Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Systematic error”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 397 records · Page 22

SSC Geopositional Assessment of an AWiFS Image Orthorectified Product

The geopositional accuracy of an AWiFS (Advanced Wide Field Sensor) orthorectified product was evaluated. Specifically, the image products were acquired by the Indian Remote Sensing Resourcesat-1 satellite, then orthorectified by GeoEye . Analysis was performed using DOQs (digital orthophoto quadrangles) and other reference sources of similar accuracy. A total of six AWiFS images were characterized. These images were acquired over the continental United States from June through September 2005. The images were equally divided between the two AWiFS cameras. Forty to fifty check points were collected manually per scene and analyzed to determine overall circular error, estimates of horizontal bias, and other systematic errors.

Kenton, Ross↗

A Comprehensive Radial Velocity Error Budget for Next Generation Doppler Spectrometers

We describe a detailed radial velocity error budget for the NASA-NSF Extreme Precision Doppler Spectrometer instrument concept NEID (NN-explore Exoplanet Investigations with Doppler spectroscopy). Such an instrument performance budget is a necessity for both identifying the variety of noise sources currently limiting Doppler measurements, and estimating the achievable performance of next generation exoplanet hunting Doppler spectrometers. For these instruments, no single source of instrumental error is expected to set the overall measurement floor. Rather, the overall instrumental measurement precision is set by the contribution of many individual error sources. We use a combination of numerical simulations, educated estimates based on published materials, extrapolations of physical models, results from laboratory measurements of spectroscopic subsystems, and informed upper limits for a variety of error sources to identify likely sources of systematic error and construct our global instrument performance error budget. While natively focused on the performance of the NEID instrument, this modular performance budget is immediately adaptable to a number of current and future instruments. Such an approach is an important step in charting a path towards improving Doppler measurement precisions to the levels necessary for discovering Earth-like planets.

NASA-NSF Extreme Precision Doppler Spectrometer in↗

Potential Refinement of the ICRF

The analysis and data used for the ICRF represented the state of the art in global, extragalactic, X/S band microwave astrometry in 1995. The same general analysis method was used to extend the ICRF with subsequent VLBI data in a manner consistent with the original catalog. Since 1995 there have been considerable advances in the geodetic/astrometric VLBI data set and in the analysis that would significantly improve the systematic errors, stability, and density of the next realization of the ICRS when the decision is made to take this step. In particular, data acquired since 1990, including extensive use of the VLBA, are of higher quality and astrometric utility because of changes in instrumentation, schedule design, and networks as well as specifically astrometric intent. The IVS (International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry) continues to devote a portion of its observing capability to systematic extension of the astrometric data set. Sufficient data distribution exists to select a better set of defining sources. Improvements in troposphere modeling will minimize known systematic astrometric errors while accurate modeling and estimation of station effects from loading and nonlinear motions will permit the reintegration of the celestial reference frame, terrestrial reference frame and Earth orientation parameters though a single VLBI solution. The differences between the current ICRF and the potential next realization will be described.

Ma, Chopo↗

Rationalizing accurate structure prediction in the meta-GGA SCAN functional

The ability of first-principles computational methods to reproduce ground-state crystal structure selection is key to their application in the discovery of new materials, and yet presents a formidable challenge due to the low-energy scale of the problem and lack of systematic error cancellation. The recently developed Strongly Constrained and Appropriately Normed (SCAN) functional is notable for accurately calculating physical properties such as formation energies and in particular, correctly predicting ground-state structures. Here in this paper, we attempt to rationalize the improved structure prediction accuracy in SCAN by investigating the relationship between preferred coordination environments, the description of attractive van der Waals (vdW) interactions, and the overall ground-state prediction in bulk main-group solids. We observe a systematic undercoordination error in the traditional Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) functional which is not present in SCAN results and find that semiempirical dispersion corrections in the form of PBE + D 3 fail to correct this error in a consistent or physical manner. We conclude that the medium-range vdW interaction is correctly parametrized in SCAN and yields meaningful relative energies between coordination environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Radio Fundamental Catalogue. I. Astrometry

