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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Data-driven model validation for neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements

Neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements are needed to improve interaction modeling to meet the precision needs of neutrino experiments in efforts to measure oscillation parameters and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. We review the difficulties associated with modeling neutrino-nucleus interactions that lead to a dependence on event generators in oscillation analyses and cross section measurements alike. We then describe data-driven model validation techniques intended to address this model dependence. The method relies on utilizing various goodness-of-fit tests and the correlations between different observables and channels to probe the model for defects in the phase space relevant for the desired analysis. These techniques shed light on relevant mismodeling, allowing it to be detected before it begins to bias the cross section results. We compare more commonly used model validation methods which directly validate the model against alternative ones to these data-driven techniques and show their efficacy with fake data studies. These studies demonstrate that employing data-driven model validation in cross section measurements represents a reliable strategy to produce robust results that will stimulate the desired improvements to interaction modeling.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data-driven model validation for neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements

Neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements are needed to improve interaction modeling to meet the precision needs of neutrino experiments in efforts to measure oscillation parameters and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. We review the difficulties associated with modeling neutrino-nucleus interactions that lead to a dependence on event generators in oscillation analyses and cross section measurements alike. We then describe data-driven model validation techniques intended to address this model dependence. The method relies on utilizing various goodness-of-fit tests and the correlations between different observables and channels to probe the model for defects in the phase space relevant for the desired analysis. These techniques shed light on relevant mismodeling, allowing it to be detected before it begins to bias the cross section results. We compare more commonly used model validation methods which directly validate the model against alternative ones to these data-driven techniques and show their efficacy with fake data studies. These studies demonstrate that employing data-driven model validation in cross section measurements represents a reliable strategy to produce robust results that will stimulate the desired improvements to interaction modeling.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1987

SO2 absorption cross sections in the near U.V.

In order to understand data measured by the TOMS instrument on Nimbus 7 after the eruption of El Chichon, absorption cross sections are measured in SO2 between 3000 and 3240 A at 295 and 210 K. Errors for these measurements range from less than 2 percent to about 10 percent. Measurements in the 3175 + or 5 A spectral region observed by TOMS indicate that there is a 9 percent reduction in the average cross section at 210 K compared to room-temperature data. Peak cross sections measured at low temperature show increases up to 20 percent over room-temperature data, while cross-section decreases are measured at low temperatures in the areas between the strong features.

Mcgee, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations of the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel Airstream Oscillator System

This paper presents computational fluid dynamics simulations of the flow in the NASA Langley Research Center Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) with the airstream oscillator system (AOS) in operation. Test section flow angle can be modulated using sinusoidally oscillating vanes which are located in pairs within the contraction section of the tunnel circuit. A compilation of previously published experimental data for validation has been reviewed that contains hot-wire anemometer and fast-response probe data acquired in an empty test section with the vanes oscillating in-phase and out-of-phase. These experimental data have not previously been compared with computational results. The present results provide an opportunity for validation of the simulations of the sinusoidal AOS flow field in the TDT test section. Computed tunnel centerline, lateral and cross-section contour data of flow angle and vorticity show that resolving the vane tip vortex is critical to accurately predicting the test section center flow angle. The computed results show, as do the experimental data, what appears to be a resonance at higher frequencies. It is currently not known what is the cause of that resonance. Further refinement of the mesh is expected to improve the comparisons with experimental data

Robert E Bartels↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurement of the cross section of top quark pairs produced in association with a Photon in Lepton +Jets events at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with full Run II CMS data

