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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2010

Power law behavior of the zigzag transition in Yukawa clusters

We provide direct experimental evidence that the width of a Yukawa cluster exhibits power law behavior during the one-dimensional (1D) to two-dimensional (2D) zigzag transition. Configurations of small dusty (complex) plasma clusters confined in a biharmonic potential well are characterized as the well anisotropy is varied. When the anisotropy is large the particles are in a 1D straight-line configuration. As the anisotropy is decreased the cluster undergoes a zigzag transition to a 2D configuration. The measured dependence of cluster width on anisotropy follows a power law. A second transition from the zigzag to an elliptical configuration is also observed. The results are in very good agreement with a model of identical particles interacting through a Yukawa potential.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Chebyshev representation for rational functions

An effective representation is obtained for rational functions all of whose critical points, apart from g-1, are simple and their corresponding critical values lie in a four-element set. Such functions are described using hyperelliptic curves of genus g{>=}1. The classical Zolotarev fraction arises in this framework for g=1. Bibliography: 8 titles.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2015

A transmission line model for propagation in elliptical core optical fibers

The calculation of mode propagation constants of elliptical core fibers has been the purpose of extended research leading to many notable methods, with the classic step index solution based on Mathieu functions. This paper seeks to derive a new innovative method for the determination of mode propagation constants in single mode fibers with elliptic core by modeling the elliptical fiber as a series of connected coupled transmission line elements. We develop a matrix formulation of the transmission line and the resonance of the circuits is used to calculate the mode propagation constants. The technique, used with success in the case of cylindrical fibers, is now being extended for the case of fibers with elliptical cross section. The advantage of this approach is that it is very well suited to be able to calculate the mode dispersion of arbitrary refractive index profile elliptical waveguides. The analysis begins with the deployment Maxwell’s equations adjusted for elliptical coordinates. Further algebraic analysis leads to a set of equations where we are faced with the appearance of harmonics. Taking into consideration predefined fixed number of harmonics simplifies the problem and enables the use of the resonant circuits approach. According to each case, programs have been created in Matlab, providing with a series of results (mode propagation constants) that are further compared with corresponding results from the ready known Mathieu functions method.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Anisotropic Flow in Fixed-Target 208 Pb + 20 Ne Collisions as a Probe of Quark-Gluon Plasma

The System for Measuring Overlap with Gas (SMOG2) at the LHCb detector enables the study of fixed-target ion-ion collisions at relativistic energies ($\sqrt{𝑠_{NN}}$ ∼ 100 GeV in the center of mass). Here, with input from ab initio calculations of the structure of 16 O and 20 Ne , we compute 3+1⁢D hydrodynamic predictions for the anisotropic flow of Pb+Ne and Pb+O collisions to be tested with upcoming LHCb data. This will allow the detailed study of quark-gluon plasma formation as well as experimental tests of the predicted nuclear shapes. Elliptic flow (𝑣 2 ) in Pb + Ne collisions is greatly enhanced compared to the Pb + O baseline due to the shape of 20 Ne , which is deformed in a bowling-pin geometry. Owing to the large 208 Pb radius, this effect is seen in a broad centrality range, a unique feature of this collision configuration. Larger elliptic flow further enhances the quadrangular flow (𝑣 4 ) of Pb + Ne collisions via nonlinear coupling, and impacts the sign of the kurtosis of the elliptic flow vector distribution (𝑐 2 ⁡{4}). Exploiting the shape of 20 Ne proves thus an ideal method to investigate the formation of quark-gluon plasma in fixed-target experiments at LHCb, and demonstrates the power of System for Measuring Overlap with Gas as a tool to image nuclear ground states.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Laser beam scattering on an inhomogeneous ensemble of elliptical discs modelling red blood cells in an ectacytometer

We have theoretically studied the effect of difference in particle shapes on the appearance of the diffraction pattern, which arises in the scattering of a laser beam on a dilute suspension of erythrocytes in an ectacytometer. We have proposed data processing algorithms allowing one to estimate the red blood cell shape parameter variance under conditions of laser ectacytometry. The conclusions of the theoretical analysis are verified experimentally. (laser methods in biology)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

