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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Examination of stiff ion temperature gradient mode physics in simulations of DIII-D H-mode transport

A systematic evaluation of gyrokinetic and gyrofluid model predictions of ion temperature gradient (ITG) stability and transport using parameters from DIII-D high confinement mode (H-mode) plasmas has been performed. The nonlinear CGYRO code is used to make the gyrokinetic predictions, and the quasilinear TGLF model for the corresponding gyrofluid predictions. The assessments are made at three radii (normalized toroidal flux ρtor = 0.4, 0.55, and 0.7) in three different plasma scenarios with varying levels of neutral beam heating and torque. For each of the nine cases (3 radii × 3 scenarios) considered, ITG turbulence is found to be the dominant long-wavelength instability and transport mechanism. The inclusions of both transverse magnetic fluctuations and dynamic fast beam ions are stabilizing for all cases considered, with strongest effects seen at ρor = 0.4 where the fast ion population and normalized plasma pressure β = 2μ0nT/B2 are highest. The further inclusion of parallel magnetic fluctuations does not have a meaningful impact on the ITG turbulence in these scenarios, but does destabilize (in combination with fast ions) new high-frequency instabilities at ρtor = 0.4 in the high power scenarios. In each case the linear and nonlinear ITG critical gradients are predicted to be lower than the measured ITG scale lengths and their associated uncertainties. Inclusion of equilibrium flow shear in the transport predictions generally leads to an upshift in effective critical gradient rather than a qualitative change in the predicted stiffness, with stronger responses typically seen in the gyrokinetic predictions than in the gyrofluid results. However, in most cases these upshifted gradients still remain below the measured values and their uncertainties. Although the predicted critical gradients are below the measured gradients, both models predicted flux-matching gradients consistent with measured values in six of the nine cases considered, with no clear systematic over- or underprediction. Thus, while the experimental ion temperature profiles do not appear to be closely pinned to the ITG critical gradient, both gyrokinetic and gyrofluid models are able to accurately match the measured gradients reasonably well in most cases.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Impact of CH 4 addition on the electron properties and electric field dynamics in a Ar nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge

Non-equilibrium plasmas derive their low temperature reactivity from producing and driving energetic electrons and active species under large electric fields. Therefore, the impact of reactants on the plasma properties including electron number density, electric field, and electron temperature is critical for applications such as plasma CH 4 reforming. Due to experimental complexity, electron properties and the electric field are rarely measured together in the same discharge. Here, we combine time-resolved Thomson scattering and electric field induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) to probe electron temperature, electron density, and electric field strength in a 60 Torr CH 4 /Ar nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (ns-DBD) while varying the CH 4 mole fraction from 0 to 8%. These measurements are compared to a 1-D numerical model to benchmark its predictions and identify areas of uncertainty. Nonlinear coupling between CH 4 addition, electron temperature, electron density, and the electric field was directly observed. Contrary to previous measurements in He, the electron temperature increased with CH 4 mole fraction. This rise in electron temperature is identified as electron heating by residual electric fields that increased with larger CH 4 mole fraction. Moreover, the electron number density has been found to decrease rapidly with the increase of methane mole fraction. Comparison of these measurements with the model yielded better agreement at higher CH 4 mole fractions and with the usage of ab initio calculated Ar electron-impact cross-sections from the B-spline R-matrix (BSR) database. Furthermore, the calculated plasma properties are shown to be sensitive to the residual surface charge implanted on the quartz dielectric surfaces. Without considering surface charge in the simulations, the calculated electric field profiles agreed well with the measurements, but the electron properties were underpredicted by more than a factor of three. Therefore, measurements of either the electric field or electron properties measurements alone are insufficient to fully validate modelling predictions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Dynamic Modeling, Parameter Estimation, and Data Reconciliation of a Supercritical Pulverized Coal-Fired Boiler

A high-fidelity, spatially distributed dynamic model of a supercritical pulverized coal-fired boiler was developed for calculating transient thermal profiles of the boiler tubes, which are often not measured or unmeasurable in industrial settings due to the harsh operating conditions. In this work, rigorous models of the subcritical and supercritical steam properties, which can be highly nonlinear, were used to capture the transition between two-phase and one-phase flow, respectively, as supercritical boilers frequently transition through the critical point during load-following operation. The transient boiler model was also used for data reconciliation and parameter estimation for the purpose of model validation against industrial data. An approach was developed to reduce the size of large-scale reconciliation problem by focusing on the implementation of bias terms for the reconciled variables, which can be estimated in place of the reconciled variables themselves. In addition, a functional approximation of the reconciliation problem was defined so that it can be more simply optimized. Combining this functional approximation optimization with reformulation of the reconciliation problem considering measurement biases can significantly improve the tractability of many such large-scale problems. The validated boiler model was then used to study transient responses under load-following operation with specific attention on the calculation of unmeasurable variables.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Nonlinearities in Black Hole Ringdowns

