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

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At least 163 records · Page 9

Karhunen-Loeve Estimation of the Power Spectrum Parameters from the Angular Distribution of Galaxies in Early Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data

We present measurements of parameters of the three-dimensional power spectrum of galaxy clustering from 222 square degrees of early imaging data in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The projected galaxy distribution on the sky is expanded over a set of Karhunen-Loeve (KL) eigenfunctions, which optimize the signal-to-noise ratio in our analysis. A maximum likelihood analysis is used to estimate parameters that set the shape and amplitude of the three-dimensional power spectrum of galaxies in the SDSS magnitude-limited sample with r* less than 21. Our best estimates are gamma = 0.188 +/- 0.04 and sigma(sub 8L) = 0.915 +/- 0.06 (statistical errors only), for a flat universe with a cosmological constant. We demonstrate that our measurements contain signal from scales at or beyond the peak of the three-dimensional power spectrum. We discuss how the results scale with systematic uncertainties, like the radial selection function. We find that the central values satisfy the analytically estimated scaling relation. We have also explored the effects of evolutionary corrections, various truncations of the KL basis, seeing, sample size, and limiting magnitude. We find that the impact of most of these uncertainties stay within the 2 sigma uncertainties of our fiducial result.

Szalay, Alexander S.↗

$\gamma$-ray angular correlations, distributions and linear polarization in tracking arrays

With $\gamma $-ray tracking arrays, the angular correlation and, especially, the linear polarization of $\gamma $ rays can be measured with high precision. However, because of the complexity of these spectrometers, measuring angular distributions is more involved. The techniques and associated formalisms were developed and established in the 1950s. The experimental setups of that era were relatively simple when compared to the advanced $\gamma $-ray tracking arrays available today. This paper aims to review and refine these techniques, unify the nomenclatures and, specifically, adapt them for use with the newest tracking arrays. In addition, new methods for producing the required response functions for these arrays are introduced.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

$\bar{\nu}_\mu$ charged-current $\pi^0$ data release

Data release for the NOvA muon antineutrino charged-current (CC) pi^0 cross section presented in arXiv:2511.05807. The signal for this analysis is defined as muon antineutrino CC interactions in the fiducial volume of the NOvA near detector (a 2.7 m × 2.7 m × 9.0 m region) that produce at least one pi^0 in the final state emerging from the nucleus, within the phase space of muon momentum [0.5, 2.5) GeV/c and muon angle [0, 60) degree, as described in arXiv:2511.05807. The released zip file contains two files: NOvA_NumubarCCPi0_DataRelease.root README.txt The ROOT file includes the cross-section results as well as the statistical and systematic covariance matrices for each variable used in this analysis. The README provides a detailed description of the contents of the data release. Official Flux: The flux used in this analysis is available from the NOvA Public Docs: https://publicdocs.fnal.gov/cgi-bin/ShowDocument?docid=8. File structure --- The ROOT file contains the following TDirectories: pi0p - pi^0 momentum distributions pi0dir - pi^0 angular distributions muonp - muon momentum distributions muondir - muon angular distributions Q2 - reconstructed Q^2 distributions Wmass - reconstructed W_mass distributions Each directory contains three histograms: xsec (TH1D): Cross section result cov_stat (TH2D): Statistical covariance matrix cov_syst (TH2D): Systematic covariance matrix Usage notes: - xsec gives the measured differential cross section w.r.t. the corresponding variable. - cov_stat and cov_syst provide the full covariance matrices. - The bin definitions and kinematic phase spaces follow those used in arXiv:2511.05807. Citation --- If you use these data, please cite: NOvA Collaboration, arXiv:2511.05807.

Wu, Wanwei [Pittsburgh U.] (ORCID:0000000326327215↗

Neutron yields from 435 MeV/nucleon Nb stopping in Nb and 272 MeV/nucleon Nb stopping in Nb and Al

Neutron fluences were measured from 435 MeV/nucleon Nb ions stopping in a Nb target and 272 MeV/nucleon Nb ions stopping in targets of Nb and Al for neutrons above 20 MeV and at laboratory angles between 3 degrees and 80 degrees. The resultant spectra were integrated over angles to produce neutron energy distributions and over energy to produce neutron angular distributions. The total neutron yields for each system were obtained by integrating over the angular distributions. The angular distributions from all three systems are peaked forward, and the energy distributions from all three systems show an appreciable yield of neutrons with velocities greater than the beam velocity. Comparison of the total neutron yields from the two Nb + Nb systems suggests that the average neutron multiplicity decreases with decreasing projectile energy. Comparison of the total yields from the two 272 MeV/nucleon systems suggests that the total yields show the same dependence on projectile and target mass number as do total inclusive neutron cross sections. The data are compared with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model calculations.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Atmospheric spreading of protons in auroral arcs

A model is developed to calculate the effect of atmospheric spreading on the flux and angular distribution of protons in homogeneous auroral arcs. An expression is derived that indicates the angular distribution in the atmosphere as a function of distance from arc center, neutral scale height, arc width, and initial angular distribution. The results of the model agree favorably with those based on Monte-Carlo calculations. From these results the enhancement factors needed to compute the original proton current above the atmosphere are obtained. A technique is indicated for determining the incident angular distribution from rocket-based measurements of the arc width and angular distribution.

Iglesias, G. E.↗

Galactic neutron stars and gamma-ray bursts

The association of the gamma-ray burst phenomenon with Galactic neutron stars is investigated statistically, and the distance to presently observable gamma-ray bursts is constrained. This is done by calculating the spatial distribution and kinematic properties of a sample of Population I neutron stars and comparing their properties to those of observed gamma-ray bursts. Both brightness distribution and angular distribution on the celestial sphere are employed. Current observations suggest negligible correlation on small angular scales, large-scale isotropy, and a radial distribution that is approximately uniform to the distances currently observed. It is concluded that the distribution of Population I neutron stars is consistent with current observations if gamma-ray bursts occur continuously throughout the neutron star lifetime and if the current sampling depth is at least about 150 pc but not more than roughly 2 kpc.

