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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

Mapping the Energy Cascade in the North Atlantic Ocean: The Coarse-Graining Approach

Abstract A coarse-graining framework is implemented to analyze nonlinear processes, measure energy transfer rates, and map out the energy pathways from simulated global ocean data. Traditional tools to measure the energy cascade from turbulence theory, such as spectral flux or spectral transfer, rely on the assumption of statistical homogeneity or at least a large separation between the scales of motion and the scales of statistical inhomogeneity. The coarse-graining framework allows for probing the fully nonlinear dynamics simultaneously in scale and in space and is not restricted by those assumptions. This paper describes how the framework can be applied to ocean flows. Energy transfer between scales is not unique because of a gauge freedom. Here, it is argued that a Galilean-invariant subfilter-scale (SFS) flux is a suitable quantity to properly measure energy scale transfer in the ocean. It is shown that the SFS definition can yield answers that are qualitatively different from traditional measures that conflate spatial transport with the scale transfer of energy. The paper presents geographic maps of the energy scale transfer that are both local in space and allow quasi-spectral, or scale-by-scale, dynamics to be diagnosed. Utilizing a strongly eddying simulation of flow in the North Atlantic Ocean, it is found that an upscale energy transfer does not hold everywhere. Indeed certain regions near the Gulf Stream and in the Equatorial Countercurrent have a marked downscale transfer. Nevertheless, on average an upscale transfer is a reasonable mean description of the extratropical energy scale transfer over regions of O(103) km in size.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Non-intrusive nonlinear model reduction via machine learning approximations to low-dimensional operators

Abstract Although projection-based reduced-order models (ROMs) for parameterized nonlinear dynamical systems have demonstrated exciting results across a range of applications, their broad adoption has been limited by their intrusivity: implementing such a reduced-order model typically requires significant modifications to the underlying simulation code. To address this, we propose a method that enables traditionally intrusive reduced-order models to be accurately approximated in a non-intrusive manner. Specifically, the approach approximates the low-dimensional operators associated with projection-based reduced-order models (ROMs) using modern machine-learning regression techniques. The only requirement of the simulation code is the ability to export the velocity given the state and parameters; this functionality is used to train the approximated low-dimensional operators. In addition to enabling nonintrusivity, we demonstrate that the approach also leads to very low computational complexity, achieving up to $$10^3{\times }$$ 10 3 × in run time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique on two types of PDEs. The domain of applications include both parabolic and hyperbolic PDEs, regardless of the dimension of full-order models (FOMs).

42 ENGINEERING↗

Dual-wavelength channel GHz repetition rate mode-locked VECSEL cavities sourced from a common gain medium

Mode-locked vertical external cavity semiconductor lasers are a unique class of nonlinear dynamical systems driven far from equilibrium. We present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, experimental result, supported by rigorous microscopic simulations, of two coexisting mode-locked V-cavity configurations sourced by a common gain medium and operating as independent channels at angle controlled separated wavelengths. Microscopic simulations support pulses coincident on the common gain chip extracting photons from a nearby pair of coexisting kinetic holes burned in the carrier distributions.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Spectral interferometry-based microwave-frequency vibrometry for integrated acoustic wave devices

Microwave phononics is a promising platform for sensing, computing, and quantum information science; thus, sensitive and high-throughput characterization tools are needed not only for device verification and optimization but also for revealing transient and nonlinear dynamics. Existing interferometric optical vibrometers for 2D mapping are challenged by operating point stabilization, surface reflectivity contrast, and long acquisition time. Here, we use spectral interferometry, which is insensitive to these factors and utilizes a continuous raster scanning scheme for vibration mapping with high throughput. We intensity-modulate our broadband light source with an electro-optic modulator to resolve vibrations at microwave frequencies. Our system requires no fast photodetector or digitizer operating in the microwave frequency range. We image the 1 GHz vibration field of a 300 × 150 µm 2 area of an entire surface acoustic wave device in 10 min with simultaneous surface profilometry. Our system has a vibration sensitivity of 120 fm/sqrt(Hz) and a linear throughput of 0.77 mm/s on the chip surface. The technique offers capabilities for characterizing a wide range of acoustic wave and micromechanical devices to better understand their behavior and performance.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Heterosynaptic plasticity in memristive and memcapacitive lipid bilayers: A snapshot review

