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At least 361 records · Page 20

Periodic Eruptive Variability of the Isolated Pre-main-sequence Star V347 Aurigae

V347 Aurigae is associated with the small dark cloud L1438 and appears to be an isolated pre-main-sequence star located at distance d ≈ 200 pc. Multi-epoch, archival photometry reveals periodic brightness variations with amplitude V ≈ 2.0 mag occurring on timescales of ~160 days that have persisted for decades. Regular-cadence, optical imaging of the source with the Zwicky Transient Facility shows that a small reflection nebula illuminated by V347 Aur also fluctuates in brightness, at times fading completely. Multi-epoch, Keck/HIRES data suggests the presence of two distinct spectral components: a prominent emission-line-dominated spectrum with a heavily veiled continuum correlated with the bright photometric state, and an M-type absorption line spectrum associated with quiescence. All spectra exhibit strong Balmer and He i line emission, consistent with accretion, as well as high velocity emission arising from the forbidden transitions of [O i], [N ii], and [S ii] that are generally associated with collimated jets and disk winds. There is no evidence in existing high-dispersion spectroscopy or high-resolution imaging for binarity of V347 Aur. The repeating outburst events are possibly linked to accretion instabilities induced by an undetected companion or a structure within the circumstellar disk that periodically increases the mass accretion rate. V347 Aur is perhaps analogous to an EXor-type variable, though more regularly recurring.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Solar radio spectrum extended to 10 km wavelength

Solar radio spectra for quiet times and radio bursts in the wavelength range from 1 mm to 10 km are presented. Solar nonthermal emission in the range of 100 m to 10 km was monitored by means of long wire antennas connected to multi-channel radiometers in the frequency range 25 kHz to 10 MHz on board the IMP-6 and RAE-1 satellites. Flux densities for very intense type III bursts with intensities ranging from 10 to the -18th to 10 to the -14th W/sq m per Hz with maxima at 330 to 1500 m are shown, and a power-law wavelength distribution function of maximum burst intensities is derived. Intensities of a large type III noise storm are shown to increase with increasing wavelength to a peak near 500 m. The flux densities of both types of burst emission are observed to greatly exceed quiet sun intensities at long wavelengths.

Weber, R. R.↗

Jupiter Systems Data Analysis Program Galileo Multi-Spectral Analysis of the Galilean Satellites

Progress was made on this project at the University of Colorado, particularly concerning analysis of data of the galilean moons Io and Europa. The goal of the Io portion of this study is to incorporate Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) measured sulfur dioxide (SO2) frost amounts into models used with Ultraviolet spectrometer (UVS) spectra, in order to better constrain SO2 gas amounts determined by the UVS. The overall goal of this portion of the study is to better understand the thickness and distribution of Io's SO2 atmosphere. The goal of the analysis of the Europa data is to better understand the source of the UV absorption feature centered near 280 rim which has been noted in disk-integrated spectra primarily on the trailing hemisphere. The NIMS data indicate asymmetric water ice bands on Europa, particularly over the trailing hemisphere, and especially concentrated in the visibly dark regions associated with chaotic terrain and lines. The UPS data, the first-ever disk-resolved UV spectra of Europa, shown that the UV absorber is likely concentrated in regions where the NIMS data show asymmetric water ice bands. The material that produces both spectral features is likely the same, and we use data from both wavelength regions to better understand this material, and whether it is endogenically or exogenically produced. This work is still in progress at JPL.

Hendrix, Amanda↗

Ambient and Cryogenic Alignment Verification and Performance of the Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer (IRMOS) is a facility instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 and 2.1 meter telescopes. IRMOS is a near-IR (0.8 - 2.5 micron) spectrometer with low- to mid-resolving power (R = 300 - 3000). IRMOS produces simultaneous spectra of approximately 100 objects in its 2.8 x 2.0 arc-min field of view using a commercial Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Digital Micro-mirror Device (DMD) from Texas Instruments. The IRMOS optical design consists of two imaging subsystems. The focal reducer images the focal plane of the telescope onto the DMD field stop, and the spectrograph images the DMD onto the detector. We describe ambient breadboard subsystem alignment and imaging performance of each stage independently, and the ambient and cryogenic imaging performance of the fully assembled instrument. Interferometric measurements of subsystem wavefront error serve to venfy alignment, and are accomplished using a commercial, modified Twyman-Green laser unequal path interferometer. Image testing provides further verification of the optomechanical alignment method and a measurement of near-angle scattered light due to mirror small-scale surface error. Image testing is performed at multiple field points. A mercury-argon pencil lamp provides spectral lines at 546.1 nm and 1550 nm, and a CCD camera and IR camera are used as detectors. We use commercial optical modeling software to predict the point-spread function and its effect on instrument slit transmission and resolution. Our breadboard test results validate this prediction. We conclude with an instrument performance prediction for first light.

