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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

Astrophysical Insights into Radial Velocity Jitter from an Analysis of 600 Planet-search Stars

Radial velocity (RV) detection of planets is hampered by astrophysical processes on the surfaces of stars that induce a stochastic signal, or “jitter,” which can drown out or even mimic planetary signals. Here, we empirically and carefully measure the RV jitter of more than 600 stars from the California Planet Search sample on a star by star basis. As part of this process, we explore the activity–RV correlation of stellar cycles and include appendices listing every ostensibly companion-induced signal we removed and every activity cycle we noted. We then use precise stellar properties from Brewer et al. to separate the sample into bins of stellar mass and examine trends with activity and with evolutionary state. We find that RV jitter tracks stellar evolution and that in general, stars evolve through different stages of RV jitter: the jitter in younger stars is driven by magnetic activity, while the jitter in older stars is convectively driven and dominated by granulation and oscillations. We identify the “jitter minimum”—where activity-driven and convectively driven jitter have similar amplitudes—for stars between 0.7 and 1.7 M {sub ⊙} and find that more-massive stars reach this jitter minimum later in their lifetime, in the subgiant or even giant phases. Finally, we comment on how these results can inform future RV efforts, from prioritization of follow-up targets from transit surveys like TESS to target selection of future RV surveys.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Properties of F Stars with Stable Radial Velocity Timeseries: A Useful Metric for Selecting Low-jitter F Stars

In a companion paper, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of radial velocity jitter of over 600 stars, examining the astrophysical origins including stellar granulation, oscillation, and magnetic activity. In this paper, we highlight a subsample of those stars, specifically the main sequence and “retired” F stars—which we refer to as “MSRF” stars—that show low levels of RV jitter (<10 m s{sup −1}). We describe the observational signatures of these stars that allow them to be identified in radial velocity planet programs, for instance, those performing follow-up of transiting planets discovered by TESS. We introduce a “jitter metric” that combines the two competing effects of RV jitter with age: activity and convection. Using thresholds in the jitter metric, we can select both “complete” and “pure” samples of low jitter F stars. We also provide recipes for identifying these stars using only Gaia colors and magnitudes. Finally, we describe a region in the Gaia color–magnitude diagram where low jitter F stars are most highly concentrated. By fitting a ninth-order polynomial to the Gaia main sequence, we use the height above the main sequence as a proxy for evolution, allowing for a crude selection of low jitter MSRF stars when activity measurements are otherwise unavailable.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Real-time jitter correction in a photonic analog-to-digital converter

A real-time jitter meter is used to measure and digitally sample the pulse-to-pulse timing error in a laser pulse train. The jitter meter is self-referenced using a single-pulse delay line interferometer and measures timing jitter using optical heterodyne detection between two frequency channels of the pulse train. Jitter sensitivity down to 3×10 -10 fs 2 /Hz at 500 MHz has been demonstrated with a pulse-to-pulse noise floor of 1.6 fs. Furthermore, as a proof of principle, the digital correction of the output of a high-frequency photonic analog-to-digital converter (PADC) is demonstrated with an emulated jitter signal. Up to 23 dB of jitter correction, down to the noise floor of the PADC, is accomplished with radio-frequency modulation up to 40 GHz.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Minimizing Timing Jitter’s Impact on Ground-Penetrating Radar Array Coupling Signals

This article presents a novel investigation into the effect of receiver timing jitter on the quality of imaging of ground-penetrating radar systems. We explicitly show the impact of timing jitter throughout an entire example processing pipeline. The process of coupling removal in systems whose receivers have a random Gaussian-distributed jitter with a high standard deviation leaves randomly distributed residue in the radar image. This residue, called jitter-induced coupling noise, extends even into the expected target domain which may cause false alarms. This residue approximately follows a sum of Gaussian and Gamma distributions based on the higher order derivatives of the coupling signal. Once migrated to create an image, the coupling residue is best described by a Weibull distribution. We show that simple filtering does not remove enough residue and propose two preventative design specifications called the linear slope and migrated probability specifications. Antenna and system designers should use these specifications to assess the true severity of coupling signals in a given jitter environment.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Imaging high jitter, very fast phenomena: A remedy for shutter lag

