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At least 973 records · Page 54

Program of Fundamental-Interaction Research for the Ultracold-Neutron Source at the the WWR-M Reactor

The use of ultracold neutrons opens unique possibilities for studying fundamental interactions in particles physics. Searches for the neutron electric dipole moment are aimed at testing models of CP violation. A precise measurement of the neutron lifetime is of paramount importance for cosmology and astrophysics. Considerable advances in these realms can be made with the aid of a new ultracold-neutron (UCN) supersource presently under construction at Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. With this source, it would be possible to obtain an UCN density approximately 100 times as high as that at currently the best UCN source at the high-flux reactor of the Institute Laue–Langevin (ILL, Grenoble, France). To date, the design and basic elements of the source have been prepared, tests of a full-scale source model have been performed, and the research program has been developed. It is planned to improve accuracy in measuring the neutron electric dipole moment by one order of magnitude to a level of 10{sup −27} to 10{sup −28}e cm. This is of crucial importance for particle physics. The accuracy in measuring the neutron lifetime can also be improved by one order of magnitude. Finally, experiments that would seek neutron–antineutron oscillations by employing ultracold neutrons will become possible upon reaching an UCN density of 10{sup 3} to 10{sup 4} cm{sup −3}. The current status of the source and the proposed research program are discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

SeeQ: A Programming Model for Portable Data-Driven Building Applications

This paper introduces SeeQ, a programming model and an abstraction framework that facilitates the development of portable data- driven building applications. Data-driven approaches can provide insights into building operations and guide decision-making to achieve operational objectives. Yet the configuration of such applications per building requires extensive effort and tacit knowledge. In SeeQ, we propose a portable programming model and build a software system that enables self-configuration and execution across diverse buildings. The configuration of each building is captured in a unified data model - in this paper, we work with the Brick ontology without loss of generality. SeeQ focuses on the distinction between the application logic and the configuration of an application against building-specific data inputs and systems. We test the proposed approach by configuring and deploying a diverse range of applications across five heterogeneous real-world buildings. The analysis shows the potential of SeeQ to significantly reduce the efforts associated with the delivery of building analytics.

analytics↗

Decomposing Loosely Coupled Mixed-Integer Programs for Optimal Microgrid Design

Microgrids are frequently employed in remote regions, in part because access to a larger electric grid is impossible, difficult, or compromises reliability and independence. Although small microgrids often employ spot generation, in which a diesel generator is attached directly to a load, microgrids that combine these individual loads and augment generators with photovoltaic cells and batteries as a distributed energy system are emerging as a safer, less costly alternative. In this work, we present a model that seeks the minimum-cost microgrid design and ideal dispatched power to support a small remote site for one year with hourly fidelity under a detailed battery model; this mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP) is intractable with commercial solvers but loosely coupled with respect to time. A mixed-integer linear program (MIP) approximates the model, and a partitioning scheme linearizes the bilinear terms. We introduce a novel policy for loosely coupled MIPs in which the system reverts to equivalent conditions at regular time intervals; this separates the problem into subproblems that we solve in parallel. We obtain solutions within 5% of optimality in at most six minutes across 14 MIP instances from the literature and solutions within 5% of optimality to the MINLP instances within 20 minutes.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

LLM Benchmarking with LLaMA2: Evaluating Code Development Performance Across Multiple Programming Languages

The rapid evolution of large language models (LLMs) has opened new possibilities for automating various tasks in software development. This paper evaluates the capabilities of the LLaMA 2-70B model in automating these tasks for scientific applications written in commonly used programming languages. Using representative test problems, we assess the model's capacity to generate code, documentation, and unit tests, as well as its ability to translate existing code between commonly used programming languages. Our comprehensive analysis evaluates the compilation, runtime behavior, and correctness of the generated and translated code. Additionally, we assess the quality of automatically generated code, documentation, and unit tests. Here, our results indicate that while LLaMA 2-70B frequently generates syntactically correct and functional code for simpler numerical tasks, it encounters substantial difficulties with more complex, parallelized, or distributed computations, requiring considerable manual corrections. We identify key limitations and suggest areas for future improvements to better leverage AI-driven automation in scientific computing workflows.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Stan : A Probabilistic Programming Language

