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At least 433 records · Page 24

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NASA NTRS2007

Broadening of the R(0) and P(2) Lines in the 13CO Fundamental by Helium Atoms from 300 K down to 12 K: Measurements and Comparison with Close-Coupling Calculations

We present measurements of He-broadening parameters for the R(0) and O(2) lines in the fundamental band of 13CO at different temperatures between 12K and room temperature. The broadening parameters are determined, taking into account confinement narrowing, by simultaneous least-squares fitting of spectra recorded using a frequency stabilized diode laser spectrometer. The pressure broadening cross sections are deduced and compared to close-coupling calculations and earlier results obtained for rotational transitions of 12 CO.

Thibault, F.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Perspective on Tsallis statistics for nuclear and particle physics

This is a concise introduction to the topic of nonextensive Tsallis statistics meant especially for those interested in its relation to high-energy proton–proton, proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions. The three types of Tsallis statistics are reviewed. Only one of them is consistent with the fundamental hypothesis of equilibrium statistical mechanics. The single-particle distributions associated with it, namely Boltzmann, Fermi–Dirac and Bose–Einstein, are derived. These are not equilibrium solutions to the conventional Boltzmann transport equation which must be modified in a rather nonintuitive manner for them to be so. Nevertheless, the Boltzmann limit of the Tsallis distribution is extremely efficient in representing a wide variety of single-particle distributions in high-energy proton–proton, proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions with only three parameters, one of them being the so-called nonextensitivity parameter [Formula: see text]. This distribution interpolates between an exponential at low transverse energy, reflecting thermal equilibrium, to a power law at high transverse energy, reflecting the asymptotic freedom of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). It should not be viewed as a fundamental new parameter representing nonextensive behavior in these collisions.

Physics↗

DOE OSTI2024

Toward Accelerated Nuclear-physics Parameter Estimation from Binary Neutron Star Mergers: Emulators for the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff Equations

Abstract Gravitational-wave observations of binary neutron-star (BNS) mergers have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the nuclear equation of state (EOS) and the fundamental interactions that determine its properties. However, Bayesian parameter estimation frameworks do not typically sample over microscopic nuclear-physics parameters that determine the EOS. One of the major hurdles in doing so is the computational cost involved in solving the neutron-star structure equations, known as the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff (TOV) equations. In this paper, we explore approaches to emulating solutions for the TOV equations: multilayer perceptrons (MLPs), Gaussian processes, and a data-driven variant of the reduced basis method (RBM). We implement these emulators for three different parameterizations of the nuclear EOS, each with a different degree of complexity represented by the number of model parameters. We find that our MLP-based emulators are generally more accurate than the other two algorithms, whereas the RBM results in the largest speedup with respect to the full high-fidelity TOV solver. We employ these emulators for a simple parameter inference using a potentially loud BNS observation and show that the posteriors predicted by our emulators are in excellent agreement with those obtained from the full TOV solver.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1989

Error analysis for semi-analytic displacement derivatives with respect to shape and sizing variables

Sensitivity analysis is fundamental to the solution of structural optimization problems. Consequently, much research has focused on the efficient computation of static displacement derivatives. As originally developed, these methods relied on analytical representations for the derivatives of the structural stiffness matrix (K) with respect to the design variables (b sub i). To extend these methods for use with complex finite element formulations and facilitate their implementation into structural optimization programs using the general finite element method analysis codes, the semi-analytic method was developed. In this method the matrix the derivative of K/the derivative b sub i is approximated by finite difference. Although it is well known that the accuracy of the semi-analytic method is dependent on the finite difference parameter, recent work has suggested that more fundamental inaccuracies exist in the method when used for shape optimization. Another study has argued qualitatively that these errors are related to nonuniform errors in the stiffness matrix derivatives. The accuracy of the semi-analytic method is investigated. A general framework was developed for the error analysis and then it is shown analytically that the errors in the method are entirely accounted for by errors in delta K/delta b sub i. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that acceptable accuracy in the derivatives can be obtained through careful selection of the finite difference parameter.

Fenyes, Peter A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Nondestructive ultrasonic characterization of engineering materials

The development of an ultrasonic method for the nondestructive characterization of mechanical properties of engineering material is described. The method utilizes the nonlinearity parameter measurement which describes the anharmonic behavior of the solid through measurements of amplitudes of the fundamental and of the generated second harmonic ultrasonic waves. The nonlinearity parameter is also directly related to the acoustoelastic constant of the solid which can be determined by measuring the linear dependence of ultrasonic velocity on stress. A major advantage of measurements of the nonlinearity parameter over that of the acoustoelastic constant is that it may be determined without the application of stress on the material, which makes it more applicable for in-service nondestructive characterization. The relationships between the nonlinearity parameter of second-harmonic generation and the percentage of solid solution phase in engineering materials such as heat treatable aluminum alloys was established. The acoustoelastic constants are measured on these alloys for comparison and confirmation. A linear relationship between the nonlinearity parameter and the volume fraction of second phase precipitates in the alloys is indicated.

