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At least 397 records · Page 22

NAIRAS Ionizing Radiation Model: Extension from Atmosphere to Space

The Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing RAdiation System (NAIRAS) model is a real-time, global, physics-based model originally developed to predict exposure from cosmic radiation to air travelers from both galactic and solar sources. A prototype operational NAIRAS model has provided tabular and graphical data products via its public web site for about ten years. A new version of the NAIRAS model has been developed that incorporates an extension of the model domain from the atmospheric ionizing radiation environment to the space radiation environment, with the addition of the trapped inner belt proton source and altitude-dependent and rigidity-dependent geomagnetic shielding of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar energetic particle (SEP) protons. New output products of differential and integral particle flux have been developed for the characterization of single-event effects (SEE), expanding the application of NAIRAS from human radiation exposure assessment to allowing end-users to quantify radiation environment risks to aviation and spacecraft microelectronic systems. The NAIRAS model has transitioned to prototype operations at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) where the model now operates in two modes: (1) real-time global predictions of the atmospheric radiation environment and (2) a run-on-request (RoR) service allowing the user to select a specific time period for the global dosimetric calculations, or to upload an aircraft, balloon, or spaceflight trajectory file to provide predictions of the dosimetric and particle flux quantities along the flight path. The new features of NAIRAS version 3.0 are described in this paper and example results of the new output products for low-Earth orbit (LEO), medium-Earth orbit (MEO), and free-space radiation environments are presented

Christopher J. Mertens↗

Search for physics beyond the standard model in top quark production with additional leptons in the context of effective field theory

A search for new physics in top quark production with additional final-state leptons is performed using data collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV at the LHC during 2016–2018. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. Using the framework of effective field theory (EFT), potential new physics effects are parametrized in terms of 26 dimension-six EFT operators. The impacts of EFT operators are incorporated through the event-level reweighting of Monte Carlo simulations, which allows for detector-level predictions. The events are divided into several categories based on lepton multiplicity, total lepton charge, jet multiplicity, and b-tagged jet multiplicity. Kinematic variables corresponding to the transverse momentum (p$_{T}$) of the leading pair of leptons and/or jets as well as the p$_{T}$ of on-shell Z bosons are used to extract the 95% confidence intervals of the 26 Wilson coefficients corresponding to these EFT operators. No significant deviation with respect to the standard model prediction is found.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of top quark pair production in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at s$$ \sqrt{\mathrm{s}} $$ = 13 TeV

A measurement of the inclusive cross section of top quark pair production in association with a Z boson using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC is performed. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 77.5 fb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS experiment during 2016 and 2017. The measurement is performed using final states containing three or four charged leptons (electrons or muons), and the Z boson is detected through its decay to an oppositely charged lepton pair. The production cross section is measured to be σ($ \mathrm{t}\overline{\mathrm{t}}\mathrm{Z} $) = 0.95 ± 0.05 (stat) ± 0.06 (syst) pb. For the first time, differential cross sections are measured as functions of the transverse momentum of the Z boson and the angular distribution of the negatively charged lepton from the Z boson decay. The most stringent direct limits to date on the anomalous couplings of the top quark to the Z boson are presented, including constraints on the Wilson coefficients in the framework of the standard model effective field theory.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Study of Drell-Yan dimuon production in proton-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 8.16 TeV

Differential cross sections for the Drell-Yan process, including Z boson production, using the dimuon decay channel are measured in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 8.16 TeV. A data sample recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 173 nb$^{−1}$. The differential cross section as a function of the dimuon mass is measured in the range 15–600 GeV, for the first time in proton-nucleus collisions. It is also reported as a function of dimuon rapidity over the mass ranges 15–60 GeV and 60–120 GeV, and ratios for the p-going over the Pb-going beam directions are built. In both mass ranges, the differential cross sections as functions of the dimuon transverse momentum p$_{T}$ and of a geometric variable ϕ$^{*}$ are measured, where ϕ$^{*}$ highly correlates with p$_{T}$ but is determined with higher precision. In the Z mass region, the rapidity dependence of the data indicate a modification of the distribution of partons within a lead nucleus as compared to the proton case. The data are more precise than predictions based upon current models of parton distributions.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of the primary Lund jet plane density in proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{\textrm{s}} $ = 13 TeV