Stan is a probabilistic programming language for specifying statistical models. A Stan program imperatively defines a log probability function over parameters conditioned on specified data and constants. As of version 2.14.0, Stan provides full Bayesian inference for continuous-variable models through Markov chain Monte Carlo methods such as the No-U-Turn sampler, an adaptive form of Hamiltonian Monte Carlo sampling. Penalized maximum likelihood estimates are calculated using optimization methods such as the limited memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm. Stan is also a platform for computing log densities and their gradients and Hessians, which can be used in alternative algorithms such as variational Bayes, expectation propagation, and marginal inference using approximate integration. To this end, Stan is set up so that the densities, gradients, and Hessians, along with intermediate quantities of the algorithm such as acceptance probabilities, are easily accessible. Stan can also be called from the command line using the cmdstan package, through R using the rstan package, and through Python using the pystan package. All three interfaces support sampling and optimization-based inference with diagnostics and posterior analysis. rstan and pystan also provide access to log probabilities, gradients, Hessians, parameter transforms, and specialized plotting.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Nonproliferation Graduate Fellowship Program, Annual Report, Class of 2012

This 32-pp annual report/brochure describes the accomplishments of the Class of 2012 of the Nonproliferation Graduate Fellowship Program (the last class of this program), which PNNL administers for the National Nuclear Security Administration. The time period covers Sept 2011 through June 2013.

Class of 2012↗

LDRD FY 2014 Program Plan

As required by DOE Order 413.2B the FY 2014 Program Plan is written to communicate areas of investment and approximate amounts being requested for the upcoming fiscal year. The program plan also includes brief highlights of current or previous LDRD projects that have an opportunity to impact our Nation's current and future energy challenges.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Global Security Program Management Plan

The Global Security Directorate mission is to protect against proliferant and unconventional nuclear threats –regardless of origin - and emerging new threats. This mission is accomplished as the Los Alamos National Laboratory staff completes projects for our numerous sponsors. The purpose of this Program Management Plan is to establish and clearly describe the GS program management requirements including instructions that are essential for the successful management of projects in accordance with our sponsor requirements. The detailed information provided in this document applies to all LANL staff and their subcontractors that are performing GS portfolio work. GS management is committed to a culture that ensures effective planning, execution, and achievement of measurable results in accordance with the GS mission. Outcomes of such a culture result in better communication, delegated authority, accountability, and increased emphasis on safely and securely achieving GS objectives.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders

The purpose of this project was to evaluate integrated packages of advanced measures in individual test homes to assess their performance with respect to Building America Program goals, specifically compliance with the DOE Challenge Home Program. BSC consulted on the construction of five test houses by three Cold Climate production builders in three separate US cities. BSC worked with the builders to develop a design package tailored to the cost-related impacts for each builder. Therefore, the resulting design packages do vary from builder to builder. BSC provided support through this research project on the design, construction and performance testing of the five test homes. Overall, the builders have concluded that the energy related upgrades (either through the prescriptive or performance path) represent reasonable upgrades. The builders commented that while not every improvement in specification was cost effective (as in a reasonable payback period), many were improvements that could improve the marketability of the homes and serve to attract more energy efficiency discerning prospective homeowners. However, the builders did express reservations on the associated checklists and added certifications. An increase in administrative time was observed with all builders. The checklists and certifications also inherently increase cost due to: 1. Adding services to the scope of work for various trades, such as HERS Rater, HVAC contractor; 2. Increased material costs related to the checklists, especially the EPA Indoor airPLUS and EPA WaterSense(R) Efficient Hot Water Distribution requirement.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders

The purpose of this project was to evaluate integrated packages of advanced measures in individual test homes to assess their performance with respect to Building America program goals, specifically compliance with the DOE Challenge Home Program. BSC consulted on the construction of five test houses by three cold climate production builders in three U.S. cities and worked with the builders to develop a design package tailored to the cost-related impacts for each builder. Also, BSC provided support through performance testing of the five test homes. Overall, the builders have concluded that the energy related upgrades (either through the prescriptive or performance path) represent reasonable upgrades. The builders commented that while not every improvement in specification was cost effective (as in a reasonable payback period), many were improvements that could improve the marketability of the homes and serve to attract more energy efficiency discerning prospective homeowners. However, the builders did express reservations on the associated checklists and added certifications. An increase in administrative time was observed with all builders. The checklists and certifications also inherently increase cost due to: adding services to the scope of work for various trades, such as HERS Rater, HVAC contractor; and increased material costs related to the checklists, especially the EPA Indoor airPLUS and EPA WaterSense® Efficient Hot Water Distribution requirement.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

An Overview of the Los Alamos Inertial Confinement Fusion and High-Energy-Density Physics Research Programs

The Los Alamos Inertial Confinement Fusion and Science Programs engage in a vigorous array of experiments, theory, and modeling. We use the three major High Energy Density facilities, NIF, Omega, and Z to perform experiments. These include opacity, radiation transport, hydrodynamics, ignition science, and burn experiments to aid the ICF and Science campaigns in reaching their stewardship goals. The ICF program operates two nuclear diagnostics at NIF, the neutron imaging system and the gamma reaction history instruments. Both systems are being expanded with significant capability enhancements.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A experimental research program on chirality at the LHC

