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The advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility

The basic characteristics and capabilities of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) are described. The use of the AXAF to perform mass determinations in galaxies and in cluster of galaxies is discussed. The study of galaxy evolution, the interactions of galaxies with their environment, and the properties of galactic halos with the AXAF is proposed. The application of the facility to cosmological measurements, the estimation of the age of the universe, and the analysis of stars, galaxy clusters, and protogalaxies is examined.

Tananbaum, H.↗

NETRA: A parallel architecture for integrated vision systems. 1: Architecture and organization

Computer vision is regarded as one of the most complex and computationally intensive problems. An integrated vision system (IVS) is considered to be a system that uses vision algorithms from all levels of processing for a high level application (such as object recognition). A model of computation is presented for parallel processing for an IVS. Using the model, desired features and capabilities of a parallel architecture suitable for IVSs are derived. Then a multiprocessor architecture (called NETRA) is presented. This architecture is highly flexible without the use of complex interconnection schemes. The topology of NETRA is recursively defined and hence is easily scalable from small to large systems. Homogeneity of NETRA permits fault tolerance and graceful degradation under faults. It is a recursively defined tree-type hierarchical architecture where each of the leaf nodes consists of a cluster of processors connected with a programmable crossbar with selective broadcast capability to provide for desired flexibility. A qualitative evaluation of NETRA is presented. Then general schemes are described to map parallel algorithms onto NETRA. Algorithms are classified according to their communication requirements for parallel processing. An extensive analysis of inter-cluster communication strategies in NETRA is presented, and parameters affecting performance of parallel algorithms when mapped on NETRA are discussed. Finally, a methodology to evaluate performance of algorithms on NETRA is described.

Choudhary, Alok N.↗

Molecular dynamics study of interstitial He clusters in nickel

This study presents a molecular dynamics analysis focusing on the behavior of interstitial helium (He) clusters in nickel (Ni), examining their formation, stability, and migration energetics. Consistent with previous research, we found that the binding energies of interstitial helium within a helium cluster are positive and increase with the cluster size, indicating a preference for helium atoms to cluster together. However, our findings also reveal that while the formation energy increases monotonically with cluster size, the increase in binding energy is non-monotonic. Importantly, small He clusters were observed to be thermally unstable at reactor operational temperatures (approximately 600 K), with the He 2 cluster exhibiting instability even at room temperature. With a binding energy of 0.49 eV for a He 4 cluster, we hypothesize that for helium bubbles to form via homogeneous nucleation (i.e., through trap mutation) at reactor operating temperatures, the helium concentration must be high enough to facilitate the formation of helium clusters of at least size 4 or larger. As expected, interstitial helium and small helium clusters are highly mobile. This mobility was observed not only at room temperature but also at temperatures as low as approximately 200 K. Furthermore, the mean squared displacement method has been utilized to determine the migration barriers and the corresponding prefactors for clusters ranging from He 1 to He 6

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: ACT-CL J0102-4215 "El Gordo," a Massive Merging Cluster at Redshift 0.87

We present a detailed analysis from new multi-wavelength observations of the exceptional galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0102-4915, likely the most massive, hottest, most X-ray luminous and brightest Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect cluster known at redshifts greater than 0.6. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) collaboration discovered ACT-CL J0102-4915 as the most significant Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) decrement in a sky survey area of 755 square degrees. Our VLT/FORS2 spectra of 89 member galaxies yield a cluster redshift, z = 0.870, and velocity dispersion, sigma(gal) +/- 1321 106 km s-1. Our Chandra observations reveal a hot and X-ray luminous system with an integrated temperature of T(X) = 14:5 +/- 0:1 keV and 0.5 2.0 keV band luminosity of L(X) = (2:19 0:11) 1045 h(exp -2)70erg s-1. We obtain several statistically consistent cluster mass estimates; using empirical mass scaling relations with velocity dispersion, X-ray Y(X) , and integrated SZ distortion, we estimate a cluster mass of M(200) = (2:16 +/- 0:32) 10(exp 15) h(exp-1) 70M compared to the Sun. We constrain the stellar content of the cluster to be less than 1% of the total mass, using Spitzer IRAC and optical imaging. The Chandra and VLT/FORS2 optical data also reveal that ACT-CL J0102-4915 is undergoing a major merger between components with a mass ratio of approximately 2 to 1. The X-ray data show significant temperature variations from a low of 6:6 +/- 0:7 keV at the merging low-entropy, high-metallicity, cool core to a high of 22 +/- 6 keV. We also see a wake in the X-ray surface brightness and deprojected gas density caused by the passage of one cluster through the other from which we estimate a merger speed of around 1300 km s(exp -1) for an assumed merger timescale of 1 Gyr. ACTCL J0102-4915 is possibly a high-redshift analog of the famous Bullet Cluster. Such a massive cluster at this redshift is rare, although consistent with the standard CDM cosmology in the lower part of its allowed mass range. Massive, high-redshift mergers like ACT-CL J0102-4915 are unlikely to be reproduced in the current generation of numerical N-body cosmological simulations.

