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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

Solar Effects on Global Climate Due to Cosmic Rays and Solar Energetic Particles

Although the work reported here does not directly connect solar variability with global climate change, this research establishes a plausible quantitative causative link between observed solar activity and apparently correlated variations in terrestrial climate parameters. Specifically, we have demonstrated that ion-mediated nucleation of atmospheric particles is a likely, and likely widespread, phenomenon that relates solar variability to changes in the microphysical properties of clouds. To investigate this relationship, we have constructed and applied a new model describing the formation and evolution of ionic clusters under a range of atmospheric conditions throughout the lower atmosphere. The activation of large ionic clusters into cloud nuclei is predicted to be favorable in the upper troposphere and mesosphere, and possibly in the lower stratosphere. The model developed under this grant needs to be extended to include additional cluster families, and should be incorporated into microphysical models to further test the cause-and-effect linkages that may ultimately explain key aspects of the connections between solar variability and climate.

Turco, R. P.↗

X-ray Properties of an Unbiased Hard X-ray Detected Sample of AGN

The SWIFT gamma ray observatory's Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) has detected a sample of active galactic nuclei (AGN) based solely on their hard X-ray flux (14-195keV). In this paper, we present for the first time XMM-Newton X-ray spectra for 22 BAT AGXs with no previously analyzed X-ray spectra. If our sources are a representative sample of the BAT AGN, as we claim, our results present for the first time global X-ray properties of an unbiased towards absorption (n(sub H) < 3 x 10(exp 25)/sq cm), local (< z >= 0.03), AGN sample. We find 9/22 low absorption (n(sub H) < 10(exp 23)/sq cm), simple power law model sources, where 4 of these sources have a statistically significant soft component. Among these sources, we find the presence of a warm absorber statistically significant for only one Seyfert 1 source, contrasting with the ASCA results of Reynolds (1997) and George et al. (1998), who find signatures of warm absorption in half or more of their Seyfert 1 samples at similar redshifts. Additionally, the remaining sources (13122) have more complex spectra, well-fit by an absorbed power law at E > 2.0 keV. Five of the complex sources (NGC 612, ESO 362-G018, MRK 417, ESO 506-G027, and NGC 6860) are classified as Compton-thick candidates. Further, we find four more sources (SWIFT J0641.3+3257, SWIFT J0911.2+4533, SWIFT J1200.8+0650, and NGC 4992) with properties consistent with the hidden/buried AGN reported by Ueda et al. (2007). Finally, we include a comparison of the XMM EPIC spectra with available SWIFT X-ray Telescope (XRT) observations. From these comparisons, we find 6/16 sources with varying column densities, 6/16 sources with varying power law indices, and 13/16 sources with varying fluxes, over periods of hours to months. Flux and power law index are correlated for objects where both parameters vary.

Winter, Lisa M.↗

Characterization of Ni19.5Ti50.5Pd25Pt5 High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloy Springs and their Potential Application in Aeronautics

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been used as actuators in many different industries since the discovery of the shape memory effect, but the use of SMAs as actuation devices in aeronautics has been limited due to the temperature constraints of commercially available materials. Consequently, work is being done at NASA's Glenn Research Center to develop new SMAs capable of being used in high temperature environments. One of the more promising high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs) is Ni19.5Ti50.5Pd25Pt5. Recent work has shown that this material is capable of being used in operating environments of up to 250 C. This material has been shown to have very useful actuation capabilities, demonstrating repeatable strain recoveries up to 2.5% in the presence of an externally applied load. Based on these findings, further work has been initiated to explore potential applications and alternative forms of this alloy, such as springs. Thus, characterization of Ni19.5Ti50.5Pd25Pt5 springs, including their mechanical response and how variations in this response correlate to changes in geometric parameters, are discussed. The effects of loading history, or training, on spring behavior were also investigated. A comparison of the springs with wire actuators is made and the benefits of using one actuator form as opposed to the other discussed. These findings are used to discuss design considerations for a surge-control mechanism that could be used in the centrifugal compressor of a T-700 helicopter engine.

