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At least 109 records · Page 6

The experimental study of the phase structure of strongly interacting matter

Over the duration of the project period, our research has been focused on the beam energy scan data conducted at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in order to search for the location of the Critical End Point (CEP) temperature or cross-over in the nuclear phase diagram using the STAR detector at RHIC and to determine the Equation of State (EOS) and the QGP transport coefficients. Working at the RHIC early on, we discovered the Long Range forward-backward multiplicity Correlations (LRC) which quantitatively confirmed the predictions of saturation models, in particular, the Color Glass Condensate (CGC) and the Color String Percolation Model (CSPM). We have used the CSPM to extract the initial temperature from the data. The clustering of color sources may be the way to achieve thermalization in A-A and N-N collisions. Recently we also used CSPM to measure the shear viscosity to entropy ratio at RHIC and LHC temperatures. The ratios are in agreement with values expected for a strongly interacting QGP. The thermodynamic quantities,temperature and the equation of state are in agreement with lattice QCD.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Textured heterogeneity in square artificial spin ice

Here, we report evidence of spontaneous formation of a heterogeneous network of superdomains in two-dimensional square artificial spin ice nanostructures in externally applied magnetic fields. Coherent resonant soft-x-ray scattering from such textures gives rise to unique internal structure in Bragg peaks. The magnetic heterogeneity is locally disordered but has a zigzag texture at longer length scales. Our result suggests that the macroscopic magnetic texture is derived from the microscopic structure of the Dirac strings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Long way to Ricci flatness

We study two-dimensional weighted N = (2) supersymmetric CP models with the goal of exploring their infrared (IR) limit. WCP(N, N ~ ) are simplified versions of world-sheet theories on non-Abelian strings in four-dimensional N = 2 QCD. In the gauged linear sigma model (GLSM) formulation, WCP(N, N ~ ) has N charges +1 and N ~ charges –1 fields. As well-known, at N ~ = N this GLSM is conformal. Its target space is believed to be a non-compact Calabi-Yau manifold. We mostly focus on the N = 2 case, then the Calabi-Yau space is a conifold.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

ICECUBE NONDETECTION OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS: CONSTRAINTS ON THE FIREBALL PROPERTIES

The increasingly deep limit on the neutrino emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with IceCube observations has reached a level that could place useful constraints on the fireball properties. We first present a revised analytic calculation of the neutrino flux that predicts a flux of one order of magnitude lower than that obtained by the IceCube Collaboration. For the benchmark model parameters (e.g., the bulk Lorentz factor is {Gamma} = 10{sup 2.5}, the observed variability time for the long GRBs is t{sup ob}{sub v} = 0.01 s, and the ratio between the energy in the accelerated protons and in the radiation is {eta}{sub p} = 10 for every burst) in the standard internal shock scenario, the predicted neutrino flux from 215 bursts during the period of the 40- and 59-string configurations is a factor of {approx}3 below the IceCube sensitivity. However, if we accept the recently found inherent relation between the bulk Lorentz factor and the burst energy, then the expected neutrino flux significantly increases and the spectral peak shifts to a lower energy. In this case, the nondetection implies that the baryon-loading ratio should be {eta}{sub p} {approx}< 10 if the variability time of the long GRBs is fixed to t{sup ob}{sub v} = 0.01 s. Instead, if we relax the standard internal-shock scenario but still assume {eta}{sub p} = 10, then the nondetection constrains the dissipation radius, R {approx}> 4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 12} cm, assuming the same dissipation radius for every burst and benchmark parameters for the fireballs. We also calculate the diffuse neutrino flux from the GRBs for different luminosity functions from the literature. The expected flux exceeds the current IceCube limit for some of the luminosity functions, and, thus, the nondetection constrains {eta}{sub p} {approx}< 10 when the variability time of the long GRBs is fixed at t{sup ob}{sub v} = 0.01 s.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A Wire Position Monitor System for the 1.3 FHZ Tesla-Style Cryomodule at the Fermilab New-Muon-Lab Accelerator

