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At least 487 records · Page 27

The Tianlai dish pathfinder array: design, operation, and performance of a prototype transit radio interferometer

ABSTRACT The Tianlai Dish Pathfinder Array is a radio interferometer designed to test techniques for 21 cm intensity mapping in the post-reionization universe as a means for measuring large-scale cosmic structure. It performs drift scans of the sky at constant declination. We describe the design, calibration, noise level, and stability of this instrument based on the analysis of about 5% of 6200 h of on-sky observations through 2019 October. Beam pattern determinations using drones and the transit of bright sources are in good agreement, and compatible with electromagnetic simulations. Combining all the baselines, we make maps around bright sources and show that the array behaves as expected. A few hundred hours of observations at different declinations have been used to study the array geometry and pointing imperfections, as well as the instrument noise behaviour. We show that the system temperature is below 80 K for most feed antennas and that noise fluctuations decrease as expected with integration time, at least up to a few hundred seconds. Analysis of long integrations, from 10 nights of observations of the North Celestial Pole (NCP), yielded visibilities with amplitudes of 20–30 mK, consistent with the expected signal from the NCP radio sky with ${\lt}10\,$ mK precision for 1 MHz × 1 min binning. Hi-pass filtering the spectra to remove smooth spectrum signal yields a residual consistent with zero signal at the $0.5\,$ mK level.

(cosmology:) large-scale structure of the Universe↗

Dynamical quantum phase transitions of quantum spin chains with a Loschmidt-rate critical exponent equal to $\frac{1}{2}$

In this work, we describe a new universality class of dynamical quantum phase transitions of the Loschmidt amplitude of quantum spin chains off equilibrium criticality. We demonstrate that in many cases it is possible to change the conventional linear singularity of the Loschmidt rate function into a smooth peak by tuning one parameter of the quench protocol. Exactly at the point when this change-over occurs, the singularity of the Loschmidt rate function persists, with a critical exponent equal to $\frac{1}{2}$. The nonequilibrium renormalization group fixed point controlling this universality class is described. An asymptotically exact renormalization group recursion relation is derived around this fixed point to obtain the critical exponent.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Redshift-space streaming velocity effects on the Lyman- α forest baryon acoustic oscillation scale

The baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) scale acts as a standard ruler for measuring cosmological distances and has therefore emerged as a leading probe of cosmic expansion history. However, any physical effect that alters the length of the ruler can lead to a bias in our determination of distance and expansion rate. One of these physical effects is the streaming velocity, the relative velocity between baryons and dark matter in the early Universe, which couples to the BAO scale due to their common origin in acoustic waves at recombination. In this work, we investigate the impact of streaming velocity on the BAO feature of the Lyman- α forest auto-power spectrum, one of the main tracers being used by the recently commissioned Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). To do this, we develop a perturbative model for Lyman- α flux fluctuations which is complete to second order for a certain set of fields, and applicable to any redshift-space tracer of structure since it is based only on symmetry considerations. We find that there are 8 biasing coefficients through second order. We find streaming velocity-induced shifts in the BAO scale of 0.081%–0.149% (transverse direction) and 0.053%–0.058% (radial direction), depending on the model for the biasing coefficients used. These are smaller than, but not negligible compared to, the DESI Lyman- α BAO error budget, which is 0.46% on the overall scale. Overall, the sensitivity of these results to our choice of bias parameters underscores the need for future work to measure the higher-order biasing coefficients from simulations, especially for future experiments beyond DESI.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Polarized vector oscillons