Stebner, Aaron↗

MARIE Measurements and Model Predictions of Solar Modulation of Galactic Cosmic Rays at Mars

Recent data from the MARIE (Martian Radiation Environment Experiment) instrument on board the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft currently in Mars orbit are presented. It is shown that the short-term modulations of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) are well described by correlating the so lar modulation parameter, <1>, with Earth-based neutron monitor counts using a 85-day time lag and the NASA Models - HZETRN (High Z and Energy Transport) and QMSFRG (Quantum Multiple Scattering theory of nuclear Fragmentation). The dose rates observed by the MARIE instrument are within 10% of the model calculations.

Saganti, P. B.↗

Identifying Indicators of Harmful Algal Blooms in Coastal Atacama Using Satellite Image Processing Techniques to Improve Industry and Authority Response

Over the past decade, Chile has experienced a significant rise in both the frequency and intensity of coastal Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These bloom events are a growing concern for the Atacama Region especially, with potential impacts on human health, aquaculture, and the environment. HABs are caused by an excess proliferation of microalgae, with certain algae species commonly found in Chilean HABs capable of producing toxins which can poison fish, toxify shellfish, and cause illness or death when ingested by humans. Collaborating with the Ministry of Health of Chile, Centro de Información de Recursos Naturales, the University of Atacama, and the Embassy of Chile’s Agricultural Office, this study identifies potential indicators of HABs in the Coastal Atacama Region using NASA Earth observations. Satellite imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite was used for the identification of chlorophyll-a which provides direct estimates of the algae pigment’s concentration in water bodies. In addition, the spatiotemporal patterns of several other parameters were examined to identify correlations with occurrences of HABs, including sea surface temperature and normalized fluorescence line height using Aqua MODIS, Normalized Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI) using Landsat 8, and ocean wind speed measurements from the NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System. Analysis of these patterns revealed hotspots of high chlorophyll-a concentrations from the years 2014 to 2022, the most major of which occurring in the coastal zones of Chañaral, Bahía Inglesa, and Huasco. Also, through the use of a similarity search conducted, the seasonal variation of these indicators was mapped to highlight areas with great likelihood of experiencing HABs in the future. The results can guide future efforts for in-situ water sampling, toxin analysis and assessment, and HAB monitoring and prevention.

Cody O'Ferrall↗

Joint analysis of Dark Energy Survey Year 3 data and CMB lensing from SPT and P l a n c k . II. Cross-correlation measurements and cosmological constraints

Cross-correlations of galaxy positions and galaxy shears with maps of gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are sensitive to the distribution of large-scale structure in the Universe. Such cross-correlations are also expected to be immune to some of the systematic effects that complicate correlation measurements internal to galaxy surveys. We present measurements and modeling of the cross-correlations between galaxy positions and galaxy lensing measured in the first three years of data from the Dark Energy Survey with CMB lensing maps derived from a combination of data from the 2500 deg 2 SPT-SZ survey conducted with the South Pole Telescope and full-sky data from the Planck satellite. The CMB lensing maps used in this analysis have been constructed in a way that minimizes biases from the thermal Sunyaev Zel’dovich effect, making them well suited for cross-correlation studies. The total signal-to-noise of the cross-correlation measurements is 23.9 (25.7) when using a choice of angular scales optimized for a linear (nonlinear) galaxy bias model. Here we use the cross-correlation measurements to obtain constraints on cosmological parameters. For our fiducial galaxy sample, which consist of four bins of magnitude-selected galaxies, we find constraints of Ω m =0.272$^{+0.032}_{-0.052}$ and S 8 ≡σ8$\sqrt{Ω_m/0.3}$=0.736$^{+0.032}_{-0.028}$ (Ω m =0.245$^{+0.026}_{-0.044}$ and S 8 =0.734$^{+0.035}_{-0.028}$) when assuming linear (nonlinear) galaxy bias in our modeling. Considering only the cross-correlation of galaxy shear with CMB lensing, we find Ω m =0.270$^{+0.043}_{-0.061}$ and S 8 =0.740$^{+0.034}_{-0.029}$. Our constraints on S8 are consistent with recent cosmic shear measurements, but lower than the values preferred by primary CMB measurements from Planck.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Correlation of the ionisation response at selected points of IC sensitive regions with SEE sensitivity parameters under pulsed laser irradiation