The first cryomodule for the beam test facility at the Fermilab New-Muon-Lab building is currently under RF commissioning. Among other diagnostics systems, the transverse position of the helium gas return pipe with the connected 1.3 GHz SRF accelerating cavities is measured along the {approx}15 m long module using a stretched-wire position monitoring system. An overview of the wire position monitor system technology is given, along with preliminary results taken at the initial module cooldown, and during further testing. As the measurement system offers a high resolution, we also discuss options for use as a vibration detector. An electron beam test facility, based on superconducting RF (SRF) TESLA-style cryomodules is currently under construction at the Fermilab New-Muon-Lab (NML) building. The first, so-called type III+, cryomodule (CM-1), equipped with eight 1.3 GHz nine-cell accelerating cavities was recently cooled down to 2 K, and is currently under RF conditioning. The transverse alignment of the cavity string within the cryomodule is crucial for minimizing transverse kick and beam break-up effects, generated by the high-order dipole modes of misaligned accelerating structures. An optimum alignment can only be guaranteed during the assembly of the cavity string, i.e. at room temperatures. The final position of the cavities after cooldown is uncontrollable, and therefore unknown. A wire position monitoring system (WPM) can help to understand the transverse motion of the cavities during cooldown, their final location and the long term position stability after cryo-temperatures are settled, as well as the position reproducibility for several cold-warm cycles. It also may serve as vibration sensor, as the wire acts as a high-Q resonant detector for mechanical vibrations in the low-audio frequency range. The WPM system consists out of a stretched-wire position detection system, provided with help of INFN-Milano and DESY Hamburg, and RF generation and read-out electronics, developed at Fermilab.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

6D anomaly-free matter spectrum in F-theory on singular spaces

In this paper we study the 6d localized charged matter spectrum of F-theory directly on a singular elliptic Calabi-Yau 3-fold, i.e. without smoothing via resolution or deformation of the entire fibration. Given only the base surface, discriminant locus, and the SL(2, $\mathbb{Z}$) local system, we propose a general prescription for determining the charged matter spectrum localized at intersections of seven-branes, using the technology of string junctions. More precisely, at each codimension-2 collision of seven-branes, we determine the local seven-brane content and compute the number of massless string junctions modulo the action of the SL(2,$\mathbb{Z}$) monodromy. We find agreement with the predicted results from 6d anomaly cancellation in all cases considered. Examples include a generic Weierstrass model with arbitrary Kodaira fiber intersecting an I 1 , as well as cases with jointly charged matter localized at intersections of non-abelian seven-branes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

PQ axiverse

We show that the strong CP problem is solved in a large class of compactifications of string theory. The Peccei-Quinn mechanism solves the strong CP problem if the CP-breaking effects of the ultraviolet completion of gravity and of QCD are small compared to the CP-preserving axion potential generated by low-energy QCD instantons. We characterize both classes of effects. To understand quantum gravitational effects, we consider an ensemble of flux compactifications of type IIB string theory on orientifolds of Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces in the geometric regime, taking a simple model of QCD on D7-branes. We show that the D-brane instanton contribution to the neutron electric dipole moment falls exponentially in N 4 , with N the number of axions. In particular, this contribution is negligible in all models in our ensemble with N > 17. We interpret this result as a consequence of large N effects in the geometry that create hierarchies in instanton actions and also suppress the ultraviolet cutoff. We also compute the CP breaking due to high-energy instantons in QCD. In the absence of vectorlike pairs, we find contributions to the neutron electric dipole moment that are not excluded, but that could be accessible to future experiments if the scale of supersymmetry breaking is sufficiently low. The existence of vectorlike pairs can lead to a larger dipole moment. Finally, we show that a significant fraction of models are allowed by standard cosmological and astrophysical constraints.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Vortex precession in trapped superfluids from effective field theory

We apply a recently developed effective string theory for vortex lines to the case of two-dimensional trapped superfluids. We do not assume a perturbative microscopic description for the superfluid, but only a gradient expansion for the long-distance hydrodynamical description and for the trapping potential. For any regular trapping potential, we compute the spatial dependence of the superfluid density and the orbital frequency and trajectory of an off-center vortex. Our results are fully relativistic and in the nonrelativistic limit reduce to known results based on the Gross-Pitaevskii model. In our formalism, the leading effect in the nonrelativistic limit arises from two simple Feynman diagrams in which the vortex interacts with the trapping potential through the exchange of hydrodynamical modes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Generic matter representations in 6D supergravity theories

In six-dimensional supergravity, there is a natural sense in which matter lying in certain representations of the gauge group is “generic,” in that other “exotic” matter representations require more fine tuning. From considerations of the dimensionality of the moduli space and anomaly cancellation conditions, we find that the generic sets of matter representations are well-defined for 6D supergravity theories with gauge groups containing arbitrary numbers of nonabelian factors and U(1) factors. These generic matter representations also match with those that arise in the most generic F-theory constructions, both in 6D and in 4D, with non-generic matter representations requiring more exotic singularity types. The analysis of generic versus exotic matter illuminates long-standing puzzles regarding F-theory models with multiple U(1) factors and provides a useful framework for analyzing the 6D “swampland” of apparently consistent low-energy theories that cannot be realized through known string constructions. We note also that the matter content of the standard model is generic by the criteria used here only if the global structure is SU(3) c × SU(2) L × U(1) Y / Z 6 .

