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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 271 records · Page 15

$xy$ Position Reconstruction in DarkSide-50

The DarkSide-50 experiment seeks to directly detect dark matter in a liquid argon time projection chamber. In this dissertation, I present an algorithm of my design that determines the position of particle interactions with the liquid argon. This position reconstruction algorithm will be used by DarkSide-50 to reject backgrounds, particularly backgrounds from radioactive elements on the detector surface. The position reconstruction algorithm functions by constructing light response functions (LRFs) that map locations in the detector to the expected distribution of signal in DarkSide-50's 38 photomultiplier tubes. Accurate LRFs cannot be produced by simulations of DarkSide-50's optics because such simulations are known to be awed. Instead, this algorithm constructs LRFs using an iterative process driven by data. Initial, awed LRFs are produced using simulated events but then used to produce new LRFs from data events. Multiple generations of LRFs are created from data with each generation driven to better satisfy a known feature of the detector: the dominant argon-39 background is uniformly distributed. I also discuss a method of discriminating against surface background as an alternative to the common approach of ducialization. This method considers the di erence in goodnessof- t between the best- t reconstructed position and the best- t position at the detector's surface. I conclude by presenting results on the performance and validity of this algorithm, including some discussion of reconstruction errors.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Microstructural Transitions during Powder Metallurgical Processing of Solute Stabilized Nanostructured Tungsten Alloys

Exploiting grain boundary engineering in the design of alloys for extreme environments provides a promising pathway for enhancing performance relative to coarse-grained counterparts. Due to its attractive properties as a plasma facing material for fusion devices, tungsten presents an opportunity to exploit this approach in addressing the significant materials challenges imposed by the fusion environment. Here, we employ a ternary alloy design approach for stabilizing W against recrystallization and grain growth while simultaneously enhancing its manufacturability through powder metallurgical processing. Mechanical alloying and grain refinement in W-10 at.% Ti-(10,20) at.% Cr alloys are accomplished through high-energy ball milling with transitions in the microstructure mapped as a function of milling time. We demonstrate the multi-modal nature of the resulting nanocrystalline grain structure and its stability up to 1300 °C with the coarser grain size population correlated to transitions in crystallographic texture that result from the preferred slip systems in BCC W. Field-assisted sintering is employed to consolidate the alloy powders into bulk samples, which, due to the deliberately designed compositional features, are shown to retain ultrafine grain structures despite the presence of minor carbides formed during sintering due to carbon impurities in the ball-milled powders.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On the Stability Analysis of Astrophysical Cooling Functions

To model the temperature evolution of optically thin astrophysical environments at MHD scales, radiative and collisional cooling rates are typically either pretabulated or fit into a functional form and then input into MHD codes as a radiative loss function. Thermal balance requires estimates of the analogous heating rates, which are harder to calculate, and due to uncertainties in the underlying dissipative heating processes these rates are often simply parameterized. The resulting net cooling function defines an equilibrium curve that varies with density and temperature. Such cooling functions can make the gas prone to thermal instability (TI), which will cause departures from equilibrium. There has been no systematic study of thermally unstable parameter space for nonequilibrium states. Motivated by our recent finding that there is a related linear instability, catastrophic cooling instability, that can dominate over TI, here we carry out such a study. We show that Balbus instability criteria for TI can be used to define a critical cooling rate, Λ c , that permits a nonequilibrium analysis of cooling functions through the mapping of TI zones. We furthermore illustrate how thermal conduction modifies the shape of TI zones. Upon applying a Λ c -based stability analysis to coronal loop simulations, we find that loops undergoing periodic episodes of coronal rain formation are linearly unstable to catastrophic cooling instability, while TI is stabilized by thermal conduction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Simulation of the electron cloud in the Fermilab Main Injector

We present results from a precision simulation of the electron cloud (EC) problem in the Fermilab Main Injector using the code VORPAL. This is a fully 3d and self consistent treatment of the EC. Both distributions of electrons in 6D phase-space and EM field maps have been generated. Various configurations of the magnetic fields found around the machine have been studied. Plasma waves associated to the fluctuation density of the cloud have been analyzed. Our results have been successfully benchmarked against the POSINST code for the 2D electrostatic case. The response of a Retarding Field Analyzer (RFA) to the EC has been simulated as well as the more challenging microwave absorption experiment. While numerically accurate predictions can be made for a given secondary emission yield (SEY) and initial conditions, the large uncertainties in this SEY and in the spatial distribution of the EC prior to the exponential growth of the EC do make ab-initio prediction difficult. Note also that the RFA response is also uncertain due to the collection efficiency in unknown stray magnetic fields. Nonetheless, our simulations do provide guidance to the experimental program. Moreover, for a reasonable set of initial condition, this calculation shows that no dramatic, non-linear, increase of the EC density will occur when the bunch charges increases by a factor of three. Finally, electric field maps or parametric functions are being provided to the Synergia tracking code such that instabilities due to the EC can be simulated over much longer periods of time.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Control of matrix converters using machine learning

