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At least 163 records · Page 9

Energies and transition parameters of fusion interest in Cr-like ions between Hf XLIX and Au LVI

Using fully relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock (MCDF) wavefunctions in an active space approximation, we perform systematic calculations of the energies, wavelengths, and lifetimes for the lowest 143 levels belonging to the 3p{sup 6}3d{sup 6} and 3p{sup 5}3d{sup 7} configurations of Cr-like ions between Hf XLIX and Au LVI. Additionally, line strengths, oscillator strengths, and radiative rates for the electric dipole (E1), electric quadrupole (E2), magnetic dipole (M1), and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions among these levels are reported. In the calculations, the contributions from Breit interaction (BI) and quantum electrodynamics (QED) corrections to the wave functions are taken into account (the addition of the BI and QED in CI affects both the wave functions and the level energies). For some excited states, there are no other theoretical and/or experimental data to compare with to illustrate the quality of our results/assess the accuracy. A similar calculation has been performed with the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC), using W LI as an example. The results obtained in this work are compared with the data compiled in the Atomic Spectra Database (ASD) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other available theoretical/experimental information. Satisfactory agreement is found between them. The energies agree within 0.8% with the experimental results, and the M1 transition rates agree within 5% with other theoretical results. The present results are more extensive than those from previous calculations and considerably expand the existing data sets for Cr-like ions. This study should be beneficial for the analysis of experimental spectra and modeling of fusion plasmas.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Estimating irrigation water use from remotely sensed evapotranspiration data: Accuracy and uncertainties at field, water right, and regional scales

Irrigated agriculture is the dominant user of water globally, but most water withdrawals are not monitored or reported. As a result, it is largely unknown when, where, and how much water is used for irrigation. Here, we evaluated the ability of remotely sensed evapotranspiration (ET) data, integrated with other datasets, to calculate irrigation water withdrawals and applications in an intensively irrigated portion of the United States. We compared irrigation calculations based on an ensemble of satellite-driven ET models from OpenET with reported groundwater withdrawals from hundreds of farmer irrigation application records and a statewide flowmeter database at three spatial scales (field, water right group, and management area). At the field scale, we found that ET-based calculations of irrigation agreed best with reported irrigation when the OpenET ensemble mean was aggregated to the growing season timescale (bias = 1.6–4.9%, R 2 = 0.53–0.74), and agreement between calculated and reported irrigation was better for multi-year averages than for individual years. At the water right group scale, linking pumping wells to specific irrigated fields was the primary source of uncertainty. At the management area scale, calculated irrigation exhibited similar temporal patterns as flowmeter data but tended to be positively biased with more interannual variability. Disagreement between calculated and reported irrigation was strongly correlated with annual precipitation, and calculated and reported irrigation agreed more closely after statistically adjusting for annual precipitation. The selection of an ET model was also an important consideration, as variability across ET models was larger than the potential impacts of conservation measures employed in the region. From these results, we suggest key practices for working with ET-based irrigation data that include accurately accounting for changes in soil moisture, deep percolation, and runoff; careful verification of irrigated area and well-field linkages; and conducting application-specific evaluations of uncertainty.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Measurement uncertainty of rossi-alpha neutron experiments

Rossi-alpha neutron experiments are used to estimate the prompt neutron decay constant of a fissile assembly, a quantity of widespread interest in applications including in nuclear nonproliferation and criticality safety. This work develops a mathematical model to efficiently estimate measurement uncertainty of Rossi-alpha neutron experiments inferred from a two-exponential fit model with histogram binning. The derived uncertainty estimates were validated using repeated Rossi-alpha measurements of a subcritical, 4.5-kg sphere of weapons-grade, alpha-phase plutonium with nickel, copper, tungsten, and polyethylene reflectors. The estimates of uncertainty for the histogram data produced by the model were conservative and agree with the reference uncertainties within noise. The estimates of the prompt neutron decay constant uncertainty agreed with the reference uncertainties within one standard deviation. In conclusion, the proposed model will reduce total measurement times, ultimately reducing operational and procedural costs in application.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Finite range and upper branch effects on itinerant ferromagnetism in repulsive Fermi gases: Bethe–Goldstone ladder resummation approach

