Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “observations”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

TRANSIT TIMING OBSERVATIONS FROM KEPLER. I. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS

The architectures of multiple planet systems can provide valuable constraints on models of planet formation, including orbital migration, and excitation of orbital eccentricities and inclinations. NASA's Kepler mission has identified 1235 transiting planet candidates. The method of transit timing variations (TTVs) has already confirmed seven planets in two planetary systems. We perform a transit timing analysis of the Kepler planet candidates. We find that at least {approx}11% of planet candidates currently suitable for TTV analysis show evidence suggestive of TTVs, representing at least {approx}65 TTV candidates. In all cases, the time span of observations must increase for TTVs to provide strong constraints on planet masses and/or orbits, as expected based on N-body integrations of multiple transiting planet candidate systems (assuming circular and coplanar orbits). We find the fraction of planet candidates showing TTVs in this data set does not vary significantly with the number of transiting planet candidates per star, suggesting significant mutual inclinations and that many stars with a single transiting planet should host additional non-transiting planets. We anticipate that Kepler could confirm (or reject) at least {approx}12 systems with multiple transiting planet candidates via TTVs. Thus, TTVs will provide a powerful tool for confirming transiting planets and characterizing the orbital dynamics of low-mass planets. If Kepler observations were extended to at least seven years, then TTVs would provide much more precise constraints on the dynamics of systems with multiple transiting planets and would become sensitive to planets with orbital periods extending into the habitable zone of solar-type stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Finding a spherically symmetric cosmology from observations in observational coordinates — advantages and challenges

One of the continuing challenges in cosmology has been to determine the large-scale space-time metric from observations with a minimum of assumptions — without, for instance, assuming that the universe is almost Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW). If we are lucky enough this would be a way of demonstrating that our universe is FLRW, instead of presupposing it or simply showing that the observations are consistent with FLRW. Showing how to do this within the more general spherically symmetric, inhomogeneous space-time framework takes us a long way towards fulfilling this goal. In recent work researchers have shown how this can be done both in the traditional Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) 3 + 1 coordinate framework, and in the observational coordinate (OC) framework, in which the radial coordinate y is null (light-like) and measured down the past light cone of the observer. In this paper we investigate the stability of solutions, and the use of data in the OC field equations including their time evolution — i.e. our procedure is not restricted to our past light cone — and compare both approaches with respect to the singularity problem at the maximum of the angular-diameter distance, the stability of solutions, and the use of data in the field equations. We also compare the two approaches with regard to determining the cosmological constant Λ. This allows a more detailed account and assessment of the OC integration procedure, and enables a comparison of the relative advantages of the two equivalent solution frameworks. Both formulations and integration procedures should, in principle, lead to the same results. However, as we show in this paper, the OC procedure manifests certain advantages, particularly in the avoidance of coordinate singularities at the maximum of the angular-diameter distance, and in the stability of the solutions obtained. This particular feature is what allows us to do the best fitting of the data to smooth data functions and the possibility of constructing analytic solutions to the field equations. Smoothed data functions enable us to include properties that data must have within the model.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Limits to dark matter annihilation cross-section from a combined analysis of MAGIC and Fermi-LAT observations of dwarf satellite galaxies

Here, we present the first joint analysis of gamma-ray data from the MAGIC Cherenkov telescopes and the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) to search for gamma-ray signals from dark matter annihilation in dwarf satellite galaxies. We combine 158 hours of Segue 1 observations with MAGIC with 6-year observations of 15 dwarf satellite galaxies by the Fermi -LAT. We obtain limits on the annihilation cross-section for dark matter particle masses between 10 GeV and 100 TeV - the widest mass range ever explored by a single gamma-ray analysis. These limits improve on previously published Fermi -LAT and MAGIC results by up to a factor of two at certain masses. Our new inclusive analysis approach is completely generic and can be used to perform a global, sensitivity-optimized dark matter search by combining data from present and future gamma-ray and neutrino detectors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Reconciling tensor and scalar observables in G-inflation

The simple m 2Φ2 potential as an inflationary model is coming under increasing tension with limits on the tensor-to-scalar ratio r and measurements of the scalar spectral index n s . Cubic Galileon interactions in the context of the Horndeski action can potentially reconcile the observables. However, we show that this cannot be achieved with only a constant Galileon mass scale because the interactions turn off too slowly, leading also to gradient instabilities after inflation ends. Furthermore, allowing for a more rapid transition can reconcile the observables but moderately breaks the slow-roll approximation leading to a relatively large and negative running of the tilt αs that can be of order n s -1. We show that the observables on CMB and large scale structure scales can be predicted accurately using the optimized slow-roll approach instead of the traditional slow-roll expansion. Upper limits on |αs| place a lower bound of r ≳ 0.005 and, conversely, a given r places a lower bound on |α s |, both of which are potentially observable with next generation CMB and large scale structure surveys.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

