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

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Path Toward a Unifid Geometry for Radiation Transport

The Direct Accelerated Geometry for Radiation Analysis and Design (DAGRAD) element of the RadWorks Project under Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) within the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) of NASA will enable new designs and concepts of operation for radiation risk assessment, mitigation and protection. This element is designed to produce a solution that will allow NASA to calculate the transport of space radiation through complex computer-aided design (CAD) models using the state-of-the-art analytic and Monte Carlo radiation transport codes. Due to the inherent hazard of astronaut and spacecraft exposure to ionizing radiation in low-Earth orbit (LEO) or in deep space, risk analyses must be performed for all crew vehicles and habitats. Incorporating these analyses into the design process can minimize the mass needed solely for radiation protection. Transport of the radiation fields as they pass through shielding and body materials can be simulated using Monte Carlo techniques or described by the Boltzmann equation, which is obtained by balancing changes in particle fluxes as they traverse a small volume of material with the gains and losses caused by atomic and nuclear collisions. Deterministic codes that solve the Boltzmann transport equation, such as HZETRN [high charge and energy transport code developed by NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC)], are generally computationally faster than Monte Carlo codes such as FLUKA, GEANT4, MCNP(X) or PHITS; however, they are currently limited to transport in one dimension, which poorly represents the secondary light ion and neutron radiation fields. NASA currently uses HZETRN space radiation transport software, both because it is computationally efficient and because proven methods have been developed for using this software to analyze complex geometries. Although Monte Carlo codes describe the relevant physics in a fully three-dimensional manner, their computational costs have thus far prevented their widespread use for analysis of complex CAD models, leading to the creation and maintenance of toolkit-specific simplistic geometry models. The work presented here builds on the Direct Accelerated Geometry Monte Carlo (DAGMC) toolkit developed for use with the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) transport code. The workflow for achieving radiation transport on CAD models using MCNP and FLUKA has been demonstrated and the results of analyses on realistic spacecraft/habitats will be presented. Future work is planned that will further automate this process and enable the use of multiple radiation transport codes on identical geometry models imported from CAD. This effort will enhance the modeling tools used by NASA to accurately evaluate the astronaut space radiation risk and accurately determine the protection provided by as-designed exploration mission vehicles and habitats

Lee, Kerry↗
NASA NTRS2008

Method and system for sensing and identifying foreign particles in a gaseous environment

An optical method and system sense and identify a foreign particle in a gaseous environment. A light source generates light. An electrically-conductive sheet has an array of holes formed through the sheet. Each hole has a diameter that is less than one quarter of the light's wavelength. The sheet is positioned relative to the light source such that the light is incident on one face of the sheet. An optical detector is positioned adjacent the sheet's opposing face and is spaced apart therefrom such that a gaseous environment is adapted to be disposed there between. Alterations in the light pattern detected by the optical detector indicate the presence of a foreign particle in the holes or on the sheet, while a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) signature associated with the foreign particle indicates the identity of the foreign particle.

Choi, Sang H.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Dry reforming of methane with isotopic gas mixture over Ni-based pyrochlore catalyst

Dry reforming of methane was carried out using isotopic 13 CO 2 and C 18 O 2 gases over a Ni-based pyrochlore catalyst that was synthesized using the modified Pechini method. In this method, 1 wt% Ni was doped into the La 2 Zr 2 O 7 pyrochlore structure. The catalyst was characterized by H 2 -TPR, TPO, and XRD and tested for its methane reforming activity under CO 2 dry-reforming reaction conditions. Here, the results of repeated TPR/TPO cycles up to 950 °C showed that the consecutive TPR profiles were nearly identical, indicating that the catalyst was stable at high temperatures, and that the nickel oxidation/reduction processes were reversible. The dry-reforming experimental results using labelled 13 CO 2 gas showed the syngas production for this material proceeded through the activation of CH 4 with O that came from breaking one of the CO bonds of CO 2 with the latter reaction (CO 2 activation) likely occurring at oxygen vacancies at or near the Ni particle-pyrochlore interface. It was also found that only a small portion of the CO originated from CH 4 . A variation of the same experimental test, but using 12 C 18 O 2 , revealed only 12 C 18 O was formed and no 12 C 16 O was detected, ruling out the possibility of reaction with the lattice oxygen in the catalyst structure with this material. Over this catalyst, the activated CH 4 appeared to dissociate to elemental carbon on the catalyst surface, which was determined to be the source of carbon from a post reaction TPO of the catalyst that was exposed to the 13 CO 2 — 12 CH 4 mixture. No carbon deposition appeared to originate from 13 CO 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Evolution of Microstructure and Creep Behavior in an Fe-Ni-Cr-Nb-C Alloy during Service in Hydrocarbon Cracker Tubes