Hartmann, Dieter↗

Scattering of 42 MeV alpha particles from copper-65

Beams of 42-MeV alpha particles were elastically and inelastically scattered from Cu-65 in an attempt to excite states which may be described in terms of an excited core model. Angular distributions were measured for 17 excited states. Seven of the excited states had angular distributions similar to a core quadrupole excitation and eight of the excited states had angular distributions similar to a core octupole excitation. The excited state at 2.858 MeV had an angular distribution which suggests that it may have results from the particle coupling to a two-phonon core state. An extended particle-core coupling calculation was performed and the predicted energy levels and reduced transition probabilities compared to the experimental data. The low lying levels are described quite well and the wavefunctions of these states explain the large spectroscopic factors measured in stripping reactions. For Cu-65 the coupling of the particle to the core is no larger weak as in the simpler model, and configuration mixing results.

Stewart, W. M.↗

Top-of-Atmosphere Shortwave Broadband Observed Radiance and Estimated Irradiance over Polar Regions from Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Instruments on Terra

Empirical angular distribution models for estimating top-of-atmosphere shortwave irradiances from radiance measurements over permanent snow, fresh snow and sea ice are developed using CERES measurements on Terra. Permanent snow angular distribution models depend on cloud fraction, cloud optical thickness, and snow brightness. Fresh snow and sea ice angular distribution models depend on snow and sea ice fraction, cloud fraction, cloud optical thickness, and snow and ice brightness. These classifications lead to 10 scene types for permanent snow and 25 scene types for fresh snow and sea ice. The average radiance over clear-sky permanent snow is more isotropic with satellite viewing geometry than that over overcast permanent snow. On average, the albedo of clear-sky permanent snow varies from 0.65 to 0.68 for solar zenith angles between 60$logical and\circ$ and 80 deg, while the corresponding albedo of overcast scenes varies from 0.70 to 0.73. Clear-sky permanent snow albedos over Antarctica estimated from two independent angular distribution models are consistent to within 0.6%, on average. Despite significant variability in sea ice optical properties with season, the estimated mean relative albedo error is -1 % for very dark sea ice and 0.1% for very bright sea ice when albedos derived from different viewing angles are averaged. The estimated regional root-mean-square (RMS) relative albedo error is 5.6% and 2.6% when the sea ice angular distribution models are applied to a region that contains very dark and very bright sea ice, respectively. Similarly, the estimated relative albedo bias error for fresh snow is -0.1% for very dark snow.

Kato, S.↗

Microscopic theory of angular momentum distributions across the full range of fission fragments

Modern nuclear theory provides qualitative insights into the fundamental mechanisms of nuclear fission and is increasingly capable of making reliable quantitative predictions. Most quantities of interest pertain to the primary fission fragments, whose subsequent decay is typically modeled using statistical reaction models. Consequently, a key objective of fission theory is to inform these models by predicting the initial conditions of the primary fragments. Here, in this work, we employ a framework that combines joint angular momentum and particle number projection with time-dependent configuration mixing to calculate the angular momentum distributions of primary fragments. Focusing on the benchmark cases of neutron-induced fission of 235 U and 239 Pu , we predict—for the first time—microscopic angular momentum distributions for all fragments observed in experiments. Our results reveal a pronounced sawtooth pattern in the average angular momentum as a function of fragment mass, consistent with recent measurements. Additionally, we observe substantial variations in angular momentum distributions along isobaric chains, indicating that commonly used empirical formulas lack sufficient accuracy. We also quantify a strong correlation between the angular momentum and the deformation of the fragments at scission, and a weak correlation in the magnitude of the angular momentum between fragment partners. The generated data will enable estimation of the impact of microscopic distributions on fission spectra, paving the way toward fission modeling based on microscopic inputs.

Physics - Nuclear physics and radiation physics↗

A liquid hydrogen tube moderator arrangement for SNS second target station

Liquid hydrogen filled tubes arranged in a triangular shape surrounded by light-water premoderators were investigated as cold moderators coupled to a neutron production zone of a tungsten target fed by a 1.3 GeV proton beam in a short-pulse mode. A moderator concept optimized for the tube length, premoderator thickness, and target position was found to deliver the highest pulse-integrated neutron brightness suitable to send cold neutron beams for neutron scattering instrumentation geared toward medium resolution and small samples. Reducing the tube diameter from 50 to 10 mm boosts the cold neutron brightness (E < 10 meV) by a factor of 2.25, also with enhancements seen by downsizing the height of cylindrical moderators in earlier studies. Attempts were made to characterize this novel moderator system with regard to pulse shapes, local brightness distribution, and angular distribution of emission at the neutron emission port.

Gallmeier, Franz X. (ORCID:0000000171500764)↗

Verification of the CP2020 Library

For many years, “pencil beam” (aka “broomstick”) problems have been used in Monte Carlo neutronic code verification studies . At Los Alamos, they were used to verify the changes associated with the upgrade of NJOY / MCNP to allow continuous angular distributions (instead of discrete angular distributions) from S(α,β) scattering. Recently, “pencil beam” problems have been applied to the verification of charged particle data for MCNP. Another verification test for CP2020 was to compare the continuous energy reaction cross sections generated by ACER with multigroup reaction cross sections generated by GROUPR from the same evaluation file. This method was also used in the verification of the most recent S(α,β) neutron libraries at Los Alamos .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