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At least 1,675 records · Page 93

Contributions to HiLiftPW-3 Using Structured, Overset Grid Methods

The High-Lift Common Research Model (HL-CRM) and the JAXA Standard Model (JSM) were analyzed computationally using both the OVERFLOW and LAVA codes for the third AIAA High-Lift Prediction Workshop. Geometry descriptions and the test cases simulated are described. With the HL-CRM, the effects of surface smoothness during grid projection and the effect of partially sealing a flap gap were studied. Grid refinement studies were performed at two angles of attack using both codes. For the JSM, simulations were performed with and without the nacelle/pylon. Without the nacelle/pylon, evidence of multiple solutions was observed when a quadratic constitutive relation is used in the turbulence modeling; however, using time-accurate simulation seemed to alleviate this issue. With the nacelle/pylon, no evidence of multiple solutions was observed. Laminar-turbulent transition modeling was applied to both JSM configuration, and had an overall favorable impact on the lift predictions.

HiLiftPW-3↗

Enabling Assurance in the MBSE Environment

A number of specific benefits that fit within the hallmarks of effective development are realized with implementation of model-based approaches to systems and assurance. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) enabled by standardized modeling languages (e.g., SysML®) is at the core. These benefits in the context of spaceflight system challenges can include: Improved management of complex development, Reduced risk in the development process, Improved cost management, Improved design decisions. With appropriate modeling techniques the assurance community can improve early oversight and insight into project development. NASA has shown the basic constructs of SysML in an MBSE environment offer several key advantages, within a Model Based Mission Assurance (MBMA) initiative.

Evans, John W.↗

Enabling Assurance in the MBSE Environment

A number of specific benefits that fit within the hallmarks of effective development are realized with implementation of model-based approaches to systems and assurance. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) enabled by standardized modeling languages (e.g., SysML®) is at the core. These benefits in the context of spaceflight system challenges can include [1]: • Improved management of complex development • Reduced risk in the development process • Improved cost management • Improved design decisions With appropriate modeling techniques the assurance community also can improve early oversight and insight into project development. NASA has shown the basic constructs of SysML in an MBSE environment offer several key advantages, within a Model Based Mission Assurance (MBMA) initiative [2, 3]. These include the following: • Model viewpoints that promote rapid and systematic assessment of requirements coverage, hazard tagging and risk management • Embedded safety assessments for launch vehicles • Deployment of model assisted development of reliability products - Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEAs) and Fault Trees • Test Planning • Validation and Verification of complex functions • Support of Assurance Case development for complex systems In addition, while there are benefits to be harvested, there is a realization that these do not come without effort and cost. Enabling model-based approaches requires structure, not only in an organizational context, but in a modeling context as well. There can be a steep learning curve and costs associated to train skilled modelers. But, on the other hand, not all of the assurance community need to be modelers. Models themselves must conform to ontologies that enable assurance. This places constraints upon the models and modelers. Optimums have yet to be developed where resources and constraints on modeling must be traded off in the organization and modeling efforts for projects. A number of barriers need to be overcome, as well, which pose challenges to the developers of the software that supports MBSE/MBMA. Information and data must be made to flow seamlessly through the life cycle. Because there is a wide variety of tools used in the community, to avoid the problems of the past of silos, delays, and diverging interests, information should flow among these tools to support the “single source of truth” paradigm of MBSE. This will greatly facilitate MBMA and advancement of assurance functions.

Evans, John W.↗

Principles of Bayesian Ensemble Creation: Theoretical and Empirical Observations

Bayesian methods are theoretically optimal given their underlying assumptions. Bayesian model averaging (BMA) is generally considered the standard model for creating ensembles of learners using Bayesian methods, but this technique is often out-performed by more ad hoc methods in empirical studies. It has been proposed that Bayesian model averaging struggles in practice because it accounts for uncertainty about which model is the data-generating model but still operates under the assumption that only one of them is. Thus, BMA is unable to enrich the hypothesis space as effectively as other ensemble creation methods, serving as a form of optimal model selection, not optimal model combination. This work provides empirical verification for this hypothesis using both synthetic and real-world data. We propose several different approaches for Bayesian model combination, and demonstrate that they overcome this problem with BMA. We empirically show that even the most simplistic of Bayesian model combination strategies can compete with the traditional ad hoc techniques of bagging, boosting and stacking, as well as significantly outperforming BMA over a wide variety of cases. We also explore the implications of this observation as it relates to the effectiveness of ensemble learning.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A Thermal Relic Encyclopedia: Dark Matter Candidates Coupled to Quarks

Thermal freeze-out is a compelling framework for naturally generating the dark matter abundance. We systematically study a broad range of dark matter and mediator particle combinations that can viably realize thermal freeze-out, focusing on models in which the mediator couples to Standard Model quarks. In each case, we calculate the relic density and consider existing constraints from accelerators, cosmology, direct detection, and indirect detection over the full range of dark matter and mediator masses. We present an encyclopedic catalog of matrix elements, cross sections, and decay rates which can be used as a reference for future studies of dark matter phenomenology.

