Multidimensional, experimental and modeling evaluation of permeability evolution, the Caney Shale Field Lab, OK, USA
Multidimensional, experimental and modeling evaluation of permeability evolution, the Caney Shale Field Lab, OK, USA
Katende, A.↗
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Violation of unitarity by Hawking radiation does not violate energy-momentum conservation
An argument by Banks, Susskind and Peskin (BSP), according to which violation of unitarity would violate either locality or energy-momentum conservation, is widely believed to be a strong argument against non-unitarity of Hawking radiation. We find that the whole BSP argument rests on the crucial assumption that the Hamiltonian is not highly degenerate, and point out that this assumption is not satisfied for systems with many degrees of freedom. Using Lindblad equation, we show that high degeneracy of the Hamiltonian allows local non-unitary evolution without violating energy-momentum conservation. Moreover, since energy-momentum is the source of gravity, we argue that energy-momentum is necessarily conserved for a large class of non-unitary systems with gravity. Finally, we explicitly calculate the Lindblad operators for non-unitary Hawking radiation and show that they conserve energy-momentum.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Relation Between Lightning Activity of Summer and Winter Thunderclouds and Surface Electric Field Variation, Japan
In winter, active convective clouds frequently form along the coastline of the Hokuriku district, in association with strong advection of Siberian air masses over the Sea of Japan. On the other hand, in summer, many thunderclouds form in the Kanto region in the afternoon every day. Summer and winter thunderclouds were investigated by field works, operation of the C- and X-band weather radars and a car-borne fieldmill. The investigation found a very close relation between the temporal variation of 3-dimensional radar echo and surface electric field magnitude detected by a car-borne fieldmill in the case of summer thunderclouds and winter convective clouds or thunderclouds. The study probed the close relation among radar echoes, quantity of thunderclouds and surface electric field magnitude in the summer and winter seasons. We think that summer thundercloud activity can basically be equated with winter thundercloud lightning activity, except that the magnitude of surface electric field under summer thunderclouds in the case of the Kanto region cannot be equated with that under winter thunderclouds in the case of the Hokuriku district in winter.
Michimoto, K.↗
Principles for Integrating Mars Analog Science, Operations, and Technology Research
During the Apollo program, the scientific community and NASA used terrestrial analog sites for understanding planetary features and for training astronauts to be scientists. Human factors studies (Harrison, Clearwater, & McKay 1991; Stuster 1996) have focused on the effects of isolation in extreme environments. More recently, with the advent of wireless computing, we have prototyped advanced EVA technologies for navigation, scheduling, and science data logging (Clancey 2002b; Clancey et al., in press). Combining these interests in a single expedition enables tremendous synergy and authenticity, as pioneered by Pascal Lee's Haughton-Mars Project (Lee 2001; Clancey 2000a) and the Mars Society s research stations on a crater rim on Devon Island in the High Canadian Arctic (Clancey 2000b; 2001b) and the Morrison Formation of southeast Utah (Clancey 2002a). Based on this experience, the following principles are proposed for conducting an integrated science, operations, and technology research program at analog sites: 1) Authentic work; 2) PI-based projects; 3) Unencumbered baseline studies; 4) Closed simulations; and 5) Observation and documentation. Following these principles, we have been integrating field science, operations research, and technology development at analog sites on Devon Island and in Utah over the past five years. Analytic methods include work practice simulation (Clancey 2002c; Sierhuis et a]., 2000a;b), by which the interaction of human behavior, facilities, geography, tools, and procedures are formalized in computer models. These models are then converted into the runtime EVA system we call mobile agents (Clancey 2002b; Clancey et al., in press). Furthermore, we have found that the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal (Jones, 1999) provides a vast repository or understanding astronaut and CapCom interactions, serving as a baseline for Mars operations and quickly highlighting opportunities for computer automation (Clancey, in press).