Heat resistant, cast austenitic Fe-Ni-Cr-Nb-C alloy tubes are used by the petrochemical industry to transport hydrocarbons at temperatures between 850 and 1050 °C. Exposure to carbon from the process stream and nitrogen from the air causes severe carburization and nitridation in the tube walls, which influences creep resistance and degrades their ductility. A better understanding of these processes would enable their service life to be extended. To this end, we report the results of an experimental and computational study of the changes in microstructure and creep behavior in a representative alloy during service. The microstructure of the fresh material is compared to that of 8- and 10-year-old tubes. The results confirm the presence of M{sub 23}C{sub 6}, M{sub 7}C{sub 3}, and M{sub 2}(CN) phases reported in prior studies, and also reveal the nucleation and growth of the carbo-nitride phase M{sub 6}(CN). We show that the spatial variations of carbide and nitride particle volume fractions in aged tubes can be predicted by a simple reaction–diffusion equation. In addition, the uniaxial compressive creep response of the fresh and aged tubes was obtained as functions of temperature and strain rate. The materials deform by power-law creep, with strain rate versus stress relation as ε-dot =Aσ{sup n}. Aging reduces the stress exponent from n = 8 in fresh tubes to n = 5 in aged tubes, and also reduces the pre-exponential coefficient A. Tests on model alloys with composition identical to that of the matrix combined with finite element simulations of creep in model microstructures reveal that Cr depletion is responsible for the change in stress exponent, while the change in A is caused by the increase in particle volume fraction. By combining the microstructure-scale simulations of creep with the predictions of the reaction–diffusion model of microstructure evolution, the creep behavior of tubes left in service beyond 10 years is estimated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Particle decays of levels in N 11 , 12 and O 12 investigated with the invariant-mass method

Particle-decaying states of the light nuclei 11,12 N and 12 O were studied using the invariant-mass method. The decay energies and intrinsic widths of a number of states were measured, and the momentum correlations of three-body decaying states were considered. A second $2p$-decaying 2 + state of 12 O was observed for the first time, and a higher-energy 12 O state was observed in the 4$p$+2α decay channel. This 4$p$+2α channel also contains contributions from fissionlike decay paths, including 6 Beg.s.+6Be g.s. . Analogs to these states in 12 O were found in 12 N in the 2$p$+ 10 B and 2$p$+α+ 6 Li channels. The momentum correlations for the prompt 2$p$ decay of 12 O g.s. were found to be nearly identical to those of 16 Ne g.s. , and the correlations for the new 2 + state were found to be consistent with sequential decay through excited states in 11 N. The momentum correlations for the 2$^+_1$ state in 12 O provide a new value for the 11 N ground-state energy. Finally, the states in 12 N/ 12 O that belong to the A=12 isobaric sextet do not deviate from the quadratic isobaric multiplet mass equation form

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Femtoscopic correlations of identical charged pions and kaons in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with event-shape selection