The gravitational wave strain emitted by a perturbed black hole (BH) ringing down is typically modeled analytically using first-order BH perturbation theory. In this Letter, we show that second-order effects are necessary for modeling ringdowns from BH merger simulations. Focusing on the strain’s (ℓ,m)=(4,4) angular harmonic, here we show the presence of a quadratic effect across a range of binary BH mass ratios that agrees with theoretical expectations. We find that the quadratic (4,4) mode’s amplitude exhibits quadratic scaling with the fundamental (2,2) mode—its parent mode. The nonlinear mode’s amplitude is comparable to or even larger than that of the linear (4,4) mode. Therefore, correctly modeling the ringdown of higher harmonics—improving mode mismatches by up to 2 orders of magnitude—requires the inclusion of nonlinear effects.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Grey-Box System Identification of Grid-Forming Inverters

This paper demonstrates the use of grey-box system identification methods for simplifying and understanding the nonlinear power dynamics of grid-forming inverters (GFMs). The power and frequency outputs of complex high-order GFM models are fed into system identification software in order to fit them to a predetermined LTI system and learn system parameters such as (synthetic) inertia and droop constants. The same process is then run for a high-order synchronous generator model, and the outputs are fit to the same set of LTI equations. Simulation of a network of GFM inverters with diverse control architecture is also performed for the same process. The intent is threefold: first, to demonstrate the appropriateness of unified LTI models for describing the power and frequency dynamics of individual resources and connected networks, in order to facilitate analysis of larger heterogeneous networked systems; second, to discover the relationship between internal control parameters of GFMs and their externally observed values; and third, to validate that grey-box data-driven system identification techniques can be a valuable tool to discover the values of important parameters in the absence of explicit vendor models.

analytical models↗

Variational and phase response analysis for limit cycles with hard boundaries, with applications to neuromechanical control problems

Motor systems show an overall robustness, but because they are highly nonlinear, understanding how they achieve robustness is difficult. In many rhythmic systems, robustness against perturbations involves response of both the shape and the timing of the trajectory. This makes the study of robustness even more challenging. To understand how a motor system produces robust behaviors in a variable environment, we consider a neuromechanical model of motor patterns in the feeding apparatus of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica (Shaw et al. in J Comput Neurosci 38(1):25–51, 2015; Lyttle et al. in Biol Cybern 111(1):25–47, 2017). We established in (Wang et al. in SIAM J Appl Dyn Syst 20(2):701–744, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1137/20M1344974) the tools for studying combined shape and timing responses of limit cycle systems under sustained perturbations and here apply them to study robustness of the neuromechanical model against increased mechanical load during swallowing. Interestingly, we discover that nonlinear biomechanical properties confer resilience by immediately increasing resistance to applied loads. In contrast, the effect of changed sensory feedback signal is significantly delayed by the firing rates’ hard boundary properties. Our analysis suggests that sensory feedback contributes to robustness in swallowing primarily by shifting the timing of neural activation involved in the power stroke of the motor cycle (retraction). This effect enables the system to generate stronger retractor muscle forces to compensate for the increased load, and hence achieve strong robustness. The approaches that we are applying to understanding a neuromechanical model in Aplysia, and the results that we have obtained, are likely to provide insights into the function of other motor systems that encounter changing mechanical loads and hard boundaries, both due to mechanical and neuronal firing properties.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Machine-learning based model reduction for partial differential equations

