performed in pressurized MKIII (n=2male) and xEMU (n=3 female) spacesuits offloaded to 1/6 g in the NASA Active Response Gravity Offload System. VO2pk was assessed via graded exercise testing on acycle ergometer and physical workload was quantified as percent ofVO2pk. RESULTS Four out of five subjects did not meet the current NASA celestial surface EVA aerobic standard (3 xEMU, 1MKIII;35.1±0.9 ml/kg/min). During simulated EVAs, subjects (xEMU: 35±1ml/kg/min; MKIII: 44±10ml/kg/min) worked at an average 36%VO2pk(xEMU) and 31% VO2pk(MKIII). For xEMU subjects, the tasks with the greatest average metabolic rates were 2km treadmill traverse(0% grade: 47.2%VO2pk[max 69.1%]), object relocation (45.2%VO2pk[max 60.5%]), and 1.5km traverse (0% grade: 45%VO2pk[max 59.7%]). For MKIII subjects, the tasks with the greatest average metabolic rates were 0.5km treadmill traverse (30% grade: 35.4% VO2pk[max 45.5%]), object relocation(31% VO2pk[max 40.8%]), and treadmill traverse (0% grade: 29.9%VO2pk[max 45.9%]). CONCLUSIONS While average metabolic rates for simulated Lunar EVA fall within sustainable work ranges of30–40% VO2pkand life support system limitations, task-specific metabolic rates exceed this range and may indicate that greater fitness is necessary for more strenuous tasks expected to be performed on the Lunar surface. As few subjects met the standard, more data is needed to adequately evaluate the NASA 3001 standard.

N C Strock↗

QPPM receiver for free-space laser communications

A prototype receiver developed at NASA Lewis Research Center for direct detection and demodulation of quaternary pulse position modulated (QPPM) optical carriers is described. The receiver enables dual-channel communications at 325-Megabits per second (Mbps) per channel. The optical components of the prototype receiver are briefly described. The electronic components, comprising the analog signal conditioning, slot clock recovery, matched filter and maximum likelihood data recovery circuits are described in more detail. A novel digital symbol clock recovery technique is presented as an alternative to conventional analog methods. Simulated link degradations including noise and pointing-error induced amplitude variations are applied. The bit-error-rate performance of the electronic portion of the prototype receiver under varying optical signal-to-noise power ratios is found to be within 1.5-dB of theory. Implementation of the receiver as a hybrid of analog and digital application specific integrated circuits is planned.

Budinger, J. M.↗

Considerations for Health and Performance During Surface Extravehicular Activities

BACKGROUND: NASA’s objectives for expanding human presence beyond low Earth orbit will require Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) on lunar and planetary surfaces. Given the physiological and functional demands of conducting surface EVAs in a pressurized spacesuit in reduced gravity environments, there is a possibility that crew injury and compromised physiological and/or functional performance may present. OVERVIEW: Many human health and performance knowledge gaps exist in regards to exploration EVA that require characterization to ensure safety, reliability, and mission success. To address knowledge gaps, EVA simulations in Earth-based analog environments and/or spacesuit simulators can be utilized to provide valuable insights into task-based physiologic and metabolic costs, cognitive loads, and associated operational limitations to inform future mission concepts. Physical workloads approaching 60% of maximum metabolic rates and 85% age-predicted heart rate maxima; core body temperatures approaching 100o F; and subjective responses indicating limited spare cognitive capacity via Bedford scale have been observed during ground-based exploration EVA simulations in the NASA Active Response Gravity Offload Simulator (ARGOS) and Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) during simulated planetary EVAs in pressurized suits. Further, ground-based EVA analogs vary in their ability to simulate planetary EVA and resulting physical workloads. DISCUSSION: Metabolic costs, thermal burdens, functional strength, and cognitive impacts have been and must continue to be assessed in ground-based analogs to fully characterize operational demands and crew readiness levels for exploration EVA. Considerations should be given to enabling a new concept of high-tempo surface EVA operations and associated work-rest intervals, understanding human health and performance impacts of evolving commercial suit designs and capabilities, and predictive modeling and decision support capabilities to enable safe and successful EVA operations.

