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At least 1,693 records · Page 94

Quantum mechanics and observers for gravity in a closed universe

Recent arguments based on the quantum extremal surface formula or the gravitational path integral have given fairly compelling evidence that the Hilbert space of quantum gravity in a closed universe is one-dimensional and real. How can this be consistent with the complexity of our own experiences? In this paper we propose that the experiences of any observer Ob in a closed universe can be approximately described by a quantum mechanical theory with a Hilbert space whose dimension is roughly e S Ob , where S Ob is the number of degrees of freedom of Ob. Moreover we argue that the errors in this description are exponentially small in S Ob . We give evidence for this proposal by incorporating it into the gravitational path integral and the coding interpretation of holography in simple models and seeing that it works, and we explain how similar effects arise in black hole physics in appropriate circumstances.

AdS-CFT Correspondence↗

Search for dark matter particles produced in association with a Higgs boson in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{\mathrm{s}}$ = 13 TeV

A search for dark matter (DM) particles is performed using events with a Higgs boson candidate and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$. The search is performed in five Higgs boson decay channels: h$ \to \mathrm{b\bar{b}}$, $\gamma\gamma$, $\tau^{+}\tau^{-}$, W$^{+}$W$^{-}$, and ZZ and the results from the individual channels are combined to maximize the sensitivity of the analysis. No significant excess over the expected standard model background is observed in any of the five channels or in their combination. Limits are set on DM production in the context of two simplified models. The results are also interpreted in terms of a spin-independent DM-nucleon scattering cross section and compared to those from direct-detection DM experiments. This is the first search for DM particles produced in association with a Higgs boson decaying to a pair of W or Z bosons, and the first statistical combination based on five Higgs boson decay channels.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Differential cross-section measurements of Higgs boson production in the H → τ + τ - decay channel in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Differential measurements of Higgs boson production in the τ-lepton-pair decay channel are presented in the gluon fusion, vector-boson fusion (VBF), VH and $t\overline{t}H$ associated production modes, with particular focus on the VBF production mode. The data used to perform the measurements correspond to 140 fb -1 of proton-proton collisions collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Two methods are used to perform the measurements: the Simplified Template Cross-Section (STXS) approach and an Unfolded Fiducial Differential measurement considering only the VBF phase space. For the STXS measurement, events are categorized by their production mode and kinematic properties such as the Higgs boson’s transverse momentum (${p}_{\textrm{T}}^{\textrm{H}}$ ), the number of jets produced in association with the Higgs boson, or the invariant mass of the two leading jets (mjj). For the VBF production mode, the ratio of the measured cross-section to the Standard Model prediction for m jj > 1.5 TeV and ${p}_{\textrm{T}}^{\textrm{H}}$ > 200 GeV (${p}_{\textrm{T}}^{\textrm{H}}$ < 200 GeV) is ${1.29}_{-0.34}^{+0.39}$ (${0.12}_{-0.33}^{+0.34}$ ). This is the first VBF measurement for the higher-${p}_{\textrm{T}}^{\textrm{H}}$ criteria, and the most precise for the lower-${p}_{\textrm{T}}^{\textrm{H}}$ criteria. The fiducial cross-section measurements, which only consider the kinematic properties of the event, are performed as functions of variables characterizing the VBF topology, such as the signed ΔΦ jj between the two leading jets. The measurements have a precision of 30%–50% and agree well with the Standard Model predictions. These results are interpreted in the SMEFT framework, and place the strongest constraints to date on the CP-odd Wilson coefficient ${c}_{H\overset{\sim }{W}}$ .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the total and differential Higgs boson production cross-sections at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector by combining the H → ZZ* → 4ℓ and H → γγ decay channels

The total and differential Higgs boson production cross-sections are measured through a combined statistical analysis of the H → ZZ* → 4ℓ and H → γγ decay channels. The results are based on a dataset of 139 fb –1 of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measured total Higgs boson production cross-section is $55.5$$^{+4.0}_{–3.8}$ pb, consistent with the Standard Model prediction of 55.6 ± 2.5 pb. All results from the two decay channels are compatible with each other, and their combination agrees with the Standard Model predictions. A combined statistical interpretation of the measured fiducial cross-sections as a function of the Higgs boson transverse momentum is performed in order to probe the Yukawa couplings to the bottom and charm quarks. A similar interpretation is performed by including also the constraints from the measurements of Higgs boson production in association with a W or Z boson in the H → bb¯ and cc¯ decay channels.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for supersymmetry in final states with photons and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV

Results are reported for a search for supersymmetry in final states with photons and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{-1}$ collected at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV using the CMS detector. The results are interpreted in the context of models of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. Production cross section limits are set on gluino and squark pair production in this framework. Gluino masses below 1.86 TeV and squark masses below 1.59 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for charged-lepton flavor violation in top quark production and decay in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV

Results are presented from a search for charged-lepton flavor violating (CLFV) interactions in top quark production and decay in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The events are required to contain one oppositely charged electron-muon pair in the final state, along with at least one jet identified as originating from a bottom quark. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. This analysis includes both the production (q → eμt) and decay (t → eμq) modes of the top quark through CLFV interactions, with q referring to a u or c quark. These interactions are parametrized using an effective field theory approach. With no significant excess over the standard model expectation, the results are interpreted in terms of vector-, scalar-, and tensor-like CLFV four-fermion effective interactions. Finally, observed exclusion limits are set at 95% confidence levels on the respective branching fractions of a top quark to an eμ pair and an up (charm) quark of 0.13 × 10$^{-6}$ (1.31 × 10$^{-6}$), 0.07 × 10$^{-6}$ (0.89 × 10$^{-6}$), and 0.25 × 10$^{-6}$ (2.59 × 10$^{-6}$) for vector, scalar, and tensor CLFV interactions, respectively.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Study of very forward energy and its correlation with particle production at midrapidity in pp and p-Pb collisions at the LHC

The energy deposited at very forward rapidities (very forward energy) is a powerful tool for characterising proton fragmentation in pp and p-Pb collisions. The correlation of very forward energy with particle production at midrapidity provides direct insights into the initial stages and the subsequent evolution of the collision. Furthermore, the correlation with the production of particles with large transverse momenta at midrapidity provides information complementary to the measurements of the underlying event, which are usually interpreted in the framework of models implementing centrality-dependent multiple parton interactions. Results about very forward energy, measured by the ALICE zero degree calorimeters (ZDCs), and its dependence on the activity measured at midrapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV and in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV are discussed. The measurements performed in pp collisions are compared with the expectations of three hadronic interaction event generators: PYTHIA 6 (Perugia 2011 tune), PYTHIA 8 (Monash tune), and EPOS LHC. These results provide new constraints on the validity of models in describing the beam remnants at very forward rapidities, where perturbative QCD cannot be used.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Defect Detection of Industrial Radiography Images of Ammonia Pipes by a Sparse Coding Model

Pipeline transportation systems for liquid anhydrous ammonia require periodic inspections for pipe defects. Defects such as crack-like flaws, including those due to stress corrosion and fatigue crack growth and fatigue of welded joints, can be tested by in situ radiography testing (RT). It is required that the detection technique should reveal the defect region without any significant distortion. Imaging noise such as that due to radiation scattering reduces contrast over the whole or part of the image, causing a reduction in image quality. Various image processing methods can be utilized to improve the outcome of RT of pipes. The sparse coding model is a powerful contrast improvement algorithm, but it tends to eliminate imaging details, passing them off as noise. We present a novel implementation of the sparse coding model based on a probabilistic interpretation to improve defect detection in ammonia pipelines radiography images. The performance of this procedure was evaluated in radiographic images of defect and corrosion regions for different pipe types. For ammonia pipes, the technique was found to offer a significant improvement in defect detection while preserving imaging details.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Practical Guide to Measuring Wetland Carbon Pools and Fluxes

Abstract Wetlands cover a small portion of the world, but have disproportionate influence on global carbon (C) sequestration, carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and aquatic C fluxes. However, the underlying biogeochemical processes that affect wetland C pools and fluxes are complex and dynamic, making measurements of wetland C challenging. Over decades of research, many observational, experimental, and analytical approaches have been developed to understand and quantify pools and fluxes of wetland C. Sampling approaches range in their representation of wetland C from short to long timeframes and local to landscape spatial scales. This review summarizes common and cutting-edge methodological approaches for quantifying wetland C pools and fluxes. We first define each of the major C pools and fluxes and provide rationale for their importance to wetland C dynamics. For each approach, we clarify what component of wetland C is measured and its spatial and temporal representativeness and constraints. We describe practical considerations for each approach, such as where and when an approach is typically used, who can conduct the measurements (expertise, training requirements), and how approaches are conducted, including considerations on equipment complexity and costs. Finally, we review key covariates and ancillary measurements that enhance the interpretation of findings and facilitate model development. The protocols that we describe to measure soil, water, vegetation, and gases are also relevant for related disciplines such as ecology. Improved quality and consistency of data collection and reporting across studies will help reduce global uncertainties and develop management strategies to use wetlands as nature-based climate solutions.

