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Nulling interferometry is a promising technique for reducing a star's brightness relative to its immediate surroundings, with great potential to enable direct detections of extra-solar planets and zodiacal light.
This study explores the effects of particle drifts across the magnetic field in TCV single-null plasmas using the two-dimensional edge plasma transport code UEDGE. In particular, it aims to reproduce a double-peaked density target profile, a feature which has been observed both at JET and in a TCV forward-field (${\rm{\nabla }}B$ drift of core ions towards the X-point) discharge. Initial simulations are performed with drift effects turned off. This allows identification of the input parameters that strongly influence the computed steady-state but are not well known from the experiment. Including cross-field drifts self-consistently in the simulations brings computed profiles at the inner target closer to the experiment, with the double peak being reproduced for the density. In agreement with the experiment, simulations of a similar reversed-field shot yield lower n e and higher T e at the inner target, as well as unchanged temperatures at the outer plate. However, several discrepancies remain. In the forward field case, the inner target density peak near the separatrix is much sharper than seen experimentally. Furthermore, simulations show a strong dependence of the outer plate density and of the outer/inner power sharing on toroidal field direction. Experimentally, no such dependencies are observed. In the simulations, the changes of target profiles with field direction are mainly due to E × B drifts in the divertor region. Finally, while these simulations highlight the importance of E × B drifts in these TCV plasmas, the remaining differences with the experiment indicate that their role is overestimated in the simulations.
Maintaining an effective double-null (DN) configuration is expected to be challenging in reactor-scale tokamak devices. As divertor power-sharing is closely linked to the magnetic topology, even minor variations can lead to fast power-sharing fluctuations which exacerbate the already daunting exhaust challenge. While the static aspects of DN power-sharing have been extensively studied across various devices, this paper presents the first detailed investigation of its dynamic behaviour. We employ dedicated H-mode experiments in MAST-U, in Super-X divertor configuration, featuring perturbation frequencies up to 200 Hz. Our results clearly show no significant dynamic damping of the power-sharing within this frequency range: the divertor responds equally to both fast and slow perturbations. Moreover, the dynamic response also aligns with quasi-static results from slow ramps, implying that static power-sharing models remain valid even for fast fluctuations. Occasionally, some deviations from the otherwise mainly linear behaviour are observed, alongside notable scatter and asymmetries between upwards and downwards trajectories. These observations are likely linked to changes in core conditions, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and require further study.
Null geodesics in general theory of relativity
As part of a NASA NRA study we have examined the design and use of a small Bracewell nulling interferometer in space for observations of Jovian and terrestrial planets in the 4-12 mu m spectral region.
Nulling interferometry has great protential in the search for planetary companions and exozodiacal disks, but the various approaches proposed remain largely unproven.
High time resolution magnetic field measurements (1 vector/s) at radial distances out to 5.3 AU and heliographic latitudes from 0(deg) to > 35(deg) S reveal the presence of solitary pulses lasting tens of seconds in which the field magnitude approaches or reaches zero. The properties of these nulls, their spatial distribution and relation to solar wind structures and to similar-apppearing interplanetary and magnetospheric impulses will be discussed.
Nulling interferometry, a proposed technique for dimming a star relative to its surroundings, has the potential to enable direct imaging of planets orbiting nearby stars.
We present an interferometer that provides a null at the star and a direct measurement of both visibility amplitude and phase of the planets.
Deep nulling of both laser and thermal radiation has been demonstrated in the laboratory at visible wavelengths, by means of a rotational shearing interferometer (RSI) coupled to single-mode input and output fibers.
This paper describes the need for a compensator that can adaptively correct for mismatches between the optical beamtrains of a Mid-IR nulling interferometer, across the science bandwidth with a range of spectral dependences.
This paper describes a space mission for visible direct detection and spectroscopy of Earth like extrasolar planets using a nulling coronagraph instrument behind a moderately sized telescope in space.
TPF-I has set for itself a host of challenging technical milestones along its path to demonstrating the feasibility of infrared nulling for planet detection Progress in each of these areas of technical development will be reviewed as well as progress in meeting the overarching technical milestones.
We report progress on a nulling coronagraph intended for direct imaging of extrasolar planets. White light is suppressed in an interferometer, and phase errors are measured by a second interferometer. A 1020-pixel MEMS deformable mirror in the first interferometer adjusts the path length across the pupil. A feedback control system reduces deflections of the deformable mirror to order of 1 nm rms.
The key to broadband operation of the Visible Nulling Coronagraph (VNC) is achieving a condition of quasi- achromatic destructive interference between combined beams. Here we present efforts towards meeting this goal using Fresnel rhombs in each interferometric arm as orthogonally aligned half wave phase retarders. The milestone goal of the demonstration is to achieve 1 × 10−9 contrast at 2/D over a 40 nm bandpass centered at 633 nm. Rhombs have been designed and fabricated, and a multi-step approach to alignment using coarse positioners for each rhomb and pair has been developed to get within range of piezo stages used for fine positioning. The previously demonstrated narrowband VNC sensing and control approach that uses a segmented deformable mirror is being adapted to broadband to include fine positioning of the piezo-mounted rhombs, all demonstrated in a low-pressure environment.
Planet detection around a bright star depends the resolution of the imaging system and the degree of light suppression of the star relative to the planet. We present a concept for a visible light Terrestrial Planet Finding (VTPF) mission. Its major feature is an imaging system for planet detection using a nulling interferometer behind a single aperture telescope. This configuration is capable of detecting earth-like planets with a 5m aperture using both imaging and spectroscopic imaging modes. We will describe the principles of the system, and show results of studies demonstrating its feasibility.
Abstract Yarrowia lipolytica is a metabolic engineering host of growing industrial interest due to its ability to metabolize hydrocarbons, fatty acids, glycerol, and other renewable carbon sources. This dimorphic yeast undergoes a stress‐induced transition to a multicellular hyphal state, which can negatively impact biosynthetic activity, reduce oxygen and nutrient mass transfer in cell cultures, and increase culture viscosity. Identifying mutations that prevent the formation of hyphae would help alleviate the bioprocess challenges that they create. To this end, we conducted a genome‐wide CRISPR screen to identify genetic knockouts that prevent the transition to hyphal morphology. The screen identified five mutants with a null‐hyphal phenotype— ΔRAS2 , ΔRHO5 , ΔSFL1 , ΔSNF2 , and ΔPAXIP1 . Of these hits, only ΔRAS2 suppressed hyphal formation in an engineered lycopene production strain over a multiday culture. The RAS2 knockout was also the only genetic disruption characterized that did not affect lycopene production, producing more than 5 mg L −1 OD −1 from a heterologous pathway with enhanced carbon flux through the mevalonate pathway. These data suggest that a ΔRAS2 mutant of Y. lipolytica could prove useful in engineering a metabolic engineering host of the production of carotenoids and other biochemicals.
We show that the average null energy condition implies novel lower bounds on the scaling dimensions of highly-chiral primary operators in four-dimensional conformal field theories. Denoting the spin of an operator by a pair of integers ($k\overline{k}\ $) specifying the transformations under chiral su (2) rotations, we explicitly demonstrate these new bounds for operators transforming in (k, 0) and (k, 1) representations for sufficiently large k. Based on these calculations, along with intuition from free field theory, we conjecture that in any unitary conformal field theory, primary local operators of spin ($k\overline{k}\ $) and scaling dimension Δ satisfy Δ ≥ max{$k\overline{k}\ $}. If |$k-\overline{k}\ $| > 4 , this is stronger than the unitarity bound.