Connelly, Joseph A.↗

Comparison of Surface Pressure Fluctuations from Flight and Wind Tunnel Tests on the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

Transonic and supersonic wind-tunnel test of scaled-models are used to predict the surface pressure fluctuations on aerospace vehicles. An outstanding question is how good are such tests? The present paper attempts to answer this question for the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle by comparing data from the Ascent Abort-2 (AA2) flight test with those measured in two different scaled-model wind tunnel tests (WTT) 51AS and 134AS. A sensor by sensor and a Mach by Mach comparisons of spectra of surface pressure fluctuations are presented for nominal ascent part of flight. Spectra measured over a large part of the vehicle surface were found to be dominated by the wake vortices shed from the four Abort Motor nozzles situated on the upper part of the Launch Abort System. It was found that the shapes of the scaled-up spectra from WTTs were very close to those measured in the flight, but the levels, for the most part, were found to be lower than the flight data. The highest differences were from the regions of complex flows where wakes from the adjacent nozzles interacted with the free-stream flow. There the WTT predicted levels were consistently 2dB to 6dB lower than the flight data, across all spectral bands. Another region of significant under-prediction was the local separated flow region at the Fillet-Ogive junction. The accuracy of the sharp spectral peaks from regions along a nozzle axis was found to be dependent on the fidelity of the model. The model in the 51AS WTT used a simplified contour, which resulted in a large under prediction of the spectral peak by 1dB to 10dB. A limited number of data from 134AS, where the model accurately captured all features of the nozzles of the flight vehicle, however; showed that the under prediction was lower: 1-2dB. The fluctuation spectra on the large protuberance of the Umbilical Cover was found to be reasonably well-predicted by 134AS WTT, which meticulously reproduced a scaled-down shape of this protuberance. Such information will help to determine the margins to be applied to wind-tunnel data to create flight environments.

MPCV↗

Multi-Frequency Analysis of Simulated versus Observed Variability in Tropospheric Temperature

Studies seeking to identify a human-caused global warming signal generally rely on climate model estimates of the “noise” of intrinsic natural variability. Assessing the reliability of these noise estimates is of critical importance. We evaluate here the statistical significance of differences between climate model and observational natural variability spectra for global-mean mid- to upper-tropospheric temperature (TMT). We use TMT information from satellites and large multimodel ensembles of forced and unforced simulations. Our main goal is to explore the sensitivity of model-versus-data spectral comparisons to a wide range of subjective decisions. These include the choice of satellite and climate model TMT datasets, the method for separating signal and noise, the frequency range considered, and the statistical model used to represent observed natural variability. Of particular interest is the amplitude of the interdecadal noise against which an anthropogenic tropospheric warming signal must be detected. We find that on time scales of 5–20 years, observed TMT variability is (on average) overestimated by the last two generations of climate models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. This result is relatively insensitive to different plausible analyst choices, enhancing confidence in previous claims of detectable anthropogenic warming of the troposphere and indicating that these claims may be conservative. A further key finding is that two commonly used statistical models of short-term and long-term memory have deficiencies in their ability to capture the complex shape of observed TMT spectra.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Quantifying the Effect of Component Covariances in CMB Extraction from Multi-frequency Data

Linear combination methods provide a global method for component separation of multi-frequency data. We present such a method that allows for consideration of possible covariances between the desired cosmic microwave background signal and various foreground signals that are also present. We also recover information on the foregrounds including the number of foregrounds, their spectra and templates. In all this, the covariances, which we would only expect to vanish 'in the mean' are included as parameters expressing the fundamental uncertainty due to this type of cosmic variance. When we make the reasonable assumption that the CMB is Gaussian, we can compute both a mean recovered CMB map and also an RMS error map, The mean map coincides with WMAP's Internal Linear Combination map.

