Maximizing MeV x-ray dose in relativistic laser-solid interactions
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We revisit neutrino oscillations in constant matter density for a number of different scenarios: three flavors with the standard Wolfenstein matter potential, four flavors with standard matter potential and three flavors with non-standard matter potentials. To calculate the oscillation probabilities for these scenarios one must determine the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hamiltonians. We use a method for calculating the eigenvalues that is well known, determination of the zeros of determinant of matrix (λI - H), where H is the Hamiltonian, I the identity matrix and λ is a scalar. To calculate the associated eigenvectors we use a method that is little known in the particle physics community, the calculation of the adjugate (transpose of the cofactor matrix) of the same matrix, (λI - H). This method can be applied to any Hamiltonian, but provides a very simple way to determine the eigenvectors for neutrino oscillation in matter, independent of the complexity of the matter potential. This method can be trivially automated using the Faddeev–LeVerrier algorithm for numerical calculations. For the above scenarios we derive a number of quantities that are invariant of the matter potential, many are new such as the generalization of the Naumov–Harrison–Scott identity for four or more flavors of neutrinos. We also show how these matter potential independent quantities become matter potential dependent when off-diagonal non-standard matter effects are included.
Abstract Phase transformations are a challenging problem in materials science, which lead to changes in properties and may impact performance of material systems in various applications. We introduce a general framework for the analysis of particle growth kinetics by utilizing concepts from machine learning and graph theory. As a model system, we use image sequences of atomic force microscopy showing the crystallization of an amorphous fluoroelastomer film. To identify crystalline particles in an amorphous matrix and track the temporal evolution of the particle dispersion, we have developed quantitative methods of 2D analysis. 700 image sequences were analyzed using a neural network architecture, achieving 0.97 pixel-wise classification accuracy as a measure of the correctly classified pixels. The growth kinetics of isolated and impinged particles were tracked throughout time using these image sequences. The relationship between image sequences and spatiotemporal graph representations was explored to identify the proximity of crystallites from each other. The framework enables the analysis of all image sequences without the requirement of sampling for specific particles or timesteps for various materials systems.
Turbulence is a prevalent phenomenon in the interstellar medium, and in particular, the environment at the centers of galaxies. For example, detailed observations of the Milky Way’s Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) revealed that it has a complex and turbulent structure. Turbulence on galactic scales is often modeled using star formation and feedback. However, these effects do not appear to be sufficient for explaining the high-velocity dispersion observed in the CMZ, indicating that additional gas-stirring processes are likely to be operating. Here we introduce a proof-of-concept method to drive turbulence in gas that orbits under the influence of a galactic potential. Instead of relying on a particular physical mechanism, we have adopted a Fourier forcing module and have applied it using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics code. To test our method, we performed simulations of a simplistic model of the CMZ. Our turbulence injection method is capable of balancing the self-gravity of the gas, which allows us to run the simulations for long timescales and thereby follow the evolution of the CMZ. Our results show that turbulence induces a flocculent spiral pattern in our model, analogous to that found in galactic-scale simulations. Furthermore, we find that our turbulence injection method induces inward migration of gas, a result consistent with previous numerical simulations. We submit that this injection method is a promising new tool to simulate turbulence in galactic centers.
The development of analysis methods to distinguish potential beyond the Standard Model phenomena in a model-agnostic way can significantly enhance the discovery reach in collider experiments. However, the typical machine learning (ML) algorithms employed for this task require fixed length and ordered inputs that break the natural permutation invariance in collision events. To address this, a semi-supervised anomaly detection tool is presented that takes a variable number of particle-level inputs and leverages a signal model to encode this information into a permutation invariant, event-level representation via supervised training with a Particle Flow Network (PFN). Data events are then encoded into this representation and given as input to an autoencoder for unsupervised ANomaly deTEction on particLe flOw latent sPacE (ANTELOPE), classifying anomalous events based on a low-level and permutation invariant input modeling. Performance of the ANTELOPE architecture is evaluated on simulated samples of hadronic processes in a high energy collider experiment, showing good capability to distinguish disparate models of new physics.
Laser-driven ion acceleration provides ultrashort, high-charge, low-emittance beams, which are desirable for a wide range of high-impact applications. Yet after decades of research, a significant increase in maximum ion energy is still needed. This paper introduces a quality-preserving staging concept for ultraintense ion bunches that is seamlessly applicable from the nonrelativistic plasma source to the relativistic regime. Full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations prove robustness and capture of a high-charge proton bunch, suitable for readily available and near-term laser facilities.
Long-lived particles (LLPs) are particles that are stable or that live long enough for their decays to be experimentally distinguishable in time or position from their production point. We provide an overview of the phenomenology and experimental signatures of LLPs, focusing on LLPs at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We explain what determines a particle's lifetime and we show that LLPs are ubiquitous both within the Standard Model and beyond. We survey the methods used to experimentally detect and characterize particles at collider-based experiments, and discuss how searches for LLPs present both experimental challenges and exciting new possibilities for detection. Finally, we situate LHC searches for LLPs within the broader experimental landscape with a brief overview of searches for LLPs at lower-energy experiments and a discussion of astrophysical and cosmological probes offering complementary insight into the physics of LLPs beyond the Standard Model.