Collective behavior has been observed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions for several decades. Collectivity is driven by the high particle multiplicities that are produced in these collisions. At the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), features of collectivity have also been seen in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions that can attain particle multiplicities comparable to peripheral Pb-Pb collisions. One of the possible signatures of collective behavior is the decrease of femtoscopic radii extracted from pion and kaon pairs emitted from high-multiplicity collisions with increasing pair transverse momentum. This decrease can be described in terms of an approximate transverse mass scaling. In the present work, femtoscopic analyses are carried out by the ALICE Collaboration on charged pion and kaon pairs produced in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=13TeV from the LHC to study possible collectivity in pp collisions. The event-shape analysis method based on transverse sphericity is used to select for spherical versus jetlike events, and the effects of this selection on the femtoscopic radii for both charged pion and kaon pairs are studied. This is the first time this selection method has been applied to charged kaon pairs. An approximate transverse-mass scaling of the radii is found in all multiplicity ranges studied when the difference in the Lorentz boost for pions and kaons is taken into account. This observation does not support the hypothesis of collective expansion of hot and dense matter that should only occur in high-multiplicity events. A possible alternate explanation of the present results is based on a scenario of common emission conditions for pions and kaons in pp collisions for the multiplicity ranges studied.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Transient Lattice Response upon Photoexcitation in CuInSe 2 Nanocrystals with Organic or Inorganic Surface Passivation

CuInSe 2 nanocrystals offer promise for optoelectronics including thin-film photovoltaics and printed electronics. Additive manufacturing methods such as photonic curing controllably sinter particles into quasi-continuous films and offer improved device performance. To gain understanding of nanocrystal response under such processing conditions, we investigate impacts of photoexcitation on colloidal nanocrystal lattices via time-resolved X-ray diffraction. We probe three sizes of particles and two capping ligands (oleylamine and inorganic S 2- ) to evaluate resultant crystal lattice temperature, phase stability, and thermal dissipation. Elevated fluences produce heating and loss of crystallinity, the onset of which exhibits particle size dependence. We find size-dependent recrystallization and cooling lifetimes ranging from 90 to 200 ps with additional slower cooling on the nanosecond time scale. Sulfide-capped nanocrystals show faster recrystallization and cooling compared to oleylamine-capped nanocrystals. Using these lifetimes, we find interfacial thermal conductivities from 3 to 28 MW/(m 2 K), demonstrating that ligand identity strongly influences thermal dissipation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

In-beam γ-ray and electron spectroscopy of 249,251 Md

The odd-Z 251 Md nucleus was studied using combined γ-ray and conversion-electron in-beam spectroscopy. Besides the previously observed rotational band based on the [521]1/2 - configuration, another rotational structure has been identified using γ-γ coincidences. The use of electron spectroscopy allowed the rotational bands to be observed over a larger rotational frequency range. Using the transition intensities that depend on the gyromagnetic factor, a [514]7/2 - single-particle configuration has been inferred for this band, i.e., the ground-state band. A physical background that dominates the electron spectrum with an intensity of ≃60% was well reproduced by simulating a set of unresolved excited bands. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the intensity profile as a function of the angular momentum provided a method for deriving the orbital gyromagnetic factor, namely g K = $0.69$ $^{+0.19}_{-0.16}$ for the ground-state band. The odd-Z 249 Md was studied using γ-ray in-beam spectroscopy. Evidence for octupole correlations resulting from the mixing of the Δl = Δ j = 3 [521]3/2 - and [633]7/2 + Nilsson orbitals were found in both 249,251 Md. Here, a surprising similarity of the 251 Md ground-state band transition energies with those of the excited band of 255 Lr has been discussed in terms of identical bands. Lastly, Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations were performed to investigate the origin of the similarities between these bands.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Photoproduction of Triplets on Free Electrons and the Search for the Dark Photon

We have investigated the photoproduction of triplets on free electrons, γe{sup –} → e{sup +}e{sup –}e{sup –}, in which dark photon A′ can be formed as an intermediate state with subsequent decay into an e{sup +}e{sup –} pair. This effect appears as a result of the so-called kinetic mixing and is characterized by the small parameter describing the intensity of the interaction of the dark photon with charged Standard Model (SM) particles in terms of electric charge e. The search for a manifestation of A′ in this process is advantageous since the background to the A′ signal is purely electrodynamic and, hence, can be calculated with the required accuracy. We calculate this background taking into account the identity of final electrons. As regards A′, its contribution is taken into account only in Compton-type diagrams (of virtual Compton scattering) in which a virtual dark photon is a time-like particle and its propagator has the form of a Breit–Wigner resonance. It is only in the vicinity of resonance that A′ can be manifested. We calculate the invariant mass distribution of both e{sup +}e{sup –} pairs formed in the process and analyze the kinematic region in which relatively small squares of momenta transferred from the target electron to the formed electrons are excluded. In these conditions, the contribution to the differential cross section from Compton-type diagrams is not suppressed relative to the contribution of the remaining (Borsellino) diagrams. A number of limitations on parameter depending on the dark photon mass and the statistics (number) of events are obtained for a special method of gathering events in which the invariant mass of one e{sup +}e{sup –} pair remains fixed and of the other pair is scanned.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Maximally supersymmetric amplitudes at infinite loop momentum

