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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

CMB-S4: Foreground-cleaning Pipeline Comparison for Measuring Primordial Gravitational Waves

We compare multiple foreground-cleaning pipelines for estimating the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r, using simulated maps of the planned CMB-S4 experiment within the context of the South Pole Deep Patch. To evaluate robustness, we analyze bias and uncertainty on r across various foreground suites using map-based simulations. The foreground-cleaning methods include: a parametric maximum likelihood approach applied to auto- and cross-power spectra between frequency maps; a map-based parametric maximum-likelihood method; and a harmonic-space internal linear combination using frequency maps. We summarize the conceptual basis of each method to highlight their similarities and differences. To better probe the impact of foreground residuals, we implement an iterative internal delensing step, leveraging a map-based pipeline to generate a lensing B-mode template from the large aperture telescope frequency maps. Our results show that the performance of the three approaches is comparable for simple and intermediate-complexity foregrounds, with σ(r) ranging from 3–5 ×10 −4 . However, biases at the 1σ–2σ level appear when analyzing more complex forms of foreground emission. By extending the baseline pipelines to marginalize over foreground residuals, we demonstrate that contamination can be reduced to within statistical uncertainties, albeit with a pipeline-dependent impact on σ(r), which translates to a detection significance between 2σ and 4σ for an input value of r = 0.003. These findings suggest varying levels of maturity among the tested pipelines, with the auto- and cross-spectra-based approach demonstrating the best stability and overall performance. Moreover, given the extremely low noise levels, mutual validation of independent foreground-cleaning pipelines is essential to ensure the robustness of any potential detection.

astronomy data analysis↗
DOE OSTI2021

Point-spread Function Deconvolution of the IFU Data and Restoration of Galaxy Stellar Kinematics

We present a performance test of the point-spread function (PSF) deconvolution algorithm applied to astronomical integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy data for restoration of galaxy kinematics. We deconvolve the IFU data by applying the Lucy–Richardson algorithm to the 2D image slice at each wavelength. We demonstrate that the algorithm can effectively recover the true stellar kinematics of the galaxy, by using mock IFU data with a diverse combination of surface brightness profile, signal-to-noise ratio, line-of-sight geometry, and line-of-sight velocity distribution (LOSVD). In addition, we show that the proxy of the spin parameter ${\lambda }_{{R}_{e}}$ can be accurately measured from the deconvolved IFU data. We apply the deconvolution algorithm to the actual SDSS-IV MaNGA IFU survey data. The 2D LOSVD, geometry, and ${\lambda }_{{R}_{e}}$ measured from the deconvolved MaNGA IFU data exhibit noticeable differences compared to the ones measured from the original IFU data. The method can be applied to any other regular-grid IFU data to extract the PSF-deconvolved spatial information.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Linking Extragalactic Transients and Their Host Galaxy Properties: Transient Sample, Multiwavelength Host Identification, and Database Construction

Understanding the preferences of transient types for host galaxies with certain characteristics is key to studies of transient physics and galaxy evolution, as well as to transient identification and classification in the LSST era. Here we describe a value-added database of extragalactic transients—supernovae, tidal disruption events, gamma-ray bursts, and other rare events—and their host galaxy properties. Based on reported coordinates, redshifts, and host galaxies (if known) of events, we cross-identify their host galaxies or most likely host candidates in various value-added or survey catalogs, and compile the existing photometric, spectroscopic, and derived physical properties of the host galaxies in these catalogs. This new database covers photometric measurements from the far-ultraviolet to mid-infrared. Spectroscopic measurements and derived physical properties are also available for a smaller subset of hosts. For our 36,333 unique events, we have cross-identified 13,753 host galaxies using host names, plus 4480 using host coordinates. Besides those with known hosts, there are 18,100 transients with newly identified host candidates. This large database will allow explorations of the connections of transients to their hosts, including a path toward transient alert filtering and probabilistic classification based on host properties.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Recurrent Activity from Active Asteroid (248370) 2005 QN 173 : A Main-belt Comet

We present archival observations of main-belt asteroid (248370) 2005 QN 173 (also designated 433P) that demonstrate this recently discovered active asteroid (a body with a dynamically asteroidal orbit displaying a tail or coma) has had at least one additional apparition of activity near perihelion during a prior orbit. We discovered evidence of this second activity epoch in an image captured 2016 July 22 with the DECam on the 4 m Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. As of this writing, (248370) 2005 QN 173 is just the eighth active asteroid demonstrated to undergo recurrent activity near perihelion. Our analyses demonstrate (248370) 2005 QN 173 is likely a member of the active asteroid subset known as main-belt comets, a group of objects that orbit in the main asteroid belt that exhibit activity that is specifically driven by sublimation. We implement an activity detection technique, wedge photometry, that has the potential to detect tails in images of solar system objects and quantify their agreement with computed antisolar and antimotion vectors normally associated with observed tail directions. We present a catalog and an image gallery of archival observations. The object will soon become unobservable as it passes behind the Sun as seen from Earth, and when it again becomes visible (late 2022) it will be farther than 3 au from the Sun. Our findings suggest (248370) 2005 QN 173 is most active interior to 2.7 au (0.3 au from perihelion), so we encourage the community to observe and study this special object before 2021 December.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Applications of Machine Learning to Predicting Core-collapse Supernova Explosion Outcomes

