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At least 919 records · Page 51

Convergent Concordant Mode Approach for Molecular Vibrations: CMA-2

The concordant mode approach (CMA) is a promising new scheme for dramatically increasing the system size and level of theory achievable in quantum chemical computations of molecular vibrational frequencies. Here, we achieve advances in the CMA hierarchy by computations targeting CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ (coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples using a correlation-consistent polarized-valence triple-ζ basis set) benchmarks within the G2 molecular test set, executing a statistical analysis for 1501 frequencies from 111 compounds and then separately solving the refractory case of pyridine. First, MP2/cc-pVTZ (second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory with the same basis set) proves to be an excellent and preferred choice for generating the underlying (Level B) normal modes of the CMA scheme. Utilizing this Level B within the CMA-0A method reproduces the 1501 benchmark frequencies with a mean absolute error (MAE) of only 0.11 cm –1 and an attendant standard deviation of 0.49 cm –1 . Second, a convergent CMA-2 method is constituted that allows efficient computation of higher level (Level A) frequencies to any reasonable accuracy threshold by using only Hartree–Fock (HF) and MP2 or density functional theory (DFT) data to generate ξ parameters, which select the sparse off-diagonal force field elements for explicit evaluation at Level A. When Level B = MP2/cc-pVTZ, a cutoff of ξ = 0.02 provides an average maximum absolute error per molecule of only 0.17 cm –1 by incurring merely a 33% increase in average cost over CMA-0A. This CMA-2 method also eradicates the 4 problematic CMA-0A outliers of pyridine with even less effort (ξ = 0.04, 22% increase). Finally, the newly developed CMA procedures are shown to be highly successful when applied to 1-(1H-pyrrol-3-yl)ethanol, a new test molecule with diverse types of vibration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

An analytical transformation technique for generating uniformly spaced computational mesh

An analytical transformation method which can map arbitrary physical coordinate grid distribution into desired computational coordinate with uniform grid distribution is derived. The transformation function and its higher derivatives are differentiable. Salient features include; (1) precise control of grid sizes; (2) more than one location of clustered grids; (3) exact positioning of particular computational nodes in the physical plane; and (4) ensuring several patches of uniformly spaced grids in the physical plane for the higher accuracies (such as at the boundaries), etc., while keeping the variation of grid spacing continuous to avoid numerical instability.

Oh, Y. H.↗

Calculations of Solid-State 43Ca NMR Parameters: A Comparison of Periodic and Cluster Approaches and an Evaluation of DFT Functionals

We present a computational study of magnetic-shielding and quadrupolar-coupling tensors of 43Ca sites in crystalline solids. A comparison between periodic and cluster-based approaches for modeling solid-state interactions demonstrates that clusterbased approaches are suitable for predicting 43Ca NMR parameters. Several model chemistries, including Hartree–Fock theory and 17 DFT approximations (SVWN, CA-PZ, PBE, PBE0, PW91, B3PW91, rPBE, PBEsol, WC, PKZB, BMK, M06-L, M06, M06-2X, M06-HF, TPSS, and TPSSh), are evaluated for the prediction of 43Ca NMR parameters. Convergence of NMR parameters with respect to basis sets of the form cc-pVXZ (X5D, T, Q) is also evaluated. All DFT methods lead to substantial, and frequently systematic, overestimations of experimental chemical shifts. Hartree–Fock calculations outperform all DFT methods for the prediction of 43Ca chemical-shift tensors. VC 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/jcc.24763

Holmes, Sean T.↗

3-D Simulations of earthquakes rupture jumps: 1. Homogeneous pre-stress conditions

SUMMARY Observational and modelling studies indicate that earthquake ruptures can jump between fault sections as large as ∼3 and ∼5 km for compressional and extensional offsets, respectively. Here, we compare characteristics of the rupture jump process on parallel but offset fault sections from traditional 3-D dynamic rupture simulations governed by slip weakening friction using the finite element code, FaultMod, to those from quasi-dynamic simulations governed by rate- and state-dependent friction (rate-state friction) using the code RSQSim. These simulations use spatially uniform initial stresses. For a variety of measures the rupture renucleation position on the offset fault, the rate-state friction and slip weakening friction models produce very similar results. The principal difference is the additional occurrence of delayed rupture jumps that arise from the time- and stress-dependent nucleation that is characteristic of rate-state friction. For immediate rupture jumps, models with slip weakening friction span greater offsets than those with rate-state friction. However the jump distances are nearly identical when delayed rupture jumps are included in the comparisons. We propose that delayed rupture jumps are the likely mechanism for adjacent large-earthquake pairs and clusters. Based on the similarity of renucleation positions with both dynamic and quasi-dynamic models, we conclude that the renucleation positions for rupture initiation on the receiver fault (separated by less than ∼3 km from the source fault) are primarily controlled by static stress changes induced by slip on the initiating fault. However, in light of the slightly greater maximum jump distances (>3 km) seen with the dynamic slip weakening friction model, dynamic stress changes from seismic waves play an increasingly important role as offset distances increase.

