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DOE OSTI2023

Information transmission with continuous variable quantum erasure channels

Quantum capacity, as the key figure of merit for a given quantum channel, upper bounds the channel's ability in transmitting quantum information. Identifying different types of channels, evaluating the corresponding quantum capacity, and finding the capacity-approaching coding scheme are the major tasks in quantum communication theory. Quantum channel in discrete variables has been discussed enormously based on various error models, while error model in the continuous variable channel has been less studied due to the infinite dimensional problem. In this paper, we investigate a general continuous variable quantum erasure channel. By defining an effective subspace of the continuous variable system, we find a continuous variable random coding model. We then derive the quantum capacity of the continuous variable erasure channel in the framework of decoupling theory. The discussion in this paper fills the gap of a quantum erasure channel in continuous variable setting and sheds light on the understanding of other types of continuous variable quantum channels.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

NASA NTRS1986

Growth and tuberization of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under continuous light

The growth and tuberization of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) maintained for 6 weeks under four different regimes of continuous irradiance were compared to plants given 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. Treatments included: (a) continuous photosynthetic photon flux of 200 micromoles per square meter per second cool-white fluorescent (CWF); (b) continuous 400 micromoles per square meter per second CWF; (c) 12 hours 400 micromoles per square meter per second CWF plus 12 hours dim CWF at 5 micromoles per square meter per second; (d) 12 hours [400] micromoles per square meter per second CWF plus 12 hours dim incandescent (INC) at 5 micromoles per square meter per second and a control treatment of 12 hours light at 400 micromoles per square meter per second CWF and 12 hours dark. The study included five cultivars ranging from early- to late-season types: 'Norland,' 'Superior,''Norchip,' 'Russet Burbank,' and 'Kennebec,' Tuber development progressed well under continuous irradiation at 400 micromoles per square meter per second and under 12 hours irradiance and 12 hours dark, while tuber development was suppressed in all other light treatments. Continuous irradiation at 200 or 400 micromoles per square meter per second resulted in severe stunting and leaf malformation on 'Superior' and 'Kennebec' plants, but little or no injury and vigorous shoot growth in the other cultivars. No injury or stunting were apparent under 12-dim light or 12-dark treatments. Plants given 12 hours dim INC showed significantly greater stem elongation but less total biomass than plants in other treatments. The continuous light encouraged shoot growth over tuber growth but this trend was overridden by providing a high irradiance level. The variation among cultivars for tolerance to continuous lighting indicates that potato may be a useful species for photoinhibition studies.

NASA Program CELSS↗

DOE OSTI2016

Spatially Continuous Depletion Algorithm for Monte Carlo Simulations

To correctly predict reactor behavior during cycle operations, the evolution of nuclide number densities throughout the core must be accurately modeled. The time-varying spatial distribution of nuclide number densities is typically resolved by discretizing the Monte Carlo geometry into smaller cells over which number densities are assumed to be spatially invariant. The nuclide number densities in these smaller cells are integrated through time using reaction rate tallies on the same discretized geometry. However, detailed distributions of nuclide number densities in a full three dimensional simulation can require a prohibitive amount of tallies, and the spatial discretization of the base geometry makes coupling to external multi-physics tools difficult. In this paper a method for solving for spatially continuous number density distributions during depletion calculations will be described. The spatially continuous number densities can be used in the transport method proposed by Brown and Martin which allows for transporting neutrons through a material with continuously varying properties such as temperature and nuclide number densities. Coupled with the ability of Functional Expansion Tallies (FETs) to represent tallied quantities as continuous functions, it is possible to both solve for and make use of spatially continuous nuclide number densities. The need for this capability was alluded to by Brown et. al., but no solution has yet been proposed. With a continuous depletion method, recent work which utilized FETs and continuous material tracking to incorporate multi-physics feedback in Monte Carlo simulations can be extended to simulations that include depletion analysis. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Monte Carlo Simulation and Reconstruction: Assessment of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging of Tracer Dynamics With Cardiac Motion Due to Deformation and Respiration Using Gamma Camera With Continuous Acquisition