A method of controlling a matrix converter system is provided. The method includes receiving an operating condition and consulting a trained Q-data structure for reward values associated with respective switching states of the switching matrix for an operating state that corresponds to the operating condition. The Q-data structure is trained using Q-learning to map a reward value predicted for respective switching states to respective discrete operating states. The method further includes sorting the reward values predicted for the respective switching states mapped to the operating state that corresponds to the operating condition, selecting a subset of the set of the mappings as a function of a result of sorting the reward values associated with the switching states of the operating state, evaluating each switching state included in the subset, and selecting an optimal switching state for the operating condition based on a result of evaluating the switching states of the subset.

Chamie, Mahmoud El↗

Tomography and weak lensing statistics

We provide generic predictions for the lower order cumulants of weak lensing maps, and their correlators for tomographic bins as well as in three dimensions (3D). Using small-angle approximation, we derive the corresponding one- and two-point probability distribution function for the tomographic maps from different bins and for 3D convergence maps. The modelling of weak lensing statistics is obtained by adopting a detailed prescription for the underlying density contrast that involves hierarchal ansatz and lognormal distribution. We study the dependence of our results on cosmological parameters and source distributions corresponding to the realistic surveys such as LSST and DES. We briefly outline how photometric redshift information can be incorporated in our results. We also show how topological properties of convergence maps can be quantified using our results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Curiosity driven exploration to optimize structure–property learning in microscopy

Rapidly determining structure–property correlations in materials is an important challenge in better understanding fundamental mechanisms and greatly assists in materials design. In microscopy, imaging data provides a direct measurement of the local structure, while spectroscopic measurements provide relevant functional property information. Deep kernel active learning approaches have been utilized to rapidly map local structure to functional properties in microscopy experiments, but are computationally expensive for multi-dimensional and correlated output spaces. Here, we present an alternative lightweight curiosity algorithm which actively samples regions with unexplored structure–property relations, utilizing a deep-learning based surrogate model for error prediction. We show that the algorithm outperforms random sampling for predicting properties from structures, and provides a convenient tool for efficient mapping of structure–property relationships in materials science.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Mapping the hadronization description in the Pythia MCEG to the correlation functions of TMD factorization

In a collaboration between Jefferson Lab and the Pythia collaboration, we aim to map the non-perturbative description of hadronization in the Pythia Monte Carlo Event Generator (MCEG) to the correlation functions of TMD factorization. In a LDRD project, we investigate the connection between the description of hadronization phenomena in nuclear and high-energy physics, work towards a MCEG for TMDs, and by doing so make fundamental contributions to the theoretical framework for TMDs.

Diefenthaler, Markus↗

Antiferromagnetic spinor condensates are quantum rotors

We establish a theoretical correspondence between spin-one antiferromagnetic spinor condensates in an external magnetic field and quantum rotor models in an external potential. We show that the rotor model provides a conceptually clear picture of the possible phases and dynamical regimes of the antiferromagnetic condensate. We also show that this mapping simplifies calculations of the condensate's spectrum and wave functions. We use the rotor mapping to describe the different dynamical regimes recently observed in {sup 23}Na condensates [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 125301 (2009); Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 225301 (2009)]. We also suggest a way to experimentally observe quantum-mechanical effects (collapse and revival) in spinor condensates.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Expansion Behavior and Temperature Mapping of Thermites in Burn Tubes as a Function of Fill Length [Thermal Imaging of Thermite Flame Propagation]

The reaction of loosely-packed aluminum/copper oxide (Al/CuO) thermites in a 12 cm long acrylic burn tube was investigated as a function of the fill length from 2 to 10 cm. The velocity of the luminous front was measured both in the filled and unfilled region, and approached 1000 m s-1 in the unfilled region, independent of the fill length. This value is approximately a factor of two higher than the fastest velocity measured in the filled region, 606 m s-1, for the 10 cm filled tube. The velocity increase in the unfilled region ist likely due to the increased open porosity, which can support faster flow velocities for a given pressure gradient relative to that in the porous material. A high-speed color imaging pyrometer was used to thermally map the evolution of the flame in both regions. Near the luminous front in the filled section, the temperature was observed to rapidly increase in a 1–2 cm zone to a maximum value near 3200 K, and an average value near 3000 K was sustained in the wake well after the front passes and exits the tube. In partially-filled tubes, even for the lowest fill length of 2 cm, the intermediate and/or product species could be seen to expand forward and completely fill the tube with a sustained temperature of ca. 3000 K. This temperature did not decay during the expansion, suggesting that the material continues to react as it expands. The results raise several questions about what a burn tube experiment is really measuring; such as what fraction of the material has burned when the luminous front passes and what role open cracks or microstructures play in promoting transport. Lastly, these questions are critically important towards developing a predictive capability for confined, loosely packed deflagrations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Universality of the critical point mapping between Ising model and QCD at small quark mass