Menanteau, Felipe↗

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: ACT-CL J0102-4915 'EL GORDO', A Massive Merging Cluster at Redshift 0.87

We present a detailed analysis from new multi-wavelength observations of the exceptional galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0102−4915, likely the most massive, hottest, most X-ray luminous and brightest Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect cluster known at redshifts greater than 0.6. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) collaboration discovered ACT-CL J0102−4915 as the most significant Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) decrement in a sky survey area of 755 square degrees. Our VLT/FORS2 spectra of 89 member galaxies yield a cluster redshift, z = 0.870, and velocity dispersion, sigma(sub gal) = 1321+/-106 km s−1. Our Chandra observations reveal a hot and X-ray luminous system with an integrated temperature of T(sub X) = 14.5+/-1.0 keV and 0.5-2.0 keV band luminosity of L(sub X) = (2.19+/-0.11)×10(sup 45) h(sup −2)(sub 70) erg s−1. We obtain several statistically consistent cluster mass estimates; using empirical mass scaling relations with velocity dispersion, X-ray Y(sub X), and integrated SZ distortion, we estimate a cluster mass of M(sub 200a) = (2.16+/-0.32)×1015 h(sup −1)(sub 70) solar mass. We constrain the stellar content of the cluster to be less than 1% of the total mass, using Spitzer IRAC and optical imaging. The Chandra and VLT/FORS2 optical data also reveal that ACT-CL J0102−4915 is undergoing a major merger between components with a mass ratio of approximately 2 to 1. The X-ray data show significant temperature variations from a low of 6.6+/-0.7 keV at the merging low-entropy, high-metallicity, cool core to a high of 22+/-6 keV. We also see a wake in the X-ray surface brightness and deprojected gas density caused by the passage of one cluster through the other. Archival radio data at 843 MHz reveal diffuse radio emission that, if associated with the cluster, indicates the presence of an intense double radio relic, hosted by the highest redshift cluster yet. ACT-CL J0102−4915 is possibly a high-redshift analog of the famous Bullet Cluster. Such a massive cluster at this redshift is rare, although consistent with the standard ΛCDM cosmology in the lower part of its allowed mass range. Massive, highredshift mergers like ACT-CL J0102−4915 are unlikely to be reproduced in the current generation of numerical N-body cosmological simulations.

cosmology observations↗

Participation In The AXAF Program As Interdisciplinary Scientist

We have supported the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) project through specific studies and research in X-ray astronomy. Our research in X-ray astronomy has been concentrated in three projects: the ROSAT Deep Survey, the ROSAT All-sky Cluster Survey, and the study of moderate to high redshift clusters discovered serendipitously in long ROSAT pointings utilizing the wavelet transform. We have continued to develop the techniques and catalogues described in the publications listed below. The PI continued to participate in the SWG and attended its meetings except where conflicts existed. The Co-I supported the PI and attended all meetings in order to provide continuity. A post-doctoral fellow (Rosati) was hired to fully develop the techniques described above and make them applicable to the AXAF program. The results are described in the publications below. We continued to provide analysis of scientific and technical issues to the project scientist as appropriate. We made detailed simulations of the AXAF deep survey program and have made this available to the project and the ASC. The principal scientific results, discussed in great detail in the publications listed below, are as follows: (1) The wavelet transform is now a fine working tool for the analysis of faint X-ray sources especially clusters. (2) The analysis of the ROSAT DEEP CLUSTER SURVEY has given important constraints on cosmology particularly on the matter content of the universe and the amplitude of the fluctuations that created the galaxies and clusters. (3) The ROSAT DEEP SURVEY in the Lockman Hole has given an important'deep survey in the X-ray band that gives vital data on the distribution and evolution of X-ray sources. It is an important and complementary data base to compare with the AXAF deep fields. (4) The Northern ROSAT All Sky Cluster Survey now has a complete catalog and is again important and complementary to AXAF/ Chandra studies of clusters which are deeper but in a narrower area. These projects have had a significant impact on the whole field and have set up some excellent experiments to be undertaken with the AXAF/Chandra telescope such as the Chandra Deep Field South.