, RSQSim↗

The evolution of X-ray clusters in a cold plus hot dark matter universe

We present the first self-consistently computed results on the evolution of X-ray properties of galaxy clusters in a cold + hot dark matter (CHDM) model. We have performed a hydrodynamic plus N-body simulation for the COBE-compatible CHDM model with standard mass components: Omega(sub hot) = 0.3, Omega (sub cold) = 0.6 and Omega(sub baryon) = 0.1 (h = 0.5). In contrast with the CDM model, which fails to reproduce the observed temperature distribution function dN/dT (Bryan et al. 1994b), the CHDM model fits the observational dN/dT quite well. Our results on X-ray luminosity are less firm but even more intriguing. We find that the resulting X-ray luminosity functions at redshifts z = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.7 are well fit by observations, where they overlap. The fact that both temperatures and luminosities provide a reasonable fit to the available observational data indicates that, unless we are missing some essential physics, there is neither room nor need for a large fraction of gas in rich clusters: 10% (or less) in baryons is sufficient to explain their X-ray properties. We also see a tight correlation between X-ray luminosity and gas temperature.

Bryan, Greg L.↗

Accessing and Visualizing scientific spatiotemporal data

This paper discusses work done by JPL 's Parallel Applications Technologies Group in helping scientists access and visualize very large data sets through the use of multiple computing resources, such as parallel supercomputers, clusters, and grids These tools do one or more of the following tasks visualize local data sets for local users, visualize local data sets for remote users, and access and visualize remote data sets The tools are used for various types of data, including remotely sensed image data, digital elevation models, astronomical surveys, etc The paper attempts to pull some common elements out of these tools that may be useful for others who have to work with similarly large data sets.

data sets↗

DCA++: A software framework to solve correlated electron problems with modern quantum cluster methods

We present the first open release of the DCA++ project, a high-performance research software framework to solve quantum many-body problems with cutting edge quantum cluster algorithms. DCA++ implements the dynamical cluster approximation (DCA) and its DCA extension with a continuous self-energy. The algorithms capture nonlocal correlations in strongly correlated electron systems, thereby giving insight into high-$T_c$ superconductivity. The code’s scalability allows efficient usage of systems at all scales, from workstations to leadership computers. With regard to the increasing heterogeneity of modern computing machines, DCA++ provides portable performance on conventional and emerging new architectures, such as hybrid CPU–GPU, sustaining multiple petaflops on ORNL’s Titan and CSCS’ Piz Daint supercomputers. Moreover, we show how sustainable and scalable development of the code base has been achieved by adopting standard techniques of the software industry. These include employing a distributed version control system, applying test-driven development and following continuous integration.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Angular-momentum projection in coupled-cluster theory: Structure of 34 Mg

Single- reference coupled-cluster theory is an accurate and affordable computational method for the nuclear many-body problem. For open-shell nuclei, the reference state typically breaks rotational invariance and angular momentum must be restored as a good quantum number. We perform angular-momentum projection after variation and employ the disentangled coupled-cluster formalism and a Hermitian approach. We compare our results with benchmarks for 8 Be and 20 Ne using a two-nucleon interaction from chiral effective field theory and for pf-shell nuclei within the traditional shell model. We compute the rotational band in the exotic nucleus 34 Mg and find agreement with data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DUST IN CLUSTERS: SEPARATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF GALAXIES AND INTRACLUSTER MEDIA