Bansal, Sheel (ORCID:0000000312331707)↗

High-pressure shock tube study of ethanol oxidation: Ignition delay time and CO time-history measurements

Ethanol oxidation was studied by measuring CO time-histories and ignition delay times behind reflected shockwaves at elevated pressures. In this study, experimental conditions included a temperature range of 960–1580 K, pressure range of 17.8–23.9 atm, and initial fuel concentrations of 6.54% and 0.25% with nitrogen and argon used as bath gasses, respectively. The equivalence ratio for high fuel loading was kept constant at 1.0, and for low fuel loading equivalence ratios were 1.0 and 0.5. For high fuel loading, early heat/energy release was observed in nearly all ignition delay time measurements, indicative of preignition; however, data collected are in good agreement with model predictions. These events are interpreted as a transition from mild to strong ignition. For the low fuel loading cases (Φ = 1.0 and 0.5), no early heat/energy release was observed. Comparisons of measured CO concentration profiles with the predictions from kinetic mechanisms of Metcalfe et al. (2013), Mittal et al. (2014), and Zhang et al. (2018) were made assuming constant internal energy and volume for the test gas. Such comparisons in addition with performed sensitivity and pathway analyses for CO formation revealed lower temperature sensitivity to the bimolecular reaction of methyl and hydroperoxyl radicals given by CH 3 + HO 2 CH 3 O + OH, and H-atom abstraction by the hydroperoxyl radical at the alpha site on ethanol given by elementary reaction C 2 H 5 OH + HO 2 =sC 2 H 4 OH + H 2 O 2 . Furthermore, the current study provides important validation targets for ethanol chemical kinetic mechanisms and highlights the benefits of time-history measurements at various temperatures and pressures in a shock tube, which are scare in the literature.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

A Primer on Dose-Response Data Modeling in Radiation Therapy

An overview of common approaches used to assess a dose response for radiation therapy–associated endpoints is presented, using lung toxicity data sets analyzed as a part of the High Dose per Fraction, Hypofractionated Treatment Effects in the Clinic effort as an example. Each component presented (eg, data-driven analysis, dose-response analysis, and calculating uncertainties on model prediction) is addressed using established approaches. Specifically, the maximum likelihood method was used to calculate best parameter values of the commonly used logistic model, the profile-likelihood to calculate confidence intervals on model parameters, and the likelihood ratio to determine whether the observed data fit is statistically significant. The bootstrap method was used to calculate confidence intervals for model predictions. Correlated behavior of model parameters and implication for interpreting dose response are discussed.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Evaluating transient fission gas release in high burnup light water reactor fuel during loss of coolant accident conditions via new capabilities

In this work, the role of transient fission gas release (tFGR) in the cladding burst behavior of high burnup fuel during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) in commercial light water reactors was further investigated via the use of a new apparatus. During the LOCA-related temperature ramps of high burnup fuel, the release of fission gases exceeds the steady-state release observed under normal operating conditions. An enhancement was made to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Severe Accident Test Station (SATS) to probe the various factors influencing tFGR. Experiments were performed on commercially irradiated, zirconium-clad uranium dioxide fuel, and this paper details the design of the experimental setup, the initial test results, and the subsequent post-test analyses. Notably, the first test on high burnup fuel demonstrated a LOCA-relevant tFGR of 5.3% from an unpressurized fuel segment. The ultimate tFGR was 10.7% for beyond LOCA conditions. A follow-up test on similar fuel revealed a tFGR of 12.6% under comparable conditions. Microstructural analysis and an analysis of the released gas provide some insight regarding the source of tFGR in the fuel. Finally, a grain boundary bubble model may aid in the interpretation of the results and offer a guide for future work.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

MBIR: A cryo-ET 3D reconstruction method that effectively minimizes missing wedge artifacts and restores missing information