Oscillons are spatially localized, time-periodic, and long-lived configurations that were primarily proposed in scalar field theories with attractive self-interactions. In this paper, we demonstrate that oscillons also exist in the low-energy effective theory of an interacting massive (real) vector field. We provide two types of vector oscillons with vanishing orbital angular momentum, and approximately spherically symmetric energy density, but not field configurations. These are: (1) “directional” oscillons (linearly polarized), with vanishing total intrinsic spin, and (2) “spinning” oscillons (circularly polarized) with a macroscopic intrinsic spin equal to ℏ× number of particles in the oscillon. In contrast to the case with only gravitational interactions, the two oscillons have different energy at a fixed particle number even in the nonrelativistic limit. By carrying out relativistic 3+1d simulations, we show that these oscillons can be long-lived (compared to the oscillation time for the fields), and can arise from a range of Gaussian initial spatial profiles. These considerations make vector oscillons potentially relevant during the early universe and in dark photon dark matter, with novel phenomenology related to their polarization.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Search for photons above 10 18 eV by simultaneously measuring the atmospheric depth and the muon content of air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the most sensitive instrument to detect photons with energies above 1 0 17 eV . It measures extensive air showers generated by ultrahigh energy cosmic rays using a hybrid technique that exploits the combination of a fluorescence detector with a ground array of particle detectors. The signatures of a photon-induced air shower are a larger atmospheric depth of the shower maximum ( X max ) and a steeper lateral distribution function, along with a lower number of muons with respect to the bulk of hadron-induced cascades. In this work, a new analysis technique in the energy interval between 1 and 30 EeV ( 1 EeV = 1 0 18 eV ) has been developed by combining the fluorescence detector-based measurement of X max with the specific features of the surface detector signal through a parameter related to the air shower muon content, derived from the universality of the air shower development. No evidence of a statistically significant signal due to photon primaries was found using data collected in about 12 years of operation. Thus, upper bounds to the integral photon flux have been set using a detailed calculation of the detector exposure, in combination with a data-driven background estimation. The derived 95% confidence level upper limits are 0.0403, 0.01113, 0.0035, 0.0023, and 0.0021 km − 2 sr − 1 yr − 1 above 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 EeV, respectively, leading to the most stringent upper limits on the photon flux in the EeV range. Compared with past results, the upper limits were improved by about 40% for the lowest energy threshold and by a factor 3 above 3 EeV, where no candidates were found and the expected background is negligible. The presented limits can be used to probe the assumptions on chemical composition of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and allow for the constraint of the mass and lifetime phase space of super-heavy dark matter particles. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Synchronization of nonsolitonic Kerr combs

Synchronization is a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature that manifests as the spectral or temporal locking of coupled nonlinear oscillators. In the field of photonics, synchronization has been implemented in various laser and oscillator systems, enabling applications including coherent beam combining and high-precision pump-probe measurements. Recent experiments have also shown time-domain synchronization of Kerr frequency combs via coupling of two separate oscillators operating in the dissipative soliton [i.e., anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD)] regime. Here, we demonstrate all-optical synchronization of Kerr combs in the nonsolitonic, normal GVD regime in which phase-locked combs with high pump-to-comb conversion efficiencies and relatively flat spectral profiles are generated. Our results reveal the universality of Kerr comb synchronization and extend its scope beyond the soliton regime, opening a promising path toward coherently combined normal GVD Kerr combs with spectrally flat profiles and high comb-line powers in an efficient microresonator platform.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F US-ORv Olentangy River Wetland Research Park

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site US-ORv Olentangy River Wetland Research Park. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site US-ORv Olentangy River Wetland Research Park produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - The ORWRP site is a 21-ha large-scale, long-term wetland campus facility that is owned by Ohio State University. It is designed to provide teaching, research, and service related to wetland and river science and ecological engineering. The site has been developed in several phases: Phase 1 (1992 - 1994) - Construction of two 2.5-acre deepwater marshes and a river water delivery system began, with pumps installed on the floodplain to bring water from the Olentangy River. In May 1994, one wetland was planted with marsh vegetation, while the other remained as an unplanted control; Phase 2 (1994 - 1999) - Development of a research and teaching infrastructure took place with the construction of boardwalks, a pavilion, and a compound. The creation of the 7-acre naturally flooded oxbow was also included; Phase 3 (2000 - 2003) - As a research building was created, three additional wetlands were created in the vicinity of the building, including a stormwater wetland that receives runoff from the roof of the building; Phase 4 - The current phase involves research access to the Olentangy River.

Bohrer, Gil↗

The finite rotating universe

Finite rotating universe model construction not possessing Goedel cosmos pathological properties, discussing relation to Mach principle

Ozsvath, I.↗

Lander Locations, Mars Physical Ephemeris, and Solar System Parameters: Determination from Viking Lander Tracking Data

Radio tracking data from the Viking landers have been analyzed to determine the parameters of the Mars physical ephemeris, the radii of Mars at the landing sites, and the lander locations. The orientation of the Mars rotation axis, referred to the 1950.0 earth mean equator, equinox, and epoch, was determined to be 317.340+/-0.003 degrees right ascension and 52.710+/-0.002degrees declination. The planet's rotation period was determined to be 24 h, 37 min, 22.663+/-0.002 s. Analyses indicate that the determination of the motions of the Mars rotation axis will require additional tracking data. The Mars radii at the sites of landers 1 and 2 are 3389.38+/-0.06 km and 3381.91+/-0.08 km, respectively. The areocentric location of lander 1 is 22.272+/-0.002 degrees N, 47.94+/-0.2 degrees W. The lander 2 location is 47.670+/-0.002 degrees N, 225.71+/-0.2 degrees W. The areocentric right ascensions of the landers are determined to be 277.314+/-0.002 degrees for lander 1 and 99.546+/-0.002degrees for lander 2 at 0000 hours, January 1, 1977 (Julian date 2443144.57). Possible determinations of relativity parameters, solar oblateness, asteroid mass, and variations of the universal gravitational constant, from their effects on the planetary motions, will require the additional tracking data of the Viking extended mission.

