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At least 253 records · Page 14

Theoretical tools for neutrino scattering: interplay between lattice QCD, EFTs, nuclear physics, phenomenology, and neutrino event generators

Neutrino physics is entering a precision era in which measurements of neutrino oscillations, astrophysical neutrinos from supernovae and other sources, and coherent neutrino scattering will provide insight on the nature of neutrino masses, the presence of CP violation, and perhaps more exotic new physics in the neutrino sector. Maximizing the discovery potential of increasingly precise neutrino experiments will require an improved theoretical understanding of neutrino-nucleus cross sections over a wide range of energies that uses a combination of lattice QCD, nuclear effective theories, phenomenological models, and neutrino event generators to make reliable theory predictions for experimentally relevant nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

SDSS-IV MaNGA: Exploring the Local Scaling Relations for N/O

We present, for the first time, the relationship between local stellar mass surface density, Σ * , and N/O derived from SDSS-IV MaNGA data, using a sample of 792,765 high signal-to-noise ratio star-forming spaxels. Using a combination of phenomenological modeling and partial correlation analysis, we find that Σ * alone is insufficient to predict the N/O in MaNGA spaxels and that there is an additional dependence on the local star formation rate surface density, Σ SFR . This effect is a factor of 3 stronger than the dependence of 12+log(O/H) on Σ SFR . Surprisingly, we find that the local N/O scaling relations also depend on the total galaxy stellar mass at fixed Σ * and the galaxy size at fixed stellar mass. We find that more compact galaxies are more nitrogen rich, even when Σ * and Σ SFR are controlled for. We show that ~50% of the variance of N/O is explained by the total stellar mass and size. Thus, the evolution of nitrogen in galaxies is set by more than just local effects and does not simply track the buildup of oxygen in galaxies. The precise form of the N/O–O/H relation is therefore sensitive to the sample of galaxies from which it is derived. This result casts doubt on the universal applicability of nitrogen-based strong-line metallicity indicators derived in the local universe.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Spatial Intermittency of Particle Distribution in Relativistic Plasma Turbulence

Abstract Relativistic magnetically dominated turbulence is an efficient engine for particle acceleration in a collisionless plasma. Ultrarelativistic particles accelerated by interactions with turbulent fluctuations form nonthermal power-law distribution functions in the momentum (or energy) space, f ( γ ) d γ ∝ γ − α d γ , where γ is the Lorenz factor. We argue that in addition to exhibiting non-Gaussian distributions over energies, particles energized by relativistic turbulence also become highly intermittent in space. Based on particle-in-cell numerical simulations and phenomenological modeling, we propose that the bulk plasma density has lognormal statistics, while the density of the accelerated particles, n , has a power-law distribution function, P ( n ) dn ∝ n − β dn . We argue that the scaling exponents are related as β ≈ α + 1, which is broadly consistent with numerical simulations. Non-space-filling, intermittent distributions of plasma density and energy fluctuations may have implications for plasma heating and for radiation produced by relativistic turbulence.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

High-energy Radiation and Ion Acceleration in Three-dimensional Relativistic Magnetic Reconnection with Strong Synchrotron Cooling

Abstract We present the results of 3D particle-in-cell simulations that explore relativistic magnetic reconnection in pair plasma with strong synchrotron cooling and a small mass fraction of nonradiating ions. Our results demonstrate that the structure of the current sheet is highly sensitive to the dynamic efficiency of radiative cooling. Specifically, stronger cooling leads to more significant compression of the plasma and magnetic field within the plasmoids. We demonstrate that ions can be efficiently accelerated to energies exceeding the plasma magnetization parameter, ≫ σ , and form a hard power-law energy distribution, f i ∝ γ −1 . This conclusion implies a highly efficient proton acceleration in the magnetospheres of young pulsars. Conversely, the energies of pairs are limited to either σ in the strong cooling regime or the radiation burnoff limit, γ syn , when cooling is weak. We find that the high-energy radiation from pairs above the synchrotron burnoff limit, ε c ≈ 16 MeV, is only efficiently produced in the strong cooling regime, γ syn < σ . In this regime, we find that the spectral cutoff scales as ε cut ≈ ε c ( σ / γ syn ) and the highest energy photons are beamed along the direction of the upstream magnetic field, consistent with the phenomenological models of gamma-ray emission from young pulsars. Furthermore, our results place constraints on the reconnection-driven models of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Relativistic Alfvén Turbulence at Kinetic Scales