Giacconi, Riccardo↗

A cluster of Nascent galaxies at z = 2?

On a 6 hr Wide Field Camera exposure with the Hubble Space Telescope of the rich cluster CL 0939 + 4713, we have identified an apparent cluster of about 30 faint, extended objects with magnitudes in the range of 22 to 25. The objects are typically 1 arcsec in size with bright central regions only a few tenths of an arcsecond in size, and are distributed over a region approximately 40 arcsec long and 20 arcsec wide. A simple statistical analysis indicates that the clustering is probably real. The size and appearance of the individual objects, their blue colors, and their clustering, leads us to speculate that they are associated, and that they are considerably more distant than the cluster CL 0939 + 4713 at z = 0.40, probably at a redshift greater than 1. Among the strongest concentration of these objects is an unresolved, extremely blue object with the spectrum of a QSO at z = 2.055. We suggest that many of the small, faint objects could be physically associated with this QSO.

Dressler, Alan↗

Unsupervised classification of earth resources data.

A new clustering technique is presented. It consists of two parts: (a) a sequential statistical clustering which is essentially a sequential variance analysis and (b) a generalized K-means clustering. In this composite clustering technique, the output of (a) is a set of initial clusters which are input to (b) for further improvement by an iterative scheme. This unsupervised composite technique was employed for automatic classification of two sets of remote multispectral earth resource observations. The classification accuracy by the unsupervised technique is found to be comparable to that by existing supervised maximum liklihood classification technique.

Su, M. Y.↗

An unsupervised classification technique for multispectral remote sensing data.

Description of a two-part clustering technique consisting of (a) a sequential statistical clustering, which is essentially a sequential variance analysis, and (b) a generalized K-means clustering. In this composite clustering technique, the output of (a) is a set of initial clusters which are input to (b) for further improvement by an iterative scheme. This unsupervised composite technique was employed for automatic classification of two sets of remote multispectral earth resource observations. The classification accuracy by the unsupervised technique is found to be comparable to that by traditional supervised maximum-likelihood classification techniques.

Su, M. Y.↗

Autonomous image data reduction by analysis and interpretation

Image data is a critical component of the scientific information acquired by space missions. Compression of image data is required due to the limited bandwidth of the data transmission channel and limited memory space on the acquisition vehicle. This need becomes more pressing when dealing with multispectral data where each pixel may comprise 300 or more bytes. An autonomous, real time, on-board image analysis system for an exploratory vehicle such as a Mars Rover is developed. The completed system will be capable of interpreting image data to produce reduced representations of the image, and of making decisions regarding the importance of data based on current scientific goals. Data from multiple sources, including stereo images, color images, and multispectral data, are fused into single image representations. Analysis techniques emphasize artificial neural networks. Clusters are described by their outlines and class values. These analysis and compression techniques are coupled with decision making capacity for determining importance of each image region. Areas determined to be noise or uninteresting can be discarded in favor of more important areas. Thus limited resources for data storage and transmission are allocated to the most significant images.

Eberlein, Susan↗

Autonomous image data reduction by analysis and interpretation

Image data is a critical component of the scientific information acquired by space missions. Compression of image data is required due to the limited bandwidth of the data transmission channel and limited memory space on the acquisition vehicle. This need becomes more pressing when dealing with multispectral data where each pixel may comprise 300 or more bytes. An autonomous, real time, on-board image analysis system for an exploratory vehicle such as a Mars Rover is developed. The completed system will be capable of interpreting image data to produce reduced representations of the image, and of making decisions regarding the importance of data based on current scientific goals. Data from multiple sources, including stereo images, color images, and multispectral data, are fused into single image representations. Analysis techniques emphasize artificial neural networks. Clusters are described by their outlines and class values. These analysis and compression techniques are coupled with decision-making capacity for determining importance of each image region. Areas determined to be noise or uninteresting can be discarded in favor of more important areas. Thus limited resources for data storage and transmission are allocated to the most significant images.