Phillips, Nicholas G.↗

Assessment of Self-interrogation Safeguards Signatures for Pebble Bed Reactor Fuel

New reactor designs, such as pebble-bed reactors, present challenges for the safeguarding of fissile material. Due to the multi-pass fuel circulation design and the non-uniform path a pebble may traverse through a pebble-bed reactor, there will be variations in the irradiation history of spent fuel pebbles. The standard approach of estimating actinide quantities based on fission gamma spectra or neutron emission paired with depletion modeling may yield uncertainties too large for safeguards and material accountancy. This project investigated, through modeling and experimentation, the potential of neutron self-interrogation of spent fuel pebbles as an innovative method to implement materials accountability. As an example, our feasibility studies indicate that the mass of U-235, U-238, Pu-239 and Pu-241 can be predicted to 4.1, 0.86, 13 and 13 % accuracy, respectively, when measuring 100 closely packed end-of-life spent fuel pebbles over approximately 12 days using a 4π counting geometry.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Improved Broadband Liner Optimization Applied to the Advanced Noise Control Fan

The broadband component of fan noise has grown in relevance with the utilization of increased bypass ratio and advanced fan designs. Thus, while the attenuation of fan tones remains paramount, the ability to simultaneously reduce broadband fan noise levels has become more desirable. This paper describes improvements to a previously established broadband acoustic liner optimization process using the Advanced Noise Control Fan rig as a demonstrator. Specifically, in-duct attenuation predictions with a statistical source model are used to obtain optimum impedance spectra over the conditions of interest. The predicted optimum impedance information is then used with acoustic liner modeling tools to design liners aimed at producing impedance spectra that most closely match the predicted optimum values. Design selection is based on an acceptance criterion that provides the ability to apply increased weighting to specific frequencies and/or operating conditions. Constant-depth, double-degree of freedom and variable-depth, multi-degree of freedom designs are carried through design, fabrication, and testing to validate the efficacy of the design process. Results illustrate the value of the design process in concurrently evaluating the relative costs/benefits of these liner designs. This study also provides an application for demonstrating the integrated use of duct acoustic propagation/radiation and liner modeling tools in the design and evaluation of novel broadband liner concepts for complex engine configurations.

Nark, Douglas M.↗

Structural and optical characterization of dilute Bi-doped GaN nanostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We have carried out detailed studies on the epitaxy and characterization of dilute Bi-doped GaN nanostructures. A comprehensive investigation of Bi-doped GaN nanowires and quasi-film epitaxial growth conditions has been performed. Scanning electron microscopy studies show that lowering the GaBiN growth temperature causes gradual changes in top c-plane nanowire morphology due to the incremental incorporation of foreign Bi atoms. This trend is further substantiated by the secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis of a multi-layer Bi-doped GaN quasi-film. However, it is also found that the amount of Bi incorporation into the GaN lattice is relatively independent of the N2 flow rate variation under the growth conditions investigated. Furthermore, room-temperature micro-Raman spectra show that there are additional peaks near 530, 650, and 729 cm−1 wave numbers in the Bi-doped GaN samples, which can primarily be attributed to Bi local vibrational modes, indicative of a small amount of Bi incorporation in the GaN lattice. Moreover, phonon calculations with density functional theory indicate that Bi replacing the N sites is the likely origin of the experimentally measured Raman modes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements have also been obtained to deduce the electronic interaction between the Bi dopant atom and the GaN nanostructure. Such one-dimensional nanowires permit the synthesis of dislocation-free highly mismatched alloys due to strain relaxation, allowing efficient light absorption and charge carrier extraction that is relevant for solar energy harvesting and artificial photosynthesis.

Materials Science↗

w22_laser_radiography - Laser-Based MeV Radiography

This project seeks to develop novel x-ray sources based on high-power short-pulse lasers with unique advantages, including small spot size, flexible configuration, and tailorable spectra. Kinetic plasma simulations using the VPIC particle in cell code will be performed to support the R&D goals of this project. If successful, this effort will allow LANL to deploy flexible, compact x-ray sources for static tomographic radiography and dynamic multi-axis radiography at our firing sites and facilities such as pRad and U1a. The higher resolution, shorter pulse duration, and tunability of our proposed sources will enable new applications in the weapons program and broader scientific community. This effort advances the LANL FY22 Strategic Investment Plan priority of “[r]adiographic tools for dynamic and static imaging with improved spatial and temporal resolution, sensitivity, and dose.”