The inclusive production cross section of top quark pairs in association with a photon is measured in proton-proton collisions at the LHC with 13 TeV energy using the full RunII data collected by CMS in 2016, 2017, and 2018 with a total corresponding integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{-1}$. The relative fraction of t$ \bar{t} \gamma$ events normalized to inclusive t$ \bar{t}$ production is measured. The cross section measurement provides important information about the electromagnetic coupling of the standard model top quark and is sensitive to physics beyond the standard model. The analysis is carried out in the in semileptonic decay channel with a well isolated high P$ \_{T}$ lepton (electron and muon), at least four jets out of which at least one must be b-tagged, and an isolated photon. Photons may be emitted from initial state radiation, top quarks, and decay products of top quarks. The fiducial phase space with a photon of transverse momentum $ \ge$ 20 GeV and j\x11$ \eta$ <1.4441 is used. A simultaneous likelihood fit of control regions with the signal region is done to constraint the backgrounds and to extract the t$ \bar{t} \gamma$ cross section. The measurement of the ratio of t$ \bar{t} \gamma$ to t$ \bar{t}$ is $0.02055 \pm 0.00099$ (syst.) $ \pm 0.00099$ (stat.) in $e$ channel , 0.02156 $ \pm$ 0.00068 (syst.) $ \pm$ 0.00068 (stat.) in $ \mu$ channel , and 0.02203 $ \pm$ 0.00064 (syst.) $ \pm$ 0.00064 (stat.) in e + $ \mu$ channel , respectively. The measured inclusive cross section is 3.81 $ \pm$ 0.15 (syst.) $ \pm$ 0.10 (stat.) pb in e channel , 3.87 $ \pm$ 0:11 (syst.) $ \pm$ 0:07 (stat.) pb in $ \mu$ channel , and 3.96 $ \pm$ 0.10 (syst.) $ \pm$ 0.06 (stat.) pb in e + $ \mu$ channel , respectively for full RunII data. The total inclusive cross section with a photon of transverse momentum $ \ge$ 20 GeV is found to be 3.96 $ \pm$ 0.10 (syst.) $ \pm$ 0.06 (stat.) pb with full RunII CMS data. The results are in agreement with the standard model next to leading order prediction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Application of Fuel Depletion Chain Simplification to Experiment Analysis in the Advanced Test Reactor

An irradiation experiment analysis can be informed by high-fidelity reactor engineering depletion results, but this comes at a computational cost. Applying depletion chain simplification to the advanced test reactor driver fuel before performing experiment depletions permits their programmatic parameters to be calculated faster, with a small penalty to accuracy. Here, this work contrasts the results of two irradiation experiments with different neutronic characteristics. Overall, the simplified nuclide library produced using a simple one-group microscopic cross-section library for a pressurized water reactor in the depletion chain simplification process performed comparably in terms of accuracy and runtime to the simplified nuclide library produced using a three-group microscopic cross-section library generated specifically for the advanced test reactor experiments being modeled. This is attributed to the additional nuclides and transmutation pathways preserved in the one-group cross-section library, which has data for 297 nuclides, compared to the three-group cross-section library, which has data for 217 nuclides. This indicates that a cross-section library with more nuclides is better than a cross-section library with fewer nuclides for the depletion chain simplification process, even if the cross-section library with fewer nuclides better represents the flux spectrum of the system being considered.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1997

An X-Ray Analysis Database of Photoionization Cross Sections Including Variable Ionization

Results of research efforts in the following areas are discussed: review of the major theoretical and experimental data of subshell photoionization cross sections and ionization edges of atomic ions to assess the accuracy of the data, and to compile the most reliable of these data in our own database; detailed atomic physics calculations to complement the database for all ions of 17 cosmically abundant elements; reconciling the data from various sources and our own calculations; and fitting cross sections with functional approximations and incorporating these functions into a compact computer code.Also, efforts included adapting an ionization equilibrium code, tabulating results, and incorporating them into the overall program and testing the code (both ionization equilibrium and opacity codes) with existing observational data. The background and scientific applications of this work are discussed. Atomic physics cross section models and calculations are described. Calculation results are compared with available experimental data and other theoretical data. The functional approximations used for fitting cross sections are outlined and applications of the database are discussed.

Wang, Ping↗
NASA NTRS1989

CFD simulation of square cross-section, contoured nozzle flows - Comparison with data

Computational analyses have been made of the flow in NASA Langley's Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility's Mach 4.7 and Mach 6 square cross-section contoured nozzles, for comparison with experimental results. The analyses, which were performed using a three-dimensional RANS computer code assuming a single species gas with constant specific heats, were intended to provide insight into the nature of the flow development in this type of nozzle. The computational results showed the exit flow distribution to be affected by counter-rotating vortices along the centerline of each nozzle sidewall. Calculated flow properties show general, but not complete, agreement with experimental measurements in both nozzles.