Synaptic plasticity refers to activity-dependent synaptic strengthening or weakening between neurons. It is usually associated with homosynaptic plasticity, which refers to a synaptic junction controlled by interactions between specific neurons. Heterosynaptic plasticity, on the other hand, lacks this specificity. It involves much larger populations of synapses and neurons and can be associated with changes in synaptic strength due to nonlocal alterations in the ambient electrochemical environment. Here, this paper presents specific examples demonstrating how variations in the ambient electrochemical environment of lipid membranes can impact the nonlinear dynamical behaviors of memristive and memcapacitive systems in droplet interface bilayers (DIBs). Examples include the use of pH as a modulatory factor that alters the voltage-dependent memristive behavior of alamethicin ion channels in DIB lipid bilayers, and the discovery of long-term potentiation (LTP) in a lipid bilayer-only system after application of electrical stimulation protocols.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

MULTISTEP AND CONTINUOUS PHYSICS-INFORMED NEURAL NETWORK METHODS FOR LEARNING GOVERNING EQUATIONS AND CONSTITUTIVE RELATIONS

In this work, we investigate the applicability and relative merit of discrete and continuous versions of physics-informed neural network (PINN) methods for learning unknown governing equations or constitutive relations in a nonlinear dynamical system. In the case of unknown dynamics, entire right-hand-side (RHS) equations of the ordinary differential equations are unknown. In the case of unknown constitutive relations, however, the RHS equations are known up to the specification of constitutive relations (that may depend on the state of the system). We use a deep neural network to model unknown governing equations or constitutive relations. The discrete PINN approach combines classical multistep discretization methods for dynamical systems with neural-network-based machine learning methods. On the other hand, the continuous versions utilize deep neural networks to minimize the residual function for the continuous governing equations. We use the case of a fedbatch bioreactor system to study the effectiveness of these approaches and discuss conditions for their applicability. Our results indicate that the accuracy of the trained neural network models is much higher for the cases where we only have to learn a constitutive relation instead of all dynamics. This finding corroborates the well-known fact from scientific computing that building as much structural information as is available into an algorithm can enhance its efficiency and/or accuracy.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Beam Losses and Emittance Growth Studies at the Record High Space-Charge in the Booster

Comprehensive studies of high intensity proton beams in the 0.4-8 GeV FNAL Booster synchrotron have revealed interesting nonlinear dynamics of the beam losses and emittance growth at the record high dQ_{SC}=0.6. We report the results of the studies and directions of further improvements to prepare the Booster to the era of even higher intensity operation with new 0.8 GeV PIP-II linac.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Lower Emittance Lattice for the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade Using Reverse Bending Magnets

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is pursuing an upgrade to the storage ring to a hybrid seven-bend-achromat design [1]. The nominal design provides a natural emittance of 67 pm [2]. By adding reverse dipole fields to several quadrupoles [3, 4] we can reduce the natural emittance to 41 pm while simultaneously providing more optimal beta functions in the insertion devices and increasing the dispersion function at the chromaticity sextupole magnets. The improved emittance results from a combination of increased energy loss per turn and a change in the damping partition. At the same time, the nonlinear dynamics performance is very similar, thanks in part to increased dispersion in the sextupoles. This paper describes the properties, optimization, and performance of the new lattice.

Borland, M.↗

baseflow: a MATLAB and GNU Octave package for baseflow recession analysis

baseflow is a MATLAB® toolbox designed for baseflow recession analysis, a technique used in hydrologic science to infer aquifer properties from streamflow. By leveraging widely available streamflow data, baseflow can be used to estimate aquifer properties such as hydraulic conductivity and drainable porosity over the modern instrumental stream gage record. The toolbox is intended for analysis of measured streamflow values recorded on a daily timestep, and is tailored for shallow, unconfined riparian aquifers that discharge groundwater laterally into adjacent streams. Additionally, baseflow can analyze the collective behavior of individual hillslope aquifers constituting hydrologic catchments, known as “watersheds”, from a nonlinear dynamical systems perspective. The toolbox incorporates recent advances in baseflow recession analysis to enable objective estimations of aquifer properties, and their sensitivity to methodological decisions, at both hillslope and catchment scales.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Collaborative Research: Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Plasma Physics of Antihydrogen Generation and Trapping