EVA↗

Considerations for Health and Performance during Surface Extravehicular Activities

BACKGROUND: NASA’s objectives for expanding human presence beyond low Earth orbit will require Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) on lunar and planetary surfaces. Given the physiological and functional demands of conducting surface EVAs in a pressurized spacesuit in reduced gravity environments, there is a possibility that crew injury and compromised physiological and/or functional performance may present. OVERVIEW: Many human health and performance knowledge gaps exist in regards to exploration EVA that require characterization to ensure safety, reliability, and mission success. To address knowledge gaps, EVA simulations in Earth-based analog environments and/or spacesuit simulators can be utilized to provide valuable insights into task-based physiologic and metabolic costs, cognitive loads, and associated operational limitations to inform future mission concepts. Physical workloads approaching 60% of maximum metabolic rates and 85% age-predicted heart rate maxima; core body temperatures approaching 100° F; and subjective responses indicating limited spare cognitive capacity via Bedford scale have been observed during ground-based exploration EVA simulations in the NASA Active Response Gravity Offload Simulator (ARGOS) and Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) during simulated planetary EVAs in pressurized suits. Further, ground-based EVA analogs vary in their ability to simulate planetary EVA and resulting physical workloads. DISCUSSION: Metabolic costs, thermal burdens, functional strength, and cognitive impacts have been and must continue to be assessed in ground-based analogs to fully characterize operational demands and crew readiness levels for exploration EVA. Considerations should be given to enabling a new concept of high-tempo surface EVA operations and associated work-rest intervals, understanding human health and performance impacts of evolving commercial suit designs and capabilities, and predictive modeling and decision support capabilities to enable safe and successful EVA operations.

P Estep↗

Thermal Decomposition of the Murchison CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite: Implications of Space Weathering Processes for Sample Return Missions

Primitive carbonaceous asteroids are the target bodies for the JAXA Hayabusa2 mission to Ryugu and the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission to Bennu. Both asteroids share spectral characteristics of CI/CM type carbonaceous chondrites. Ryugu, in particular, appears to have undergone thermal processing that has modified its spectral properties. The nature and extent of space weathering processes on the surfaces of Bennu and Ryugu are under active investigation using remote sensing data from the missions [4] and through laboratory studies on analog materials. The analog studies are needed in order to understand the mineralogical and chemical changes that occur in space weathered samples that give rise to the observed optical effects measured by remote-sensing and to prepare for the analysis of returned samples. The space weathering effects of micrometeorite impact and solar wind irradiation on primitive carbonaceous chondrites have been simulated by analog studies on the Murchison CM2 chondrite. We performed a coordinated mineralogical, chemical and spectroscopic study to examine in detail the effects of thermal metamorphism on Murchison samples as an analog to processes that may have occurred on Ryugu. The bulk measurements including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy, UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and evolved gas analysis are reported in a companion paper. Here we report on our preliminary nanoscale mineralogical and chemical analyses of pre- and post-heated Murchison samples using multiple electron beam techniques to understand how the mineralogical, chemical, and physical characteristics of carbonaceous chondrites change with increasing thermal effects.

Lee, S.↗

Bone Biomarkers on the Pathway to Effective Spaceflight Countermeasures

Osteocyte cells are the most abundant yet least understood bone cell type in the human body. However, recent discovers in osteocyte cell biology have shed light on their importance as key mechanosensing cells regulating the bone remodeling process. Thus, we propose the first ever in vitro gene expression evaluation of osteocytes exposed to simulated microgravity to determine mechanistic pathways of their gravity sensing ability. Improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms at the osteocyte cellular level may lead to improved treatment options to mitigate the effects of bone loss encountered by astronauts on long duration space missions and provide tailored treatment options for maintaining bone strength of immobilized/partially paralyzed patients here on Earth. Aim 1: Characterize the gene expression patterns and protein levels following exposure of murine osteocytelike cell line (MLO-Y4) to simulated microgravity using the NASA Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) Bioreactor. Osteocytes are theorized to be the mechanosensors and transducers of mechanical load for bones, yet the biological mechanism of this action remains elusive. We propose to investigate the genetic regulation of the mechanism of the MLO-Y4 cell in the NASA Bioreactor as it is the accepted ground-based analog for simulating vector averaged microgravity.