FERMI GAMMA-RAY SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF THE GAMMA-RAY OUTBURST FROM 3C454.3 IN NOVEMBER 2010

The flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C454.3 underwent an extraordinary 5 day {gamma}-ray outburst in 2010 November when the daily flux measured with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) at photon energies E > 100 MeV reached (66 {+-} 2) x 10{sup -6} photons cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}. This is a factor of three higher than its previous maximum flux recorded in 2009 December and {approx}> 5 times brighter than the Vela pulsar, which is normally the brightest source in the {gamma}-ray sky. The 3 hr peak flux was (85 {+-} 5)x10{sup -6} photons cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}, corresponding to an apparent isotropic luminosity of (2.1 {+-} 0.2)x10{sup 50} erg s{sup -1}, the highest ever recorded for a blazar. In this Letter, we investigate the features of this exceptional event in the {gamma}-ray band of the Fermi-LAT. In contrast to previous flares of the same source observed with the Fermi-LAT, clear spectral changes are observed during the flare.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Comparing Dark Energy Survey and HST –CLASH observations of the galaxy cluster RXC J2248.7-4431: implications for stellar mass versus dark matter

We derive the stellar mass fraction in the galaxy cluster RXC J2248.7-4431 observed with the Dark Energy Survey (DES) during the Science Verification period. We compare the stellar mass results from DES (five filters) with those from the Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Lensing And Supernova Survey (CLASH; 17 filters). When the cluster spectroscopic redshift is assumed, we show that stellar masses from DES can be estimated within 25 per cent of CLASH values. We compute the stellar mass contribution coming from red and blue galaxies, and study the relation between stellar mass and the underlying dark matter using weak lensing studies with DES and CLASH. An analysis of the radial profiles of the DES total and stellar mass yields a stellar-to-total fraction of f(star) = (6.8 +/- 1.7) x 10(-3) within a radius of r(200c) similar or equal to 2 Mpc. Our analysis also includes a comparison of photometric redshifts and star/galaxy separation efficiency for both data sets. We conclude that space-based small field imaging can be used to calibrate the galaxy properties in DES for the much wider field of view. The technique developed to derive the stellar mass fraction in galaxy clusters can be applied to the similar to 100 000 clusters that will be observed within this survey and yield important information about galaxy evolution.

Palmese, A.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Pressure Dependence of Coherence-Incoherence Crossover Behavior in KFe 2 As 2 Observed by Resistivity and 75 As-NMR/NQR.

We present the results of 75 As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), and resistivity measurements in KFe 2 As 2 under pressure (p). The temperature dependence of the NMR shift, nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time (T1), and resistivity show a crossover between a high-temperature incoherent, local-moment behavior and a low-temperature coherent behavior at a crossover temperature (T *). T * is found to increase monotonically with pressure, consistent with increasing hybridization between localized 3d orbitalderived bands with the itinerant electron bands. No anomaly in T * is seen at the critical pressure pc = 1.8 GPa where a change of slope of the superconducting (SC) transition temperature Tc(p) has been observed. In contrast, Tc(p) seems to correlate with antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations in the normal state as measured by the NQR 1/T1 data, although such a correlation cannot be seen in the replacement effects of A in the KFe 2 As 2 (A = K, Rb, Cs) family. In the superconducting state, two T1 components are observed at low temperatures, suggesting the existence of two distinct local electronic environments. The temperature dependence of the short T1s indicates a nearly gapless state below Tc. On the other hand, the temperature dependence of the long component 1/T1L implies a large reduction in the density of states at the Fermi level due to the SC gap formation. These results suggest a real-space modulation of the local SC gap structure in KFe 2 As 2 under pressure.

Wiecki, P.↗
DOE OSTI2010

Dissecting the role of initial collision geometry for jet quenching observables in relativistic heavy ion collisions

The observation of large azimuthal anisotropy or v{sub 2} for hadrons above p{sub T} > 5 GeV/c in Au+Au collisions at {radical}s{sub nn} = 200 GeV has been a longstanding challenge for jet quenching models based on perturbative QCD (pQCD). Using a simple jet absorption model, we seek to clarify the situation by exploring in detail how the calculated v{sub 2} varies with choices of the collision geometry as well as choices of the path length dependence and thermalization time {tau}{sub 0} in the energy loss formula. Besides the change of eccentricity due to distortion from gluon saturation or event-by-event fluctuation, we find that the v{sub 2} is also sensitive to the centrality dependence of multiplicity and the relative size between the matter profile and the jet profile. We find that the v{sub 2} calculated for the naive quadratic path length dependence of energy loss, even including eccentricity fluctuation and the gluon saturation, is not enough to describe the experimental data at high p{sub T} ({approx} 6 GeV/c) in Au+Au collisions. However, it can match the full centrality dependence of v{sub 2} data if higher power path length dependence of energy loss is allowed. We also find that the calculated v{sub 2} is sensitive to the assumption of the early time dynamics but generally increases with {tau}{sub 0}, opposite to what one expects for elliptic flow. This study attests to the importance of confining the initial geometry, possibly by combining jet quenching v{sub 2} with elliptic flow and other jet quenching observables, for proper interpretation of the experimental data.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Longitudinal scaling of observables in heavy-ion collision models

