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DOE OSTI2021

I-GCN: A Graph Convolutional Network Accelerator with Runtime Locality Enhancement through Islandization

In this paper, we propose a novel hardware accelerator for GCN inference called I-GCN that significantly improves data locality and reduces unnecessary computation through a new online graph restructuring algorithm we refer to as islandization. The proposed algorithm finds clusters of nodes with strong internal but weak external connections. The islandization process yields two major benefits. First, by processing islands rather than individual nodes, there is better on-chip data reuse and fewer off-chip memory accesses. Second, there is less redundant computation as aggregation for common/shared neighbors in an island can be reused. The parallel search, identification, and leverage of graph islands are all handled purely in hardware at runtime working in an incremental pipelined manner. This is done without any preprocessing of the graph data or adjustment of the GCN model structure.

Geng, Tong↗

NASA NTRS1993

The equatorial electrojet and associated currents as seen in Magsat data

In view of the disagreement between reports of Langel and Estes (1985) and those of other investigators using Nagsat data sets, concerning the evidence for equatorial electrojet and meridional currents in the dawn Magsat data, this paper reexamines the Magsat data for the presence of equatorial electrojet and meridional current in both dawn and dusk local times, using a specially designed method for isolating field variations organized by dip-latitude. It is shown that such fields, if any, at dawn are very weak and do not result in a persistent pattern from longitude to longitude or a pattern consistent with that expected from an electrojet current. On the other hand, fields organized by dip-latitude are clearly present in the dusk data and it is possible to isolate longitudinal and seasonal variations in such fields. Current densities are computed for both the equatorial electrojet and meridional currents and are compared to the current densities and distributions found with recent models of the ionospheric dynamo and equatorial electrojet.

Langel, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Gamma-ray transfer and energy deposition in supernovae

Solutions to the energy-independent (gray) radiative transfer equations are compared to results of Monte Carlo simulations of the Ni-56 and Co-56 decay gamma-ray energy deposition in supernovae. The comparison shows that an effective, purely absorptive, gray opacity, kappa(sub gamma) approximately (0. 06 +/- 0.01)Y(sub e) sq cm/g, where Y is the total number of electrons per baryon, accurately describes the interaction of gamma-rays with the cool supernova gas and the local gamma-ray energy deposition within the gas. The nature of the gamma-ray interaction process (dominated by Compton scattering in the relativistic regime) creates a weak dependence of kappa(sub gamma) on the optical thickness of the (spherically symmetric) supernova atmosphere: The maximum value of kappa(sub gamma) applies during optically thick conditions when individual gamma-rays undergo multiple scattering encounters and the lower bound is reached at the phase characterized by a total Thomson optical depth to the center of the atmosphere tau(sub e) approximately less than 1. Gamma-ray deposition for Type Ia supernova models to within 10% for the epoch from maximum light to t = 1200 days. Our results quantitatively confirm that the quick and efficient solution to the gray transfer problem provides an accurate representation of gamma-ray energy deposition for a broad range of supernova conditions.

Swartz, Douglas A.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Spatially Resolved Investigation of Mixed Valence and Insulator-to-Metal Transition in an Organic Salt

Using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), we investigate the evolution of electronic structures across the boundaries of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and K-TCNQ assemblies on a weakly interacting substrate. Despite the semiconducting/insulating nature of TCNQ (TCNQ 0 ) and K-TCNQ (TCNQ -1 ), a continuum metallic-like density of states extending deep (~1.5 nm) into the TCNQ assembly is observed near domain boundary. We attribute the formation of these states to the abrupt change of molecular valence, which perturbs the electrostatics of the junction and creates local electric fields as evidenced by the band bending near domain boundary. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first microscopic understanding of the crucial physics occurring near domain boundaries of mixed valence in K-TCNQ, or broadly speaking charge transfer complexes, which highlights these boundaries as potential “weak” points to initiate the electric field induced insulator-to-metal transition.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2021