Salama, K.↗

DOE OSTI2021

The Challenges Ahead for Multimessenger Analyses of Gravitational Waves and Kilonova: A Case Study on GW190425

In recent years, there have been significant advances in multimessenger astronomy due to the discovery of the first, and so far only confirmed, gravitational wave event with a simultaneous electromagnetic (EM) counterpart, as well as improvements in numerical simulations, gravitational wave (GW) detectors, and transient astronomy. This has led to the exciting possibility of performing joint analyses of the GW and EM data, providing additional constraints on fundamental properties of the binary progenitor and merger remnant. Here, in this work, we present a new Bayesian framework that allows inference of these properties, while taking into account the systematic modeling uncertainties that arise when mapping from GW binary progenitor properties to photometric light curves. We extend the relative binning method presented in Zackay et al. to include extrinsic GW parameters for fast analysis of the GW signal. The focus of our EM framework is on light curves arising from r-process nucleosynthesis in the ejected material during and after merger, the so-called kilonova, and particularly on black hole–neutron star systems. As a case study, we examine the recent detection of GW190425, where the primary object is consistent with being either a black hole or a neutron star. We show quantitatively how improved mapping between binary progenitor and outflow properties, and/or an increase in EM data quantity and quality are required in order to break degeneracies in the fundamental source parameters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Dynamics of McMillan mappings II. axially symmetric map

Here, in this article, we investigate the transverse dynamics of a single particle in a model integrable accelerator lattice, based on a McMillan axially-symmetric electron lens. Although the McMillan e-lens has been considered as a device potentially capable of mitigating collective space charge forces, some of its fundamental properties have not been described yet. The main goal of our work is to close this gap and understand the limitations and potentials of this device. It is worth mentioning that the McMillan axially symmetric map provides the first-order approximations of dynamics for a general linear lattice plus an arbitrary thin lens with motion separable in polar coordinates. Therefore, advancements in its understanding should give us a better picture of more generic and not necessarily integrable round beams. In the first part of the article, we classify all possible regimes with stable trajectories and find the canonical action-angle variables. This provides an evaluation of the dynamical aperture, Poincaré rotation numbers as functions of amplitudes, and thus determines the spread in nonlinear tunes. Also, we provide a parameterization of invariant curves, allowing for the immediate determination of the map image forward and backward in time. The second part investigates the particle dynamics as a function of system parameters. We show that there are three fundamentally different configurations of the accelerator optics causing different regimes of nonlinear oscillations. Each regime is considered in great detail, including the limiting cases of large and small amplitudes. In addition, we analyze the dynamics in Cartesian coordinates and provide a description of observable variables and corresponding spectra.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Relativistic Hartree–Fock chiral Lagrangians with confinement, nucleon finite size and short-range effects

A relativistic Hartree–Fock Lagrangian including a chiral potential and nucleon polarisation is investigated in hopes of providing a better description of dense nuclear matter. Here, we fully consider the contribution of the exchange Fock term to the energy and the self-energies, and in addition we investigate the nucleon’s compositeness and finite size effects (confinement and form factors) and short range correlations modeled by a Jastrow ansatz. These effects are added step by step, such that their impact on the dense matter properties can be analysed in details. The parameters of the model are adjusted to reproduce fundamental properties related to the QCD theory at low energy, such as the chiral symmetry breaking, nucleon’s quark substructure and Lattice-QCD predictions, as well as two empirical properties at saturation: the binding energy and the density. All other empirical parameters, e.g., symmetry energy and its slope, incompressibility modulus, effective mass, as well as spin–isospin Landau–Midgal parameter are predictions of the models and can be used to evaluate the gain of the different approximation schemes in describing nuclear properties. Bayesian statistics is employed in order to propagate parameter uncertainties into predictions for the nuclear matter properties. We show that the splitting of the effective Landau mass is largely influenced by the value of the ρ T coupling, and we show that the fit to the symmetry energy, which induces an increase of the coupling constant g ρ by about 20–25% compared to the case where it is fixed by the quark model, provides a very good EoS compatible with the present nuclear physics knowledge.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Improving Gas Selectivity in Membranes Using Polymer-Grafted Silica Nanoparticles