Abstract In a strongly magnetized, magnetically dominated relativistic plasma, Alfvénic turbulence can extend to scales much smaller than the particle inertial scales. It leads to an energy cascade somewhat analogous to inertial- or kinetic-Alfvén turbulent cascades existing in nonrelativistic space and astrophysical plasmas. Based on phenomenological modeling and particle-in-cell numerical simulations, we propose that the energy spectrum of such relativistic kinetic-scale Alfvénic turbulence is close to k −3 or slightly steeper than that due to intermittency corrections or Landau damping. We note the analogy of this spectrum with the Kraichnan spectrum corresponding to the enstrophy cascade in 2D incompressible fluid turbulence. Such turbulence strongly energizes particles in the direction parallel to the background magnetic field, leading to nearly one-dimensional particle momentum distributions. We find that these distributions have universal log-normal statistics.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Digital FM - Tutorial.

Digital FM techniques, signal spectral properties, discrimination detection, phenomenological model, etc

Salz, J.↗

Coercive force of thin magnetic films

Phenomenological model aids in understanding the mechanisms responsible for the easy-axis coercive force in thin magnetic films of NiFe, MnBi, and gadolinium iron garnet.

Baldwin, J. A.↗

The physical theory of one dimensional galactic cosmic-ray propagation in the atmosphere

An analytical theory of atmospheric cosmic-ray propagation is developed based on a phenomenological model of hadron-nucleus collisions. This model correctly predicts the sea level cosmic-ray nucleon, pion and muon spectra, the cosmic-ray ionization profile in the atmosphere, and neutron flux and density profiles in the atmosphere. It is concluded that the large scale properties of atmospheric cosmic-rays can be accurately predicted on the basis of a nucleonic cascade with all secondaries mediated by pion production. Implications for energy independence of cross sections, the recent 70 GeV results from Serpukhov, and nucleonic relaxation rates in the atmosphere are discussed.

Obrien, K.↗

Fourier plane filters

An electrically addressed liquid crystal Fourier plane filter capable of real time optical image processing is described. The filter consists of two parts: a wedge filter having forty 9 deg segments and a ring filter having twenty concentric rings in a one inch diameter active area. Transmission of the filter in the off (transparent) state exceeds fifty percent. By using polarizing optics, contrast as high as 10,000:1 can be achieved at voltages compatible with FET switching technology. A phenomenological model for the dynamic scattering is presented for this special case. The filter is designed to be operated from a computer and is addressed by a seven bit binary word which includes an on or off command and selects any one of the twenty rings or twenty wedge pairs. The overall system uses addressable latches so that once an element is in a specified state, it will remain there until a change of state command is received. The drive for the liquid crystal filter is ? 30 V peak at 30 Hz to 70 Hz. These parameters give a rise time for the scattering of 20 msec and a decay time of 80 to 100 msec.

Oliver, D. S.↗

Substorms in space - The correlation between ground and satellite observations of the magnetic field

Several of the events criticized by Akasofu (1972) are reexamined. It is concluded that there is no simple one-to-one relationship between polar magnetic substorms and magnetospheric substorms as defined by midlatitude magnetograms. It appears that in some cases polar magnetic substorms occur during the growth phase of a magnetospheric substorm. Magnetospheric observations are more systematically organized by midlatitude onsets than by auroral zone onsets. The determination of onset times is discussed together with the determination of substorm similarity, the phenomenological model of magnetic variations during magnetospheric substorms, the event of February 25, 1967, and the complex event of February 13, 1968.

Mcpherron, R. L.↗

Solar wind and substorm-related changes in the lobes of the geomagnetic tail

The relationship of the geomagnetic tail lobe energy density to solar wind dynamic pressure, the north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field, and substorm expansion onsets is investigated. Enhanced lobe energy densities are observed to follow both southward turnings of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind dynamic pressure increases. An empirical relationship is developed relating the tail lobe magnetic energy density to the solar wind dynamic pressure by using data obtained when the interplanetary field was northward. Localized, off-center, or multiple-onset substorm expansion phases are shown to have little effect on the lobe magnetic field. A positive correlation is found between magnetosphere-wide substorm expansions and decreases in the lobe energy density. The positive correlation of the energy density with both the solar wind dynamic pressure and a southward interplanetary magnetic field and the positive correlation between magnetospheric substorm activity and lobe energy density decreases are demonstrated to be consistent with a phenomenological model of substorm behavior.