Purpose: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is routinely used for stress testing in nuclear medicine. Recently, our group extended its potential going from 3D visual qualitative image analysis to 4D spatiotemporal reconstruction of dynamically acquired data to capture the time variation of the radiotracer concentration and the estimated myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR). However, the quality of reconstructed image is compromised due to cardiac deformation and respiration. The work presented here develops an algorithm that reconstructs the dynamic sequence of separate respiratory and cardiac phases and evaluates the algorithm with data simulated with a Monte Carlo simulation for the continuous image acquisition and processing with a slowly rotating SPECT camera. Methods: A clinically realistic Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is developed using the 4D Extended Cardiac Torso (XCAT) digital phantom with respiratory and cardiac motion to model continuous data acquisition of dynamic cardiac SPECT with slowly rotating gamma cameras by incorporating deformation and displacement of the myocardium due to cardiac and respiratory motion. We extended our previously developed 4D maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) reconstruction algorithm for a data set binned from a continuous list mode (LM) simulation with cardiac and respiratory information. Our spatiotemporal image reconstruction uses splines to explicitly model the temporal change of the tracer for each cardiac and respiratory gate that delineates the myocardial spatial position as the tracer washes in and out. Unlike in a fully list-mode data acquisition and reconstruction the accumulated photons are binned over a specific but very short time interval corresponding to each cardiac and respiratory gate. Reconstruction results are presented showing the dynamics of the tracer in the myocardium as it continuously deforms. These results are then compared with the conventional 4D spatiotemporal reconstruction method that models only the temporal changes of the tracer activity. Mean Stabilized Activity (MSA), signal to noise ratio (SNR) and Bias for the myocardium activities for three different target-to-background ratios (TBRs) are evaluated. Dynamic quantitative indices such as wash-in (K1) and wash-out (k2) rates at each gate were also estimated. Results: The MSA and SNR are higher with higher TBRs while biases were improved with higher TBRs to less than 10%. The correlation between exhalation-inhalation sequence with the ground truth during respiratory cycle was excellent. Our reconstruction method showed better resolved myocardial walls during diastole to systole as compared to the ungated 4D image. Estimated values of K1 and k2 were also consistent with the ground truth. Conclusion: The continuous image acquisition for dynamic scan using conventional two-head gamma cameras can provide valuable information for MPI. Our study demonstrated the viability of using a continuous image acquisition method on a widely used clinical two-head SPECT system. Our reconstruction method showed better resolved myocardial walls during diastole to systole as compared to the ungated 4D image. Precise implementation of reconstruction algorithms, better segmentation techniques by generating images of different tissue types and background activity would improve the feasibility of the method in real clinical environment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2013

On the continuity of mean total normal stress in geometrical multiscale cardiovascular problems

In this work an iterative strategy to implicitly couple dimensionally-heterogeneous blood flow models accounting for the continuity of mean total normal stress at interface boundaries is developed. Conservation of mean total normal stress in the coupling of heterogeneous models is mandatory to satisfy energetic consistency between them. Nevertheless, existing methodologies are based on modifications of the Navier–Stokes variational formulation, which are undesired when dealing with fluid–structure interaction or black box codes. The proposed methodology makes possible to couple one-dimensional and three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction models, enforcing the continuity of mean total normal stress while just imposing flow rate data or even the classical Neumann boundary data to the models. This is accomplished by modifying an existing iterative algorithm, which is also able to account for the continuity of the vessel area, when required. Comparisons are performed to assess differences in the convergence properties of the algorithms when considering the continuity of mean normal stress and the continuity of mean total normal stress for a wide range of flow regimes. Finally, examples in the physiological regime are shown to evaluate the importance, or not, of considering the continuity of mean total normal stress in hemodynamics simulations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2014

A two-parameter continuation method for computing numerical solutions of spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensates

We describe a novel two-parameter continuation method combined with a spectral-collocation method (SCM) for computing the ground state and excited-state solutions of spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensates (BEC), where the second kind Chebyshev polynomials are used as the basis functions for the trial function space. To compute the ground state solution of spin-1 BEC, we implement the single parameter continuation algorithm with the chemical potential μ as the continuation parameter, and trace the first solution branch of the Gross–Pitaevskii equations (GPEs). When the curve-tracing is close enough to the target point, where the normalization condition of the wave function is going to be satisfied, we add the magnetic potential λ as the second continuation parameter with the magnetization M as the additional constraint condition. Then we implement the two-parameter continuation algorithm until the target point is reached, and the ground state solution of the GPEs is obtained. The excited state solutions of the GPEs can be treated in a similar way. Some numerical experiments on {sup 23}Na and {sup 87}Rb are reported. The numerical results on the spin-1 BEC are the same as those reported in [10]. Further numerical experiments on excited-state solutions of spin-1 BEC suffice to show the robustness and efficiency of the proposed two-parameter continuation algorithm.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2022