Herein, we demonstrate that tuning of structural parameters and material chemistry enables control of the permeability and selectivity of gases (CO 2 , He, and CH 4 ) in membranes based on poly(butyl methacrylate)-grafted nanoparticles (PGNs). Our data show that the presence of nanoparticles and the overall dense packing of grafted chains noticeable in PGNs with low grafting density have an adverse effect on the diffusivity of gases. This effect is compensated by an improvement in the solubility of CO 2 gas promoted by the silica nanoparticle surface, yielding a substantial improvement in the permeability of CO 2 versus CH 4 . Furthermore, in membranes with high grafting density, changes in the structural arrangements and alterations in the membrane porosity, evident from small-angle X-ray scattering and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, positively influence the permeability of He and CO 2 gases. In contrast, CH 4 permeability in the same membranes is significantly suppressed, suggesting the formation of a unique, highly selective environment for gas separation. As a result, an improvement of up to 50% in selectivity for gas pairs containing large CH 4 molecules is observed. Our studies provide fundamental insights into the role that structural parameters play in gas transport through polymer membranes, laying a foundation for the rational design of membranes with improved permeability and selectivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Monte Carlo method for constructing confidence intervals with unconstrained and constrained nuisance parameters in the NOvA experiment

Measuring observables to constrain models using maximum-likelihood estimation is fundamental to many physics experiments. Wilks' theorem provides a simple way to construct confidence intervals on model parameters, but it only applies under certain conditions. These conditions, such as nested hypotheses and unbounded parameters, are often violated in neutrino oscillation measurements and other experimental scenarios. Monte Carlo methods can address these issues, albeit at increased computational cost. In the presence of nuisance parameters, however, the best way to implement a Monte Carlo method is ambiguous. Furthermore, this paper documents the method selected by the NOvA experiment, the profile construction. It presents the toy studies that informed the choice of method, details of its implementation, and tests performed to validate it. It also includes some practical considerations which may be of use to others choosing to use the profile construction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

NASA NTRS1972

Broadening of infrared absorption lines at reduced temperatures - Carbon dioxide.

An evacuated high-resolution Czerny-Turner spectrograph, which is described in this paper, has been used to determine the strengths S and self-broadening parameters for lines in the R branch of the nu (sub 3) fundamental of carbon dioxide at 298 and at 207 K. The values of self-broadening parameters at 207 K are greater than those to be expected on the basis of a fixed collision cross section.

Tubbs, L. D.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Fundamental effective temperature measurements for eclipsing binary stars – IV. Selection of new benchmark stars and first results for HD 22064

I describe the selection and initial characterization of 20 eclipsing binary stars that are suitable for calibration and testing of stellar models and data analysis algorithms used by the PLATO mission and spectroscopic surveys. The binary stars selected are F-/G-type dwarf stars with M-type dwarf companions that contribute less than 2 per cent of the flux at optical wavelengths. The light curves typically show well-defined total eclipses with very little variability between the eclipses. I have used near-infrared spectra obtained by the APOGEE survey to measure the spectroscopic orbit for both stars in HD 22064. Combined with an analysis of the TESS light curve, I derive the following masses and radii: M 1 = 1.35 ± 0.03M ⊙ , M 2 = 0.58 ± 0.01M ⊙ , R 1 = 1.554 ± 0.014R ⊙ , R 2 = 0.595 ± 0.008R ⊙ . Using R 1 and the parallax from Gaia EDR3, I find that the primary star’s angular diameter is θ = 0.1035 ± 0.0009 mas. The apparent bolometric flux of the primary star is ${\mathcal {F}}_{{\oplus },0} = (7.51\pm 0.09)\times 10^{-9}$ erg cm -2 s -1 . Hence, this F2V star has an effective temperature $T_{\rm eff,1} = 6763{\rm \, K} \pm 39{\rm \, K}$. HD 22064 is an ideal benchmark star that can be used for ‘end-to-end’ tests of the stellar parameters measured by large-scale spectroscopic surveys or stellar parameters derived from asteroseismology with PLATO. The techniques described here for HD 22064 can be applied to the other eclipsing binaries in the sample in order to create an all-sky network of such benchmark stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Dual frequency comb spectroscopy of solid fuel pyrolysis and combustion: Quantifying the influence of moisture content in Douglas fir

As the fire research community develops multi-scale models to predict the spread of wildland fires, there is a need for well-controlled, small-scale experiments which provide benchmark data and fundamental understanding of the effects of key parameters on the combustion of wildland fuels. Here, we implement a unique suite of non-intrusive, quantitative diagnostics that simultaneously measure mass loss, surface temperature, in situ gas temperature and water vapor concentration, including the first implementation of dual frequency comb spectroscopy for the study of solid fuels. As a demonstration, we examine the effect of fuel moisture content on the burning of Douglas fir wood samples that are ignited under constant radiative heat flux from a cone calorimeter to provide benchmark data for multi-scale models. Peak flame temperatures 3 mm above the sample surface measured with the dual frequency comb laser spectrometer are in excess of 1200 K. The flame temperature decreases by over 150 K as fuel moisture content increases from 0.7% to 40%. This work demonstrates a platform for simultaneous, quantitative measurements of well-controlled small-scale experiments which provide benchmark data for the development of advanced modeling and simulations capable of capturing the complex physics present in wildland fire systems.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

