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At least 505 records · Page 28

Satellite and aircraft measurements of stratospheric aerosol particles

Data on the characteristics of the stratospheric aerosol as measured with sensors on the SAM II and SAGE I satellites and with ground-based and airborne lidar are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the impact of the El Chichon eruptions. The volcanic cloud was tracked to an altitude of 30 km, and was observed to travel around the earth in 3 weeks. The maximum stratospheric loading is estimated at 12 Mtons, which increased the stratospheric optical depth to 0.15-2.0 at the peak period. The particulate loading was predicted to lower the Northern Hemisphere average temperatures by 0.4-0.5 C in 1984-85.

Mccormick, M. P.↗

The infrared light curve of Periodic Comet Halley 1986 III and its relationship to the visual light curve, C2, and water production rates

The near-IR light curve of Periodic Comet Halley 1986 III is analyzed and compared with C2 production, water production, and the visual light curve. This is the most complete IR light curve compiled to date for any comet. The scattering phase function at small sun-comet-earth angles is shown to affect the slope of near-IR light curve significantly. P/Halley's dust production, as inferred from the IR light curve showed an increased production rate near perihelion which appears to be correlated with the onset of significant jet activity. The near-IR light curve, visual light curve, C2, and water production rates displayed different heliocentric variations, suggesting that one parameter cannot be accurately estimated from another. This is particularly true of the early preperihelion visual light curve. A peak of 0.3-0.5 magnitude in the visual magnitude, representing the integrated brightness of the comet's visible coma, lagged the other parameters by about a day. The near-IR color, J-H, was less red during periods of strong dust activity.

Morris, Charles S.↗

Mitigating Interference from Urban Air Mobility Vehicles on Satellite Communication Links by Using Vortex Radiometry

Vortex radiometers (VRs) establish an early warning system for communication channels by generating concentric annular beam patterns around the active link. Peaks in received power are monitored as interfering signals traverse overhead, allowing the VR to estimate source velocity. From this information the VR determines 1) when a fade will occur, 2) how long the fade will persist for and 3) how intense the fade will be. This paper demonstrates how VRs can increase the resilience of communication systems used in urban air mobility applications.

Schemmel, Peter J.↗

Modification of Mach 6 Freestream Flow by Pitot Probe Bow Shock as Measured by Line FLDI and SAFS

Measurements of the flow in front of flat-face Pitot probes in NASA Langley ResearchCenter’s 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel were made using a 35-point line focused laser differentialinterferometer (FLDI), a two-point FLDI, and a self-aligned focusing schlieren system. Thesesystems were used to make measurements of flow unsteadiness between the bow shock andPitot probe face, while also probing the freestream region just upstream of the bow shock.Shock standoff distances from the non-intrusive measurements match closely with analyticalsolutions using the probe face diameter. Acoustic wave angles and velocities in the freestreamcompare favorably with DNS simulations of a Mach 6 freestream flow, and wave velocities in thepost-shock region slow as they approach the probe face. Peak frequencies in the post-shockregion as measured by FLDI compare favorably to the estimates computed from the shockstandoff distance for most probe diameters. With increasing unit Reynolds number, fluctuationintensities in the post-shock region were attenuated below the intensities of the freestream, witha spectral, spatial, and probe size dependence. Pitot probe power spectral density estimatesare presented from the test campaign, which can be compared with FLDI and SAFS data toevaluate the applicability of the transfer functions derived from computational simulations.

Joshua M Weisberger↗

Peak-Seeking Optimization of Trim for Reduced Fuel Consumption: Architecture and Performance Predictions

A peak-seeking control approach for real-time trim configuration optimization for reduced fuel consumption has been developed by researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center to address the goals of the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation project to reduce fuel burn and emissions. The peak-seeking control approach is based on a steepest-descent algorithm using a time-varying Kalman filter to estimate the gradient of a performance function of fuel flow versus control surface positions. In real-time operation, deflections of symmetric ailerons, trailing-edge flaps, and leading-edge flaps of an F/A-18 airplane (McDonnell Douglas, now The Boeing Company, Chicago, Illinois) are controlled for optimization of fuel flow. This paper presents the design and integration of this peak-seeking controller on a modified NASA F/A-18 airplane with research flight control computers. A research flight was performed to collect data to build a realistic model of the performance function and characterize measurement noise. This model was then implemented into a nonlinear six-degree-of-freedom F/A-18 simulation along with the peak-seeking control algorithm. With the goal of eventual flight tests, the algorithm was first evaluated in the improved simulation environment. Results from the simulation predict good convergence on minimum fuel flow with a 2.5-percent reduction in fuel flow relative to the baseline trim of the aircraft.