OPTICAL-NEAR-INFRARED COLOR GRADIENTS AND MERGING HISTORY OF ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES

It has been suggested that merging plays an important role in the formation and the evolution of elliptical galaxies. While gas dissipation by star formation is believed to steepen metallicity and color gradients of the merger products, mixing of stars through dissipation-less merging (dry merging) is believed to flatten them. In order to understand the past merging history of elliptical galaxies, we studied the optical-near-infrared (NIR) color gradients of 204 elliptical galaxies. These galaxies are selected from the overlap region of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS). The use of optical and NIR data (g, r, and K) provides large wavelength baselines, and breaks the age-metallicity degeneracy, allowing us to derive age and metallicity gradients. The use of the deep SDSS Stripe 82 images makes it possible for us to examine how the color/age/metallicity gradients are related to merging features. We find that the optical-NIR color and the age/metallicity gradients of elliptical galaxies with tidal features are consistent with those of relaxed ellipticals, suggesting that the two populations underwent a similar merging history on average and that mixing of stars was more or less completed before the tidal features disappeared. Elliptical galaxies with dust features have steeper color gradients than the other two types, even after masking out dust features during the analysis, which can be due to a process involving wet merging. More importantly, we find that the scatter in the color/age/metallicity gradients of the relaxed and merging feature types decreases as their luminosities (or masses) increase at M > 10{sup 11.4} M{sub Sun} but stays large at lower luminosities. Mean metallicity gradients appear nearly constant over the explored mass range, but a possible flattening is observed at the massive end. According to our toy model that predicts how the distribution of metallicity gradients changes as a result of major dry merging, the mean metallicity gradient should flatten by 40% and its scatter becomes smaller by 80% per a mass-doubling scale if ellipticals evolve only through major dry merger. Our result, although limited by a number statistics at the massive end, is consistent with the picture that major dry merging is an important mechanism for the evolution for ellipticals at M > 10{sup 11.4} M{sub Sun }, but is less important at the lower mass range.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE DARK HALO-SPHEROID CONSPIRACY AND THE ORIGIN OF ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES

Dynamical modeling and strong-lensing data indicate that the total density profiles of early-type galaxies are close to isothermal, i.e., {rho}{sub tot}{proportional_to}r {sup {gamma}} with {gamma} Almost-Equal-To -2. To understand the origin of this universal slope we study a set of simulated spheroids formed in isolated binary mergers as well as the formation within the cosmological framework. The total stellar plus dark matter density profiles can always be described by a power law with an index of {gamma} Almost-Equal-To -2.1 with a tendency toward steeper slopes for more compact, lower-mass ellipticals. In the binary mergers the amount of gas involved in the merger determines the precise steepness of the slope. This agrees with results from the cosmological simulations where ellipticals with steeper slopes have a higher fraction of stars formed in situ. Each gas-poor merger event evolves the slope toward {gamma} {approx} -2, once this slope is reached further merger events do not change it anymore. All our ellipticals have flat intrinsic combined stellar and dark matter velocity dispersion profiles. We conclude that flat velocity dispersion profiles and total density distributions with a slope of {gamma} {approx} -2 for the combined system of stars and dark matter act as a natural attractor. The variety of complex formation histories as present in cosmological simulations, including major as well as minor merger events, is essential to generate the full range of observed density slopes seen for present-day elliptical galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