We present the all-sky catalogue of absolute positions and estimates of correlated flux density of 21,942 compact radio sources determined from processing interferometric visibility data of virtually all VLBI observing sessions at 2 to 23~GHz from 72 programs suitable for absolute astrometry collected for 30 years. We used a novel technique of generation of a dataset of fused observables that allowed us to incorporate all available data in our analysis. The catalogue is the most complete and most precise to date. It forms the foundation and reference for positional astronomy, space geodesy, space navigation, population analysis of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and provides calibrators for phase-referencing for differential astrometry and VLBI astrophysical observations. Its accuracy was evaluated through a detailed accounting systematic errors, rigorous decimation tests, comparison of different datasets, and comparison with other catalogues. The catalogue samples preferentially the AGNs with a strong contemporary parsec-scale synchrotron emission. Its milliarcsecond level positional accuracy allows association of these AGNs with detections in a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum from low-frequency radio to gamma-rays and high energy neutrinos. We describe the innovative data processing and calibration technique in full detail, report the in depth analysis of random and systematic positional errors, and provide the list of associations with large surveys at different wavelengths.

Astronomy↗

An Alternate Method for Estimating Dynamic Height from XBT Profiles Using Empirical Vertical Modes

A technique is presented that applies modal decomposition to estimate dynamic height (0-450 db) from Expendable BathyThermograph (XBT) temperature profiles. Salinity-Temperature-Depth (STD) data are used to establish empirical relationships between vertically integrated temperature profiles and empirical dynamic height modes. These are then applied to XBT data to estimate dynamic height. A standard error of 0.028 dynamic meters is obtained for the waters of the Gulf of Alaska- an ocean region subject to substantial freshwater buoyancy forcing and with a T-S relationship that has considerable scatter. The residual error is a substantial improvement relative to the conventional T-S correlation technique when applied to this region. Systematic errors between estimated and true dynamic height were evaluated. The 20-year-long time series at Ocean Station P (50 deg N, 145 deg W) indicated weak variations in the error interannually, but not seasonally. There were no evident systematic alongshore variations in the error in the ocean boundary current regime near the perimeter of the Alaska gyre. The results prove satisfactory for the purpose of this work, which is to generate dynamic height from XBT data for coanalysis with satellite altimeter data, given that the altimeter height precision is likewise on the order of 2-3 cm. While the technique has not been applied to other ocean regions where the T-S relation has less scatter, it is suggested that it could provide some improvement over previously applied methods, as well.

Lagerloef, Gary S. E.↗

Cognitive Bias in Systems Verification

Working definition of cognitive bias: Patterns by which information is sought and interpreted that can lead to systematic errors in decisions. Cognitive bias is used in diverse fields: Economics, Politics, Intelligence, Marketing, to name a few. Attempts to ground cognitive science in physical characteristics of the cognitive apparatus exceed our knowledge. Studies based on correlations; strict cause and effect is difficult to pinpoint. Effects cited in the paper and discussed here have been replicated many times over, and appear sound. Many biases have been described, but it is still unclear whether they are all distinct. There may only be a handful of fundamental biases, which manifest in various ways. Bias can effect system verification in many ways . Overconfidence -> Questionable decisions to deploy. Availability -> Inability to conceive critical tests. Representativeness -> Overinterpretation of results. Positive Test Strategies -> Confirmation bias. Debiasing at individual level very difficult. The potential effect of bias on the verification process can be managed, but not eliminated. Worth considering at key points in the process.