Most existing criteria derived from progenitor properties of core-collapse supernovae are not very accurate in predicting explosion outcomes. We present a novel look at identifying the explosion outcome of core-collapse supernovae using a machine-learning approach. Informed by a sample of 100 2D axisymmetric supernova simulations evolved with F ornax , we train and evaluate a random forest classifier as an explosion predictor. Furthermore, we examine physics-based feature sets including the compactness parameter, the Ertl condition, and a newly developed set that characterizes the silicon/oxygen interface. With over 1500 supernovae progenitors from 9-27 M ⊙ , we additionally train an autoencoder to extract physics-agnostic features directly from the progenitor density profiles. We find that the density profiles alone contain meaningful information regarding their explodability. Both the silicon/oxygen and autoencoder features predict the explosion outcome with ≈90% accuracy. In anticipation of much larger multidimensional simulation sets, we identify future directions in which machine-learning applications will be useful beyond the explosion outcome prediction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2023

Small-Scale Magnetic Flux Ropes in Stream Interaction Regions From Parker Solar Probe and Wind Spacecraft Observations

Using in situ measurements from the Parker Solar Probe and Wind spacecraft, we investigate the small-scale magnetic flux ropes (SFRs) and their properties inside stream interaction regions (SIRs). Within SIRs from ∼0.15 to 1 au, SFRs are found to exist in a wide range of solar wind speeds with more frequent occurrences after the stream interface, and the Alfvénicity of these structures decreases significantly with increasing heliocentric distances. Furthermore, we examine the variation of five corresponding SIRs from the same solar sources. The enhancements of suprathermal electrons within these SIRs persist at 1 au and are observed multiple times. An SFR appears to occur repeatedly with the recurring SIRs and is traversed by the Wind spacecraft at least twice. This set of SFRs has similarities in variations of the magnetic field components, plasma bulk properties, density ratio of solar wind alpha and proton particles, and unidirectional suprathermal electrons. We also show, through the detailed time-series plots and Grad–Shafranov reconstruction results, that they possess the same chirality and carry comparable amounts of magnetic flux. Lastly, we discuss the possibility for these recurring SFRs to be formed via interchange reconnection, maintain the connection with the Sun, and survive up to 1 au.

Solar wind↗
NASA NTRS2001

Metal Mesh Fabrication and Testing for Infrared Astronomy and ISO Science Programs; ISO GO Data Analysis and LWS Instrument Team Activities

This research program addresses astrophysics research with the Infrared Space Observatory's Long Wavelength Spectrometer (ISO-LWS), including efforts to supply ISO-LWS with superior metal mesh filters. This grant has, over the years, enabled Dr. Smith in his role as a Co-Investigator on the satellite, the PI (Principal Investigator) on the Extragalactic Science Team, and a member of the Calibration and performance working groups. The emphasis of the budget in this proposal is in support of Dr. Smith's Infrared Space Observatory research. This program began (under a different grant number) while Dr. Smith was at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and was transferred to SAO with a change in number. While Dr. Smith was a visiting Discipline Scientist at NASA HQ the program was in abeyance, but it has resumed in full since his return to SAO. The Infrared Space Observatory mission was launched in November, 1996, and since then has successfully completed its planned lifetime mission. Data are currently being calibrated to the 2% level.

Smith, Howard A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

An analysis of Jupiter data from the RAE-1 satellite

The analysis of Radio Astronomy Explorer Satellite data are presented. Radio bursts from Jupiter are reported in the frequency range 4700 KHz to 45 KHz. Strong correlations with lo were found at 4700, 3930, and 2200 KHz, while an equally strong Europa effect was observed at 1300, 900, and 700 KHz. Histograms indicating the relative probability and the successful identification of Jupiter activity were plotted, using automatic computer and visual search techniques.

