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At least 37 records · Page 2

A Software Toolkit to Study Systematic Uncertainties of the Physics Models of the Geant4 Simulation Package

The Geant4 simulation toolkit is used to model interactions between particles and matter. Geant4 employs a set of validated physics models that span a wide range of interaction energies. These models rely on measured cross-sections and phenomenological models with the physically motivated parameters that are tuned to cover many application domains. To study what uncertainties are associated with the Geant4 physics models we have designed and implemented a comprehensive, modular, user-friendly software toolkit that allows the variation of one or more parameters of one or more Geant4 physics models involved in simulation studies. It also enables analysis of multiple variants of the resulting physics observables of interest in order to estimate the uncertainties associated with the simulation model choices. Based on modern event-processing infrastructure software, the toolkit offers a variety of attractive features, e.g. exible run-time con gurable work ow, comprehensive bookkeeping, easy to expand collection of analytical components. Design, implementation technology, and key functionalities of the toolkit are presented in this paper and illustrated with selected results.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Similarity Criteria for the Study of Removal of Spherical Non-metallic Inclusions in Physical Models of Continuous Casting Tundishes: A More Fundamental Approach

Physical modeling is widely used for studying steelmaking processes. The accuracy of this technique depends on the use of appropriate similarity criteria during experimental design. The present work deduced rigorously the similarity criteria for the study of spherical non-metallic inclusions in isothermal physical models of tundishes. Initially, macroscopic quantities were used to simplify the multiphase problem. Then, the similarity criteria were obtained from the dimensionless form of the exact equation of motion for an inclusion in Stokes regime. The validity range of these criteria was discussed and they were compared with common literature practice. Some practical considerations were also presented. This work clarifies various implicit assumptions usually adopted in literature. Additionally, a restrictive criterion to choose the density of the inclusion simulating particles was obtained, which can be satisfied, for example, by hollow glass particles in water models. This criterion is necessary to adequately describe the inclusion motion in regions where fluid elements suffer strong acceleration (e.g., inside nozzles, near flow controllers or in the entering fluid jet). Moreover, it was established an upper limit for the concentration of particles injected in the inlet nozzle of physical models, which do not simulate the phenomenon of inclusion aggregation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantitative metrics for evaluating thermonuclear design codes and physics models applied to the National Ignition Campaign

In this study, physics models and design codes for hot dense plasmas undergoing thermonuclear burn are evaluated objectively using statistical metrics that compare the difference between calculations and data relative to the experimental uncertainties. The analysis is applied to the National Ignition Campaign (NIC) because it is relevant, comprehensive, and well documented. The statistics confirm that a key process afflicting NIC performance is mix driven by hydrodynamic instabilities as approximated here using the KL model [G. Dimonte and R. Tipton, Phys. Fluids 18, 085101 (2006)]. New physics models are also presented for instability-driven magnetic fields [B. Srinivasan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 165002 (2012)] and the Coulomb logarithm for electron–ion thermal relaxation [G. Dimonte and J. Daligault, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 135001 (2008)]. The plasma-generated magnetic fields improve the agreement between code and data in a statistically significant manner by reducing the electron thermal conduction in the hot-spot via the Hall term. The Coulomb logarithm is presented in a numerically practical form that incorporates recent theoretical advances. However, it does not improve the agreement between the code and data because the thermal relaxation is so fast in non-ignited NIC plasmas that the typical 20% error does not change the tight coupling between electrons and ions. Even with these improved physics models, the one-dimensional simulations presented here are not able to describe the high-convergence NIC implosions in a statistically acceptable manner. Of the heroic multi-dimensional simulations of Clark et al. [Phys. Plasmas 23, 056302 (2016)], only those in three-dimensions satisfy the statistical acceptance criterion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

CO 2 rock physics modeling for reliable monitoring of geologic carbon storage

Monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) are crucial to ensure safe and long-term geologic carbon storage. Seismic monitoring is a key MVA technique that utilizes seismic data to infer elastic properties of CO 2 -saturated rocks. Reliable accounting of CO 2 in subsurface storage reservoirs and potential leakage zones requires an accurate rock physics model. However, the widely used CO 2 rock physics model based on the conventional Biot-Gassmann equation can substantially underestimate the influence of CO 2 saturation on seismic waves, leading to inaccurate accounting. We develop an accurate CO 2 rock physics model by accounting for both effects of the stress dependence of seismic velocities in porous rocks and CO 2 weakening on the rock framework. We validate our CO 2 rock physics model using the Kimberlina-1.2 model (a previously proposed geologic carbon storage site in California) and create time-lapse elastic property models with our new rock physics method. We compare the results with those obtained using the conventional Biot-Gassmann equation. Our innovative approach produces larger changes in elastic properties than the Biot-Gassmann results. Using our CO 2 rock physics model can replicate shear-wave speed reductions observed in the laboratory. Our rock physics model enhances the accuracy of time-lapse elastic-wave modeling and enables reliable CO 2 accounting using seismic monitoring.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The DOE E3SM Model Version 2: Overview of the Physical Model and Initial Model Evaluation