Eberlein, Susan↗

Calculating the Motion and Direction of Flux Transfer Events with Cluster

We use multi-point timing analysis to determine the orientation and motion of flux transfer events (FTEs) detected by the four Cluster spacecraft on the high-latitude dayside and flank magnetopause during 2002 and 2003. During these years, the distances between the Cluster spacecraft were greater than 1000 km, providing the tetrahedral configuration needed to select events and determine velocities. Each velocity and location will be examined in detail and compared to the velocities and locations determined by the predictions of the component and antiparallel reconnection models for event formation, orientation, motion, and acceleration for a wide range of spacecraft locations and solar wind conditions.

Collado-Vega, Yaireska M.↗

The X-ray spectrm of the Coma Cluster of galaxies

The HEAO 1 A-2 and OSO 8 observations of the Coma Cluster of galaxies in the 2-60 keV energy band are presented. The spectrum is not well fitted by an isothermal bremsstrahlung model with an Fe line. To model the spectrum more accurately, we have performed fits of polytropic models and find that the gas is well fitted by an equation of state with polytropic index ranging between 1.38 and 1.6. This analysis reduces the total cluster mass by a factor of 3-5 below the optically derived virial mass. Using the best-fitting parameters, the gas is found to be a significant fraction (25 percent) of the total cluster mass. The Fe K-alpha line blend is strongly detected, from which we infer 0.18-0.36 solar abundance in the X-ray emitting gas. The Fe K-beta line blend is also weakly detected. The spectrum is not consistent with the existence of a hard X-ray tail at the flux level reported by Bazzano el al. (1984). In addition, the HEAO I scanning mode data place strong constraints on possible contaminating sources in the region surrounding Coma.

Henriksen, M. J.↗

Constraints on the normal branch of DGP gravity from SPT galaxy clusters with DES and HST weak-lensing mass calibration and from P l a n c k PR4 CMB anisotropies

We present constraints on the normal branch of the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (nDGP) braneworld gravity model from the abundance of massive galaxy clusters. On scales below the nDGP crossover scale r c , the nDGP model features an effective gravitylike fifth force that alters the growth of structure, leading to an enhancement of the halo mass function (HMF) on cluster scales. The enhanced cluster abundance allows for constraints on the nDGP model using cluster samples. We employ the South Pole Telescope (SPT) cluster sample, selected through the thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect with the SPT and with mass calibration using weak-lensing data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The cluster sample contains 1,005 clusters with redshifts 0.25 < z < 1.78 , which are confirmed with the multicomponent matched filter algorithm using optical and near-infrared data. Weak-lensing data from DES and HST enable a robust mass measurement of the cluster sample. We use DES Year 3 data for 688 clusters with redshifts z < 0.95 , and HST data for 39 clusters with redshifts 0.6 < z < 1.7 . We account for the enhancement in the HMF through a semi-analytic correction factor to the standard cosmology HMF derived from the spherical collapse model in the nDGP model. We then further calibrate this model using N -body simulations. In addition, for the first time, we analyze the primary CMB temperature and polarization anisotropy measurements from Planck PR4 within the nDGP model. We obtain a competitive constraint from the joint analysis of the SPT cluster abundance with the Planck PR4 data, and report an upper bound of 1 / H 0 r c < 1.41 at 95% when assuming a cosmology with massive neutrinos.

Vogt, S. M.L. [Munich U. Observ.; LMU Munich (main↗

Hadoop for High-Performance Climate Analytics: Use Cases and Lessons Learned

Scientific data services are a critical aspect of the NASA Center for Climate Simulations mission (NCCS). Hadoop, via MapReduce, provides an approach to high-performance analytics that is proving to be useful to data intensive problems in climate research. It offers an analysis paradigm that uses clusters of computers and combines distributed storage of large data sets with parallel computation. The NCCS is particularly interested in the potential of Hadoop to speed up basic operations common to a wide range of analyses. In order to evaluate this potential, we prototyped a series of canonical MapReduce operations over a test suite of observational and climate simulation datasets. The initial focus was on averaging operations over arbitrary spatial and temporal extents within Modern Era Retrospective- Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) data. After preliminary results suggested that this approach improves efficiencies within data intensive analytic workflows, we invested in building a cyber infrastructure resource for developing a new generation of climate data analysis capabilities using Hadoop. This resource is focused on reducing the time spent in the preparation of reanalysis data used in data-model inter-comparison, a long sought goal of the climate community. This paper summarizes the related use cases and lessons learned.