FOSSIL EVIDENCE FOR THE TWO-PHASE FORMATION OF ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES

Massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) have undergone dramatic structural evolution over the last 10 Gyr. A companion paper shows that nearby elliptical galaxies with M{sub *} {>=} 1.3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 11} M{sub Sun} generically contain three photometric subcomponents: a compact inner component with effective radius R{sub e} {approx}< 1 kpc, an intermediate-scale middle component with R{sub e} Almost-Equal-To 2.5 kpc, and an extended outer envelope with R{sub e} Almost-Equal-To 10 kpc. Here we attempt to relate these substructures with the properties of ETGs observed at higher redshifts. We find that a hypothetical structure formed from combining the inner and middle components of local ellipticals follows a strikingly tight stellar mass-size relation, one that resembles the distribution of ETGs at z Almost-Equal-To 1. Outside of the central kpc, the median stellar mass surface density profiles of this composite structure agree closest with those of massive galaxies that have similar cumulative number density at 1.5 < z < 2.0 within the uncertainty. We propose that the central substructures in nearby ellipticals are the evolutionary descendants of the ''red nuggets'' formed under highly dissipative (''wet'') conditions at high redshifts, as envisioned in the initial stages of the two-phase formation scenario recently advocated for massive galaxies. Subsequent accretion, plausibly through dissipationless (''dry'') minor mergers, builds the outer regions of the galaxy identified as the outer envelope in our decomposition. The large scatter exhibited by this component on the stellar mass-size plane testifies to the stochastic nature of the accretion events.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): A “No Smoking” Zone for Giant Elliptical Galaxies?

We study the radio emission of the most massive galaxies in a sample of dynamically relaxed and unrelaxed galaxy groups from the Galaxy and Mass Assembly survey. The dynamical state of the group is defined by the stellar dominance of the brightest group galaxy (BGG), e.g., the luminosity gap between the two most luminous members, and the offset between the position of the BGG and the luminosity centroid of the group. We find that the radio luminosity of the largest galaxy in the group strongly depends on its environment, such that the BGGs in dynamically young (evolving) groups are an order of magnitude more luminous in the radio than those with a similar stellar mass but residing in dynamically old (relaxed) groups. This observation has been successfully reproduced by a newly developed semi-analytic model that allows us to explore the various causes of these findings. We find that the fraction of radio-loud BGGs in the observed dynamically young groups is ∼2 times that of the dynamically old groups. We discuss the implications of this observational constraint on the central galaxy properties in the context of galaxy mergers and the super massive black hole accretion rate.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Elliptic and Triangular Flow in Event-by-Event D=3+1 Viscous Hydrodynamics

We present results for the elliptic and triangular flow coefficients v{sub 2} and v{sub 3} in Au+Au collisions at {radical}(s)=200 AGeV using event-by-event D=3+1 viscous hydrodynamic simulations. We study the effect of initial state fluctuations and finite viscosities on the flow coefficients v{sub 2} and v{sub 3} as functions of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity. Fluctuations are essential to reproduce the measured centrality dependence of elliptic flow. We argue that simultaneous measurements of v{sub 2} and v{sub 3} can determine {eta}/s more precisely.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Contact Problem of Wear of the Elastic Half Plane with Winkler’s Coating Caused by Punches of Canonical Shapes

The problem of contact interaction of punches of canonical shapes (cylindrical, elliptic, and hyperbolic) with elastic half planes covered with protective coatings is solved with regard for the wear of the material. We propose a method for the solution of the singular integrodifferential equation of the problem. The numerical analysis of contact pressure is performed for different times, and some specific features of wear of the material by the punches of different shapes are discovered. The time for which the coating is totally worn out at a given point of the contact zone is determined.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