A measurement is presented of the primary Lund jet plane (LJP) density in inclusive jet production in proton-proton collisions. The analysis uses 138 fb$^{−1}$ of data collected by the CMS experiment at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV. The LJP, a representation of the phase space of emissions inside jets, is constructed using iterative jet declustering. The transverse momentum k$_{T}$ and the splitting angle ∆R of an emission relative to its emitter are measured at each step of the jet declustering process. The average density of emissions as function of ln(k$_{T}$/GeV) and ln(R/∆R) is measured for jets with distance parameters R = 0.4 or 0.8, transverse momentum p$_{T}$> 700 GeV, and rapidity |y| < 1.7. The jet substructure is measured using the charged-particle tracks of the jet. The measured distributions, unfolded to the level of stable charged particles, are compared with theoretical predictions from simulations and with perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. Due to the ability of the LJP to factorize physical effects, these measurements can be used to improve different aspects of the physics modeling in event generators.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Functional characterization of archaeal homologs of human nuclear RNase P proteins Rpp21 and Rpp29 provides insights into the molecular basis of their cooperativity in catalysis

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein that catalyzes the processing of 5′ leader sequences of precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNA). RNase P proteins PhoRpp21 and PhoRpp29 in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii, homologs of human nuclear RNase P proteins Rpp21 and Rpp29 respectively, fold into a heterodimeric structure and synergistically function in the activation of the specificity domain (S-domain) in RNase P RNA (PhopRNA). To elucidate the molecular basis for their cooperativity, we first analyzed binding ability to PhopRNA using a pull-down assay. The result showed that PhoRpp21 is able to bind to PhopRNA in the absence of PhoRpp29, whereas PhoRpp29 alone has reduced affinity to PhopRNA, suggesting that PhoRpp21 primarily functions as a binding element for PhopRNA in the PhoRpp21-PhoRpp29 complex. Mutational analyses suggested that although individual positively charged clusters contribute little to the PhopRNA binding, Lys53, Lys54, and Lys56 at the N-terminal helix (α2) in PhoRpp21 and 10 C-terminal residues in PhoRpp29 are essential for PhopRNA activation. Moreover, deletion of a single stranded loop linking P11 and P12 helices in the PhopRNA S-domain impaired the PhoRpp21-PhoRpp29 complex binding to PhopRNA. Collectively, the present results suggest that PhoRpp21 binds the loop between P11 and P12 helices through overall positively charged clusters on the surface of the complex and serves as a scaffold for PhoRpp29 to optimize structural conformation of its N-terminal helix (α2) in PhoRpp21, as well as C-terminal residues in PhoRpp29, for RNase P activity. - Graphical abstract: A mechanistic model for the synergistic activation of PhopRNA by PhoRpp21 and PhoRpp29. PhoRpp21 binds to the loop between P11 and P12 helices in PhopRNA and serves as a scaffold for PhoRpp29 to optimize a structural conformation of a positively charged edge composed of lysine residues (●) at α2 in PhoRpp21and C-terminal residues (â–‹) in PhoRpp29 on the protein complex which probably stabilize stacking interactions between PhopRNA and pre-tRNA. ▲ indicates the processing site in pre-tRNA. Display Omitted - Highlights: • RNase P proteins PhoRpp21 and PhoRpp29 synergistically function in RNase P catalysis. • PhoRpp21 functions as an RNA-binding element in the PhoRpp21-PhoRpp29 complex. • PhoRpp21 serves as a scaffold for PhoRpp29 in RNase P. • PhoRpp21 binds the loop between P11 and P12 helices in the PhopRNA S-domain. • The molecular basis for the cooperativity of PhoRpp21 and PhoRpp29 is presented.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Challenges in Visual Analysis of Ensembles

Modeling physical phenomena through computational simulation increasingly relies on generating a collection of related runs, known as an ensemble. In this paper, we explore the challenges we face in developing analysis and visualization systems for large and complex ensemble data sets, which we seek to understand without having to view the results of every simulation run. Implementing approaches and ideas developed in response to this goal, we demonstrate the analysis of a 15K run material fracturing study using Slycat, our ensemble analysis system.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Integrating Energy-Efficient Computing with Computational Research to Accelerate Energy Technology