Carr, T. D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Voyager planetary radio astronomy studies

Analysis of nonthermal radio emission data obtained by the Planetary Radio Astronomy (PRA) spectrometers on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft was performed. This PRA data provided unique insights into the radio emission characteristics of the outer planets because of PRA's unique spectral response below the terrestrial ionospheric plasma frequency and its unprecedented proximity to the source. Of those results which were documented or published, this final report surveys only the highlights and cites references for more complete discussions. Unpublished results for Uranus, Neptune, and theoretical Ionian current distributions are presented at greater length. The most important conclusion to be drawn from these observations is that banded spectral emission is common to the radio emission below 1-2 MHz observed from all four Jovian planets. In every case multiple spectral features evolve on time scales of seconds to minutes. To the extent these features drift in frequency, they appear never to cross one another. The Neptunian spectral features appear to drift little or not at all, their evolution consisting principally of waxing and waning. Since other evidence strongly suggests that most or all of this radio emission is occurring near the local magnetospheric electron cyclotron frequency, this implies that this emission preferentially occurs at certain continually changing planetary radii. It remains unknown why certain radii might be favored, unless radial electric field components or other means serve to differentiate radially the magnetospheric plasma density, particle energy vectors, or particle coherence. Calculation of the spatial distribution and intensity of the Io-generated magnetospheric currents are also presented; these currents may be limited principally by wave impedance and local field strengths.

Staelin, David H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Making the most of missing values : object clustering with partial data in astronomy

We demonstrate a clustering analysis algorithm, KSC, that a) uses all observed values and b) does not discard the partially observed objects. KSC uses soft constraints defined by the fully observed objects to assist in the grouping of objects with missing values. We present an analysis of objects taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to demonstrate how imputing the values can be misleading and why the KSC approach can produce more appropriate results.

clustering↗
DOE OSTI2023

What drives the variance of galaxy spectra?

We present a study aimed at understanding the physical phenomena underlying the formation and evolution of galaxies following a data-driven analysis of spectroscopic data based on the variance in a carefully selected sample. We apply principal component analysis (PCA) independently to three subsets of continuum-subtracted optical spectra, segregated into their nebular emission activity as quiescent, star-forming, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We emphasize that the variance of the input data in this work only relates to the absorption lines in the photospheres of the stellar populations. The sample is taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in the stellar velocity dispersion range 100–150 km s −1 , to minimize the ‘blurring’ effect of the stellar motion. We restrict the analysis to the first three principal components (PCs) and find that PCA segregates the three types with the highest variance mapping SSP-equivalent age, along with an inextricable degeneracy with metallicity, even when all three PCs are included. Spectral fitting shows that stellar age dominates PC1, whereas PC2 and PC3 have a mixed dependence of age and metallicity. The trends support – independently of any model fitting – the hypothesis of an evolutionary sequence from star formation to AGN to quiescence. As a further test of the consistency of the analysis, we apply the same methodology in different spectral windows, finding similar trends, but the variance is maximal in the blue wavelength range, roughly around the 4000 Å break.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1985

Statistical analysis of astronomical data containing upper bounds - General methods and examples drawn from X-ray astronomy

Statistical procedures taken from the field of survival analysis have been adapted to astronomical usage and have been applied to a sample of stars in the B-V color range between 0.1 and 0.5 with measured soft X-ray luminosities and projected equatorial velocities. The two-sample problem and linear regression problem with arbitrarily censored data were studied. A new method for determining the linear regression between two random variables in the presence of arbitrary censoring has been developed which can also be used for a likelihood-ratio test for the independence of two random variables and for principal-component analysis in the presence of arbitrary censoring. The required numerical computations can be carried out straightforwardly and rapidly.

Schmitt, J. H. M. M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

A selection function toolbox for subsets of astronomical catalogues

ABSTRACT Large catalogues are ubiquitous throughout astronomy, but most scientific analyses are carried out on smaller samples selected from these catalogues by chosen cuts on catalogued quantities. The selection function of that scientific sample – the probability that a star in the catalogue will satisfy these cuts and so make it into the sample – is thus unique to each scientific analysis. We have created a general framework that can flexibly estimate the selection function of a sample drawn from a catalogue in terms of position, magnitude and colour. Our method is unique in using the binomial likelihood and accounting for correlations in the selection function across position, magnitude, and colour using Gaussian processes and spherical harmonics. We have created a new open-source python package selectionfunctiontoolbox that implements this framework and used it to make three different estimates of the APOGEE DR16 red giant sample selection function, as a subset of 2MASS, with each estimate using an increasing amount of technical knowledge of the APOGEE targeting. In a companion paper, we applied our methodology to derive estimates of the astrometric and spectroscopic selection functions of Gaia EDR3. Our framework will make it trivial for astrophysicists to estimate the selection function that they should be using with the custom sample of stars that they have chosen to answer their scientific question.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fast correlation function calculator: A high-performance pair-counting toolkit