The statistics of the ionisation response amplitude measured at selected points and their surroundings within sensitive regions of integrated circuits (ICs) under focused femtosecond laser irradiation is obtained for samples chosen from large batches of two types of ICs. A correlation between these data and the results of full-chip scanning is found for each type. The criteria for express validation of IC single-event effect (SEE) hardness based on ionisation response measurements at selected points are discussed. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Blinding multiprobe cosmological experiments

ABSTRACT The goal of blinding is to hide an experiment’s critical results – here the inferred cosmological parameters – until all decisions affecting its analysis have been finalized. This is especially important in the current era of precision cosmology, when the results of any new experiment are closely scrutinized for consistency or tension with previous results. In analyses that combine multiple observational probes, like the combination of galaxy clustering and weak lensing in the Dark Energy Survey (DES), it is challenging to blind the results while retaining the ability to check for (in)consistency between different parts of the data. We propose a simple new blinding transformation, which works by modifying the summary statistics that are input to parameter estimation, such as two-point correlation functions. The transformation shifts the measured statistics to new values that are consistent with (blindly) shifted cosmological parameters while preserving internal (in)consistency. We apply the blinding transformation to simulated data for the projected DES Year 3 galaxy clustering and weak lensing analysis, demonstrating that practical blinding is achieved without significant perturbation of internal-consistency checks, as measured here by degradation of the χ2 between the data and best-fitting model. Our blinding method’s performance is expected to improve as experiments evolve to higher precision and accuracy.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

CCD surface photometry of field Galaxies. II - Bulge/disk decompositions

Major- and minor-axis profiles given previously for 105 galaxies of all morphological types are decomposed into bulge and disk components. In addition, three model-independent parameters which measure the mean surface brightness, scale radius, and degree of light concentration are derived. The best correlations are found between Hubble type, concentration, bulge/disk ratio, and mean surface brightness. Correlations between the individual bulge and disk parameters generally show large scatter. The properties of S0 galaxies are inconsistent with their having been formed from spiral galaxies via gas depletion; their properties are intermediate between those of ellipticals and spirals. Most elliptical galaxies probably do not form by the merging of disk galaxies. The difficulty of distinguishing between elliptical and S0 galaxies in some cases is emphasized.

Kent, D. M.↗

Correlation, Cost Risk, and Geometry

The geometric viewpoint identifies the choice of a correlation matrix for the simulation of cost risk with the pairwise choice of data vectors corresponding to the parameters used to obtain cost risk. The correlation coefficient is the cosine of the angle between the data vectors after translation to an origin at the mean and normalization for magnitude. Thus correlation is equivalent to expressing the data in terms of a non orthogonal basis. To understand the many resulting phenomena requires the use of the tensor concept of raising the index to transform the measured and observed covariant components into contravariant components before vector addition can be applied. The geometric viewpoint also demonstrates that correlation and covariance are geometric properties, as opposed to purely statistical properties, of the variates. Thus, variates from different distributions may be correlated, as desired, after selection from independent distributions. By determining the principal components of the correlation matrix, variates with the desired mean, magnitude, and correlation can be generated through linear transforms which include the eigenvalues and the eigenvectors of the correlation matrix. The conversion of the data to a non orthogonal basis uses a compound linear transformation which distorts or stretches the data space. Hence, the correlated data does not have the same properties as the uncorrelated data used to generate it. This phenomena is responsible for seemingly strange observations such as the fact that the marginal distributions of the correlated data can be quite different from the distributions used to generate the data. The joint effect of statistical distributions and correlation remains a fertile area for further research. In terms of application to cost estimating, the geometric approach demonstrates that the estimator must have data and must understand that data in order to properly choose the correlation matrix appropriate for a given estimate. There is a general feeling by employers and managers that the field of cost requires little technical or mathematical background. Contrary to that opinion, this paper demonstrates that a background in mathematics equivalent to that needed for typical engineering and scientific disciplines at the masters or doctorate level is appropriate within the field of cost risk.