Cognitive bias↗

Neutrino Interactions

The neutrino group of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville was involved from 05/01/2013 to 04/30/2015 in the neutrino physics research funded by DOE-HEP grant DE-SC0009861. Contributions were made to the Double Chooz nuclear reactor experiment in France where second detector was commissioned during this period and final series of measurements has been started. Although Double Chooz was smaller experimental effort than competitive Daya Bay and RENO experiments, its several advantages make it valuable for understanding of systematic errors in measurements of neutrino oscillations. Double Chooz was the first experiment among competing three that produced initial result for neutrino angle θ 13 measurement, giving other experiments the chance to improve measured value statistically. Graduate student Ben Rybolt defended his PhD thesis on the results of Double Chooz experiment in 2015. UT group has fulfilled all the construction and analysis commitments to Double Chooz experiment, and has withdrawn from the collaboration by the end of the mentioned period to start another experiment. Larger effort of UT neutrino group during this period was devoted to the participation in another DOE-HEP project - NOvA experiment. The 14,000-ton "FAR" neutrino detector was commissioned in northern Minnesota in 2014 together with 300-ton "NEAR" detector located at Fermilab. Following that, the physics measurement program has started when Fermilab accelerator complex produced the high-intensity neutrino beam propagating through Earth to detector in MInnessota. UT group contributed to NOvA detector construction and developments in several aspects. Our Research Associate Athanasios Hatzikoutelis was managing (Level 3 manager) the construction of the Detector Control System. This work was successfully accomplished in time with the commissioning of the detectors. Group was involved in the development of the on-line software and study of the signatures of the cosmic ray backgrounds. Flumerfelt and another graduate student Philip Mason were also studying the non-linearity properties of the NOvA liquid scintillator - information that will be essential at the final stages of NOvA data analysis. Philip Mason also studied the response of the FAR NOvA detector in correlation with solar flares. Flumerfelt and Mason successfully defended their PhD in 2015. Also, undergraduate student Cameron Blake Erickson has defended his undergraduate thesis on the NOvA liquid scintillator studies with Compton gamma spectrometer at UT.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Bounds on the Rate-Dependent Plastic Flow of Tantalum up to 75 GPa

In this study we report on the continued development of thermodynamics-based analysis of shock waves propagation with the objective of extracting information related to materials strength at high strain rates and pressures. Building on previous results reported for peak stresses of 10 GPa and 25 GPa, we present a series of three-step gas-gun shock experiments designed to explore the pressure and strain rate dependence of plastic flow in polycrystalline tantalum. These experiments at nominal peak stresses of 50 GPa and 75 GPa show the irreversible deformation before pullback to be almost entirely confined to the shock loading, with negligible plastic relaxation on the post-shock plateau. We also add a reverse-ballistics shot at 25 GPa, which was designed to reveal the pullback response with negligible interference from free-surface effects. General thermodynamic considerations allow us to place bounds on the plastic behavior even for parts of the curve that change far too rapidly for the velocimetric time resolution of (conservatively) ~ 5 ns. To analyze the data, we found it necessary to substantially improve the interpolation/extrapolation scheme in order to improve its robustness, flexibility and range of applicability. We describe the new scheme based on splines, as well as an extension of free-surface corrections to the post-shock rarefaction waves. Reanalysis with the new scheme produces results essentially within the error bars previously reported, showing that the known systematic errors associated with free-surface effects are relatively inconsequential for determining thermodynamic paths.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The Belle II Physics Book