We have analyzed a sample of 327 clusters of galaxies, spanning the range of 0.06–0.70 in redshift. Strong constraints on their mean intracluster emission of dust have been obtained using maps and catalogs from the Herschel MerMES project; within a radius of 5 arcmin centered in each cluster, the 95% C.L. limits obtained are 86.6, 48.2, and 30.9 mJy at the observed frequencies of 250, 350, and 500 μ m. From these restrictions, and assuming physical parameters typical of interstellar media in the Milky Way, we have obtained tight upper limits on the visual extinction of background galaxies due to the intracluster media (ICM): A {sub V} (95% C.L.) ≲ 10{sup −3} mag. Strong constraints are also obtained for the mass of such dust; for instance, using the data at 350 μ m we establish a 95% upper limit of <10{sup 9} M {sub ⊙} within a circle with a radius of 5 arcmin centered in the clusters. This corresponds to a fraction of the total mass of the clusters of 9.5 × 10{sup −6}, and indicates a deficiency in the gas-to-dust ratio in the ICM by about three orders of magnitude in relation to the value found in the Milky Way. Computing the total infrared luminosity of the clusters in three ranges of redshift (0.05–0.24, 0.24–0.42, and 0.42–0.71) and two ranges of mass (<10{sup 14} and >10{sup 14} M {sub ⊙}), respectively, a strong evolution of luminosity in redshift ( L ∼ z {sup 1.5}) for both ranges of masses is found. The results indicate a strong declining in star formation rate with time in the last ∼6 Gyr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Reducing the Volume of NASA Earth-Science Data

A computer program reduces data generated by NASA Earth-science missions into representative clusters characterized by centroids and membership information, thereby reducing the large volume of data to a level more amenable to analysis. The program effects an autonomous data-reduction/clustering process to produce a representative distribution and joint relationships of the data, without assuming a specific type of distribution and relationship and without resorting to domain-specific knowledge about the data. The program implements a combination of a data-reduction algorithm known as the entropy-constrained vector quantization (ECVQ) and an optimization algorithm known as the differential evolution (DE). The combination of algorithms generates the Pareto front of clustering solutions that presents the compromise between the quality of the reduced data and the degree of reduction. Similar prior data-reduction computer programs utilize only a clustering algorithm, the parameters of which are tuned manually by users. In the present program, autonomous optimization of the parameters by means of the DE supplants the manual tuning of the parameters. Thus, the program determines the best set of clustering solutions without human intervention.

Lee, Seungwon↗

Coupled-cluster representation of Green function employing modified spectral resolutions of similarity transformed Hamiltonians

In this paper we discuss a new formalism for producing an analytic coupled-cluster (CC) Green's function for an N-electron system by shifting the poles of similarity transformed Hamiltonians represented in N − 1 and N + 1 electron Hilbert spaces. Simple criteria are derived for the states in N − 1 and N + 1 electron spaces that are then corrected in the spectral resolution of the corresponding matrix representations of the similarity transformed Hamiltonian. The accurate description of excited state processes within a Green's function formalism would be of significant importance to a number of scientific communities ranging from physics and chemistry to engineering and the biological sciences. This is because the Green's function methodology provides a direct path for not only calculating properties whose underlying origins come from coupled many-body interactions but also provides a straightforward path for calculating electron transport, response, and correlation functions that allows for a direct link with experiment. As a special case of this general formulation, we discuss the application of this technique for Green's function defined by the CC with singles and doubles representation of the ground-state wave function.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Artificial Neural Network Representation of Dynamic Criticality Excursion Experiment Data

This paper outlines time dependent considerations in applying the artificial neural network (ANN) paradigm to dynamic nuclear criticality excursion experiment data. The ANN amongst a variety of uses, can apply to function fitting of multiple input-multiple output data sets, pattern recognition, cluster analysis, and time series prediction. The ANN is a component of Machine Learning (ML) data analysis. The practical application of ML to criticality safety has been funded through the Y-12 Plant Directed Research and Demonstration (PDRD) program to support criticality safety and emergency planning efforts. The initial effort considered function fitting of criticality excursion data. Recent efforts successfully extended the ANN to criticality safety code validation. The initial ANN work applied to criticality excursions centered around multivariate function fitting of static (tabular) data taken from the French Consequences Radiologiques d'un Accident de Criticite (CRAC) and SILENE reactor campaigns. The former report (LeCorche) summarized important tabular data for the first 44 CRAC experiments. The initial ANN was trained to specific time-independent inputs, then applied to predict peak fission rate and total fissions for a wide variety of fissile solutions process conditions. This work extends that effort to apply the ANN paradigm to dynamic prediction of time-dependent criticality excursion experiment data. A dynamic criticality excursion in fissile solution represents a complex multiphysics phenomenon. Factors include among other things, coupled neutronic, multiphase fluid flow, temperature, pressure, acoustic shock, boiling heat transfer, reactivity feedback, and radiolytic gas considerations. There have been many efforts to model (over time) as coupled ordinary and (space) as partial differential equations (ODE, PDE). The ANN representation noted here does not rely on solving explicit ODE or PDEs. Rather the intent is to demonstrate that as a time series, the criticality excursion can be predicted by training specific ANN architectures to experimental input and output time series exclusively. The rationale for extending this work to the time-dependent regime is important in developing a 'criticality excursion emulator' solely on the basis of learning characteristics from experiment dynamic data. An emulator is different than a computer code simulator driven by the solution of ODEs and PDEs given select 'tuning parameters' that match outputs to experiments. A criticality excursion emulator, derived exclusively from an ANN or ML, could predict most likely excursion characteristics, trained from historic dynamic experiment data, presented with input values within the range of those experiments. The work noted shows that generic time-series ANN architectures can be satisfactorily applied to the prediction of dynamic, extremely chaotic criticality excursion power given an initial time dependent input series. In reality, an excursion emulator could be driven by user-supplied initial (t=0), time independent or constant values to generate time dependent outputs. Thus ongoing work includes developing a custom ANN such that initial dynamic conditions would be predicted. Those results then serve as inputs to a customized ANN architecture currently in development. (author)