We develop a novel synergistic approach between model reduction and machine learning. The specific goal of this project is to aid in the construction of reduced order models for basis functions that are custom-made to represent the solution of partial differential equations. Partial differential equations (PDEs) are one of the main mathematical tools for describing physical phenomena. However, due to either efficiency or necessity, for many real-world problems, we are interested in constructing reduced order models (ROMs) which focus only on the explicit computation of subsets of the active spatio-temporal scales in the problem, while treating the interaction with the rest of the scales approximately. The task of accurate representation of such interactions (usually called memory terms) constitutes a vast area of research known as model reduction. PI Stinis has significant expertise in the construction of ROMs for complex systems. In addition, in recent work with the project key participant Qadeer, they have utilized machine learning to acquire custom-made basis functions (CBFs) to expand the solutions of PDEs. In the proposed work, we will merge the two concepts by constructing ROMs for subsets of the CBFs needed to represent the solution of a PDE. Specifically, we will use the Mori-Zwanzig model reduction formalism to construct ROMs for subsets of CBFs for nonlinear PDEs of various complexity, as well as investigate the usage of CBFs in the spectral vanishing viscosity method for problems that can form shocks in finite time. The outcome of the research is aimed to be proof-of-concept about a novel synergistic approach between model reduction and machine learning, thus advancing the field of scientific machine learning. Such a capability will benefit the efficient modeling of physical systems appearing in various areas of interest to the DOE.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Boosting Barlow Twins Reduced Order Modeling for Machine Learning‐Based Surrogate Models in Multiphase Flow Problems

Abstract We present an innovative approach called boosting Barlow Twins reduced order modeling (BBT‐ROM) to enhance the reliability of machine learning surrogate models for multiphase flow problems. BBT‐ROM builds upon Barlow Twins reduced order modeling that leverages self‐supervised learning to effectively handle linear and nonlinear manifolds by constructing well‐structured latent spaces of input parameters and output quantities. To address the challenge of high contrast data in multiphase flow problems due to injection wells and faults, we employ a boosting algorithm within BBT‐ROM. This algorithm sequentially trains a set of weak models (i.e., inaccurate models), improving prediction accuracy through ensemble learning. To evaluate the performance of BBT‐ROM, we conduct three three‐dimensional multiphase flow problems, including waterflooding and geologic carbon storage (GCS), with varying numbers of input parameter cases and model domain features. The results demonstrate that BBT‐ROM excels at predicting non‐wetting phase saturation (e.g., oil or saturation) and fluid pressure, with average relative errors ranging from 0.5% to 3%. Importantly, BBT‐ROM showcases robustness when faced with limited input parameter space during GCS testing.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Fault isolation and fault-tolerant control for nonlinear stochastic distribution control systems with multiplicative faults

Here, in this paper, a fault isolation, diagnosis and fault tolerant control algorithm is proposed for nonlinear multiple multiplicative faults stochastic distribution control systems employing Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy system. To obtain the detailed fault information, a fault detection algorithm is introduced to discover the fault occurrence time. Then a fault isolation observer is built to produce the residual, and the error system is separated to subsystems affected only by disturbance and multiplicative faults. Moreover, a fault estimation scheme is presented to obtain the fault magnitude information. When faults occur, the system output probability density function will deviate from the desired distribution. So the model predictive control fault tolerant control scheme is needed to minimize the impact of faults as much as possible to make sure that the post fault output probability density function track the desired probability density function. The validity of the designed algorithm is demonstrated through a simulation example, where the fault tolerant control algorithm ensures that the system output probability density function still track the given output probability density function despite the complex case of multiple multiplicative faults occurring simultaneously.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Stochastic average model methods

We consider the solution of finite-sum minimization problems, such as those appearing in nonlinear least-squares or general empirical risk minimization problems. We are motivated by problems in which the summand functions are computationally expensive and evaluating all summands on every iteration of an optimization method may be undesirable. Here we present the idea of stochastic average model (SAM) methods, inspired by stochastic average gradient methods. SAM methods sample component functions on each iteration of a trust-region method according to a discrete probability distribution on component functions; the distribution is designed to minimize an upper bound on the variance of the resulting stochastic model. We present promising numerical results concerning an implemented variant extending the derivative-free model-based trust-region solver POUNDERS, which we name SAM-POUNDERS.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Theoretical analysis of the saturation phase of the 1/1 energetic-ion-driven resistive interchange mode