Clancey, William J.↗
RACORO Extended-Term Aircraft Observations of Boundary-Layer Clouds
A first-of-a-kind, extended-term cloud aircraft campaign was conducted to obtain an in-situ statistical characterization of boundary-layer clouds needed to investigate cloud processes and refine retrieval algorithms. Coordinated by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerial Facility (AAF), the Routine AAF Clouds with Low Optical Water Depths (CLOWD) Optical Radiative Observations (RACORO) field campaign operated over the ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) site from 22 January to 30 June 2009, collecting 260 h of data during 59 research flights. A comprehensive payload aboard the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) Twin Otter aircraft measured cloud microphysics, solar and thermal radiation, aerosol properties, and atmospheric state parameters. Proximity to the SGP's extensive complement of surface measurements provides ancillary data that supports modeling studies and enables evaluating a variety of surface retrieval algorithms. The five-month duration enabled sampling a range of conditions associated with the seasonal transition from winter to summer. Although about two-thirds of the cloud flights occurred in May and June, boundary-layer cloud fields were sampled under a variety of environmental and aerosol conditions, with about 75% of the flights occurring in cumulus and stratocumulus. Preliminary analyses show how these data are being used to analyze cloud-aerosol relationships, determine the aerosol sizes that are responsible for nucleating cloud drops, characterize the horizontal variability of the cloud radiative impacts, and evaluate air-borne and surface-based cloud property retrievals. We discuss how conducting an extended-term campaign requires a simplified operating paradigm that is different from that used for typical, short-term, intensive aircraft field programs.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Preparing for Lunar Exploration: Geology and Field Training for Astronauts
NASA astronauts will soon return to the Moon, this time to the lunar south pole. Astronauts will perform traverses, make geologic observations, and collect samples to return to Earth. Lessons from Apollo show that science returns were optimized because crews were well-trained in both spacewalk operations and field geology. In that spirit, our team of geologists introduced a revised geologic training program for in-coming NASA astronauts that includes classroom activities and fieldwork and is split over 2 years. Year 1 focuses on an introduction to geologic concepts capped by a field exercise. Year two focuses on climate change, the Moon, other planets, and additional fieldwork. Our geology curriculum supports astronaut observations from the ISS and is the foundation for future Artemis geology training, which will include lunar science and increasingly complex field training in planetary-relevant locations. A final piece of our training program provides geology and field mapping experiences for NASA engineers, flight controllers, and managers, to help them understand the principles of fieldwork and relevance to lunar exploration. The Year 1 geology training must be an effective introduction for astronauts who have little or no background in geology. We focus the training around a narrowly defined field problem and use a week of classroom training to prepare the astronauts with the specific skills and background they need to carry out a field exercise on volcanic features, structures, and landforms of the Taos Plateau, New Mexico. Classroom modules are hands-on, using satellite imagery, maps, analog models, and samples, and provide the astronauts with specific and relevant experience in how to make observations and describe what they see, recognize, and interpret patterns, infer processes from products, and analyze relationships to build a story based on evidence from a variety of data sources. At the end of each classroom day, astronauts work in teams to build a preliminary geologic map of the field area, adding new observations and interpretations as they learn about topics in the classroom. Each team’s bucket list of target areas to visit helps shape their investigations during their week in the field. On the final day in the field, each astronaut team presents a geologic map, cross section, and geologic interpretation
Geology↗
Superconducting Magnet Qualification Methodology for the Material Plasma Exposure Experiment
The Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX), currently under design, is a new linear plasma device to advance the understanding of plasma-material interactions through the generation and delivery of plasmas as they are expected in future fusion reactor divertors. MPEX will be a steady-state device to study high-fluence exposures of plasma-facing materials and components. The requirements for the magnetic field at the target and the heating stages make the application of superconducting coils necessary. Conceptual designs for the superconducting magnets have been developed, and multiple cryostats with warm bore diameters of either 65 cm or 156 cm are envisioned to facilitate their integrated and timely assembly with other systems such as vacuum, water cooling, and RF power. Although design, fabrication, and testing for the magnets as stand-alone units are straightforward, challenges will arise during the integration of the system. Two different field profiles will be used during operation. The magnetic field where the electron cyclotron heating occurs needs to operate at both 1.25 and 2.5 T. It is critical that the magnets all share the same magnetic axis and alignment. The mutual inductance between cryostats will affect the quench behavior of the system. Also, cryostat-to-cryostat forces can be as large as 700 kN, and the magnitude and direction will change depending on which coils are energized. The design of the system must take those characteristics into account along with the quench scenarios. This paper describes the qualification approach that will be used to determine whether stand-alone tests can be used to ensure the success of the integrated system. Fiducials will be used to define the location of the magnetic axis for each cryostat to ensure proper alignment. Quench tests of a single magnet will be performed at a current above the normal operating current to account for additional stored energy from the mutual inductance to adjacent cryostats. Also, a 1018 steel plate will be mounted on either end of a cryostat to simulate the cryostat-to-cryostat forces. Requirements for the size and location of the steel plates are described.