Longitudinal scaling of pseudorapidity distribution of charged particles (dN{sub ch}/d{eta}) is observed when presented as a function of pseudorapidity ({eta}) shifted by the beam rapidity ({eta}-y{sub beam}) for a wide range of collision systems (e{sup +}+e{sup -}, p+p, d+A, and A+A) and beam energies. Such a scaling is also observed for the elliptic flow (v{sub 2}) of charged hadrons in A+A collisions. This is a striking observation, as v{sub 2} is expected to be sensitive to the initial conditions, the expansion dynamics, and the degrees of freedom of the system, all of which potentially varies with collision system and colliding energies. We present a study of the longitudinal scalings of dN{sub ch}/d{eta}, average transverse momentum (<p{sub T}>), and v{sub 2} using transport models UrQMD and AMPT for Au + Au collisions at center of mass energies ({radical}(s{sub NN})) of 19.6, 62.4, and 200 GeV and Pb + Pb collisions at 2760 GeV. Only the AMPT models which includes partonic effects and quark coalescence as a mechanism of hadronization shows longitudinal scaling for dN{sub ch}/d{eta}, <p{sub T}>, and v{sub 2}. Whereas the UrQMD and AMPT default versions show longitudinal scaling only for dN{sub ch}/d{eta} and <p{sub T}>. We also discuss the possibility of longitudinal scaling of v{sub 2} within two extreme scenarios of models with hydrodynamic and collisionless limits. We find the longitudinal scaling of bulk observables to be an important test for the underlying physics mechanism in models of particle production.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Observation of γ-vibrations and alignments built on non-ground-state configurations in ¹⁵⁶Dy

The exact nature of the lowest K π =2⁺ rotational bands in all deformed nuclei remains obscure. Traditionally they are assumed to be collective vibrations of the nuclear shape in the γ degree of freedom perpendicular to the nuclear symmetry axis. Very few such γ-bands have been traced past the usual back-bending rotational alignments of high-j nucleons. We have investigated the structure of positive-parity bands in the N=90 nucleus ¹⁵⁶Dy, using the ¹⁴⁸Nd(¹²C,4n)¹⁵⁶Dy reaction at 65 MeV, observing the resulting γ-ray transitions with the Gammasphere array. The even- and odd-spin members of the π =2⁺ γ-band are observed to 32⁺ and 31⁺ respectively. This rotational band faithfully tracks the ground-state configuration to the highest spins. The members of a possible γ-vibration built on the aligned yrast S-band are observed to spins 28⁺ and 27⁺. An even-spin positive-parity band, observed to spin 24⁺, is a candidate for an aligned S-band built on the seniority-zero configuration of the 0₂⁺ state at 676 keV. As a result, the crossing of this band with the 0₂⁺ band is at hw c = 0.28(1) MeV and is consistent with the configuration of the 0₂⁺ band not producing any blocking of the monopole pairing.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2015

Direct Observation of Quark-Hadron Duality in the Free Neutron {ital F}{sub 2} Structure Function

Using the recently published data from the BONuS(Barely Off-shell Nucleon Structure) experiment at Jefferson Lab, which utilized a spectator tagging technique to extract the inclusive electron-free neutron scattering cross section, we obtain the first direct observation of quark-hadron duality in the neutron F-2 structure function. The data are used to reconstruct the lowest few (N = 2, 4, and 6) moments of F-2 in the three prominent nucleon resonance regions, as well as the moments integrated over the entire resonance region. Comparison with moments computed from global parametrizations of parton distribution functions suggest that quark-hadron duality holds locally for the neutron in the second and third resonance regions down to Q(2) approximate to 1 GeV2, with violations possibly up to 20% observed in the first resonance region.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cross-correlation of Dark Energy Survey Year 3 lensing data with ACT and P l a n c k thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect observations. II. Modeling and constraints on halo pressure profiles

