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OpenSolar: Promoting the Openness and Accessibility of Diverse Public Solar Datasets

Observational solar data is the foundation of data-driven research in solar power grid integration and power system operations. Compared to other fields in data science, the openness and accessibility of solar data is lacking, which prevents solar data science from catching up with the emerging trends of data science (e.g., deep learning). In this paper, OpenSolar, a package with both R and Python versions, is developed to enhance the openness and accessibility of publicly available solar datasets. The OpenSolar package provides access to multiple types of solar data, primarily from four datasets: (1) the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Solar Power Data for Integration Studies dataset, (2) the NREL Solar Radiation Research Laboratory dataset, (3) the Sheffield Solar-Microgen database, and (4) the Dataport database. Unlike other open solar datasets that only contain meteorological data, the four datasets in the OpenSolar package also contain behind-the-meter power data, sky images, and solar power data with satisfactory temporal and spatial resolution and coverage. The overview, quality-control methods, and potential usage of the datasets, in conjunction with sample code implementing the OpenSolar functions, are described in this paper. The package is expected to assist in bridging the gaps between the research fields of solar energy, power systems, and data science.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

On the Relative Strength of Electric and Magnetic ULF Wave Radial Diffusion During the March 2015 Geomagnetic Storm

In this paper, we study electron radial diffusion coefficients derived from Pc4-Pc5 ultralow frequency (ULF) wave power during the intense geomagnetic storm on 17–18 March 2015. During this storm the population of highly relativistic electrons was depleted within 2 hr of the storm commencement. This radial diffusion, depending upon the availability of source populations, can cause outward radial diffusion of particles and their loss to the magnetosheath, or inward transport and acceleration. Analysis of electromagnetic field measurements from Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES), Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellite, and ground-based magnetometers shows that the main phase storm-specific radial diffusion coefficients do not correspond to statistical estimates. Specifically, during the main phase, the electric diffusion ($D^{E}_{LL}$) is reduced, and the magnetic diffusion ($D^{B}_{LL}$) is increased, compared to empirical models based on Kp . Contrary to prior results, the main phase magnetic radial diffusion cannot be neglected. The largest discrepancies, and periods of dominance of $D^{B}_{LL}$ over $D^{E}_{LL}$, occur during intervals of strongly southward IMF. However, during storm recovery, both magnetic and electric diffusion rates are consistent with empirical estimates. Here, we further verify observationally, for the first time, an energy coherence for both $D^{B}_{LL}$ and $D^{E}_{LL}$ where diffusion coefficients do not depend on energy. We show that, at least for this storm, properly characterizing main phase radial diffusion, potentially associated with enhanced ULF wave magnetopause shadowing losses, cannot be done with standard empirical models. Modifications, associated especially with southward IMF, which enhance the effects of $D^{B}_{LL}$ and introduce larger main phase outward transport losses, are needed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Longitudinal dataset of human-building interactions in U.S. offices

Adaptive interactions between building occupants and their surrounding environments affect both energy use and environmental quality, as demonstrated by a large body of modeling research that quantifies the impacts of occupant behavior on building operations. Yet, available occupant field data are insufficient to explore the mechanisms that drive this interaction. This paper introduces data from a one year study of 24 U.S. office occupants that recorded a comprehensive set of possible exogenous and endogenous drivers of personal comfort and behavior over time. The longitudinal data collection protocol merges individual thermal comfort, preference, and behavior information from online daily surveys with datalogger readings of occupants’ local thermal environments and control states, yielding 2503 survey responses alongside tens of thousands of concurrent behavior and environment measurements. These data have been used to uncover links between the built environment, personal variables, and adaptive actions, and the data contribute to international research collaborations focused on understanding the human-building interaction.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

High-RRR thin-films of NB produced using energetic condensation from a coaxial, rotating vacuum ARC plasma (CEDTM)