Burkhardt, Earle↗
Plasmas and controlled nuclear fusion
Studies and experiments to determine time dependency of plasma density, high frequency electron-phonon interactions in magnetic fields, and operation of stuffed-cusp plasma facility
SOUND WAVE↗
Physical generalizations of the Rényi entropy
We present a new type of generalization of the Rényi entropy that follows naturally from its representation as a thermodynamic quantity. We apply it to the case of [Formula: see text]-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs) reduced on a region bounded by a sphere. It is known how to compute their Rényi entropy as an integral of the thermal entropy of hyperbolic black holes in [Formula: see text]-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime. We show how this integral fits into the framework of extended gravitational thermodynamics, and then point out the natural generalization of the Rényi entropy that suggests itself in that light. In the field theory terms, the new generalization employs aspects of the physics of Renormalization Group (RG) flow to define a refined version of the reduced vacuum density matrix. For [Formula: see text], it can be derived directly in terms of twist operators in field theory. The framework presented here may have applications beyond this context, perhaps in studies of both quantum and classical information theoretic properties of a variety of systems.
Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
Quark confinement due to non-Abelian magnetic monopoles in SU(3) Yang-Mills theory
We present recent results on quark confinement: in SU(3) Yang-Mills theory, confinement of fundamental quarks is obtained due to the dual Meissner effect originated from non-Abelian magnetic monopoles defined in a gauge-invariant way, which is distinct from the well-known Abelian projection scenario. This is achieved by using a non-Abelian Stokes theorem for the Wilson loop operator and a new reformulation of the Yang-Mills theory.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
On the importance of loop-induced spin-independent interactions for dark matter direct detection
The latest results from LHC searches for jets in association with missing transverse energy place strong bounds on the scattering cross section of dark matter. For the case of spin-dependent or momentum suppressed interactions these limits seem to be superior to the bounds from direct detection experiments. In this article, we show that loop contributions can significantly alter this conclusion and boost direct detection bounds, whenever they induce spin-independent interactions. This effect is most striking for tensor and pseudotensor interactions, which induce magnetic and electric dipole moments at loop level. For axialvector and anapole interactions a relevant contribution to direct detection signals arises from loop-induced Yukawa-like couplings between dark matter and quarks. We furthermore compare the resulting bounds to additional constraints on these effective operators arising from indirect searches and relic density requirements.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Using Superconducting Thin Films in Microwave Lines
High temperature superconductors(HTS) and microwaves devices form the ideal partnership. The application of superconductors in microwave devices, components and systems allows the reduction in size, power consumption and insertion loss. The surface resistance of high-Tc superconductors has been found to be two orders of magnitude lower than normal conducting copper materials. The reduction in size and power requirements, which together both lead to a reduction in system mass, coupled with reasonably accessible operating temperatures, suggest that HTS microwave components should find ready application in satellite communications systems. At present, multi- channeling communication networks demand filters with narrow bandwidth in order to allow the available RF frequency spectrum to be partitioned into small frequency bands, -and possible variation of dielectric constant from substrate to substrate is undesirable. Microwave multiplexers demand the fabrication of two identical filters in each channel. Thus, the filter with tuning function is preferable. Tunable filters are the critical component for phased array antennas in order to electronically steer the radiated beam. To fabricate a tunable filter that uses an electric field for operation, one would like a material that provides a large change on dielectric constant for a given electric field, yet has a relatively low tangent in order to minimize the insertion loss of the device. Ferroelectrics have been the materials of choice. Their large dielectric constant sufficiently increases the coupling between microwave resonators and its dependence on electric field provides timability. Development of technology promises to diminish tangent loss. The use of thin ferroelectric films sufficiently decreases insertion losses keeping considerable potential for applications. NASA Lewis Research Center is the one of the leading centers in investigation of superconductors/ferroelectric tunable components for microwave devices. A large number of possible microwave devices were fabricated and tested on the basis of thin film multilayer superconductor-ferroelectric structures. In major cases the systems with edge-coupling scheme were investigated. Dr. Genkin has recently focused on the new potentialities which implements the using of thin ferroelectric films in filters fabricated with end-coupled microstrip lines. Numerical modeling shows that these systems have large potential for application in tunable narrow- and wide-bandpass filters in the frequency range 10-20 GHz. The phase shifter with end-coupled resonant sections was fabricated and tested. Experimental results show large tunability, particular in low voltages. The possible optimization of this structure promises to improve the obtained result and to reach the low level of insertion losses.
