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

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At least 937 records · Page 52
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Significant and Inevitable End-of-Twenty-First-Century Advances in Surface Runoff Timing in California’s Sierra Nevada

Abstract Using hybrid dynamical–statistical downscaling, 3-km-resolution end-of-twenty-first-century runoff timing changes over California’s Sierra Nevada for all available global climate models (GCMs) from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) are projected. All four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report are examined. These multimodel, multiscenario projections allow for quantification of ensemble-mean runoff timing changes and an associated range of possible outcomes due to both intermodel variability and choice of forcing scenario. Under a “business as usual” forcing scenario (RCP8.5), warming leads to a shift toward much earlier snowmelt-driven surface runoff in 2091–2100 compared to 1991–2000, with advances of as much as 80 days projected in the 35-model ensemble mean. For a realistic “mitigation” scenario (RCP4.5), the ensemble-mean change is smaller but still large (up to 30 days). For all plausible forcing scenarios and all GCMs, the simulated changes are statistically significant, so that a detectable change in runoff timing is inevitable. Even for the mitigation scenario, the ensemble-mean change is approximately equivalent to one standard deviation of the natural variability at most elevations. Thus, even when greenhouse gas emissions are curtailed, the runoff change is climatically significant. For the business-as-usual scenario, the ensemble-mean change is approximately two standard deviations of the natural variability at most elevations, portending a truly dramatic change in surface hydrology by the century’s end if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Measurement of vertical betatron oscillations using the straw tracking detectors for the E989 muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab.

The measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of electrons and muons has been an important test of the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics over many decades. This is because it can be measured experimentally and calculated theoretically to a high precision. In particular the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, a µ , is an ideal candidate for the search of new physics due to the combination of the muons large mass and relatively long lifetime. The current world’s most precise value of aµ was measured by the E821 experiment at the Brookhaven National laboratory (BNL). This achieved a precision of 540 ppb (463 ppb stat., 283 ppb syst.) and measured a ~ 3.5 σ deviation from the SM value [1]. This motivated a new experiment: the E989 muon g–2 experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) to confirm or reject this discrepancy. This experiment aims to gather a data sample 21 times larger than the BNL experiment and improve the determination of the systematic uncertainties by a factor of three and thereby achieve a fourfold increase in precision to 140 ppb [2]. If the aµ value were to remain unchanged, this improvement in precision would establish evidence for Beyond SM (BSM) physics with a significance of more than 7 standard deviations. The Fermilab experiment has the same methodology as the BNL experiment and reuses the experiment’s storage ring magnet. New, improved experimental apparatus has been introduced to reduce the systematic uncertainty on the a µ measurement. One such improvement is the addition of two straw tracking stations. These measure the trajectory of the positrons emitted from the (positive) muon decays which allows a detailed study of the spatial and temporal motion of the beam and critical crosschecks of the calorimeter data. This thesis describes in detail the design, construction and testing of the tracking detectors which were built at the University of Liverpool. A detailed study of the vertical motion of the beam is also presented. This study provides an important correction that must be applied to the data before a µ can be determined.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hubble Parameter and Baryon Acoustic Oscillation Measurement Constraints on the Hubble Constant, the Deviation from the Spatially Flat ΛCDM Model, the Deceleration–Acceleration Transition Redshift, and Spatial Curvature

We construct a complete collection of reliable Hubble parameter H(z) data to redshift z ≤ 2.36 and use them with the Gaussian Process approach to determine continuous H(z) functions for various data subsets. From these continuous H(z)'s, summarizing across the data subsets considered, we find H 0 ~ 67 ± 4 km s–1 Mpc–1, more consistent with the recent lower values observed using a variety of techniques. In most data subsets, we see a cosmological deceleration–acceleration transition at 2σ significance, with the data subsets transition redshifts varying over $0.33\lt {z}_{\mathrm{da}}\lt 1.0$ at 1σ significance. We discover that the flat-ΛCDM model is consistent with the H(z) data to a z of 1.5 to 2.0, depending on data subset considered, with 2σ deviations from flat-ΛCDM above this redshift range. Using the continuous H(z) with baryon acoustic oscillation distance-redshift observations, we constrain the current spatial curvature density parameter to be ${{\rm{\Omega }}}_{K0}=-0.03\pm 0.21$, consistent with a flat universe, but the large error bar does not rule out small values of spatial curvature that are now under debate.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Crystallization and Thermoelectric Transport in Semiconductor Micro- and Nanostructures Under Extreme Conditions

