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At least 325 records · Page 18

Performance characterization and modeling of an oscillating surge wave energy converter

Abstract Testing wave energy converters in the ocean could be expensive and complex, which necessitates the use of numerical modeling. However, accurately modeling the response of wave energy converters with high-fidelity simulations can be computationally intensive in the design stage where different configurations must be considered. Reduced-order models based on simplified equations of motion can be very useful in the design, optimization, or control of wave energy converters. Given the complex dynamics of wave energy converters, accurate representation, and evaluation of relative contributions by different forces are required. This effort is concerned with a performance characterization of the hydrodynamic response of an oscillating surge wave energy converter that is based on a reduced-order model. A state-space model is used to represent the radiation damping term. Morison’s representation of unsteady forces is used to account for the nonlinear damping. Wave tank tests are performed to validate simulations. A free response simulation is used to determine the coefficients of the state-space model. Torque-forced simulations are used to identify the coefficients of the nonlinear damping term for different amplitudes and wave frequencies. The impact of varying these coefficients on the response is investigated. An assessment of the capability of the model in predicting the hydrodynamic response under irregular forcing is performed. The results show that the maximum error is 3% when compared with high-fidelity simulations. It is determined that the nonlinear damping is proportional to the torque amplitude and its effects are more pronounced as the amplitude of the flap oscillations increases.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Variable-Frequency QPOs from the Galactic Microquasar GRS 1915+105

We show that the galactic microquasar GRS 1915+105 exhibits quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOS) whose frequency varies continuously from 1-15 Hz, during spectrally hard dips when the source is in a flaring state. NN'e report here analyses of simultaneous energy spectra and power density spectra at 4 s intervals. The energy spectrum is well fit at each time step by an optically thick accretion disk plus power law model, while the power density spectrum consists of a varying red noise component plus the variable frequency QPO. The features of both spectra are strongly correlated with one another. The 1-15 Hz QPOs appear when the power law component becomes hard and intense, and themselves have an energy spectrum consistent with the power law component (with root mean square amplitudes as high as 10%). The frequency of the oscillations, however, is most strikingly correlated with the parameters of the thermal disk component. The tightest correlation is between QPO frequency and the disk X-ray flux. This fact indicates that the properties of the QPO are not determined by solely a disk or solely a corona.

Markwardt, Craig B.↗

Pacific decadal oscillation causes fewer near-equatorial cyclones in the North Indian Ocean

Tropical cyclones do not form easily near the equator but can intensify rapidly, leaving little time for preparation. We investigate the number of near-equatorial (originating between 5°N and 11°N) tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean during post-monsoon season (October to December) over the past 60 years. The study reveals a marked 43% decline in the number of such cyclones in recent decades (1981–2010) compared to earlier (1951–1980). Here, we show this decline in tropical cyclone frequency is primarily due to the weakened low-level vorticity modulated by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and increased vertical wind shear. In the presence of low-latitude basin-wide warming and a favorable phase of the PDO, both the intensity and frequency of such cyclones are expected to increase. Such dramatic and unique changes in tropical cyclonic activity due to the interplay between natural variability and climate change call for appropriate planning and mitigation strategies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Data-driven Detection and Early Prediction of Thermoacoustic Instability in a Multi-nozzle Combustor

Thermoacoustic instability (TAI) is a critical issue in modern lean-burn gas-turbine combustors, which is induced by a strong coupling between the resonant combustor acoustics and fluctuations in the heat release rate. This instability may lead to high-amplitude pressure waves that generate undesirable noise levels as well as fatigue stresses in mechanical structures of the combustor. The intense pressure fluctuations due to TAI may also cause large flow perturbations and possibly flow reversal that may lead to flame oscillations, flame liftoff, and even flame blow-out. Hence, there is a strong need for exercising control actions in a timely fashion to mitigate the TAI phenomena. Anomaly detection is an essential prerequisite to the design of a good controller and such a detector must be able to reliably predict a forthcoming TAI. To detect and predict the onset of a TAI from an ensemble of pressure time series, this paper investigates three data-driven methods: Fast Fourier transform (FFT), symbolic time series analysis (STSA), and hidden Markov modeling (HMM). The main focus of the paper is to make a comparative evaluation of these three anomaly detection methods for classification of the current regime of operation into stable and unstable categories as well as for real-time identification of precursors to impending instabilities with short-length time series of measured variables (e.g., pressure oscillations). Finally, the results, generated on experimental data from a multi-nozzle combustor apparatus, have been compared to evaluate the performance of FFT, STSA, and HMM methods for TAI analysis.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Ab initio multishell valence-space Hamiltonians and the island of inversion