Spatz, Jordan↗

INTEGRITY - Integrated Human Exploration Mission Simulation Facility

It is proposed to develop a high-fidelity ground facility to carry out long-duration human exploration mission simulations. These would not be merely computer simulations - they would in fact comprise a series of actual missions that just happen to stay on earth. These missions would include all elements of an actual mission, using actual technologies that would be used for the real mission. These missions would also include such elements as extravehicular activities, robotic systems, telepresence and teleoperation, surface drilling technology-all using a simulated planetary landscape. A sequence of missions would be defined that get progressively longer and more robust, perhaps a series of five or six missions over a span of 10 to 15 years ranging in duration from 180 days up to 1000 days. This high-fidelity ground facility would operate hand-in-hand with a host of other terrestrial analog sites such as the Antarctic, Haughton Crater, and the Arizona desert. Of course, all of these analog mission simulations will be conducted here on earth in 1-g, and NASA will still need the Shuttle and ISS to carry out all the microgravity and hypogravity science experiments and technology validations. The proposed missions would have sufficient definition such that definitive requirements could be derived from them to serve as direction for all the program elements of the mission. Additionally, specific milestones would be established for the "launch" date of each mission so that R&D programs would have both good requirements and solid milestones from which to .build their implementation plans. Mission aspects that could not be directly incorporated into the ground facility would be simulated via software. New management techniques would be developed for evaluation in this ground test facility program. These new techniques would have embedded metrics which would allow them to be continuously evaluated and adjusted so that by the time the sequence of missions is completed, the best management techniques will have been developed, implemented, and validated. A trained cadre of managers experienced with a large, complex program would then be available.

Henninger, Donald L.↗

Formation of Nucleobases from the UV Photo-Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Astrophysical Ice Analogs

Astrochemistry laboratory simulations have shown that complex organic molecules including compounds of astrobiological interest can be formed under interstellarl/circumstellar conditions from the vacuum UV irradiation of astrophysical ice analogs containing H2O, CO, CO2, CH3OH, NH13, etc. Of all prebiotic compounds, the formation of amino acids under such experimental conditions has been the most extensively studied. Although the presence of amino acids in the interstellar medium (ISM) has yet to be confirmed, they have been detected in meteorites, indicating that biomolecules and/or their precursors can be formed under extraterrestrial, abiotic conditions. Nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, as well as other 1V-heterocycles, have also been detected in meteorites, but like amino acids, they have yet to be observed in the ISM. In this work, we present an experimental study of the formation of pyrimidine-based compounds from the UV photo-irradiation of pyrimidine in ice mixtures containing H2O, NH3, and/or CH3OH at low temperature and pressure.

Milam, S. N.↗

Analysis of Historical International Space Station Logistical Mass Delivery

Crewed space exploration missions are extremely logistics dependent, as cargo requirements shape numerous program elements such as vehicle and habitat size. Logistics mass is the mass of items like food and clothing that are not a part of the vehicle or habitat, yet are required by the crew to complete the mission. Numerous studies, such as the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) and the Human Exploration Spacecraft Testbed for Integration and Advancement (HESTIA) 20-foot chamber analog, have been conceived to research the rates at which crews consume logistics mass. These analogs can simulate many aspects of life in space, including confinement, isolation, limited supplies, and, in certain experiments, the habitat pressure. However, some aspects of space exploration, such as the effects of low gravity and the use of space-based amenities, cannot currently be tested on the ground. In this paper, International Space Station (ISS) manifest data obtained through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Mission Integration Database Application System (MIDAS) portal is used as a precursor to space-based analogs. The objective of the analysis is determining the breakdown of logistics mass used in space exploration. This identifies potential areas of improvement and highlights the rates at which significant items are supplied, aiding in the weighing of alternative options such as utilizing in space manufacturing for supplies vs. manifesting spares, or cleaning clothing in flight vs. discarding it. Official flight manifests ranging a span of 878 days, just short of the three-year length of a potential human mission to Mars, were analyzed to find the rates at which astronauts consumed various logistics supplies. From this analysis we have found that contrary to our own hypothesis, ‘food’ was not the largest portion of the supplied mass. Instead, ‘Environmental Control and Life Support Systems’ (ECLSS) contributed 34% of the overall supplied mass, followed by ‘Science and Outfitting,’ which contributed 29%. Food totaled less than a quarter (21% of the resupplied mass, while other items of focus in mass reduction efforts such as ‘Hygiene’ (6%), ‘Clothing’ (3%), and ‘Operational Supplies’ (4%) each contributed less than a tenth of the supplied mass. This data suggests that by categorizing and analyzing the data based on an alternative taxonomy and analyzing the full supply manifests rather than handpicked items, we have revealed unexpectedly significant items which had not been previously tracked by exploration logistics efforts. For example, toilet hardware made up 4% of ECLSS mass, and laptop hardware and multi-tools each made up 10% of operational supplies mass. Additionally, the ‘Specialized Clothing’ subcategory containing fire protective equipment, coveralls, and penguin suits made up 15% of the overall clothing mass. By identifying these newly found significant items, we can create more realistic mass estimates for exploration missions and direct mass reduction efforts to new areas, potentially leading to lower future mission masses.

