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We summarize the results obtained under this grant, which resulted in a manuscript entitled “Simultaneous iterative learning control of mode entrainment and error field”, submitted to Nuclear Fusion.
The project was dedicated to quantifying the possibilities and limitations of the integrable optics, a fundamentally new approach to high-intensity accelerator ring design, using the parallel Synergia framework for simulations. The following topics were studied: a) the effects of space charge forces, field errors, magnet misalignments, and other sources of parametric resonance; b) the effect of controlled nonlinearities, such as sextupoles for chromaticity control; c) the effect of longitudinal dynamics driven by finite bunch length and rf cavities; and d) reexamination of relevant lattices in present accelerators to explore potential benefits of these new design principles.
This research will focus on quantitative prediction of the stability, control, and equilibrium state evolution in toroidal burning plasmas. The stability of long pulse burning plasmas is highly sensitive to the physics of resonant layers in the plasma, sources of momentum and ow, kinetic effects of energetic particles, and boundary conditions at the wall, including feedback control and error fields. In ITER in particular, the low toroidal ow equilibrium state, sustained primarily by energetic alpha particles from fusion reactions, will require the consideration of all of these key elements to predict quantitatively the stability and evolution. The principal investigators on this proposal are leading experts in the relevant theoretical and computational areas, and aim to perform computations guided by analytic modeling, to address this physics in realistic configurations. The overall goal is to understand the key physics mechanisms that describe resistive toroidal burning plasmas, surrounded by a resistive wall, under active feedback control. With the physics of the energetic ions, resonant layers, resistive wall, and toroidal momentum transport included, this study will extend from recent publications in theory and simulation of individual effects and move toward predictive modeling for burning plasmas.
This research has focused on quantitative prediction of the stability, control, and equilibrium state evolution in toroidal burning plasmas. The stability of long pulse burning plasmas is highly sensitive to the physics of resonant layers in the plasma, sources of momentum and flow, kinetic effects of energetic particles, and boundary conditions at the wall, including feedback control and error fields. In ITER in particular, the low toroidal flow equilibrium state, sustained primarily by energetic alpha particles from fusion reactions, will require the consideration of all of these key elements to predict quantitatively the stability and evolution. The principal investigators on this proposal are leading experts in the relevant theoretical and computational areas, and aimed to perform computations guided by analytic modeling, to address this physics in realistic configurations. The overall goal is to understand the key physics mechanisms that describe resistive toroidal burning plasmas, surrounded by a resistive wall, under active feedback control. With the physics of the energetic ions, resonant layers, resistive wall, and toroidal momentum transport included, this study will extend from recent publications in theory and simulation of individual effects and move toward predictive modeling for burning plasmas.
All available ground-based observational techniques are used to study the chemical and physical properties of the small bodies of the solar system, primarily comets and secondarily asteroids. The ultimate goal is to use these bodies to understand the formation and evolution of the solar system. The analysis of charge coupled device (CCD) images of comet P/Halley continued. This included a mojor revision of a paper on the periodicities of CN jets in Halley showing that their periodicity is 7.3 days, not 2.2 days. It also included an analysis of the continuum images which showed that the dust in jets is much redder than in the ambient coma. Calculations with Mie theory suggest that the particles that show the strongest effects of radiation pressure. Much effort was expended devising methods to estimate the level of sky background of the many images in which comet extends to the edge of the chip. Examined images of comet Wilson were taken over many months in 1987. Wilson, a dynamically new comet, shows none of the short-term variability or jet structure (either dusty jets or jets of radicals seen in Halley. This is presumably due to the lack of a mantle or the nucleus. Median-imaging of sky was as a technique for removing residual flat-fielding errors in CCD images. A Monte Carlo model and a convolution model were developed for studying temporal variability of gaseous daughter products.
The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) attitude control system originally included an inertial reference package containing six gyroscopes for three axis stabilization. The science instrument includes a prime and redundant Field Error Sensor (FES) camera for target acquisition and offset guiding. Since launch, four of the six gyroscopes have failed. The current attitude control system utilizes the remaining two gyros and a Fine Sun Sensor (FSS) for three axis stabilization. When the next gyro fails, a new attitude control system will be uplinked which will rely on the remaining gyro and the FSS for general three axis stabilization. In addition to the FSS, the FES cameras will be required to assist in maintaining fine attitude control during target acquisition. This has required thoroughly determining the characteristics of the FES cameras and the spectrograph aperture plate as well as devising new target acquisition procedures. The results of this work are presented.
