Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “SCALARS”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

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

Geometry of soft scalars at one loop

We extend the soft theorems for scattering amplitudes of scalar effective field theories to one-loop order. Our analysis requires carefully accounting for the fact that the soft limit is not guaranteed to commute with evaluating IR-divergent loop integrals; new results for the soft limit of general scalar one-loop integrals are presented. The geometric soft theorem remains unmodified for any derivatively-coupled scalar effective field theory, and we conjecture that this statement holds to all orders. In contrast, the soft theorem receives nontrivial corrections in the presence of potential interactions, analogous to the case of non-Abelian gauge theories. We derive the universal leading-order correction to the scalar soft theorem arising from potential interactions at one loop. Explicit examples are provided that illustrate the general results.

differential and algebraic geometry↗
DOE OSTI2021

Conformal symmetries for extremal black holes with general asymptotic scalars in STU supergravity

We present a construction of the most general BPS black holes of STU supergravity (N = 2 supersymmetric D = 4 supergravity coupled to three vector super-multiplets) with arbitrary asymptotic values of the scalar fields. These solutions are obtained by acting with a subset of the global symmetry generators on STU BPS black holes with zero values of the asymptotic scalars, both in the U-duality and the heterotic frame. The solutions are parameterized by fourteen parameters: four electric and four magnetic charges, and the asymptotic values of the six scalar fields. We also present BPS black hole solutions of a consistently truncated STU supergravity, which are parameterized by two electric and two magnetic charges and two scalar fields. These latter solutions are significantly simplified, and are very suitable for further explicit studies. We also explore a conformal inversion symmetry of the Couch-Torrence type, which maps any member of the fourteen-parameter family of BPS black holes to another member of the family. Furthermore, these solutions are expected to be valuable in the studies of various swampland conjectures in the moduli space of string compactifications.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Missing scalars at the cosmological collider

Light scalar fields typically develop spatially varying backgrounds during inflation. Very often they do not directly affect the density perturbations, but interact with other fields that do leave nontrivial signals in primordial perturbations. In this sense they become “missing scalars” at the cosmological collider. We study potentially observable signals of these missing scalars, focusing on a special example where a missing scalar distorts the usual oscillatory features in the squeezed bispectrum. The distortion is also a useful signal distinguishing the de Sitter background induced thermal mass from a constant intrinsic mass.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Self-similarity of scalar isosurface area density in a temporal mixing layer

Understanding the behaviour of scalar isosurfaces in a turbulent flow is of particular interest for many problems in turbulent mixing that contain sharp interfaces between regions of the flow. Common examples include combustion, where the chemical reactions occur in thin regions within the flow, and the turbulent/non-turbulent interface in shear flows, where a thin region separates the rotational, turbulent motions from the irrotational, non-turbulent background. Recent advances in computing technology allow for in-depth analysis of these interface problems that are difficult to quantify in a laboratory setting. In this paper, the results of a direct numerical simulation of a passive scalar $\varPhi$ evolving on a turbulent, temporally developing mixing layer are described. A novel approach has been taken to calculate the surface area of individual scalar isosurfaces, $A_{iso}$ , throughout the simulation, as well as the mean isosurface area density, $\varSigma$ , as a function of the cross-stream direction and time. A notable finding is that the profiles of $\varSigma$ develop in a self-similar manner when scaled by the Taylor scale of the scalar field, $\lambda _\phi$ . Remarkably, the scaling appears to hold for a wide range of isovalues. A rough scaling argument based on the formal definition of $\varSigma$ and properties of a temporal mixing layer is presented which also exposes a dependence on $\lambda _\phi$ . Based on these results, a possible scaling for the isosurface area is presented as $A_{iso}/A_0 \sim (Re \, Sc)^{1/2}$ , where $Re$ and $Sc$ are local Reynolds and Schmidt numbers, respectively.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Simultaneous measurements of kinetic and scalar energy spectrum time evolution in the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability upon reshock

The Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (Richtmyer, Commun. Pure Appl. Maths , vol. 13, issue 2, 1960, pp. 297–319; Meshkov, Fluid Dyn. , vol. 4, issue 5, 1972, pp. 101–104) of a twice-shocked gas interface is studied using both high spatial resolution single-shot (SS) and lower spatial resolution, time-resolved, high-speed (HS) simultaneous planar laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry in the Wisconsin Shock Tube Laboratory's vertical shock tube. The initial condition (IC) is a shear layer with broadband diffuse perturbations at the interface between a helium–acetone mixture and argon. This IC is accelerated by a shock of nominal strength Mach number $M = 1.75$ , and then accelerated again by the transmitted shock that reflects off the end wall of the tube. An ensemble of experiments is analysed after reshock while the interface mixing width grows linearly with time. The kinetic and scalar energy spectra and the terms of their evolution equation are calculated and compared between SS and HS experiments. The inertial range scaling of the scalar power spectrum is found to follow Gibson's relation (Gibson, Phys. Fluids , vol. 11, issue 11, 1968, pp. 2316–2327) as a function of Schmidt number when the effective turbulent Schmidt number is used in place of the material Schmidt number that controls equilibrium scaling. Further, the spatially integrated scalar flux follows similar behaviour observed for the kinetic energy in large eddy simulation studies by Zeng et al. ( Phys. Fluids , vol. 30, issue 6, 2018, 064106) while the spatially varying scalar flux exhibits back scatter along the centre of the mixing layer and forward energy transfer in the spike and bubble regions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Self-similar Reynolds-averaged mechanical–scalar turbulence models for Rayleigh–Taylor, Richtmyer–Meshkov, and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability-induced mixing in the small Atwood number limit

Analytical self-similar solutions to two-, three-, and four-equation Reynolds-averaged mechanical–scalar turbulence models describing incompressible turbulent Rayleigh–Taylor, Richtmyer–Meshkov, and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability-induced mixing in planar geometry are derived in the small Atwood number (Boussinesq) limit. The models are based on the turbulent kinetic energy K and its dissipation rate ε, together with the scalar (heavy-fluid mass fraction) variance S and its dissipation rate Χ modeled either differentially or algebraically. The models allow for a simultaneous description of mechanical and scalar mixing, i.e., mixing layer growth and molecular mixing, respectively. Mixing layer growth parameters and other physical observables relevant to each instability are obtained explicitly as functions of the model coefficients. The turbulent fields are also expressed in terms of the model coefficients, with their temporal power-law scalings obtained by requiring that the self-similar equations are explicitly time-independent. The model calibration methodology is described and discussed. Expressions for a subset of the various physical observables are used to calibrate each of the two-, three-, and four-equation models, such that the self-similar solutions are consistent with experimental and numerical simulation data corresponding to these values of the observables and to specific canonical Rayleigh–Taylor, Richtmyer–Meshkov, and Kelvin–Helmholtz turbulent flows. A calibrated four-equation model is then used to reconstruct the mean and turbulent fields, and late-time turbulent equation budgets for each instability-induced flow across the mixing layer. The reference solutions derived here can provide systematic calibrations and better understanding of mechanical–scalar turbulence models and their predictions for instability-induced turbulent mixing in the very large Reynolds number limit.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Self-similar Reynolds-averaged mechanical–scalar turbulence models for reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov instability-induced mixing in the small Atwood number limit

Analytical self-similar solutions to two-, three-, and four-equation Reynolds-averaged mechanical–scalar turbulence models describing incompressible turbulent Richtmyer–Meshkov instability-induced mixing in planar geometry derived in the small Atwood number limit are extended to construct models for reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov mixing. In this study, the models are based on the turbulent kinetic energy K and its dissipation rate ε, together with the scalar variance S and its dissipation rate χ modeled either differentially or algebraically. The three- and four-equation models allow for a simultaneous description of mechanical and scalar mixing, i.e., mixing layer growth and molecular mixing. Mixing layer growth parameters and other physical observables were obtained explicitly as functions of the model coefficients and were used to calibrate the model coefficients. Here, the solutions for the singly shocked Richtmyer–Meshkov case for the mixing layer width and the turbulent fields are used to construct piecewise-continuous generalizations of these quantities for times after reshock. For generality, the post-reshock mixing layer width is not assumed to grow with the same power-law as the pre-reshock width, and an impulsive approximation applied to Rayleigh–Taylor instability growth is used to establish the expression for the post-reshock width. A four-equation model is then used to illustrate the spatiotemporal behavior of the mean and turbulent fields and late-time turbulent equation budgets across the mixing layer. The reference solutions derived here can provide systematic calibrations and better understanding of mechanical–scalar turbulence models and their predictions for reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov instability-induced turbulent mixing in the very large Reynolds number limit.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observational prospects of self-interacting scalar superradiance with next-generation gravitational-wave detectors

