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At least 973 records · Page 54

First-ever deployment of a SiPM-on-tile calorimeter in a collider: a parasitic test with 200 GeV p p collisions at RHIC.

We describe the testing of a prototype SiPM-on-tile iron-scintillator calorimeter at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) during its 200 GeV p p run in 2024. The prototype, measuring 20 × 20 cm 2 and 24 radiation lengths in depth, was positioned in the STAR experimental hall, approximately 8 m from the interaction point and 65 cm from the beam line, covering a pseudorapidity range of about 3.1 < η < 3.4. By using the dark current of a reference SiPM as a radiation monitor, we estimate that the prototype was exposed to a fluence of about 10 10 1-MeV n eq /cm 2 . Channel-by-channel calibration was performed in a data-driven way with the signature from minimum-ionizing particles during beam-on conditions. AGeant4 detector simulation, with inputs from thePythia8 event generator, describes measurements of energy spectra and hit multiplicities reasonably well. These results mark the first deployment, commissioning, calibration, and long-term operation of a SiPM-on-tile calorimeter in a collider environment. This experimental campaign will guide detector designs and operational strategies for the ePIC detector at the future EIC, as well as other applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Integrating environmental understanding into freshwater floatovoltaic deployment using an effects hierarchy and decision trees

Abstract In an era of looming land scarcity and environmental degradation, the development of low carbon energy systems without adverse impacts on land and land-based resources is a global challenge. ‘Floatovoltaic’ energy systems—comprising floating photovoltaic (PV) panels over water—are an appealing source of low carbon energy as they spare land for other uses and attain greater electricity outputs compared to land-based systems. However, to date little is understood of the impacts of floatovoltaics on the hosting water body. Anticipating changes to water body processes, properties and services owing to floatovoltaic deployment represents a critical knowledge gap that may result in poor societal choices and water body governance. Here, we developed a theoretically-derived hierarchical effects framework for the assessment of floatovoltaic impacts on freshwater water bodies, emphasising ecological interactions. We describe how the presence of floatovoltaic systems may dramatically alter the air-water interface, with subsequent implications for surface meteorology, air-water fluxes and physical, chemical and biological properties of the recipient water body. We apply knowledge from this framework to delineate three response typologies—‘ magnitude’ , those for which the direction and magnitude of effect can be predicted; ‘ direction’ , those for which only the direction of effect can be predicted; and ‘ uncertain’ , those for which the response cannot be predicted—characterised by the relative importance of levels in the effects hierarchy. Illustrative decision trees are developed for an example water body response within each typology, specifically, evaporative water loss, cyanobacterial biomass, and phosphorus release from bed sediments, and implications for ecosystem services, including climate regulation, are discussed. Finally, the potential to use the new understanding of likely ecosystem perturbations to direct floatovoltaic design innovations and identify future research priorities is outlined, showcasing how inter-sectoral collaboration and environmental science can inform and optimise this low carbon, land-sparing renewable energy for ecosystem gains.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗

Field-Deployable Quantum Memory for Quantum Networking

High-performance quantum memories are an essential component for regulating temporal events in quantum networks. As a component in quantum-repeaters, they have the potential to support the distribution of entanglement beyond the physical limitations of fiber loss. This will enable key applications such as quantum key distribution, network-enhanced quantum sensing, and distributed quantum computing. Here, we present a quantum memory engineered to meet real-world deployment and scaling challenges. The memory technology utilizes a warm rubidium vapor as the storage medium, and operates at room temperature, without the need for vacuum- and/or cryogenic- support. Here, we demonstrate performance specifications of high-fidelity retrieval (95%) and low operation error (10 –2 ) at a storage time of 160 µs for single-photon level quantum memory operations. We further show a substantially improved storage time (with classical-level light) of up to 1ms by suppressing atomic diffusions. The device is housed in an enclosure with a standard 2U rackmount form factor, and can robustly operate on a day scale in a noisy environment. This result marks an important step toward implementing quantum networks in the field.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Proteome-scale Deployment of Protein Structure Prediction Workflows on the Summit Supercomputer

Deep learning has contributed to major advances in the prediction of protein structure from sequence, a fundamental problem in structural bioinformatics. With predictions now approaching the accuracy of crystallographic experiments, and with accelerators like GPUs and TPUs making inference using large models rapid, genome-level structure prediction becomes an obvious aim. Leadership-class computing resources can be used to perform genome-scale protein structure prediction using state-of-the-art deep learning models, providing a wealth of new data for systems biology applications. Here we describe our efforts to efficiently deploy the AlphaFold v.2 program, for full-proteome structure prediction, at scale on the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility's resources, including the Summit supercomputer. We performed inference to produce the predicted structures for 40,526 protein sequences, corresponding to four prokaryotic proteomes and one plant proteome, using under 4,400 total Summit node hours, equivalent to using the majority of the supercomputer for a little over one hour. We also designed an optimized structure refinement that reduced the time for the relaxation stage of the AlphaFold pipeline by over 10X for longer sequences. We demonstrate the types of analyses that can be performed on proteome-scale collections of sequences, including a search for novel quaternary structures and implications for functional annotation.

