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Model Inputs, Outputs, and Scripts associated with: “Spatial microbial respiration variations in the hyporheic zones within the Columbia River Basin”

This data package is associated with the publication “Spatial microbial respiration variations in the hyporheic zones within the Columbia River Basin” published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (Son et al. 2022) available at doi: 10.1029/2021JG006654. This data package includes the key model inputs/outputs of the river corridor model for the Columbia River Basin (CRB) and the model source codes, which were used in the manuscript. The model is a carbon-nitrogen-coupled river corridor model (RCM), and the model is used to quantify hyporheic zone (HZ) aerobic and anaerobic respiration at the NHDPLUS stream reach scales. The RCM used in this study combines empirical substrate models derived from observations and three microbially driven reactions to compute respiration of the HZ for each National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) reach within the CRB. The reactions in HZs of each NHD reach include anaerobic respiration and two-step anaerobic respiration via denitrification. Our HZ respiration estimates are limited to the lotic (or flowing) stream/river systems, and do not account for the respiration process in water column. Note that the RCM only simulates the HZ’s contribution to the dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the streams, and the CO2 emissions to the atmosphere are not modelled. The model computes at hourly timesteps because of the fast reaction rates. The key input data of the model are exchange flux, residence time, and stream solute (dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved oxygen (DO), and nitrate concentrations). These inputs are constant over time and represent long-term averaged values.This modeling framework successfully quantified HZ respiration components over multiple scales. It revealed key mechanisms driving the spatial variation of HZ aerobic and anaerobic respiration in reaches with varying hydrologic and substrate conditions. Thus, this modeling study offers a testing hypothesis in different river system (e.g., climate and biomes) for the HZ respiration processes, and can be used as a sampling design tool for large-scale HZ experimental studies.This dataset contains five folders: (1) model_inputs, (2) model_outputs, (3) Rscripts, (4) figures, and (5) model_codes. It also contains a readme, file level metadata (FLMD), and data dictionary (dd). Please see the FLMD for a list of all the files contained in this data package and descriptions for each. The model_inputs folder contains the model inputs used to drive the model simulations. The model_outputs folder contains key model output files from the river corridor model. The Rscripts folder contains the Rscripts for pre- and post- processing model results. The figures folder contains the raw figures associated with the manuscript. The model_codes folder includes key model source codes/input files. All files are .jpg, .jpeg, .out, .e, .od, .dat, .sub, .F90, .0, .R, .sbx, .cpg, .sbn, .shx, .shp, .dbf, .prj, .tfw, .tif, .xml, .pdf, or .csv.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

HydroBio: Hydropower Capacity and Freshwater Biodiversity in Conterminous United States Sub-basins

This dataset summarizes existing and potential hydropower capacity and freshwater biodiversity at the sub-basin level throughout the conterminous United States (CONUS). It contains descriptive information regarding each sub-basin (e.g., 8-digit hydrologic unit code identifier, name, states, and size) along with sub-basin-level summaries of: 1) existing hydropower capacity (MW), 2) potential nominal non-powered dam (NPD) capacity (MW), 3) potential capacity of new stream reach development (NSD) (MW), and 4) freshwater biodiversity, including the total richness of fish, crayfish, and mussels and metrics that account for how rare and threatened those species tend to be. Hydropower data were obtained from Oak Ridge National Laboratory data resources (Existing Hydropower Assets, Non-Powered Dam Technical Potential, and New Stream Reach Development). Freshwater biodiversity data were obtained from NatureServe. Sub-basin characteristic information was obtained from the United States Geological Survey. Additionally, long data that provide lists of unique elements within each sub-basin for each constituent data resource (e.g., NatureServe, Existing Hydropower Assets) are provided to enhance dataset utility for users. The dataset provides, for the first time, a national-level assessment of existing and potential hydropower capacity in the context of freshwater biodiversity and is a valuable resource for stakeholders tasked with providing affordable, reliable energy to the American public while maintaining or enhancing invaluable freshwater resources. The dataset contains six data files in comma separated (*.csv) format that are within a zipped file.