We have recently demonstrated unprecedentedly high values of RRR (up to 542) in thin-films of pure Nb deposited on a-plane sapphire and MgO crystal substrates. The Nb films were grown using a vacuum arc discharge struck between a reactor grade Nb cathode rod (RRR {approx} 30) and a coaxial, semi-transparent Mo mesh anode, with a heated substrate placed just outside it. The substrates were pre-heated for several hours prior to deposition at different temperatures. Low pre-heat temperatures (<300 C) and deposition temperatures (<300 C) give low RRR (<50) films, whereas higher pre-heat (700 C) and coating temperatures (500 C) give RRR=214 on a-sapphire and RRR=542 on MgO. XRD (Bragg-Brentano scans and Pole Figures), EBSD and SIMS data reveal several features: (1) on asapphire, higher temperatures show better 3D registry for epitaxial growth of Nb; the crystal structure evolves from textured, polycrystalline (with twins) to single-crystal; (2) on MgO, there is a transition from {l_brace}110{r_brace} planes to {l_brace}100{r_brace} as the temperature is increased beyond 500 C. The dramatic increase in RRR (from {approx}10 at <300 C to {approx}500 at >600 C) is correlated with better epitaxial crystal structure in both a-sapphire and MgO substrate grown films. However, the SIMS data reveal that the most important requirement for high-RRR Nb films on either substrate is the reduction of impurities in the film, especially hydrogen. The hydrogen content in the MgO grown films is 1000 times lower than in bulk Nb tested as a reference from SRF cavity grade Nb. This result has potential implications for SRF accelerators. Coating bulk Nb cavities with an MgO layer followed by our CEDTM deposited Nb films, might create superior SRF cavities that would avoid Q-slope and operate at higher peak fields.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Atomic scale investigations of the gate controlled tunneling effect in graphyne nanoribbon

Configuration and transport properties of zigzag graphyne nanoribbon (n = 2) are investigated by means of the first-principles calculations and non-equilibrium Green's function in this work. We demonstrated the controllability of the graphyne's conductivity by gate bias, and the tunneling behavior induced by gate and drain voltages was investigated systemically. The characteristics of I{sub d}-V{sub d}, I{sub d}-V{sub g}, as well as the evolutions of current with electron temperature elevation were explored. The device exhibits a tunneling ratio around 10{sup 3}, and the state art of tunneling operations of the tunneling field effect transistor in this split-new material was achieved.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Note: Electronic damping of microphonics in superconducting resonators of a continuous wave linac

The paper presents an implementation technique to damp the microphonics in superconducting resonators utilizing the coupling between the electromagnetic and the mechanical modes of a resonator. In the technique used the resonant frequency variations are fed back to modulate the field amplitude through a suitable transfer function. Of the two transfer functions used in the experiments, one emulates a derivative action and is placed in a negative feedback configuration. The other transfer function is essentially a parallel combination of second order low pass filters and is used in a positive feedback configuration. Experiments with the Quarter Wave resonators of IUAC, New Delhi linac demonstrate that the damping of some of the modes increases significantly with the introduction of this feedback leading to a reduction in power required for field stabilization and quieter operation of the RF control system.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Influence of impurities on the transition from minority to mode conversion heating in ({sup 3}He)-H)- plasmas

Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is one of the main auxiliary heating systems used in present-day tokamaks and is planned to be installed in ITER. In the initial full-field phase of ITER operating with hydrogen majority plasmas, fundamental resonance heating of helium-3 ions is one of a few ICRH schemes available. Past JET experiments with the carbon wall revealed a significant impact of impurities on the ICRH performance in ({sup 3}He)-H plasmas. A significant reduction of the helium-3 concentration, at which the transition from minority ion to mode conversion heating occurs, was found to be due to a high plasma contamination with carbon ions. In this paper we discuss the effect of Be and another impurity species present at JET after the installation of a new ITER-like wall on the transition helium-3 concentration in ({sup 3}He)-H plasmas. We suggest a potential method for controlling helium-3 level needed for a specific ICRH regime by puffing an extra helium-4 gas to the plasma.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fast wave heating in the NSTX-Upgrade device

NSTX-Upgrade will operate with toroidal magnetic fields (B{sub T}) up to 1 T, nearly twice the value used in the experiments on NSTX, and the available NBI power will be doubled. The doubling of B{sub T} while retaining the 30 MHz RF source frequency has moved the heating regime from the high harmonic fast wave (HHFW) regime used in NSTX to the mid harmonic fast wave (MHFW) regime. By making use of the full wave code AORSA, this work shows that direct ion damping (mainly by thermal ions localized at the 5th harmonic resonance) might be significant in NSTX-Upgrade under TRANSP predicted full performance conditions and the electron and ion absorption is sensitive to the ratio of electron and ion temperature. Launching at high toroidal wave number appears to be one way to significantly reduce the ion damping. By using the extended AORSA code, which includes a detailed description of the scrape-off layer in the field solutions, we found a large electric field amplitude outside of the last closed flux surface as previously seen in NSTX from AORSA simulations (D. L. Green, et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 145001 (2011)). Preliminary results by introducing a collision damping in the scrape-off layer in the AORSA code to represent a damping process are presented, showing for the first time absorbed power in the scrape-off layer.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A resistively heated CeB{sub 6} emissive probe

