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At least 919 records · Page 51

Improved semiclassical model for real-time evaporation of matrix black holes

In this paper, we study real-time classical matrix mechanics of a simplified 2 × 2 matrix model inspired by the black hole evaporation problem. This is a step towards making a quantitative model of real-time evaporation of a black hole, which is realized as a bound state of D0-branes in string theory. The model we study is the reduction of Yang–Mills in 2 + 1 dimension to 0 + 1 dimensions, which has been corrected with an additional potential that can be interpreted as a zero-point energy for fermions. Our goal is to understand the lifetime of such a classical bound state object in the classical regime. To do so, we pay particular attention to when D-particles separate to check that the “off-diagonal modes” of the matrices become adiabatic and use that information to improve on existing models of evaporation. It turns out that the naive expectation value of the lifetime with the fermionic correction is infinite. This is a logarithmic divergence that arises from very large excursions in the separation between the branes near the threshold for classical evaporation. The adiabatic behavior lets us get some analytic control of the dynamics in this regime to get this estimate. This divergence is cutoff in the quantum theory due to quantization of the adiabatic parameter, resulting in a long lifetime of the bound state, with a parametric dependence of order log(1/ℏ).

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Network Anomaly Detection Using Federated Learning

The internet is turning out to be an integral part of every-one's lives as more and more devices are being connected to serve societal needs. Our work is motivated by two ma-jor observations. Firstly, one drawback of connecting to the network is the threat of network attacks that can compromise users' private information, leading to data loss and adversely affecting productivity. There are several traditional security mechanisms to defend against these attacks, such as firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), demilitarized zones (DMZs), and vulnerability scanners. One way to prevent these attacks is early detection and prevention. However, these kinds of architecture do not scale very well because of their centralized nature. Secondly, we observe from heuristics and data set distributions that the majority of the requests made to a server are innocuous. Therefore, almost all server request data sets are highly imbalanced, weighted highly towards the harmless requests.

Marfo, William↗

A computational study of wingtip vortex flowfield

The near-field behavior of a wingtip vortex flow is studied computationally using an incompressible flow solver for the Navier-Stokes equations based on the artificial compressibility method. Inaccuracies in current computational studies are addressed, especially, the role of numerical errors and transition/turbulence modeling. A subset problem is devised in order to make the study of vortex preservation more tractable. As part of the numerical checks, the flow is first run laminar while performing a systematic grid refinement study for the subset problem. Further studies on the numerical errors are conducted with the measured Reynolds stresses introduced into the momentum equations as source terms. As a preliminary study of turbulent flows, the one-equation Baldwin-Barth turbulence model is implemented as well as the approximation of the production term. The full-geometry case is computed using 1.1 million grid points. The results are compared with experiment.

Dacles-Mariani, Jennifer↗

Identification of the threshold security applied for fuel under reactivity-initiated conditions by self-organizing maps and neural networks - 14386

In recent times, we have 439 reactors distributed in 31 countries that give about 377 GW, covering around 12% of world capacity of energy. Currently, it accounts for an estimated 40 serious accidents reported in nuclear power plants. In this article, turns out the behavior of fuel rod in light-water reactors under accident conditions. Besides, we investigate deeply about reactivity-initiated accidents, by introducing Nordheim-Fuchs model as state equations. The early research showed that pre-irradiated fuels and afterward subjected to a rapid pulse of energy. It adopts the key items necessary to check the threshold of failure. These items are few limits as burning the fuel; the value applied to the peak of energy, pulse width, oxidation layer, and cladding. The kinetic equations of nuclear reactors modeled as a non-linear system. In this way, it can apply the paradigm of artificial intelligence using the self-organized maps. Where the goal is to find the cluster of failure for irradiated fuels until 75 GWd/MTU. The second model based on statistical is the logistic regression theory. Hence, the tests carried out and compared against the results found by neural networks for classification of clusters. It proofs that both approaches present capacity to find the flaws accurately of about 80% of cases. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

