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At least 145 records · Page 8

Diskoseismology: Probing accretion disks. II - G-modes, gravitational radiation reaction, and viscosity

A scalar potential is used to derive a single partial differential equation governing the oscillation of a disk. The eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of a variety of disk models are found to fall into two main classes which are analogous to the p-modes and g-modes in the sun. Specifically, the eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of isothermal disks are computed, and the way in which these results can be generalized to other disk models is indicated. The (assumed) relatively small rates of growth or damping of the modes due to various mechanisms, in particular gravitational radiation reaction and parameterized models of viscosity are also computed. It is found that for certain parameters the p-modes are unstable to gravitational radiation reaction (CFS instability), while both the p-modes and g-modes are unstable to viscosity unless highly anisotropic viscosity models are considered.

Nowak, Michael A.↗

Impact of artificial topological changes on flow and transport through fractured media due to mesh resolution

Abstract We performed a set of numerical simulations to characterize the interplay of fracture network topology, upscaling, and mesh refinement on flow and transport properties in fractured porous media. We generated a set of generic three-dimensional discrete fracture networks at various densities, where the radii of the fractures were sampled from a truncated power-law distribution, and whose parameters were loosely based on field site characterizations. We also considered five network densities, which were defined using a dimensionless version of density based on percolation theory. Once the networks were generated, we upscaled them into a single continuum model using the upscaled discrete fracture matrix model presented by Sweeney et al. (2019). We considered steady, isothermal pressure-driven flow through each domain and then simulated conservative, decaying, and adsorbing tracers using a pulse injection into the domain. For each simulation, we calculated the effective permeability and solute breakthrough curves as quantities of interest to compare between network realizations. We found that selecting a mesh resolution such that the global topology of the upscaled mesh matches the fracture network is essential. If the upscaled mesh has a connected pathway of fracture (higher permeability) cells but the fracture network does not, then the estimates for effective permeability and solute breakthrough will be incorrect. False connections cannot be eliminated entirely, but they can be managed by choosing appropriate mesh resolution and refinement for a given network. Adopting octree meshing to obtain sufficient levels of refinement leads to fewer computational cells (up to a 90% reduction in overall cell count) when compared to using a uniform resolution grid and can result in a more accurate continuum representation of the true fracture network.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Thermoelastic properties of zircon: Implications for geothermobarometry

Abstract A thermal-pressure equation of state has been determined for zircon (ZrSiO4) that characterizes its thermoelastic behavior at metamorphic conditions. New pressure-volume (P-V) data from a “Mud Tank” zircon have been collected from 1 bar to 8.47(1) GPa using X-ray diffraction, and elastic moduli were measured from room temperature up to 1172 K by resonance ultrasound spectroscopy. These data were fitted simultaneously with temperature-volume (T-V) data from the literature in EosFit7c using a new scaling technique. The parameters of a third-order Birch-Murnaghan EoS with a Mie-Grüneisen-Debye model for thermal pressure have compressional EoS parameters K0T = 224.5(1.2) GPa, K0T' = 4.90(31) with a fixed initial molar volume V0 = 39.26 cm3/mol and thermal parameters γ0 = 0.868(15), q = 2.37(80), and ΘD = 848(38) K. EoS parameters that describe the variation of unit-cell parameters with pressure and temperature were determined using an isothermal-type EoS. This new EoS confirms that zircons are stiffer than garnets and exhibit a much lower thermal expansion. This results in steep isomekes between zircon and garnets, which makes zircon trapped as inclusions in garnets at metamorphic conditions a good piezothermometer.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

Characterizing He II flow through porous materials using counterflow data

An empirical extension of the two-fluid model is used to characterize He II flow through porous materials. It is shown that four empirical parameters are necessary to describe the pressure and temperature differences induced by He II flow through a porous sample. The three parameters required to determine pressure differences are measured in counterflow and found to compare favorably with those for isothermal flow. The fourth parameter, the Gorter-Mellink constant, differs substantially from smooth tube values. It is concluded that parameter values determined from counterflow can be used to predict pressure and temperature differences in a variety of flows to an accuracy of about +/- 20 percent.