The plasma potential, V{sub p}, is a key quantity in experimental plasma physics. Its spatial gradients directly yield the electrostatic field present. Emissive probes operating under space-charge limited emission conditions float close to V{sub p} even under time-varying conditions. Throughout their long history in plasma physics, they have mostly been constructed with resistively heated tungsten wire filaments. In high density plasmas (>10{sup 12} cm{sup −3}), hexaboride emitters are required because tungsten filaments cannot be heated to sufficient emission without component failure. A resistively heated emissive probe with a cerium hexaboride, CeB{sub 6}, emitter has been developed to work in plasma densities up to 10{sup 13} cm{sup −3}. To show functionality, three spatial profiles of V{sub p} are compared using the emissive probe, a cold floating probe, and a swept probe inside a plasma containing regions with and without current. The swept probe and emissive probe agree well across the profile while the floating cold probe fails in the current carrying region.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Vectorial mapping of noncollinear antiferromagnetic structure of semiconducting FeSe surface with spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy

Antiferromagnetic semiconductors gain increasing interest due to their possible application in spintronics. Using spin polarized scanning tunneling microscopy operating in a vector field, we mapped the noncollinear antiferromagnetic spin structure of a semiconducting hexagonal FeSe surface on the atomic scale. The surface possesses an in-plane compensated Néel structure which is further confirmed by first-principles calculations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Hydrogen-terminated diamond vertical-type metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors with a trench gate

The hydrogen-terminated diamond surface (C-H diamond) has a two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) layer independent of the crystal orientation. A 2DHG layer is ubiquitously formed on the C-H diamond surface covered by atomic-layer-deposited-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Using Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} as a gate oxide, C-H diamond metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) operate in a trench gate structure where the diamond side-wall acts as a channel. MOSFETs with a side-wall channel exhibit equivalent performance to the lateral C-H diamond MOSFET without a side-wall channel. Here, a vertical-type MOSFET with a drain on the bottom is demonstrated in diamond with channel current modulation by the gate and pinch off.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Broadband ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy in the 25 T Split Florida-Helix

In this paper, we describe the development of a broadband (0.3–10 THz) optical pump-terahertz probe spectrometer with an unprecedented combination of temporal resolution (≤200 fs) operating in external magnetic fields as high as 25 T using the new Split Florida-Helix magnet system. Finally, using this new instrument, we measure the transient dynamics in a gallium arsenide four-quantum well sample after photoexcitation at 800 nm.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Computational investigation of ion cyclotron heating on Proto-MPEX

Ion cyclotron heating (ICH) on the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) is to be accomplished using the “beach-heating” technique. Beach heating has not been previously demonstrated to efficiently heat core ions at the high electron density values present in Proto-MPEX. This work numerically investigates the wave propagation characteristics of the ICH region on Proto-MPEX to explore avenues for efficient core ion heating. The analysis reveals that finite electron temperature effects are required to predict core ion heating. Cold plasma dispersion analysis and full-wave simulations show that the inertial Alfvén wave (IAW) is restricted from coupling power into the core plasma because (1) the group velocity is too shallow for its energy to penetrate into the core before damping in the periphery and (2) when operating in a magnetic field where ω/ω ci ≳ 0.7, the IAW is cut off from the core plasma by the Alfvén resonance. However, including kinetic effects shows that the kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) can propagate in the electron temperature regime in Proto-MPEX. Full-wave simulations show that when the electron temperature is increased to T e > 2 eV and the edge electron density is sufficiently high n e edge > 1 × 10 17 m -3 , ion power absorption in the core increases substantially (≈25% of total power). Here, the increase in ion power absorption in the core is attributed to the propagation of the KAW. Calculations of electron and ion power absorption show that the electron heating is localized around the Alfvén resonance, while the ion heating is localized at the fundamental ion cyclotron resonance.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The low-temperature, high-magnetic-field critical current characteristics of Zr-added (Gd, Y)Ba2Cu3Ox superconducting tapes

Critical current performances of state-of-the-art Zr-added (Gd, Y)BaCuO tapes have been investigated over a temperature range of 20-77 K, in magnetic fields up to 9 T and over a wide angular range of magnetic field orientations. The peak in critical current that is commonly observed in the field orientation perpendicular to the tape in BaZrO3 (BZO) containing superconducting tapes is found to vanish at 30 K in magnetic fields at 1-9 T. While the critical current of 15% Zr-added tapes was about 40% lower than that of 7.5% Zr-added tapes at 77 K, the pinning force values of the former were found to be 18-23% higher than those of the latter in the temperature range of 20-40 K and in magnetic fields of 3-5 T. The results from this study emphasize the importance of optimization of coated conductor fabrication processes for optimum performance not just in low magnetic fields at 77 K but also at the operating conditions of low temperatures and high magnetic fields that are of interest, especially for rotating superconducting machinery applications.