Logistics↗

The Effects of Spaceflight and Microgravity Exposure on Female Astronaut Health and Performance

Over the past half century, our understanding of the physiological effects of space exploration and microgravity exposure have improved immensely. Microgravity causes incredible changes to the human body that increase risk of injury upon return to Earth and lunar/planetary egress scenarios. This is due to deconditioning of the cardiovascular and skeletal muscle systems that reduce aerobic capacity and muscular strength. With upcoming exploration class missions, such as NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program which aims to send the first female astronaut to the lunar surface by 2030, as well as a long-term goal of Martian exploration, maintaining astronaut health during extended-duration space flight is critical for achieving mission objectives. However, our understanding of these physiological implications due to microgravity are based primarily on flight studies of male astronauts and 1g bedrest analog study participants, with few investigations focusing specifically on females. Innate physiologic differences in endocrine signaling and reproductive function impact sex-dependent responses to various health conditions, treatments, and environmental factors in nearly every system in the body. Therefore, to assume comparable alterations in females in response to microgravity exposure may be inappropriate and consequentially, could lead to lasting impacts on female astronaut health and impact mission success. Moreover, differences in sex hormones may also influence the regulation of cardiovascular control during egress activity after space flight-induced deconditioning and blood volume loss (i.e., risk for orthostatic intolerance). Other potential physiological systems and factors related to musculoskeletal health and aerobic capacity that warrant investigation with respect to microgravity include endocrine/reproductive function, vascular control, bone mineral density/microarchitecture, and soft-tissue health. The purpose of this investigation is two-fold: 1) to summarize the data available from space flight and simulated bedrest analog exposures to begin addressing these gaps in knowledge regarding impacts to female astronaut health, and 2) to describe differences in demographic health characteristics, injury prevalence, and aerobic capacity and muscular strength in NASA female and male astronauts. Female astronauts make up 50% of Artemis-specific astronaut corps and the extent to which microgravity exposure impacts female cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health, and whether these alterations are consistent with their male counterparts, is inconclusive. With the growing inclusion of female astronauts in the NASA space program and the increased duration of missions beyond low Earth orbit, a greater understanding of the sex-specific adaptation to space travel will help determine the development of appropriate countermeasures for minimizing risk and maintaining health of all astronauts.

Nicole Christine Strock↗

Wearable Biosensor Monitor to Support Autonomous Crew Health and Performance

During future human exploration missions, spaceflight crews will encounter adverse health outcomes and decrements in performance during the missions and for long term health. The Psychophysiological Research Lab is currently conducting a technology demonstration of a prototype wearable biosensor system (Astroskin) on astronaut surrogates during 30 day missions within NASAs Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA). HERA, located at Johnson Spaceflight Center, represents a flight analog for simulation of isolation, confinement and remote conditions of mission exploration scenarios. Astroskin, an autonomous medical monitoring system, consists of an intelligent garment for the upper body and a headband fitted with sensors, and associated software and hardware that can measure, transmit and store vital signs (ECG, respiration, blood pressure, etc.), sleep quality and activity level of the wearer. One of the main goals of the technology demonstration is to evaluate the performance of the Astroskin system (i.e., data quality), crew usability and comfort. To validate the Astroskin as a viable option for use during future spaceflight missions, crew data from HERA are sent to Ames researchers for processing and analyses. Crew surveys on usability and comfort will also be evaluated. This work supports the Exploration Medical Capabilities element within NASAs Human Research Program.