NREL's computational sciences center hosts the largest high performance computing (HPC) capabilities dedicated to energy research while functioning as a living laboratory for energy-efficient computing. NREL's HPC capabilities support the research needs of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). In ten years of operation, HPC use in EERE-sponsored research has grown by a factor of 30, including work in electricity generation, energy efficiency, transportation, and energy system modeling. This paper analyzes this research portfolio, providing examples of individual use cases. The paper documents NREL's history of operating one of the world's most energy-efficient data centers while examining pathways to reduce economic and environmental impact beyond reduction of Power Usage Efficiency (PUE). This paper concludes by examining the unique opportunities created for accelerating improvements in data center efficiency created by combining an HPC system dedicated to energy research and a research program in energy-efficient computing.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Simulation of Hurricane Harvey flood event through coupled hydrologic-hydraulic models: Challenges and next steps

Using the 2017 Hurricane Harvey flood event as a test case, this study set up a series of sensitivity analyses to highlight three challenges associated with large-scale flood inundation modeling, including (a) model parameterization, (b) errors in digital elevation models, and (c) effects of reservoir retention. Driven by radar-based hourly rainfall data, a series of hydrologic-hydraulic models including the VIC hydrologic model, RAPID routing model, and Flood2D-GPU hydrodynamic model are set up over Harris County, Texas, to simulate flood inundation and hazards. The results demonstrate the importance of hydrologic parameters in improving flood modeling. For a large flood event such as Hurricane Harvey, the effect of the initial water depths is insignificant. The Manning's n values may increase the peak water depth by ~1%, the flood extents by 65km 2 , and the high danger zone by ~6%. On the contrary, the bathymetry correction factors may reduce the flood extent by ~1.4% and the high-danger zone by ~4%. Reducing the reservoir storage capacity to 1% may increase the flood extent by ~4% and the high-danger zone by ~17%. This study may provide supporting information to guide and prioritize the development of future high-performance computing hydrodynamic large-scale flood simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

IMP-1 Satellite

Computer programs and procedures developed to process type 3 burst data obtained by IMP-6 are given. Data are primarily concerned with bursts that drift down to 130 kHz or lower. Graphical methods devised fit models to data are also considered. Burst time of arrival as well as direction of arrival were determined for several frequencies.

Alvarez, H.↗

Real time flight simulation methodology

Substitutional methods for digitization, input signal-dependent integrator approximations, and digital autopilot design were developed. The software framework of a simulator design package is described. Included are subroutines for iterative designs of simulation models and a rudimentary graphics package.

Parrish, E. A.↗

Enclosure fire hazard analysis using relative energy release criteria

A method for predicting the probable course of fire development in an enclosure is presented. This fire modeling approach uses a graphic plot of five fire development constraints, the relative energy release criteria (RERC), to bound the heat release rates in an enclosure as a function of time. The five RERC are flame spread rate, fuel surface area, ventilation, enclosure volume, and total fuel load. They may be calculated versus time based on the specified or empirical conditions describing the specific enclosure, the fuel type and load, and the ventilation. The calculation of these five criteria, using the common basis of energy release rates versus time, provides a unifying framework for the utilization of available experimental data from all phases of fire development. The plot of these criteria reveals the probable fire development envelope and indicates which fire constraint will be controlling during a criteria time period. Examples of RERC application to fire characterization and control and to hazard analysis are presented along with recommendations for the further development of the concept.

Coulbert, C. D.↗

Distributing structural optimization software between a mainframe and a minicomputer

This paper describes a distributed software system for solving large-scale structural optimization problems. Distributing the software between a mainframe computer and a minicomputer takes advantage of some of the best features available on each computer. The described software system consists of a finite element structural analysis computer program, a general purpose optimizer program, and several small user-supplied problem dependent programs. Comparison with a similar system executing entirely on the mainframe computer reveals that the distributed system costs less, uses computer resources more efficiently and improves production through faster turnaround and improved user control. The system interfaces with interactive graphics software for generating models and displaying the intermediate and final results

Rogers, J. L., Jr.↗

Nodal network generator for CAVE3

A new extension of CAVE3 code was developed that automates the creation of a finite difference math model in digital form ready for input to the CAVE3 code. The new software, Nodal Network Generator, is broken into two segments. One segment generates the model geometry using a Tektronix Tablet Digitizer and the other generates the actual finite difference model and allows for graphic verification using Tektronix 4014 Graphic Scope. Use of the Nodal Network Generator is described.