NASTRAN data generation of helicopter fuselages using interactive graphics

The development and implementation of a preprocessor system for the finite element analysis of helicopter fuselages is described. The system utilizes interactive graphics for the generation, display, and editing of NASTRAN data for fuselage models. It is operated from an IBM 2250 cathode ray tube (CRT) console driven by an IBM 370/145 computer. Real time interaction plus automatic data generation reduces the nominal 6 to 10 week time for manual generation and checking of data to a few days. The interactive graphics system consists of a series of satellite programs operated from a central NASTRAN Systems Monitor. Fuselage structural models including the outer shell and internal structure may be rapidly generated. All numbering systems are automatically assigned. Hard copy plots of the model labeled with GRID or elements ID's are also available. General purpose programs for displaying and editing NASTRAN data are included in the system. Utilization of the NASTRAN interactive graphics system has made possible the multiple finite element analysis of complex helicopter fuselage structures within design schedules.

Sainsbury-Carter, J. B.↗

Space shuttle prototype check valve development

Contaminant-resistant seal designs and a dynamically stable prototype check valve for the orbital maneuvering and reaction control helium pressurization systems of the space shuttle were developed. Polymer and carbide seal models were designed and tested. Perfluoroelastomers compatible with N2O4 and N2H4 types were evaluated and compared with Teflon in flat and captive seal models. Low load sealing and contamination resistance tests demonstrated cutter seal superiority over polymer seals. Ceramic and carbide materials were evaluated for N2O4 service using exposure to RFNA as a worst case screen; chemically vapor deposited tungsten carbide was shown to be impervious to the acid after 6 months immersion. A unique carbide shell poppet/cutter seat check valve was designed and tested to demonstrate low cracking pressure ( 2.0 psid), dynamic stability under all test bench flow conditions, contamination resistance (0.001 inch CRES wires cut with 1.5 pound seat load) and long life of 100,000 cycles (leakage 1.0 scc/hr helium from 0.1 to 400 psig).

Tellier, G. F.↗

Evaluation of SSME test data reduction methods

Accurate prediction of hardware and flow characteristics within the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) during transient and main-stage operation requires a significant integration of ground test data, flight experience, and computational models. The process of integrating SSME test measurements with physical model predictions is commonly referred to as data reduction. Uncertainties within both test measurements and simplified models of the SSME flow environment compound the data integration problem. The first objective of this effort was to establish an acceptability criterion for data reduction solutions. The second objective of this effort was to investigate the data reduction potential of the ROCETS (Rocket Engine Transient Simulation) simulation platform. A simplified ROCETS model of the SSME was obtained from the MSFC Performance Analysis Branch . This model was examined and tested for physical consistency. Two modules were constructed and added to the ROCETS library to independently check the mass and energy balances of selected engine subsystems including the low pressure fuel turbopump, the high pressure fuel turbopump, the low pressure oxidizer turbopump, the high pressure oxidizer turbopump, the fuel preburner, the oxidizer preburner, the main combustion chamber coolant circuit, and the nozzle coolant circuit. A sensitivity study was then conducted to determine the individual influences of forty-two hardware characteristics on fourteen high pressure region prediction variables as returned by the SSME ROCETS model.

Santi, L. Michael↗

Exploring Alternative Parameterizations for Snowfall with Validation from Satellite and Terrestrial Radars

Increases in computational resources have allowed operational forecast centers to pursue experimental, high resolution simulations that resolve the microphysical characteristics of clouds and precipitation. These experiments are motivated by a desire to improve the representation of weather and climate, but will also benefit current and future satellite campaigns, which often use forecast model output to guide the retrieval process. The combination of reliable cloud microphysics and radar reflectivity may constrain radiative transfer models used in satellite simulators during future missions, including EarthCARE and the NASA Global Precipitation Measurement. Aircraft, surface and radar data from the Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project are used to check the validity of size distribution and density characteristics for snowfall simulated by the NASA Goddard six-class, single moment bulk water microphysics scheme, currently available within the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model. Widespread snowfall developed across the region on January 22, 2007, forced by the passing of a mid latitude cyclone, and was observed by the dual-polarimetric, C-band radar King City, Ontario, as well as the NASA 94 GHz CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar. Combined, these data sets provide key metrics for validating model output: estimates of size distribution parameters fit to the inverse-exponential equations prescribed within the model, bulk density and crystal habit characteristics sampled by the aircraft, and representation of size characteristics as inferred by the radar reflectivity at C- and W-band. Specified constants for distribution intercept and density differ significantly from observations throughout much of the cloud depth. Alternate parameterizations are explored, using column-integrated values of vapor excess to avoid problems encountered with temperature-based parameterizations in an environment where inversions and isothermal layers are present. Simulation of CloudSat reflectivity is performed by adopting the discrete-dipole parameterizations and databases provided in literature, and demonstrate an improved capability in simulating radar reflectivity at W-band versus Mie scattering assumptions.