The universality of the QCD equation of state near the critical point is expressed by mapping pressure as a function of temperature $T$ and baryon chemical potential $μ$ in QCD to Gibbs free energy as a function of reduced temperature $r$ and magnetic field $h$ in the Ising model. The mapping parameters are, in general, not universal, i.e., determined by details of the microscopic dynamics rather than by symmetries and long-distance dynamics. In this paper we point out that in the limit of small quark masses, when the critical point is close to the tricritical point, the mapping parameters show universal dependence on the quark mass $m_ q$. In particular, the angle between the $r = 0$ and $h = 0$ lines in the $(μ, T)$ plane vanishes as $m^{2/5}_q$. We discuss possible phenomenological consequences of these findings.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Shock-driven transition to turbulence: Emergence of power-law scaling

Here, we consider two cases of interaction between a planar shock and a cylindrical density interface. In the first case (planar normal shock), the axis of the gas cylinder is parallel to the shock front and baroclinic vorticity deposited by the shock is predominantly two dimensional (directed along the axis of the cylinder). In the second case, the cylinder is tilted, resulting in an oblique shock interaction and a fully-three-dimensional shock-induced vorticity field. Furthermore, the statistical properties of the flow for both cases are analyzed based on images from two orthogonal visualization planes, using structure functions of the intensity maps of fluorescent tracer premixed with heavy gas. And at later times, these structure functions exhibit power-law-like behavior over a considerable range of scales. Manifestation of this behavior is remarkably consistent in terms of dimensionless time τ defined based on Richtmyer's linear theory within the range of Mach numbers from 1.1 to 2.0 and the range of gas cylinder tilt angles with respect to the plane of the shock front (0–30°).

42 ENGINEERING↗

Few-body physics with CLAS

The study of few-body, nuclear systems with electromagnetic probes is an essential piece of the scientific program at Jefferson Lab. Reactions using real photons and electrons (up to energies of 6 GeV) are measured using the CEBAF large acceptance spectrometer (CLAS) detector in Hall B, a nearly 4π magnetic spectrometer. We focus here on three areas. (1) Short-range correlations (SRCs) probe the high-momentum components of the nuclear wave function. Recent CLAS experiments map out their isospin character and reveal the importance of the tensor part of the nuclear force. (2) Three-body forces are an essential feature of nuclei. We will show results using real photons and 3He and 4He targets that remain largely unexplained. (3) Evidence for the transition to a quark-gluon description of nuclei has been observed with photon beams in CLAS on deuterium and 3-He targets. Alternative explanations reveal the geography of the transition is complex.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Deformation Mechanism Map of Cu/Nb Nanoscale Metallic Multilayers as a Function of Temperature and Layer Thickness

The mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of Cu/Nb nanoscale metallic multilayers (NMMs) manufactured by accumulative roll bonding are studied at 25°C and 400°C. Cu/Nb NMMs with individual layer thicknesses between 7 nm and 63 nm were tested by in situ micropillar compression inside a scanning electron microscope. Yield strength, strain-rate sensitivities and activation volumes were obtained from the pillar compression tests. The deformed micropillars were examined under scanning and transmission electron microscopy in order to examine the deformation mechanisms active for different layer thicknesses and temperatures. The paper suggests that room temperature deformation was determined by dislocation glide at larger layer thicknesses and interface-related mechanisms at the thinner layer thicknesses. The high-temperature compression tests, in contrast, revealed superior thermo-mechanical stability and strength retention for the NMMs with larger layer thicknesses with deformation controlled by dislocation glide. A remarkable transition in deformation mechanism occurred as the layer thickness decreased, to a deformation response controlled by diffusion processes along the interfaces, which resulted in temperature-induced softening. Finally, a deformation mechanism map, in terms of layer thickness and temperature, is proposed from the results obtained in this investigation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Identification of functional elements and regulatory circuits by Drosophila modENCODE