This project focused on thermoelectric transport in semiconductor micro and nanostructures where moderate and typical operating voltages and currents lead to extreme thermal gradients and current densities. Models that describe behavior of semiconducting materials typically assume an equilibrium condition or slight deviations from it. In these cases the generation-recombination processes are assumed to have reached a local equilibrium for a given temperature. Hence, free carrier concentrations and their mobilities, band-gap, thermal conductivity, thermoelectric properties, mobility of atoms and mechanical properties of the material, can be described as a function of temperature. In the case of PN junctions under electrical bias, carrier concentrations can change up to ~ 1020 cm-3 and a drift-diffusion approximation is typically used to obtain the carrier concentrations while assuming that the material properties do not change. In non-equilibrium conditions, the assumption that the material properties remain the same may not be valid. While the increased conduction-band electron concentration may not have a drastic effect on the material, large hole concentration is expected to soften the material as ‘a hole’ comes into existence as a broken bond in the lattice. As the hole density approaches 1022 cm-3, the number of bonds holding the lattice together is significantly reduced, making it easier to break additional bonds, reduce band-gap and inhibit phonon transport. As these holes move away from where they were generated, local properties are expected to deviate significantly from the equilibrium case. Hence, temperature alone is not sufficient to describe the behavior of the material. The behavior of the solid material close to a molten region (liquid-solid interfaces) is also expected to deviate from the equilibrium case as a function of hole injection rate, which can be drastically increased or decreased in the presence of an electric field. In the past years we have investigated the possible thermoelectric explanation of asymmetric melting of self-heated Si micro-structures using equilibrium materials’ properties that exist in the literature. We have analyzed the contribution of the electrons and the holes and identified the generation-transport-recombination of minority carriers (GTR) as the reason for an extreme change in the thermal profile in presence of strong generation and electric field. A more complete analysis required construction of models that capture the individual generation and recombination processes to understand the thermal profile as well as the possibility of electronic softening and non-equilibrium melting of the structure below melting temperature. The possibility of melting a material at a lower temperature breaks the correlation between the atomic mobility and the kinetic energy in the system for a given temperature and may allow alternative growth processes. This may also be the mechanism behind ‘amorphization-without-melting in layered structures heated with laser pulses’ that has been reported earlier. The conventional models for semiconductors are constructed for low temperature operation and their projections to higher temperatures do not yield reasonable carrier concentrations. Using these models, the free hole concentrations are calculated to be on the order of 1019 cm-3 at melting, which also do not correlate well with the latent heat of fusion. The melt is expected to correspond to broken bond concentrations on the order of the atomic density (~5x1022 cm-3 for Silicon). Hence, using conventional models the thermoelectric contribution expected from the GTR process is estimated to be much smaller than it likely is. Our work focused on improving the computational models and electrical characterization of materials and devices to better understand thermoelectric trabsport under extremen thermal gradients and current densities. Specifically, during this project, we have - Expanded our computational models to include self-consistent solution of Poisson charge equation (together with current and heat equations currently solved) for improved accuracy of role of bipolar conduction, - Developed a crystallization model incorporating experimentally determined nucleation rates and growth velocities to enable simulation of grain growth, growth-from-melt, filament formation and retention, - Performed high-temperature characterization of relevant materials (including metal contacts, interfacial and insulation layers); electrical and thermal conductivities, Seebeck coefficient, carrier mobility and concentration, - Performed High-speed device-level characterization of metastable amorphous and crystalline phases, crystallization and amorphization dynamics, melting and crystalline growth-from-melt, - Observed and characterized formation of microplasmas in electrically stressed ZnO nanoforests.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Development of high-fidelity models for liquid fuel spray atomization and mixing processes in transportation and energy systems