We investigate the ferromagnetic transition in repulsive Fermi gases at zero temperature with upper branch and effective range effects. Based on a general effective Lagrangian that reproduces precisely the two-body s-wave scattering phase shift, we obtain a nonperturbative expression of the energy density as a function of the polarization by using the Bethe–Goldstone ladder resummation. For hard sphere potential, the predicted critical gas parameter k{sub F}a=0.816 and the spin susceptibility agree well with the results from fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo calculations. In general, positive and negative effective ranges have opposite effects on the critical gas parameter k{sub F}a: While a positive effective range reduces the critical gas parameter, a negative effective range increases it. For attractive potential or Feshbach resonance model, the many-body upper branch exhibits an energy maximum at k{sub F}a=α with α=1.34 from the Bethe–Goldstone ladder resummation, which is qualitatively consistent with experimental results. The many-body T-matrix has a positive-energy pole for k{sub F}a>α and it becomes impossible to distinguish the bound state and the scattering state. These positive-energy bound states become occupied and therefore the upper branch reaches an energy maximum at k{sub F}a=α. In the zero range limit, there exists a narrow window (0.86<k{sub F}a<1.56) for the ferromagnetic phase. At sufficiently large negative effective range, the ferromagnetic phase disappears. On the other hand, the appearance of positive-energy bound state resonantly enhances the two-body decay rate around k{sub F}a=α and may prevent the study of equilibrium phases and ferromagnetism of the upper branch Fermi gas. - Highlights: • Nonperturbative interaction energy is obtained within the Bethe–Goldstone ladder resummation approach. • Positive and negative effective ranges have opposite effects on the critical gas parameter. • The upper branch Fermi gas exhibits an energy maximum and reentrant ferromagnetic transition. • The ferromagnetic phase disappears for large and negative effective ranges.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Maxwell–Dirac stress–energy tensor in terms of Fierz bilinear currents

We analyse the stress–energy tensor for the self-coupled Maxwell–Dirac system in the bilinear current formalism, using two independent approaches. The first method used is that attributed to Belinfante: starting from the spinor form of the action, the well-known canonical stress–energy tensor is augmented, by extending the Noether symmetry current to include contributions from the Lorentz group, to a manifestly symmetric form. This form admits a transcription to bilinear current form. The second method used is the variational derivation based on the covariant coupling to general relativity. The starting point here at the outset is the transcription of the action using, as independent field variables, both the bilinear currents, together with a gauge invariant vector field (a proxy for the electromagnetic vector potential). A central feature of the two constructions is that they both involve the mapping of the Dirac contribution to the stress–energy from the spinor fields to the equivalent set of bilinear tensor currents, through the use of appropriate Fierz identities. Although this mapping is done at quite different stages, nonetheless we find that the two forms of the bilinear stress–energy tensor agree. Finally, as an application, we consider the reduction of the obtained stress–energy tensor in bilinear form, under the assumption of spherical symmetry. -- Highlights: •Maxwell–Dirac stress–energy tensor derived in manifestly gauge invariant bilinear form. •Dirac spinor Belinfante tensor transcribed to bilinear fields via Fierz mapping. •Variational stress–energy obtained via bilinearized action, in contrast to Belinfante case. •Independent derivations via the Belinfante and variational methods agree, as required. •Spherical symmetry reduction given as a working example for wider applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Composite-particle decay widths by the generator coordinate method

We study the feasibility of applying the Generator Coordinate Method (GCM) of self-consistent mean-field theory to calculate decay widths of composite particles to composite-particle final states. The main question is how well the GCM can approximate continuum wave functions in the decay channels. The analysis is straightforward under the assumption that the GCM wave functions are separable into internal and Gaussian center-of-mass wave functions. Two methods are examined for calculating decay widths. In one method, the density of final states is computed entirely in the GCM framework. In the other method, it is determined by matching the GCM wave function to an asymptotic scattering wave function. Both methods are applied to a numerical example and are found to agree within their determined uncertainties.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Electronic structure changes upon lithium intercalation into graphite – Insights from ex situ and operando x-ray Raman spectroscopy