Ever since Dirac predicted the existence of antimatter in 1928, it has excited our collective imagination. Seventy-four years later, two collaborations at CERN, ATHENA and ATRAP, created the first slow antihydrogen. This was a stunning achievement, but the most important antimatter experiments require trapped, not just slow, antihydrogen. The velocity, magnetic moment, and internal energy and state of the antihydrogen depend strongly on how it is formed. To trap antihydrogen, physicists face two broad challenges: (1) Understanding the behavior of the positron and antiprotons plasmas from which the antihydrogen is synthesized; and (2) Understanding the atomic processes by which positrons and antiprotons recombine. Recombination lies on the boundary between atomic and plasma physics, and cannot be studied properly without employing tools from both fields. The proposed collaborative research campaign will address both of these challenges. The collaboration members have unique experience in the relevant fields of experimental and theoretical non-neutral plasma physics, numerical modeling, nonlinear dynamics and atomic physics. This expertise is not found elsewhere amongst antihydrogen researchers. The collaboration members have strong ties already, and seek to formalize them with this proposal. Three of the four PIs are members of the ALPHA collaboration, an international collaboration formed by most of the principal members of the ATHENA collaboration.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Final Report - Interaction of radiation and charged particles in miniature plasma structures

The extension of our program to the development of theories and models capable of describing the interactions of intense laser pulses and charged particles in miniature plasma channels is reported. These channels, which have recently been created in the laboratory, have unique dispersion properties that make them interesting for a variety of applications including particle acceleration, high harmonic generation, and THz generation. Our program systematically explored the properties of these channels, including dispersion, losses, and coupling. A particular application that was pursued is the generation of intense pulses of THz radiation by short laser pulses propagating these channels. We also explored the nonlinear dynamics of laser pulses propagating in these channels.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Tsonis final project report

This collaborative reserach has several components but the main idea is that when imperfect copies of a given nonlinear dynamical system are coupled, they may synchronize for some set of coupling parameters. This idea is to be tested for several IPCC-like models each one with its own formulation and representing an “imperfect” copy of the true climate system. By computing the coupling parameters, which will lead the models to a synchronized state, a consensus on climate change simulations may be achieved.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NSR&D FY17 Report: CartaBlanca Capability Enhancements

Over the last several years, particle technology in the CartaBlanca code has been matured and has been successfully applied to a wide variety of physical problems. It has been shown that the particle methods, especially Los Alamos's dual domain material point method, is capable of computing many problems involves complex physics, chemistries accompanied by large material deformations, where the traditional finite element or Eulerian method encounter significant difficulties. In FY17, the CartaBlanca code has been enhanced with physical models and numerical algorithms. We started out to compute penetration and HE safety problems. Most of the year we focused on the TEPLA model improvement testing against the sweeping wave experiment by Gray et al., because it was found that pore growth and material failure are essentially important for our tasks and needed to be understood for modeling the penetration and the can experiments efficiently. We extended the TEPLA mode from the point view of ensemble phase average to include the effects of nite deformation. It is shown that the assumed pore growth model in TEPLA is actually an exact result from the theory. Alone this line, we then generalized the model to include finite deformations to consider nonlinear dynamics of large deformation. The interaction between the HE product gas and the solid metal is based on the multi-velocity formation. Our preliminary numerical results suggest good agreement between the experiment and the numerical results, pending further verification. To improve the parallel processing capabilities of the CartaBlanca code, we are actively working with the Next Generation Code (NGC) project to rewrite selected packages using C++. This work is expected to continue in the following years. This effort also makes the particle technology developed with CartaBlanca project available to other part of the laboratory. Working with the NGC project and rewriting some parts of the code also given us an opportunity to improve our numerical implementations of the method and to take advantage of recently advances in the numerical methods, such as multiscale algorithms.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Enhancement of Structural Health Monitoring Framework by Optimizing Vibro-Acoustic Modulation Technique to Localize Alkali-Silica Reaction Degradation in Medium-Sized Concrete Samples