Palmieri, J. V.↗

Space Station multidisciplinary analysis capability - IDEAS2

A computer-aided engineering tool now in use at NASA for systems engineering and integration analysis of the Space Station is described. This tool, called IDEAS2, combines the spacecraft-specific analysis software from NASA IDEAS (truss synthesizer, rigid body controls, plume impingement, orbital lifetime, orbit heat loads, and life support systems) with the interactive graphics, geometric database, solids modeler, structural and thermal analysis capability of the SDRC I-DEAS to obtain an integrated package suitable for Space Station design. This integrated package was applied to a very recent study of growth scenarios of the Space Station dual keel configuration, in which a comparison was made between designs using a combination of photovoltaic solar arrays and solar dynamic collectors, and those using only solar dynamic collectors.

Baker, M.↗

Power flows and Mechanical Intensities in structural finite element analysis

The identification of power flow paths in dynamically loaded structures is an important, but currently unavailable, capability for the finite element analyst. For this reason, methods for calculating power flows and mechanical intensities in finite element models are developed here. Formulations for calculating input and output powers, power flows, mechanical intensities, and power dissipations for beam, plate, and solid element types are derived. NASTRAN is used to calculate the required velocity, force, and stress results of an analysis, which a post-processor then uses to calculate power flow quantities. The SDRC I-deas Supertab module is used to view the final results. Test models include a simple truss and a beam-stiffened cantilever plate. Both test cases showed reasonable power flow fields over low to medium frequencies, with accurate power balances. Future work will include testing with more complex models, developing an interactive graphics program to view easily and efficiently the analysis results, applying shape optimization methods to the problem with power flow variables as design constraints, and adding the power flow capability to NASTRAN.

Hambric, Stephen A.↗

Quantitative computer representation of propellant processing

With the technology currently available for the manufacture of propellants, it is possible to control the variance of the total specific impulse obtained from the rocket boosters to within approximately five percent. Though at first inspection this may appear to be a reasonable amount of control, when it is considered that any uncertainty in the total kinetic energy delivered to the spacecraft translates into a design with less total usable payload, even this degree of uncertainty becomes unacceptable. There is strong motivation to control the variance in the specific impulse of the shuttle's solid boosters. Any small gains in the predictability and reliability of the booster would lead to a very substantial payoff in earth-to-orbit payload. The purpose of this study is to examine one aspect of the manufacture of solid propellants, namely, the mixing process. The traditional approach of computational fluid mechanics is notoriously complex and time consuming. Certain simplifications are made, yet certain fundamental aspects of the mixing process are investigated as a whole. It is possible to consider a mixing process in a mathematical sense as an operator, F, which maps a domain back upon itself. An operator which demonstrates good mixing should be able to spread any subset of the domain completely and evenly throughout the whole domain by successive applications of the mixing operator, F. Two and three dimensional models are developed and graphical visualization two and three dimensional mixing processes are presented.

Hicks, M. D.↗

Development and application of virtual reality for man/systems integration

While the graphical presentation of computer models signified a quantum leap over presentations limited to text and numbers, it still has the problem of presenting an interface barrier between the human user and the computer model. The user must learn a command language in order to orient themselves in the model. For example, to move left from the current viewpoint of the model, they might be required to type 'LEFT' at a keyboard. This command is fairly intuitive, but if the viewpoint moves far enough that there are no visual cues overlapping with the first view, the user does not know if the viewpoint has moved inches, feet, or miles to the left, or perhaps remained in the same position, but rotated to the left. Until the user becomes quite familiar with the interface language of the computer model presentation, they will be proned to lossing their bearings frequently. Even a highly skilled user will occasionally get lost in the model. A new approach to presenting type type of information is to directly interpret the user's body motions as the input language for determining what view to present. When the user's head turns 45 degrees to the left, the viewpoint should be rotated 45 degrees to the left. Since the head moves through several intermediate angles between the original view and the final one, several intermediate views should be presented, providing the user with a sense of continuity between the original view and the final one. Since the primary way a human physically interacts with their environment should monitor the movements of the user's hands and alter objects in the virtual model in a way consistent with the way an actual object would move when manipulated using the same hand movements. Since this approach to the man-computer interface closely models the same type of interface that humans have with the physical world, this type of interface is often called virtual reality, and the model is referred to as a virtual world. The task of this summer fellowship was to set up a virtual reality system at MSFC and begin applying it to some of the questions which concern scientists and engineers involved in space flight. A brief discussion of this work is presented.

Brown, Marcus↗