Prelaunch and postlaunch calibration plans for the APAFO magnetometer experiment are presented. A study of tradeoffs between boom length and spacecraft field is described; the results are summarized. The prelaunch plan includes: calibration of the Vector Fluxgate Magnetometer (VFM), Star Sensors, and Scalar Helium Magnetometer (SHM); optical bench integration; and acquisition of basic spacecraft field data. Postlaunch calibration has two phases. In phase one, SHM data are used to calibrate the VFM, total vector magnetic field data are used to calibrate a physical model of the spacecraft field, and both calibrations are refined by iteration. In phase two, corrected vector data are transformed into geocentric coordinates, previously undetected spacecraft fields are isolated, and initial geomagnetic field models are computed. Provided the SHM is accurate to the required 1.0 nT and can be used to calibrate the VFM to the required 3.0- nT accuracy, the tradeoff study indicates that a 12 m boom and a spacecraft field model uncertainty of 5 percent together allow the 1.0 nT spacecraft field error requirement to be met.
The orbital phase and the major factors controlling the Mars Observer orbital evolution and accuracy are studied. Particular attention is given to the gravity field and atmospheric density. It is found that gravity field errors are reduced by the implementation of a gravity calibration period. A typical set of ground tracks corresponding to the optional mapping orbit definition is given.
The objective of the study was to analyze data from the Dynamical Extended-Range Forecast Experiment conducted from January 1986 to March 1987, and to evaluate differences between analysis and forecasts with emphasis on the tropical 30-50-day oscillation. The diagnostic toll used is the projection of analysis and forecast data onto the normal modes of a primitive equation model. Examination of zonal-wind anomalies in the tropics shows that the forecast model predicts propagation of intraseasonal variations more accurately for slow propagation rates. The forecast amplitude is generally weaker than the analyzed amplitude. Analyzed kinetic energy and error fields exhibit similar horizontal scales for internal and external modes. External Rossby-mode components maximize in the extratropics while Rossby internal modes exhibit patterns that extend over the entire globe.
The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) attitude control system originally included an inertial reference package containing six gyroscopes for three axis stabilization. The science instrument includes a prime and redundant Field Error Sensor (FES) camera for target acquisition and offset guiding. Since launch, four of the six gyroscopes have failed. The current attitude control system utilizes the remaining two gyros and a Fine Sun Sensor (FSS) for three axis stabilization. When the next gyro fails, a new attitude control system will be uplinked, which will relay on the remaining gyro and the FSS for general three axis stabilization. In addition to the FSS, the FES cameras will be required to assist in maintaining fine attitude control during target acquisition. This has required thoroughly determining the characteristics of the FES cameras and the spectrograph aperture plate as well as devising new target acquisition procedures. The results of this work are presented.
Understanding climate variability at regional scales is an important for research and societal needs. Atmospheric retrospective-analyses (or reanalyses) integrate multitudes of observing systems with numerical models to produce continuous data that include variables not easily observed, if at all. The breadth of variables as well as observational influence included in reanalyses make them ideal for investigating climate variability. In this paper, we assess NASA s Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Application (MERRA) regional variability in North America, specifically the United States, in conjunction with current satellite data reanalyses. Emphasis is placed on summertime precipitation because 1) it is a difficult parameter to capture in the most difficult season, 2) significant observational resources exist to benchmark comparisons, and 3) accurate assessment of precipitation variability is crucial to a multitude of sectors and applications. Likewise, we have also begun to evaluate surface air temperature. While precipitation biases are identified, year to year variability of the precipitation variations, in many cases, are quite reasonable. However, some spurious long term trends and sudden shifts in the time series are also identified. In surface air temperature, analysis of station observations provides ERA Interim a clear overall advantage. However, in a number of regions, all the reanalyses are quite comparable in variability and trend. In other regions, significant precipitation biases may occur, which has implications for the ancillary process data in a reanalysis, such as surface fluxes. We also characterize the reanalyses ability to capture variability related to ENSO. In general, the summertime variations of precipitation in the reanalyses are more highly correlated (positively) to ENSO (using ENSO34) than are the observations. The Northwestern US shows the largest positive correlations to ENSO34, and reanalyses agree with that, and correlate highly with the gauge observations there. Additional evaluation of the data assimilation using the MERRA Gridded Innovations and Observations (GIO) data, which consists of the assimilated observations as well as forecast an analysis error fields. This work represents an initial evaluation of using the MERRA reanalysis to study regional climate variations of the United States, and identifying its applied limitations
The Main Injector (MI) at Fermilab currently produces high-intensity beams of protons at energies of 120 GeV for a variety of physics experiments. Acceleration of polarized protons in the MI would provide opportunities for a rich spin physics program at Fermilab. To achieve polarized proton beams in the Fermilab accelerator complex, shown in Fig.1.1, detailed spin tracking simulations with realistic parameters based on the existing facility are required. This report presents studies at the MI using a single 4-twist Si-berian snake to determine the depolarizing spin resonances for the relevant synchrotrons. Results will be presented first for a perfect MI lattice, followed by a lattice that includes the real MI imperfections, such as the measured magnet field errors and quadrupole misalignments. The tolerances of each of these factors in maintaining polariza-tion in the Main Injector will be discussed.
