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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Perturbative Quantum Monte Carlo Method for Nuclear Physics

While first order perturbation theory is routinely used in quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) calculations, higher-order terms present significant numerical challenges. We present a new approach for computing perturbative corrections in projection QMC calculations. Here we demonstrate the method by computing nuclear ground state energies up to second order for a realistic chiral interaction. We calculate the binding energies of several light nuclei up to 16 O by expanding the Hamiltonian around the Wigner SU(4) limit and find good agreement with data. In contrast to the natural ordering of the perturbative series, we find remarkably large second-order energy corrections. This occurs because the perturbing interactions break the symmetries of the unperturbed Hamiltonian. Our method is free from the sign problem and can be applied to QMC calculations for many-body systems in nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, ultracold atoms, and quantum chemistry.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Logarithmic enhancements in conformal perturbation theory and their real time interpretation

We study various corrections of correlation functions to leading order in conformal perturbation theory, both on the cylinder and on the plane. Many problems on the cylinder are mathematically equivalent to those in the plane if we give the perturbations a position dependent scaling profile. The integrals to be done are then similar to those in the study of correlation functions with one additional insertion at the center of the profile. We will be primarily interested in the divergence structure of these corrections when computed in dimensional regularization. In particular, we show that the logarithmic divergences (enhancements) that show up in the plane under these circumstances can be understood in terms of resonant behavior in time dependent perturbation theory, for a transition between states that is induced by an oscillatory perturbation on the cylinder.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Verification of Flux Sensitivity Estimates Using the MCNP Tally Perturbation Tool

Nuclear data is commonly used in applications such as nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and criticality safety. More specifically, nuclear data is used in predictive simulation codes like the Monte-Carlo N-Particle (MCNP ® ) transport code, Serpent, and similar radiation transport codes. The improvement of nuclear data enables more precise and accurate simulations, which result in higher fidelity designs and reduced operational/procedural costs. Therefore, the improvement of nuclear data is of paramount importance across the nuclear community. Nuclear data is improved and validated through integral benchmark experiments. The design of benchmark experiments is an extensive process; therefore, these experiments are often optimized on multiple characteristics, including sensitivity to the nuclear data, during the design process. Sensitivity is a measure of how much a quantity changes due to changes in independent variables such as experimental configuration. An experimental design that has a larger sensitivity to the nuclear data of interest will have a larger impact on the accuracy and precision of the validated data. Past integral benchmark experiments have primarily used the effective multiplication factor ($k_{eff}$) as the predominant measured quantity; however, experiments designed with other quantities in mind would be able to optimize on validating different areas of the nuclear data. A primary goal of the EUCLID project is to design, constrain, and reduce compensating errors in experiments focused on quantities other than $k_{eff}$ to better validate nuclear data across the board. Currently, there is a capability in MCNP to easily calculate the sensitivity of $k_{eff}$ to specific nuclear data of numerous reactions types and isotopes (KSEN card); however, the sensitivity of other quantities must be estimated in more strenuous manners. For example, the perturbation feature (PERT card) of MCNP can be used to estimate first-order sensitivities of some response in fixed source simulations. A recent announcement revealed that the first- and second-order perturbation features in previous releases of MCNP contained a bug. It was identified that particles were being scored into the wrong energy bin. The bug is in the most recent public release (MCNP6.2); however, a patch has been added to the most up to date version (MCNP6.2.2) that has not been released publicly. A direct comparison of the PERT card results for an F4 (neutron flux averaged over a cell) tally before and after the patch are shown in figure 1. All simulations used in the sensitivity estimates in this report were performed with MCNP6.2.2. This work verifies the patched MCNP perturbation tool by comparing first order sensitivities made using the PERT card to estimates made using manual perturbation of the compact ENDF (ACE) files.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Historical Contingency in Microbial Resilience to Hydrologic Perturbations

Development of reliable biogeochemical models requires a mechanistic consideration of microbial interactions with hydrology. Microbial response to and its recovery after hydrologic perturbations (i.e., resilience) is a critical component to understand in this regard, but generally difficult to predict because the impacts of future events can be dependent on the history of perturbations (i.e., historical contingency). Fundamental issues underlying this phenomenon include how microbial resilience to hydrologic perturbations is influenced by historical contingency and how their relationships vary depending on the characteristics of microbial functions. To answer these questions, we considered a simple microbial community composed of two species that redundantly consume a common substrate but specialize in producing distinct products and developed a continuous flow reactor model where the two species grow with trade-offs along the flow rate. Simulations of this model revealed that (1) the history of hydrologic perturbations can lead to the shifts in microbial populations, which consequently affect the community's functional dynamics, and (2) while historical contingency in resilience was consistently predicted for all microbial functions, it was more pronounced for specialized functions, compared to the redundant function. As a signature of historical contingency, our model also predicted the emergence of hysteresis in the transitions across conditions, a critical aspect that can affect transient formation of intermediate compounds in biogeochemistry. This work presents microbial growth traits and their functional redundancy or specialization as fundamental factors that control historical contingencies in resilience.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Canonical Transformation to Eliminate Resonant Perturbations. I