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Repulsive forces and the weak gravity conjecture

The Weak Gravity Conjecture is a nontrivial conjecture about quantum gravity that makes sharp, falsifiable predictions which can be checked in a broad range of string theory examples. However, in the presence of massless scalar fields (moduli), there are (at least) two inequivalent forms of the conjecture, one based on charge-to-mass ratios and the other based on long-range forces. We discuss the precise formulations of these two conjectures and the evidence for them, as well as the implications for black holes and for “strong forms” of the conjectures. Based on the available evidence, it seems likely that both conjectures are true, suggesting that there is a stronger criterion which encompasses both. We discuss one possibility.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Design and performance validation of a high-temperature downhole permanent magnet generator used for an electro-pulse boring system in geothermal energy applications

Novel, direct-energy drilling technologies such as electro-pulse boring, have the potential to significantly increase the speed and depth of geothermal drilling but have not achieved widespread adoption due to several economic and technical barriers. One major challenge is that these drilling systems require electric power downhole. The current practice is to supply power to the drill string components by running electric cables down the geothermal well, but at the targeted well depths, this practice is cost-inhibitive, inefficient in terms of power consumption, and adds an additional failure point with the long cabling going through a highly corrosive, high-temperature environment. A solution to this problem is to develop high-temperature electric generator technology that can generate the required power downhole. Such a generator must also operate with high efficiency at the target downhole ambient temperature of 250 °C. In this paper, we investigate the various design considerations for this concept and subsequently design the downhole electric generator using a multi-objective design optimization approach. Through electromagnetic-, thermal- and short-circuit fault condition analysis, it is demonstrated that the optimized downhole electric generator concept presented in this paper can meet the performance requirements within this extreme drilling environment. Most remarkably, it is shown that a generator efficiency of 90% is achieved. In conclusion, to validate the results presented in this paper, a prototype generator is built and its performance is measured at 250 °C using a test bench uniquely developed for this application.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Charged black holes in string-inspired gravity II. Mass inflation and dependence on parameters and potentials

We investigate the relation between the existence of mass inflation and model parameters of string-inspired gravity models. In order to cover various models, we investigate a Brans-Dicke theory that is coupled to a U(1) gauge field. By tuning a model parameter that decides the coupling between the Brans-Dicke field and the electromagnetic field, we can make both of models such that the Brans-Dicke field is biased toward strong or weak coupling directions after gravitational collapses. We observe that as long as the Brans-Dicke field is biased toward any (strong or weak) directions, there is no Cauchy horizon and no mass inflation. Therefore, we conclude that to induce a Cauchy horizon and mass inflation inside a charged black hole, either there is no bias of the Brans-Dicke field as well as no Brans-Dicke hair outside the horizon or such a biased Brans-Dicke field should be well trapped and controlled by a potential.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Moving branes in the presence of background tachyon fields

We compute the boundary state associated with a moving Dp-brane in the presence of the open string tachyon field as a background field. The effect of the tachyon condensation on the boundary state is discussed. It leads to a boundary state associated with a lower-dimensional moving D-brane or a stationary instantonic D-brane. The former originates from condensation along the spatial directions and the latter comes from the temporal direction of the D-brane worldvolume. Using the boundary state, we also study the interaction amplitude between two arbitrary Dp{sub 1}- and Dp{sub 2}-branes. The long-range behavior of the amplitude is investigated, demonstrating an obvious deviation from the conventional form, due to the presence of the background tachyon field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Evaluation of the DC bus link capacitors and power transistor modules in the qualification testing of PV inverters

To achieve useful, fair, and cost-effective design qualification and type approval testing for PV inverters, two procedures were developed and demonstrated to evaluate the bus link capacitors and power transistor—and where applicable, its module—for long-term reliability. We evaluate the inverter under simulated use conditions with heat run tests to find the highest operating temperatures reached by these components. The procedures are demonstrated in this study with a 4-kVA class string inverter. The maximum temperature of the DC bus link capacitors was determined to be 76.4°C when the ambient temperature was at the inverter's maximum rated temperature of 60°C with derating occurring. On the other hand, the power transistor module's maximum temperature using the heat sink temperature as the index, 92.6°C, occurred in an ambient of 40.8°C when derating was not occurring. The conditions found for upper temperatures exhibited by these components are, respectively, proposed for implementation in the dry heat and thermal cycling tests in the IEC 62093 “Power conversion equipment for photovoltaic systems – Design qualification testing” international standard draft so that the levels applied in the tests are in proportion to those experienced in the field. Finally as a result, fairer evaluation of inverter reliability is realized.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