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Alignment and Performance of the Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer (IRMOS) is a principle investigator class instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 and 2.1 meter telescopes. IRMOS is a near-IR (0.8 - 2.5 micron) spectrometer with low-to mid-resolving power (R = 300 - 3000). IRMOS produces simultaneous spectra of approximately 100 objects in its 2.8 x 2.0 arc-min field of view (4 m telescope) using a commercial Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) micro-mirror array (MMA) from Texas Instruments. The IRMOS optical design consists of two imaging subsystems. The focal reducer images the focal plane of the telescope onto the MMA field stop, and the spectrograph images the MMA onto the detector. We describe ambient breadboard subsystem alignment and imaging performance of each stage independently, and ambient imaging performance of the fully assembled instrument. Interferometric measurements of subsystem wavefront error serve as a qualitative alignment guide, and are accomplished using a commercial, modified Twyman-Green laser unequal path interferometer. Image testing provides verification of the optomechanical alignment method and a measurement of near-angle scattered light due to mirror small-scale surface error. Image testing is performed at multiple field points. A mercury-argon pencil lamp provides a spectral line at 546.1 nanometers, a blackbody source provides a line at 1550 nanometers, and a CCD camera and IR camera are used as detectors. We use commercial optical modeling software to predict the point-spread function and its effect on instrument slit transmission and resolution. Our breadboard and instrument level test results validate this prediction. We conclude with an instrument performance prediction for cryogenic operation and first light in late 2003.

Connelly, Joseph A.↗

Lattice-Renormalized Tunneling Models for Superconducting Qubit Materials

We present a lattice-renormalized formalism for configurational tunneling two-level systems (TLS) that overcomes limitations of minimum-energy-path and light-particle models. Derived from the nuclear Hamiltonian, our formulation introduces composite phonon coordinates to capture lattice distortions between degenerate potential wells. This approach resolves deficiencies in prior models and enables accurate computation of tunnel splittings and excitation spectra for hydrogen-based TLS in bcc Nb. Our results bound experimental tunnel splittings and reveal strong anharmonic couplings between tunneling atoms and lattice phonons, establishing a direct link between TLS dynamics and phonon-mediated strain interactions. The formalism further generalizes to multi-level systems (MLS), providing insight into defect-induced decoherence in superconducting qubits and guiding strategies for materials design to suppress TLS-related loss.

Pritchard, P. G. [Northwestern U.]↗

Evidence for an isomeric {pi}½{sup +}[411] state in {sup 183}Ta

We report on the identification of a new isomeric state in Ta populated via the ground-state -decay of Hf. The experiment was performed at the KISS setup at RIKEN, where neutron-rich hafnium isotopes were produced via multi-nucleon transfer (MNT) reactions, followed by laser ionization of hafnium atoms, mass separation, and detection using an electron-gamma coincidence system. Isomeric spectroscopy was carried out by gating on different electron-gamma time correlations. A 459.1 keV -ray transition was identified in delayed spectra, and a half-life of μ was extracted through time-distribution fitting. The 459.1 keV state in Ta is known from previous work and has been assigned a Nilsson orbital configuration of , while a proposed new isomeric state above it is interpreted as a configuration that decays to via a low-energy, unobserved E2 transition. This is consistent with the systematic trends in neighbouring odd-A nuclei and transition rate calculations. Similar content being viewed by others

Doshi, S.↗

High-energy gamma-ray emission from solar flares: Constraining the accelerated proton spectrum