Bozeman, Bryan [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORN↗

Quantum effects on dislocation motion from ring-polymer molecular dynamics

Quantum motion of atoms known as zero-point vibration was recently proposed to explain a long-standing discrepancy between theoretically computed and experimentally measured low-temperature plastic strength of iron and possibly other metals with high atomic masses. This finding challenges the traditional notion that quantum motion of atoms is relatively unimportant in solids comprised of heavy atoms. Here we report quantum dynamic simulations of quantum effects on dislocation motion within the exact formalism of Ring-Polymer Molecular Dynamics (RPMD). To extend the reach of quantum atomistic simulations to length and time scales relevant for extended defects in materials, we implemented RPMD in the open-source code LAMMPS thus making the RPMD method widely available to the community. We use our RPMD/LAMMPS approach for direct calculations of dislocation mobility and its effects on the yield strength of α-iron. Our simulation results establish that quantum effects are noticeable at temperatures below 50 K but account for only a modest (≈13% at T = 0 K) overall reduction in the Peierls barrier, at variance with the factor of two reduction predicted earlier based on the more approximate framework of harmonic transition state theory. Our results confirm that zero-point vibrations provide ample additional agitation for atomic motion that increases with decreasing temperature, however its enhancing effect on dislocation mobility is largely offset by an increase in the effective atom size, an effect known as quantum dispersion that has not been accounted for in the previous calculations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Numerical demonstration of Biermann-generated magnetic fields in a laser-driven cylindrical implosion platform

We present two-dimensional radiation-magnetohydrodynamics FLASH simulations studying Biermann battery generated magnetic fields in a convergent geometry based on modifying an existing laser direct drive cylindrical implosion platform at Los Alamos National Laboratory. During the laser driven implosion, instabilities can arise as the target converges, and in a plasma, such instabilities can generate magnetic fields via the Biermann battery. After significant redesign (lowering the inner foam fill density, deceasing the ablator mass, and modifying the laser pulse), we demonstrate that magnetic fields reach strengths of many hundred kilogauss and persist over a nanosecond time scale. Such results pave the way for an experimental campaign for further code verification and validation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Integrating Sudo-Kaminaga Correlation to the Safety Analysis Code PARET-ANL

The accuracy and reliability of the reactor safety analysis code are critical because the specifications of the safety systems will depend on the analytical results for initiating events that could occur to the reactor. In safety analyses for power reactors, there exist many proficient and applicable computer codes such as RELAP5, CATHARE, RETRAN, or CATHENA. For non-power research reactors, an issue arises, however, due to lacking of such specialized codes. As a result, computer codes developed for the transient analysis of power reactors need to be applied carefully after proving their applicability to a specified research reactor. The safety analysis discussed in this paper concerns the prevention of fuel damage in hypothetical accidental scenarios for the new research reactor design at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). One fuel integrity criterion is analyzed by investigating the Minimum Critical Heat Flux Ratio (MCHFR) in the core during the accidental transients. Some previous studies develop a relationship that correlates the nominal value of the minimum CHFR with the probability of CHF occurring and causing fuel damage. Using a statistical approach, the nominal value of the MCHFR for the low-enriched uranium (LEU) reactor needs to remain above the recommended limiting value to better ensure the safety of the research reactor. The probability of no fuel failure increases as the MCHFR increases. More importantly, as long as the MCHFR remains above the recommended limiting value of 1.301, the reactor will have a 90% probability that CHF is not reached. The safety analysis program PARET, developed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), is employed to obtain the CHFR information in this study. PARET/ANL is a digital computer programming code intended primarily for the analysis of test and research reactors that use plate-type (flat) fuel elements. This program has its own set of correlations that are used to calculate the CHFR. One of them is the Mirshak correlation, which was believed to provide the best estimation of the critical heat flux under the operating conditions of the new reactor at the time. Following the critical heat flux (CHF) experiments for vertical rectangular channels in the JRR-3 (Japan Research Reactor unit 3), the CHF calculations now use the Sudo- Kaminaga correlation. This correlation is of our interest because this method has an enhanced geometric similarity and an increased range of applicability that are more representative of the actual operating conditions of our current design, and has a more mechanistic approach [9]. Since the source code of PARET/ANL is inaccessible, a MATLAB-based utility has been written to integrate the Sudo-Kaminaga correlation as a substitute for the Mirshak correlation in the code. As a result, both the Mirshak and the Sudo-Kaminaga correlations are used to analyze the standard output from the PARET program to calculate the CHFR.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