Abstract This work documents version two of the Department of Energy's Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM). E3SMv2 is a significant evolution from its predecessor E3SMv1, resulting in a model that is nearly twice as fast and with a simulated climate that is improved in many metrics. We describe the physical climate model in its lower horizontal resolution configuration consisting of 110 km atmosphere, 165 km land, 0.5° river routing model, and an ocean and sea ice with mesh spacing varying between 60 km in the mid‐latitudes and 30 km at the equator and poles. The model performance is evaluated with Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Characterization of Klima simulations augmented with historical simulations as well as simulations to evaluate impacts of different forcing agents. The simulated climate has many realistic features of the climate system, with notable improvements in clouds and precipitation compared to E3SMv1. E3SMv1 suffered from an excessively high equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) of 5.3 K. In E3SMv2, ECS is reduced to 4.0 K which is now within the plausible range based on a recent World Climate Research Program assessment. However, a number of important biases remain including a weak Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, deficiencies in the characteristics and spectral distribution of tropical atmospheric variability, and a significant underestimation of the observed warming in the second half of the historical period. An analysis of single‐forcing simulations indicates that correcting the historical temperature bias would require a substantial reduction in the magnitude of the aerosol‐related forcing.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Differentiable modelling to unify machine learning and physical models for geosciences

Process-based modelling offers interpretability and physical consistency in many domains of geosciences but struggles to leverage large datasets efficiently. Machine-learning methods, especially deep networks, have strong predictive skills yet are unable to answer specific scientific questions. Here, in this Perspective, we explore differentiable modelling as a pathway to dissolve the perceived barrier between process-based modelling and machine learning in the geosciences and demonstrate its potential with examples from hydrological modelling. ‘Differentiable’ refers to accurately and efficiently calculating gradients with respect to model variables or parameters, enabling the discovery of high-dimensional unknown relationships. Differentiable modelling involves connecting (flexible amounts of) prior physical knowledge to neural networks, pushing the boundary of physics-informed machine learning. It offers better interpretability, generalizability, and extrapolation capabilities than purely data-driven machine learning, achieving a similar level of accuracy while requiring less training data. Additionally, the performance and efficiency of differentiable models scale well with increasing data volumes. Under data-scarce scenarios, differentiable models have outperformed machine-learning models in producing short-term dynamics and decadal-scale trends owing to the imposed physical constraints. Differentiable modelling approaches are primed to enable geoscientists to ask questions, test hypotheses, and discover unrecognized physical relationships. Future work should address computational challenges, reduce uncertainty, and verify the physical significance of outputs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

A Software Toolkit to Study Systematic Uncertainties of the Physics Models of the Geant4 Simulation Package

The Geant4 toolkit is used to model interactions between particles and matter. Geant4 employs a set of validated physics models that span a wide range of interaction energies. These models are tuned to cover a large variety of possible applications. This raises the critical question of what uncertainties are associated with the Geant4 physics model, or group of models, involved in a simulation project. To address the challenge, we have designed and implemented a comprehen- sive, modular, user-friendly software toolkit that allows the variation of one or more parameters of one or more Geant4 physics models involved in simulation studies. It also enables analysis of multiple variants of the resulting physics observables of interest in order to estimate the uncertain- ties associated with the simulation model choices. Key functionalities of the toolkit are presented in this paper and are illustrated with selected results.