Kinetic modelling of an environmentally friendly carbamazepine synthesis via urea and iminostilbene in batch and continuous processes

Accurate kinetic models for reaction systems allow for improved process understanding and greater quality control, which is particularly beneficial as the pharmaceutical industry shifts from batch to continuous manufacturing (CM). In this work, a first principles kinetic model has been developed for the synthesis of carbamazepine (CBZ) from iminostilbene and urea, starting in a batch reactor and subsequently in a continuous flow reactor. An eco-friendly reaction pathway using urea was selected to avoid the toxic reagents that are typically used for synthesis of CBZ. The kinetic parameters determined from batch reactions were utilized in a MATLAB based kinetic model to simulate the yield for the continuous process. Overall, good agreement between the model prediction and corresponding experimental values was observed for the batch and continuous reaction systems within the full factorial design space. However, the model slightly overpredicted the yield of the continuous reaction system for higher conversion values (>60%) since it did not account for the reverse reaction that can occur at the studied reaction conditions. Here, the use of broken order kinetics was compared with whole number orders, and it was determined that the whole number orders resulted in better agreement at all conversion values for the continuous system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2016

Dynamic Radioactive Source for Evaluating and Demonstrating Time-dependent Performance of Continuous Air Monitors

Evaluation of continuous air monitors in the presence of a plutonium aerosol is time intensive, expensive, and requires a specialized facility. The Radiation Protection Services Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory has designed a Dynamic Radioactive Source, intended to replace plutonium aerosol challenge testing. Furthermore, the Dynamic Radioactive Source is small enough to be inserted into the sampler filter chamber of a typical continuous air monitor. Time-dependent radioactivity is introduced from electroplated sources for real-time testing of a continuous air monitor where a mechanical wristwatch motor rotates a mask above an alpha-emitting electroplated disk source. The mask is attached to the watch’s minute hand, and as it rotates, more of the underlying source is revealed. The alpha activity we measured increases with time, simulating the arrival of airborne radioactive particulates at the air sampler inlet. The Dynamic Radioactive Source allows the temporal behavior of puff and chronic release conditions to be mimicked without the need for radioactive aerosols. The new system is configurable to different continuous air monitor designs and provides an in-house testing capability (benchtop compatible). It is a repeatable and reusable system and does not contaminate the tested air monitor. Test benefits include direct user control, realistic (plutonium) aerosol spectra, and iterative development of continuous air monitor alarm algorithms. We also used data obtained using the Dynamic Radioactive Source to elucidate alarm algorithms and to compare the response time of two commercial continuous air monitors.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

Error-correcting Bacon-Shor code with continuous measurement of noncommuting operators

We analyze the continuous operation of the nine-qubit error correcting Bacon-Shor code with all noncommuting gauge operators measured at the same time. The error syndromes are continuously monitored using cross-correlations of sets of three measurement signals. We calculate the logical error rates due to $X$, $Y$ and $Z$ errors in the physical qubits and compare the continuous implementation with the discrete operation of the code. We find that both modes of operation exhibit similar performances when the measurement strength from continuous measurements is sufficiently strong. Here, we also estimate the value of the crossover error rate of the physical qubits, below which continuous error correction gives smaller logical error rates. Continuous operation has the advantage of passive monitoring of errors and avoids the need for additional circuits involving ancilla qubits.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2012

On the property of measurements with the PTW microLion chamber in continuous beams