The aim of the present study is to analyze the saturation regime of the energetic-ion-driven resistive interchange mode (EIC) in the LHD plasma. In this work, a set of nonlinear simulations are performed by the FAR3d code that uses a reduced MHD model for the thermal plasma coupled with a gyrofluid model for the energetic particle (EP) species. The hellically trapped EP component is introduced through a modification of the averaged drift velocity operator to include their precessional drift. The nonlinear simulation results show similar 1/1 EIC saturation phases with respect to the experimental observations, reproducing the enhancement of the n/m = 1/1 resistive interchange modes (RIC) amplitude and width as the EP β increases, the EP β threshold for the 1/1 EIC excitation, the further destabilization of the 1/1 EIC as the population of the helically trapped EP increases and the triggering of burst events. The frequency of the 1/1 EIC calculated during the burst event is 9.4 kHz and the 2/2 and 3/3 overtones are destabilized, consistent with the frequency range and the complex mode structure measured in the experiment. In addition, the simulation shows the inward propagation of the 1/1 EIC due to the nonlinear destabilization of the 3/4 and 2/3 energetic particle modes, leading to the partial overlapping between resonances during the burst event. Finally, the analysis of the 1/1 EIC stabilization phase shows the excitation of the 1/1 RIC as soon as the flattening induced by the 1/1 EIC in the pressure profile vanishes, leading to the retrieval of the pressure gradient at the plasma periphery and the overcoming of the RIC stability limit.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Probability Density Function Control for Stochastic Nonlinear Systems using Monte Carlo Simulation

This paper presents a fast implementation framework of output probability density function (PDF) control for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems which are subjected to non-Gaussian noises. The statistical properties of the system outputs can be adjusted by shaping the dynamic output probability density function to track the reference stochastic distribution. However, the dynamic probability density function evolution is very difficult to obtain analytically even if the system model and the stochastic distributions of the noises are known. Motivated by Monte Carlo simulation, the dynamic probability density function can be estimated by sampling data which forms the contribution of this paper. In particular, the sampling points are generated following the stochastic distribution of the noise for each instant. These points go through the system would generate the histogram for system outputs, then the dynamic model can be established based on the dynamic histogram which reflects the randomness and the nonlinear dynamics of the investigated system. Based on the established model, the output probability density function tracking can be achieved and the simulation results and discussions show the effectiveness and benefits of the presented framework.

Zhang, Qichun↗

Spatially Quasi-Periodic Water Waves of Infinite Depth

Abstract We formulate the two-dimensional gravity-capillary water wave equations in a spatially quasi-periodic setting and present a numerical study of solutions of the initial value problem. We propose a Fourier pseudo-spectral discretization of the equations of motion in which one-dimensional quasi-periodic functions are represented by two-dimensional periodic functions on a torus. We adopt a conformal mapping formulation and employ a quasi-periodic version of the Hilbert transform to determine the normal velocity of the free surface. Two methods of time-stepping the initial value problem are proposed, an explicit Runge–Kutta (ERK) method and an exponential time-differencing (ETD) scheme. The ETD approach makes use of the small-scale decomposition to eliminate stiffness due to surface tension. We perform a convergence study to compare the accuracy and efficiency of the methods on a traveling wave test problem. We also present an example of a periodic wave profile containing vertical tangent lines that is set in motion with a quasi-periodic velocity potential. As time evolves, each wave peak evolves differently, and only some of them overturn. Beyond water waves, we argue that spatial quasi-periodicity is a natural setting to study the dynamics of linear and nonlinear waves, offering a third option to the usual modeling assumption that solutions either evolve on a periodic domain or decay at infinity.

Wilkening, Jon (ORCID:0000000327827596)↗

Neural Active Manifolds: Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction for Uncertainty Quantification

We present a new approach for nonlinear dimensionality reduction, specifically designed for computationally expensive mathematical models. We leverage autoencoders to discover a one-dimensional neural active manifold (NeurAM) capturing the model output variability, through the aid of a simultaneously learnt surrogate model with inputs on this manifold. Our method only relies on model evaluations and does not require the knowledge of gradients. The proposed dimensionality reduction framework can then be applied to assist outer loop many-query tasks in scientific computing, like sensitivity analysis and multifidelity uncertainty propagation. In particular, we prove, both theoretically under idealized conditions, and numerically in challenging test cases, how NeurAM can be used to obtain multifidelity sampling estimators with reduced variance by sampling the models on the discovered low-dimensional and shared manifold among models. Several numerical examples illustrate the main features of the proposed dimensionality reduction strategy and highlight its advantages with respect to existing approaches in the literature.