We study dynamical systems that admit action-angle variables at leading order, which are subject to nearly resonant perturbations. If the frequencies characterizing the unperturbed system are not in resonance, the long-term dynamical evolution may be integrated by orbit-averaging over the high-frequency angles, thereby evolving the orbit-averaged effect of the perturbations. It is well known that such integrators may be constructed via a canonical transformation, which eliminates the high-frequency variables from the orbit-averaged quantities. An example of this algorithm in celestial mechanics is the von Zeipel transformation. However, if the perturbations are inside or close to a resonance, i.e., the frequencies of the unperturbed system are commensurate; these canonical transformations are subject to divergences. We introduce a canonical transformation that eliminates the high-frequency phase variables in the Hamiltonian without encountering divergences. This leads to a well-behaved symplectic integrator. We demonstrate the algorithm through two examples: a resonantly perturbed harmonic oscillator and the gravitational three-body problem in mean motion resonance.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Uniform Analysis of Debris Disks with the Gemini Planet Imager. I. An Empirical Search for Perturbations from Planetary Companions in Polarized Light Images

The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) has excelled in imaging debris disks in the near-infrared. The GPI Exoplanet Survey imaged 24 debris disks in polarized H-band light, while other programs observed half of these disks in polarized J and/or K1 bands. Using these data, we present a uniform analysis of the morphology of each disk to find asymmetries suggestive of perturbations, particularly those due to planet–disk interactions. The multiwavelength surface brightness, disk color, and geometry permit the identification of any asymmetries such as warps or disk offsets from the central star. We find that 19 of the disks in this sample exhibit asymmetries in surface brightness, disk color, disk geometry, or a combination of the three, suggesting that for this sample, perturbations, as seen in scattered light, are common. The relationship between these perturbations and potential planets in the system is discussed. We also explore correlations among stellar temperatures, ages, disk properties, and observed perturbations. We find significant trends between the vertical aspect ratio and the stellar temperature, disk radial extent, and the dust grain size distribution power law, q. We also confirm a trend between the disk color and stellar effective temperature, where the disk becomes increasingly red/neutral with increasing temperature. Such results have important implications for the evolution of debris disk systems around stars of various spectral types.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1972

A shielding application of perturbation theory to determine changes in neutron and gamma doses due to changes in shield layers

The perturbation theory for fixed sources was applied to radiation shielding problems to determine changes in neutron and gamma ray doses due to changes in various shield layers. For a given source and detector position the perturbation method enables dose derivatives due to all layer changes to be determined from one forward and one inhomogeneous adjoint calculation. The direct approach requires two forward calculations for the derivative due to a single layer change. Hence, the perturbation method for obtaining dose derivatives permits an appreciable savings in computation for a multilayered shield. For an illustrative problem, a comparison was made of the fractional change in the dose per unit change in the thickness of each shield layer as calculated by perturbation theory and by successive direct calculations; excellent agreement was obtained between the two methods.

Fieno, D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Solar-wind structure determined by corotating coronal inhomogeneities. II - Arbitrary perturbations.

The problem of the solar-wind structure resulting from long-lived inhomogeneities in the solar corona has been extended within the framework of a linearized hydrodynamic approach to allow for arbitrary perturbations in the plasma parameters, namely, velocity, density, and temperature. By using a Parker model for the zero-order flow speed, solutions are given for perturbations imposed at the zero-order critical point. Using the restriction that the solutions must be regular at the critical point, it is possible to express all situations as a linear sum of the solutions for pure velocity, density, and temperature perturbations at the critical point. The results of the integrations for three inner-boundary conditions can be used as the elements of matrices that map arbitrary perturbations at one heliocentric distance to any other distance. One interesting feature of the solutions is that the amplitudes at earth for the pure initial temperature situation are larger than for the other two situations.

Siscoe, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cavity perturbation techniques for measurement of the microwave conductivity and dielectric constant of a bulk semiconductor material.

Cavity perturbation techniques offer a very sensitive and highly versatile means for studying the complex microwave conductivity of a bulk material. A knowledge of the cavity coupling factor in the absence of perturbation, together with the change in the reflected power and the cavity resonance frequency shift, are adequate for the determination of the material properties. This eliminates the need to determine the Q-factor change with perturbation which may lead to appreciable error, especially in the presence of mismatch loss. The measurement accuracy can also be improved by a proper choice of the cavity coupling factor prior to the perturbation.

Eldumiati, I. I.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The collision singularity in a perturbed n-body problem.

Collision of all bodies in a perturbed n-body problem is analyzed by an extension of the author's results for a perturbed two-body problem (1969). A procedure is set forth to prove that the absolute value of energy in a perturbed n-body system remains bounded until the moment of collision. It is shown that the characteristics of motion in both perturbed problems are basically the same.

Sperling, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A new method to compute lunisolar perturbations in satellite motions

A new method to compute lunisolar perturbations in satellite motion is proposed. The disturbing function is expressed by the orbital elements of the satellite and the geocentric polar coordinates of the moon and the sun. The secular and long periodic perturbations are derived by numerical integrations, and the short periodic perturbations are derived analytically. The perturbations due to the tides can be included in the same way. In the Appendix, the motion of the orbital plane for a synchronous satellite is discussed; it is concluded that the inclination cannot stay below 7 deg.