Significant inadequacies of current models for multiphase flows present a major barrier to rapid development of advanced high-efficiency low-emissions combustion devices. Liquid spray atomization processes largely determine fuel-air mixture formation, which subsequently govern combustion and controls performance, emissions, and durability of a device. The current study presents a fundamentally-consistent framework to model the effects of breakup processes, liquid drop deformations, and internal flow dynamics on mass, momentum, and energy exchange functions. This framework builds on the Taylor Analogy Breakup (TAB) model which naturally quantifies local drop deformation dynamics. Real-fluid multicomponent thermodynamic property modeling and Gradient Theory simulations facilitate accurate calculations of molecular two-phase interface exchange functions, surface tensions forces, drop oscillations, and breakup processes. The analysis establishes that these drop dynamics, along with finite liquid viscosity effects, significantly alter gas-liquid exchange functions. The study quantifies these effects for the resulting drag coefficients of liquid drops and demonstrates significant deviations from the classic dynamic drag model, which is widely applied in modern simulations performed in academia and industry. This work also quantifies effects, which originate from gas-liquid coupling dynamics, on evaporation and heating rates. The analysis establishes that the consideration of these coupling dynamics modify mass and energy transfer rates even more significantly than the corresponding drag forces from momentum exchange. This physical complexity, however, is largely neglected in modern studies from academia and industry. A new set of equations is presented to improve the modeling of drop breakup processes to address the current shortcomings in the prediction of resulting drops proper- ties over the full range of relevant breakup conditions. The framework is based on a refined energy balance equation which explicitly enforces drop momentum conservation during the breakup process. The introduced modeling framework is entirely derived from conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy and does not, as a consequence, introduce new modeling constants. The significance of the developed modeling advances to fuel injection processes is demonstrated using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with a Lagrangian-Eulerian modeling approach.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Observation of a cross-section enhancement near the production threshold in $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of $t\bar{t}$ production is presented in the invariant-mass region near the pair production threshold, $m_{t\bar{t}} \sim 345$ GeV, in final states with two charged leptons and multiple jets. The measurement is based on $140\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of proton–proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The data are compared to two models of $t\bar{t}$ production: a baseline model including only perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) predictions for the hard process at approximate next-to-next-to leading order accuracy in the strong coupling, and an extended model that, in addition, incorporates non-relativistic QCD simulations that also include the formation of colour-singlet quasi-bound-states near the $t\bar{t}$ threshold. The agreement between the data and the models is quantified via a profile-likelihood fit to the reconstructed $m_{t\bar{t}}$ distributions, in bins of two angular observables sensitive to spin-correlations in the $t\bar{t}$ system. An excess of events is observed over the baseline pQCD prediction, with an observed significance over 8 standard deviations. This excess is consistent with the formation of colour-singlet and spin-singlet S-wave quasi-bound $t\bar{t}$ states, as predicted by non-relativistic QCD, and corresponds to an observed cross-section of $9.3^{+1.4}_{-1.3}$ pb.

Large Hadron Collider↗
DOE OSTI2023

Adaptive Data-Driven Model Predictive Control for Heat Pipe Microreactors

To establish a technical basis for self-regulating microreactors, a model predictive control (MPC) system is investigated to proactively respond to anomalies and disturbances in anticipation of potential deviations from operating setpoints. Due to the difficulty of developing a physics-based surrogate model that can accurately match plant data in various operating conditions, machine learning algorithms are used in MPC, which allow for learning from both simulation and operation data, thus efficiently describing the targeted transient with arbitrary accuracy. However, one of the biggest concerns in applying ML algorithms like artificial neural networks (ANNs) is that the predictive capabilities of ANN are limited by training data. If there are gaps between the training and target domain, the accuracy of an ANN can degrade significantly when it is used to predict unseen data. To improve the predictive capability of ANN and enable a confident use of data-driven MPCs outside the training data, this study proposes an adaptive data-driven MPC framework. The system will monitor the discrepancy between plant responses and surrogate predictions, fine-tune the ANN-based surrogate when a large discrepancy is detected, and continue MPC operation with updated surrogates. The framework is demonstrated on a point kinetic model for microreactors. The hyperparameters of the update strategy, including layers to update, error thresholds, learning rate discount, and number of data points used for fine-tuning, are optimized so the simulated microreactor is able to follow changes in setpoint with the smallest of deviations.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Adaptable Data Driven Model Predictive Control for Heat Pipe Microreactors