On a nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard model permitting sharp interfaces

A nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard model with a non-smooth potential of double-well obstacle type that promotes sharp interfaces in the solution is presented. To capture long-range interactions between particles, a nonlocal Ginzburg–Landau energy functional is defined which recovers the classical (local) model as the extent of nonlocal interactions vanish. In contrast to the local Cahn–Hilliard problem that always leads to diffuse interfaces, the proposed nonlocal model can lead to a strict separation into pure phases of the substance. In this work, the lack of smoothness of the potential is essential to guarantee the aforementioned sharp-interface property. Mathematically, this introduces additional inequality constraints that, in a weak formulation, lead to a coupled system of variational inequalities which at each time instance can be restated as a constrained optimization problem. We prove the well-posedness and regularity of the semi-discrete and continuous in time weak solutions, and derive the conditions under which pure phases are admitted. Moreover, we develop discretizations of the problem based on finite element methods and implicit–explicit time-stepping methods that can be realized efficiently. Finally, we illustrate our theoretical findings through several numerical experiments in one and two spatial dimensions that highlight the differences in features of local and nonlocal solutions and also the sharp interface properties of the nonlocal model.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2026

Assembly bias and local Primordial non-Gaussianity from DESI DR1 quasars

The analysis of the large-scale clustering of quasars (QSO) observed by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) represents a promising avenue for constraining local Primordial non-Gaussianity (PNG), parameterized by f NL . The signal to be constrained is the scale-dependent bias induced in the 2-point clustering of the considered tracer sample. The resulting constraints on f NL , however, are fully degenerate with the local PNG bias parameter b ϕ , dependent on the assembly bias parameter p. Using IllustrisTNG hydrodynamical simulations, we select a QSO sample reflecting the selection criteria and properties of DESI QSOs, and provide a robust prior for p, and thus for b ϕ , building on the findings of Fondi et al. 2024. We find a distribution with mean p̅ ≃ 1.4 with weak redshift dependence, stable to selection noise and consistent with the expected recent merger history typical of quasar-hosting halos. By comparing with the CAMELS simulations we demonstrate that this prior is robust to astrophysical assumptions and cosmic variance. Finally, applying this prior to the DESI DR1 dataset, we derive updated constraints on local PNG, obtaining f NL = -3.3±9.2.

cosmological parameters from LSS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Fast nonlinear iterative solver for an implicit, energy-conserving, asymptotic-preserving charged-particle orbit integrator

Here recently, an asymptotic-preserving (AP) particle orbit integrator has been proposed with remarkable properties including exact energy conservation, the ability to capture of all first-order drifts (including the ∇B-drift), the ability to capture trapped-passing boundaries with parallel velocity extremely close to the critical velocity, and the ability to transition from strongly to weakly magnetized spatial regions. The new AP orbit integrator is implicit, employing a Crank-Nicolson (CN) temporal discretization to ensure exact energy conservation. This, in turn, requires a local nonlinear iteration involving particle velocities and positions, and the local electromagnetic fields, to obtain the new-time solution. Ref. [1] did not attempt to provide an efficient solver for this system, and employed a brute-force GMRES-driven Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) solver to invert the particle orbit equations at every timestep for expediency. While JFNK is robust and reliable, it is also expensive and very intrusive for practical implementations of the method (it requires having the JFNK machinery available and solving a 6 x 6 Jacobian system iteratively once per iteration per particle).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2019