Hooper, Dan [Fermilab; Chicago U., EFI; Chicago U.↗

Cosmic microwave background and inflation in multi-fractional spacetimes

We use FIRAS and Planck 2015 data to place observational bounds on inflationary scenarios in multi-fractional spacetimes with q-derivatives. While a power-law expansion in the geometric time coordinate is subject to the usual constraints from the tensor-to-scalar ratio, model-independent best fits of the black-body and scalar spectra yield upper limits on the free parameters of the multi-fractal measure of the theory. When the measure describing the fractal spacetime geometry is non-oscillating, information on the CMB black-body spectrum places constraints on the theory independent from but weaker than those obtained from the Standard Model, astrophysical gravitational waves and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). When log oscillations are included and the measure describes a discrete fractal spacetime at microscopic scales, we obtain the first observational constraints on the amplitudes of such oscillations and find, in general, strong constraints on the multi-scale geometry and on the dimension of space. These results complete the scan and reduction of the parameter space of the theory. Black-body bounds are obtained also for the theory with weighted derivatives.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Searching for BSM neutrino interactions in dark matter detectors

Neutrino interactions beyond the Standard Model (BSM) are theoretically well motivated and have an important impact on the future precision measurement of neutrino oscillation. In this work, we study the sensitivity of a multi-ton-scale liquid Xenon dark matter detector equipped with an intense radioactive neutrino source to various BSM neutrino-electron interactions. We consider the conventional Non-Standard Interactions (NSIs), other more generalized four-fermion interactions including scalar and tensor forms, and light-boson mediated interactions. The work shows that with realistic experimental setups, one can achieve unprecedented sensitivity to these BSM neutrino-electron interactions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Probing energetic light dark matter with multi-particle tracks signatures at DUNE

The search for relativistic scattering signals of cosmogenic light dark matter at terrestrial detectors has received increasing attention as an alternative approach to probe dark-sector physics. Large-volume neutrino experiments are well motivated for searches of dark matter that interacts very weakly with Standard Model particles and/or that exhibits a small incoming flux. We perform a dedicated signal sensitivity study for a detector similar to the one proposed by the DUNE Collaboration for cosmogenic dark-matter signals resulting from a non-minimal multi-particle dark-sector scenario. The liquid argon time projection chamber technology adopted for the DUNE detectors is particularly suited for searching for complicated signatures owing to good measurement resolution and particle identification, as well as dE/dx measurements to recognize merged tracks. Taking inelastic boosted dark matter as our benchmark scenario that allows for multiple visible particles in the final state, we demonstrate that the DUNE far detectors have a great potential for probing scattering signals induced by relativistic light dark matter. Detector effects and backgrounds have been estimated and taken into account. Model-dependent and model-independent expected sensitivity limits for a DUNE-like detector are presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Higgs and Supersymmetry at Run II of the LHC

Prof. David Shih was supported by DOE grant DE-SC0013678 from April 2015 to April 2016. His research during this year focused on the phenomenology of super-symmetry (SUSY) and maximizing its future discovery potential at Run II of the LHC. SUSY is one of the most well-motivated frameworks for physics beyond the Standard Model. It solves the "naturalness" or "hierarchy" problem by stabilizing the Higgs mass against otherwise uncontrolled quantum corrections, predicts "grand unification" of the fundamental forces, and provides many potential candidates for dark matter. However, after decades of null results from direct and indirect searches, the viable parameter space for SUSY is increasingly constrained. Also, the discovery of a Standard Model-like Higgs with a mass at 125 GeV places a stringent constraint on SUSY models. In the work supported on this grant, Shih has worked on four different projects motivated by these issues. He has built natural SUSY models that explain the Higgs mass and provide viable dark matter; he has studied the parameter space of "gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking" (GMSB) that satisfies the Higgs mass constraint; he has developed new tools for the precision calculation of flavor and CP observables in general SUSY models; and he has studied new techniques for discovery of supersymmetric partners of the top quark.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Low-ℓ power suppression in punctuated inflation