Ostrander, Mark J.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advanced User Interface Capabilities [Slides]

This tutorial will review the data plotting and geometry visualization capabilities in the Fulcrum user interface. This tutorial will help you become familiar with Fulcrum’s 2D plot, and 2D and 3D geometry visualization features. You will learn how to identify plottable data items, compose and export plot and plot data for SCALE plot formats (SDF, Ampx MG/CE, PLT, F71, PTP, SPF, ORIGEN Gamma data, etc.) and visualize, navigate, cut, hide, and export the geometry and spatial data (fission-, dose-map, etc.) overlays in 2D and 3D. No prior experience with SCALE is required. Attendees can follow along using 6.3.0-beta.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1975

Photogeological, geophysical, and geochemical data on the east side of the moon

Correlations between Apollo orbital data and geologic data for eight map provinces are reported for a region centered on the east limb of the moon (50 deg N to 50 deg S and 50 deg E to 140 deg E). The appearance of the provinces is described, and the basins in or near the region are assigned relative ages. The western (nearside) part of the region averages about 3 km lower in elevation than the eastern (farside) part, according to laser altimeter measurements which are used to make geologic cross sections. Gravity data correlate with most geologic provinces and the surface profiles made by the laser altimeter and lunar sounder. The distribution of concentration ratios of Al/Si and Mg/Si as well as the distribution of relatively low natural radioactivity are considered.

El-Baz, F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The life cycle of thunderstorm gust fronts as viewed with Doppler radar and rawinsonde data

This paper presents the time-dependent analysis of the thunderstorm gust front with the use of Project NIMROD data. RHI cross sections of reflectivity and Doppler velocity are constructed to determine the entire vertical structure. The life cycle of the gust front is divided into four stages: (1) the formative stage; (2) the early mature stage; (3) the late mature stage; and (4) the dissipation stage. A new finding is a horizontal roll detected in the reflectivity pattern resulting from airflow that is deflected upward by the ground, while carrying some of the smaller precipitation ahead of the main echo core of the squall line. This feature is called a 'precipitation roll'. As determined from rawinsonde data, the cold air behind the gust front accounts for the observed surface pressure rise. Calculations confirm that the collision of two fluids produce a nonhydrostatic pressure at the leading edge of the outflow. The equation governing the propagation speed of a density current accurately predicts the movement of the gust front.

Wakimoto, R. M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A refined assessment of nuclear data target accuracy requirements for ALFRED

The interest in target accuracy assessment has been recently renewed within the OECD/NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation with an update exercise, thanks to the invaluable initiative of Massimo Salvatores. This work, moving from evaluations on the main core integral parameters of the Advanced Lead-cooled Fast Reactor European Demonstrator (ALFRED), and the identification of the associated target accuracies needed for improving its design, approaches the retrieval of target accuracy requirements for nuclear data, as the inverse problem of uncertainty quantification. The preliminary results obtained in a previous work are here refined by explicitly taking into account the total contribution due to correlations among variables in the optimization constraint, while its various components are evaluated individually. Moreover, three different sets of cost parameters are considered to introduce a bias in the solution in order to take in due account the relative difficulties in the execution of new differential experiments as needed for achieving the proposed target accuracies. By this, the obtained results are deemed usefully informative, and proposed for the update of a High Priority List which identifies the isotopes-reaction couples of most interest for future refinement experiments, especially when integrated with further analogous information collected on other advanced nuclear systems. Among the cross-sections whose refinement contributes the most to the reduction of the multiplication factor, the fission of Pu{sup 239} was found, which needs to be fixed below 1% in the range of interest for ALFRED (2 keV-4 MeV). Another contribution for the amelioration of the multiplication factor calculation accuracy, is due to the capture channel of Pu{sup 239}, for which the initial high uncertainty (around 15%) can be significantly reduced resorting to easily practicable experiments. The same occurs for the inelastic of Pb{sup 207}, for which the initial uncertainty value of around 50% can be drastically reduced up to target values between 4% and 7%.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Assessment of nuclear data needs for advanced reactor demonstrations: application to the molten chloride reactor experiment (MCRE)

A number of advanced reactor concepts are planned for near-term demonstrations including micro-reactors, larger demonstrations and space nuclear systems. These reactor concepts are based on a wide variety of reactor technologies, including sodium, gas, and salt cooling. An overlooked area in the development and ultimate startup of these reactors is addressing nuclear data needs that allow confident prediction of the criticality, safety requirements, and operation of the reactors. In this paper we try to address the problem of assessing nuclear data needs and possible remedies to reduce the existing uncertainties for advanced nuclear reactors. A methodology for defining these needs is described. The case of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) has been considered and the related investigation highlights the specific needs for reducing uncertainty on the {sup 235}U capture and {sup 35}Cl (n,p) reactions. Relatively inexpensive integral experiments are indicated as possible solutions for significantly reducing the current associated uncertainties. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1994

Assessment of Long Bone Flexural Properties from Bone Densitometry

While bone densitometry is the accepted non-invasive method of quantifying bone mineral content in bones, its assessment of bone structural properties is less well understood. The objective of our current work is to compare cross-section shape or areal properties of long bones computed from densitometry data with cross-section flexural properties obtained from surface strain measurements.