Perovskite magnet with quantum mechanical glassiness

Magnetic materials of strongly correlated origin are at the forefront of research in the exploration of new quantum mechanical properties involving spin and charges. Quantum magnetic material with certain intrinsic functionalities, such as continuously fluctuating spins to the lowest accessible temperature - reminiscing a liquid pattern, is argued to form a new phase of matter. Envisaging a phenomenon where the continuously fluctuating spins are also randomly frozen in space, can diminish the distinction between the two opposite extremes of quantum and classical magnetism. Here, we report new evidence in this regard where the coexistence of quantum spin continuum with a spin glass order in Co-doped CaRuO3 perovskite is demonstrated. In experimental investigations of Co-doped CaRuO3 perovskite, we find that (a) a continuum spectrum in the energy-momentum space, due to the uncorrelated spin fluctuations, persists across the weak spin glass transition at T G ≃ 23 K and (b) the quantum fluctuation of magnetic moment is spatially confined to individual sites only, thereby making it an extremely local event. Thus, the fluctuating spins, at a given time, are also randomly frozen macroscopically. The experimental observations suggest the discovery of a new magnetic phase at the cross-road of classical and quantum physics in strongly correlated perovskite materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1975

On the stability of plane shocks

In the analysis of shock stability reported, the disturbances are assumed to originate at an arbitrary moving point. A change in the decay mechanism is shown to result from the increasing angle of incidence between the shock and an intersecting cylindrical (or spherical) wave generated behind it. The local reflection coefficient for reflection of a pressure wave from a shock varies strongly with the angle of incidence. At small angles of incidence the reflected wave is very weak and the incident wave decays in a geometric manner.

Van Moorhem, W. K.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Numeric calculation of unsteady forces over thin pointed wings in sonic flow

A fast and reasonably accurate numerical procedure is proposed for the solution of a simplified unsteady transonic equation. The approach described takes into account many of the effects of the steady flow field. The resulting accuracy is within a few per cent and can be carried out on a computer in less than one minute per case (one frequency and one mode of oscillation). The problem concerns a rigid pointed wing which performs harmonic pitching oscillations of small amplitude in a steady uniform transonic flow. Wake influence is ignored and shocks must be weak. It is shown that the method is more flexible than the transonic box method proposed by Rodemich and Andrew (1965) in that it can easily account for variable local Mach number and rather arbitrary planform so long as the basic assumptions are fulfilled.

Kimble, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

High-resolution observations of the Lyman alpha sky background

The first high-resolution observations of the Lyman alpha sky background, obtained with a spectrometer on the Copernicus satellite, are examined. The high-resolution observations presented allow the first direct measurement of the heliocentric velocity of the local interstellar medium. The high resolution of the spectrometer and the projection of the earth's orbital velocity along the line of sight made it possible to separate the weak extraterrestrial background feature from the intense geocoronal emission line. The observations also contain considerable information about the Lyman alpha emission from the geocorona. The data permit limits to be placed on the temperature of the gas that produces the background feature.

Adams, T. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Further studies of auroral roar

Extended observations of auroral roar, a weak radio emission near the second harmonic of the electron cyclotron frequency, are reported. A total of 69 events were recorded and analyzed. Data for frequency band, duration, and local time of occurrence are presented. The height of the generation region is estimated to be 275-575 km.

Kellogg, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Local intermodal energy transfer of the secondary instability in a plane channel

A mathematical technique for analyzing local energy-transfer rates among wave-vector triads is developed and applied to the data generated by direct numerical simulations of waves with various types of initial conditions. Starting the simulation with a primary two-dimensional wave and random noise produced structures very similar to those which evolved from three-dimensional center modes. The local transfer rates determined in this case help to explain the eventual deformation of the primary two-dimensional wave which was observed in wind-tunnel experiments. Including weak streamwise vortices in the initial flow field results in large amounts of energy being transferred to the K-type modes early in the simulation. The later development of the waves (and hence the energy-transfer rates) is similar to the previous case.