IPEAT+: A Built-In Optimization and Automatic Calibration Tool of SWAT+

For almost 30 years, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been successfully implemented to address issues around various scientific subjects in the world. On the other hand, it has been reaching to the limit of potential flexibility in further development by the current structure. The new generation SWAT, dubbed SWAT+, was released recently with entirely new coding features. SWAT+ is designed to have far more advanced functions and capacities to handle challenging watershed modeling tasks for hydrologic and water quality processes. However, it is still inevitable to conduct model calibration before the SWAT+ model is applied to engineering projects and research programs. The primary goal of this study is to develop an open-source, easy-to-operate automatic calibration tool for SWAT+, dubbed IPEAT+ (Integrated Parameter Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis Tool Plus). There are four major advantages: (i) Open-source code to general users; (ii) compiled and integrated directly with SWAT+ source code as a single executable; (iii) supported by the SWAT developer group; and, (iv) built with efficient optimization technique. The coupling work between IPEAT+ and SWAT+ is fairly simple, which can be conducted by users with minor efforts. IPEAT+ will be regularly updated with the latest SWAT+ revision. If users would like to integrate IPEAT+ with various versions of SWAT+, only few lines in the SWAT+ source code are required to be updated. IPEAT+ is the first automatic calibration tool integrated with SWAT+ source code. Users can take advantage of the tool to pursue more cutting-edge and forward-thinking scientific questions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

High Accuracy Transition Metal Effective Cores for the Many-Body Diffusion Monte Carlo Method

Practical applications of the real-space diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method require the removal of core electrons, where currently localization approximations of semilocal potentials are generally used in the projector. Accurate calculations of complex solids and large molecules demand minimizing the impact of approximated atomic cores. Prior works have shown that the errors from such approximations can be sizable in both finite and periodic systems. In this work, we show that a class of differential pseudopotentials, known as pseudo-Hamiltonians, can be constructed for the 3d transition metal atoms, entirely removing the need for any localization scheme in the DMC projector. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate the approach for the case of Co. In order to minimize errors in the pseudo-Hamiltonian at the many-body level, we generalize the recently proposed correlation-consistent pseudopotential generation scheme to successively close semilocal representations of the differential potentials. Our generation scheme successfully produces potentials tailored specifically for real space projector quantum Monte Carlo methods with low error at the many-body level, i.e., with many-body scattering properties very close to relativistic all-electron results. In particular, we show that the agreement with respect to atomic and molecular quantities reach chemical accuracy in many cases-on par with the most accurate semilocal pseudopotentials available. Further, our pseudo-Hamiltonian generation scheme utilizes standard quantum chemistry codes designed only to work with semilocal pseudopotentials, enabling straightforward generation of pseudo-Hamiltonians for additional elements in future works.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Summary of 2020 edge-plasma modeling for FNSFand plans for 2021

This year, following the study of liquid-wall options, our edge-plasma modeling has returned to analyzing issues associated with a solid tungsten-wall, Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF)-size device, primarily using the 2D UEDGE plasma/neutral transport code. The focus is to predict plasma/neutral heat and particle fluxes to various wall components and determine the concentration of injected and wall-sputtered impurities that reach the core plasma region. Our models have been advanced in a number of areas compared to the initial modeling done in the 2017 timeframe: this year we include each individual charge-state of impurity ions instead of assuming a fixed concentration of impurities relative to the deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel plasma, including the interaction between inner and outer divertor legs. Here edge fueling of the impurity and pumping in the private-flux region is incorporated. Increasingly detailed atomic-physics rate files for impurity radiation have been compared, as well as the role of molecules. The impact of spatial variation of the turbulence-driven radial plasma transport is considered to contribute to the understanding of the heat-flux-limit effects of choosing a double-null or single-null divertor configuration. Detailed plasma/neutral wall fluxes, densities, and temperatures have been provided to the ERO group for their more detailed studies of wall sputtering and near-surface impurity transport.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Using Hydrodynamic Similarity as a Verification Method for Impact Cratering Simulations in the FLAG Hydrocode