To establish a technical basis for self-regulating microreactors, a model predictive control (MPC) system is investigated to proactively respond to anomalies and disturbances in anticipation of potential deviations from operating setpoints. Due to the difficulty of developing a physics-based surrogate model that can accurately match plant data in various operating conditions, machine learning algorithms are used in MPC, which allow for learning from both simulation and operation data, thus efficiently describing the targeted transient with arbitrary accuracy. However, one of the biggest concerns in applying ML algorithms like artificial neural networks (ANNs) is that the predictive capabilities of ANN are limited by training data. If there are gaps between the training and target domain, the accuracy of an ANN can degrade significantly when it is used to predict unseen data. To improve the predictive capability of ANN and enable a confident use of data-driven MPCs outside the training data, this study proposes an adaptive data-driven MPC framework. The system will monitor the discrepancy between plant responses and surrogate predictions, fine-tune the ANN-based surrogate when a large discrepancy is detected, and continue MPC operation with updated surrogates. The framework is demonstrated on a point kinetic model for microreactors. The hyperparameters of the update strategy, including layers to update, error thresholds, learning rate discount, and number of data points used for fine-tuning, are optimized so the simulated microreactor is able to follow changes in setpoint with the smallest of deviations.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Subarcsecond imaging of the NGC 6334 I(N) protocluster: Two dozen compact sources and a massive disk candidate

Using the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, we have imaged the massive protocluster NGC 6334 I(N) at high angular resolution (0.''5 ∼ 650 AU) from 6 cm to 0.87 mm, detecting 18 new compact continuum sources. Three of the new sources are coincident with previously identified H{sub 2}O masers. Together with the previously known sources, these data bring the number of likely protocluster members to 25 for a protostellar density of ∼700 pc{sup –3}. Our preliminary measurement of the Q-parameter of the minimum spanning tree is 0.82—close to the value for a uniform volume distribution. All of the (nine) sources with detections at multiple frequencies have spectral energy distributions consistent with dust emission, and two (SMA 1b and SMA 4) also have long wavelength emission consistent with a central hypercompact H II region. Thermal spectral line emission, including CH{sub 3}CN, is detected in six sources: LTE model fitting of CH{sub 3}CN (J = 12-11) yields temperatures of 72-373 K, confirming the presence of multiple hot cores. The fitted LSR velocities range from –3.3 to –7.0 km s{sup –1}, with an unbiased mean square deviation of 2.05 km s{sup –1}, implying a protocluster dynamical mass of 410 ± 260 M {sub ☉}. From analysis of a wide range of hot core molecules, the kinematics of SMA 1b are consistent with a rotating, infalling Keplerian disk of diameter 800 AU and enclosed mass of 10-30 M {sub ☉} that is perpendicular (within 1°) to the large-scale bipolar outflow axis. A companion to SMA 1b at a projected separation of 0.''45 (590 AU; SMA 1d), which shows no evidence of spectral line emission, is also confirmed. Finally, we detect one 218.4400 GHz and several 229.7588 GHz Class-I CH{sub 3}OH masers.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Symmetric Kondo Lattice States in Doped Strained Twisted Bilayer Graphene