Singer, Bart A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Ground states of partially connected binary neural networks

Neural networks defined by outer products of vectors over (-1, 0, 1) are considered. Patterns over (-1, 0, 1) define by their outer products partially connected neural networks consisting of internally strongly connected, externally weakly connected subnetworks. Subpatterns over (-1, 1) define subnetworks, and their combinations that agree in the common bits define permissible words. It is shown that the permissible words are locally stable states of the network, provided that each of the subnetworks stores mutually orthogonal subwords, or, at most, two subwords. It is also shown that when each of the subnetworks stores two mutually orthogonal binary subwords at most, the permissible words, defined as the combinations of the subwords (one corresponding to each subnetwork), that agree in their common bits are the unique ground states of the associated energy function.

Baram, Yoram↗

NASA NTRS1992

Learning and tuning fuzzy logic controllers through reinforcements

A new method for learning and tuning a fuzzy logic controller based on reinforcements from a dynamic system is presented. In particular, our Generalized Approximate Reasoning-based Intelligent Control (GARIC) architecture: (1) learns and tunes a fuzzy logic controller even when only weak reinforcements, such as a binary failure signal, is available; (2) introduces a new conjunction operator in computing the rule strengths of fuzzy control rules; (3) introduces a new localized mean of maximum (LMOM) method in combining the conclusions of several firing control rules; and (4) learns to produce real-valued control actions. Learning is achieved by integrating fuzzy inference into a feedforward network, which can then adaptively improve performance by using gradient descent methods. We extend the AHC algorithm of Barto, Sutton, and Anderson to include the prior control knowledge of human operators. The GARIC architecture is applied to a cart-pole balancing system and has demonstrated significant improvements in terms of the speed of learning and robustness to changes in the dynamic system's parameters over previous schemes for cart-pole balancing.

Berenji, Hamid R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Upper tropospheric equatorial waves in ECMWF analyses

An observational study is presented of travelling waves in the near-equatorial upper tropospheric wind field as revealed in operational analyses produced by the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) over the years 1980-1987. Space-time spectra are presented that reveal the seasonal and interannual variability of traveling waves in the tropical wind fields. The zonal wind spectra exhibit a majority of power in the lowest resolved frequencies, and there is a lack of notable spectral peaks. The upper tropospheric meridional wind spectra show maxima for westward-propagating zonal waves 4-7 with 6- to 10-day periods. The events are also longitudinally localized, with a preference for westward-propagating waves occurring over the eastern Pacific Ocean during August-September. The waves exhibit maximum amplitudes in the upper troposphere and weak coherence with the near-surface layers of the atmosphere.

Randel, William J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Learning and tuning fuzzy logic controllers through reinforcements

This paper presents a new method for learning and tuning a fuzzy logic controller based on reinforcements from a dynamic system. In particular, our generalized approximate reasoning-based intelligent control (GARIC) architecture (1) learns and tunes a fuzzy logic controller even when only weak reinforcement, such as a binary failure signal, is available; (2) introduces a new conjunction operator in computing the rule strengths of fuzzy control rules; (3) introduces a new localized mean of maximum (LMOM) method in combining the conclusions of several firing control rules; and (4) learns to produce real-valued control actions. Learning is achieved by integrating fuzzy inference into a feedforward neural network, which can then adaptively improve performance by using gradient descent methods. We extend the AHC algorithm of Barto et al. (1983) to include the prior control knowledge of human operators. The GARIC architecture is applied to a cart-pole balancing system and demonstrates significant improvements in terms of the speed of learning and robustness to changes in the dynamic system's parameters over previous schemes for cart-pole balancing.

Berenji, Hamid R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The optical and X-ray content of the 1992 May 1 gamma-ray burst error box

A gamma-ray burst which occurred on 1992 May 1 was observed by three spacecraft in the third interplanetary network, and rapidly localized to a small error box. The coordinates were promptly circulated to a wide astronomical community, and radio, optical, and X-ray counterpart searches were carried out. A weak X-ray source was found in the error box, and two radio sources are discovered outside the error box, but in alignment with the X-ray source. The X-ray source position contains approximately 25 optical objects down to 23d magnitude. We discuss the prospects for identifying the burster counterpart.

Hurley, K.↗