Autoencoders↗

Derivative-free optimization of a rapid-cycling synchrotron

Here, we develop and solve a constrained optimization model to identify an integrable optics rapid-cycling synchrotron lattice design that performs well in several capacities. Our model encodes the design criteria into 78 linear and nonlinear constraints, as well as a single nonsmooth objective, where the objective and some constraints are defined from the output of Synergia, an accelerator simulator. We detail the difficulties of the 23-dimensional simulation-constrained decision space and establish that the space is nonempty. We use a derivative-free manifold sampling algorithm to account for structured nondifferentiability in the objective function. Our numerical results quantify the dependence of solutions on constraint parameters and the effect of the form of objective function.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Parallel transport dynamics for mixed quantum states with applications to time-dependent density functional theory

Direct simulation of the von Neumann dynamics for a general (pure or mixed) quantum state can often be expensive. One prominent example is the real-time time-dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT), a widely used framework for the first principle description of many-electron dynamics in chemical and materials systems. Practical rt-TDDFT calculations often avoid the direct simulation of the von Neumann equation, and solve instead a set of Schrödinger equations, of which the dynamics is equivalent to that of the von Neumann equation. However, the time step size employed by the Schrödinger dynamics is often much smaller. Here, in order to improve the time step size and the overall efficiency of the simulation, we generalize a recent work of the parallel transport (PT) dynamics for simulating pure states [An, Lin, Multiscale Model. Simul. 18, 612, 2020] to general quantum states. The PT dynamics provides the optimal gauge choice, and can employ a time step size comparable to that of the von Neumann dynamics. Going beyond the linear and near adiabatic regime in previous studies, we find that the error of the PT dynamics can be bounded by certain commutators between Hamiltonians, density matrices, and their derived quantities. Such a commutator structure is not present in the Schrödinger dynamics. We demonstrate that the parallel transport-implicit midpoint (PT-IM) method is a suitable method for simulating the PT dynamics, especially when the spectral radius of the Hamiltonian is large. The commutator structure of the error bound, and numerical results for model rt-TDDFT calculations in both linear and nonlinear regimes, confirm the advantage of the PT dynamics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Edge localized mode characteristics and divertor heat flux during stationary and transient phase for CFETR hybrid scenario

The study of edge localized mode (ELM) behavior, stationary heat flux and transient heat flux during the ELM crash phase is performed for a China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) 1 GW hybrid mode operation scenario ($R$ = 7.2 m, ${B_{\text{T}}}$ = 6.5 T, ${I_{\text{p}}}$ = 13.78 MA). Modeling and simulation start with a scenario obtained by multi-code integrated modeling on the one modeling framework for integrated tasks framework. Linear stability and nonlinear simulations of ELM dynamics are carried out using the BOUT++ six-field reduced magnetohydrodynamic module, which show a much smaller ELM energy loss (Δ ELM ~ 0.13%) compared to that of a Type-I ELM. Parametric analysis of the weak linear growth rate and small ELM energy loss characteristics shed light on physics corresponding to a grassy ELM regime for CFETR 1 GW hybrid scenario. The transient heat flux on the divertor target during this small ELM phase is investigated using BOUT++. Here we found that upstream radial transport in the scrape-off-layer (SOL) induced by small ELMs is weak, which keeps it in the drift-dominated region. However, the heat flux width is still broadened to ${\lambda _{\text{q}}}$ = 4.64 mm by the increase of separatrix temperature during ELM nonlinear evolution. The impact of transient peak heat load and ELM energy fluence on tungsten melting and net erosion rate of divertor target is evaluated for the first-time using physics-based transport that connects the pedestal with the SOL. Energy fluence caused by a single ELM pulse is below the tungsten melting limit, while tungsten erosion would exceed the material requirements. We conclude that external mitigation methods, such as divertor detachment and advanced divertor geometry are likely needed for the steady state operation of CFETR.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Theoretical methods to design and test quantum simulators for the compact Abelian Higgs model

The lattice compact Abelian Higgs model is a nonperturbative regularized formulation of low-energy scalar quantum electrodynamics. In 1+1 dimensions, this model can be quantum simulated using a ladder-shaped optical lattice with Rydberg-dressed atoms. In this setup, one spatial dimension is used to carry the angular momentum of the quantum rotors. One can use truncations corresponding to spin-2 and spin-1 to build local Hilbert spaces associated with the links of the lattice. We argue that ladder-shaped configurable arrays of Rydberg atoms can be used for the same purpose. We make concrete proposals involving two and three Rydberg atoms to build one local spin-1 space (a qutrit). We show that the building blocks of the Hamiltonian calculations are models with one and two spins. We compare target and simulators using perturbative and numerical methods. The two-atom setup provides an easily controllable simulator of the one-spin model while the three-atom setup involves solving nonlinear equations. We discuss approximate methods to couple two spin-1 spaces. The article provides analytical and numerical tools necessary to design and build the proposed simulators with current technology.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