Abstract Current- and next-generation gravitational-wave observatories may reveal new, ultralight bosons. Through the superradiance process, these theoretical particle candidates can form clouds around astrophysical black holes and result in detectable gravitational-wave radiation. In the absence of detections, constraints—contingent on astrophysical assumptions—have been derived using LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA data on boson masses. However, the searches for ultralight scalars to date have not adequately considered self-interactions between particles. Self-interactions that significantly alter superradiance dynamics are generically present for many scalar models, including axion-like dark matter candidates and string axions. We implement the most complete treatment of particle self-interactions available to determine the gravitational-wave signatures expected from superradiant scalar clouds and revisit the constraints obtained in a past gravitational-wave search targeting the black hole in Cygnus X-1. We also project the reach of next-generation gravitational-wave observatories to scalar particle parameter space in the mass-coupling plane. We find that while proposed observatories have insufficient reach to self-interactions that can halt black hole spin-down, next-generation observatories are essential for expanding the search beyond gravitational parameter space and can reach a mass and interaction scale of ∼ 10 − 13 –10 −12 eV / c 2 and ≳ 10 17 GeV, respectively.

Collaviti, Spencer (ORCID:0009000372808236)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Temporal evolution of scalar modes in Richtmyer–Meshkov instability of inclined interface using high-speed PIV and PLIF measurements at 60 kHz

Abstract The current work presents simultaneous, high-speed measurements at 60,000 fields per second of velocity and mole fraction using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser induced acetone-fluorescence in a Richtmyer–Meshkov instability of an inclined interface (Atwood number, At = 0.22). Specifically, around 2 ms of temporal evolution of the vortex structures and their associated scalar modes immediately following the interface-reshock interaction is presented. Two initial interface conditions are discussed—(a) a sharp, inclined ‘single mode’ interface and (b) a ‘multi-mode’ interface where small perturbations are imposed on the single mode case. A 2D wavelet decomposition of the scalar flow field shows a highly intermittent distribution of small-scale variance throughout the interface even at late times. These are correlated strongly with the vortex structures and local turbulence intensity, where each small-scale scalar mode is sandwiched between two co-rotating vortex structures. This indicates that the interstitial regions between the vortices are significant hotspots of entrainment, which is then dispersed by the induced, counter-flow velocity fields. The multimode case demonstrates similar organization at large scales, while the scalar field is much more homogeneous at smaller scales. These observations highlight the importance of capturing the early time vortex evolution to accurately estimate any late time intermittency, especially where deposition of intense vorticity on sharp interfaces is present.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2020

Revisiting supernova constraints on a light CP-even scalar

A light CP-even Standard Model (SM) gauge-singlet scalar S can be produced abundantly in the supernova core, via the nucleon bremsstrahlung process NN → NNS, due to its mixing with the SM Higgs boson. Including the effective S coupling to both nucleons and the pion mediators, we evaluate the production amplitude for the S particle and point out a key difference with the well-known light CP-odd scalar (axion) and vector boson (dark photon) cases. Taking the subsequent decay and re-absorption of S into account, we present a complete calculation of the energy loss rate for the S particle. We then use the SN1987A luminosity constraints to derive updated supernova limits on the mixing of the scalar S with the SM Higgs boson. We find that the mixing angle sin θ with the SM Higgs is excluded only in the narrow range of 3.9 × 10 -7 to 7.0 × 10 -6 , depending on the scalar mass up to about 147 MeV, beyond which the supernova limit disappears.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Light scalars in neutron star mergers