We use the topological heavy fermion (THF) model and its Kondo lattice (KL) formulation to study the possibility of a symmetric Kondo (SK) state in twisted bilayer graphene. Via a large-N approximation, we find a SK state in the KL model at fillings v = 0,±1,±2 where a KL model can be constructed. In the SK state, all symmetries are preserved and the local moments are Kondo screened by the conduction electrons. At the mean-field level of the THF model at v = 0,±1,±2,±3 we also find a similar symmetric state that is adiabatically connected to the symmetric Kondo state. We study the stability of the symmetric state by comparing its energy with the ordered (symmetry-breaking) states found in [H. Hu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 026502 (2023)., Z.-D. Song and B. A. Bernevig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 047601 (2022).] and find the ordered states to have lower energy at v = 0,±1,±2. However, moving away from integer fillings by doping the light bands, our mean-field calculations find the energy difference between the ordered state and the symmetric state to be reduced, which suggests the loss of ordering and a tendency toward Kondo screening. In order to include many-body effects beyond the mean-field approximation, we also performed dynamical mean-field theory calculations on the THF model in the nonordered phase. The spin susceptibility follows a Curie behavior at v = 0,±1,±2 down to ~2 K where the onset of screening of the local moment becomes visible. This hints to very low Kondo temperatures at these fillings, in agreement with the outcome of our mean-field calculations. At noninteger filling v = ±0.5,±0.8,±1.2 dynamical mean-field theory shows deviations from a 1/T susceptibility at much higher temperatures, suggesting a more effective screening of local moments with doping. Lastly, we study the effect of a C 3⁢z -rotational-symmetry-breaking strain via mean-field approaches and find that a symmetric phase (that only breaks C 3⁢z symmetry) can be stabilized at sufficiently large strain at v = 0,±1,±2. Our results suggest that a symmetric Kondo phase is strongly suppressed at integer fillings, but could be stabilized either at noninteger fillings or by applying strain.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Axion dark matter from frictional misalignment

We study the impact of sphaleron-induced thermal friction on the axion dark-matter abundance due to the interaction of an axion-like particle (ALP) with a dark non-abelian gauge sector in a secluded thermal bath. Thermal friction can either enhance the axion relic density by delaying the onset of oscillations or suppress it by damping them. We derive an analytical formula for the frictional adiabatic invariant, which remains constant along the axion evolution and which allows us to compute the axion relic density in a general set-up. Even in the most minimal scenario, in which a single gauge group is responsible for both the generation of the ALP mass and the friction force, we find that the resulting dark-matter abundance from the misalignment mechanism deviates from the standard scenario for axion masses m a ≳ 100 eV. We also generalize our analysis to the case where the gauge field that induces friction and the gauge sector responsible for the ALP mass are distinct and their couplings to the axion have a large hierarchy as can be justified by means of alignment or clockwork scenarios. We find that it is easy to open up the ALP parameter space where the resulting axion abundance matches the observed dark-matter relic density both in the traditionally over- and underabundant regimes. This conclusion also holds for the QCD axion.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Search for long-lived heavy neutral leptons with displaced vertices in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{\mathrm{s}}$ =13 TeV

A search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs), the right-handed Dirac or Majorana neutrinos, is performed in final states with three charged leptons (electrons or muons) using proton-proton collision data collected by the CMS experiment at √s = 13 TeV at the CERN LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb -1 . The HNLs could be produced through mixing with standard model neutrinos ν. For small values of the HNL mass (<20 GeV) and the square of the HNL-ν mixing parameter (10 -7 –10 -2 ), the decay length of these particles can be large enough so that the secondary vertex of the HNL decay can be resolved with the CMS silicon tracker. The selected final state consists of one lepton emerging from the primary proton-proton collision vertex, and two leptons forming a displaced, secondary vertex. No significant deviations from the standard model expectations are observed, and constraints are obtained on the HNL mass and coupling strength parameters, excluding previously unexplored regions of parameter space in the mass range 1–20 GeV and squared mixing parameter values as low as 10 -7 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Analytical gradients of complete active space self-consistent field energies using Cholesky decomposition: Geometry optimization and spin-state energetics of a ruthenium nitrosyl complex