Purpose: The performance of liquid ionization chambers, which may prove to be useful tools in the field of radiation dosimetry, is based on several chamber and liquid specific characteristics. The present work investigates the performance of the PTW microLion liquid ionization chamber with respect to recombination losses and perturbations from ambient electric fields at various dose rates in continuous beams. Methods: In the investigation, experiments were performed using two microLion chambers, containing isooctane (C{sub 8}H{sub 18}) and tetramethylsilane [Si(CH{sub 3}){sub 4}] as the sensitive media, and a NACP-02 monitor chamber. An initial activity of approximately 250 GBq {sup 18}F was employed as the radiation source in the experiments. The initial dose rate in each measurement series was estimated to 1.0 Gy min{sup -1} by Monte Carlo simulations and the measurements were carried out during the decay of the radioactive source. In the investigation of general recombination losses, employing the two-dose-rate method for continuous beams, the liquid ionization chambers were operated at polarizing voltages 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 V. Furthermore, measurements were also performed at 500 V polarizing voltage in the investigation of the sensitivity of the microLion chamber to ambient electric fields. Results: The measurement results from the liquid ionization chambers, corrected for general recombination losses according to the two-dose-rate method for continuous beams, had a good agreement with the signal to dose linearity from the NACP-02 monitor chamber for general collection efficiencies above 70%. The results also displayed an agreement with the theoretical collection efficiencies according to the Greening theory, except for the liquid ionization chamber containing isooctane operated at 25 V. At lower dose rates, perturbations from ambient electric fields were found in the microLion chamber measurement results. Due to the perturbations, measurement results below an estimated dose rate of 0.2 Gy min{sup -1} were excluded from the present investigation of the general collection efficiency. The perturbations were found to be more pronounced when the chamber polarizing voltage was increased. Conclusions: By using the two-dose-rate method for continuous beams, comparable corrected ionization currents from experiments in low and medium energy photon beams can be achieved. However, the valid range of general collection efficiencies has been found to vary in a comparison between experiments performed in continuous beams of 120 kVp x ray, and the present investigation of 511 keV annihilation photons. At very high dose rates in continuous beams, there are presently no methods that can be used to correct for general recombination losses and at low dose rates the microLion chamber may be perturbed by ambient electric fields. Increasing the chamber polarizing voltage, which diminishes the general recombination effect, was found to increase the microLion chamber sensitivity to ambient electric fields. Prudence is thus advised when employing the microLion chamber in radiation dosimetry, as ambient electric fields of the strength observed in the present work may be found in many common situations. Due to uncertainties in the theoretical basis for recombination losses in liquids, further studies on the underlying theories for the initial and general recombination effect are needed if liquid ionization chambers are to become a viable option in high precision radiation dosimetry.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Robotic path-finding in inverse treatment planning for stereotactic radiosurgery with continuous dose delivery

Purpose: Continuous dose delivery in radiation therapy treatments has been shown to decrease total treatment time while improving the dose conformity and distribution homogeneity over the conventional step-and-shoot approach. The authors develop an inverse treatment planning method for Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ that continuously delivers dose along a path in the target. Methods: The authors’ method is comprised of two steps: find a path within the target, then solve a mixed integer optimization model to find the optimal collimator configurations and durations along the selected path. Robotic path-finding techniques, specifically, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) using an extended Kalman filter, are used to obtain a path that travels sufficiently close to selected isocentre locations. SLAM is novelly extended to explore a 3D, discrete environment, which is the target discretized into voxels. Further novel extensions are incorporated into the steering mechanism to account for target geometry. Results: The SLAM method was tested on seven clinical cases and compared to clinical, Hamiltonian path continuous delivery, and inverse step-and-shoot treatment plans. The SLAM approach improved dose metrics compared to the clinical plans and Hamiltonian path continuous delivery plans. Beam-on times improved over clinical plans, and had mixed performance compared to Hamiltonian path continuous plans. The SLAM method is also shown to be robust to path selection inaccuracies, isocentre selection, and dose distribution. Conclusions: The SLAM method for continuous delivery provides decreased total treatment time and increased treatment quality compared to both clinical and inverse step-and-shoot plans, and outperforms existing path methods in treatment quality. It also accounts for uncertainty in treatment planning by accommodating inaccuracies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1971

Comments on the continuity of distribution functions obtained by superposition.

Assuming that Y is a nonnegative random variable independent of the differential process X(t), attention is given to the question of whether or not the superposition X(Y) can have a continuous probability distribution. If the process has continuous distributions, then the superposition is continuous if and only if P/Y = 0/ = 0. If the process has discontinuous distributions and no trend, then no superposition can have continuous distribution. If the process has discontinuous distributions and nonzero trend, then the superposition onto a random epoch has continuous distribution if and only if Y has continuous distribution.

Huff, B. W.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Improvements to the CONTINUE feature in transient analysis

The CONTINUE feature in transient analysis as implemented in the standard release of COSMIC/NASTRAN has inherent errors associated with it. As a consequence, the results obtained by a CONTINUEd restart run do not, in general, match the results that would be obtained in a single run without the CONTINUE feature. These inherent errors were eliminated by improvements to the restart logic that were developed by RPK Corporation and that are available on all RPK-supported versions of COSMIC/NASTRAN. These improvements ensure that the results of a CONTINUEd transient analysis run are the same as those of a non-CONTINUEd run. In addition, the CONTINUE feature was extended to transient analysis involving uncoupled modal equations. The improvements and enhancement were illustrated by examples.