Genser, Krzysztof↗

Validation of Physics Models of Geant4 using Data from CMS Experiment

CMS has tuned its simulation program and has chosen a specific physics model of GEANT4 by comparing the simulation results with dedicated test beam experiments. CMS continues to validate the physics models inside GEANT4 using the test beam data as well as collision data. Several physics lists (collection of physics models) inside the most recent version of GEANT4 provide good agreement of the energy response, resolution of pions and protons. The validation results from these studies are used to make the choice of physics list and GEANT4 version for the CMS experiment.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Economic and Physical Modeling of Land Use in GCAM 3.0 and an Application to Agricultural Productivity, Land, and Terrestrial Carbon

We explore the impact of changes in agricultural productivity on global land use and terrestrial carbon using the new agriculture and land use modeling approach developed for Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) version 3.0. This approach models economic land use decisions with regional, physical, and technological specificity while maintaining economic and physical integration with the rest of the GCAM model. Physical land characteristics and quantities are tracked explicitly, and crop production practices are modeled discretely to facilitate coupling with physical models. Economic land allocation is modeled with non-linear functions in a market equilibrium rather than through a constrained optimization. In this paper, we explore three scenarios of future agriculture productivity in all regions of the globe over this century, ranging from a high growth to a zero growth level. The higher productivity growth scenario leads to lower crop prices, increased production of crops in developing nations, preservation of global forested lands and lower terrestrial carbon emissions. The scenario with no productivity improvement results in higher crop prices, an expansion of crop production in the developed world, loss of forested lands globally, and higher terrestrial carbon emissions.

Wise, Marshall A.↗

Numerical Simulation of Recirculating Flow and Physical Model of Slag–Metal Behavior in an RH Reactor: Application to Desulfurization

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques and a 1:7.5 physical model of an RH degasser have been used to evaluate the flow of gas and metal inside an RH reactor for vacuum degassing of liquid steel. The effect of gas injection on the gas spatial distribution, steel circulation rate and flow field inside the ladle, snorkels and vacuum chamber have been assessed. N-pentane oil was employed to evaluate the average residence time as well as the slag droplet size distribution. The predicted radial gas distribution and liquid circulation rate have been validated against experimental data from a physical model. The results with incorporation of the virtual mass force coefficient of 0.25 and the turbulence dispersion force showed better predictions of gas distribution in the up-snorkel as well as circulation rate. Full-scale simulations were performed, and the predicted circulation rate was significantly affected by the argon bubble expansion. Data from these simulations were used to analyze the degree of desulfurization performed by the addition of desulfurizing agents inside the vacuum chamber. A model of the kinetics of desulfurization based on the results from the physical model and CFD simulation and on slag dispersion inside liquid steel yields degrees of desulfurization similar to the industrial trials reported in the literature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Progress in Hadronic Physics Modelling in Geant4

Geant4 offers a set of models to simulate hadronic showers in calorimeters. Recent improvements to several models relevant to the modelling of hadronic showers are discussed. These include improved cross sections, a revision of the FTF model, the addition of quasi-elastic scattering to the QGS model, and enhancements in the nuclear precompound and de-excitation models. The validation of physics models against thin target experiments has been extended especially in the energy region 10 GeV and below. Examples of new validation results are shown.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Transient Physical Modelling for the Coupling of a High Temperature Gas Reactor with Thermal Energy Storage

Improving the flexibility of nuclear reactors to meet fluctuating demand on grids with high renewable energy generation penetration is key to improving reactor economics. Economic optimization using the code HERON gives maximum profit of coupling high temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) to thermal energy storage (TES) systems in the configuration shown in Figure 1 when following the demand in Figure 3. We look to model the physics of operation for a HTGR-TES using the HYBRID library in the code Modelica.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

A Toolkit to Study Sensitivity of the Geant4 Predictions to the Variations of the Physics Model Parameters

Geant4 is the leading detector simulation toolkit used in high energy physics to design detectors and to optimize calibration and reconstruction software. It employs a set of carefully validated physics models to simulate interactions of particles with matter across a wide range of interaction energies. These models, especially the hadronic ones, rely largely on directly measured cross-sections and phenomenological predictions with physically motivated parameters estimated by theoretical calculation or measurement. Because these models are tuned to cover a very wide range of possible simulation tasks, they may not always be optimized for a given process or a given material. This raises several critical questions, e.g. how sensitive Geant4 predictions are to the variations of the model parameters, or what uncertainties are associated with a particular tune of a Geant4 physics model, or a group of models, or how to consistently derive guidance for Geant4 model development and improvement from a wide range of available experimental data. We have designed and implemented a comprehensive, modular, user-friendly software toolkit to study and address such questions. It allows one to easily modify parameters of one or several Geant4 physics models involved in the simulation, and to perform collective analysis of multiple variants of the resulting physics observables of interest and comparison against a variety of corresponding experimental data. Based on modern event-processing infrastructure software, the toolkit offers a variety of attractive features, e.g. flexible run-time configurable workflow, comprehensive bookkeeping, easy to expand collection of analytical components. Design, implementation technology, and key functionalities of the toolkit are presented and illustrated with results obtained with Geant4 key hadronic models.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Validation of Physics Models of Geant4 Versions 10.4.p03, 10.6.p02 and 10.7.p01 using Data from the CMS Experiment