Abstract not provided.
Beam-Beam simulations are currently being studied in preparation for future EIC experiments to study beam-beam effects and, in turn, maximize luminosity. Weak-strong methods are studied for single-particle dynamics during collision. 1 million macro-particles for 1 million turns are typically tracked, corresponding to only 10 seconds in the EIC. The goal of this study is to predict beam properties over the scale of hours. A potential solution focuses on using data-driven methods such as machine learning methods to analyze and extend the insights of the beam properties such as long-term nonlinear effects. This would aid in long-term predictions where results would be more efficiently acquired than a typical tracking simulation. Some limitations such as inaccurate predictions and spatial complexity are also discussed. These methods can then be applied to strong-strong simulations in the future studies.
High-spin rotational bands in rare-earth Er (Z = 68), Tm (Z = 69), and Yb (Z = 70) isotopes are investigated by three different nuclear models. These are (i) the cranked relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (CRHB) approach with approximate particle number projection by means of the Lipkin-Nogami (LN) method, (ii) the cranking covariant density functional theory (CDFT) with pairing correlations treated by a shell-model-like approach (SLAP) or the so-called particle-number conserving (PNC) method, and (iii) cranked shell model (CSM) based on the Nilsson potential with pairing correlations treated by the PNC method. A detailed comparison between these three models in the description of the ground-state rotational bands of even-even Er and Yb isotopes is performed. The similarities and differences between these models in the description of the moments of inertia, the features of band crossings, and equilibrium deformations and pairing energies of the even-even nuclei under study are discussed. These quantities are considered as a function of rotational frequency and proton and neutron numbers. The changes in the properties of the first band crossings with increasing neutron number in this mass region are investigated. On average, a comparable accuracy of the description of available experimental data is achieved in these models. However, the differences between model predictions become larger above the first band crossings. Because of the time-consuming nature of numerical calculations in the CDFT-based models, a systematic study of the rotational properties of both ground-state and excited-state bands in odd-mass Tm nuclei is carried out only by the PNC-SCM. With few exceptions, the rotational properties of experimental 1-quasiparticle and 3-quasiparticle bands in 165,167,169,171 Tm are reproduced reasonably well. As a result, the appearance of backbendings or upbendings in these nuclei is well understood from the analysis of the variations of the occupation probabilities of the single-particle states and their contributions to total angular momentum alignment with rotational frequency.
Traditional interpolation techniques for particle tracking include binning and convolutional formulas that use pre-determined (i.e., closed-form, parameteric) kernels. In many instances, the particles are introduced as point sources in time and space, so the cloud of particles (either in space or time) is a discrete representation of the Green’s function of an underlying PDE. As such, each particle is a sample from the Green’s function; therefore, each particle should be distributed according to the Green’s function. In short, the kernel of a convolutional interpolation of the particle sample “cloud” should be a replica of the cloud itself. This idea gives rise to an iterative method by which the form of the kernel may be discerned in the process of interpolating the Green’s function. When the Green’s function is a density, this method is broadly applicable to interpolating a kernel density estimate based on random data drawn from a single distribution. We formulate and construct the algorithm and demonstrate its ability to perform kernel density estimation of skewed and/or heavy-tailed data including breakthrough curves.
We analyse the generation of kinetic instabilities and their effect on the energization of ions in non-relativistic, oblique collisionless shocks using a 3D-3V (three spatial with three velocity components) simulation by dHybridR, a hybrid particle-in-cell code. At sufficiently high Mach number, quasi-perpendicular and oblique shocks can experience rippling of the shock surface caused by kinetic instabilities arising from free energy in the ion velocity distribution due to the combination of the incoming ion beam and the population of ions reflected at the shock front. To understand the role of the ripple on particle energization, we devise a new instability isolation method to identify the unstable modes underlying the ripple and interpret the results in terms of the governing kinetic instability. We generate velocity-space signatures using the field–particle correlation technique to look at energy transfer in phase space from the isolated instability driving the shock ripple, providing a viewpoint on the different dynamics of distinct populations of ions in phase space. Together, the field–particle correlation technique and our new instability isolation method provide a unique viewpoint on the different dynamics of distinct populations of ions in phase space and allow us to completely characterize the energetics of the collisionless shock under investigation.
In this paper, the nonlinear interaction between kinetic instabilities driven by multiple ion beams and magnetized electrons is investigated. Electron diffusion across magnetic field lines is enhanced by the coupling of plasma instabilities. Here, a two-dimensional collisionless particle-in-cell simulation is performed accounting for singly and doubly charged ions in a cross-field configuration. Consistent with prior linear kinetic theory analysis and observations from coherent Thomson scattering experiments, the present simulations identify an ion-ion two-stream instability due to multiply charged ions (flowing in the direction parallel to the applied electric field) which coexists with the electron cyclotron drift instability (propagating perpendicular to the applied electric field and parallel to the ExB drift). Small-scale fluctuations due to the coupling of these naturally driven kinetic modes are found to be a mechanism that can enhance cross-field electron transport and contribute to the broadening of the ion velocity distribution functions.