Hot, ionized gas leaves an imprint on the cosmic microwave background via the thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (tSZ) effect. The cross-correlation of gravitational lensing (which traces the projected mass) with the tSZ effect (which traces the projected gas pressure) is a powerful probe of the thermal state of ionized baryons throughout the Universe and is sensitive to effects such as baryonic feedback. In a companion paper (Gatti et al. Phys. Rev. D 105, 123525 (2022)), we present tomographic measurements and validation tests of the cross-correlation between Galaxy shear measurements from the first three years of observations of the Dark Energy Survey and tSZ measurements from a combination of Atacama Cosmology Telescope and Planck observations. In this work, we use the same measurements to constrain models for the pressure profiles of halos across a wide range of halo mass and redshift. We find evidence for reduced pressure in low-mass halos, consistent with predictions for the effects of feedback from active Galactic nuclei. We infer the hydrostatic mass bias (B ≡ M 500c /M SZ from our measurements, finding B = 1.8 ± 0.1 when adopting the Planck-preferred cosmological parameters. We additionally find that our measurements are consistent with a nonzero redshift evolution of B, with the correct sign and sufficient magnitude to explain the mass bias necessary to reconcile cluster count measurements with the Planck-preferred cosmology. Our analysis introduces a model for the impact of intrinsic alignments (IAs) of galaxy shapes on the shear-tSZ correlation. We show that IA can have a significant impact on these correlations at current noise levels.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Dark matter constraints from observations of 25 Milky Way satellite galaxies with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

The dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies of the Milky Way are some of the most dark-matter-dominated objects known. Due to their proximity, high dark matter content, and lack of astrophysical backgrounds, dwarf spheroidal galaxies are widely considered to be among the most promising targets for the indirect detection of dark matter via γ rays. We report on γ -ray observations of 25 Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies based on 4 years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. None of the dwarf galaxies are significantly detected in γ rays, and we present γ -ray flux upper limits between 500 MeV and 500 GeV. We determine the dark matter content of 18 dwarf spheroidal galaxies from stellar kinematic data and combine LAT observations of 15 dwarf galaxies to constrain the dark matter annihilation cross section. Furthermore, we set some of the tightest constraints to date on the annihilation of dark matter particles with masses between 2 GeV and 10 TeV into prototypical standard model channels. We also find these results to be robust against systematic uncertainties in the LAT instrument performance, diffuse γ -ray background modeling, and assumed dark matter density profile.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Observation of the Decay B- --> Ds(*) K- l- nubar

We report the observation of the decay B{sup -} {yields} D{sub s}{sup (*)+} K{sup -}{ell}{sup -}{bar {nu}}{sub {ell}} based on 342 fb{sup -1} of data collected at the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e{sup +}e{sup -} storage rings at SLAC. A simultaneous fit to three D{sub s}{sup +} decay chains is performed to extract the signal yield from measurements of the squared missing mass in the B meson decay. We observe the decay B{sup -} {yields} D{sub s}{sup (*)+} K{sup -}{ell}{sup -}{bar {nu}}{sub {ell}} with a significance greater than five standard deviations (including systematic uncertainties) and measure its branching fraction to be {Beta}(B{sup -} {yields} D{sub s}{sup (*)+} K{sup -}{ell}{sup -}{bar {nu}}{sub {ell}}) = [6.13{sub -1.03}{sup +1.04}(stat.) {+-} 0.43(syst.) {+-} 0.51({Beta}(D{sub s}))] x 10{sup -4}, where the last error reflects the limited knowledge of the D{sub s} branching fractions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Study of e + e - → π + π - J / ψ and Observation of a Charged Charmoniumlike State at Belle

The cross section for $e^+e^-→π^+π^-J/ψ$ between 3.8 GeV and 5.5 GeV is measured with a 967 fb -1 data sample collected by the Belle detector at or near the $\Upsilon(nS)$ ($n=1, 2, ..., 5$) resonances. The $\Upsilon$(4260) state is observed, and its resonance parameters are determined. In addition, an excess of $π^+π^-J/ψ$ production around 4 GeV is observed. This feature can be described by a Breit-Wigner parameterization with properties that are consistent with the $\Upsilon$(4008) state that was previously reported by Belle. In a study of $\Upsilon$(4260)→$π^+π^-J/ψ$ decays, a structure is observed in the $M(\pi^{\pm}J/ψ)$ mass spectrum with 5.2$σ$ significance, with mass M=(3894.5±6.6±4.5)MeV/$c^2$ and width $Γ$=(63±24±26) MeV/$c^2$, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. This structure can be interpreted as a new charged charmonium-like state.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

First Observation of the Doubly Cabibbo-Suppressed Decay of a Charmed Baryon: Λ c + → p K + π -

We report the first observation of the decay Λ c + → p K + π - using a 980 fb - 1 data sample collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e + e - collider. This is the first observation of a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay of a charmed baryon. We measure the branching ratio of this decay with respect to its Cabibbo-favored counterpart to be B ( Λ c + → p K + π - ) / B ( Λ c + → p K - π + ) = ( 2.35 ± 0.27 ± 0.21 ) × 10 - 3 , where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