The αs and θs in Rayleigh–Taylor and Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities

The alphas (α b , α s ) and thetas (θ b , θ s ) are the essential parameters describing the asymptotic growth behavior of the mixing layer driven by Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instabilities at the interface between the fluids. Extensive simulations and experiments have been conducted in the determination of these parameters. The results depend on numerical algorithms, resolutions, and the accuracy of experimental measurements. In this article, we present a unique relationship between the alphas and thetas by applying a simple buoyancy-drag mixing model. Our first main result is that, for the same fluids, these parameters are not independent because they are fundamentally connected by physics principles and they all are functions of the drag coefficients of the fluids. As a consequence, the alphas and thetas are intrinsically coupled. All are functions of any single one of these. Additionally, our second main result is that the RT bubble growth rate (α b ) is determined by the bubble competition process – a merger model – at the edge of the mixing layer. Together, these two main results determine all the alphas and thetas by strictly theoretical reasoning. Applications to both hydro and laser driven experiments at OMEGA are presented.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2021

Work Function Engineering of 2D Materials: The Role of Polar Edge Reconstructions

2D materials have attracted tremendous interest as functional materials because of their diverse and tunable properties, especially at their edges. A material’s work function is a critical parameter in many electronic devices; however, a fundamental understanding and a path toward large alterations of the work function in 2D materials still remain elusive. Here in this paper, we report the first evidence for anisotropy of the work function in 2D MoS 2 from first-principles calculations. We also demonstrate large work-function tunability (in the range of 3.45–6.29 eV) choosing the 2H phase of MoS 2 as a model system by sampling various edge configurations. We furthermore reveal the origin of this work function anisotropy and tunability by extending the existing work function relation to the local dipole moment at surfaces of 3D materials to those at edges in 2D materials. We then use machine-learning approaches to correlate work function with edge structures. These results pave the way for intrinsic edge engineering for electronic and catalytic applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Flavor patterns of fundamental particles from quantum entanglement?

The Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, which controls flavor mixing between the three generations of quark fermions, is a key input to the standard model of particle physics. In this paper, we identify a surprising connection between quantum entanglement and the degree of quark mixing. Focusing on a specific limit of 2 → 2 quark scattering mediated by electroweak bosons, we find that the quantum entanglement generated by scattering is minimized when the CKM matrix is almost (but not exactly) diagonal, in qualitative agreement with observation. With the discovery of neutrino masses and mixings, additional angles are needed to parametrize the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) matrix in the lepton sector. Applying the same logic, we find that quantum entanglement is minimized when the PMNS matrix features two large angles and a smaller one, again in qualitative agreement with observation, plus a hint for suppressed C P violation. We speculate on the (unlikely but tantalizing) possibility that minimization of quantum entanglement might be a fundamental principle that determines particle physics input parameters. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Thaler, Jesse (ORCID:0000000224068160)↗

DOE OSTI2024

Reversible Phasonic Control of a Quantum Phase Transition in a Quasicrystal

Periodic driving can tune the quasistatic properties of quantum matter. A well-known example is the dynamical modification of tunneling by an oscillating electric field. Here we show experimentally that driving the phasonic degree of freedom of a cold-atom quasicrystal can continuously tune the effective quasidisorder strength, reversibly toggling a localization-delocalization quantum phase transition. Measurements agree with fit-parameter-free theoretical predictions, and illuminate a fundamental connection between Aubry-André localization in one dimension and dynamic localization in the associated two-dimensional Harper-Hofstadter model. These results open up new experimental possibilities for dynamical coherent control of quantum phase transitions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2025

Corrosion of Rare-Earth Disilicate Environmental Barrier Coatings in Gas Turbine Environments—Part 2: Microstructure Model

A model for the volatization of ytterbium disilicate (YbDS) by water vapor is developed. The new model is based on the Deal & Grove theory of the thermal oxidation of silicon [1], generalized here to account for the multi-step, second-order chemical reactions for silica depletion, multi-component mixture effects, and the unsteady porous microstructural evolution of the corroded inner zone. With the new model, the fundamental kinetic rate and standard porous media parameters are determined using the atmospheric steam jet impingement experiment of Ridley & Opila [2] and compared to results from the original Deal & Grove model. Fixing the input parameters in each respective model, a validation study (blind prediction) is presented for the high Reynolds number (1 × 105) and high pressure (14.7 atm) burner rig experiment of Wan et al. [3].

Cha, Chong M [Rolls Royce]↗