In the shell-model framework, valence-space Hamiltonians connecting multiple major-oscillator shells are of key interest for investigating the physics of neutron-rich nuclei, which have been the subject of intense experimental activity for decades. Here we present an extension of the ab initio valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group, which allows the derivation of such Hamiltonians nonperturbatively. Starting from initial two- and three-nucleon forces from chiral effective field theory, we then calculate properties of nuclei in the important island-of-inversion region above oxygen, so far unexplored with ab initio methods. In this work, our results in the neon and magnesium isotopes indicate the importance of neutron excitation from the $\textit{sd}$ to $\textit{pf}$ shells and ground states dominated by intruder configurations around $\textit{N}$ = 20, consistent with the conclusions from phenomenological studies. We also benchmark the excitation spectrum of 16 O with coupled-cluster theory, finding generally good agreement, and discuss implications for ground-state energies and charge radii in oxygen and calcium isotopes. Finally we outline the proper procedure for treating the longstanding issue of center-of-mass contamination, and show that with a particular choice of valence space, these spurious states can be removed successfully.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Status and Plan of DUNE at Fermilab

The discovery and the solid confirmation of neutrino flavor oscillation have been made throughout late 1990 to 2000s. Such oscillation is the clear proof of non-zero neutrino mass since this is caused by the fact that the neutrino mass eigenstates differ from that of the flavor. The neutrinos in the Standard Model, however, are massless leptons, and thus the neutrino flavor oscillation necessitates either the Standard Model to be significantly modified or a new theoretical paradigm to describe the universe better. In order to provide experimental information, it is essential for the properties of the neutrino oscillation be well understood through precision measurements of oscillation parameters, including the mixing angles, determination of the mass hierarchy between the three mass eigenstates and determination of the CP phase (Delta_CP) between neutrino and anti-neutrino oscillations. Among the several next generation neutrino experiments, this presentation covers the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) which, with the high intensity neutrino beam facility, will help accomplish these goals. In this report, I will discuss the current status and plan of the DUNE experiment, including the results of the detector performance studies from the large scale prototype detectors operating at CERN and the timeline for construction and data taking of the experiment, as well as its physics prospects.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Halted-pendulum Relaxation: Application to White Dwarf Binary Initial Data

Studying compact-star binaries and their mergers is integral to determining progenitors for observable transients. Today, compact-star mergers are typically studied via state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics codes. One such numerical technique, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), is frequently chosen for its excellent mass, energy, and momentum conservation. The natural treatment of vacuum and the ability to represent highly irregular morphologies make SPH an excellent tool for the study of compact-star binaries and mergers. For many scenarios, including binary systems, the outcome of simulations is only as accurate as the initial conditions. For SPH, it is essential to ensure that the particles are distributed regularly, representing the initial density profile but without long-range correlations. Particle noise in the form of high-frequency local motion and low-frequency global dynamics must be damped out. Damping the latter can be as computationally intensive as the actual simulation. We discuss a new and straightforward relaxation method, halted-pendulum relaxation (HPR), to remove global oscillation modes of SPH particle configurations. In combination with effective external potentials representing gravitational and orbital forces, we show that HPR has an excellent performance in efficiently relaxing SPH particles to the desired density distribution and removing global oscillation modes. We compare the method to frequently used relaxation approaches and test it on a white dwarf binary model at its Roche-lobe overflow limit. We highlight the importance of our method in achieving accurate initial conditions and its effect on achieving circular orbits and realistic accretion rates when compared with other general relaxation methods.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Measurements of small signal absorption at high temperature for the 001-100 band of CO2

In the experiments an absorption cell was irradiated by a polarized CW CO2-N2-He laser. By changing the length of the laser cavity, it was possible to obtain stable oscillations on the five lines P12 through P20 in the 10.4-micron band. The power output was slightly under 10 W. Intensity measurements of the incident and the transmitted beam were conducted when the cell was filled with a nonabsorbing calibrating gas (nitrogen) and with the test gas (carbon dioxide). Data for the absorption coefficient in the temperature range from 300 K to about 600 K are presented in graphs.

Leonard, R. L.↗

The complex cross-spectra of Cygnus X-2 and GX 5-1

The intensity variations of Cyg X-2 and GX 5-1 are analyzed with a Fourier cross-spectral technique making it possible to measure the frequency dependence of the time lags between the intensity variations in two X-ray spectral bands. In the 20-40 Hz frequency range of the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO), the hard (about 5-18 keV) signal lags the soft (about 1-5 keV) one, while the reverse is true for the associated red noise. The observed time lags range from 0.4 to 8 ms. For similar QPO parameters, the observed lags are much smaller in GX 5-1 than they are in Cyg X-2. The 'hard lags' previously measured in the cross-correlation functions of these sources are now identified as due to lags in the QPO. It is argued that the 'soft lags' now detected in the red noise are not inconsistent with the interpretation of the hard lags as due to inverse Compton scattering.