Hydrodynamic codes (hydrocodes) are common tools for modeling hypervelocity impacts to provide insight into the physical phenomenon. Hydrocodes can simulate impacts from micrometer to kilometer spatial scales and reach impact velocities difficult to achieve in experimental settings. However, numerical models are approximations, and demonstrating that a numerical method is capable of providing physical results for these models is essential. In this work, we employ a hydrocode verification technique that leverages hydrodynamic similarity, a mathematical property of the conservation equations of fluid mechanics that form the basis for hydrocode models. Using the FLAG hydrocode, we simulate aluminum (Al) and basalt projectiles and targets at spatial scales spanning 7 orders of magnitude (hundreds of micrometers to kilometers). These materials were chosen because Al-6061 is a common material in spacecraft and satellites and basalt is a useful approximation of rocky astronomical bodies. Our results show that hydrodynamic similarity holds for each material model used and across spatial scales. We show that under certain conditions hydrodynamic similarity can apply in the presence of gravity and that similarity does not hold in the presence of strength models. We conclude that the FLAG hydrocode preserves important mathematical properties of fluid dynamics in hypervelocity impacts of Al-6061 and basalt.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Multi-cycle reload analysis of a long cycle gas-cooled fast modular reactor

There is currently significant interest in deploying HALEU-fueled fast reactors, including the General Atomics (GA) Fast Modular Reactor (FMR). Such reactors can achieve very long fuel cycles, but with multi-batch loading will take decades to reach equilibrium. This motivates design and analysis of both the initial core and multi-cycle reload, which is typically performed using fast-running, deterministic fast reactor codes such as the Argonne Reactor Computation (ARC) codes. In this paper, multicycle reload of the GA FMR is analyzed using the ARC codes. The GA FMR utilizes 19.75 % enriched fuel in a 16 year cycle with a three-batch strategy, with twice-burned fuel placed on the core periphery. The GA FMR has a softened neutron spectrum due to reflecting elements in the core, so the neutronic solution is first benchmarked against the OpenMC Monte Carlo code. Discrepancy on k eff is 400–600 pcm, likely due to the softened neutron spectrum, heterogeneous fuel assembly design and central reflector. However, the rms discrepancy on the assembly power distribution is only 0.6 %, despite the presence of the central reflector. A reload strategy is devised for the first three cycles of such a reactor, ultimately spanning the first 45–48 years of its operation. The fresh core uses 19.75 %, 19.25 % and 16.75 % enriched fuel in place of fresh, once-burned and twice-burned and is then subsequently refueled with only 19.75 % enriched fuel. The cycle length is varied over 3 cycles of operation to balance fuel utilization and reactor availability, specifically with use of an extended 18-year Cycle 1, followed by a shortened 11-year Cycle 2. Cycle 3 is close to the target 16-year length. Finally, placing twice burned assemblies next to the GA FMR central reflector can reduce power peaking by 3 %, at the expense of slightly reducing the cycle length.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Inhomogeneous energy injection in the 21-cm power spectrum: Sensitivity to dark matter decay

The 21-cm signal provides a novel avenue to measure the thermal state of the Universe during cosmic dawn and reionization (redshifts z ~ 5–30), and thus to probe energy injection from decaying or annihilating dark matter (DM). These DM processes are inherently inhomogeneous: both decay and annihilation are density-dependent, and furthermore, the fraction of injected energy that is deposited at each point depends on the gas ionization and density, leading to further anisotropies in absorption and propagation. In this work, we develop a new framework for modeling the impact of spatially inhomogeneous energy injection and deposition during cosmic dawn, accounting for ionization and baryon density dependence, as well as the attenuation of propagating photons. We showcase how this first completely inhomogeneous treatment affects the predicted 21-cm power spectrum in the presence of exotic sources of energy injection, and forecast the constraints that upcoming HERA measurements of the 21-cm power spectrum will set on DM decays to photons and to electron/positron pairs. These projected constraints considerably surpass those derived from CMB and Lyman-a measurements, and for decays to electron/positron pairs they exceed all existing constraints in the sub-GeV mass range, reaching lifetimes of ~10 28 s. Our analysis demonstrates the unprecedented sensitivity of 21-cm cosmology to exotic sources of energy injection during the cosmic dark ages. Our code, dm21cm, includes all these effects and is publicly available in an accompanying release.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Reduced fast electron transport in shock-heated plasma in multilayer targets due to self-generated magnetic fields

Fast electron transport has been studied in cold solid density CH, cold CH foam (200 mg / cm 3 ), and CH plasma (40 eV 30 mg/cm 3 ) targets—the latter created by shocking the CH foam with a 1.2 kJ long pulse laser and allowing it to expand. The fast electrons were produced using the OMEGA EP laser pulse (800 J, 8 ps) incident on a Au flat target. With the CH plasma, the fluence of fast electrons reaching a Cu foil at the far side of the transport was reduced significantly (25 × weaker peak K $α$ emission). Particle-in-cell simulations using the osiris code modeled fast electron transport in the unshocked foam and plasma cases assuming fixed ionization and including source generation, transport in Au and CH layers, Coulomb collisions, and refluxing. Simulations indicate two main mechanisms which alter electron energy transport through the target between the foam and plasma cases, both due to the magnetic field: a collimating field in the CH region, caused by the resistivity of the return current and more prevalent in the foam; and an insulating field at the Au-CH interface, present only with the plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