Due to their unique set of multimessenger signals, neutron star mergers have emerged as a novel environment for studies of new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). As a case study, we consider the simplest extension of the SM scalar sector involving a light CP-even scalar singlet S mixing with the SM Higgs boson. These S particles can be produced abundantly in neutron star mergers via the nucleon bremsstrahlung process. Here, we show that the S particles may either be trapped in or stream freely out of the merger remnant, depending on the S mass, its mixing with the SM Higgs boson, and the temperature and baryon density in the merger. In the free-streaming region, the scalar S will provide an extra channel to cool down the merger remnant, with cooling timescales as small as Script O(ms). On the other hand, in the trapped region, the Bose gas of S particles could contribute a larger thermal conductivity than the trapped neutrinos in some parts of the parameter space, thus leading to faster thermal equilibration than expected. Therefore, future observations of the early postmerger phase of a neutron star merger could effectively probe a unique range of the S parameter space, largely complementary to the existing and future laboratory and supernova limits. In view of these results, we hope the merger simulation community will be motivated to implement the effects of light CP-even scalars into their simulations in both the free-streaming and trapped regimes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Search for the production of Higgs-portal scalar bosons in the NuMI beam using the MicroBooNE detector

We present the strongest experimental limits to date on the mixing angle, 𝜃, with which a new scalar particle, 𝑆, mixes with the Higgs field in the mass range 110 MeV < 𝑚 𝑆 <155 MeV. This result uses the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber to search for decays of these Higgs-portal scalar particles through the 𝑆 → 𝑒 + ⁢𝑒 − channel with the decays of kaons in the NuMI neutrino beam acting as the source of the scalar particles. The analysis uses an exposure of 2.01 × 10 21 protons on target of NuMI beam data including periods when the beam focusing system was configured to focus positively charged hadrons and separate periods when negatively charged hadrons were focused. The analysis searches for scalar particles produced from kaons decaying in flight in the beam’s decay volume and at rest in the target and absorber. At 𝑚 𝑆 =125 MeV (𝑚 𝑆 =150 MeV) we set a limit of 𝜃 < 3.19 ×10 −4 (𝜃 < 2.79 ×10 −4 ) at the 95% confidence level.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for decays of the Higgs boson into scalar particles decaying into four or six 𝑏 quarks using 𝑝⁢𝑝 collisions at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson 𝐻 into new scalar or pseudoscalar particles that subsequently decay into 𝑏-quarks is presented. The search considers 𝑍⁢𝐻 production with several decay scenarios for the Higgs boson; first to a pair of identical scalars, 𝐻 → 2⁢𝑎 → 4⁢𝑏, second to a pair of scalars with different masses (𝑚 𝑎⁢1 < 𝑚 𝑎⁢2 ), either directly, 𝐻 → 𝑎 1 ⁢𝑎 2 → 4⁢𝑏, or via a longer decay chain, 𝐻 → 𝑎 1 ⁢𝑎 2 → 3⁢𝑎 1 → 6⁢𝑏. The analysis uses proton-proton collision data at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ = 13 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb −1 . No significant excess above the Standard Model prediction is observed. The search sets upper limits at 95% confidence level on the ratio of the Higgs boson production cross section to the SM prediction times the branching ratio of Higgs bosons decaying into 4⁢𝑏 or 6⁢𝑏, between 4% and 25% for 𝜎⁡(𝑍⁢𝐻)/𝜎 SM ⁡(𝑍⁢𝐻) × ℬ⁡(𝐻→ 2⁢𝑎→ 4⁢𝑏), between 24% and 38% for 𝜎⁡(𝑍⁢𝐻)/𝜎 SM ⁡(𝑍⁢𝐻) × ℬ⁡(𝐻 → 𝑎 1 ⁢𝑎 2 → 4⁢𝑏), and between 10% and 20% for 𝜎⁡(𝑍⁢𝐻)/𝜎 SM ⁡(𝑍⁢𝐻) × ℬ⁡(𝐻→𝑎 1⁢ 𝑎 2 → 3⁢𝑎 1 → 6⁢𝑏), depending on the masses of the scalar particles.

extensions of Higgs sector↗
DOE OSTI2024

Scalar bounded-from-below conditions from Bayesian active learning

We present a procedure leveraging Bayesian deep active learning to rapidly produce highly accurate approximate bounded-from-below conditions for arbitrary renormalizable scalar potentials, in the form of a neural network which may be saved and exported for use in arbitrary parameter space scans. We explore the performance of our procedure on three different scalar potentials with either highly nontrivial or unknown symbolic bounded-from-below conditions (the most general two-Higgs doublet model, the three-Higgs doublet model, and a version of the Georgi-Machacek model without custodial symmetry). We find that we can produce fast and highly accurate binary classifiers for all three potentials. Furthermore, for the potentials for which no known symbolic necessary and sufficient conditions on boundedness-from-below exist, our classifiers substantially outperform some common approximate analytical methods, such as producing tractable sufficient but not necessary conditions or evaluating boundedness-from-below conditions for scenarios in which only a subset of the theory’s fields achieve vacuum expectation values. Our methodology can be readily adapted to any renormalizable scalar field theory. For the community’s use, we have developed a package, BFBrain, which allows for the rapid implementation of our analysis procedure on user-specified scalar potentials with a high degree of customizability. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Diphoton signals of muon-philic scalars at DarkQuest