performance optimization↗

Peak-Seeking Optimization of Trim for Reduced Fuel Consumption: Architecture and Performance Predictions

A peak-seeking control approach for real-time trim configuration optimization for reduced fuel consumption has been developed by researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center to address the goals of the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation project to reduce fuel burn and emissions. The peak-seeking control approach is based on a steepest-descent algorithm using a time-varying Kalman filter to estimate the gradient of a performance function of fuel flow versus control surface positions. In real-time operation, deflections of symmetric ailerons, trailing-edge flaps, and leading-edge flaps of an FA-18 airplane (McDonnell Douglas, now The Boeing Company, Chicago, Illinois) are controlled for optimization of fuel flow. This presentation presents the design and integration of this peak-seeking controller on a modified NASA FA-18 airplane with research flight control computers. A research flight was performed to collect data to build a realistic model of the performance function and characterize measurement noise. This model was then implemented into a nonlinear six-degree-of-freedom FA-18 simulation along with the peak-seeking control algorithm. With the goal of eventual flight tests, the algorithm was first evaluated in the improved simulation environment. Results from the simulation predict good convergence on minimum fuel flow with a 2.5-percent reduction in fuel flow relative to the baseline trim of the aircraft.

peak-seeking↗

Power spectral estimation algorithms

Algorithms to estimate the power spectrum using Maximum Entropy Methods were developed. These algorithms were coded in FORTRAN 77 and were implemented on the VAX 780. The important considerations in this analysis are: (1) resolution, i.e., how close in frequency two spectral components can be spaced and still be identified; (2) dynamic range, i.e., how small a spectral peak can be, relative to the largest, and still be observed in the spectra; and (3) variance, i.e., how accurate the estimate of the spectra is to the actual spectra. The application of the algorithms based on Maximum Entropy Methods to a variety of data shows that these criteria are met quite well. Additional work in this direction would help confirm the findings. All of the software developed was turned over to the technical monitor. A copy of a typical program is included. Some of the actual data and graphs used on this data are also included.

Bhatia, Manjit S.↗

O’Hare Airport Short-Term Ground Transportation Modal Demand Forecast Using Gaussian Processes

Here, the principal objective of this study is to analyze the spatial and temporal variation of ground transportation airport demand and provide demand forecast to inform planning capability and explore alternatives for investments to accommodate airport growth. Because of its good adaptability and strong generalization ability for dealing with high-dimensional input, small-sample, and nonlinear spatial data, Gaussian process (GP) regression is used to provide forecast estimates using data from transportation network company (TNC) trips and urban rail passengers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. TNC airport trips differ significantly, with three times more distance, more than twice the travel time, and half of the share requests compared with nonairport trips. This highlights the need for separate demand models. Hourly analysis of the rail service indicates that this is likely heavily used by airport workers, whereas TNC services focus on travelers because of variations in the peak demand hours. Heteroscedastic GP regression is implemented because of differences in trip variance between night and day hours. Estimates are given for weekdays and weekend trips, and the 95% confidence intervals are calculated. The introduction of flight schedule information into the models shows marginal improvements in their performance. However, fitting a GP regression becomes computationally expensive with increased sample size and the introduction of spatial components. Transportation planners and policymakers can use the results and methods implemented in this study to optimize transportation assets and provide long-range simulations of the current and future conditions in the area.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Electronic correlations and flattened band in magnetic Weyl semimetal candidate Co 3 Sn 2 S 2

The interplay between electronic correlations and topological protection may offer a rich avenue for discovering emergent quantum phenomena in condensed matter. However, electronic correlations have so far been little investigated in Weyl semimetals (WSMs) by experiments. Here, we report a combined optical spectroscopy and theoretical calculation study on the strength and effect of electronic correlations in a magnet Co 3 Sn 2 S 2 . The electronic kinetic energy estimated from our optical data is about half of that obtained from single-particle ab initio calculations in the ferromagnetic ground state, which indicates intermediate-strength electronic correlations in this system. Furthermore, comparing the energy and side-slope ratios between the interband-transition peaks at high energies in the experimental and single-particle-calculation-derived optical conductivity spectra with the bandwidth-renormalization factors obtained by many-body calculations enables us to estimate the Coulomb-interaction strength (U ~ 4 eV) in Co 3 Sn 2 S 2 . Besides, a sharp experimental optical conductivity peak at low energy, which is absent in the single-particle-calculation-derived spectrum but is consistent with the optical conductivity peaks obtained by many-body calculations with U ~ 4 eV, indicates that an electronic band connecting the two Weyl cones is flattened by electronic correlations and emerges near the Fermi energy in Co 3 Sn 2 S 2 . Our work paves the way for exploring flat-band-generated quantum phenomena in WSMs.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Numerical Simulations of Vortex Generator Vanes and Jets on a Flat Plate

