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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 289 records · Page 16

CONSTRAINTS ON THE SPACETIME GEOMETRY AROUND 10 STELLAR-MASS BLACK HOLE CANDIDATES FROM THE DISK'S THERMAL SPECTRUM

In a previous paper, one of us (C. Bambi) described a code to compute the thermal spectrum of geometrically thin and optically thick accretion disks around generic stationary and axisymmetric black holes, which are not necessarily of the Kerr type. As the structure of the accretion disk and the propagation of electromagnetic radiation from the disk to the distant observer depend on the background metric, the analysis of the thermal spectrum of thin disks can be used to test the actual nature of black hole candidates. In this paper, we consider the 10 stellar-mass black hole candidates for which the spin parameter has already been estimated from the analysis of the disk's thermal spectrum under the assumption of the Kerr background, and we translate the measurements reported in the literature into constraints on the spin parameter-deformation parameter plane. The analysis of the disk's thermal spectrum can be used to estimate only one parameter of the geometry close to the compact object; therefore, it is not possible to get independent measurements of both the spin and the deformation parameters. The constraints obtained here will be used in combination with other measurements in future work with the final goal of breaking the degeneracy between the spin and possible deviations from the Kerr solution and thus test the Kerr black hole hypothesis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

First-principles variational formulation of polarization effects in geometrical optics

The propagation of electromagnetic waves in isotropic dielectric media with local dispersion is studied under the assumption of small but nonvanishing λ/l, where λ is the wavelength and l is the characteristic inhomogeneity scale. It is commonly known that, due to nonzero λ/l, such waves can experience polarization-driven bending of ray trajectories and polarization dynamics that can be interpreted as the precession of the wave "spin". The present work reports how Lagrangians describing these effects can be deduced, rather than guessed, within a strictly classical theory. In addition to the commonly known ray Lagrangian that features the Berry connection, a simple alternative Lagrangian is proposed that naturally has a canonical form. The presented theory captures not only the eigenray dynamics but also the dynamics of continuous-wave fields and rays with mixed polarization, or "entangled" waves. In conclusion, the calculation assumes stationary lossless media with isotropic local dispersion, but generalizations to other media are straightforward.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Simulation of Linear Non-Hermitian Boundary-Value Problems with Quantum Singular-Value Transformation

Herein we propose a quantum algorithm for simulating dissipative waves in inhomogeneous linear media as a boundary-value problem. Using the so-called quantum singular value transformation (QSVT), we construct a quantum circuit that models the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a one-dimensional system with outgoing boundary conditions. The corresponding measurement procedure is also discussed. Limitations of the QSVT algorithm are identified in connection with the large condition numbers that the dispersion matrices exhibit at weak dissipation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Multibeam absolute stimulated Raman scattering and two-plasmon decay

Multibeam absolute instability thresholds for stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and two-plasmon decay (TPD) are calculated in three dimensions for conditions relevant to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments on the OMEGA laser and at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Although multibeam effects are found to be significant for both instabilities, SRS is found to have less efficient multibeam coupling than TPD. The results are consistent with the observation of a TPD-dominated regime on the OMEGA laser and a SRS-dominated regime on the NIF despite the single-beam SRS threshold being lower than the single-beam TPD threshold on both facilities. The minimum instability threshold for NIF plasma parameters occurs for SRS near quarter-critical densities with a shared electromagnetic wave propagating along the beam axis.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Anomalous conductivity due to relativistic Landau quantization

Here we use a recently developed kinetic model derived from the Dirac equation, in order to study electromagnetic wave propagation in superstrong magnetic fields, such as in magnetars, where relativistic Landau quantization is prominent. The leading contribution to the conductivity tensor in such a plasma is calculated. It is found that the electron Hall current has an anomalous contribution, in the quantum relativistic regime, where the effective particle energy has a significant contribution from the diamagnetic and Zeeman energy. As a result, a new quantum resonance frequency appears, and the dispersion relation for the left- and right-hand polarized modes are strongly modified for long and moderate wavelengths. The implications for magnetar physics are discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ultrashort Optical Pulses in Carbon Nanotubes and Heavy-Ion Absorption

Propagation of electromagnetic waves in a medium with zigzag carbon nanotubes is studied. Based on the Maxwell equations, an effective equation for the electromagnetic field vector potential is derived, which takes into account ion oscillations in the dielectric medium with nanotubes. It is found that the pulse shape depends on the character of oscillations of heavy ions, which may absorb the electromagnetic field, and on other parameters of the problem.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Instabilities of a circularly polarized wave with trapped particles in an isotropic plasma