The ESS spoke cavity cryomodules

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a multi-disciplinary research centre under design and construction in Lund, Sweden. This new facility is funded by a collaboration of 17 European countries and is expected to be up to 30 times brighter than today’s leading facilities and neutron sources. The ESS will enable new opportunities for researchers in the fields of life sciences, energy, environmental technology, cultural heritage and fundamental physics. A 5 MW long pulse proton accelerator is used to reach this goal. The pulsed length is 2.86 ms, the repetition frequency is 14 Hz (4 % duty cycle), and the beam current is 62.5 mA. It is composed of one string of spoke cavity cryomodule and two strings of elliptical cavity cryomodules. This paper introduces the thermo-mechanical design and expected operation of the ESS spoke cavity cryomodules. These cryomodules contain two double spoke bulk Niobium cavities operating at 2 K and at a frequency of 352.21 MHz. The superconducting section of the Spoke Linac accelerates the beam from 90 MeV to 220 MeV. A Spoke Cavity Cryomodule Technology Demonstrator will be built and tested in order to validate the ESS series production.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Design Study of a Superconducting Quadrupole Magnet System Sustainable Under Dark Current Heating in ILC Main Linac

The International Linear Collider (ILC) main linac comprises a series of 12 m-long cryomodules. The cryomodule contains eight 9-cell superconducting (SC) RF (SRF) cavities and an SC quadrupole magnet combined with dipole correctors to focus and steer electron and positron beams. The magnets are installed between the SRF cavity string and at the longitudinal center of a common cryomodule/cryostat. These magnets are conductively cooled by pure aluminum channels thermally connected to a 2 K two-phase helium pipe for cooling the SRF cavities. A recent study shows that field-emitted electrons, so-called “dark current” initiated in the SRF cavities, are transmitted through the SRF cavity string and reach the SC magnet. The energy is inevitably absorbed in the SC coil due to the magnetic field, resulting in risks of a quench caused by the coil heating. We are investigating alternate magnet designs by using Nb $_{3}$ Sn or $\text{MgB}_{2}$ SC and by adding the dark current absorber surrounding the beam-pipe to realize sustainable magnet operation under the dark current heating. We report the design study of the magnet system and interfaces to the cryomodule accommodating it with the SRF cavities.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Imaging gene expression in real-time using aptamers

Signal transduction pathways are usually activated by external stimuli and are transient. The downstream changes such as transcription of the activated genes are also transient. Real-time detection of promoter activity is useful for understanding changes in gene expression, especially during cell differentiation and in development. A simple and reliable method for viewing gene expression in real time is not yet available. Reporter proteins such as fluorescent proteins and luciferase allow for non-invasive detection of the products of gene expression in living cells. However, current reporter systems do not provide for real-time imaging of promoter activity in living cells. This is because of the long time period after transcription required for fluorescent protein synthesis and maturation. We have developed an RNA reporter system for imaging in real-time to detect changes in promoter activity as they occur. The RNA reporter uses strings of RNA aptamers that constitute IMAGEtags (Intracellular MultiAptamer GEnetic tags), which can be expressed from a promoter of choice. The tobramycin, neomycin and PDC RNA aptamers have been utilized for this system and expressed in yeast from the GAL1 promoter. The IMAGEtag RNA kinetics were quantified by RT-qPCR. In yeast precultured in raffinose containing media the GAL1 promoter responded faster than in yeast precultured in glucose containing media. IMAGEtag RNA has relatively short half-life (5.5 min) in yeast. For imaging, the yeast cells are incubated with their ligands that are labeled with fluorescent dyes. To increase signal to noise, ligands have been separately conjugated with the FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer) pairs, Cy3 and Cy5. With these constructs, the transcribed aptamers can be imaged after activation of the promoter by galactose. FRET was confirmed with three different approaches, which were sensitized emission, acceptor photobleaching and donor lifetime by FLIM (fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy). Real-time transcription was measured by FLIM-FRET, which was detected by the decrease in donor lifetime resulting from ligand binding to IMAGEtags that were newly synthesized from the activated GAL1 promoter. The FRET signal was specific for transcribed IMAGEtags.

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