Dielectric breakdown is an example of a natural phenomenon that occurs on very short time scales, making it incredibly difficult to capture optical images of the process. Event initiation jitter is one of the primary challenges, as even a microsecond of jitter time can cause the imaging attempt to fail. Initial attempts to capture images of dielectric breakdown using a gigahertz frame rate camera and an exploding bridge wire initiation were stymied by high initiation jitter. Subsequently, a novel optical delay line apparatus was developed in order to effectively circumvent the jitter and reliably image dielectric breakdown. Here, the design and performance of the optical delay line apparatus are presented. The optical delay line increased the image capture success rate from 25% to 94% while also permitting enhanced temporal resolution and has application in imaging other high-jitter, extremely fast phenomena.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Calculation of rf-induced temporal jitter in ultrafast electron diffraction

A significant contribution to the temporal resolution of an ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) instrument is arrival time jitter caused by amplitude and phase variation of radio-frequency (rf) cavities. In this paper, we present a semianalytical approach for calculating rf-induced temporal jitter from klystron and rf cavity parameters. Our approach allows fast estimation of temporal jitter for MeV-UED beamlines and can serve as a virtual timing tool when shot-to-shot measurements of rf amplitude and phase jitters are available. A simulation study for the SLAC MeV-UED instrument is presented, and the temporal resolution of several beamline configurations is compared.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Time-walk and jitter correction in SNSPDs at high count rates

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are a leading detector type for time correlated single photon counting, especially in the near-infrared. When operated at high count rates, SNSPDs exhibit increased timing jitter caused by internal device properties and features of the RF amplification chain. Variations in RF pulse height and shape lead to variations in the latency of timing measurements. To compensate for this, we demonstrate a calibration method that correlates delays in detection events with the time elapsed between pulses. The increase in jitter at high rates can be largely canceled in software by applying corrections derived from the calibration process. We demonstrate our method with a single-pixel tungsten silicide SNSPD and show it decreases high count rate jitter. The technique is especially effective at removing a long tail that appears in the instrument response function at high count rates. At a count rate of 11.4 MCounts/s, we reduce the full width at 1% maximum level (FW1%M) by 45%. The method, therefore, enables certain quantum communication protocols that are rate-limited by the FW1%M metric to operate almost twice as fast.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A Suppression-based STDP Rule Resilient to Jitter Noise in Spike Patterns for Neuromorphic Computing

Multi-spike models of synaptic plasticity, such as the triplet and suppression spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) rules, exhibit better alignment with neurophysiological data in the brain compared to the pair-based STDP rule. Previous studies have empirically shown that the pair-based STDP rule can detect spatiotemporal spike patterns hidden in equally dense distractor spike trains in an unsupervised manner. However, it fails to detect spike patterns influenced by jitter noise. Given that spiking neural networks (SNNs) exhibit variability in generated spike trains in response to the same inputs, it becomes imperative to have learning rules capable of detecting spike patterns even in the presence of jitter noise. In this study, we introduce a simplified suppression-based STDP rule that demonstrates significantly enhanced tolerance to jitter in spike patterns compared to the pair-based STDP rule. Unlike the ideal suppression STDP rule, characterized by an exponential learning window and requiring high-resolution synapses, the simplified rule limits the synaptic efficacy update to a single bit at any given instant. Moreover, it employs 4-bit fixed-point synapses, facilitating straightforward implementation in neuromorphic hardware.

Gautam, Ashish [ORNL]↗

The Epoch of Giant Planet Migration Planet Search Program. I. Near-infrared Radial Velocity Jitter of Young Sun-like Stars