We investigate the asymptotically large loop-momentum behavior of multiloop amplitudes in maximally supersymmetric ($N$ = 4, 8) quantum field theories in four dimensions. We check residue-theorem identities among color-dressed leading singularities in $N$ = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory to demonstrate the absence of poles at infinity of all n-point MHV amplitudes through three loops. Considering the same test for $N$ = 8 supergravity leads us to discover that this theory does support nonvanishing residues at infinity starting at two loops, and the degree of these poles grow arbitrarily with multiplicity. This causes a tension between simultaneously manifesting ultraviolet finiteness—which would be automatic at two loops for representation obtained by color-kinematic duality—and gauge invariance—which would follow from unitarity-based methods.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gantryless Associated-Particle Neutron Radiography

The present work reports on the development of techniques for in-field fast-neutron radiography measurements using the associated-particle imaging (API) method. The API method employs alpha-neutron coincidences from the d+t→α+n reaction to enable fast neutron transmission imaging with excellent contrast using a wide cone beam. However, for field radiography applications, the API method is burdened by the need for the relative positions of the source and detector to be known. Fortunately, these relative positions can be inferred from transmission data. The inferred positions also enable accurate stitching of multiple images into a composite image even when using a low-resolution detector panel and acquiring images having few overlapping pixels. The developed techniques address analysis of measurements where (1) the source and detector panel are separately hand positioned rather than held in registration by a gantry, (2) multiple detector panel positions within the “coincident cone” of tagged neutrons are required to piece together an image of an item of interest, and (3) normalization measurements that have identical source-detector positioning but without the inspected object are not possible. The present work will describe the system calibrations (including timing calibrations and neutron direction calibrations) necessary for subsequent analyses, the method of locating the detector in the coincident cone of neutrons with millimeter precision using the timing and directions of coincident neutrons, the method of calculating a normalization image for a given detector panel position, and the method used to project multiple images into a common image.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1995

Hydrodynamics of binary coalescence. 2: Polytropes with gamma = 5/3

We present a new numerical study of the equilibrium and stability properties of close binary systems. We use the smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) technique both to construct accurate equilibrium configurations in three dimensions and to follow their hydrodynamic evolution. We adopt a simple polytropic equation of state p = K(sub rho)(exp gamma) with gamma = 5/3 and K = constant within each star, applicable to low-mass degenerate dwarfs as well as low-mass main-sequence stars. For degenerate configurations, we set the two polytropic constants equal, K = K prime, independent of the mass ratio. For main-sequence stars, we adjust K and K prime so as to obtain a simple mass-radius relation of the form R/R prime = M/M prime, where R prime and M prime are the radius and mass of the secondary. Along a sequence of binary equilibrium configurations for two identical stars, we demonstrate the existence of both secular and dynamical instabilities, confirming directly the results of recent analytic work. We use the SPH method to calculate the nonlinear development of the dynamical instability and to determine the final fate of the system. We find that the two stars merge together into a single, rapidly rotating object in just a few orbital periods. Equilibrium sequences are also constructed for systems containing two nonidentical stars. These sequences terminate at a Roche limit, which we can determine very accurately using SPH. For two low-mass main-sequence stars with mass ratio q approximately less than 0.4 we find that the (synchronized) Roche limit configuration is secularly unstable. We discuss the implications of our results for the evolution of double white-dwarf systems and W Ursae Majoris binaries.