Kozai, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Correlation of magnetic perturbation inspection data with rolling element bearing fatigue results

A magnetic perturbation technique was used to nondestructively detect subsurface nonmetallic inclusions in the inner races of 207-size, deep groove ball bearings. The bearings were fatigue tested at 2750 rpm under a radial load of. The inner races were subsequently sectioned at fatigue spall locations and at magnetic perturbation signal locations. Analyses of the data indicated good correlation between magnetic perturbation signals and inclusion size and location. Exclusion of those bearings that had significant magnetic perturbation signals did not alter the statistical life of the bearings.

Parker, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A shielding application of perturbation theory to determine changes in neutron and gamma doses due to changes in shield layers

Perturbation theory for fixed sources was applied to radiation shielding problems to determine changes in neutron and gamma ray doses due to changes in various shield layers. For a given source and detector position, the perturbation method enables dose derivatives due to all layer changes to be determined from one forward and one inhomogeneous adjoint calculation. The direct approach requires two forward calculations for the derivative due to a single layer change. Hence, the perturbation method for a obtaining dose derivatives permits an appreciable savings in computation for a multilayered shield. A comparison was made of the fractional change in the dose per unit change in shield layer thickness as calculated by perturbation theory and by successive direct calculations; excellent agreement was obtained between the two methods.

Fieno, D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Revised Perturbation Statistics for the Global Scale Atmospheric Model

Magnitudes and scales of atmospheric perturbations about the monthly mean for the thermodynamic variables and wind components are presented by month at various latitudes. These perturbation statistics are a revision of the random perturbation data required for the global scale atmospheric model program and are from meteorological rocket network statistical summaries in the 22 to 65 km height range and NASA grenade and pitot tube data summaries in the region up to 90 km. The observed perturbations in the thermodynamic variables were adjusted to make them consistent with constraints required by the perfect gas law and the hydrostatic equation. Vertical scales were evaluated by Buell's depth of pressure system equation and from vertical structure function analysis. Tables of magnitudes and vertical scales are presented for each month at latitude 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 degrees.

Justus, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Time-dependent perturbation of a two-state quantum system by a sinusoidal field

Different methods for solving the 'two-level problem' are discussed, namely, the problem of what happens to a material system having only two nondegenerate energy levels when it is perturbed by an electromagnetic field that varies with time in a monochromatic sinusoidal fashion. The various methods discussed include: (1) the Sen Gupta technique using nondegenerate Rayleigh-Schroedinger perturbation theory, (2) the Salwen-Winter-Shirley partitioning perturbation technique, (3) the Shirley and series degenerate Rayleigh-Schroedinger expansion, (4) the degenerate Rayleigh-Schroedinger technique for considering high frequency fields, and (5) the singular perturbation expansion technique.

Dion, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Perturbation solutions for transonic flow on the blade-to-blade surface of compressor blade rows

A preliminary investigation was conducted to establish the theoretical basis of perturbation techniques with the objective of minimizing computational requirements associated with parametric studies of transonic flows in turbomachines. The theoretical analysis involved the development of perturbation methods for determining first order changes in the flow solution due to variations of one or more geometrical or flow parameters. The formulation is primarily directed toward transonic flows on the blade to blade surface of a single blade row compressor. Two different perturbation approaches were identified and studied. Applications and results of these methods for various perturbations are presented for selected two dimensional transonic cascade flows to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Additionally, it was found that, for flows with shock waves, proper account of shock displacement was crucial.

Stahara, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Perturbations of a close-earth satellite due to sunlight diffusely reflected from the earth. II - Variable albedo

A semianalytical method has been developed to calculate the radiation-pressure perturbations of a close-earth satellite due to sunlight reflected from the earth. It is assumed that the satellite is spherically symmetric and that the solar radiation is reflected from the earth according to Lambert's law. To account for the increasing reflectivity of the earth toward the poles, its albedo is assumed to have a latitudinal dependence. The effect of the terminator on the perturbations has been neglected. The perturbations within a particular revolution are given analytically, while the long-range perturbations are obtained by accumulation.

Lautman, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The correlation function for density perturbations in an expanding universe. IV - The evolution of the correlation function

The evolution of the two-point correlation function for the large-scale distribution of galaxies in an expanding universe is studied on the assumption that the perturbation densities lie in a Gaussian distribution centered on any given mass scale. The perturbations are evolved according to the Friedmann equation, and the correlation function for the resulting distribution of perturbations at the present epoch is calculated. It is found that: (1) the computed correlation function gives a satisfactory fit to the observed function in cosmological models with a density parameter (Omega) of approximately unity, provided that a certain free parameter is suitably adjusted; (2) the power-law slope in the nonlinear regime reflects the initial fluctuation spectrum, provided that the density profile of individual perturbations declines more rapidly than the -2.4 power of distance; and (3) both positive and negative contributions to the correlation function are predicted for cosmological models with Omega less than unity.

Mcclelland, J.↗