Selvamanickam, V↗

On preheating in Higgs inflation

Abstract Recently, the problem of unitarity violation during the preheating stage of Higgs inflation with a large non-minimal coupling has been much discussed in the literature. We point out that this problem can be translated into a strong coupling problem for the dimensionless effective coupling, and that the existence of these problems is highly dependent on the choice of higher-dimensional operators because they can significantly change the background dynamics and the canonical normalization of the fluctuations around it. Correspondingly, the typical energy of particles produced during the first stage of preheating can remain comparable to or below the cutoff scale of the theory. As an example, we numerically calculate the particle production in the presence of a specific four-derivative operator of the Higgs field, and confirm the statement above. Our argument also applies to multi-field inflation with non-minimal couplings.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Modeling of high harmonic fast wave scenarios for NSTX Upgrade

NSTX-Upgrade will operate with toroidal magnetic fields ( B T ) up to 1 T, nearly twice the value used in the experiments on NSTX, and the available neutral beam injection (NBI) power will be doubled. The doubling of B T while retaining the 30 MHz RF source frequency has moved the heating regime from the high harmonic fast wave (HHFW) regime used in NSTX to the mid harmonic fast wave regime. By making use of the full wave code AORSA (assuming a Maxwellian plasma), this work explores different HHFW scenarios for two possible antenna frequencies (30 and 60 MHz) and with and without NBI. Both frequencies have large electron absorption for large wave toroidal number particularly without NBI. With the presence of NBI, the fast ions absorption can be dominant in some scenarios. Therefore, a competition between electron and fast ion absorption is clearly apparent partially explaining why in previous NSTX HHFW experiments, a less efficient electron heating was observed. Moreover at the toroidal field of 1 T, a direct thermal ion damping might be possible under the condition when the ion temperature is larger than electron temperature. In general, the electron and ion absorption are found very sensitive to the ratio of electron and ion temperature. The impact of the hydrogen species is also studied showing that, for hydrogen concentration below 2%, the hydrogen absorption is not significant. However, a larger hydrogen concentration could open up new HHFW heating scenarios in NSTX-U. Launching at high toroidal wave number appears to be one way to significantly reduce the ion damping and in turn to obtain large electron damping in the core which can play an important role in the transport studies for NSTX-U. Lastly, an higher magnetic field could also playing a role in increasing the electron temperature and consequently the electron absorption. Indeed a magnetic field scan is also shown and discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Symmetries and anomalies of Hamiltonian staggered fermions

We review the shift (translation) and time reversal symmetries of Hamiltonian staggered fermions and their connection to continuum symmetries concentrating in particular on the case of massless fermions and (3+1) dimensions. We construct operators using the staggered fields that implement these symmetries on finite lattices. We show that shifts composed of an odd multiple of the elementary shift anticommute with time reversal and are related to continuum axial transformations. We argue that the presence of these nontrivial commutation relations implies the existence of lattice ’t Hooft anomalies. From the shifts we also construct a set of conserved, quantized charges that generate continuous symmetries of the lattice theory. In general these do not commute with the vector charge signaling further ’t Hooft anomalies.

Anomalies↗

Design and demonstration of a distributed-coupling linear accelerator structure

We present a topology for linear accelerators (linacs) in which the power is distributed to the cavities through a waveguide with periodic apertures that guarantees the correct phases and amplitudes along the structure length. Unlike conventional traveling and standing-wave linacs, the presented topology allows the cavity shapes to be designed without the constraints applied to the coupling between cells to transfer power from one cell to the next. Therefore, the topology permits more degrees of freedom for the optimization of individual cavity shapes in comparison with conventional linacs. The cavity shapes can be optimized for power consumption and efficiency, and/or the manipulation of the surface fields for high gradient operation. This topology also provides a possibility for low-temperature manufacturing techniques that prevent the annealing of the material during typical brazing processes; hence, the material could retain its original properties such as hardness. We present a design and an experimental demonstration of this linac.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