Rasio, Frederic A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Understanding the structural and morphological effects of synthesis route on NpO 2

The availability of actinide standard materials for use in nuclear safeguard applications is critical, as is thorough characterization thereof. Although accurate trace element compositions and isotopic considerations are paramount for deployment of reference standards, structural characterization is also essential towards accurately describing the chemical form and potential matrix effects in candidate materials. Here, to this end, samples of NpO 2 were synthesized via a direct denitration (DD) method and probed with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for structural and morphological characterization and comparison with NpO 2 materials produced via modified direct denitration (MDD). PXRD confirmed the bulk identity of NpO 2 , and no additional phases were identified using this method. Analysis of Raman data collected using a 532 nm excitation wavelength indicates that samples are mostly phase pure; however, some variability in spectral features is observed. Analysis of additional spectroscopic data collected with a 785 nm excitation wavelength revealed variability in the relative intensity of spectral features. Raman spectroscopy indicates that the sample is primarily NpO 2 ; however, additional signals indicate possible structural disorder, oxidized species, or potential contributions from other Np phases. To further investigate the possibility of additional phase contributions within the sample of NpO 2 , Raman spectroscopic mapping was employed to examine the homogeneity of the sample produced via DD. From this analysis, we determined that despite variability in the intensity of Raman-active vibrational modes, consistent spectra are obtained throughout the area of the sample investigated. SEM images show aggregates with variable sizes and shapes, with rounded, primary particles possessing an average diameter of approximately 100 nm. Comparison of the results of these multimodal analyses to the literature indicates that the crystal chemical, spectroscopic, and microstructural properties of NpO 2 vary based on synthesis method, even if X-ray diffraction data indicate that the bulk phase is NpO 2 .

Direct denitration↗
NASA NTRS1992

LDEF: Dosimetric measurement results (AO 138-7 experiment)

One of the objectives of the AO 138-7 experiment on board the LDEF was a total dose measurement with Thermo Luminescent Detectors (TLD 100). Two identical cases, both including 5 TLDs inside various aluminum shields, are exposed to the space environment in order to obtain the absorbed dose profile induced. Radiation fluence received during the total mission length was computed, taking into account the trapped particles (solar maximum and solar minimum periods) and the cosmic rays; due to the magnetospheric shielding, the solar proton fluences are negligible on the LDEF orbit. The total dose induced by these radiations inside a semi-infinite plane shield of Al are computed with radiation transport codes. TLD reading are performed after flight; due to the mission duration increase, a post-flight calibration was necessary in order to cover the range of the flight induced dose. The results obtained, similar (+ or - 30 pct.) in both cases, are compared with the dose profile computation. In practice, these LDEF results, with less than a factor 1.4 between measurements and forecasts, reinforce the validity of the computation methods and models used for the long term evaluation of space radiation intensity on low inclination Earth orbits.

Bourrieau, J.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Viral Enumeration Using Cost-Effective Wet-Mount Epifluorescence Microscopy for Aquatic Ecosystems and Modern Microbialites

Enumeration is a fundamental measure of community ecology in which viruses represent the most numerous biological identities. Epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) has been the gold standard method for environmental viral enumeration for over 25 years. Currently, standard EFM methods using the Anodisc filters are no longer cost-effective (>$15 per slide) and have yet to be applied to modern microbialites. Microbialites are microbially driven benthic organosedimentary deposits that have been present for most of Earth’s history. We present a cost-effective method for environ mental viral enumeration from aquatic samples, microbial mats, and exopolymeric substances (EPSs) within modern microbialites using EFM. Our integrated approach, which includes filtration, differential centrifugation, chloroform treatment, glutaralde hyde fixation, benzonase nuclease treatment, probe sonication (EPS and mat only), SYBR Gold staining, wet mounting, and imaging, provides a robust method for modern microbialites and aquatic samples. Viral abundances of modern microbialites and aquatic samples collected from Fayetteville Green Lake (FGL) and Great Salt Lake (GSL) did not differ across ecosystems by sample type. EPS and microbial mat samples had an order of magnitude higher viral-like particle abundance when compared to water regardless of the ecosystem (107 vs 106). Viral enumeration allows for estimates of total viral numbers and weights. The entire weight of all the viruses in FGL and GSL are ~598 g and ~2.2 kg, respectively. Further development of EFM methods and software is needed for viral enumeration. Our method provides a robust and cost-effective (~$0.75 per sample) viral enumeration within modern microbialites and aquatic ecosystems.