Caan, M. N.↗

Critical problems in establishing the morphology of substorms in space

A phenomenological model of the magnetospheric substorm has been developed which divides the substorm into three phases: a growth phase, an expansion phase, and a recovery phase. Current research is reviewed in the light of criticism of this model. The most important inadequacies of the model concern the fact that the tail lobe and the plasma sheet do not always react as single entities as previously supposed. Further research is needed on the problems of substorm variability, errors in onset time, the number of distinct spatial regions, and the dependence of magnetic activity on past history.

Mcpherron, R. L.↗

Coronal holes and high-speed wind streams

Coronal holes, regions of unusually low density and low temperature in the solar corona, are identified as Bartel's M regions, i.e., sources of high-speed wind streams that produce recurrent geomagnetic variations. Throughout the Skylab period the polar caps of the sun were coronal holes, and at lower latitudes the most persistent and recurrent holes were equatorial extensions of the polar caps. The holes rotated 'rigidly' at the equatorial synodic rate. They formed in regions of unipolar photospheric magnetic field, and their internal magnetic fields diverged rapidly with increasing distance from the sun. The geometry of the magnetic field in the inner corona seems to control both the physical properties of the holes and the global distribution of high-speed wind streams in the heliosphere. Phenomenological models for the birth and decay of coronal holes have been proposed.

Zirker, J. B.↗

Linear and nonlinear interactions between the earth tide and a tectonically stressed earth

In the vincinity of earthquake focal regions, conditions may not be equal. Crustal rocks stressed to more than approximately 0.6 of their failure strength exhibit material properties over and above that of linear elasticity. Interactions between the earth tide and crustal rocks that are under high tectonic stress are discussed in terms of simple phenomenological models. In particular, the difference between a nonlinear elastic model of dilatancy and a dilatancy model that exhibits hysteresis is noted. It is concluded that the small changes in stress produced by the earth tide act as a probe of the properties of crustal rocks. Observations of earth tide tilts and strains in such high stress zones may, therefore, provide keys to the constitutive properties and the tectonic stress rate tensor of these zones.

Beaumont, C.↗

The use of ground magnetograms to time the onset of magnetospheric substorms

A critical review of magnetospheric substorm timing techniques is presented. Attention is given to substorm timing with auroral zone magnetograms, substorm onset timing with midlatitude magnetograms, multiple onset substorms, and a phenomenological model for multiple onset substorms. Emphasis is placed on some pitfalls that have led some investigators to err in substorm onset determinations. In particular, multiple onset substorms appear to account for many of the reported discrepancies in substorm timing. It is suggested that present idealized models of substorm morphology must be modified to include the multiple onset substorms.

Mcpherron, R. L.↗

Strongly turbulent stabilization of electron beam-plasma interactions

The stabilization of electron beam interactions due to strongly turbulent nonlinearities is studied analytically and numerically for a wide range of plasma parameters. A fluid mode coupling code is described in which the effects of electron and ion Landau damping and linear growth due to the energetic electron beam are included in a phenomenological manner. Stabilization of the instability is found to occur when the amplitudes of the unstable modes exceed the threshold of the oscillating two-stream instability. The coordinate space structure of the turbulent spectrum which results clearly shows that soliton-like structures are formed by this process. Phenomenological models of both the initial stabilization and the asymptotic states are developed. Scaling laws between the beam-plasma growth rate and the fluctuations in the fields and plasma density are found in both cases, and shown to be in good agreement with the results of the simulation.

Freund, H. P.↗

Ion and advanced electric thruster research

A phenomenological model of the orificed, hollow cathode based on the field enhanced, thermionic mechanism of electron emission is presented. High frequency oscillations associated with the orificed, hollow cathode are shown to be a consequence of current flow through the cathode orifice. A procedure for Langmuir probing of the hollow cathode discharge and analyzing the resulting probe characteristics is discussed. The results of sputter yield measurements made for molybdenum, tantalum, type 304 stainless steel and copper surfaces being bombarded by low energy argon or mercury ions are also given. The effects of nitrogen and alternated copper layers on the sputter yields of molybdenum, tantalum and 304 stainless steel are also discussed. A dynamic model of electrothermal rocket and ramjet thrusters is developed. The gross performance of these devices is compared to that of an electromagnetic gun for the case of a high acceleration, Earth launch mission. The theoretical performance of electrothermal rockets and ramjets is shown to be comparable to that of the electromagnetic gun.

Wilbur, P. J.↗