Mayo, A. P.↗

Surface brightness, standard candles and q/0/

The most direct way to determine the deceleration parameter, q(0), of the universe is through the study of the redshift-magnitude relation of extragalactic sources. Progress has been slow because the necessary sources for this study must be standard candles, which have identical absolute total luminosity (balometric or monochromatic). The present paper shows, first of all, that, although necessary, this is not a sufficient condition for nonpoint-like (or resolved) sources. A modification of the redshift-magnitude relation is then described for a certain class of nonstandard candles using measurements of isophotal surface brightness. It is noted that such measurements can be used to standardize the central surface brightness of galaxies, but the standardization of the scale parameter remains beyond observations.

Petrosian, V.↗

Search for planets by spectroscopic methods

Spectroscopic means of detecting the motion of a star around a star-planet barycenter are considered. The precision of such an observation, which requires a radial velocity error of not more than 5 m/sec, is discussed in relation to the spectral resolutions of the detectors utilized. The University of Arizona radial velocity spectrometer is then presented, with particular attention given to the location of the absorption cell in a beam of light from an incandescent bulb, high-accuracy wavelength calibration involving the use of a Fabry-Perot interferometer in front of an echelle spectrograph, and future plans for the use of light reflected from a Fabry-Perot etalon to improve transmittance. On the basis of these techniques, it is expected that radial velocities with accuracies sufficient for the detection of extrasolar planets will be obtained.

Serkowski, K.↗

Space-exposed experiment developed for students

This experiment will offer students the opportunity to evaluate the survivability of seeds stored in the space environment and to determine possible mutants and changes in the mutation rate which may occur. The objectives of this experiment are to involve a very large number of students in a national project to generate interest in science and related disciplines; to offer students from the elementary through the university level an opportunity to participate in a first-hand experiment with materials flown in space; to permit active involvement in classroom experiment design, decision making, data gathering, and comparison of results; and to emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to the project involving subject areas other than science.

Grigsby, D. K.↗

Materials processing in space; Proceedings of the Special Conference, Cincinnati, OH, May 4, 5, 1982

An international review of materials processing in space is provided, taking into account the NASA materials processing in space program, European activities in the field of microgravity research, and Japanese material processing tests in space. The subjects considered are related to materials processing in a microgravity environment, industrial and university applications and involvement, and challenges and prospectives of microgravity research in space. Attention is given to a review of the containerless processing technologies and facilities, glass research in space, bubble behavior in molten glass in a temperature gradient, semiconductor crystal growth and segregation problems on earth and space, seeded crystal growth of pseudobinary systems with large liquidus-solidus separation, avenues and incentives for commercial use of a low-gravity environment, and the Universities Space Research Association and its role in the materials processing in space program.

Dunbar, B. J.↗

The partnership: Space shuttle, space science, and space station

An overview of the NASA Space Station Program functions, design, and planned implementation is presented. The discussed functions for the permanently manned space facility include: (1) development of new technologies and related commercial products; (2) observations of the Earth and the universe; (3) provision of service facilities for resupply, maintenance, upgrade and repair of payloads and spacecraft; (4) provision of a transportation node for stationing, processing and dispatching payloads and vehicles; (5) provision of manufacturing and assembly facilities; (6) provision of a storage depot for parts and payloads; and (7) provision of a staging base for future space endeavors. The fundamental concept for the Space Station, as given, is that it be designed, operated, and evolved in response to a broad variety of scientific, technological, and commercial user interests. The Space Shuttle's role as the principal transportation system for the construction and maintenance of the Space Station and the servicing and support of the station crew is also discussed.

Culbertson, Philip E.↗

CO2 lidar backscatter experiment

The Aerosol/Lidar Science Group of the Remote Sensing Branch engages in experimental and theoretical studies of atmospheric aerosol scattering and atmospheric dynamics, emphasizing Doppler lidar as a primary tool. Activities include field and laboratory measurement and analysis efforts by in-house personnel, coordinated with similar efforts by university and government institutional researchers. The primary focus of activities related to understanding aerosol scattering is the GLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) program. GLOBE was initiated by NASA in 1986 to support the engineering design, performance simulation, and science planning for the prospective NASA Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS). The most important GLOBE scientific result has been identified of a background aerosol mode with a surprisingly uniform backscatter mixing ratio (backscatter normalized by air density) throughout a deep tropospheric layer. The backscatter magnitude of the background mode evident from the MSFC CW lidar measurements is remarkably similar to that evident from ground-based backscatter profile climatologies obtained by JPL in Pasadena CA, NOAA/WPL in Boulder CO, and by the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment in the United Kingdom. Similar values for the background mode have been inferred from the conversion of in situ aerosol microphysical measurements to backscatter using Mie theory. Little seasonal or hemispheric variation is evident in the survey mission data, as opposed to large variation for clouds, aerosol plums, and the marine boundary layer. Additional features include: localized aerosol residues from dissipated clouds, occasional regions having mass concentrations of nanograms per cubic meter and very low backscatter, and aerosol plumes extending thousands of kilometers and several kilometers deep. Preliminary comparison with meteorological observations thus far indicate correlation between backscatter and water vapor under high humidity conditions. Limited intercomparisons with the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) limb extinction sounder shows differences in the troposphere, however, it should be noted that in general SAGE measurements have not yet been validated in the troposphere.