Molthan, Andrew L.↗

MCTP system model based on linear programming optimization of apertures obtained from sequencing patient image data maps

Purpose: The authors present a hybrid direct multileaf collimator (MLC) aperture optimization model exclusively based on sequencing of patient imaging data to be implemented on a Monte Carlo treatment planning system (MC-TPS) to allow the explicit radiation transport simulation of advanced radiotherapy treatments with optimal results in efficient times for clinical practice. Methods: The planning system (called CARMEN) is a full MC-TPS, controlled through aMATLAB interface, which is based on the sequencing of a novel map, called “biophysical” map, which is generated from enhanced image data of patients to achieve a set of segments actually deliverable. In order to reduce the required computation time, the conventional fluence map has been replaced by the biophysical map which is sequenced to provide direct apertures that will later be weighted by means of an optimization algorithm based on linear programming. A ray-casting algorithm throughout the patient CT assembles information about the found structures, the mass thickness crossed, as well as PET values. Data are recorded to generate a biophysical map for each gantry angle. These maps are the input files for a home-made sequencer developed to take into account the interactions of photons and electrons with the MLC. For each linac (Axesse of Elekta and Primus of Siemens) and energy beam studied (6, 9, 12, 15 MeV and 6 MV), phase space files were simulated with the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code. The dose calculation in patient was carried out with the BEAMDOSE code. This code is a modified version of EGSnrc/DOSXYZnrc able to calculate the beamlet dose in order to combine them with different weights during the optimization process. Results: Three complex radiotherapy treatments were selected to check the reliability of CARMEN in situations where the MC calculation can offer an added value: A head-and-neck case (Case I) with three targets delineated on PET/CT images and a demanding dose-escalation; a partial breast irradiation case (Case II) solved with photon and electron modulated beams (IMRT + MERT); and a prostatic bed case (Case III) with a pronounced concave-shaped PTV by using volumetric modulated arc therapy. In the three cases, the required target prescription doses and constraints on organs at risk were fulfilled in a short enough time to allow routine clinical implementation. The quality assurance protocol followed to check CARMEN system showed a high agreement with the experimental measurements. Conclusions: A Monte Carlo treatment planning model exclusively based on maps performed from patient imaging data has been presented. The sequencing of these maps allows obtaining deliverable apertures which are weighted for modulation under a linear programming formulation. The model is able to solve complex radiotherapy treatments with high accuracy in an efficient computation time.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Three-dimensional seismic characterization and imaging of the Soda Lake geothermal field

Accurate characterization of subsurface geophysical properties and detection of the fault system are essential for geothermal energy exploration and production. The Soda Lake geothermal field is in western Nevada with a complex fault system. Previous seismic characterization only produced a low-resolution, smooth velocity model along with a simple, conceptual fault model. Using optimized correlation-based full-waveform inversion, wavefield-separation-based reverse-time migration, and automatic fault detection techniques, we present 3D seismic characterization for the Soda Lake geothermal field using 3D surface seismic data acquired with Vibroseis sources. Here, we obtain 3D high-resolution velocity, density, and acoustic impedance models, 3D seismic images with different grid spacings, and a high-resolution fault system. Consistency check between the constructed faults and currently active injection and production geothermal wells verifies that our seismic inversion and imaging results and detected faults are reliable. These results can provide valuable information for optimizing well placement and geothermal energy production at the Soda Lake geothermal field.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Blinding multiprobe cosmological experiments