To gain insight into how genomic information is translated into cellular and developmental programs, the Drosophila model organism Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (modENCODE) project is comprehensively mapping transcripts, histone modifications, chromosomal proteins, transcription factors, replication proteins and intermediates, and nucleosome properties across a developmental time course and in multiple cell lines. We have generated more than 700 data sets and discovered protein-coding, noncoding, RNA regulatory, replication, and chromatin elements, more than tripling the annotated portion of the Drosophila genome. Correlated activity patterns of these elements reveal a functional regulatory network, which predicts putative new functions for genes, reveals stage- and tissue-specific regulators, and enables gene-expression prediction. Our results provide a foundation for directed experimental and computational studies in Drosophila and related species and also a model for systematic data integration toward comprehensive genomic and functional annotation. Several years after the complete genetic sequencing of many species, it is still unclear how to translate genomic information into a functional map of cellular and developmental programs. The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) (1) and model organism ENCODE (modENCODE) (2) projects use diverse genomic assays to comprehensively annotate the Homo sapiens (human), Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), and Caenorhabditis elegans (worm) genomes, through systematic generation and computational integration of functional genomic data sets. Previous genomic studies in flies have made seminal contributions to our understanding of basic biological mechanisms and genome functions, facilitated by genetic, experimental, computational, and manual annotation of the euchromatic and heterochromatic genome (3), small genome size, short life cycle, and a deep knowledge of development, gene function, and chromosome biology. The functions of {approx}40% of the protein and nonprotein-coding genes [FlyBase 5.12 (4)] have been determined from cDNA collections (5, 6), manual curation of gene models (7), gene mutations and comprehensive genome-wide RNA interference screens (8-10), and comparative genomic analyses (11, 12). The Drosophila modENCODE project has generated more than 700 data sets that profile transcripts, histone modifications and physical nucleosome properties, general and specific transcription factors (TFs), and replication programs in cell lines, isolated tissues, and whole organisms across several developmental stages (Fig. 1). Here, we computationally integrate these data sets and report (i) improved and additional genome annotations, including full-length proteincoding genes and peptides as short as 21 amino acids; (ii) noncoding transcripts, including 132 candidate structural RNAs and 1608 nonstructural transcripts; (iii) additional Argonaute (Ago)-associated small RNA genes and pathways, including new microRNAs (miRNAs) encoded within protein-coding exons and endogenous small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from 3-inch untranslated regions; (iv) chromatin 'states' defined by combinatorial patterns of 18 chromatin marks that are associated with distinct functions and properties; (v) regions of high TF occupancy and replication activity with likely epigenetic regulation; (vi)mixed TF and miRNA regulatory networks with hierarchical structure and enriched feed-forward loops; (vii) coexpression- and co-regulation-based functional annotations for nearly 3000 genes; (viii) stage- and tissue-specific regulators; and (ix) predictive models of gene expression levels and regulator function.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

NGNP Risk Management Database: A Model for Managing Risk

The Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Risk Management System (RMS) is a database used to maintain the project risk register. The RMS also maps risk reduction activities to specific identified risks. Further functionality of the RMS includes mapping reactor suppliers Design Data Needs (DDNs) to risk reduction tasks and mapping Phenomena Identification Ranking Table (PIRTs) to associated risks. This document outlines the basic instructions on how to use the RMS. This document constitutes Revision 1 of the NGNP Risk Management Database: A Model for Managing Risk. It incorporates the latest enhancements to the RMS. The enhancements include six new custom views of risk data - Impact/Consequence, Tasks by Project Phase, Tasks by Status, Tasks by Project Phase/Status, Tasks by Impact/WBS, and Tasks by Phase/Impact/WBS.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Measurement of the Galaxy Group-Thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect Cross-Correlation Function

Stacking cosmic microwave background maps around known galaxy clusters and groups provides a powerful probe of the distribution of hot gas in these systems via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect. A stacking analysis allows one to detect the average SZ signal around low-mass haloes, to extend measurements out to large scales and measure the redshift dependence of the SZ background. Motivated by these exciting prospects, we measure the two-point cross-correlation function between similar to 380 000 galaxy groups (at z = 0.01-0.2) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Compton-y parameter maps constructed by the Planck collaboration. We find statistically significant correlations in each of six separate mass bins, with halo masses ranging from 1011.5 to 1015.5 M(circle dot)h(-1). We compare with halo models of the SZ signal, which describe the stacked measurement in terms of one-halo and two-halo contributions. The onehalo term quantifies the average pressure profile around the groups in a mass bin, while the two-halo term describes the contribution of correlated neighbouring haloes. For the massive groups, we find clear evidence for the one-and two-halo regimes, while groups with mass below 1013M(circle dot)h(-1) are dominated by the two-halo term, given the resolution of Planck data. We use the signal in the two-halo regime to determine the bias-weighted electron pressure of the Universe: < bPe > = 1.50 +/- 0.226 x 10(-7) keV cm(-3) (sigma) at z approximate to 0.15.

Vikram, Vinu↗