ADG: automated generation and evaluation of many-body diagrams

The goal of the present paper is twofold. First, a novel expansion many-body method applicable to superfluid open-shell nuclei, the so-called Bogoliubov in-medium similarity renormalization group (BIMSRG) theory, is formulated. This generalization of standard single-reference IMSRG theory for closed-shell systems parallels the recent extensions of coupled cluster, self-consistent Green’s function or many-body perturbation theory. Within the realm of IMSRG theories, BIMSRG provides an interesting alternative to the already existing multi-reference IMSRG (MR-IMSRG) method applicable to open-shell nuclei. The algebraic equations for low-order approximations, i.e., BIMSRG(1) and BIMSRG(2), can be derived manually without much difficulty. However, such a methodology becomes already impractical and error prone for the derivation of the BIMSRG(3) equations, which are eventually needed to reach high accuracy. Based on a diagrammatic formulation of BIMSRG theory, the second objective of the present paper is thus to describe the third version (v3.0) of the code that automatically (1) generates all valid BIMSRG(n) diagrams and (2) evaluates their algebraic expressions in a matter of seconds. This is achieved in such a way that equations can easily be retrieved for both the flow equation and the Magnus expansion formulations of BIMSRG. Expanding on this work, the first future objective is to numerically implement BIMSRG(2) (eventually BIMSRG(3)) equations and perform ab initio calculations of mid-mass open-shell nuclei.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Investigation of Application Specific k eff Sensitivities to Existing and New Subcritical and Critical Experiments

Integral subcritical and critical experiments are essential in providing validation of computational codes which improve confidence in the predicted k eff results of specific applications. This work discusses the relevance of existing integral subcritical and critical experiments to applications far reaching across the nuclear complex. These applications include Travelling Wave Reactors (TWR), Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY), and plutonium reflected by tantalum. The primary goal of this work is to improve knowledge of energy-dependent cross-section sensitivities for specific applications, identify nuclear data gaps in existing experiments, enable an optimized design of new experiments to address these gaps, and design practical new experiments that could be executed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) that have a high-value to these applications.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Extend an innovative HPC-Compatible Multiple Temporal-spatial Resolution Concurrent Finite Element Modeling Approach to Guide Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive

Laser power bed fusing (PBF) additive manufacturing is a key enabling technology to manufacture highly complex and integrated automotive structures. However, the geometric complexity of PBF-AM technique also leads to highly non-uniform heating and cooling rate in the manufactured part, which may cause flaw formation and produce excessive and nonuniform residual stresses, which increase quality uncertainties and manufacture issues, leading to increases in cost and energy consumption in the form of rejected parts. In this research project, we developed an innovative Multi-Spatial-Temporal-Resolution Finite Element (MUST-FE) method and completed the corresponding high performance computation (HPC) platform-based in-house code, which enables high accuracy prediction of temperature and residual stress fields for component-scale PBF-AM manufacture in efficient computation time. The MUST-FE model is calibrated and validated with a “2D pad” AlSi10Mg experiments by matching the melt pool shape and dimension, and with a “XY-cross” AlSi10Mg experiment by matching the thermal distortion and residual stress. The innovative multi-resolution and concurrent modeling approach adopted in this code ensures accuracy and computational efficiency, which will enable energy-efficient and high-yield, low-cost manufacturing of optimized, qualifiable automotive structures and contribute towards reaching technical targets outlined in AMO’s Program Plan to develop additive manufacturing systems that deliver consistently reliable parts with predictable properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Integration of Ultrawide Bandgap Photoconducting Semiconductor Switches into High-Voltage, High-Current Pulser Systems