Numerical simulations of a single low-profile vortex generator vane, which is only a small fraction of the boundary-layer thickness, and a vortex generating jet have been performed for flows over a flat plate. The numerical simulations were computed by solving the steady-state solution to the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The vortex generating vane results were evaluated by comparing the strength and trajectory of the streamwise vortex to experimental particle image velocimetry measurements. From the numerical simulations of the vane case, it was observed that the Shear-Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model resulted in a better prediction of the streamwise peak vorticity and trajectory when compared to the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model. It is shown in this investigation that the estimation of the turbulent eddy viscosity near the vortex core, for both the vane and jet simulations, was higher for the SA model when compared to the SST model. Even though the numerical simulations of the vortex generating vane were able to predict the trajectory of the stream-wise vortex, the initial magnitude and decay of the peak streamwise vorticity were significantly under predicted. A comparison of the positive circulation associated with the streamwise vortex showed that while the numerical simulations produced a more diffused vortex, the vortex strength compared very well to the experimental observations. A grid resolution study for the vortex generating vane was also performed showing that the diffusion of the vortex was not a result of insufficient grid resolution. Comparisons were also made between a fully modeled trapezoidal vane with finite thickness to a simply modeled rectangular thin vane. The comparisons showed that the simply modeled rectangular vane produced a streamwise vortex which had a strength and trajectory very similar to the fully modeled trapezoidal vane.

Allan, Brian G.↗

Solar data uncertainty impacts on MCMC methods for r-process nucleosynthesis

In recent work, we developed a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) procedure to predict the ground state masses capable of forming the observed Solar r-process rare-earth abundance peak. By applying this method to nucleosynthesis calculations which make use of distinct astrophysical conditions and comparing our results to the latest precision mass measurements, we are able to shed light on the conditions/masses capable of producing a rare-earth peak which matches Solar data. Here we examine how our mass predictions change when using a few different sets of r-process Solar abundance residuals that have been reported in the literature. We explore how the differing error estimates of these Solar evaluations propagate through the Markov Chain Monte Carlo to our mass predictions. We find that Solar data which reports the rare-earth peak to have its highest abundance at mass number A = 162 can require distinctly different mass predictions from data with the peak centered at A = 164. Nevertheless, we find that two important general conclusions from past work, regarding the inconsistency of ‘cold’ astrophysical outflows with current mass measurements and the need for local stability at N = 104 in ‘hot’ scenarios, remain robust in the face of differing Solar data evaluations. Additionally, we show that the masses our procedure finds capable of producing a peak at A < 164 are not in line with the latest precision mass measurements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Influence of Heave Plate Topology on Reaction Force

In this study, we explore the role of heave plate topology on fluid reaction forces using three, representative shapes: a hexagonal flat plate, a hexagonal conic with an open top, and the same with a closed top that encloses a fluid mass. We force each test article sinusoidally in a quiescent tank and decompose the reaction force using forms of the Morison equation for phase-invariant and phase-dependent parameterizations. We find that a flat plate generates 5.3 % more fluid reaction force than the open conic topology, and 21.4% more than the enclosed conic. Asymmetric topologies generate asymmetric reaction forces, but the magnitude of asymmetry is limited by nearly symmetric fluid inertia forces, which dominate over drag for these test articles. Additionally, we observe asymmetric vortex dynamics for the flat plate when the Keulegan-Carpenter number is between 1 and 2, accompanied by a shift in the phase of the peak force by of the oscillation period. As a consequence of this shift, the hydrodynamic coefficients estimated from the phase-dependent Morison equation decomposition are asymmetric, suggesting that phase-dependent representations may not provide physical insight in some hydrodynamic regimes.

added mass↗

Additive-assisted synthesis and optoelectronic properties of (CH 3 NH 3 ) 4 Bi 6 I 22