42 ENGINEERING↗

A two-stage method for microcalcification cluster segmentation in mammography by deformable models

Purpose: Segmentation of microcalcification (MC) clusters in x-ray mammography is a difficult task for radiologists. Accurate segmentation is prerequisite for quantitative image analysis of MC clusters and subsequent feature extraction and classification in computer-aided diagnosis schemes. Methods: In this study, a two-stage semiautomated segmentation method of MC clusters is investigated. The first stage is targeted to accurate and time efficient segmentation of the majority of the particles of a MC cluster, by means of a level set method. The second stage is targeted to shape refinement of selected individual MCs, by means of an active contour model. Both methods are applied in the framework of a rich scale-space representation, provided by the wavelet transform at integer scales. Segmentation reliability of the proposed method in terms of inter and intraobserver agreements was evaluated in a case sample of 80 MC clusters originating from the digital database for screening mammography, corresponding to 4 morphology types (punctate: 22, fine linear branching: 16, pleomorphic: 18, and amorphous: 24) of MC clusters, assessing radiologists’ segmentations quantitatively by two distance metrics (Hausdorff distance—HDIST{sub cluster}, average of minimum distance—AMINDIST{sub cluster}) and the area overlap measure (AOM{sub cluster}). The effect of the proposed segmentation method on MC cluster characterization accuracy was evaluated in a case sample of 162 pleomorphic MC clusters (72 malignant and 90 benign). Ten MC cluster features, targeted to capture morphologic properties of individual MCs in a cluster (area, major length, perimeter, compactness, and spread), were extracted and a correlation-based feature selection method yielded a feature subset to feed in a support vector machine classifier. Classification performance of the MC cluster features was estimated by means of the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (Az ± Standard Error) utilizing tenfold cross-validation methodology. A previously developed B-spline active rays segmentation method was also considered for comparison purposes. Results: Interobserver and intraobserver segmentation agreements (median and [25%, 75%] quartile range) were substantial with respect to the distance metrics HDIST{sub cluster} (2.3 [1.8, 2.9] and 2.5 [2.1, 3.2] pixels) and AMINDIST{sub cluster} (0.8 [0.6, 1.0] and 1.0 [0.8, 1.2] pixels), while moderate with respect to AOM{sub cluster} (0.64 [0.55, 0.71] and 0.59 [0.52, 0.66]). The proposed segmentation method outperformed (0.80 ± 0.04) statistically significantly (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.05) the B-spline active rays segmentation method (0.69 ± 0.04), suggesting the significance of the proposed semiautomated method. Conclusions: Results indicate a reliable semiautomated segmentation method for MC clusters offered by deformable models, which could be utilized in MC cluster quantitative image analysis.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Pair extended coupled cluster doubles

The accurate and efficient description of strongly correlated systems remains an important challenge for computational methods. Doubly occupied configuration interaction (DOCI), in which all electrons are paired and no correlations which break these pairs are permitted, can in many cases provide an accurate account of strong correlations, albeit at combinatorial computational cost. Recently, there has been significant interest in a method we refer to as pair coupled cluster doubles (pCCD), a variant of coupled cluster doubles in which the electrons are paired. This is simply because pCCD provides energies nearly identical to those of DOCI, but at mean-field computational cost (disregarding the cost of the two-electron integral transformation). Here, we introduce the more complete pair extended coupled cluster doubles (pECCD) approach which, like pCCD, has mean-field cost and reproduces DOCI energetically. We show that unlike pCCD, pECCD also reproduces the DOCI wave function with high accuracy. Moreover, pECCD yields sensible albeit inexact results even for attractive interactions where pCCD breaks down.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Tuning Catalytic Reactivity via Wetting Control through Oxygen Vacancies: Ru Clusters on Anatase TiO 2 and CeO 2 Supports