space analog↗

The Future of Astronaut Nutrition: Daily Production of Kefir Nutrient Packs in a Lunar Analog Mission

Astronaut nutrition will need to be supplemented with fresh nutrients and probiotics for long duration space travel. Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that provides probiotic bacteria, protein, calcium, and vitamin K. It has been historically cultured for thousands of years and is a modern-day health food. During the BioNutrients-2 experiment, one generation of kefir was cultured by astronauts on the ISS in fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) bags. This follow-on experiment aimed to test the hypothesis that kefir can be produced at ambient temperatures and safely passaged to make a series of nutrient packs in an analog environment. The Hawaiian Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) is a semi-controlled habitat located on the Mauna Loa volcano on the island of Hawaii at 2,500 m elevation. The recent EMMIHS (EuroMoonMars, International MoonBase Alliance, HI-SEAS) missions comprised of interdisciplinary, international crews for mock lunar missions. During a six-day mission in March 2024, crew members tested continuous passaging of kefir cultures (C-FIR commercial strain). After approximately 24 hours of growth, a portion of culture was used to seed the next generation of culture bags for four passages. A color board and pH indicator allowed the crew to easily determine when the culture had reached optimal pH. Laboratory analysis at NASA Ames Research Center showed that the pH met Kefir standards (<5). The yeast and lactic acid bacteria were in normal range and no contamination was detected in the final passage. By successfully accomplishing this experiment the team has demonstrated the ability to safely produce daily cultures of kefir in a microgravity applicable growth system.

Astronaut nutrition↗

Analysis of head-down tilt as an analog of weightlessness using a methematical simulation model

Antiorthostasis or head down tilt of a moderate degree was used as a ground based analog of weightless space flight to study headward fluid shifts, decreased plasma volume, orthostatic intolerance and muscular skeletal degradation. A mathematical model was used to help interpret these observations. The model proved most valuable for these studies was originally developed as a description of the major circulatory, fluid and electrolyte control systems. Two different experimental studies are employed to validate the model. The first is a 24 hour head down tilt study and the second is a 7 day head down bed rest study. The major issues addressed include the reduction in plasma volume, the dynamic changes of venous pressure and cardiac output, the extent of central hypervolemia during long term zero g exposure, the existence of an early diuresis, the mechanisms which alter the renal regulating hormones during the short term and long term periods, the significance of potassium loss on other zero g responses, and the role of transcapillary filtration in adjusting fluid shifts. The use of mathematical models as an interpretive and analysis technique for experimental research for space life science is illustrated.

Leonard, J. I.↗

Ansatz-Free Hamiltonian Learning with Heisenberg-Limited Scaling

Learning the unknown interactions that govern a quantum system is crucial for quantum information processing, device benchmarking, and quantum sensing. The problem, known as Hamiltonian learning, is well understood under the assumption that interactions are local, but this assumption may not hold for arbitrary Hamiltonians. Previous methods all require high-order inverse polynomial dependency with precision, unable to surpass the standard quantum limit and reach the gold-standard Heisenberg-limited scaling. Whether Heisenberg-limited Hamiltonian learning is possible without prior assumptions about the interaction structures, a challenge we term ansatz-free Hamiltonian learning , remains an open question. In this work, we present a quantum algorithm to learn arbitrary sparse Hamiltonians without any structure constraints using only black-box queries of the system’s real-time evolution and minimal digital controls to attain Heisenberg-limited scaling in estimation error. Our method is also resilient to state-preparation-and-measurement errors, enhancing its practical feasibility. We numerically demonstrate our ansatz-free protocol for learning physical Hamiltonians and validating analog quantum simulations, benchmarking our performance against the state-of-the-art Heisenberg-limited learning approach. Moreover, we establish a fundamental trade-off between total evolution time and quantum control on learning arbitrary interactions, revealing the intrinsic interplay between controllability and total evolution-time complexity for any learning algorithm. These results pave the way for further exploration into Heisenberg-limited Hamiltonian learning in complex quantum systems under minimal assumptions, potentially enabling new benchmarking and verification protocols.

machine learning↗