ABSTRACT The goal of blinding is to hide an experiment’s critical results – here the inferred cosmological parameters – until all decisions affecting its analysis have been finalized. This is especially important in the current era of precision cosmology, when the results of any new experiment are closely scrutinized for consistency or tension with previous results. In analyses that combine multiple observational probes, like the combination of galaxy clustering and weak lensing in the Dark Energy Survey (DES), it is challenging to blind the results while retaining the ability to check for (in)consistency between different parts of the data. We propose a simple new blinding transformation, which works by modifying the summary statistics that are input to parameter estimation, such as two-point correlation functions. The transformation shifts the measured statistics to new values that are consistent with (blindly) shifted cosmological parameters while preserving internal (in)consistency. We apply the blinding transformation to simulated data for the projected DES Year 3 galaxy clustering and weak lensing analysis, demonstrating that practical blinding is achieved without significant perturbation of internal-consistency checks, as measured here by degradation of the χ2 between the data and best-fitting model. Our blinding method’s performance is expected to improve as experiments evolve to higher precision and accuracy.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NIR fluorescence lifetime macroscopic imaging with a time-gated SPAD camera

The performance of SwissSPAD2 (SS2), a large scale, widefield time-gated CMOS SPAD imager developed for fluorescence lifetime imaging, has recently been described in the context of visible range and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of dyes with lifetimes in the 2.5 – 4 ns range. Here, we explore its capabilities in the NIR regime relevant for small animal imaging, where its sensitivity is lower and typical NIR fluorescent dye lifetimes are much shorter (1 ns or less). We carry out this study in a simple macroscopic imaging setup based on a compact NIR picosecond pulsed laser, an engineered diffuser-based illumination optics, and NIR optimized imaging lens suitable for well-plate or small animal imaging. Because laser repetition rates can vary between models, but the synchronization signal frequency accepted by SS2 is fixed to 20 MHz, we first checked that a simple frequency-division scheme enables data recording for different laser repetition rates. Next, we acquired data using different time gate widths, including gates with duration longer than the laser period, and analyzed the resulting data using both standard nonlinear least-square fit (NLSF) and phasor analysis. We show that the fixed synchronization rate and large gate widths characterizing SS2 (10 ns and over) are not an obstacle to accurately extracting lifetime in the 1 ns range and to distinguishing between close lifetimes. As a result, SS2 and similar very large gated SPAD imagers appear as a versatile alternative to other widefield time-resolved detectors for NIR fluorescence lifetime imaging, including preclinical molecular applications.

FLIM↗

WE-H-BRC-06: A Unified Machine-Learning Based Probabilistic Model for Automated Anomaly Detection in the Treatment Plan Data

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to investigate the ability of a machine-learning based probabilistic approach to detect radiotherapy treatment plan anomalies given initial disease classes information. Methods In total we obtained 1112 unique treatment plans with five plan parameters and disease information from a Mosaiq treatment management system database for use in the study. The plan parameters include prescription dose, fractions, fields, modality and techniques. The disease information includes disease site, and T, M and N disease stages. A Bayesian network method was employed to model the probabilistic relationships between tumor disease information, plan parameters and an anomaly flag. A Bayesian learning method with Dirichlet prior was useed to learn the joint probabilities between dependent variables in error-free plan data and data with artificially induced anomalies. In the study, we randomly sampled data with anomaly in a specified anomaly space.We tested the approach with three groups of plan anomalies – improper concurrence of values of all five plan parameters and values of any two out of five parameters, and all single plan parameter value anomalies. Totally, 16 types of plan anomalies were covered by the study. For each type, we trained an individual Bayesian network. Results: We found that the true positive rate (recall) and positive predictive value (precision) to detect concurrence anomalies of five plan parameters in new patient cases were 94.45±0.26% and 93.76±0.39% respectively. To detect other 15 types of plan anomalies, the average recall and precision were 93.61±2.57% and 93.78±3.54% respectively. The computation time to detect the plan anomaly of each type in a new plan is ∼0.08 seconds. Conclusion: The proposed method for treatment plan anomaly detection was found effective in the initial tests. The results suggest that this type of models could be applied to develop plan anomaly detection tools to assist manual and automated plan checks. The senior author received research grants from ViewRay Inc. and Varian Medical System.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The Misaligned Orbit of the Earth-sized Planet Kepler-408b