This study probes the electrochemical intercalation mechanism of Li into graphitic carbon using x-ray Raman spectroscopy (XRS), an inelastic x-ray scattering technique. Operando and high resolution spectra of electrochemically lithiated composite graphitic electrodes at discrete states of Li uptake (stages III, II and I) show gradually changing spectral features with Li intercalation, the end state agreeing well with chemically fully lithiated LiC 6 highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The two most dominant changes in the XRS spectrum of the C-K edge are the reduced intensity of the $\pi$* peak and shift the onset of the σ* states to lower energies upon full lithiation. The excellent instrumental energy resolution uncovered novel spectral features and, thus, electronic changes with varying lithium content. Thus, the general spectral changes with progressing Li intercalation agree well with our accompanying DFT calculations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evaluation of experimentally measured and model-calculated pH for rock-brine-CO2 systems under geologic CO2 sequestration conditions

pH is an essential parameter for understanding the geochemical reactions that occur in rock-brine-CO2 systems when CO2 is injected into deep geologic formations for long-term storage. Due to a lack of reliable experimental methods, most laboratory studies conducted under geological CO2 sequestration (GCS) conditions have relied on thermodynamic modeling to estimate pH. The accuracy of these model predictions is typically uncertain. In our previous work, we have developed a method for pH determination by in-situ spectrophotometry. In the present work, we expanded the applicable pH range for this method and measured the pH of several rock-brine-CO2 systems at GCS conditions for five rock samples collected from ongoing GCS demonstration projects. Experimental measurements were compared with pH values calculated using several geochemical modeling approaches. The effect of different thermodynamic databases on the accuracy of model prediction was evaluated. Results indicate that the accuracy of model calculations is rock-dependent. For rocks comprised of carbonate and sandstone, model results generally agreed well with experimentally measured pH; however, for basalt, significant differences were observed. These discrepancies may be due to the models’ failure to fully account for certain reaction occurring between the basalt minerals the CO2-saturated brine solutions.

pH, carbon sequestration↗

Simulation of Heterogeneous Atom Probe Tip Shape Evolution during Field Evaporation Using a Level Set Method and Different Evaporation Models

Accurate reconstruction of spatial positions of field evaporated ions from detector patterns depends on a correct understanding of the tip shape evolution and evaporation laws of component atoms. Reconstruction artifacts introduced in the heterogeneous tip can be contributed by the assumption on homogeneous evaporation behavior. A level set method based specimen shape evolution model is developed in this study to simulate the evaporation of synthetic layered-structured atom probe tip. The simulation results of the shape evolution by the present level set model agree well with the literature data using other numerical approaches, i.e. finite difference method. The asymmetric evolving shape predicted by the level set model demonstrates that the complex evaporation behavior of heterogeneous tips and interface curvature can potentially lead to the tip reconstruction distortion. Compared with other shape evaporation methods the new method provides considerably higher resolution and computational efficiency with the aid of the intrinsic subgrid scale accuracy.

atom probe tomography, field evaporation, tip shap↗

Assessing the urban carbon footprint: An overview

All cities present environmental sustainability issues, above all regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and specifically carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), that directly affect climate change. Consequently, it is very important to quantify and report their Carbon Footprint (CF) for implementing national and international policies/strategies aimed at mitigating and adapting these concerns. The Urban Carbon Footprint (UCF), indeed, has been recognized as the more valuable choice to inform, specifically, decision makers about city environmental sustainability. Several accounting systems and inventory methods have been taken into account to perform UCF, highlighting the complexity of the topic and generating very often confusion among users. In this context, the authors aim to summarize what has been done and what is going on with UCFs, trying to classify them according to some principal dimensions. Thus, they divide UFCs in two main categories namely: “spatial” or “direct”, with a limited amount of data requested, and “economic” or “life cycle based”, more or less data inclusive according to the accounting systems considered. Furthermore, they observe that there is not a “global agreed-upon protocol” yet, neither is there a specific model shared among researchers, even if some steps have been made towards this direction (Relative Carbon Footprint - RCF, Publicly Available Specification – PAS 2070 and Global Protocol for Community scale - GPC). Consequently, it is necessary to complete and standardize, in the short term, the accounting and reporting frameworks, in order to compare different UCFs for adopting shared climate strategies and actions at global level. - Highlights: •Cities present environmental sustainability issues. •GHG emissions - specifically carbon dioxide - directly affect climate change. •UCF is a tool to support policy makers towards city environmental sustainability. •There is not a “global agreed-upon protocol” to perform UFC. •There are still missing points to be considered to provide a sharing model.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Aqueous aggregation behavior of citric acid coated magnetite nanoparticles: Effects of pH, cations, anions, and humic acid