Hybrid organic-inorganic halides containing Bi and Sb generally exhibit higher stability and lower toxicity compared to Pb analogues. Here, in this work, synthesis, crystal and electronic structures and optical properties of a brand-new methylammonium bismuth iodide, (MA) 4 Bi 6 I 22 (MA + = CH 3 NH 3 + ), are reported. Interestingly, we find that the presence of the HgI2 is necessary for the targeted preparation of (MA) 4 Bi 6 I 22 . (MA) 4 Bi 6 I 22 contains isolated [Bi 6 I 22 ] 4- clusters made of six edge-sharing octahedral BiI6 units, which are separated by MA + cations in its 0D crystal structure. A relatively low optical band gap of 1.9 eV was estimated for (MA) 4 Bi 6 I 22 based on diffuse reflectance measurements. An intense photoluminescence peak emerges at 636 nm at low temperatures that supports the assigned band gap value. Electronic structure calculations show the presence of flat bands in the valence and conduction bands, consistent with the low-dimensional structure of (MA) 4 Bi 6 I 22 , and slightly indirect nature of the bandgap. Our findings suggest that the use of facilitator moieties such as HgI 2 may provide a pathway to obtaining alternative methylammonium bismuth iodides to (MA) 3 Bi 2 I 9 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Gravitational-wave signal of a core-collapse supernova explosion of a 15M ⊙ star

In this paper we report on the gravitational-wave signal computed in the context of a three-dimensional simulation of a core-collapse supernova explosion of a 15 M ⊙ star. The simulation was performed with our neutrino hydrodynamics code chimera . We detail the gravitational wave strains as a function of time, for both polarizations, and discuss their physical origins. We also present the corresponding spectral signatures. Gravitational wave emission in our model has two key features: low-frequency emission (less than 200 Hz) emanates from the gain layer as a result of neutrino-driven convection and the standing accretion shock instability (SASI), and high-frequency emission (greater than 600 Hz) emanates from the proto–neutron star due to Ledoux convection within it. The high-frequency emission dominates the gravitational wave emission in our model and emanates largely from the convective layer itself, not from the convectively stable layer above it, due to convective overshoot. Moreover, the low-frequency emission emanates from the gain layer itself, not from the proto–neutron star, due to accretion onto it. We provide evidence of the SASI in our model and demonstrate that the peak of our low-frequency gravitational wave emission spectrum corresponds to it. Given its origin in the gain layer, we classify the SASI emission in our model as p-mode emission and assign a purely acoustic origin, not a vortical–acoustic origin, to it. We compare the results of our three-dimensional model analysis with those obtained from the model’s two-dimensional counterpart and find a significant reduction in the strain amplitudes in the former case, as well as significant reductions in all related quantities. Our dominant proto–neutron star gravitational wave emission is not well characterized by emission from surface g modes, complicating the relationship between peak frequencies observed and the mass and radius of the proto–neutron star expressed by analytic estimates under the assumption of surface g-mode emission. We present our frequency normalized characteristic strain along with the sensitivity curves of current- and next-generation gravitational wave detectors. This simple analysis indicates that the spectrum of gravitational wave emission between approximately 20 Hz and approximately 1 kHz, stemming from neutrino-driven convection, the SASI, accretion onto the proto–neutron star, and proto–neutron star convection, will be accessible for a Galactic event.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Cosmological quasiparticles and the cosmological collider

The interplay between cosmology and strongly coupled dynamics can yield transient spectral features that vanish at late times, but which may leave behind phenomenological signatures in the spectrum of primordial fluctuations. Of particular interest are strongly coupled extensions of the standard model featuring approximate conformal invariance. In flat space, the spectral density for a scalar operator in a conformal field theory is characterized by a continuum with scaling law governed by the dimension of the operator, and is otherwise featureless. Anti–de Sitter/conformal field theory arguments suggest that for large 𝑁, in an inflationary background with Hubble rate 𝐻, this continuum is gapped. We demonstrate that there can be additional peak structures that become sharp and particlelike at phenomenologically interesting regions in parameter space, and we estimate their contribution to cosmological observables. We find phenomena that are potentially observable in future experiments that are unique to these models, including displaced oscillatory features in the squeezed limit of the bispectrum. These particles can be either fundamental, and localized to a UV brane, or composite at the Hubble scale, 𝐻, and bound to a horizon in the bulk of the 5D geometry. We comment on how stabilization of conformal symmetry breaking vacua can be correlated with these spectral features and their phenomenology.