Dean, Edwin B.↗

An analysis of the first two years of GASP data

Distributions of mean ozone levels from the first two years of data from the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) show spatial and temporal variations in agreement with previous measurements. The standard deviations of these distributions reflect the large natural variability of ozone levels in the altitude range of the GASP measurements. Monthly mean levels of ozone below the tropopause show an annual cycle with a spring maximum which is believed to result from transport from the stratosphere. Correlations of ozone with independent meteorological parameters, and meteorological parameters obtained by the GASP systems show that this transport occurs primarily through cyclogenesis at mid-latitudes. The GASP water vapor data, analyzed with respect to the location of the tropopause, correlates well with the simultaneously obtained ozone and cloud data.

Holdeman, J. D.↗

Quantification of Uncertainties and Correlations in Criticality Experiments With SCALE

Uncertainties in benchmark keff values due to uncertainties in individual components, such as geometry and material compositions, are rigorously quantified and documented in evaluations provided in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (IHECSBE). Correlations between the uncertainties may affect not only the overall uncertainty for a series of benchmarks but also the magnitude of computational biases and bias uncertainties quantified by validation methods. The impact of the correlations in experimental uncertainties is especially important in the use of advanced validation methods such as Generalized Linear Least Squares (GLLS), as implemented in the SCALE TSURFER code. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that biases computed with GLLS procedures vary by as much as 75%, depending on the selection of the experimental uncertainty correlation value. of the >4000 benchmarks documented in the IHECSBE; experimental correlation data are only available in the DICE database tool for ~60 benchmarks. Additional data are available in DICE to identify the potential for correlations between evaluations, but the values of correlations are not quantified. The new Sampler module of SCALE provides stochastic capabilities to quantify uncertainties and correlations in keff or any other measured value for one or more benchmark experiments due to uncertainties in individual sources of uncertainty, such as geometry and material composition. The values for individual parameters in the input model are randomly modified within the reported uncertainty, and a distribution function and a series of perturbed keff values are obtained. Where sufficient samples are made, the distribution of the perturbed keff values is used to determine the uncertainty in the keff due to uncertainties in the input parameters. In cases where the same uncertainty parameters influence multiple experiments, such as where the same fissile solution or fuel rods are used for many critical measurements, the simultaneous perturbation of an uncertain parameter for multiple cases provides the correlation in keff uncertainties between the different configurations. The parametric uncertainty capabilities of Sampler for a single system are demonstrated for a benchmark exercise from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety (WPNCS) Expert Group on Uncertainty Analysis for Criticality Safety Assessment (UACSA) Phase II benchmark. Sampler is further applied to quantify correlations among benchmarks from a series of highly enriched uranium (HEU) solution (SOL) thermal spectrum (THERM) systems, through the analysis of the 10 cases from HEU-SOL-THERM-001 from the IHECSBE.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Cosmological constraints from galaxy–lensing cross-correlations using BOSS galaxies with SDSS and CMB lensing