Highlights: • Citric acid (CA) coatings greatly enhanced the stability of MNPs at pH = 5–9. • Stability of CA-MNPs increased with pH increase due to CA deprotonation. • The valence and adsorption of ions affected the surface charge of CA-MNPs. • The aggregation behaviors of CA-MNPs agreed with DLVO predictions. Improving the colloidal stability of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) is essential for their successful applications. In this study, the surface zeta potential and particle size evolutions of citric acid coated magnetite nanoparticles (CA-MNPs) were measured under varied aqueous conditions using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effects of pH (5.0–9.0), ionic strength (IS), cations (Na{sup +} and Ca{sup 2+}), anions (phosphate, sulfate, and chloride) and humic acid on the aggregation behaviors of CA-MNPs were explored. Compared with bare MNPs, the stability of CA-MNPs were greatly improved over the typical pH range of natural aquatic environments (pH = 5.0–9.0), as the coated CA-MNPs were highly negatively charged over the pH range due to the low pK{sub a1} value (3.13) of citrate acid. CA-MNPs were more stable in the presence of monovalent cation (Na{sup +}) compared with divalent cation (Ca{sup 2+}), as Ca{sup 2+} could neutralize the surface charge of MNPs more significantly than Na{sup +}. In the presence of anions, the surface charges of CA-MNPs became more negative, and the stability of CA-MNPs followed the order: in phosphate > sulfate > chloride. The observed aggregation trend could be explained by the differences in the valences of the anions and their adsorption behaviors onto CA-MNPs, which altered the surface charges of CA-MNPs. The measured critical coagulation concentrations (CCC) values of CA-MNPs in these electrolyte solutions agreed well with Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) calculations. With the addition of Humic acid (HA), the aggregation of CA-MNPs was inhibited in all electrolyte solutions even with the critical coagulation concentrations. This is due to the adsorption of HA onto CA-MNPs, which enhanced the electrostatic and steric repulsive forces between CA-MNPs. Considering the good stability of CA-MNPs in solutions with varied pH and electrolyte compositions, as well as with the easy synthesis of CA-MNPs and their non-toxicity, this study suggested CA coating as a good strategy to increase the stability of MNPs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A Methodology and Implementation of Automated Emissions Harmonization for Use in Integrated Assessment Models

Emissions harmonization refers to the process used to match greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant results from Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) against a common source of historical emissions. To date, harmonization has been performed separately by individual modeling teams. For the hand-over of emission data for the Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) to climate model groups, a new automated approach based on commonly agreed upon algorithms was developed. This work describes the novel methodology for determining such harmonization methods and an open-source Python software library implementing the methodology. Results are shown for two example scenarios (with and without climate policy cases) using the MESSAGE-GLOBIOM IAM that satisfactorily harmonize over 96% of the total emissions trajectories while having a negligible eect on key long-term climate indicators. This new capability enhances the comparability across dierent models, increases transparency and robustness of results, and allows other teams to easily participate in intercomparison exercises by using the same, openly available harmonization mechanism.

intergrated assessment, climate change, Harmonizat↗

Benchmarking GEANT4 and PHITS for 14.8-MeV neutron transport in polyethylene and graphite materials

The feasibility of GEANT4 and PHITS with ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3 and JENDL-4.0 evaluated nuclear data libraries in 14.8-MeV neutron transport simulation are verified by comparing with the MCNP calculations and the experimental data. Here the measured data are from neutron integral experiments including graphite and polyethylene samples. For 6 cm-thick polyethylene and 20 cm-thick graphite samples, the results from GEANT4 and PHITS with three evaluated nuclear data libraries agree well with the MCNP calculations. For a 2 cm-thick graphite sample, the simulated results from GEANT4 and PHITS agree with the MCNP calculations, and they all underestimate the experiment data in below 3 MeV and overestimate them in the energy range of 5–7 MeV. The difference between the simulation results and the experimental data depends on the evaluated nuclear data libraries. In overall, GEANT4 and PHITS are performing reasonable jobs for 14.8-MeV neutron transport simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Simultaneous Iron and Nickel Isotopic Analyses of Presolar Silicon Carbide Grains.