Madeline Bellanger↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verification and Performance Impact of the New Parallel MCNP6.3 Particle Track Output Capability for Subcritical Multiplication Simulations [Slides]

A separate MCNP6.3 V&V document reports on all the default calculations for all test suites. This report does not include the subcritical multiplication benchmark suite. After some additional clean-up and finalizing the post-processing and documentation steps, the subcritical multiplication benchmark suite will be released in the next version of our vnvstats repository. We tested the new HDF5 PTRAC feature in MCNP6.3 and found encouraging outcomes. Identical results coming out of the simulation with respect to the legacy PTRAC results. The overall runtime for all simulations is reduced by ~20% with the new HDF5 PTRAC capability. We consider giving the new HDF5 PTRAC features a try and using it for all subcritical multiplication and any other relevant (PTRAC) calculations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Machine Learning for Predictive Performance Analysis in Charged Particle Beam Tools

Imaging methods driven by probes, electrons, and ions have played a dominant role in modern science and engineering. Opportunities for machine vision and AI that focus on consumer problems like driving and feature recognition, are now presenting themselves for automating aspects of the scientific processes. This proposal aims to enable and drive discovery in ultra-low energy implantation by taking advantage of faster processing, flexible control and detection methods, and architecture-agnostic workflows that will result in higher efficiency and shorter scientific development cycles. Custom microscope control, collection and analysis hardware will provide a framework for conducting novel in situ experiments revealing unprecedented insight into surface dynamics at the nanoscale. Ion implantation is a key capability for the semiconductor industry. As devices shrink, novel materials enter the manufacturing line, and quantum technologies transition to being more mainstream. Traditional implantation methods fall short in terms of energy, ion species, and positional precision. Here we demonstrate 1 keV focused ion beam Au implantation into Si and validate the results via atom probe tomography. We show the Au implant depth at 1 keV is 0.8 nm and that identical results for low energy ion implants can be achieved by either lowering the column voltage, or decelerating ions using bias – while maintaining a sub-micron beam focus. We compare our experimental results to static calculations using SRIM and dynamic calculations using binary collision approximation codes TRIDYN and IMSIL. A large discrepancy between the static and dynamic simulation is found that is due to lattice enrichment with high stopping power Au and surface sputtering. Additionally, we demonstrate how model details are particularly important to the simulation of these low-energy heavy-ion implantations. Finally, we discuss how our results pave a way to much lower implantation energies, while maintaining high spatial resolution.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2012

Particle Filtering for Model-Based Anomaly Detection in Sensor Networks

A novel technique has been developed for anomaly detection of rocket engine test stand (RETS) data. The objective was to develop a system that postprocesses a csv file containing the sensor readings and activities (time-series) from a rocket engine test, and detects any anomalies that might have occurred during the test. The output consists of the names of the sensors that show anomalous behavior, and the start and end time of each anomaly. In order to reduce the involvement of domain experts significantly, several data-driven approaches have been proposed where models are automatically acquired from the data, thus bypassing the cost and effort of building system models. Many supervised learning methods can efficiently learn operational and fault models, given large amounts of both nominal and fault data. However, for domains such as RETS data, the amount of anomalous data that is actually available is relatively small, making most supervised learning methods rather ineffective, and in general met with limited success in anomaly detection. The fundamental problem with existing approaches is that they assume that the data are iid, i.e., independent and identically distributed, which is violated in typical RETS data. None of these techniques naturally exploit the temporal information inherent in time series data from the sensor networks. There are correlations among the sensor readings, not only at the same time, but also across time. However, these approaches have not explicitly identified and exploited such correlations. Given these limitations of model-free methods, there has been renewed interest in model-based methods, specifically graphical methods that explicitly reason temporally. The Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) in a Linear Dynamic System approach assumes that the multi-dimensional test data is a mixture of multi-variate Gaussians, and fits a given number of Gaussian clusters with the help of the wellknown Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. The parameters thus learned are used for calculating the joint distribution of the observations. However, this GMM assumption is essentially an approximation and signals the potential viability of non-parametric density estimators. This is the key idea underlying the new approach.

Solano, Wanda↗