The shape of supported metal particles regulates their catalytic reactivity and is determined by the degree of wetting between the metal particle and the support surface. Flattened particles that wet support surfaces were reported in various catalytic systems, particularly in the subnanometer size regime. Such consequential metal–support wetting phenomena are poorly understood, and methods to study them on powder catalysts under realistic conditions are lacking. Here, we investigate the size-dependent wetting behaviors of Ru particles on two reducible-oxide supports, anatase TiO 2 (TiO 2 -A) and CeO 2 , under reducing catalytic conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), low-energy ion scattering (LEIS), and density functional theory (DFT) are combined to determine the shape of Ru particles. Ru particles remain three-dimensional without wetting the TiO 2 -A support within the coverage range studied (0.06–0.98 Ru nm –2 ). In contrast, at low coverages (<0.25 Ru nm –2 ), Ru wets the CeO 2 support to form flat, disordered structures. The higher wettability of CeO 2 than TiO 2 -A is attributed to oxygen vacancies in the near-surface region. The shape difference between small Ru particles or clusters on the two supports leads to drastically contrasting catalytic reactivities in polyolefin hydrogenolysis, despite similar diameters. As a result, this work highlights the implications of metal–support wetting, or cluster shape, on catalytic behaviors of small metal clusters, while establishing the foundation for future systematic studies of such a phenomenon in realistic systems, by delivering a multitechnique methodology and revealing governing fundamental principles.

42 ENGINEERING↗

MEDUSA - An overset grid flow solver for network-based parallel computer systems

Continuing improvement in processing speed has made it feasible to solve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations for simple three-dimensional flows on advanced workstations. Combining multiple workstations into a network-based heterogeneous parallel computer allows the application of programming principles learned on MIMD (Multiple Instruction Multiple Data) distributed memory parallel computers to the solution of larger problems. An overset-grid flow solution code has been developed which uses a cluster of workstations as a network-based parallel computer. Inter-process communication is provided by the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) software. Solution speed equivalent to one-third of a Cray-YMP processor has been achieved from a cluster of nine commonly used engineering workstation processors. Load imbalance and communication overhead are the principal impediments to parallel efficiency in this application.

Smith, Merritt H.↗

Status on the Development of a Modeling and Simulation Framework for the Economic Assessment of Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems

An effort to design and build a modeling and simulation framework to assess the economic viability of Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems (NHES) was undertaken in fiscal year 2015 (FY15). The purpose of this report is to document the various tasks associated with the development of such a framework and to provide a status on its progress. Several tasks have been accomplished. First, starting from a simulation strategy, a rigorous mathematical formulation has been achieved in which the economic optimization of a Nuclear Hybrid Energy System is presented as a constrained robust (under uncertainty) optimization problem. Some possible algorithms for the solution of the optimization problem are presented. A variation of the Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation algorithm has been implemented in RAVEN and preliminary tests have been performed. The development of the software infrastructure to support the simulation of the whole NHES has also moved forward. The coupling between RAVEN and an implementation of the Modelica language (OpenModelica) has been implemented, migrated under several operating systems and tested using an adapted model of a desalination plant. In particular, this exercise was focused on testing the coupling of the different code systems; testing parallel, computationally expensive simulations on the INL cluster; and providing a proof of concept for the possibility of using surrogate models to represent the different NHES subsystems. Another important step was the porting of the RAVEN code under the Windows™ operating system. This accomplishment makes RAVEN compatible with the development environment that is being used for dynamic simulation of NHES components. A very simplified model of a NHES on the electric market has been built in RAVEN to confirm expectations on the analysis capability of RAVEN to provide insight into system economics and to test the capability of RAVEN to identify limit surfaces even for stochastic constraints. This capability will be needed in the future to enforce the stochastic constraints on the electric demand coverage from the NHES. The development team gained experience with many of the tools that are currently envisioned for use in the economic analysis of NHES and completed several important steps. Given the complexity of the project, preference has been given to a structural approach in which several independent efforts have been used to build the cornerstone of the simulation framework. While this is good approach in establishing such a complex framework, it may delay reaching more complete results on the performance of analyzed system configurations. The integration of the previously reported exergy analysis approach was initially proposed as part of this milestone. However, in reality, the exergy-based apportioning of cost will take place only in a second stage of the implementation since it will be used to properly allocate cost among the different NHES subsystems. Therefore, exergy does not appear at the level of the main drivers in the analysis framework; the latter development of the base framework is the focus of this report.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