Aside from recording stellar nucleosynthesis, a few elements in presolar grains can also provide insights into the galactic chemical evolution (GCE) of nuclides. We have studied the carbon, silicon, iron, and nickel isotopic compositions of presolar silicon carbide (SiC) grains from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars to better understand GCE. Since only the neutron-rich nuclides in these grains have been heavily influenced by the parent star, the neutron-poor nuclides serve as GCE proxies. Using CHILI, a new resonance ionizationmass spectrometry (RIMS) instrument, we measured 74 presolar SiC grains for all iron and nickel isotopes. With the CHARISMA instrument, 13 presolar SiC grains were analyzed for iron isotopes. All grains were also measured by NanoSIMS for their carbon and silicon isotopic compositions. A comparison of the measured neutron-rich isotopes with models for AGB star nucleosynthesis shows that our measurements are consistent with AGB star predictions for low-mass stars between half-solar and solar metallicity. Furthermore, our measurements give an indication on the Ne-22(alpha, n)Mg-25 reaction rate. In terms of GCE, we find that the GCE-dominated iron and nickel isotope ratios, Fe-54/Fe-56 and Ni-60/Ni-58, correlate with their GCE-dominated counterpart in silicon, Si-29/Si-28. The measured GCE trends include the Solar System composition, showing that the Solar System is not a special case. However, as seen in silicon and titanium, many presolar SiC grains are more evolved for iron and nickel than the Solar System. This confirms prior findings and agrees with observations of large stellar samples that a simple age-metallicity relationship for GCE cannot explain the composition of the solar neighborhood. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

galactic chemical evolution↗

An international study on THM modelling of the full-scale heater experiment at Mont Terri laboratory

We present results from an international model comparison study of the Full-Scale Emplacement (FE) experiment in Opalinus Clay at the Mont Terri Laboratory, Switzerland. Based on a provided parameter set the teams decided which parameters they adopted for their models, whether they considered the excavation and the ventilation phase in addition to the heating phase and if they included technical features like the shotcrete or the EDZ. The teams were able to reproduce the measured parameters temperature, relative humidity and pore pressure. The modelled results for temperature agree very closely between the teams especially in the sensors in Opalinus Clay. All teams were able to reproduce the redistribution of water in the bentonite backfill due to heating. The evolution of the relative humidity showed similar trends with differences in the intensity of the dry out effect. To model the pore pressure evolution is more complex because it comprises the full interaction of the coupled THM processes. The spread between the pore pressure modelled by the teams was larger, with some teams overestimating the pressure increase due to heating and some teams overestimating the extent of drainage. The agreement of modelled results with measurements improves with larger distance to the heater. We conclude that the EDZ and the shotcrete potentially influence the behaviour of the rock causing higher differences closer to the heater. Further research is needed to better implement those influences into the models. Based on the calibrated models, the future evolution of temperature, relative humidity and pore pressure was predicted over the next 10 years following a change of the heat power applied in 2023 and 2024. Again, the predicted temperatures agree very closely between the teams. Most teams do not expect an increase in relative humidity during the next 10 years after the initial dry-out.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Patient-Specific Quality Assurance for the Delivery of {sup 60}Co Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Subject to a 0.35-T Lateral Magnetic Field