ABSTRACT We present cosmological parameter constraints based on a joint modelling of galaxy–lensing cross-correlations and galaxy clustering measurements in the SDSS, marginalizing over small-scale modelling uncertainties using mock galaxy catalogues, without explicit modelling of galaxy bias. We show that our modelling method is robust to the impact of different choices for how galaxies occupy dark matter haloes and to the impact of baryonic physics (at the $\sim 2{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ level in cosmological parameters) and test for the impact of covariance on the likelihood analysis and of the survey window function on the theory computations. Applying our results to the measurements using galaxy samples from BOSS and lensing measurements using shear from SDSS galaxies and CMB lensing from Planck, with conservative scale cuts, we obtain $S_8\equiv \left(\frac{\sigma _8}{0.8228}\right)^{0.8}\left(\frac{\Omega _\mathrm{ m}}{0.307}\right)^{0.6}=0.85\pm 0.05$ (stat.) using LOWZ × SDSS galaxy lensing, and S8 = 0.91 ± 0.1 (stat.) using combination of LOWZ and CMASS × Planck CMB lensing. We estimate the systematic uncertainty in the galaxy–galaxy lensing measurements to be $\sim 6{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ (dominated by photometric redshift uncertainties) and in the galaxy–CMB lensing measurements to be $\sim 3{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, from small-scale modelling uncertainties including baryonic physics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Crossing resonance of wave fields in a medium with an inhomogeneous coupling parameter

The dynamic susceptibilities (Green’s functions) of the system of two coupled wave fields of different physical natures in a medium with an arbitrary relation between the mean value ɛ and rms fluctuation Δɛ of the coupling parameter have been examined. The self-consistent approximation involving all diagrams with noncrossing correlation lines has been developed for the case where the initial Green’s function of the homogeneous medium describes the system of coupled wave fields. The analysis has been performed for spin and elastic waves. Expressions have been obtained for the diagonal elements G{sub mm} and G{sub uu} of the matrix Green’s function, which describe spin and elastic waves in the case of magnetic and elastic excitations, and for the off-diagonal elements G{sub mu} and G{sub um}, which describe these waves in the case of cross excitation. Change in the forms of these elements has been numerically studied for the case of one-dimensional inhomogeneities with an increase in Δɛ and with a decrease in ɛ under the condition that the sum of the squares of these quantities is conserved: two peaks in the frequency dependences of imaginary parts of G{sub mm} and G{sub uu} are broadened and then joined into one broad peak; a fine structure appears in the form of narrow resonance at the vertex of the Green’s function of one wave field and narrow antiresonance at the vertex of the Green’s function of the other field; peaks of the fine structure are broadened and then disappear with an increase in the correlation wavenumber of the inhomogeneities of the coupling parameter; and the amplitudes of the off-diagonal elements vanish in the limit ɛ → 0.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Time-Reversed Particle-Vibration Loops and Nuclear Gamow-Teller Response

The nuclear response theory for charge-exchange modes in the relativistic particle-vibration coupling approach is extended to include for the first time particle-vibration coupling effects in the ground state of the parent nucleus. In a framework based on the effective meson-nucleon Lagrangian, we investigate the role of such complex ground-state correlations in the description of Gamow-Teller transitions in 90 Zr in both (p, n) and (n, p) channels. In this work, the particle-vibration coupling effects are calculated without introducing new parameters. We find that this new correlation mechanism is fully responsible for the appearance of the strength in the n, p) branch. Comparison of our results to the available experimental data shows a very good agreement up to excitation energies beyond the giant resonance region when taking into account a phenomenological admixture of the isovector spin monopole transitions. The parent-daughter binding-energy differences are also greatly improved by the inclusion of the new correlations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Effect of ohmic, mass-transfer, and kinetic resistances on linear-sweep voltammetry in a cylindrical-pore electrode

A means is presented to account for the effect of ohmic, mass-transfer, and kinetic resistances on linear-sweep voltammograms by modeling a pore in a porous matrix as a cylindrical-pore electrode, and solving the mass and charge conservation equations in the context of this geometry for the simply redox reaction O + ne(-) yield R where both O and R are soluble species. Both analytical and numerical techniques are used to solve the governing equations. The calculated peak currents and potentials are correlated by empirical formulas to the measurable parameters: sweep rate, concentration of the redox species, diffusion coefficient, conductivity of the electrolyte, and pore dimensions. Using the correlations, a methodology is established for determining if the redox reaction kinetics are irreversible or reversible (Nernstian). If the reaction is irreversible, it is shown how the standard rate constant and the transfer coefficient may be extracted from linear-sweep voltammetry data, or, if the reaction is reversible, how the number of electrons transferred may be deduced.