Gao, Mu↗

Assessing Machine Learning as a Tool to Explain Variance in Deployed Photovoltaic (PV) System Degradation

Degradation remains a large uncertainty in forecasting production for PV plants, creating significant risk for developers and financiers. This study aims to quantify the distribution and drivers of degradation across 10,000 PV systems deployed for distributed or utility generation by training a machine learning model to predict year-over-year degradation rates from metadata characteristics. A combination of K-Means clustering and random forest regressor were found to associate multiple metadata features as potential drivers of degradation, including module characteristics, system design, and climate features. From this, it is inferred that if machine learning is able to find complex patterns between metadata features and system performance loss, such methods can be employed to help developers and financiers make data-informed decisions when estimating long-term energy production forecasts in financial models.

Dunn, Jimmy C.↗

Field deployable pushbroom hyperspectral imaging polarimeter

Hyperspectral imaging polarimetry enables both the spectrum and its spectrally-resolved state of polarization to be measured. This information is important to identify material properties for various applications in remote sensing and agricultural monitoring. In this paper, we describe the design and performance of a ruggedized, field deployable Hyperspectral Imaging Polarimeter (HIP), designed for wavelengths spanning the visible to near infrared (450-800 nm). An entrance slit was used to sample the scene in a pushbroom scanning mode across a 30 degree vertical by 110 degree horizontal field of view. Furthermore, athermalized achromatic retarders were implemented in a channel spectrum generator to measure the linear Stokes parameters. The mechanical and optical layout of the system and its peripherals are provided, in addition to the results of the sensor's spectral and polarimetric calibration. Finally, field measurements are also provided and an error analysis conducted. With its present calibration, the sensor has an absolute polarimetric error of 2.5% RIVIS and a relative spectral error of 2.3% RMS.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET): metropolitan-scale experimental quantum networking over deployed optical fiber

The Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET) is a program to realize metro-scale quantum networking over deployed optical fiber using currently available technology. IEQNET consists of multiple sites that are geographically dispersed in the Chicago metropolitan area. Each site has one or more quantum nodes (Qnodes) representing the communication parties in a quantum network. Q-nodes generate or measure quantum signals such as entangled photons and communicate the results via standard, classical, means. The entangled photons in IEQNET nodes are generated at multiple wavelengths, and are selectively distributed to the desired users via optical switches. Here we describe the network architecture of IEQNET, including the Internet-inspired layered hierarchy that leverages software-defined-networking (SDN) technology to perform traditional wavelength routing and assignment between the Q-nodes. Specifically, SDN decouples the control and data planes, with the control plane being entirely classical. Issues associated with synchronization, calibration, network monitoring, and scheduling will be discussed. An important goal of IEQNET is demonstrating the extent to which the control plane can coexist with the data plane using the same fiber lines. This goal is furthered by the use of tunable narrow-band optical filtering at the receivers and, at least in some cases, a wide wavelength separation between the quantum and classical channels. We envision IEQNET to aid in developing robust and practical quantum networks by demonstrating metro-scale quantum communication tasks such as entanglement distribution and quantum-state teleportation.

Chung, Joaquin↗

ReEDS™ (Regional Energy Deployment System) [SWR-20-36 and SWR-09-14]

The Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS™) is a free, open-access tool that empowers users to explore least-cost pathways for large-scale power sector transformation. NREL’s flagship energy capacity planning model for the North American electricity system allows users to examine the interactions between policy, technology, economics, and the environment when integrating renewables onto the grid from now through 2050.

Short, Walter↗

Urban Deployment Model (UDM) v1.0

The software, called the Urban Deployment Model (UDM), is an integrated set of tools for the simulation and analysis of static and mobile radiation detection systems in complex urban environments. The UDM includes a graphical user interface through which the workflow associated with setting up and executing a simulation may be established. The modular toolsets combine aspects of radiation transport, navigation, graph theory, optimization, and visualization to allow the complete end-to-end simulation of large scale, highly-distributed sensor networks.

Abgrall, Nicolas↗

Medium and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Infrastructure - Load Operations and Deployment (HEVI-LOAD) v1.0

In order to support the California state goals to reduce the carbon and pollution emissions (AB2127), The goal of this project (HEVI-Pro) is to project the charging infrastructure needs by future medium- and heavy- duty electric vehicles, and assess optimal deployment the infrastructure in California and provide grid impacts analysis. The MHDV projections will also consider transportation system and electric system interaction with light duty vehicles. The project consists of 2 approaches in general: top-down approach that takes aggregated MHDV adoptions as the inputs and provide the county-level projections of charging load profile and infrastructure need, and the bottom-up approach that that incorporates more granular (temporal, spatial and duty-cycle-specific) behaviors of a variety of MHDVs into activity simulations/optimizations for further analysis.