The Belle II-Theory interface Platform (B2TiP) was created as a physics prospects working group of the Belle II collaboration in June 2014. It offered a platform where theorists and experimentalists work together to elucidate the potential impacts of the Belle II program, which includes a wide scope of physics topics: B physics, charm, τ, quarkonium physics, electroweak precision measurements and dark sector searches. It is composed of nine working groups (WGs), which are coordinated by teams of theory and experiment conveners: WG1) Semileptonic and leptonic B decays, WG2) Radiative and Electroweak penguins, WG3) φ1 and φ2 (time-dependent CP violation) measurements, WG4) φ3 measurement, WG5) Charmless hadronic B decay, WG6) Charm, WG7) Quarkonium(like), WG8) τ and lowmultiplicity processes, WG9) New Physics. We organised workshops twice a year from 2014 until 2016, which moved from KEK in Japan to Europe and the Americas, gathering experts in the respective fields to discuss with Belle II members. One of the goals for B2TiP was to propose so-called “golden- and silver-channels”: we asked each working group to choose among numerous possible measurements, those that would have the highest potential impact and to focus on them for the writeup. Theorists scrutinised the role of those measurements in terms of understanding the theory behind them, and estimated the theoretical uncertainties, now achievable as well as prospects for the future. For flavour physics, having tight control of hadronic uncertainties is one of the most crucial aspects in the field, and this is considered as an important criteria to determine the golden or silver-channels. Experimentalists, on the other hand, investigated the expected improvements with data from Belle II. For the channels where the errors are dominated by statistical uncertainties, or where systematic errors are reducible, the errors can decrease rapidly as more data becomes available. The impact of the upgraded performance from Belle II is a crucial element for reducing the uncertainties: we therefore include the latest available studies of the detector efficiency using Monte Carlo simulated events. We list the golden(silver)-channel table in this first chapter, as a guide for the chapters that follow. The book is not a collection of reports based on talks given at the workshops. The working group conveners endeavoured to construct a coherent document that can be used by Belle II collaborators, and others in the field of flavour physics, as a reference. There were two books of a similar type written in the past, “The BaBar book” [1] and “The Physics of the B factories” [2]. In order to avoid too much repetition with respect to those references, we refer to them as possible for introductory material. We would like to thank the section editors and contributing authors for the many stimulating discussions and their tremendous effort to bring the book together.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

$B\to Kl^+l^-$ decay form factors from three-flavor lattice QCD

We compute the form factors for the B → Kl + l - semileptonic decay process in lattice QCD using gauge-field ensembles with 2+1 flavors of sea quark, generated by the MILC Collaboration. The ensembles span lattice spacings from 0.12 to 0.045 fm and have multiple sea-quark masses to help control the chiral extrapolation. The asqtad improved staggered action is used for the light valence and sea quarks, and the clover action with the Fermilab interpretation is used for the heavy b quark. We present results for the form factors f+(q 2 ), f 0 (q 2 ), and f T (q 2 ), where q 2 is the momentum transfer, together with a comprehensive examination of systematic errors. Lattice QCD determines the form factors for a limited range of q 2 , and we use the model-independent z expansion to cover the whole kinematically allowed range. We present our final form-factor results as coefficients of the z expansion and the correlations between them, where the errors on the coefficients include statistical and all systematic uncertainties. Lastly, we use this complete description of the form factors to test QCD predictions of the form factors at high and low q 2 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Stochastic characterization of phase detection algorithms in phase-shifting interferometry

Phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) is the preferred non-contact method for profiling sub-nanometer surfaces. Based on monochromatic light interference, the method computes the surface profile from a set of interferograms collected at separate stepping positions. Errors in the estimated profile are introduced when these positions are not located correctly. In order to cope with this problem, various algorithms that minimize the effects of certain types of stepping errors (linear, sinusoidal, etc.) have been developed. Despite the relatively large number of algorithms suggested in the literature, there is no unified way of characterizing their performance when additional unaccounted random errors are present. Here, we suggest a procedure for quantifying the expected behavior of each algorithm in the presence of independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) random stepping errors, which can occur in addition to the systematic errors for which the algorithm has been designed. As a result, the usefulness of this method derives from the fact that it can guide the selection of the best algorithm for specific measurement situations.