Cryo-Electron Tomography (cryo-ET) has become an essential technique in revealing cellular and macromolecular assembly structures in their native states. However, due to radiation damage and the limited tilt range, cryo-ET suffers from low contrast and missing wedge artifacts, which limits the tomograms to low resolution and hinders further biological interpretation. We applied the Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) method to obtain tomographic 3D reconstructions of experimental cryo-ET datasets and demonstrated the advantages of MBIR in contrast improvement, missing wedge artifacts reduction, missing information restoration, and subtomogram averaging compared with other reconstruction approaches. Considering the outstanding reconstruction quality, MBIR has a great potential in the determination of high resolution biological structures with cryo-ET.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Selective catalytic reduction of NO by ammonia and NO oxidation Over CoO x /CeO 2 catalysts

The selective catalytic reduction of NOsub>x with NH 3 (NH 3 -SCR) at low temperatures is still a major challenge in environmental catalysis research. Metal oxide based catalysts have attracted great attention due to their excellent low-temperature activity. In this study, CeO 2 -supported cobalt (Co)-oxide with variable Co/Ce weight ratios were prepared by the incipient-wetness impregnation method. The effect of Co loading as well as the effect of temperature on catalytic behaviors have been studied for the NO reduction and NO oxidation reactions. Thorough characterization by means of BET, XRD, and Raman has shown the topological model of the catalyst and interpretation of the observed reactivity trends. The activity test of CoO x /CeO 2 catalysts showed that the addition of Co enhanced the activity of NO reduction as well as that of NO oxidation. The most active catalyst with 10 wt% Co loading showed 70% NO reduction and 85% NO oxidation activity. Catalyst characterization results indicated that Co was monodispersed on ceria surface with the low Co loading amount, while Co 3 O 4 was formed on ceria with high Co loading amounts that affected the overall catalytic activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Recalibration of the Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam instrument with an expanded geochemical database

The ChemCam Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity has obtained > 300,000 spectra of rock and soil analysis targets since landing at Gale Crater in 2012, and the spectra represent perhaps the largest publicly-available LIBS datasets. The compositions of the major elements, reported as oxides, have been re-calibrated using a laboratory LIBS instrument, Mars-like atmospheric conditions, and a much larger set of standards (408) that span a wider compositional range than previously employed. The new calibration uses a combination of partial least squares (PLS1) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms, together with a calibration transfer matrix to minimize differences between the conditions under which the standards were analyzed in the laboratory and the conditions on Mars. While the previous model provided good results in the compositional range near the average Mars surface composition, the new model fits the extreme compositions far better. Examples are given for plagioclase feldspars, where silicon was previously significantly over-estimated, and for calcium-sulfate veins, where silicon compositions near zero were inaccurate. Here, the uncertainties of major element abundances are described as a function of the abundances, and are overall significantly lower than the previous model, enabling important new geochemical interpretations of the data.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Optical Properties of Laboratory & Ambient Biomass Burning Aerosols: Elucidating Black, Brown, & Organic Carbon Components & Mixing Regimes

Biomass burning (BB) is an important global source of aerosol and trace gases that degrade air quality, decrease visibility, and impact climate and human health. Refractory black carbon (rBC), brown carbon (BrC), and organic aerosol (OA) are major components of BB emissions. BB aerosol composition is highly variable at the source and depends on fuel composition and combustion phase. Atmospheric aging alters fresh BB aerosol through processes that are complex and dynamic. To better understand the variability in optical properties, we report fresh aerosol laboratory measurements from burning southwestern U.S. fuels and compare them to aged ambient BB aerosol from wildfires over a range of atmospheric timescales. Our BB aerosol analysis uses the relationship between the absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) and single scattering albedo (SSA) to identify rBC, BrC, and OA–dominated regimes that are defined using Mie theory. This model framework is used to interpret the large variability in optical properties measured in laboratory burns. In contrast, we find the observed AAE–SSA relationship for ambient BB aerosol to be less variable and more clustered together with increased atmospheric aging. This transition from fresh to aged behavior is attributed to the homogenization of the BB aerosol from mixing and aging over several hours. As a result, BB aerosol in ambient fire plumes that have aged for several hours exhibit larger SSAs than laboratory flaming burns. We conclude that BrC/OC mixtures play a larger role than rBC in the positive climate forcing of BB aerosol than what would be projected from laboratory results.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