The structure and stability of a transverse electromagnetic wave propagating with a velocity lower than the speed of light in an unmagnetized plasma are considered. The stationary finite-amplitude wave is described by exact solutions to the Vlasov-Maxwell equations. However, unlike the well-known electrostatic analog, the Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal wave, the wave structure is determined to a large extent by the presence of trapped particles with a shear of transverse velocities, without which the existence of waves with a refraction index larger than unity is impossible. It is shown that the main origin of the wave instability is the longitudinal motion of trapped particles relative to the background plasma. Expressions for the growth rates in the main instability regimes are found under definite restrictions on the wave parameters.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Investigations of nonlinear polarization transfer between obliquely intersecting beams

Electromagnetic waves propagating through plasma can interact nonlinearly through a variety of different mechanisms. The excitation of a plasma beat wave (ions or electrons) can create a refractive index modulation that changes the dispersion of the interacting beams. Alternatively, high-intensity beams can enter the regime where relativistic nonlinearities influence the propagation dynamics. In recent studies [ Opt. Express 29 , 1162 ( 2021 ) OPEXFF 1094-4087 10.1364/OE.413064 ], it was proposed that two beams propagating along the same axis can exchange their polarization state due to nonlinear interaction. Here we present a numerical analysis of two laser beams intersecting in a nonlinear medium at varying angles. Polarization transfer is observed as predicted by analytical theory for a range of angles. For small angles, it is found that filamentation of the interacting beams becomes important. Analytical estimates of the filamentation threshold are presented, and good agreement is found with the simulation data.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Final Report for Grant DOE DE-FG02-08ER64573 (Relating to Turbulence Modeling)

Turbulence enhances transport and mixing. Turbulent ocean currents can increase the encounter rate between fish larvae and their prey. Without turbulence, the fuel and air injected into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine would mix too slowly to be effective. Birds extract energy from turbulent winds to soar for great distances without flapping their wings. Turbulence can be detrimental as well. The efficiencies of vehicles, pipelines, and industrial equipment are all hindered by turbulence. Turbulence can also cause structural fatigue, generate unwanted noise, and distort the propagation of electromagnetic signals. These observations highlight the importance of turbulence research. Our ability to predict and control turbulence and, thus, to intensify or suppress its effects as circumstances warrant is contingent on our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Turbulence is also immensely interesting from a purely scientific perspective and is a great source of fundamentally important, challenging problems for physicists, engineers, and mathematicians. Moreover, various methods and tools developed in the field have found applications in other fields, including nonlinear optics, nonlinear acoustics, pattern formation, image processing, data compression, and econophysics. It is possible, at least away from walls, to derive LES models of very high-order accuracy. However, these models also lead to correspondingly intense computational complexity for their numerical solution. Some also introduce yet more questions on the already difficult problem of specifying needed and sometimes artificial local boundary conditions for the inherently nonlocal flow averages. For these two (and other) reasons, there has been a resurgence of interest in basing simulations of turbulent flows on much simpler regularizations of the Navier–Stokes equations rather than on full models of local averages--i.e., LES models. Initially these were developed as pure theoretical tools. The influx of ideas from LES and the added constraint that the regularization be amenable to numerical simulation have breathed new perspective and thus new life into this thread of ideas.Over the past year, a significant portion of our research activity has focused on numerical studies of the Navier–Stokes-$αβ$ model and extensions thereof. Our results regarding these and other approaches to turbulence modeling are described below.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Transmission Line Based Sensor Design for FMCW Radar Processing of Collision Damage

This report presents a framework for transmission line ( T-L ) sensor design in Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar applications, with particular emphasis on modeling collision damage effects. Classical electromagnetic (EM) propagation theory is combined with impact mechanics to develop a model for analyzing transmission line behavior as a sensor under high-velocity impact conditions. The framework includes detailed mathematical derivations, spatial and temporal damage evolution models, and practical implementation considerations.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Experimental Realization of an Extreme-Parameter Omnidirectional Cloak

An ideal transformation-based omnidirectional cloak always relies on metamaterials with extreme parameters, which were previously thought to be too difficult to realize. For such a reason, in previous experimental proposals of invisibility cloaks, the extreme parameters requirements are usually abandoned, leading to inherent scattering. Here, we report on the first experimental demonstration of an omnidirectional cloak that satisfies the extreme parameters requirement, which can hide objects in a homogenous background. Instead of using resonant metamaterials that usually involve unavoidable absorptive loss, the extreme parameters are achieved using a nonresonant metamaterial comprising arrays of subwavelength metallic channels manufactured with 3D metal printing technology. A high level transmission of electromagnetic wave propagating through the present omnidirectional cloak, as well as significant reduction of scattering field, is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally. Our work may also inspire experimental realizations of the other full-parameter omnidirectional optical devices such as concentrator, rotators, and optical illusion apparatuses.

42 ENGINEERING↗