42 ENGINEERING↗

System Calibration Including Time Delay Estimation for GNSS/INS-Assisted Pushbroom Scanners Onboard UAV Platforms

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs ) equipped with imaging sensors and integrated global navigation satellite system/inertial navigation system (GNSS/INS ) units are used for numerous applications. Deriving reliable 3D coordinates from such UAVs is contingent on accurate geometric calibration, which encompasses the estimation of mounting parameters and synchronization errors. Through a rigorous impact analysis of such systematic errors, this article proposes a direct approach for spatial and temporal calibration (estimating system parameters through a bundle adjustment procedure) of a GNSS/INS -assisted pushbroom scanner onboard a UAV platform. The calibration results show that the horizontal and vertical accuracies are within the ground sampling distance of the sensor. Unlike for frame camera systems, this article also shows that the indirect approach is not a feasible solution for pushbroom scanners due to their limited ability for decoupling system parameters. This finding provides further support that the direct approach is recommended for spatial and temporal calibration of UAV pushbroom scanner systems.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Sampling Errors in Monthly Rainfall Totals for TRMM and SSM/I, Based on Statistics of Retrieved Rain Rates and Simple Models

Estimates from TRMM satellite data of monthly total rainfall over an area are subject to substantial sampling errors due to the limited number of visits to the area by the satellite during the month. Quantitative comparisons of TRMM averages with data collected by other satellites and by ground-based systems require some estimate of the size of this sampling error. A method of estimating this sampling error based on the actual statistics of the TRMM observations and on some modeling work has been developed. "Sampling error" in TRMM monthly averages is defined here relative to the monthly total a hypothetical satellite permanently stationed above the area would have reported. "Sampling error" therefore includes contributions from the random and systematic errors introduced by the satellite remote sensing system. As part of our long-term goal of providing error estimates for each grid point accessible to the TRMM instruments, sampling error estimates for TRMM based on rain retrievals from TRMM microwave (TMI) data are compared for different times of the year and different oceanic areas (to minimize changes in the statistics due to algorithmic differences over land and ocean). Changes in sampling error estimates due to changes in rain statistics due 1) to evolution of the official algorithms used to process the data, and 2) differences from other remote sensing systems such as the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I), are analyzed.

Bell, Thomas L.↗

First Year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)Observations: Preliminary Maps and Basic Results

We present full sky microwave maps in five frequency bands (23 to 94 GHz) from the WMAP first year sky survey. Calibration errors are less than 0.5% and the low systematic error level is well specified. The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is separated from the foregrounds using multifrequency data. The sky maps are consistent with the 7 in. full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) maps. We report more precise, but consistent, dipole and quadrupole values. The CMB anisotropy obeys Gaussian statistics with -58 less than f(sub NL) less than 134 (95% CL). The 2 less than or = l less than or = 900 anisotropy power spectrum is cosmic variance limited for l less than 354 with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 1 per mode to l = 658. The temperature-polarization cross-power spectrum reveals both acoustic features and a large angle correlation from reionization. The optical depth of reionization is tau = 0.17 +/- 0.04, which implies a reionization epoch of t(sub r) = 180(sup +220, sub -80) Myr (95% CL) after the Big Bang at a redshift of z(sub r) = 20(sup +10, sub -9) (95% CL) for a range of ionization scenarios. This early reionization is incompatible with the presence of a significant warm dark matter density. A best-fit cosmological model to the CMB and other measures of large scale structure works remarkably well with only a few parameters. The age of the best-fit universe is t(sub 0) = 13.7 +/- 0.2 Gyr old. Decoupling was t(sub dec) = 379(sup +8, sub -7)kyr after the Big Bang at a redshift of z(sub dec) = 1089 +/- 1. The thickness of the decoupling surface was Delta(sub z(sub dec)) = 195 +/- 2. The matter density of the universe is Omega(sub m)h(sup 2) = 0.135(sup +0.008, sub -0.009) the baryon density is Omega(sub b)h(sup 2) = 0.0224 +/- 0.0009, and the total mass-energy of the universe is Omega(sub tot) = 1.02 +/- 0.02. There is progressively less fluctuation power on smaller scales, from WMAP to fine scale CMB measurements to galaxies and finally to the Ly-alpha forest. This is accounted for with a running spectral index, significant at the approx. 2(sigma) level. The spectral index of scalar fluctuations is fit as n(sub s) = 0.93 +/-0.03 at wavenumber k(sub o) = 0.05/Mpc ((sub eff) approx. = 700), with a slope of dn(sub s)/d I(sub nk) = -0.031(sup + 0.016, sub -0.018) in the best-fit model.