Maddocks, J. R.↗

Study on the magnetothermal properties of the D y 1 - x T b x A l 2 series of compounds

Here, in this work, we developed a theoretical model Hamiltonian, in the mean field approximation, to describe the magnetic and magnetocaloric behavior of the series of compounds Dy 1-x Tb x Al 2 (x = 0.00, 0.15, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.75). We adjusted the exchange parameters λ DyDy , λ TbTb , and λ DyTb to obtain the spin reorientation temperatures (T SR ) and the critical temperature (T C ) for each compound in the series. The results obtained by the Hamiltonian model agree satisfactorily with the experimental results. The heat capacity curves with and without an applied magnetic field, adiabatic temperature variation and isothermal entropy variation were modeled and compared with the experimental data. As the experimental results show, our model was also able to reproduce the change in the spin reorientation process: a first order spin reorientation transition appears for concentrations x = 0.15, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, and no spin reorientation transitions after x = 0.40.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Automated Fitting of a Semi-empirical Multiphase Equation of State for Carbon

The equation of state (EOS) of carbon is important in high explosive, geophysical, and inertial confinement fusion applications. Within the semi-empirical Sesame framework, the EOS of each phase is represented by a sum of cold, vibrational, and thermal electronic Helmholtz free energy contributions. Each phase has ~5-10 independent parameters that are adjusted to reproduce single-phase data (e.g., thermal expansion, isothermal compression) as well as experimentally- and computationally- derived phase boundaries. Manual calibration of the full multiphase EOS is arduous. We present our progress in development of automated EOS parameterization based on minimization of an objective function. Here, this function encodes deviation of model EOS results from experimental/computational benchmarks. Optimization is implemented as a combination of global (particle swarm) and local optimization techniques.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A mathematical model for the iron/chromium redox battery

A mathematical model has been developed to describe the isothermal operation of a single anode-separator-cathode unit cell in a redox-flow battery and has been applied to the NASA iron/chromium system. The model, based on porous electrode theory, incorporates redox kinetics, mass transfer, and ohmic effects as well as the parasitic hydrogen reaction which occurs in the chromium electrode. A numerical parameter study was carried out to predict cell performance to aid in the rational design, scale-up, and operation of the flow battery. The calculations demonstrate: (1) an optimum electrode thickness and electrolyte flow rate exist; (2) the amount of hydrogen evolved and, hence, cycle faradaic efficiency, can be affected by cell geometry, flow rate, and charging procedure; (3) countercurrent flow results in enhanced cell performance over cocurrent flow; and (4) elevated temperature operation enhances cell performance.

Fedkiw, P. S.↗

A simple model for short-range ordering kinetics in multi-principal element alloys

Short-range ordering (SRO) in multi-principal element alloys influences material properties such as strength and corrosion. While some degree of SRO is expected at equilibrium, predicting the kinetics of its formation is challenging. We present a simplified isothermal concentration-wave (CW) model to estimate an effective relaxation time of SRO formation. Estimates from the CW model agree to within a factor of five with relaxation times obtained from kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations when above the highest ordering instability temperature. Further, the advantage of the CW model is that it only requires mobility and thermodynamic parameters, which are readily obtained from alloy mobility databases and Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations, respectively. The simple parameterization of the CW model and its analytical nature makes it an attractive tool for the design of processing conditions to promote or suppress SRO in multicomponent alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Isotherm Model for Moisture-Controlled CO 2 Sorption

Moisture-controlled sorption of CO 2 , the basis for moisture-swing CO 2 capture from air, is a novel phenomenon observed in strong-base anion exchange materials. Prior research has shown that Langmuir isotherms provide an approximate fit to moisture-controlled CO 2 sorption isotherm data. However, this fit still lacks a governing equation derived from an analytic model. As such, in this paper we derive an analytic form for an isotherm equation from a bottom-up approach, starting with a fundamental theory for an alkali liquid. In the range of interest relevant to CO 2 capture from air, an isotherm equation for an alkali liquid reduces to a simple analytic form with a single parameter, $K_{\text{eq}}$. In the limit $K_{\text{eq}} \gg 1$, a 2nd order approximation simplifies to a Langmuir isotherm that, however, deviates from experimental data. The isotherm theory for an alkali liquid has been generalized to a strong-base anion exchange material. In a strong-base anion exchange material, water concentration inside a sorbent, [H 2 O], is not large enough to be regarded as constant, which allows us to extend $K_{\text{eq}}$ to $K_{\text{eq(AEM)eff}} = K_{\text{eq(AEM)}} \times$ [H 2 O]$^{–n}$ according to the law of mass action. The final isotherm formula has been validated by experimental data from the literature. For a moisture-controlled CO 2 sorbent, $K_{\text{eq(AEM)eff}}$ varies significantly with moisture content of the sorbent. Depending on moisture level, the observed $K_{\text{eq(AEM)eff}}$ in a specific sorbent ranges from a few times to a few thousand times the value of $K_{\text{eq}}$ of a 2 mol L –1 alkali liquid.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Flexocaloric effect in superelastic materials

We present a combined theoretical–experimental study of flexocaloric effects in superelastic materials exhibiting structural transitions. We study a Ginzburg–Landau model combined with a vibrational model for a beam near a ferroelastic transition loaded with a three-point bending setup. We also perform experiments on a Cu–Al–Ni single crystal undergoing a martensitic transition. We measure bent beam profiles, vertical force vs vertical deflection during a slow isothermal process, time evolution of the bending and unbending amplitudes, and the evolution of temperature profiles. We also compute the evolution of heat source and heat sink profiles. Finally, we study the location of acoustic emission events during the bending/unbending experiment. Our observations are consistent with the model predictions and allow us to identify the main physical parameters relevant for flexocaloric applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Machine Learning in Environmental Chemistry: Application to Surface Complexation Modeling