GRAVITATIONAL WAVES FROM MASSIVE MAGNETARS FORMED IN BINARY NEUTRON STAR MERGERS

Binary neutron star (NS) mergers are among the most promising sources of gravitational waves (GWs), as well as candidate progenitors for short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs). Depending on the total initial mass of the system and the NS equation of state (EOS), the post-merger phase can be characterized by a prompt collapse to a black hole or by the formation of a supramassive NS, or even a stable NS. In the latter cases of post-merger NS (PMNS) formation, magnetic field amplification during the merger will produce a magnetar and induce a mass quadrupole moment in the newly formed NS. If the timescale for orthogonalization of the magnetic symmetry axis with the spin axis is smaller than the spindown time, the NS will radiate its spin down energy primarily via GWs. Here we study this scenario for the various outcomes of NS formation: we generalize the set of equilibrium states for a twisted torus magnetic configuration to include solutions that, for the same external dipolar field, carry a larger magnetic energy reservoir; we hence compute the magnetic ellipticity for such configurations, and the corresponding strength of the expected GW signal as a function of the relative magnitude of the dipolar and toroidal field components. The relative number of GW detections from PMNSs and from binary NSs is a very strong function of the NS EOS, being higher (∼1%) for the stiffest EOSs and negligibly small for the softest ones. For intermediate-stiffness EOSs, such as the n = 4/7 polytrope recently used by Giacomazzo and Perna or the GM1 used by Lasky et al., the relative fraction is ∼0.3%; correspondingly, we estimate a GW detection rate from stable PMNSs of ∼0.1-1 yr{sup –1} with advanced detectors, and of ∼100-1000 yr{sup –1} with detectors of third generation such as the Einstein Telescope. Measurement of such GW signals would provide constraints on the NS EOS and, in connection with an SGRB, on the nature of the binary progenitors giving rise to these events.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Highly birefringent low-mode-asymmetry microstructured optical fibres

A novel birefringent microstructured fibre (BMF) design is proposed, and its birefringence and dispersion characteristics are analysed using the finite element method. The results indicate that the proposed BMF design ensures high birefringence ({approx}5x10{sup -3}) at a low mode asymmetry. At a certain core ellipticity, the BMF configurations considered may have equal mode field sizes along two orthogonal axes. (fibre optics)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

High-beta analytic equilibria in circular, elliptical, and D-shaped large aspect ratio axisymmetric configurations with poloidal and toroidal flows

The Grad-Shafranov-Bernoulli system of equations is a single fluid magnetohydrodynamical description of axisymmetric equilibria with mass flows. Using a variational perturbative approach [E. Hameiri, Phys. Plasmas 20, 024504 (2013)], analytic approximations for high-beta equilibria in circular, elliptical, and D-shaped cross sections in the high aspect ratio approximation are found, which include finite toroidal and poloidal flows. Assuming a polynomial dependence of the free functions on the poloidal flux, the equilibrium problem is reduced to an inhomogeneous Helmholtz partial differential equation (PDE) subject to homogeneous Dirichlet conditions. An application of the Green's function method leads to a closed form for the circular solution and to a series solution in terms of Mathieu functions for the elliptical case, which is valid for arbitrary elongations. In order to extend the elliptical solution to a D-shaped domain, a boundary perturbation in terms of the triangularity is used. A comparison with the code FLOW [L. Guazzotto et al., Phys. Plasmas 11(2), 604-614 (2004)] is presented for relevant scenarios.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Minimizers of Hartree Type Functionals and Related Interpolation Inequalities

In this work we are concerned with the minimization problem associated to the best constant C{sub n,{alpha}} in the following interpolation inequality {integral}{integral}(|u(x)|{sup {alpha}}|u(y)|{sup {alpha}}/|x-y|{sup n-2})dxdy{<=}C{sub n,{alpha}}||{nabla}{psi}||{sub L{sup 2}}{sup n{alpha}-(n+2)}||{psi}|| {sub L{sup 2}}{sup (n+2)-(n-2){alpha}}, u is an element of H{sup 1}(R{sup n}) for 2{<=}{alpha}<1+4/(n-2) and n{>=}3. The corresponding variational problem is equivalent to the problem of existence of a ground state solution to the nonlinear non-local elliptic equation -{Delta}u+{omega}u-(|x|{sup -(n-2)}*|u|{sup {alpha}})|u|{sup {alpha}-2}u = 0. We show that the ground state solution is unique and its mass parallel u parallel {sub L{sup 2}}{sup 2} determines the best constant C{sub n,{alpha}}. As a consequence of the above results, we obtain sharp sufficient condition for global existence for the L{sup 2}-critical Hartree equation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