Whalen, Robert↗
DOE OSTI2023

Lepton–Nucleus Interactions within Microscopic Approaches

This review paper emphasizes the significance of microscopic calculations with quantified theoretical error estimates in studying lepton–nucleus interactions and their implications for electron scattering and accelerator neutrino oscillation measurements. We investigate two approaches: Green’s Function Monte Carlo and the extended factorization scheme, utilizing realistic nuclear target spectral functions. In our study, we include relativistic effects in Green’s Function Monte Carlo and validate the inclusive electron scattering cross section on carbon using available data. We compare the flux-folded cross sections for neutrino-carbon scattering with T2K and MINER$v$ A experiments, noting the substantial impact of relativistic effects in reducing the theoretical curve strength when compared to MINER$v$ A data. Additionally, we demonstrate that quantum Monte Carlo-based spectral functions accurately reproduce the quasi-elastic region in electron scattering data and T2K flux-folded cross sections. By comparing results from Green’s Function Monte Carlo and the spectral function approach, which share a similar initial target state description, we quantify errors associated with approximations in the factorization scheme and the relativistic treatment of kinematics in Green’s Function Monte Carlo.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Exploring new physics with O(keV) electron recoils in direct detection experiments

Motivated by the recent XENON 1T results, we explore various new physics models that can be discovered through searches for electron recoils in O(keV)-threshold direct-detection experiments. First, we consider the absorption of axion-like particles, dark photons, and scalars, either as dark matter relics or being produced directly in the Sun. In the latter case, we find that keV mass bosons produced in the Sun provide an adequate fit to the data but are excluded by stellar cooling constraints. We address this tension by introducing a novel Chameleon-like axion model, which can explain the excess while evading the stellar bounds. We find that absorption of bosonic dark matter provides a viable explanation for the excess only if the dark matter is a dark photon or an axion. In the latter case, photophobic axion couplings are necessary to avoid X-ray constraints. Second, we analyze models of dark matter-electron scattering to determine which models might explain the excess. Standard scattering of dark matter with electrons is generically in conflict with data from lower-threshold experiments. Momentum-dependent interactions with a heavy mediator can fit the data with dark matter mass heavier than a GeV but are generically in tension with collider constraints. Next, we consider dark matter consisting of two (or more) states that have a small mass splitting. The exothermic (down)scattering of the heavier state to the lighter state can fit the data for keV mass splittings. Finally, we consider a subcomponent of dark matter that is accelerated by scattering off cosmic rays, finding that dark matter interacting though an O(100 keV)-mass mediator can fit the data. The cross sections required in this scenario are, however, typically challenged by complementary probes of the light mediator. Throughout our study, we implement an unbinned Monte Carlo analysis and use an improved energy reconstruction of the XENON 1T events.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

The impacts of building characteristics, social psychological and cultural factors on indoor environment quality productivity belief

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) plays a key role in determining occupants' productivity at work; however, analyses of the interconnected factors among building physical, attitudinal, social and demographic components in one study are lacking. To fill this research gap, this study investigates these interconnected factors' influence on occupants’ IEQ-productivity belief, defined as a personal, subjective evaluation of the linkage between the impacts of five IEQ aspects (the quality of indoor temperature, air, natural and electric lighting, and acoustics) and productivity. A cross-sectional survey data was collected in university offices from six countries (Brazil, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan and the U.S.). Results of multiple linear regression models indicate that IEQ satisfaction is the strongest positive predictor of the IEQ-productivity belief and this relationship is stronger in private offices. Country of residence is the second primary predictor. Several attitudinal-behavioral factors, including thermal comfort, perceived ease of controlling indoor environmental features, and attitudes toward sharing controls are all positively associated with IEQ-productivity belief. Interestingly, the level of control accessibility to light switches has the strongest impact as opposed to other controls. On the other hand, group norms and conformity intention are not significant predictors. Regarding demographics, men are more likely than women to perceive the IEQs to have positive impacts on their productivity, without considering other variables in the regression model; however, women are more likely than men to consider all IEQs as having positive impacts on productivity, after considering other variables. Furthermore, our findings provide suggestions for prioritizing wellness in the workplace since the early design stage.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