Heavy-ion collisions provide a unique opportunity to investigate the fundamental laws of physics of the strong force. The extreme conditions created by the collisions within a finite volume are akin to the properties of the deconfined partonic state which existed very shortly after the Big Bang and just prior to visible matter formation in the Universe. In this state massless quarks and gluons (partons) are ``quasi free" particles, the so-called Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP). By following the expansion and cooling of this state, we will map out the process of nucleonic matter formation, which occurs during the phase transition. The fundamental properties of this early partonic phase of matter are not well understood, but they are essential for confirming QCD (Quantum Chromo-Dynamics) and the Standard Model. The specific topic, chiral symmetry restoration, has been called ``the remaining puzzle of QCD.'' This puzzle can only be studied in the dense partonic medium generated in heavy-ion collisions. The research objectives of this proposal are the development and application of new analysis strategies to study chirality and the properties of the medium above the QGP phase transition using hadronic resonances detected with the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the CERN research laboratory in Switzerland. This grant funded a new effort at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) to investigate the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) at the highest possible energy of 2.76 TeV per nucleon at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN via the ALICE experiment. The findings added to our knowledge of the dynamical evolution and the properties of the hot, dense matter produced in heavy-ion collisions, and provided a deeper understanding of multi-hadron interactions in these extreme nuclear matter systems. Our group contributed as well to the hardware and software for the ALICE USA-funded Calorimeter Detector (EMCal). The LHC research program and its connection to fundamental questions in high energy, nuclear and astrophysics has triggered the imagination of many young students worldwide. The studies also promoted the early involvement of students and young postdocs in a large, multi-national research effort abroad, which provided them with substantial experience and skills prior to choosing their career path. The undergraduate program, in conjunction with the Freshman Research Initiative at UT Austin, allowed the students to complete a research project within the field of Nuclear Physics.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

ATF Neutron Irradiation Program Technical Plan

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) under the Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group (CNWG) is engaged in a cooperative research effort with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to explore issues related to nuclear energy, including research on accident-tolerant fuels and materials for use in light water reactors. This work develops a draft technical plan for a neutron irradiation program on the candidate accident-tolerant fuel cladding materials and elements using the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). The research program requires the design of a detailed experiment, development of test vehicles, irradiation of test specimens, possible post-irradiation examination and characterization of irradiated materials and the shipment of irradiated materials to JAEA in Japan. This report discusses the technical plan of the experimental study.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Evaluating Realized Impacts of DOE/EERE R&D Programs. Standard impact evaluation method

This document provides guidance for evaluators who conduct impact assessments of research and development (R&D) programs for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). It is also targeted at EERE program staff responsible for initiating and managing commissioned impact studies. The guide specifies how to estimate economic benefits and costs, energy saved and installed or generated, environmental impacts, energy security impacts, and knowledge impacts of R&D investments in advanced energy technologies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

FY16 LLNL Omega Experimental Programs

In FY16, LLNL’s High-Energy-Density Physics (HED) and Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF-ID) programs conducted several campaigns on the OMEGA laser system and on the EP laser system, as well as campaigns that used the OMEGA and EP beams jointly. Overall, these LLNL programs led 430 target shots in FY16, with 304 shots using just the OMEGA laser system, and 126 shots using just the EP laser system. Approximately 21% of the total number of shots (77 OMEGA shots and 14 EP shots) supported the Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Campaign (ICF-ID). The remaining 79% (227 OMEGA shots and 112 EP shots) were dedicated to experiments for High-Energy-Density Physics (HED). Highlights of the various HED and ICF campaigns are summarized in the following reports. In addition to these experiments, LLNL Principal Investigators led a variety of Laboratory Basic Science campaigns using OMEGA and EP, including 81 target shots using just OMEGA and 42 shots using just EP. The highlights of these are also summarized, following the ICF and HED campaigns. Overall, LLNL PIs led a total of 553 shots at LLE in FY 2016. In addition, LLNL PIs also supported 57 NLUF shots on Omega and 31 NLUF shots on EP, in collaboration with the academic community.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

FY22 NCSP Technical Program Review [Slides]

Document details key information about the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) including financial data, functions and execution of the program, and accomplishments, challenges, and initiatives, as well as projected projects/accomplishments.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

The DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) [Slides]

This presentation provides an overview of the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP), including its mission, vision, program element activities, current work, recent accomplishments, and budget/funding information.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Overview of the DOE/NNSA Nuclear Criticality Safety Program [Slides]

This presentation provides an overview of the DOE/NNSA Nuclear Criticality Safety Program, including the program's history, mission, vision, main functions, budgetary information, accomplishments, challenges, initiatives, and current work.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