Kepler-408 is one of the 33 planet-hosting Kepler stars for which asteroseismology has been used to investigate the orientation of the stellar rotation axis relative to the planetary orbital plane. The transiting hot Earth, Kepler-408b, has an orbital period of 2.5 days and a radius of 0.86 R {sub ⊕}, making it much smaller than the planets for which spin–orbit alignment has been studied using the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect. Because conflicting asteroseismic results have been reported in the literature, we undertake a thorough re-appraisal of this system and perform numerous checks for consistency and robustness. We find that the conflicting results are due to the different models for the low-frequency noise in the power spectrum. A careful treatment of the background noise resolves these conflicts, and shows that the stellar inclination is i{sub ⋆}=42{sub −4}{sup +5} degrees. Kepler-408b is, by far, the smallest planet known to have a significantly misaligned orbit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Viking 1975 orbiter development test model/Lander dynamic test model, dynamic environmental testing

A series of dynamic environmental tests on the Viking 1975 Orbiter/Lander model provided information regarding damping and linearity. The quality of mode isolation was made with orthogonality checks. A pretest criterion established for orthogonality provided good correlation with test results. Part of the post-test analysis was dedicated to a review of instrumentation selection for control and/or response limiting. Limited load values were also examined.

Milder, G.↗

Trace element geochemistry and the early lunar differentiation

The results are considered of experiments in which thermal neutron activation analysis was used to measure the halogens, U, Te, Ru, Os, and Hg in lunar samples. A calorimetric method was used for P2O5. Three Apollo 17 basalts, one Apollo 11 basalt, and one Apollo 15 basalt were used for the Ru-Os study. Os and Ru were measured in seven samples of breccia 14305 in a series of experiments to check an apparent anomaly in the isotopic composition of the Hg which it contains. A lunar model for Ru-Os partition is discussed. It is suggested that Ru and Os were partitioned and fractionated in the original differentiation of the lunar surface ocean. Fractionation among near-surface materials was less than a factor of 2 according to the lithic breccia data. Fractionations among basaltic sources were very large, exceeding 100, and primarily due to Ru. A clue to Ru and Os distributions at the depths from which mare basalts were derived may be provided by the relative ages of the basalts. These are interpreted as being related to partial melting in response to temperature increases at depth with time.

Jovanovic, S.↗

Vertical extensions of galactic spiral arms

The vertical structure of the large scale galactic shock along spiral arms is studied in order to understand the extended features or the wings of spiral arms observed by Kepner (1970) and recently checked by Soukup (1979). Numerical calculations of two-dimensional gas flow were performed for two models of the gas. The results show that the shock front, standing perfectly perpendicular to the galactic plane, extends impressively above the scale height of the interstellar gas. In the extreme case of isothermal gas, the shock solution exists at any distance from the plane. In a realistic model in which the kinetic temperature of the gas is stratified, increasing with height, the shock can extend up to 700 pc. For both models, although the velocity component perpendicular to the galactic plane is small, the solutions corresponding to layered one-dimensional flow contain no shocks at such heights. In order to study the geometry of the shock front and the flow pattern near it, a simplified model is adopted, in which the Coriolis force is neglected. However, estimates show that including it will enhance the shock strength. The compression at the shock front makes the gas observable at high latitudes.

Soukup, J. E.↗

Two-dimensional numerical simulation of a Stirling engine heat exchanger

The first phase of an effort to develop multidimensional models of Stirling engine components is described. The ultimate goal is to model an entire engine working space. Parallel plate and tubular heat exchanger models are described, with emphasis on the central part of the channel (i.e., ignoring hydrodynamic and thermal end effects). The model assumes laminar, incompressible flow with constant thermophysical properties. In addition, a constant axial temperature gradient is imposed. The governing equations describing the model have been solved using the Crack-Nicloson finite-difference scheme. Model predictions are compared with analytical solutions for oscillating/reversing flow and heat transfer in order to check numerical accuracy. Excellent agreement is obtained for flow both in circular tubes and between parallel plates. The computational heat transfer results are in good agreement with the analytical heat transfer results for parallel plates.

Ibrahim, Mounir↗