Wang, Bin↗

Python Urban Deployment Model (PyUDM) v1.0.0

The Python Urban Deployment Model (PyUDM) is a simulation tool used to investigate networks of static radiation detectors in urban environments. PyUDM simulates traffic, stationary NaI gamma-ray detectors, and moving radioactive sources on simulated vehicles. The analyzed output of the simulations contain valuable insights into the performance of different configurations of urban radiological detector configurations such as their ability to detect sources moving through the environment. To accurately simulate radioactive material moving through urban environments, PyUDM combines Monte Carlo simulation tools, publicly available map and traffic data, and measured gamma-ray spectra from urban environments.

Rofors, Emil↗

ADOPT (Automotive Deployment Options Projection Tool) [SWR-17-13]

NREL's Automotive Deployment Options Projection Tool (ADOPT) is a vehicle consumer choice and stock model. ADOPT estimates the impact of vehicle technology improvements on future U.S. vehicle sales, energy use, and emissions. It provides consumer choice estimates based on questions such as: -How much impact do lower battery prices have on electric vehicle sales? -How quickly would the market adopt a co-optimized engine/fuel combination that achieves a 10% efficiency improvement? -How do fuel prices impact the electric vehicle/plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales mix? -How does vehicle lightweighting impact powertrain sales? Approach- Starting with the majority of existing vehicle makes, models, and trims to fully represent the market, ADOPT applies numerous inputs-technology improvements, fuel prices, and vehicle purchase incentives-over time. ADOPT then estimates sales based on the variable weighted value of key attributes, including vehicle price, fuel cost per mile, acceleration, size, and range. ADOPT also considers consumer income level as well as regulations and standards that influence sales and average fuel economy. ADOPT incorporates NREL's FASTSim™ (Future Automotive Systems Technology Simulator, https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/fastsim.html) to apply specified technology improvements to vehicles over time, and to create new model options by combining high-selling powertrains and high-selling vehicle platforms. NREL has extensively validated the tool and its consumer preference trade-offs to ensure confidence in the results.

Brooker, Aaron↗

Code Description for "Brief Communication: Monitoring snow depth using small, cheap, and easy-to-deploy ground surface temperature sensors"

Temporally continuous snow depth estimates are vital for understanding changing snow patterns and impacts on permafrost in the Arctic. We train a random forest machine learning model to predict snow depth from variability in ground surface temperature. To our knowledge, this is the first time that small ground surface temperature sensors have been used to estimate snow depth. The model performs well at sites where the model was trained and at pan-arctic evaluation sites (RMSE <= 0.15 m). Small temperature sensors are cheap and easy-to-deploy, so this technique enables spatially distributed and temporally continuous snowpack monitoring to an extent previously infeasible. The model is flexible and can be applied to datasets retroactively to retrieve snow depth estimates at additional sites. This code package includes a *.joblib file of the trained random forest model and a *.ipynb file showing how to clean input data, train the random forest model, and apply the model.

Bachand, Claire↗

Performance of optical sensors for cloud measurements deployed by the ARM Aerial Facility during ACE-ENA

During the Aerosol and Cloud Experiment in the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA), a variety of in situ optical sensors using shadow imaging, scattering and holography were deployed by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerial Facility to determine cloud properties. Taking advantage of the wide, overlapping range of instrumentation, we compare in situ cloud data from several different measurement methods for droplets up to 100 µm. Further, data processing was tailored to the encountered conditions, leading to good agreement. Improvements include noise reduction for holography and better out-of-focus correction for shadow imaging. Comparison between direct liquid water content measurements and optical sensors showed better agreement at higher droplet number concentrations (>120/cm 3 ).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Characterizing thermal-induced temporal drift in deployed quantum fiber networks

We study temperature-induced fiber-delay drifts affecting entanglement fidelity in deployed quantum systems. Using field data and simulations, we model timing uncertainties and evaluate their impact on coincidence detection, revealing critical challenges for robust quantum networks.

Alshowkan, Muneer [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000264293450)↗

Ancilla-assisted process tomography of a deployed fiber link

We perform ancilla-assisted process tomography over a deployed 1.6 km fiber-optic link using Bayesian inference, confirming a stable, high-fidelity polarization channel. Overall, our approach should offer value for in situ analyses of entanglement networks.

Rahman, Arefur [Arizona State University]↗

Entanglement-based quantum digital signatures over a deployed campus network

The quantum digital signature protocol offers a replacement for most aspects of public-key digital signatures ubiquitous in today’s digital world. A major advantage of a quantum-digital-signatures protocol is that it can have information-theoretic security, whereas public-key cryptography cannot. Here we demonstrate and characterize hardware to implement entanglement-based quantum digital signatures over our campus network. Over 25 hours, we collect measurements on our campus network, where we measure sufficiently low quantum bit error rates (<5% in most cases) which in principle enable quantum digital signatures at over 50 km as shown through rigorous simulation accompanied by a noise model developed specifically for our implementation. These results show quantum digital signatures can be successfully employed over deployed fiber. Moreover, our reported method provides great flexibility in the number of users, but with reduced entanglement rate per user. Finally, while the current implementation of our entanglement-based approach has a low signature rate, feasible upgrades would significantly increase the signature rate.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