analytics↗

HEAO 1 hard X-ray observations of three Abell clusters of galaxies

The results of an analysis of the HEAO 1 hard X-ray measurements of the Coma, A1367, and A2319 galactic clusters are presented. All three clusters have been observed to have diffuse, extended radio emission in their central regions. The results are analyzed together with radio measurements to determine the energetic electron density and the strength of the mean intracluster magnetic field in these clusters. The results show that there is no clear evidence for nonthermal flux in the spectra of the three clusters at the sensitivity limit of the low energy detectors used.

Rephaeli, Y.↗

A Chandra X-Ray Study of Cygnus A: The Cluster of Galaxies - 3

We present an analysis of the Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) observation of the intracluster gas associated with the cluster of galaxies surrounding Cygnus A. The dominant gaseous structure is a roughly elliptical (presumably prolate spheroidal in three dimensions) feature with semimajor axis approximately equal to 1.(prime)1 (approximately equal to 100 kpc). This structure apparently represents intracluster gas that has been swept up and compressed by a cavity inflated in this gas by relativistic material that has passed through the ends of the radio jets. The X-ray-emitting gas shows this prolate spheroidal morphology to approximately equal to 1.(prime)2 (110 kpc) from the radio galaxy but is spherical on larger scales. The X-ray emission from the intracluster gas extends to at least 8 prime (approximately equal to 720 kpc) from the radio galaxy, and a second, extended source of X-ray emission (probably associated with a second cluster of galaxies) is seen some 12 prime (approximately equal to 1 Mpc) to the northwest of Cygnus A. The X-ray spectrum of the integrated intracluster gas imaged on the S3 chip (dimensions 8 prime x 8 prime = 720 x 720 kpc), excluding the contribution from the radio galaxy and other compact sources of X-ray emission, has a gas temperature, metallicity, and unabsorbed 2-10 keV rest-frame luminosity of 7.7 keV, 0.34 times solar, and 3.5 x 10(exp 44) ergs per second, respectively. We have projected the X-ray spectra taken from 12 elliptical and circular annuli in order to derive a run of temperature, metallicity, density, and pressure as a function of radius. The temperature of the X-ray-emitting gas drops from approximately equal to 8 keV more than 100 kpc from the center to approximately equal to 5 keV some 80 kpc from the center, with the coolest gas immediately adjacent to the radio galaxy. "Belts" of slightly cooler (approximately equal to 4 keV) X-ray-emitting gas run around the minor dimension of the cavity created by the radio source, while the limb-brightened edges of the cavity are slightly hotter (approximately equal to 6 keV), perhaps as a result of heating by a bow shock driven by the probably expanding cavity into the intracluster gas. There is a metallicity gradient in the X-ray-emitting gas, with the highest metallicities (approximately solar) found close to the center, decreasing to approximately 0.3 times solar in the outer parts. We have used the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium to derive a total cluster mass within 500 kpc of 2.0 x 10(exp 14) solar mass and 2.8 x 10(exp 14) solar mass for constant and centrally decreasing temperature profiles, respectively. The total mass of X-ray-emitting gas within the same radius is 1.1 x 10(exp 13) solar mass. Thus, the gas fraction of the cluster within 500 kpc is 0.055 and 0.039 for the constant and centrally decreasing temperature profiles, respectively.

Smith, David A.↗

Preliminary Evaluation of MapReduce for High-Performance Climate Data Analysis

MapReduce is an approach to high-performance analytics that may be useful to data intensive problems in climate research. It offers an analysis paradigm that uses clusters of computers and combines distributed storage of large data sets with parallel computation. We are particularly interested in the potential of MapReduce to speed up basic operations common to a wide range of analyses. In order to evaluate this potential, we are prototyping a series of canonical MapReduce operations over a test suite of observational and climate simulation datasets. Our initial focus has been on averaging operations over arbitrary spatial and temporal extents within Modern Era Retrospective- Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) data. Preliminary results suggest this approach can improve efficiencies within data intensive analytic workflows.

Duffy, Daniel Q.↗