We present a formulation of analytical energy gradients at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level of theory employing density fitting (DF) techniques to enable efficient geometry optimizations of large systems. As an example, the ground and lowest triplet state geometries of a ruthenium nitrosyl complex are computed at the DF-CASSCF level of theory and compared with structures obtained from density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP, BP86, and M06L functionals. The average deviation of all bond lengths compared to the crystal structure is 0.042 Å at the DF-CASSCF level of theory, which is slightly larger but still comparable with the deviations obtained by the tested DFT functionals, e.g., 0.032 Å with M06L. Specifically, the root-mean-square deviation between the DF-CASSCF and best DFT coordinates, delivered by BP86, is only 0.08 Å for S{sub 0} and 0.11 Å for T{sub 1}, indicating that the geometries are very similar. While keeping the mean energy gradient errors below 0.25%, the DF technique results in a 13-fold speedup compared to the conventional CASSCF geometry optimization algorithm. Additionally, we assess the singlet-triplet energy vertical and adiabatic differences with multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) using the DF-CASSCF and DFT optimized geometries. It is found that the vertical CASPT2 energies are relatively similar regardless of the geometry employed whereas the adiabatic singlet-triplet gaps are more sensitive to the chosen triplet geometry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Bench testing of a heterodyne CO 2 laser dispersion interferometer for high temporal resolution plasma density measurements

Here, a heterodyne detection scheme is combined with a 10.59 μm CO 2 laser dispersion interferometer for the first time to allow large bandwidth measurements in the 10-100 MHz range. The approach employed utilizes a 40 MHz acousto-optic cell operating on the frequency doubled CO 2 beam which is obtained using a high 2nd harmonic conversion efficiency orientation patterned gallium arsenide crystal. The measured standard deviation of the line integrated electron density equivalent phase resolution obtained with digital phase demodulation technique, is 4 × 10 17 m –2 . Air flow was found to significantly affect the baseline of the phase signal, which an optical table cover was able to reduce considerably. The heterodyne dispersion interferometer (DI) approach is found to be robustly insensitive to motion, with measured phase shifts below baseline drifts even in the presence of several centimeters of retroreflector induced path length variations. Plasma induced dispersion was simulated with a wedged ZnSe plate and the measured DI phase shifts are consistent with expectations.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2014

Fueling active galactic nuclei. II. Spatially resolved molecular inflows and outflows

We analyze the two-dimensional distribution and kinematics of the stars as well as molecular and ionized gas in the central few hundred parsecs of five active and five matched inactive galaxies. The equivalent widths of the Brγ line indicate that there is no ongoing star formation in their nuclei, although recent (terminated) starbursts are possible in the active galaxies. The stellar velocity fields show no signs of non-circular motions, while the 1-0 S(1) H{sub 2} kinematics exhibit significant deviations from simple circular rotation. In the active galaxies the H{sub 2} kinematics reveal inflow and outflow superimposed on disk rotation. Steady-state circumnuclear inflow is seen in three active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and hydrodynamical models indicate it can be driven by a large-scale bar. In three of the five AGNs, molecular outflows are spatially resolved. The outflows are oriented such that they intersect, or have an edge close to, the disk, which may be the source of molecular gas in the outflow. The relatively low speeds imply the gas will fall back onto the disk, and with moderate outflow rates, they will have only a local impact on the host galaxy. H{sub 2} was detected in two inactive galaxies. These exhibit chaotic circumnuclear dust morphologies and have molecular structures that are counter-rotating with respect to the main gas component, which could lead to gas inflow in the near future. In our sample, all four galaxies with chaotic dust morphology in the circumnuclear region exist in moderately dense groups with 10-15 members where accretion of stripped gas can easily occur.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