The LHC is filled from the last pre-injector, the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS), via two 3 km long transfer lines, TI 2 and TI 8. Over the LHC injection processes, a drift of the beam trajectories has been observed in TI 2 and TI 8, requiring regular correction of the trajectories, in order to ensure clean injection into the LHC. Investigations of the trajectory variations in the transfer lines showed that the main source of short term trajectory drifts are current variations of the SPS extraction septa (MSE). The stability of the power converters has been improved, but the variations are still present and further improvements are being investigated. The stability over a longer period of time cannot be explained by this source alone. The analysis of trajectory variations shows that there are also slow variations in the SPS closed orbit at extraction. A set of SPS orbit measurements has been saved and analysed. These observations will be used together with simulations and observed field errors to locate the second source of variations.
The geometrical-optical properties of synchrotron radiation coming from a curving, relativistic electron beam do not fit into any usual category of light or radiation source, The center of the apparent source of radiation depends on the position of the observer with respect to the orbit, and the source has an axial extent which is a function of the sizes of the beam and the observation aperture. The beam image formed by focusing the synchrotron light is subject to distortions and depth of field errors. These errors are calculated, and, in some cases, methods of correction are given. The limits put on resolution by geometrical effects are given. Beam orbit changes cause errors in the angular acceptance of observation systems: these effects can also be corrected. Furthermore the dimensions of the diffuse shadows cast by rays from the finite-sized source impinging on edges are calculated.
The particle-in-cell (PIC) method is widely used to model the self-consistent interaction between discrete particles and electromagnetic fields. It has been successfully applied to problems across plasma physics including plasma based acceleration, inertial confinement fusion, magnetically confined fusion, space physics, astrophysics, high energy density plasmas. In many cases the physics involves how relativistic particles (those with high relativistic γ factors) are generated and interact with plasmas. However, when relativistic particles stream across the grid, both in “vacuum” and in plasma, many numerical issues may arise which can lead to unphysical results. We present a detailed analysis of how discretized Maxwell solvers used in PIC codes can lead to numerical errors to the fields that surround particles that move at relativistic speeds across the grid. Expressions for the axial electric field as integrals in k space are presented that reveal two types of errors. The first arises from errors to the numerator of the integrand and leads to unphysical fields that are antisymmetric about the particle. Furthermore, the second arises from errors to the denominator of the integrand and lead to Cherenkov like radiation in “vacuum”. These fields are not anti-symmetric, extend behind the particle, and cause the particle to accelerate or decelerate depending on the solver and parameters. The unphysical fields are studied in detail for two representative solvers - the Yee solver and the FFT based solver. Although the Cherenkov fields are absent, the space charge fields are still present in the fundamental Brillouin zone for the FFT based solvers. In addition, the Cherenkov fields are present in higher order zones for the FFT based solvers. Comparison between the analytical solutions and PIC simulation results are presented. A solution for eliminating these unphysical fields by modifying the k operator in the axial direction is also presented. Using a customized finite difference solver, this solution was successfully implemented into OSIRIS [1]. Results from the customized solver are also presented. Additionally, this solution will be useful for a beam of particles that all move in one direction with a small angular divergence.
Mapping and monitoring of forest carbon stocks across large areas in the tropics will necessarily rely on remote sensing approaches, which in turn depend on field estimates of biomass for calibration and validation purposes. Here, we used field plot data collected in a tropical moist forest in the central Amazon to gain a better understanding of the uncertainty associated with plot-level biomass estimates obtained specifically for the calibration of remote sensing measurements. In addition to accounting for sources of error that would be normally expected in conventional biomass estimates (e.g., measurement and allometric errors), we examined two sources of uncertainty that are specific to the calibration process and should be taken into account in most remote sensing studies: the error resulting from spatial disagreement between field and remote sensing measurements (i.e., co-location error), and the error introduced when accounting for temporal differences in data acquisition. We found that the overall uncertainty in the field biomass was typically 25% for both secondary and primary forests, but ranged from 16 to 53%. Co-location and temporal errors accounted for a large fraction of the total variance (>65%) and were identified as important targets for reducing uncertainty in studies relating tropical forest biomass to remotely sensed data. Although measurement and allometric errors were relatively unimportant when considered alone, combined they accounted for roughly 30% of the total variance on average and should not be ignored. Lastly, our results suggest that a thorough understanding of the sources of error associated with field-measured plot-level biomass estimates in tropical forests is critical to determine confidence in remote sensing estimates of carbon stocks and fluxes, and to develop strategies for reducing the overall uncertainty of remote sensing approaches.
A novel computer simulation methodology to properly characterize the role of probe directivity/pattern compensation in cylindrical near-field scanning geometry is presented.
Techniques are presented for detecting and correcting errors in a vector field. These methods employ median filters which are frequently used in image processing to enhance edges and remove noise. A detailed example is given for wind field maps produced by a spaceborne scatterometer. The error detection and replacement algorithm was tested with simulation data from the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) project.