Van Der Klis, M.↗

National Transonic Facility model and model support vibration problems

Vibrations of models and model support system were encountered during testing in the National Transonic Facility. Model support system yaw plane vibrations have resulted in model strain gage balance design load limits being reached. These high levels of vibrations resulted in limited aerodynamic testing for several wind tunnel models. The yaw vibration problem was the subject of an intensive experimental and analytical investigation which identified the primary source of the yaw excitation and resulted in attenuation of the yaw oscillations to acceptable levels. This paper presents the principal results of analyses and experimental investigation of the yaw plane vibration problems. Also, an overview of plans for development and installation of a permanent model system dynamic and aeroelastic response measurement and monitoring system for the National Transonic Facility is presented.

Young, Clarence P., Jr.↗

Simulations of light effects on the human circadian pacemaker: implications for assessment of intrinsic period

The sensitivity of the human circadian system to light has been the subject of considerable debate. Using computer simulations of a recent quantitative model for the effects of light on the human circadian system, we investigated these effects of light during different experimental protocols. The results of the simulations indicate that the nonuniform distribution over the circadian cycle of exposure to ordinary room light seen in classical free-run studies, in which subjects select their exposure to light and darkness, can result in an observed period of approximately 25 h, even when the intrinsic period of the subject's endogenous circadian pacemaker is much closer to 24 h. Other simulation results suggest that accurate assessment of the true intrinsic period of the human circadian pacemaker requires low ambient light intensities (approximately 10-15 lx) during scheduled wake episodes, desynchrony of the imposed light-dark cycle from the endogenous circadian oscillator, and a study length of at least 20 days. Although these simulations await further experimental substantiation, they highlight the sensitivity to light of the human circadian system and the potential confounding influence of light on the assessment of the intrinsic period of the circadian pacemaker.

Non-NASA Center↗

Mechanisms in Regulating the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation in Exascale Earth System Model Version 2

Abstract The update to the deep convection parameterization in the energy exascale Earth system model version 2 (E3SMv2) makes the simulated quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) have a shorter period than without the update when other tunable parameters the same since the update makes convection more intense but less frequent while leaving the time‐mean convective heating tendency almost unchanged. Amplitudes of momentum fluxes of parameterized gravity waves (GWs) are intensified since they are determined by the square of convective heating tendency. In addition, stronger planetary waves are simulated in E3SMv2 with the convection scheme update, partially due to the tropospheric precipitation change. Furthermore, there is evidence that planetary waves are intensified in the stratosphere due to the dissipation of enhanced parameterized GWs. These factors are found to be responsible for modulating the QBO simulated in E3SMv2.

Li, Yuanpu [Climate and Global Dynamics Division U↗

A substandard candle: the low-$$\nu $$ method at few-GeV neutrino energies

Abstract As accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments improve oscillation parameter constraints with more data, control over systematic uncertainties on the incoming neutrino flux and interaction models is increasingly important. The intense beams offered by modern experiments permit a variety of options to constrain the flux using in situ “standard candle” measurements. These standard candles must use very well understood interaction processes to avoid introducing additional interaction model dependence. One option often discussed in this context is the “low- $$\nu $$ ν ” method, which is designed to isolate neutrino interactions where there is low energy-transfer to the nucleus, such that the interaction cross section is expected to be approximately constant as a function of neutrino energy. The shape of the low-energy transfer event sample can then be used to extract the flux shape. Applications of the method at high neutrino energies (many tens of GeV) are well understood. However, the applicability of the method at the lower energies of current and future few-GeV accelerator neutrino experiments remains unclear due to the presence of nuclear and form-factor effects inherent in the interaction models.In this analysis we examine the prospects for improving constraints on the accelerator neutrino fluxes in situ with the low- $$\nu $$ ν method in an experiment-independent way, using (anti)neutrino interactions on argon and hydrocarbon targets from the GENIE, NEUT, NuWro and GiBUU event generators. We begin by investigating the extent to which deviations from the constant cross-section assumption are dependent on poorly understood aspects of the neutrino interaction model. We then assess whether a low energy-transfer event sample can be confidently identified using experimentally accessible observables. We finally consider how the practicalities of reconstructing the energy spectrum of interacting neutrinos in realistic detectors might further limit the utility of low- $$\nu $$ ν flux constraints. The results show that flux constraints from the low- $$\nu $$ ν method would be severely dependent on the interaction model assumptions used in an analysis of neutrinos with energies below 5 GeV, and anti-neutrinos below at least 15 GeV. The spread of model predictions show that a low- $$\nu $$ ν analysis is unlikely to offer much improvement on typical neutrino flux uncertainties, even with a perfect detector. Notably—running counter to the assumption inherent to the low- $$\nu $$ ν method—the model-dependence increases with decreasing energy transfer for experiments in the few-GeV region.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Research in Elementary Particle Physics