Environmental chemistry – or biogeochemistry – is the scientific discipline typically invoked when examining and quantifying groundwater or surface water contamination, and nutrient cycling in the environment. Over the last three decades, there have been significant advances in mechanistic model development to describe and predict these complex biogeochemical processes. In particular, surface complexation models (SCMs) have been developed to describe the rock/soil surface reactions of metals and radionuclides, and their partitioning between various mobile species in the aqueous phase or immobile species sorbed on solid surfaces. Often represented by a simplified linear isotherm constant – Kd – in reactive transport models, these reactions play a critical role in many environmental science applications; particularly in contamination risk assessments and nuclear waste disposal performance assessments. In the past several decades, efforts by various institutions across the world have focused on developing SCMs based on datasets from laboratory measurements, including the identification of key parameters such as equilibrium constants.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Studies of cluster X-ray sources, energy spectra for the Perseus, Virgo, and Coma clusters

Final Uhuru X-ray differential-energy spectra are presented for the Perseus, Virgo, and Coma clusters. Power-law and isothermal bremsstrahlung model spectra with low-energy cutoffs are given, and the energy-dependent Gaunt factor is calculated for the bremsstrahlung. The spectra, which are best fits to the Uhuru data between 2 and 10 keV, are compared with previous observations of these sources in the energy range from 0.1 to 100 keV. The problem of parameter estimation is discussed, error bars with 68% confidence are given for the independently determined slope and cutoff parameters, and the 68% confidence limits are plotted for the fitted spectral functions. The data for Perseus above 20 keV marginally favor the bremsstrahlung fit, those for Virgo between 0.25 and 1.0 keV clearly favor that curve, and those for Coma indicate a low-energy turnover or cutoff. Implications of such a cutoff are briefly discussed.

Kellogg, E.↗

HOLISMOKES IX. Neural network inference of strong-lens parameters and uncertainties from ground-based images

Modeling of strong gravitational lenses is a necessity for further applications in astrophysics and cosmology. With the large number of detections in current and upcoming surveys, such as the Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), it is pertinent to investigate automated and fast analysis techniques beyond the traditional and time-consuming Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling methods. Building upon our (simple) convolutional neural network (CNN), we present here another CNN, specifically a residual neural network (ResNet), that predicts the five mass parameters of a singular isothermal ellipsoid (SIE) profile (lens center x and y, ellipticity e x and e y , Einstein radius θ E ) and the external shear (γ ext, 1 , γ ext, 2 ) from ground-based imaging data. In contrast to our previous CNN, this ResNet further predicts the 1σ uncertainty for each parameter. To train our network, we use our improved pipeline to simulate lens images using real images of galaxies from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey (HSC) and from the Hubble Ultra Deep Field as lens galaxies and background sources, respectively. We find very good recoveries overall for the SIE parameters, especially for the lens center in comparison to our previous CNN, while significant differences remain in predicting the external shear. From our multiple tests, it appears that most likely the low ground-based image resolution is the limiting factor in predicting the external shear. Given the run time of milli-seconds per system, our network is perfectly suited to quickly predict the next appearing image and time delays of lensed transients. Therefore, we use the network-predicted mass model to estimate these quantities and compare to those values obtained from our simulations. Unfortunately, the achieved precision allows only a first-order estimate of time delays on real lens systems and requires further refinement through follow-up modeling. Nonetheless, our ResNet is able to predict the SIE and shear parameter values in fractions of a second on a single CPU, meaning that we are able to efficiently process the huge amount of galaxy-scale lenses expected in the near future.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the development and global oscillations of cometary ionospheres

Representing the cometary ionosphere by a single fluid model characterized by an average ionization time scale, both the ionosphere's development as a comet approaches the sun and its response to sudden changes in solar wind conditions are investigated. Three different nuclear sizes (small, average, very large) and three different modes of energy addition to the atmosphere (adiabatic, isothermal, suprathermal) are considered. It is found that the crucial parameter determining both the nature and the size of the ionosphere is the average ionization time scale within the ionosphere. Two different scales are identified. It is noted that the ionosphere can also be characterized by the relative sizes of three different scale lengths: the neutral standoff distance from the nucleus, the ion standoff distance from the nucleus, and the nuclear distance at which the ions and the neutrals decouple collisionally.