Assessment and management of aging concrete structures in nuclear power plants require a more systematic approach than simple reliance on existing code margins of safety. Health monitoring of concrete structures is performed to understand the current condition of a structure based on heterogeneous measurements and then produce high confidence actionable information regarding structural integrity. This information can then be used to support operational and maintenance decisions. The objectives of this ongoing research project focus on health monitoring and data analytics of concrete slabs containing reactive aggregates and thus subjected to degradation due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR). A controlled concrete slab with four pockets of reactive aggregates (pure silica, wells, placitas, and spratt) was cast at Vanderbilt University and cured in representative conditions to accelerate degradation due to ASR. A set of four concrete samples were also cast and cured at the University of Alabama for ASR testing. Of these four samples, two slabs contained reactive aggregates while the other two had the non-reactive aggregate counterparts mixed throughout the samples. Vibro-acoustic methods were used on these slabs to locate large pockets of ASR within the reactive samples and determine the effects of rebar using the non-reactive slabs. Vibro-acoustic modulation (VAM) is a vibration-based NDE method that utilizes signatures of nonlinear dynamic interactions on contact surfaces of crack or delamination damage to detect and localize the damage. VAM analysis was conducted on both Vanderbilt and Alabama’s samples using multiple variables for damage detection and localization. The results from the data analysis of the NDE vibro-acoustic techniques on concrete slabs cured at Vanderbilt University and the University of Alabama are discussed in detail in this report. The major outcome of the analysis suggests that the VAM method can be used to detect damage within the concrete samples by comparing the results found in different sections of the samples. Results for damage localization are dependent on multiple variables used in the vibro-acoustic modulation experiments. Digital image correlation (DIC) is a three-dimensional, full-field, optical NDE technique to measure contour, deformation, vibration, and strain. The application of the digital image correlation technique to study ASR-related degradation on a large concrete sample at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is discussed and observations are presented in this report.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Uncertainty Quantification in Vibro-Acoustics Diagnosis of Alkali-Silica Reaction Degradation in Medium-Sized Concrete Samples

The objectives of this ongoing research project focus on health monitoring and data analytics of concrete slabs containing reactive aggregates and thus subjected to degradation due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR). A controlled concrete slab with four pockets of reactive aggregates (pure silica, wells, placitas, and spratt) was cast at Vanderbilt University and cured in representative conditions to accelerate degradation due to ASR. A set of four concrete samples were also cast and cured at the University of Alabama for ASR testing. Of these four samples, two slabs contained reactive aggregates while the other two had the non-reactive aggregate counterparts mixed throughout the samples. Vibro-acoustic testing was used on these slabs to locate ASR damage within the reactive samples. Vibro-acoustic modulation (VAM) is a vibration-based NDE method that utilizes signatures of nonlinear dynamic interactions on contact surfaces of crack or delamination damage to detect and localize the damage. VAM analysis was conducted on both the Vanderbilt and Alabama samples using multiple variables for damage detection and localization. The results from the data analysis of the vibro-acoustic testing on concrete slabs cured at Vanderbilt University and the University of Alabama are discussed in detail in this report. Results for damage localization are dependent on multiple variables used in the vibro-acoustic modulation experiments. A major focus of this report is to quantify the uncertainty in the diagnosis due to multiple factors and uncertainty sources. The uncertainty quantification methodology presented in this report was applied to VAM-based diagnosis and prognosis. However, the methodology is general, and is capable of being applied to multiple technique that collect spatially distributed data. Future work needs to investigate the incorporation of uncertainty quantification in developing a robust Prognostics and Health Management framework. Digital image correlation is a three-dimensional, full-field, optical NDE technique to measure contour, deformation, vibration, and strain. The application of the digital image correlation technique to study ASR-related degradation on a large concrete specimen at the University of Tennessee is discussed and observations are presented in this report.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Homoclinic tangles in the DIII-D divertor tokamak