OPTIMAL MASS CONFIGURATIONS FOR LENSING HIGH-REDSHIFT GALAXIES

We investigate the gravitational lensing properties of lines of sight containing multiple cluster-scale halos, motivated by their ability to lens very high redshift (z {approx} 10) sources into detectability. We control for the total mass along the line of sight, isolating the effects of distributing the mass among multiple halos and of varying the physical properties of the halos. Our results show that multiple-halo lines of sight can increase the magnified source-plane region compared to the single cluster lenses typically targeted for lensing studies and thus are generally better fields for detecting very high redshift sources. The configurations that result in optimal lensing cross sections benefit from interactions between the lens potentials of the halos when they overlap somewhat on the sky, creating regions of high magnification in the source plane not present when the halos are considered individually. The effect of these interactions on the lensing cross section can even be comparable to changing the total mass of the lens from 10{sup 15} M{sub Sun} to 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 15} M{sub Sun }. The gain in lensing cross section increases as the mass is split into more halos, provided that the lens potentials are projected close enough to interact with each other. A nonzero projected halo angular separation, equal halo mass ratio, and high projected halo concentration are the best mass configurations, whereas projected halo ellipticity, halo triaxiality, and the relative orientations of the halos are less important. Such high-mass, multiple-halo lines of sight exist in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Generalized Courant-Snyder theory and Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij distribution for high-intensity beams in a coupled transverse focusing lattice

The Courant-Snyder (CS) theory and the Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij (KV) distribution for high-intensity beams in an uncoupled focusing lattice are generalized to the case of coupled transverse dynamics. The envelope function is generalized to an envelope matrix, and the envelope equation becomes a matrix envelope equation with matrix operations that are noncommutative. In an uncoupled lattice, the KV distribution function, first analyzed in 1959, is the only known exact solution of the nonlinear Vlasov-Maxwell equations for high-intensity beams including self-fields in a self-consistent manner. The KV solution is generalized to high-intensity beams in a coupled transverse lattice using the generalized CS invariant. This solution projects to a rotating, pulsating elliptical beam in transverse configuration space. The fully self-consistent solution reduces the nonlinear Vlasov-Maxwell equations to a nonlinear matrix ordinary differential equation for the envelope matrix, which determines the geometry of the pulsating and rotating beam ellipse. These results provide us with a new theoretical tool to investigate the dynamics of high-intensity beams in a coupled transverse lattice. A strongly coupled lattice, a so-called N-rolling lattice, is studied as an example. It is found that strong coupling does not deteriorate the beam quality. Instead, the coupling induces beam rotation and reduces beam pulsation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Generalized Courant-Snyder Theory and Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij Distribution For High-intensity Beams In A Coupled Transverse Focusing Lattice

The Courant-Snyder (CS) theory and the Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij (KV) distribution for high-intensity beams in a uncoupled focusing lattice are generalized to the case of coupled transverse dynamics. The envelope function is generalized to an envelope matrix, and the envelope equation becomes a matrix envelope equation with matrix operations that are non-commutative. In an uncoupled lattice, the KV distribution function, first analyzed in 1959, is the only known exact solution of the nonlinear Vlasov-Maxwell equations for high-intensity beams including self-fields in a self-consistent manner. The KV solution is generalized to high-intensity beams in a coupled transverse lattice using the generalized CS invariant. This solution projects to a rotating, pulsating elliptical beam in transverse configuration space. The fully self-consistent solution reduces the nonlinear Vlasov-Maxwell equations to a nonlinear matrix ordinary differential equation for the envelope matrix, which determines the geometry of the pulsating and rotating beam ellipse. These results provide us with a new theoretical tool to investigate the dynamics of high-intensity beams in a coupled transverse lattice. A strongly coupled lattice, a so-called N-rolling lattice, is studied as an example. It is found that strong coupling does not deteriorate the beam quality. Instead, the coupling induces beam rotation, and reduces beam pulsation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