Motivated by Planck confirmation of an anomalously low value of the CMB temperature fluctuations up to multipole ℓ < 40, we in this paper try to explain such feature by investigating case of punctuated inflation scenario. This form of inflation potential is inspired by Minimal Super-symmetric Standard Model (MSSM) wherein suppression of curvature perturbation power at large scales is produced by introducing period of fast-roll phase of the inflation sandwiched between two stages of slow-roll phase. We apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis to determine posterior distribution and the best fit values of the model parameters using recent WMAP9 and Planck data. We show that WMAP9 and Planck results are consistent with each other and that with Planck data we obtain tighter constraints for punctuated inflation parameters. We find that punctuated inflation leads to better fit in CMB data compared to simple power law model. The improvement in the fit to the WMAP9 data is Δ χ{sup 2} ∼ 3.6 and for Planck the improvement is Δ χ{sup 2} ∼ 5.4. We find that AIC does not discriminate between punctuated inflation and simple power law model for WMAP9 data. However, for Planck data we find that punctuated inflation is moderately preferred over a simple power law model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

MAJOR-MERGER GALAXY PAIRS AT Z = 0: DUST PROPERTIES AND COMPANION MORPHOLOGY

We present an analysis of dust properties of a sample of close major-merger galaxy pairs selected by K {sub s} magnitude and redshift. The pairs represent the two populations of spiral–spiral (S+S) and mixed morphology spiral–elliptical (S+E). The Code Investigating GALaxy Emission software is used to fit dust models to the Two Micron All Sky Survey, Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer , and Herschel flux density measurements, and to derive the parameters describing the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contribution, interstellar radiation field, and photodissociation regions. Model fits verify our previous Spitzer Space Telescope analysis that S+S and S+E pairs do not have the same level of enhancement of star formation and differ in dust composition. The spirals of mixed-morphology galaxy pairs do not exhibit the enhancements in interstellar radiation field and therefore dust temperature for spirals in S+S pairs in contrast to what would be expected according to standard models of gas redistribution due to encounter torques. This suggests the importance of the companion environment/morphology in determining the dust properties of a spiral galaxy in a close major-merger pair.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

(Machine) learning to do more with less

Determining the best method for training a machine learning algorithm is critical to maximizing its ability to classify data. In this paper, we compare the standard “fully supervised” approach (which relies on knowledge of event-by-event truth-level labels) with a recent proposal that instead utilizes class ratios as the only discriminating information provided during training. This so-called “weakly supervised” technique has access to less information than the fully supervised method and yet is still able to yield impressive discriminating power. In addition, weak supervision seems particularly well suited to particle physics since quantum mechanics is incompatible with the notion of mapping an individual event onto any single Feynman diagram. We examine the technique in detail — both analytically and numerically — with a focus on the robustness to issues of mischaracterizing the training samples. Weakly supervised networks turn out to be remarkably insensitive to a class of systematic mismodeling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the event level outputs for weakly versus fully supervised networks are probing different kinematics, even though the numerical quality metrics are essentially identical. This implies that it should be possible to improve the overall classification ability by combining the output from the two types of networks. For concreteness, we apply this technology to a signature of beyond the Standard Model physics to demonstrate that all these impressive features continue to hold in a scenario of relevance to the LHC. Example code is provided on GitHub.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Electroweak fragmentation functions for dark matter annihilation

Electroweak corrections can play a crucial role in dark matter annihilation. The emission of gauge bosons, in particular, leads to a secondary flux consisting of all Standard Model particles, and may be described by electroweak fragmentation functions. To assess the quality of the fragmentation function approximation to electroweak radiation in dark matter annihilation, we have calculated the flux of secondary particles from gauge-boson emission in models with Majorana fermion and vector dark matter, respectively. For both models, we have compared cross sections and energy spectra of positrons and antiprotons after propagation through the galactic halo in the fragmentation function approximation and in the full calculation. Fragmentation functions fail to describe the particle fluxes in the case of Majorana fermion annihilation into light fermions: the helicity suppression of the lowest-order cross section in such models cannot be lifted by the leading logarithmic contributions included in the fragmentation function approach. However, for other classes of models like vector dark matter, where the lowest-order cross section is not suppressed, electroweak fragmentation functions provide a simple, model-independent and accurate description of secondary particle fluxes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Vacuum structure of the left-right symmetric model