Here, we report on the experimental observation of a decreased self-injection threshold by using laser pulses with circular polarization in laser wakefield acceleration experiments in a nonpreformed plasma, compared to the usually employed linear polarization. A significantly higher electron beam charge was also observed for circular polarization compared to linear polarization over a wide range of parameters. Theoretical analysis and quasi-3D particle-in-cell simulations reveal that the self-injection and hence the laser wakefield acceleration is polarization dependent and indicate a different injection mechanism for circularly polarized laser pulses, originating from larger momentum gain by electrons during above threshold ionization. This enables electrons to meet the trapping condition more easily, and the resulting higher plasma temperature was confirmed via spectroscopy of the XUV plasma emission.
Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOF-MS) was employed to rapidly analyze environmental particle samples collected using aerosol contaminate extractors (ACE). The ACE particle collectors were placed at various distances (0.5, 1.3, and 4.5 km) from a source that released Ru-bearing particles. Samples for measurement were then generated (as sub-samples) from the ACE collection plates via particle “lift off” with gunshot residue (GSR) tabs. The LA-ICP-TOF-MS method was employed such that 10+ samples could be analyzed in a single unattended analytical session. A 3 × 1 mm area of individual GSR tab samples were analyzed in less than 30 minutes. This provided spatially resolved elemental and isotopic measurements of the particulate content and confirmed the presence of Ru-bearing particles within the complex background environmental particle loading. As anticipated, measurements showed collectors closest to the source had the highest concentration of the released Ru-bearing particles, while all collectors, regardless of distance, contained similar levels of background particles (e.g., Fe and Sr). Sequential scanning electron microscopy – automated particle analysis (SEM-APA) and LA-ICP-TOF-MS analysis was employed for method validation and a demonstration of the multi-modal approach. The same 2-dimensional region was analyzed by both methods and the particles identified via SEM-APA were also detected using LA-ICP-TOF-MS, with 100% accuracy. Overall, LA-ICP-TOF-MS demonstrated its utility for rapid elemental and isotopic particle analysis from environmental air samples.
We conducted a systematic numerical investigation of spherical, prolate and oblate particles in an inertial shear flow between two parallel walls, using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). It was previously shown that above a critical Reynolds number, spherical particles experience a supercritical pitchfork bifurcation of the equilibrium position in shear flow between two parallel walls, namely that the central equilibrium position becomes unstable, leading to the emergence of two new off-centre stable positions (Foxet al.,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 915, 2021). This phenomenon was unexpected given the symmetry of the system. In addition to confirming this finding, we found, surprisingly, that ellipsoidal particles can also return to the centre position from the off-centre positions when the particle Reynolds number is further increased, while spherical particles become unstable under this increased Reynolds number. By utilizing both SPH and the finite element method for flow visualization, we explained the underlining mechanism of this reverse of bifurcation by altered streamwise vorticity and symmetry breaking of pressure. Furthermore, we expanded our investigation to include asymmetric particles, a novel aspect that had not been previously modelled, and we observed similar trends in particle dynamics for both symmetric and asymmetric ellipsoidal particles. While further validation through laboratory experiments is necessary, our research paves the road for development of new focusing and separation methods for shaped particles.
The evidence for dark matter (DM) remains compelling, although attempts to understand its particle nature remain inconclusive. One promising method to study DM is detecting DM subhalos through their gravitational interactions with stellar streams. In this study, we apply Neural Posterior Estimation (NPE) to constrain subhalo interaction parameters, including mass, scale radius, velocity, and encounter geometry, from stellar stream kinematics. We generate particle spray simulations based on the Lagrange Cloud stripping technique, focusing on the ATLAS-Aliqa Uma stream as a test case. We train multiple NPE models across multiple observational scenarios, quantifying how kinematic completeness affects inference and forecasting constraints from upcoming surveys including LSST, 4MOST, and 10-year Gaia data. Our results demonstrate that NPE can produce accurate and well-calibrated posteriors. In the idealized case with full 6D coordinates, we achieve subhalo mass uncertainties of 15-20% for a $10^7 \, \mathrm{M_\odot}$ subhalo, with 5D coordinates (excluding radial velocities) achieving similar performance. Under realistic observational conditions, mass uncertainties range from 50% (present-day) to 20-40% (future scenarios), with comparable performance between the photometric-only LSST sample and a smaller sample that includes Gaia proper motions and 4MOST radial velocities. Most notably, we find that velocity bimodality emerges when phase space is poorly sampled, whether due to missing kinematic information or limited stellar tracers. Combining large photometric samples with targeted spectroscopic follow-up can effectively resolves this degeneracy. These results demonstrate the power of implicit likelihood inference for optimizing stellar stream observational strategies and forecasting DM subhalo constraints from upcoming surveys.