Weidner, John W.↗

CMB lensing forecasts for constraining the primordial perturbations: adding to the CMB temperature and polarization information

We forecast how current (PLANCK) and future (PRISM) cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments constrain the adiabatic mode and its admixtures with primordial isocurvature modes. The forecasts are based on measurements of the reconstructed CMB lensing potential and lensing-induced CMB B-mode polarization anisotropies in combination with the CMB temperature and E-mode polarization anisotropies. We first study the characteristic features of the CMB temperature, polarization and lensing spectra for adiabatic and isocurvature modes. We then consider how information from the CMB lensing potential and B-mode polarization induced by lensing can improve constraints on an admixture of adiabatic and three correlated isocurvature modes. We find that the CMB lensing spectrum improves constraints on isocurvature modes by at most 10% for the PLANCK and PRISM experiments. The limited improvement is a result of the low amplitude of isocurvature lensing spectra and cancellations between these spectra that render them only slightly detectable. There is a larger gain from using the lensing-induced B-mode polarization spectrum measured by PRISM. In this case constraints on isocurvature mode amplitudes improve by as much as 40% relative to the CMB temperature and E-mode polarization constraints. The addition of both lensing and lensing-induced B-mode polarization information constrains isocurvature mode amplitudes at the few percent level or better. In the case of admixtures of the adiabatic mode with one or two correlated isocurvature modes we find that constraints at the percent level or better are possible. We investigate the dependence of our results to various assumptions in our analysis, such as the inclusion of dark energy parameters, the CMB temperature-lensing correlation, and the presence of primordial tensor modes, and find that these assumptions do not significantly change our main results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ostreopsis cf. ovata dynamics in the NW Mediterranean Sea in relation to biotic and abiotic factors

An expansion of the distribution of Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a dinoflagellate which produces palytoxin-like compounds, has been reported in recent years. Economical and social interests are affected by blooms, as they are responsible for respiratory and skin problems in humans and may cause damage to marine organisms. In order to identify the most influential environmental factors that trigger proliferations of O. cf. ovata in the area of the adjacent shallow rocky coast of the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean Sea) a three-year survey was performed on the metaphytic microalgae community growing on the macrophytes Jania rubens and Corallina elongata. Small-size diatoms were more abundant than dinoflagellates; O. cf. ovata was identified as the only species present from the genus. Seawater temperature was the primary driver defining the ecological niche of O. cf. ovata. Freshwater and groundwater fluxes were more pronounced in southern than in northern sites, which may have resulted in a distinct O. cf. ovata spatial distribution, with the highest records of abundance and more frequent blooms in the north. In consequence, negative correlations between the abundance of O. cf. ovata and nitrate concentrations and significant positive correlation with salinity were observed. The temporal pattern of O. cf. ovata dynamics from mid-July to early-November is probably due to the fact that this species is observed only above a certain threshold temperature of seawater. Metaphytic cells of O. cf. ovata were smaller in the northern site than in the south, possibly as a result of an increase in cell division, coinciding with higher abundance, and this could be an indicator of favorable conditions. Toxicity in planktonic cells was negatively correlated with cell abundance in the water column, achieving maximum concentrations of 25 pg. PLTX eq cell{sup −1}. - Highlights: • Presence of a single Ostreopsis genotype in confirmed through qPCR. • Temperature confirmed as the most important parameter affecting its distribution. • Salinity positively correlated with Ostreopsis cf. ovata abundance. • Ostreopsis cf. ovata has a restricted ecological niche. • Toxicity in Ostreopsis planktonic cells negatively correlated with cell abundance.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