conformal field theory↗

Charge Management for an Inductively Charged On-Demand Battery-Electric Shuttle Service with High Penetration of Renewable Energy

This paper presents a charge management control strategy for an on-demand battery-electric shuttle van operating at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) campus and supported by day-time inductive charging at the vehicle's waiting spot. A new control algorithm has been proposed for reducing the demand charge costs incurred from wireless charging of the on-demand shuttle. A custom controller has been developed to monitor the shuttle, wireless charger, renewable energy generation, and various loads at NREL's campus, and regulate charging behavior for demand response. The intermittent renewable generation and sporadic operation of the on-demand shuttle service contribute to a high level of uncertainty in expected campus load profile, which must be carefully managed. The control algorithm predicts energy profile to estimate the mobility needs of the vehicle and maintain uninterrupted service during operation while still minimizing peak demand. The proposed controller has been designed and optimized using a Simulink model for the entire system. Next, it has been implemented and tested in real-time on the NREL campus. Two primary vehicle-use cases, charge sustaining and charge depletion operation, are tested under different load profiles and drive cycles to assess the controller's effectiveness at reducing peak demand and therefore demand charges. The proposed controller showed robust performance under different driving scenarios with high correlation between simulated and experimental data. The results showed that proper demand response can be achieved with an average of 94% reduction of charging loads during peak demand events.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY STORAGE↗

Real-Time Implementation of Smart Wireless Charging of On-Demand Shuttle Service for Demand Charge Mitigation

This paper presents a smart charge management strategy for an on-demand electric shuttle operating at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) campus and supported by an inductive charger at the vehicle's waiting spot. A new control algorithm has been proposed for mitigating the demand charges incurred from the wireless charger. It monitors the shuttle, wireless charger, renewable energy generation, and other loads and regulates charging behavior for demand charge mitigation. Within the control algorithm, an energy prediction is made to estimate the mobility needs of the vehicle and maintain uninterrupted service during operation while still minimizing peak demand. The proposed controller is designed and optimized using a Simulink model for the entire system. It is then implemented and tested in real time at the NREL campus using online cloud services. Two vehicle-use cases' charge-sustaining and charge-depletion operation' are tested under different campus power profiles and drive cycles to assess the controller's performance. In this work, the proposed controller showed a robust performance under different driving scenarios, with high correlation between simulation and experimental data. The results show that proper demand response can be achieved, with an average of 94% reduction of charging loads during peak demand events.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Overcoming environmental constraints to high-yielding eastern cottonwood productivity in the southeastern United States

The global demand for biomass is rising, and Populus species are among the most productive temperate woody plants. This 6-year study, conducted in Sumter County, South Carolina, USA evaluated the effects of supplemental irrigation and fertilization on crown and leaf traits, dry weight productivity, and clonal variation in Populus deltoides. Eight commercially available clones (‘ST148’, ‘S2C20’, ‘3167’, ‘ST72’, ‘20WV’, ‘S7C1’, ‘ST70’, and ‘S7C15’) were assessed. Drip irrigation was applied to maintain soil tension at either 33 kPa (15% volumetric soil moisture) or 1500 kPa (10%). Nutrient treatments via weekly fertigation applications consisted of two levels: a high annual rate (initially 85 kg elemental nitrogen ha−1 year−1, increasing to 182 kg ha−1 year−1 at Year 3, then reduced to 135 kg ha−1 year−1 thereafter) and a low rate at 50% of the high treatment. Dry weight yields were estimated using standing tree measurements. Results revealed significant clonal differences in leaf area index (LAI) that peaked in Year 3, with the fastest-growing clones exhibiting lower LAI values. At Ages 2 and 3, these clones also showed higher concentrations of K, Ca, B, Cu, and Mn in leaves, along with lower Mg and Zn concentrations. Both annual height and diameter growth varied significantly by treatment and clone, with the largest height increases observed in the low fertilizer treatments from Year 3 onward. Biomass production in all irrigated plots exceeded that of non-irrigated plots across all biomass components at Ages 4, 5, and 6. Furthermore, stem-to-root dry weight ratios increased more rapidly in the best-performing treatment–clone combinations compared to non-irrigated plots. Notably, P. deltoides plots receiving fertilizer had higher soil carbon concentrations (i.e., percent C) compared to adjacent sweetgum, sycamore, and agricultural plots. These findings highlight the potential of targeted irrigation strategies to enhance biomass productivity in P. deltoides plantations.

Tuskan, Gerald [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000301061289)↗