Purpose: This work describes a patient-specific dosimetry quality assurance (QA) program for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using ViewRay, the first commercial magnetic resonance imaging-guided RT device. Methods and Materials: The program consisted of: (1) a 1-dimensional multipoint ionization chamber measurement using a customized 15-cm{sup 3} cube-shaped phantom; (2) 2-dimensional (2D) radiographic film measurement using a 30- × 30- × 20-cm{sup 3} phantom with multiple inserted ionization chambers; (3) quasi-3D diode array (ArcCHECK) measurement with a centrally inserted ionization chamber; (4) 2D fluence verification using machine delivery log files; and (5) 3D Monte Carlo (MC) dose reconstruction with machine delivery files and phantom CT. Results: Ionization chamber measurements agreed well with treatment planning system (TPS)-computed doses in all phantom geometries where the mean ± SD difference was 0.0% ± 1.3% (n=102; range, −3.0%-2.9%). Film measurements also showed excellent agreement with the TPS-computed 2D dose distributions where the mean passing rate using 3% relative/3 mm gamma criteria was 94.6% ± 3.4% (n=30; range, 87.4%-100%). For ArcCHECK measurements, the mean ± SD passing rate using 3% relative/3 mm gamma criteria was 98.9% ± 1.1% (n=34; range, 95.8%-100%). 2D fluence maps with a resolution of 1 × 1 mm{sup 2} showed 100% passing rates for all plan deliveries (n=34). The MC reconstructed doses to the phantom agreed well with planned 3D doses where the mean passing rate using 3% absolute/3 mm gamma criteria was 99.0% ± 1.0% (n=18; range, 97.0%-100%), demonstrating the feasibility of evaluating the QA results in the patient geometry. Conclusions: We developed a dosimetry program for ViewRay's patient-specific IMRT QA. The methodology will be useful for other ViewRay users. The QA results presented here can assist the RT community to establish appropriate tolerance and action limits for ViewRay's IMRT QA.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Gaps in Radiation Therapy Awareness: Results From an Educational Multi-institutional Survey of US Internal Medicine Residents

Purpose: Internists and primary care providers play a growing role in cancer care. We therefore evaluated the awareness of radiation therapy in general and specifically the clinical utility of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among current US internal medicine residents. Methods and Materials: A web-based institutional review board–approved multi-institutional survey was distributed to US internal medicine residency programs. The survey evaluated trainee demographic characteristics, baseline radiation oncology awareness, knowledge of the role of SBRT for early-stage NSCLC, and whether the survey successfully improved awareness. Results: Thirty US internal medicine programs participated, with an overall participant response rate of 46% (1177 of 2551). Of the trainees, 93% (n=1076) reported no radiation oncology education in their residency, 39% (n=452) reported confidence in knowing when to consult radiation oncology in an oncologic emergency, and 26% (n=293) reported confidence in knowing when to consult radiation oncology in the setting of a newly diagnosed cancer. Of the participants, 76% (n=850) correctly identified that surgical resection is the standard treatment in operable early-stage NSCLC, but only 50% (n=559) of participants would recommend SBRT to a medically inoperable patient, followed by 31% of participants (n=347) who were unsure of the most appropriate treatment, and 10% (n=117) who recommended waiting to offer palliative therapy. Ninety percent of participants (n=1029) agreed that they would benefit from further training on when to consult radiation oncology. Overall, 96% (n=1072) indicated that the survey increased their knowledge and awareness of the role of SBRT. Conclusions: The majority of participating trainees received no education in radiation oncology in their residency, reported a lack of confidence regarding when to consult radiation oncology, and overwhelmingly agreed that they would benefit from further training. These findings should serve as a call to increase the educational collaboration between internal medicine and radiation oncology departments to ensure optimal cancer care.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Assessment of a hybrid finite element and finite volume code for turbulent incompressible flows

Hydra-TH is a hybrid finite-element/finite-volume incompressible/low-Mach flow simulation code based on the Hydra multiphysics toolkit being developed and used for thermal-hydraulics applications. In the present work, a suite of verification and validation (V&V) test problems for Hydra-TH was defined to meet the design requirements of the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL). The intent for this test problem suite is to provide baseline comparison data that demonstrates the performance of the Hydra-TH solution methods. The simulation problems vary in complexity from laminar to turbulent flows. A set of RANS and LES turbulence models were used in the simulation of four classical test problems. Numerical results obtained by Hydra-TH agreed well with either the available analytical solution or experimental data, indicating the verified and validated implementation of these turbulence models in Hydra-TH. Where possible, some form of solution verification has been attempted to identify sensitivities in the solution methods, and suggest best practices when using the Hydra-TH code. -- Highlights: •We performed a comprehensive study to verify and validate the turbulence models in Hydra-TH. •Hydra-TH delivers 2nd-order grid convergence for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. •Hydra-TH can accurately simulate the laminar boundary layers. •Hydra-TH can accurately simulate the turbulent boundary layers with RANS turbulence models. •Hydra-TH delivers high-fidelity LES capability for simulating turbulent flows in confined space.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