CMS tuned its simulation program and chose a specific physics model of Geant4 by comparing the simulation results with dedicated test beam experiments. Test beam data provide measurements of energy response of the calorimeter as well as resolution for well identified charged hadrons over a large energy region. CMS continues to validate the physics models using the test beam data as well as collision data from the Large Hadron Collider. Isolated charged particles are measured simultaneously in the tracker as well as in the calorimeters. These events are selected using dedicated triggers and are used to measure the response in the calorimeter. Different versions of Geant4 (10.2.p02, 10.4.p03, 10.6.p02) have been used by CMS for its Monte Carlo production and a new version (10.7.p01) is now chosen for future productions. A suitable physics list (collection of physics models) is chosen by optimizing performance against accuracy. A detailed comparison between data and Geant4 predictions is presented in this paper.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

TH-A-9A-06: Inverse Planning of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Using Natural Physical Models

Purpose: Treatment-planning systems rely on computer intensive optimization algorithms in order to provide radiation dose localization. We are investigating a new optimization paradigm based on natural physical modeling and simulations, which tend to evolve in time and find the minimum energy state. In our research, we aim to match physical models with radiation therapy inverse planning problems, where the minimum energy state coincides with the optimal solution. As a prototype study, we have modeled the inverse planning of Gamma Knife radiosurgery using the dynamic interactions between charged particles and demonstrate the potential of the paradigm. Methods: For inverse planning of Gamma Knife radiosurgery: (1) positive charges are uniformly placed on the surface of tumors and critical structures. (2) The Gamma Knife dose kernels of 4mm, 8mm and 16mm radii are modeled as geometric objects with variable charges. (3) The number of shots per each kernel radii is obtained by solving a constrained integer-linear problem. (4) The shots are placed into the tumor volume and move under electrostatic forces. The simulation is performed until internal forces are zero or maximum iterations are reached. (5) Finally, non-negative least squares (NNLS) is used to calculate the beam-on times for each shot. Results: A 3D C-shaped tumor surrounding a spherical critical structure was used for testing the new optimization paradigm. These tests showed that charges spread out evenly covering the tumor while keeping distance from the critical structure, resulting in a high quality plan. Conclusion: We have developed a new paradigm for dose optimization based on the simulation of physical models. As prototype studies, we applied electrostatic models to Gamma Knife radiosurgery and demonstrated the potential of the new paradigm. Further research and fine-tuning of the model are underway. NSF CBET-0853157.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Recent progress in low energy neutrino scattering physics and its implications for the standard and beyond the standard model physics

Neutrinos continue to provide a testing ground for the structure of the standard model of particle physics as well as hints towards the physics beyond the standard model. Neutrinos of energies spanning over several orders of magnitude, originating in many terrestrial and astrophysical processes, have been detected via various decay and interaction mechanisms. At MeV scales, there has been one elusive process, until a few years ago, known as coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) that was theoretically predicted over five decades ago but was never observed experimentally. The recent experimental observation of the CEvNS process by the COHERENT collaboration at a stopped pion neutrino source has inspired physicists across many subfields. This has vital implications for nuclear physics, high-energy physics, astrophysics, and beyond. CEvNS, being a low-energy process, provides a natural window to study light, weakly-coupled, new physics in the neutrino sector. In this review, we intend to provide the current status of low energy neutrino scattering physics and its implications for the standard and beyond the standard model physics. We discuss the general formalism of calculating the tree-level CEvNS cross section and present estimated theoretical uncertainties on the CEvNS cross section stemming from different sources. We also discuss the inelastic scattering of tens of MeV neutrinos that have implications for supernova detection in future neutrino experiments. We discuss how the CEvNS experiments can be used as a testing ground for the Standard Model (SM) weak physics as well as in searching for the Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics signals. Any deviation from the SM predicted event rate either with a change in the total event rate or with a change in the shape of the recoil spectrum, could indicate new contributions to the interaction cross-section. The SM implications include the study of weak nuclear form factor and weak mixing angle. The BSM studies include non-standard interactions, neutrino electromagnetic properties, and sterile neutrino searches. In conclusion, stopped pion facilities are also a copious source of neutral and changed mesons that allow study of several dark sector physics scenarios such as vector portal models, leptophobic dark matter as well as axion-like particle searches.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