A new approach was developed for the calculation of homoclinic tangles of the primary unperturbed separatrix in divertor tokamaks. This new approach is different than calculating tangles by following single trajectories in phase space [M. V. Berry, Topics in Nonlinear Dynamics (Ed. S. Jorna), Am. Inst. Phys. Conf. Proc. 46, 16-120 (1978)] or calculating the trajectories asymptotically in canonical time [R. K. W. Roeder, B. I. Rapoport, and T. E. Evans, Phys. Plasmas 10, 3796 (2003)]. The approach is to consider an equilibrium manifold as a whole and to calculate how the entire manifold evolves in phase space in time under the influence of perturbations. When the forward moving and the backward moving manifolds meet in a poloidal plane and intersect, they form tangles to preserve the topological invariance of the Hamiltonian system. This approach was applied to the DIII-D tokamak. The low mn, the high mn, the peeling-ballooning modes, and topological noise and field error perturbations were considered. The results of the peeling-ballooning modes were analyzed. It was found that the perturbations create very complicated structures in phase space [A. Punjabi and A. Boozer, Phys. Lett A 378, 2410-2416 (2014); A. Punjabi, Phys. Plasmas 21, 122516 (2014)]. The structure of tangles gives a possible cause for generation of radial electric fields in divertor tokamaks, and the possible consequent drifts, currents, shears, and curvature effects from the resulting complicated electric fields can possibly indicate a path to L to H mode transition [F. Wagner F et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1408 (1982)] in divertor tokamaks. During the present period, four (4) refereed paper were published; six (6) contributed papers were presented at the EPS Conference on Plasma Physics and published in the EPS conference proceedings; six (6) contributed poster papers, co-authored with HU undergraduate students, were presented at APS/DPP Annual Meetings; three contributed papers were presented at HU School of Science Annual Research Symposia; four (4) invited talks were given; one talk, co-authored by Dr. Allen Boozer and the PI, was given by Dr. Boozer at the 20th International Stellarator-Heliotron Workshop 2015, in Greifswald, Germany; and four (4) graduate students and nine (9) undergraduate students were mentored and provided research experience in fusion science. For the renewal period, it is planned to work on four (4) new problems. These are: Homoclinic tangles of the separatrices of the DIII-D and the simple map, magnetic topology and homoclinic tangles of separatrices in divertor tokamaks, resonant stellarator divertors, and nonresonant stellarator divertors.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A Bottom-up Approach to Improve the Representation of Deep Convective Clouds in Weather and Climate Models (Final Report)

A fundamental yet outstanding question about deep cumulus convection regards how convective updrafts, downdrafts, and surface-based cold pools are inter-related within organized storms, and how these three convective components are modulated by external and internal factors. We considered this question through numerical model simulations as well as data collected during the MC3E field campaign. One of our basic hypotheses was that deep cold pools are forced by wide downdrafts which arise from wide updrafts. This “bottom-up” perspective required consideration of the external controls on updraft width, and then the internal controls on cold-pool characteristics including depth. Model experiments showed that environmental vertical wind shear (an external factor) exerts a particularly strong control on updraft width; analyses of linear and nonlinear dynamic pressure forcing readily explain this control. The experiments also showed that increases in updraft width are accompanied by corresponding increases in downdraft width and cold-pool depth. The updraft–downdraft connection is through precipitation: the wide area of precipitation that will be initiated in a wide updraft will in turn lead to a wide downdraft. The downdraft–cold pool connection is through mass continuity: at the downdraft terminus, the large downdraft mass flux through a wide downdraft must lead to a deep cold pool. Model experiments also showed that the cold-pool depth and other characteristics can be significantly modulated by microphysical processes (internal factors). Specifically, the cold-pool expansion rate, depth, and intensity was found to depend most strongly on the amount of rain evaporation near the ground. However, the sustenance of the cold pool itself depended upon the downdrafts strengthened by sublimation of graupel higher in the storm. Finally, field campaign data revealed compelling inter-relationships between the cold-pool characteristics, and downdraft transience in terms of the microphysics. For example, pulses of hail and graupel (also internal factors) within downdrafts resulted in short-lived increases in the cold-pool depth. However, the cold-pool speed appeared to be relatively independent of the cold-pool depth and intensity, suggesting limitations of density current theory to convective cold pools in nature.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