We present early results from the Epoch of Giant Planet Migration program, a precise radial velocity (RV) survey of more than 100 intermediate-age (∼20–200 Myr) G and K dwarfs with the Habitable Zone Planet Finder spectrograph (HPF) at McDonald Observatory’s Hobby–Eberly Telescope. The goals of this program are to determine the timescale and dominant physical mechanism of giant planet migration interior to the water ice line of Sun-like stars. Here, we summarize results from the first 14 months of this program, with a focus on our custom RV pipeline for HPF, a measurement of the intrinsic near-infrared RV activity of young Solar analogs, and modeling the underlying population-level distribution of stellar jitter. We demonstrate on-sky stability at the sub-2 m s{sup −1} level for the K2 standard HD 3765 using a least-squares matching method to extract precise RVs. Based on a subsample of 29 stars with at least three RV measurements from our program, we find a median rms level of 34 m s{sup −1}. This is nearly a factor of 2 lower than the median rms level in the optical of 60 m s{sup −1} for a comparison sample with similar ages and spectral types as our targets. The observed near-infrared jitter measurements for this subsample are well reproduced with a log-normal parent distribution with μ = 4.15 and σ = 1.02. Finally, by compiling rms values from previous planet search programs, we show that near-infrared jitter for G and K dwarfs generally decays with age in a similar fashion to optical wavelengths, albeit with a shallower slope and lower overall values for ages ≲1 Gyr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Low-Jitter Clock Receivers for Fast Timing Applications

Precision timing is a key requirement for emerging 4D particle tracking, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), beam and fusion plasma diagnostics, and other systems. Time-to-Digital Converters (TDCs) are commonly used to provide digital estimates of the relative timing between events, but the jitter performance of a TDC can be no better than the performance of the circuits that acquire the pulses and deliver them to the TDC. Several clock receiver and distribution circuits were evaluated, and a differential amplifier with resistive loads driving a pseudo-differential clock distribution network, developed using design guidelines for radiation tolerance and cryogenic compatibility, was fabricated as part of three prototypes: an analog front-end testbed chip for high-precision timing pixel readout, a dedicated TDC evaluation chip, and a Low-Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) readout circuit. Based on TDC measurements of the prototypes, we infer that the jitter added by the clock receiver and distribution circuits is less than 2.25 ps-rms. This performance meets the requirements of many future precision timing systems. The clock receiver and on-chip pseudo-differential driver were fabricated in commercial 28-nm CMOS technology and occupy 2288 µm 2 .

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Jitter minimization flexure pointing system

The illustrative embodiments provide for a telescope. The telescope includes a housing; an optical assembly disposed inside the housing and configured to gather light from a distant object; and a jitter reduction system connected to the housing. The jitter reduction system includes a first flexure assembly comprising a first base to which is attached to a first armature connected to a first linear motor winding configured to push out a first flexure connected to the first armature and to push out a second flexure connected to the first armature opposite the first flexure, wherein the first flexure and the second flexure have a first normal axis pointing through a center of mass of the optical assembly.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Jitter tracking anti-spoofing algorithm

A system and method to distinguish spoofing signals from true GNSS signals is disclosed. One aspect of the present invention combines measuring GNSS carrier signals with measuring jitter in a vehicle's position via a low-cost inertial measurement unit (IMU) to distinguish spoofing signals from true GNSS signals. The present invention employs natural and/or artificial jitter of a vehicle, that, when combined with a tightly coupled inertial navigation system (INS), allows the receiver to distinguish the spoofing GNSS signal from the true GNSS signal. This spoofer survivability algorithm may be implemented, for example, in the software of a GNSS (or GPS) navigation system.

Brashar, Connor↗

A sub-5 ps jitter time-to-digital converter ASIC with back-gate delay tuning in 22 nm CMOS

We present the design of a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) ASIC together with performance characterization results at cryogenic temperature (6-8 K), and at room temperature using emulated Low-Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) signals. The TDC design uses a two-step architecture with a ring-oscillator based counter and a Vernier delay line fine TDC. The TDC is implemented in an FD-SOI process, and back-gate tuning is used not only to correct threshold variation due to cryogenic operation, but also as a novel way to tune TDC delay elements with very little overhead. Using this technique, we demonstrate a design with very low power (0.5 mW) and area (0.003 mm 2 ). We present test results using the Fermilab Constant Fraction Discriminator (FCFD) ASIC to produce discriminated signals from an internal charge injection mechanism that mimics the waveform and signal amplitude of minimum ionizing particles impinging on LGAD sensors. We characterize the time precision of the full system and verify that the TDC ASIC contributes a negligible amount to the total system time precision, fully consistent with the expected jitter contribution of less than 5 ps. In conclusion, the results presented here demonstrate the utility of our TDC for applications in physics and quantum communications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Femtosecond Compression Dynamics and Timing Jitter Suppression in a THz-driven Electron Bunch Compressor