Using a multi-component model to describe the gamma-ray emission, we investigate the flares of December 16, 1988 and March 6, 1989 which exhibited unambiguous evidence of neutral pion decay. The observations are then combined with theoretical calculations of pion production to constrain the accelerated proton spectra. The detection of pi(sup 0) emission alone can indicate much about the energy distribution and spectral variation of the protons accelerated to pion producing energies. Here both the intensity and detailed spectral shape of the Doppler-broadened pi(sup 0) decay feature are used to determine the spectral form of the accelerated proton energy distribution. The Doppler width of this gamma-ray emission provides a unique diagnostic of the spectral shape at high energies, independent of any normalisation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this diagnostic has been used to constrain the proton spectra. The form of the energetic proton distribution is found to be severely limited by the observed intensity and Doppler width of the pi(sup 0) decay emission, demonstrating effectively the diagnostic capabilities of the pi(sup 0) decay gamma-rays. The spectral index derived from the gamma-ray intensity is found to be much harder than that derived from the Doppler width. To reconcile this apparent discrepancy we investigate the effects of introducing a high-energy cut-off in the accelerated proton distribution. With cut-off energies of around 0.5-0.8 GeV and relatively hard spectra, the observed intensities and broadening can be reproduced with a single energetic proton distribution above the pion production threshold.

Alexander, David↗

Optimizing Retrieval Spaces of Bio-Optical Models for Remote Sensing of Ocean Color

We investigated the optimal number of independent parameters required to accurately represent spectral remote sensing reflectances (𝑅 rs ) by performing principal component analysis on quality controlled in situ and synthetic 𝑅 rs data. We found that retrieval algorithms should be able to retrieve no more than four free parameters from 𝑅 rs spectra for most ocean waters. In addition, we evaluated the performance of five different bio-optical models with different numbers of free parameters for the direct inversion of in-water inherent optical properties (IOPs) from in situ and synthetic 𝑅 rs data. The multi-parameter models showed similar performances regardless of the number of parameters. Considering the computational cost associated with larger parameter spaces, we recommend bio-optical models with three free parameters for the use of IOP or joint retrieval algorithms.

Ocean Color↗

Evidence of electron microbunching in laser-driven modulated downramp injection and prospects for beam-driven implementation

Plasma accelerators can generate high-energy, high-brightness electron beams over centimeter-scale distances, offering novel pathways to compact x-ray free-electron lasers. Generating beams pre-bunched at the desired radiation wavelength would significantly enhance longitudinal coherence and reduce saturation length. Plasma density-modulated downramp injection offers an in-situ way to generate such beams with nanometer-scale bunching. Here we report the first experimental evidence of this mechanism in a laser-driven wakefield accelerator, showing that modulated density downramps generate modulated electron energy spectra absent in unmodulated cases. Particle-in-cell simulations reproduce these observations and reveal bunching factors of 0.05 at 0.4 μm, with a compression factor of approximately 7. Building on this demonstration, we propose a beam-driven implementation for FACET-II to generate multi-GeV beams pre-bunched at hundreds of nanometers wavelength, with sub-micrometer emittance, kiloampere peak current, and sub-percent slice energy spread. Two-stage magnetic compression enables tunable bunching from optical to extreme ultraviolet wavelengths while achieving peak currents exceeding 100 kA. Coherent transition radiation calculations confirm diagnostic feasibility. This approach offers a promising path towards compact, high-energy pre-bunched electron sources for advanced photon science applications.

electron microbunching↗

Shuttle imaging radar-C science plan

The Shuttle Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) mission will yield new and advanced scientific studies of the Earth. SIR-C will be the first instrument to simultaneously acquire images at L-band and C-band with HH, VV, HV, or VH polarizations, as well as images of the phase difference between HH and VV polarizations. These data will be digitally encoded and recorded using onboard high-density digital tape recorders and will later be digitally processed into images using the JPL Advanced Digital SAR Processor. SIR-C geologic studies include cold-region geomorphology, fluvial geomorphology, rock weathering and erosional processes, tectonics and geologic boundaries, geobotany, and radar stereogrammetry. Hydrology investigations cover arid, humid, wetland, snow-covered, and high-latitude regions. Additionally, SIR-C will provide the data to identify and map vegetation types, interpret landscape patterns and processes, assess the biophysical properties of plant canopies, and determine the degree of radar penetration of plant canopies. In oceanography, SIR-C will provide the information necessary to: forecast ocean directional wave spectra; better understand internal wave-current interactions; study the relationship of ocean-bottom features to surface expressions and the correlation of wind signatures to radar backscatter; and detect current-system boundaries, oceanic fronts, and mesoscale eddies. And, as the first spaceborne SAR with multi-frequency, multipolarization imaging capabilities, whole new areas of glaciology will be opened for study when SIR-C is flown in a polar orbit.

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