Jarzembski, Maurice A.↗

Investigation of microwave backscatter from the air-sea interface

Monitoring the ocean surface winds and mean ocean surface level is essential for improving our knowledge of the climate. Two instruments that may provide us with this information are satellite-based scatterometers and altimeters. However, these instruments measure the backscatter characteristics of the ocean surface from which other physical parameters, such as the wind speed or ocean surface height, are derived. To improve the algorithms or models that relate the electromagnetic backscatter to the desired physical parameters, the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL) designed and fabricated three airborne scatterometers: a C-band scatterometer (CSCAT), Ku-band scatterometer (KUSCAT) and C/Ku-band scatterometer (EMBR). One or more of these instruments participated in the Electromagnetic Bias experiment (EM Bias), Shelf Edge Exchange Processes experiment (SEEP), Surface Wave Dynamics Experiment (SWADE), Southern Ocean Wave Experiment (SOWEX), Hurricane Tina research flights, Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE), and Ladir In-space Technology Experiment (LITE). This document describes the three scatterometers, summarizes our measurement campaigns and major contributions to the scientific and engineering communities, lists the publications that resulted, and presents the degrees earned under the support of this NASA grant.

Mcintosh, Robert E.↗

A Physical Model to Determine Snowfall over Land by Microwave Radiometry

Because microwave brightness temperatures emitted by snow covered surfaces are highly variable, snowfall above such surfaces is difficult to observe using window channels that occur at low frequencies (v less than 100 GHz). Furthermore, at frequencies v less than or equal to 37 GHz, sensitivity to liquid hydrometeors is dominant. These problems are mitigated at high frequencies (v greater than 100 GHz) where water vapor screens the surface emission and sensitivity to frozen hydrometeors is significant. However the scattering effect of snowfall in the atmosphere at those higher frequencies is also impacted by water vapor in the upper atmosphere. This work describes the methodology and results of physically-based retrievals of snow falling over land surfaces. The theory of scattering by randomly oriented dry snow particles at high microwave frequencies appears to be better described by regarding snow as a concatenation of equivalent ice spheres rather than as a sphere with the effective dielectric constant of an air-ice mixture. An equivalent sphere snow scattering model was validated against high frequency attenuation measurements. Satellite-based high frequency observations from an Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-B) instrument during the March 5-6, 2001 New England blizzard were used to retrieve snowfall over land. Vertical distributions of snow, temperature and relative humidity profiles were derived from the Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU-NCAR) fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). Those data were applied and modified in a radiative transfer model that derived brightness temperatures consistent with the AMSU-B observations. The retrieved snowfall distribution was validated with radar reflectivity measurements obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) ground-based radar network.

Skofronick-Jackson, G.↗

General Multimechanism Reversible-Irreversible Time-Dependent Constitutive Deformation Model Being Developed

Since most advanced material systems (for example metallic-, polymer-, and ceramic-based systems) being currently researched and evaluated are for high-temperature airframe and propulsion system applications, the required constitutive models must account for both reversible and irreversible time-dependent deformations. Furthermore, since an integral part of continuum-based computational methodologies (be they microscale- or macroscale-based) is an accurate and computationally efficient constitutive model to describe the deformation behavior of the materials of interest, extensive research efforts have been made over the years on the phenomenological representations of constitutive material behavior in the inelastic analysis of structures. From a more recent and comprehensive perspective, the NASA Glenn Research Center in conjunction with the University of Akron has emphasized concurrently addressing three important and related areas: that is, 1) Mathematical formulation; 2) Algorithmic developments for updating (integrating) the external (e.g., stress) and internal state variables; 3) Parameter estimation for characterizing the model. This concurrent perspective to constitutive modeling has enabled the overcoming of the two major obstacles to fully utilizing these sophisticated time-dependent (hereditary) constitutive models in practical engineering analysis. These obstacles are: 1) Lack of efficient and robust integration algorithms; 2) Difficulties associated with characterizing the large number of required material parameters, particularly when many of these parameters lack obvious or direct physical interpretations.

Saleeb, A. F.↗