The left-right symmetric model (LRSM), originally proposed to explain parity violation in low energy processes, has since emerged as an attractive framework for light neutrino masses via the seesaw mechanism. The scalar sector of the minimal LRSM consists of an SU(2) bi-doublet, as well as left- and right-handed weak isospin triplets, thus making the corresponding vacuum structure much more complicated than that of the Standard Model. In particular, the desired ground state of the Higgs potential should be a charge conserving, and preferably global, minimum with parity violation at low scales. We show that this is not a generic feature of the LRSM potential and happens only for a small fraction of the parameter space of the potential. We also analytically study the potential for some simplified cases and obtain sufficient conditions (though not necessary) to achieve successful symmetry breaking. We then carry out a detailed statistical analysis of the minima of the Higgs potential using numerical minimization and find that for a large fraction of the parameter space, the potential does not have a good vacuum. Imposing the analytically obtained conditions, we can readily find the small part of the parameter space with good vacua. Consequences for some scalar masses are also discussed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Asymmetric dark matter models in SO(10)

We systematically study the possibilities for asymmetric dark matter in the context of non-supersymmetric SO(10) models of grand unification. Dark matter stability in SO(10) is guaranteed by a remnant Z{sub 2} symmetry which is preserved when the intermediate scale gauge subgroup of SO(10) is broken by a (\bf 126) dimensional representation. The asymmetry in the dark matter states is directly generated through the out-of-equilibrium decay of particles around the intermediate scale, or transferred from the baryon/lepton asymmetry generated in the Standard Model sector by leptogenesis. We systematically classify possible asymmetric dark matter candidates in terms of their quantum numbers, and derive the conditions for each case that the observed dark matter density is (mostly) explained by the asymmetry of dark matter particles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Scale-invariant Cosmology and CMB Temperatures as a Function of Redshifts

Cosmological models assuming the scale invariance of the macroscopic empty space show an accelerated expansion, without calling for some unknown particles. Several comparisons between models and observations (tests on distances, m−z diagram, Ω{sub Λ} versus Ω{sub m} plot, age versus H {sub 0}, H(z) versus z, transition braking-acceleration) have indicated an impressive agreement. We pursue the tests with the CMB temperatures T{sub CMB} as a function of redshifts z. CO molecules in DLA systems provide the most accurate excitation temperatures T{sub exc} up to z≈2.7. Such data need corrections for local effects like particle collisions, optical depths, UV radiation, etc., We estimate these corrections as a function of the (CO/H{sub 2}) ratios from far-UV observations of CO molecules in the Galaxy. The results show that it is not sufficient to apply theoretical collisional corrections to get the proper values of T{sub CMB} versus z. Thus, the agreement often found with the standard model may be questioned. The T{sub CMB}(z) relation needs further careful attention and the same for the scale-invariant cosmology in view of its positive tests.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Heavy scalar boson in view of the unconfirmed 750 GeV LHC diphoton excess

We discuss the impact of the constraints from the measurements of the parameters of the observed 125 GeV Higgs boson and from the unconfirmed 750 GeV diphoton excess in the LHC experiments on the properties of a possible extra scalar boson predicted in various Standard Model extensions. We consider an SM extension based on a stabilized brane-world model, in which the effective low-energy Lagrangian for the scalar degrees of freedom turns out to be very general and, for different values of the model parameters, reproduces the scalar field Lagrangians of various SM extensions by a singlet scalar. It is shown that in the simplest variant of the model, where only the gravitational degrees of freedom propagate in the bulk, the 125 GeV scalar state can be consistently interpreted as a Higgs-dominated state for a rather wide range of the model parameters, whereas the production cross section of a heavier radion-dominated state with mass 750 GeV or more turns out to be too small in the allowed region of the model parameter space for producing the wouldbe diphoton excess.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Majorana fermion dark matter in minimally extended left-right symmetric model

We present a minimal extension of the left-right symmetric model based on the gauge group SU(3) c × SU(2) L × SU(2) R × U(1) B–L × U(1) X , in which a vector-like fermion pair ( ζ L and ζ R ) charged under the U(1) B–L × U(1) X symmetry is introduced. Associated with the symmetry breaking of the gauge group SU(2) R × U(1) B–L × U(1) X down to the Standard Model (SM) hypercharge U(1) Y , Majorana masses for ζ L,R are generated and the lightest mass eigenstate plays a role of the dark matter (DM) in our universe by its communication with the SM particles through a new neutral gauge boson “ X ”. We consider various phenomenological constraints of this DM scenario, such as the observed DM relic density, the LHC Run-2 constraints from the search for a narrow resonance, and the perturbativity of the gauge couplings below the Planck scale. Combining all constraints, we identify the allowed parameter region which turns out to be very narrow. A significant portion of the currently allowed parameter region will be tested by the High-Luminosity LHC experiments.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