Genkin, Varery↗
A state interaction spin-orbit coupling density matrix renormalization group method
We describe a state interaction spin-orbit (SISO) coupling method using density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) wavefunctions and the spin-orbit mean-field (SOMF) operator. We implement our DMRG-SISO scheme using a spin-adapted algorithm that computes transition density matrices between arbitrary matrix product states. To demonstrate the potential of the DMRG-SISO scheme we present accurate benchmark calculations for the zero-field splitting of the copper and gold atoms, comparing to earlier complete active space self-consistent-field and second-order complete active space perturbation theory results in the same basis. We also compute the effects of spin-orbit coupling on the spin-ladder of the iron-sulfur dimer complex [Fe{sub 2}S{sub 2}(SCH{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sup 3−}, determining the splitting of the lowest quartet and sextet states. We find that the magnitude of the zero-field splitting for the higher quartet and sextet states approaches a significant fraction of the Heisenberg exchange parameter.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Enhancing multi-step quantum state tomography by PhaseLift
Multi-photon system has been studied by many groups, however the biggest challenge faced is the number of copies of an unknown state are limited and far from detecting quantum entanglement. The difficulty to prepare copies of the state is even more serious for the quantum state tomography. One possible way to solve this problem is to use adaptive quantum state tomography, which means to get a preliminary density matrix in the first step and revise it in the second step. In order to improve the performance of adaptive quantum state tomography, we develop a new distribution scheme of samples and extend it to three steps, that is to correct it once again based on the density matrix obtained in the traditional adaptive quantum state tomography. Our numerical results show that the mean square error of the reconstructed density matrix by our new method is improved to the level from 10{sup −4} to 10{sup −9} for several tested states. In addition, PhaseLift is also applied to reduce the required storage space of measurement operator. - Highlights: • PhaseLift is firstly applied in the adaptive quantum state tomography and the required store space of measurement operator is reduced. • Traditional adaptive quantum state tomography is extended to three-step adaptive quantum state tomography. • A new scheme of copy distribution of state is proposed to effectively use the limited copies of state. • For several tested states, the mean square error of the reconstructed state is reduced to 10{sup −9} from 10{sup −4}. • Fidelity is more accurately estimated with limited copies of state compared with traditional adaptive quantum state tomography.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
An Assessment of Geological Carbon Storage Options in the Illinois Basin: Validation Phase
The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) assessed the options for geological carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage in the 155,400 km 2 (60,000 mi 2 ) Illinois Basin, which underlies most of Illinois, western Indiana, and western Kentucky. The region has annual CO 2 emissions of about 265 million metric tonnes (292 million tons), primarily from 122 coal-fired electric generation facilities, some of which burn almost 4.5 million tonnes (5 million tons) of coal per year (U.S. Department of Energy, 2010). Validation Phase (Phase II) field tests gathered pilot data to update the Characterization Phase (Phase I) assessment of options for capture, transportation, and storage of CO 2 emissions in three geological sink types: coal seams, oil fields, and saline reservoirs. Four small-scale field tests were conducted to determine the properties of rock units that control injectivity of CO 2 , assess the total storage resources, examine the security of the overlying rock units that act as seals for the reservoirs, and develop ways to control and measure the safety of injection and storage processes. The MGSC designed field test operational plans for pilot sites based on the site screening process, MVA program needs, the selection of equipment related to CO 2 injection, and design of a data acquisition system. Reservoir modeling, computational simulations, and statistical methods assessed and interpreted data gathered from the field tests. Monitoring, Verification, and Accounting (MVA) programs were established to detect leakage of injected CO 2 and ensure public safety. Public outreach and education remained an important part of the project; meetings and presentations informed public and private regional stakeholders of the results and findings. A miscible (liquid) CO 2 flood pilot project was conducted in the Clore Formation sandstone (Mississippian System, Chesterian Series) at Mumford Hills Field in Posey County, southwestern Indiana, and an immiscible CO 2 flood pilot was conducted in the Jackson sandstone (Mississippian System Big Clifty Sandstone Member) at the Sugar Creek Field in Hopkins County, western Kentucky. Up to 12% incremental oil recovery was estimated based on these pilots. A CO 2 huff puff (HNP) pilot project was conducted in the Cypress Sandstone in the Loudon Field. This pilot was designed to measure and record data that could be used to calibrate a reservoir simulation model. A pilot project at the Tanquary Farms site in Wabash County, southeastern Illinois, tested the potential storage of CO 2 in the Springfield Coal Member of the Carbondale Formation (Pennsylvanian System), in order to gauge the potential for large-scale CO 2 storage and/or enhanced coal bed methane recovery from Illinois Basin coal beds. The pilot results from all four sites showed that CO 2 could be injected into the subsurface without adversely affecting groundwater. Additionally, hydrocarbon production was enhanced, giving further evidence that CO 2 storage in oil reservoirs and coal beds offers an economic advantage. Results from the MVA program at each site indicated that injected CO 2 did not leave the injection zone. Topical reports were completed on the Middle and Late Devonian New Albany Shale and Basin CO 2 emissions. The efficacy of the New Albany Shale as a storage sink could be substantial if low injectivity concerns can be alleviated. CO 2 emissions in the Illinois Basin were projected to be dominated by coal-fired power plants.