Bennett, C. L.↗

SU-E-T-405: Robustness of Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Plans to Systematic MLC Positional Errors

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric impact of systematic MLC positional errors (PEs) on the quality of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans. Methods: Five patients with head-and-neck cancer (HN) and five patients with prostate cancer were randomly chosen for this study. The clinically approved VMAT plans were designed with 2–4 coplanar arc beams with none-zero collimator angles in the Pinnacle planning system. The systematic MLC PEs of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm on both MLC banks were introduced into the original VMAT plans using an in-house program, and recalculated with the same planned Monitor Units in the Pinnacle system. For each patient, the original VMAT plans and plans with MLC PEs were evaluated according to the dose-volume histogram information and Gamma index analysis. Results: For one primary target, the ratio of V100 in the plans with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm MLC PEs to those in the clinical plans was 98.8 ± 2.2%, 97.9 ± 2.1%, 90.1 ± 9.0% for HN cases and 99.5 ± 3.2%, 98.9 ± 1.0%, 97.0 ± 2.5% for prostate cases. For all OARs, the relative difference of Dmean in all plans was less than 1.5%. With 2mm/2% criteria for Gamma analysis, the passing rates were 99.0 ± 1.5% for HN cases and 99.7 ± 0.3% for prostate cases between the planar doses from the original plans and the plans with 1.0 mm MLC errors. The corresponding Gamma passing rates dropped to 88.9 ± 5.3% for HN cases and 83.4 ± 3.2% for prostate cases when comparing planar doses from the original plans and the plans with 2.0 mm MLC errors. Conclusion: For VMAT plans, systematic MLC PEs up to 1.0 mm did not affect the plan quality in term of target coverage, OAR sparing, and Gamma analysis with 2mm/2% criteria.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Astrometric performance of the Gemini multiconjugate adaptive optics system in crowded fields

The Gemini multiconjugate adaptive optics system (GeMS) is a facility instrument for the Gemini South telescope. It delivers uniform, near-diffraction-limited image quality at near-infrared wavelengths over a 2 arcmin field of view. Together with the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI), a near-infrared wide-field camera, GeMS/GSAOI's combination of high spatial resolution and a large field of view will make it a premier facility for precision astrometry. Potential astrometric science cases cover a broad range of topics including exoplanets, star formation, stellar evolution, star clusters, nearby galaxies, black holes and neutron stars, and the Galactic Centre. In this paper, we assess the astrometric performance and limitations of GeMS/GSAOI. In particular, we analyse deep, mono-epoch images, multi-epoch data and distortion calibration. In this work, we find that for single-epoch, undithered data, an astrometric error below 0.2 mas can be achieved for exposure times exceeding 1 min, provided enough stars are available to remove high-order distortions. We show however that such performance is not reproducible for multi-epoch observations, and an additional systematic error of ~0.4 mas is evidenced. This systematic multi-epoch error is the dominant error term in the GeMS/GSAOI astrometric error budget, and it is thought to be due to time-variable distortion induced by gravity flexure.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Bottom-up and Top-Down Uncertainty Quantification for Measurements

Several recent papers address improved uncertainty quantification (UQ) for measurements used in nuclear safeguards. This paper reviews progress and presents new results for bottom-up (first principles) and top-down (empirical) UQ for safeguards, where the main quantitative measure of uncertainty is the total measurement error standard deviation (SD), which includes both random and systematic error components. The five main UQ topics addressed here include: (1) impact of making data-driven choices in SD estimation; (2) use of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) for both bottom-up and top-down UQ; (3) computational calibration; (4) revisions to the guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM), and (5) critique of a recently-suggested “Unified Theory of Measurement Errors and Uncertainties.”

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