We analyze the capability of the DarkQuest proton beam-dump experiment at Fermilab to discover new light resonances decaying into photons. As an example model, we focus on muon-philic scalar particles that decay to photons. This is one of the few minimal models that can address the ( g − 2 ) μ anomaly at low mass. These scalars can be copiously produced by meson decays and muon bremsstrahlung. We point out that thanks to DarkQuest’s compact geometry, muons can propagate through the dump and efficiently produce dark scalars near the end of the dump. This mechanism enables DarkQuest to be sensitive to both long-lived and prompt scalars. At the same time, diphoton signatures are generically not background free, and we discuss in detail the different sources of background and strategies to mitigate them. We find that the backgrounds can be sufficiently reduced for DarkQuest to test currently viable ( g − 2 ) μ parameter space. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Blinov, Nikita (ORCID:000000022845961X)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mass generation in an Abelian gauge theory with multiple scalar fields and no tree-level dimensionful couplings

We study the Abelian Higgs model with multiple scalar fields, but without mass terms. Solving the model nonperturbatively order-by-order in the number of scalar fields, we find that radiative corrections generate masses for the scalar and gauge boson, without spontaneous symmetry breaking. The mass scales are set by the Λ -parameter of the electroweak running coupling, thereby naturally avoiding the hierarchy problem. No part of our calculation employs a weak-coupling expansion, and we find that the perturbative vacuum is metastable, and hence must decay to the stable nonperturbative vacuum of the theory, which we identify. Although the field content of our Lagrangian is standard, our results predict the existence of two heavy scalar resonances in addition to the Higgs. We believe that these predicted resonances will ultimately allow experimentalists to discriminate between our method and standard solutions of the Higgs model. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

RG-stable parameter relations of a scalar field theory in absence of a symmetry

Abstract The stability of tree-level relations among the parameters of a quantum field theory with respect to renormalization group (RG) running is typically explained by the existence of a symmetry. We examine a toy model of a quantum field theory of two real scalars in which a tree-level relation among the squared-mass parameters of the scalar potential appears to be RG-stable without the presence of an appropriate underlying symmetry. The stability of this relation with respect to renormalization group running can be explained by complexifying the original scalar field theory. It is then possible to exhibit a symmetry that guarantees the relations of relevant beta functions of squared-mass parameters of the complexified theory. Among these relations, we can identify equations that are algebraically identical to the corresponding equations that guarantee the stability of the relations among the squared-mass parameters of the original real scalar field theory where the symmetry of the complexified theory is no longer present.

Haber, Howard E. (ORCID:0000000173388104)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Octet scalars shaping LHC distributions in 4-jet final states

We study properties of a hypothetical scalar particle, Θ, which is a color octet and an electroweak singlet. At hadron colliders, Θ is pair produced through its QCD coupling to gluons, so that its mass determines the cross section. It decays at tree level into $q\bar{q}$ through dimension-5 operators, and at one loop into gluons. Thus, the main LHC signature of Θ is a pair of dijets of equal invariant mass. The CMS search in this channel shows a 3.6σ excess over the QCD background for a dijet mass M jj ≈ 0.95 TeV, which can be due to Θ : its production cross section (65 fb for a real scalar) and the acceptance of the CMS event selection applied to pp → ΘΘ → ($q\bar{q}$) ($q\bar{q}$) yield a rate consistent with the excess. Furthermore, the shape of the dσ/dM jj signal is in agreement with the CMS result. Given the data-driven background fit performed by CMS, we find that a complex scalar (whose production rate is twice as large) fits better the data than a real scalar. Besides the pair of dijets, testable LHC signals include a trijet-dijet topology, a $t\bar{t}$ pair plus a dijet resonance, as well as final states involving a Higgs, W or Z boson plus jets.

Dobrescu, Bogdan A. [Fermi National Accelerator La↗