A Hubble diagram for quasars

We present a new method to test the ΛCDM cosmological model and to estimate cosmological parameters based on the nonlinear relation between the ultraviolet and X-ray luminosities of quasars. We built a data set of 1138 quasars by merging several samples from the literature with X-ray measurements at 2 keV and SDSS photometry, which was used to estimate the extinction-corrected 2500 Å flux. We obtained three main results: (1) we checked the nonlinear relation between X-ray and UV luminosities in small redshift bins up to z∼6, confirming that the relation holds at all redshifts with the same slope; (2) we built a Hubble diagram for quasars up to z∼6, which is well matched to that of supernovae in the common z = 0–1.4 redshift interval and extends the test of the cosmological model up to z∼6; and (3) we showed that this nonlinear relation is a powerful tool for estimating cosmological parameters. Using the present data and assuming a ΛCDM model, we obtain Ω{sub M} = 0.22{sub −0.08}{sup +0.10} and Ω{sub Λ} = 0.92{sub −0.30}{sup +0.18} (Ω{sub M} = 0.28 ± 0.04 and Ω{sub Λ} = 0.73 ± 0.08 from a joint quasar-SNe fit). Much more precise measurements will be achieved with future surveys. A few thousand SDSS quasars already have serendipitous X-ray observations from Chandra or XMM-Newton, and at least 100,000 quasars with UV and X-ray data will be made available by the extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array all-sky survey in a few years. The Euclid, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, and Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics surveys will further increase the sample size to at least several hundred thousand. Our simulations show that these samples will provide tight constraints on the cosmological parameters and will allow us to test for possible deviations from the standard model with higher precision than is possible today.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Assessment of the strength of kinetic effects of parallel electron transport in the SOL and divertor of JET high radiative H-mode plasmas using EDGE2D-EIRENE and KIPP codes

The kinetic code for plasma periphery (KIPP) was used here to assess the importance of the kinetic effects of parallel electron transport in the scrape-off layer (SOL) and divertor of JET high radiative H-mode inter-ELM plasma conditions with the ITER-like wall and strong nitrogen (N 2 ) injection. Plasma parameter profiles along a magnetic field from one of the EDGE2D-EIRENE simulation cases were used as an input for KIPP runs. Profiles were maintained by particle and power sources. KIPP generated electron distribution functions, f e , parallel power fluxes, electron–ion thermoforces, Debye sheath potential drops and electron sheath transmission factors at divertor targets. For heat fluxes in the main SOL, KIPP results showed deviations from classical (e.g. Braginskii) fluxes by factors typically of ~1.5, sometimes up to 2, with the flux limiting for more upstream positions and flux enhancement near entrances to the divertor. In the divertor, at the same time, for radial positions closer to the separatrix, very large heat flux enhancement factors of up to ten or even higher, indicative of a strong nonlocal heat transport, were found at the outer target, with heat power flux density exhibiting bump-on-tail features at high energies. Under such extreme conditions, however, contributions of conductive power fluxes to total power fluxes were strongly reduced, with convective power fluxes becoming comparable, or sometimes exceeding, conductive power fluxes. Electron–ion thermoforce, on the other hand, which is known to be determined mostly by thermal and subthermal electrons, was found to be in good agreement with Braginskii formulas, including the Z eff dependence. Overall, KIPP results indicate, at least for the plasma conditions used in this modelling, a sizable, but not dominant, effect of kinetics on parallel electron transport.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cuspy dark matter density profiles in massive dwarf galaxies

ABSTRACT Rotation curves of galaxies probe their total mass distributions, including dark matter. Dwarf galaxies are excellent systems to investigate the dark matter density distribution, as they tend to have larger fractions of dark matter compared to higher mass systems. The core-cusp problem describes the discrepancy found in the slope of the dark matter density profile in the centres of galaxies (β*) between observations of dwarf galaxies (shallower cores) and dark matter-only simulations (steeper cusps). We investigate β* in six nearby spiral dwarf galaxies for which high-resolution CO J = 1–0 data were obtained with ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array). We derive rotation curves and decompose the mass profile of the dark matter using our CO rotation curves as a tracer of the total potential and 4.5 $\mu$m photometry to define the stellar mass distribution. We find 〈β*〉 = 0.6 with a standard deviation of ±0.1 among the galaxies in this sample, in agreement with previous measurements in this mass range. The galaxies studied are on the high stellar mass end of dwarf galaxies and have cuspier profiles than lower mass dwarfs, in agreement with other observations. When the same definition of the slope is used, we observe steeper slopes than predicted by the FIRE and NIHAO simulations. This may signal that these relatively massive dwarfs underwent stronger gas inflows towards their centres than predicted by these simulations, that these simulations overpredict the frequency of accretion or feedback events, or that a combination of these or other effects are at work.

Cooke, Lauren H. (ORCID:0000000284337553)↗