Pamidi, P. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Curvature continuity of cubic Bezier curves in the solid modeling aerospace research tools design software

Preliminary results are presented of an investigation into the development of a procedure to provide curvature continuity between biparametric cubic Bezier surface patches in the computer-aided design package known as SMART (Solid Modeling Aerospace Research Tools). This initial effort was aimed at providing the designer with the ability to locally impose curvature continuity at the intersection of two Bezier curves without disrupting either the curvature or slope continuity that may exist at the ends of these curves. Such a method was found if the original Bezier control points are all coplanar. If they are not, then it is possible to find a minimum deviation from exact curvature continuity. In cases where this is not sufficient, then an entire piecewise curve must be made curvature continuous simultaneously. A method was developed based on cubic splines which is very fast. The procedure returns new Bezier control points which have both slope and curvature continuity.

Roach, Robert L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Laboratory comparison of continuous vs. binary phase-mostly filters

Recent developments in spatial light modulators have led to devices which are capable of continuous phase modulation, even if only over a limited range. One of these devices, the deformable mirror device is used, to compare the relative merits of binary and partially-continuous phase filters in a specific problem of pattern recognition by optical correlation. Each filter was physically limited to only about a radiation of modulation. Researchers have predicted that for low input noise levels, continuous phase-only filters should have a higher absolute correlator peak output than the corresponding binary filters, as well as having a larger SNR. When continuous and binary filters were implemented on the DMD and they exhibited the same performance; an ad hoc filter optimization procedure was developed for use in the laboratory. The optimized continuous filter gave higher correlation peaks than did an independently optimized binary filter. Background behavior in the correlation plane was similar for the two filters, and thus the SNR showed the same improvement for the continuous filter. A phasor diagram analysis and computer simulation have explained part of the optimization procedure's success.

Monroe, Stanley E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Utilization of potatoes for life support in space. V. Evaluation of cultivars in response to continuous light and high temperature

Twenty-four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars from different regions of the world were evaluated in terms of their responses to continuous light (24 h photoperiod) and to high temperature (30 C) in two separate experiments under controlled environments. In each experiment, a first evaluation of the cultivars was made at day 35 after transplanting, at which time 12 cultivars exhibiting best growth and tuber initiation were selected. A final evaluation of the 12 cultivars was made after an additional 21 days of growth, at which time plant height, total dry weight, tuber dry weight, and tuber number were determined. In the continuous light evaluation, the 12 selected cultivars were Alaska 114, Atlantic, Bintje, Denali, Desiree, Haig, New York 81, Ottar, Rutt, Snogg, Snowchip, and Troll. In the high temperature evaluation, the 12 selected cultivars were Alpha, Atlantic, Bake King, Denali, Desiree, Haig, Kennebec, Norland, Russet Burbank, Rutt, Superior, and Troll. Among the cultivars selected under continuous irradiation, Desiree, Ottar, Haig, Rutt, Denali and Alaska showed the best potential for high productivity whereas New York 81 and Bintje showed the least production capability. Among the cultivars selected under high temperature, Rutt, Haig, Troll and Bake King had best performance whereas Atlantic, Alpha, Kennebec and Russet Burbank exhibited the least production potential. Thus, Haig and Rutt were the two cultivars that performed well under continuous irradiation and high temperature conditions, and could have maximum potential for adaptation to varying stress environments. These two cultivars may have the best potential for use in future space farming in which continuous light and/or high temperature conditions may exist. However, cultivar responses under combined conditions of continuous light and high temperature remains for further validation.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗

NASA NTRS2011

Geopotential Field Anomaly Continuation with Multi-Altitude Observations

Conventional gravity and magnetic anomaly continuation invokes the standard Poisson boundary condition of a zero anomaly at an infinite vertical distance from the observation surface. This simple continuation is limited, however, where multiple altitude slices of the anomaly field have been observed. Increasingly, areas are becoming available constrained by multiple boundary conditions from surface, airborne, and satellite surveys. This paper describes the implementation of continuation with multi-altitude boundary conditions in Cartesian and spherical coordinates and investigates the advantages and limitations of these applications. Continuations by EPS (Equivalent Point Source) inversion and the FT (Fourier Transform), as well as by SCHA (Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis) are considered. These methods were selected because they are especially well suited for analyzing multi-altitude data over finite patches of the earth such as covered by the ADMAP database. In general, continuations constrained by multi-altitude data surfaces are invariably superior to those constrained by a single altitude data surface due to anomaly measurement errors and the non-uniqueness of continuation.

Kim, Jeong Woo↗

NASA NTRS2012

Geopotential Field Anomaly Continuation with Multi-Altitude Observations

Kim, Jeong Woo↗