In this feasibility study we will evaluate the viability of integrating ultrawide bandgap (UWBG) photoconducting semiconductor switches (PCSS) in high-voltage pulser systems capable of driving low-impedance dynamic loads critical for next-generation accelerator and RF-source applications. The project consisted of developing modelling tools that would inform design of UWBG PCSS packages that could be mounted onto conventional circuit boards. Specifically, we are interested in evaluating the following through simulation software: (1) resistance to electrical breakdown (2) proximity effects due to high-frequency skin effect (3) transient behavior from switching (4) effective transmission of RF signals (5) thermal dynamics of the switch under operation (6) sensitivity to inhomogeneities in optical excitation of the material (7) cross-talk effects from parallel switching structures, and (8) susceptibility of system to damaged components. The project resulted in the development of a special-purpose circuit code that implements photoconductivity physics. This code was used to evaluate objectives 1-6 above, identifying a critical requirement associated with the need for fine control of dopant concentrations in the UWBG material to reach an optimal solution for voltage standoff and laser light responsivity requirements. In addition, we identified that the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of this material was typically not well-measured and developed a platform for measuring both the “dark” and “illuminated” conductivity on real physical switches in the lab to better inform our models.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

An algorithm for computing the 2D structure of fast rotating stars

Stars may be understood as self-gravitating masses of a compressible fluid whose radiative cooling is compensated by nuclear reactions or gravitational contraction. The understanding of their time evolution requires the use of detailed models that account for a complex microphysics including that of opacities, equation of state and nuclear reactions. The present stellar models are essentially one-dimensional, namely spherically symmetric. However, the interpretation of recent data like the surface abundances of elements or the distribution of internal rotation have reached the limits of validity of one-dimensional models because of their very simplified representation of large-scale fluid flows. In this article, we describe the ESTER code, which is the first code able to compute in a consistent way a two-dimensional model of a fast rotating star including its large-scale flows. Compared to classical 1D stellar evolution codes, many numerical innovations have been introduced to deal with this complex problem. First, the spectral discretization based on spherical harmonics and Chebyshev polynomials is used to represent the 2D axisymmetric fields. A nonlinear mapping maps the spheroidal star and allows a smooth spectral representation of the fields. The properties of Picard and Newton iterations for solving the nonlinear partial differential equations of the problem are discussed. It turns out that the Picard scheme is efficient on the computation of the simple polytropic stars, but Newton algorithm is unsurpassed when stellar models include complex microphysics. Finally, we discuss the numerical efficiency of our solver of Newton iterations. This linear solver combines the iterative Conjugate Gradient Squared algorithm together with an LU-factorization serving as a preconditioner of the Jacobian matrix.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Advancing Artificial Intelligence with Liquid Argon Neutrino Experiments (Technical Report)

The grant allowed two main contributions: 1) The development of a first successful demonstration of the employment of Optimal Transport in liquid argon time projection chamber neutrino detectors. Optimal Transport, used in other contexts and specifically with LHC calorimetric data, was adapted to address a key particle identification challenge in LArTPCs: the separation of pi0 backgrounds from single-electrons produced in charged-current electron neutrino interactions. The work, leveraging ML methods such as k-nearest-neighbor (kNN) and support-vector-machine (SVM), showed an increase in background rejection of a factor of two or more. Work is now ongoing to incorporate this development in physics analyses for LArTPC experiments and more broadly expand the use of OT in LArTPC detectors including DUNE. This work was done in collaboration with the phenomenology group led by Nathaniel Craig at UCSB. 2) The deployment of NuGraph2, a graph neural network developed for LArTPC reconstruction, in the MicroBooNE experiment. NuGraph2 uses novel graph-neural-network methods on the rather simple LArTPC inputs of reconstructed hits, greatly simplifying the workflow compared to the use of waveform or signal-deconvolved wire ROIs. The network performed particle classification and was shown to address many challenging problems in LArTPC imaging including track-shower separation and the identification of protons and charged pions from primary muons. Our group collaborated with Giuseppe Cerati (FNAL scientist) who is one of the core developers of NuGraph2 to integrate this tool in MicroBooNE’s analysis framework. This consisted in tow key contributions: a) Studying performance on real data, which came with several months of iterations because the MC-trained version of the network was found to show significant bias that our group investigated and addressed. b) Integrating the output hit labeling of NuGraph2 into the existing particle tracking and shower reconstruction code. As a result of this work led by our team NuGraph2 is now enabling a suite of new analyses which benefit from enhanced capabilities and thus broader physics reach. The grant supported primarily the salary of UCSB graduate student Chuyue “Michaelia” Fang as well as partial summer salary support for PI Caratelli. Some funds were used for travel by Michaelia to ML related schools and conferences.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