Houpis, H. L. F.↗

A Library of ATMO Forward Model Transmission Spectra for Hot Jupiter Exoplanets

We present a grid of forward model transmission spectra, adopting an isothermal temperature-pressure profile, alongside corresponding equilibrium chemical abundances for 117 observationally significant hot exoplanets (equilibrium temperatures of 547-2710 K). This model grid has been developed using a 1D radiative-convective-chemical equilibrium model termed ATMO, with up-to-date high-temperature opacities. We present an interpretation of observations of 10 exoplanets, including best-fitting parameters and X(exp 2) maps. In agreement with previous works, we find a continuum from clear to hazy/cloudy atmospheres for this sample of hot Jupiters. The data for all the 10 planets are consistent with subsolar to solar C/O ratio, 0.005 to 10 times solar metallicity and water rather than methane-dominated infrared spectra. We then explore the range of simulated atmospheric spectra for different exoplanets, based on characteristics such as temperature, metallicity, C/O ratio, haziness and cloudiness. We find a transition value for the metallicity between 10 and 50 times solar, which leads to substantial changes in the transmission spectra. We also find a transition value of C/O ratio, from water to carbon species dominated infrared spectra, as found by previous works, revealing a temperature dependence of this transition point ranging from approximately 0.56 to approximately 1-1.3 for equilibrium temperatures from approximately 900 to approximately 2600 K. We highlight the potential of the spectral features of HCN and C2H2 to constrain the metallicities and C/O ratios of planets, using James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations. Finally, our entire grid (approximately 460 000 simulations) is publicly available and can be used directly with the JWST simulator PandExo for planning observations.

techniques: spectroscopic – planets and satellit↗

The interpretation of simultaneous soft X-ray spectroscopic and imaging observations of an active region

Simultaneous soft X-ray spectroscopic and broad-band imaging observations of an active region have been analyzed together to determine the parameters which describe the coronal plasma. From the spectroscopic data, models of temperature-emission measure-elemental abundance have been constructed which provide acceptable statistical fits. By folding these possible models through the imaging analysis, models which are not self-consistent can be rejected. In this way, only the oxygen, neon, and iron abundances of Pottasch (1967), combined with either an isothermal or exponential temperature-emission-measure model, are consistent with both sets of data. Contour maps of electron temperature and density for the active region have been constructed from the imaging data. The implications of the analysis for the determination of coronal abundances and for future satellite experiments are discussed.

Davis, J. M.↗

Computer Modeling of Non-Isothermal Crystallization

A realistic computer model for simulating isothermal and non-isothermal phase transformations proceeding by homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation and interface-limited growth is presented. A new treatment for particle size effects on the crystallization kinetics is developed and is incorporated into the numerical model. Time-dependent nucleation rates, size-dependent growth rates, and surface crystallization are also included. Model predictions are compared with experimental measurements of DSC/DTA peak parameters for the crystallization of lithium disilicate glass as a function of particle size, Pt doping levels, and water content. The quantitative agreement that is demonstrated indicates that the numerical model can be used to extract key kinetic data from easily obtained calorimetric data. The model can also be used to probe nucleation and growth behavior in regimes that are otherwise inaccessible. Based on a fit to data, an earlier prediction that the time-dependent nucleation rate in a DSC/DTA scan can rise above the steady-state value at a temperature higher than the peak in the steady-state rate is demonstrated.

Kelton, K. F.↗

Application of BISON to UO 2 MiniFuel fission gas release analysis

There has been a recent push to accelerate fuel qualification by developing revolutionary capabilities to reduce irradiation periods, and thereby, reduce the time required to qualify a new fuel system. One such capability is the MiniFuel irradiation capsule designed to miniaturize fuel samples and irradiate “mini” fuel samples under isothermal temperature conditions. MiniFuel allows steady-state irradiations to decouple the traditionally coupled fission rate (i.e., power) and temperature parameters to understand and generate microstructures observed in fuel operated in a commercial reactor. Furthermore, this process offers the possibility to gather in situ data as well as postirradiation or transient data such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, fission gas diffusion and release, etc. However, accelerating fuel qualification is not solely reliant on generating large amounts of data but also on developing an informed test matrix designed to rapidly generate impactful data. Additionally, this process is reliant on fuel performance codes, such as BISON, to evaluate MiniFuel irradiations using existing material models. This process pinpoints model/data gaps, identifies desired irradiation conditions, and subsequently supports model validation and development. This work describes the use of BISON to perform a number of sensitivity studies designed to understand conditions that lead to fission gas release (FGR) under steady-state isothermal irradiation conditions and temperature transient conditions. The model is applied to a UO 2 MiniFuel example and shows an overall good qualitative agreement with experimental FGR annealing tests under different temperature conditions. It also accounts well for microstructural effects on FGR. When quantitatively compared with FGR data from previously irradiated 103 MWd/kgU UO 2 discs under thermal annealing, the model shows a less satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. Finally, a UO 2 MiniFuel test matrix is proposed to help to extend the model's operational range and validate the new FGR model capabilities to higher burnups and transient conditions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