A novel high-performance exact pair-counting toolkit called fast correlation function calculator (FCFC) is presented. With the rapid growth of modern cosmological datasets, the evaluation of correlation functions with observational and simulation catalogues has become a challenge. High-efficiency pair-counting codes are thus in great demand. We introduce different data structures and algorithms that can be used for pair-counting problems, and perform comprehensive benchmarks to identify the most efficient algorithms for real-world cosmological applications. We then describe the three levels of parallelisms used by FCFC, SIMD, OpenMP, and MPI, and run extensive tests to investigate the scalabilities. Finally, we compare the efficiency of FCFC with alternative pair-counting codes. The data structures and histogram update algorithms implemented in FCFC are shown to outperform alternative methods. FCFC does not benefit greatly from SIMD because the bottleneck of our histogram update algorithm is mainly cache latency. Nevertheless, the efficiency of FCFC scales well with the numbers of OpenMP threads and MPI processes, even though speedups may be degraded with over a few thousand threads in total. FCFC is found to be faster than most (if not all) other public pair-counting codes for modern cosmological pair-counting applications.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Intrinsic alignments of galaxies around cosmic voids

ABSTRACT The intrinsic alignments of galaxies, i.e. the correlation between galaxy shapes and their environment, are a major source of contamination for weak gravitational lensing surveys. Most studies of intrinsic alignments have so far focused on measuring and modelling the correlations of luminous red galaxies with galaxy positions or the filaments of the cosmic web. In this work, we investigate alignments around cosmic voids. We measure the intrinsic alignments of luminous red galaxies detected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey around a sample of voids constructed from those same tracers and with radii in the ranges: [20–30; 30–40; 40–50] h−1 Mpc and in the redshift range z = 0.4−0.8. We present fits to the measurements based on a linear model at large scales, and on a new model based on the void density profile inside the void and in its neighbourhood. We constrain the free scaling amplitude of our model at small scales, finding no significant alignment at 1σ for either sample. We observe a deviation from the null hypothesis, at large scales, of 2σ for voids with radii between 20 and 30 h−1 Mpc, and 1.5σ for voids with radii between 30 and 40 h−1 Mpc and constrain the amplitude of the model on these scales. We find no significant deviation at 1σ for larger voids. Our work is a first attempt at detecting intrinsic alignments of galaxy shapes around voids and provides a useful framework for their mitigation in future void lensing studies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Scaling pair count to next galaxy surveys

ABSTRACT Counting pairs of galaxies or stars according to their distance is at the core of real-space correlation analyses performed in astrophysics and cosmology. Upcoming galaxy surveys (LSST, Euclid) will measure properties of billions of galaxies challenging our ability to perform such counting in a minute-scale time relevant for the usage of simulations. The problem is only limited by efficient access to the data, hence belongs to the big data category. We use the popular Apache Spark framework to address it and design an efficient high-throughput algorithm to deal with hundreds of millions to billions of input data. To optimize it, we revisit the question of non-hierarchical sphere pixelization based on cube symmetries and develop a new one dubbed the ‘Similar Radius Sphere Pixelization’ (SARSPix) with very close to square pixels. It provides the most adapted indexing over the sphere for all distance-related computations. Using LSST-like fast simulations, we compute autocorrelation functions on tomographic bins containing between a hundred million to one billion data points. In each case, we achieve the construction of a standard pair-distance histogram in about 2 min, using a simple algorithm that is shown to scale, over a moderate number of nodes (16–64). This illustrates the potential of this new techniques in the field of astronomy where data access is becoming the main bottleneck. They can be easily adapted to other use-cases as nearest-neighbours search, catalogue cross-match or cluster finding. The software is publicly available from https://github.com/astrolabsoftware/SparkCorr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Optimizing the shape of photometric redshift distributions with clustering cross-correlations

We present an optimization method for the assignment of photometric galaxies to a chosen set of redshift bins. This is achieved by combining simulated annealing, an optimization algorithm inspired by solid-state physics, with an unsupervised machine learning method, a self-organizing map (SOM) of the observed colours of galaxies. Starting with a sample of galaxies that is divided into redshift bins based on a photometric redshift point estimate, the simulated annealing algorithm repeatedly reassigns SOM-selected subsamples of galaxies, which are close in colour, to alternative redshift bins. We optimize the clustering cross-correlation signal between photometric galaxies and a reference sample of galaxies with well-calibrated redshifts. Depending on the effect on the clustering signal, the reassignment is either accepted or rejected. By dynamically increasing the resolution of the SOM, the algorithm eventually converges to a solution that minimizes the number of mismatched galaxies in each tomographic redshift bin and thus improves the compactness of their corresponding redshift distribution. This method is demonstrated on the synthetic Legacy Survey of Space and Time cosmoDC2 catalogue. We find a significant decrease in the fraction of catastrophic outliers in the redshift distribution in all tomographic bins, most notably in the highest redshift bin with a decrease in the outlier fraction from 57 percent to 16 percent.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