Herein we present the first demonstration of THz driven bunch compression and timing stabilization of a relativistic electron beam. Quasi-single-cycle strong field THz radiation is used in a shorted parallel-plate structure to compress a few-fC beam with 2.5 MeV kinetic energy by a factor of 2.7, producing a 39 fs rms bunch length and a reduction in timing jitter by more than a factor of 2 to 31 fs rms. This THz driven technique offers a significant improvement to beam performance for applications like ultrafast electron diffraction, providing a critical step towards unprecedented timing resolution in ultrafast sciences, and other accelerator applications using femtosecond-scale electron beams.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Compact, All-PM Fiber Integrated and Alignment-Free Ultrafast Yb:Fiber NALM Laser With Sub-Femtosecond Timing Jitter

We report a simple and compact design of a dispersion compensated mode-locked Yb:fiber oscillator based on a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM). The fully polarization maintaining (PM) fiber integrated laser features a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) for dispersion compensation and a fiber integrated compact non-reciprocal phase bias device, which is alignment-free. The main design parameters were determined by numerically simulating the pulse evolution in the oscillator and by analyzing their impact on the laser performance. Experimentally, we achieved an 88 fs compressed pulse duration with sub-fs timing jitter at 54 MHz repetition rate and 51 mW of output power with 5.5×10 -5 [20 Hz, 1 MHz] integrated relative intensity noise (RIN). Furthermore, we demonstrate tight phase-locking of the laser's carrier-envelope offset frequency ( fceo ) to a stable radio frequency (RF) reference and of one frequency comb tooth to a stable optical reference at 291 THz.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Jitter-induced Max-of-N fluence distribution at the National Ignition Facility

Max-of-N fluence is the maximum peak fluence at a given location over N number of shots and is important for calculating fluence dependence for intrinsic laser-induced optic damage. Previously, we observed the Max-of-N effect on the National Ignition Facility and developed an ad-hoc model to calculate its effect. In this work, we attempt to understand the fundamental mechanism that causes this Max-of-N effect. We conclude that the primary fundamental mechanism responsible for this effect is dominated by the combination of fluence variations and pointing jitter of the laser. This discovery both strengthens our model for predicting optics longevity and gives us insight into how to mitigate this effect.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Time-of-Flight Calculations with Multiple Beam Phase Monitors: Calibration, Jitter Analysis & Energy Measurement

This report describes time-of-flight (ToF) beam energy measurements with multiple phase monitors in a beam line with no acceleration. Measurement uncertainty is quantified via rigorous treatment of beam-based phase monitor calibration and jitter analysis of the accelerator system. Experimental results in the Superconducting Linac (SCL) of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The joys and jitters of high‐temperature calorimetry

Abstract High‐temperature calorimetry (HTC) originated in the 20th century as a niche method to enable measurements not easily accomplished with acid solution calorimetry, combustion calorimetry, vapor pressure, or EMF methods. Over time, HTC has evolved into a versatile approach to accurately quantify formation, phase transition, surface and interfacial enthalpies of a wide range of materials including minerals and refractory inorganic compounds. This evolution has been the result of numerous adjustments to experimental setups and procedures, followed by rigorous testing. The commercial availability and the scientific success of this technique have led to an increase in the number of laboratories applying HTC. However, the knowledge acquired by researchers over the past 70 years is scattered throughout the literature or only available as laboratory internal documentation and personal experience. This publication is a collaborative effort among several leading HTC laboratories to summarize and unify current state‐of‐the‐art HTC techniques and procedures. The text starts by summarizing various HT techniques that are commonly used for readers with an interest in HTC in general. It is then directed toward HTC users and includes a brief section on data evaluation procedures as well as a comprehensive compilation of reference data utilizing molten sodium molybdate and lead borate solvents. Finally, for experienced HTC users, an in‐depth discussion of some common difficulties and a discussion of uncertainties are presented.

Scharrer, Manuel [Navrotsky Eyring Center for Mate↗