The Experimental High Energy Physics group in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Louisiana State University (LSU) is composed of faculty, postdocs and students. We perform research in experimental neutrino physics at the Intensity Frontier (DUNE, ProtoDUNE and T2K). The group continues their principal research efforts on the T2K and DUNE projects to measure neutrino oscillation parameters and study neutrino properties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Source mechanism for terrestrial kilometric radiation

The intense electromagnetic radiation of near earth origin, observed by the OGO, IMP, and Hawkeye satellites, can be explained in terms of plasma oscillations near the upper hybrid frequency which are stimulated in the high latitude regions at distances within 5 earth radii. The wave energy is converted from the longitudinal electrostatic mode to the transverse electromagnetic mode as it travels in the slightly inhomogeneous magnetosphere, and it is reflected at the point where the wave frequency equals the local electron plasma frequency. Peak emission region occurs near 2 earth radii. The original plasma oscillations are generated in the turbulent plasma produced by precipitating electrons associated with discrete auroral arcs. The mechanism has possible applications to studies of the irregular structure of the magnetospheric thermal plasma and to models for the decametric radiation from Jupiter.

Benson, R. F.↗

Receiving efficiency of monostatic pulsed coherent lidars. I - Theory. II - Applications

Pulsed coherent radars' receiving efficiency, eta, is presently investigated as a function of range z on the basis of a theory which relates eta(z) to both the transmitted laser intensity and the point-source receiving efficiency; this efficiency is calculated by a backward method employing the back-propagated local oscillator (BPLO) approach. The theory is applied to the ideal case, in order to study system optimization when both the transmitted and the BPLO fields at the antenna are Gaussian. In the second part of this work, eta(z) is calculated for various conditions of the NOAA/ERL Wave Propagation Laboratory CO2 Doppler lidar; the sensitivity of eta(z) to transmitted laser beam quality, telescope focal setting, telescope power, scanner astigmatism, and system misalignment.

Zhao, Yanzeng↗

The time-delay spectrum of GX 5-1 in its horizontal branch

Using a cross-spectral technique we investigate time delays between intensity variations of GX 5-1 in 10 X-ray spectral channels. The data were taken during a 1989 Ginga observation during which the source was in its horizontal-branch spectral state. We develope a new method to measure 'time-delay spectra' in fixed Fourier frequency ranges and use it to determine the energy and intensity dependence of time delays in the low-frequency noise (nu less than 2 Hz), the horizontal branch quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO), and the QPO second harmonic. These are the first time-delay spectra of a Z-source in its horizontal branch, and the first detection of time delays in the second harmonic. We consider two mechanisms for the production of the time lags: Comptonization and evolving shots. We perform Monte Carlo simulations of Compton scattering in a homogeneous, isotropic, central corona and show that it qualitatively explain the observed energy and time-delay spectra, but that it cannot explain the differences in the QPO first and second harmomnic time-delay spectra, nor the observed dependence of the QPO fractional rms variability upon energy. We consider implications of our results for millisecond pulsar searches in low-mass X-ray binaries.

Vaughan, B.↗

Comparison Of Downscaled CMIP5 Precipitation Datasets For Projecting Changes In Extreme Precipitation In The San Francisco Bay Area.

Water resource managers planning for the adaptation to future events of extreme precipitation now have access to high resolution downscaled daily projections derived from statistical bias correction and constructed analogs. We also show that along the Pacific Coast the Northern Oscillation Index (NOI) is a reliable predictor of storm likelihood, and therefore a predictor of seasonal precipitation totals and likelihood of extremely intense precipitation. Such time series can be used to project intensity duration curves into the future or input into stormwater models. However, few climate projection studies have explored the impact of the type of downscaling method used on the range and uncertainty of predictions for local flood protection studies. Here we present a study of the future climate flood risk at NASA Ames Research Center, located in South Bay Area, by comparing the range of predictions in extreme precipitation events calculated from three sets of time series downscaled from CMIP5 data: 1) the Bias Correction Constructed Analogs method dataset downscaled to a 1/8 degree grid (12km); 2) the Bias Correction Spatial Disaggregation method downscaled to a 1km grid; 3) a statistical model of extreme daily precipitation events and projected NOI from CMIP5 models. In addition, predicted years of extreme precipitation are used to estimate the risk of overtopping of the retention pond located on the site through simulations of the EPA SWMM hydrologic model. Preliminary results indicate that the intensity of extreme precipitation events is expected to increase and flood the NASA Ames retention pond. The results from these estimations will assist flood protection managers in planning for infrastructure adaptations.

Storm↗