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
Reversed Field Pinch Research in MST (Final Technical Report)
This is the Final Technical Report for the cooperative agreement DE-FC02-05ER54814 titled “Reversed Field Pinch Research in MST” spanning the funding period 4/1/2005 to 12/14/2019. It summarizes key results from MST research, major publications and presentations, and the mentoring of graduate students and postdocs. The Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) is unique within the U.S. and world fusion plasma program. As one of just five operating reversed field pinch (RFP) experiments, and the only one in the U.S., MST has had an important role in advancing the fundamental understanding of the RFP plasma configuration. The MST research program targets topics that intersect with all three goals. While MST provides a unique opportunity to advance the science and fusion potential of the RFP, as a cousin to the tokamak and stellarator plasma configurations the RFP is a valuable partner in establishing validated predictive capability for fusion science more generally. Specific combinations of the major variables in toroidal confinement, like magnetic field strength, plasma current, and shaping, define the different configurations. By exploring adjacent regions in this major variable parameter space, the RFP exposes dependencies not otherwise accessible in the tokamak and stellarator. This diversity enlarges the arena for scientific discovery, both for fusion and plasma physics. The basic science emphasis for MST research has been the self-organizing behavior of RFP plasmas. This inspired MST’s participation in the NSF Physics Frontier Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas (CMSO), which ran from 2004-2016 and motivated a substantial fraction of MST’s research goals and capabilities. By all measures the MST Program has been remarkably successful in publications, community engagement, and mentoring of young scientists. While the DOE-FES’s proof-of-principle program for the RFP now languishes through the cessation of this cooperative agreement, operation of MST continues as one of two devices included in the new Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL) basic science user facility. The scope of present research for MST in WiPPL is narrowed to the basic science associated with the RFP magnetic configuration and the advancement of specific fusion topics, which now includes studies of disruptions in tokamak plasmas. The world’s effort in RFP fusion research continues, despite a lack of U.S. federal support to investigate the RFP configuration for fusion application, most notably through a major upgrade to the RFX-mod2 facility in Italy [1] and the recent construction of the KTX facility at USTC in China. First plasmas for RFX-mod2 are anticipated in 2021.
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
Automated Airborne Pathogen Monitoring for Agriculture (CRADA Final Report)
As part of the Cyclotron Road program, Root Applied Sciences investigated the use of DNA-based assays under field conditions to detect airborne plant pathogens in environmental samples. Robust DNA-based assays are critical for automated monitoring of plant pathogen concentrations in the air using Root’s air samplers. A fully automated air sampler coupled with DNA-based assays capable of operating under field conditions will accelerate the delivery of disease risk alerts based on airborne inoculum loads. Timely and accurate alerts of pathogen loads in the air can help growers manage airborne diseases more precisely, avoiding fungicide applications when there is no threat, and focusing cultural practices in the right areas. This project built upon other work done by Root to study the in-field performance of a liquid DNA-based assay for detection of grape powdery mildew. Growers working with Root’s airborne powdery mildew monitoring system have reported 20-80% reductions in pesticides.
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
Innovative power conversion system for the French SFR prototype, ASTRID
In the framework of the French Act of 28 June 2006 about nuclear materials and waste management, the prototype ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration), foreseen in operation by the 20's, will have to demonstrate not only the minor actinide transmutation capability, but also the progress made in Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) technology on an industrial scale, by qualifying innovative options. Some of these options still require improvements, especially in the field of operability and safety. In fact, one of the main issues with the standard steam/water Power Conversion System (PCS) of SFR is the fast and energetic chemical reaction between water and sodium, which could occur in steam generators in case of tube failure. To manage the sodium/water reaction, one way consists in minimizing the impact of such event: hence studies are carried out on steam generator design, improvement of the physical knowledge of this phenomenon, development of numerical simulation to predict the reaction onset and consequences, and associated detection improvement. On the other hand, the other way consists in eliminating sodium/water reaction. In this frame, the CEA contribution to the feasibility evaluation of an alternative innovative PCS (replacing steam/water by 180 bar pressurised nitrogen) is focused on the following main topics: - The parametric study leading to nitrogen selection: the thermodynamic cycle efficiency optimisation on Brayton cycles is performed with several gases at different pressures. - The design of innovative compact heat exchangers for the gas loop: here the key points are the nuclear codification associated with inspection capability, the innovative welding process and the thermal-hydraulic and thermal-mechanic optimisations. After a general introduction of the ASTRID project, this paper presents in detail these different feasibility studies being led on the innovative gas PCS for an SFR. (authors)
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