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At least 1,693 records · Page 94

Computational Bayesian Methods Applied to Complex Problems in Bio and Astro Statistics

In this dissertation we apply computational Bayesian methods to three distinct problems. In the first chapter, we address the issue of unrealistic covariance matrices used to estimate collision probabilities. We model covariance matrices with a Bayesian Normal-Inverse-Wishart model, which we fit with Gibbs sampling. In the second chapter, we are interested in determining the sample sizes necessary to achieve a particular interval width and establish non-inferiority in the analysis of prevalences using two fallible tests. To this end, we use a third order asymptotic approximation. In the third chapter, we wish to synthesize evidence across multiple domains in measurements taken longitudinally across time, featuring a substantial amount of structurally missing data, and fit the model with Hamiltonian Monte Carlo in a simulation to analyze how estimates of a parameter of interest change across sample sizes.

Elrod, Chris↗

Search for new physics in high-mass diphoton events from proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{\textrm{s}} $ = 13 TeV

Results are presented from a search for new physics in high-mass diphoton events from proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV. The data set was collected in 2016–2018 with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. Events with a diphoton invariant mass greater than 500 GeV are considered. Two different techniques are used to predict the standard model backgrounds: parametric fits to the smoothly-falling background and a first-principles calculation of the standard model diphoton spectrum at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. The first technique is sensitive to resonant excesses while the second technique can identify broad differences in the invariant mass shape. The data are used to constrain the production of heavy Higgs bosons, Randall-Sundrum gravitons, the large extra dimensions model of Arkani-Hamed, Dimopoulos, and Dvali (ADD), and the continuum clockwork mechanism. No statistically significant excess is observed. The present results are the strongest limits to date on ADD extra dimensions and RS gravitons with a coupling parameter greater than 0.1.[graphic not available: see fulltext]

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A Goldstone boson equivalence for inflation

The effective field theory of single-field inflation characterizes the inflationary epoch in terms of a pattern of symmetry breaking. An operator acquires a time-dependent vacuum expectation value, defining a preferred spatial slicing. In the absence of dynamical gravity, the fluctuations around the time-dependent background are described by the Goldstone boson associated with this symmetry breaking process. With gravity, the Goldstone is eaten by the metric, becoming the scalar metric fluctuation. In this paper, we will show that in general single-field inflation, the statistics of scalar metric fluctuations are given by the statistics of this Goldstone boson decoupled from gravity up to corrections that are controlled as an expansion in slow-roll parameters. This even holds in the presence of additional parameters, like the speed of sound, that naively enhance the impact of the gravitational terms. In the process, we derive expressions for leading and sub-leading gravitational corrections to all-orders in the Goldstone boson.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Improving ChemCam LIBS long-distance elemental compositions using empirical abundance trends

The ChemCam instrument on the Curiosity rover provides chemical compositions of Martian rocks and soils using remote laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The elemental calibration is stable as a function of distance for Ti, Fe, Mg, and Ca. The calibration shows small, systematically increasing abundance trends as a function of distance for Al, Na, K, and to some extent, Si. The distance effect is known to be due to a dependence with distance on the relative strengths of atomic transition lines. Emission lines representing transitions from relatively low energy levels remain intense at longer distances while emission lines representing transitions from higher energy levels decrease in intensity more rapidly as a function of distance. The multivariate algorithms used to determine elemental compositions rely on a large number of emission lines in many cases, so rather than trying to correct all emission lines, a study was made of the predicted compositions as a function of distance, in order to determine an empirical correction. Abundance trends can be well approximated by a linear trend with distance within the ranges of abundances and distances observed up to ~6 m. Data from 11 distinct geological members and data groups of the Murray formation in Gale crater, Mars, were used to form the model, selecting the members and data groups yielding the best statistics. The model was tested using data from several targets observed from two different distances, and using data from the Kimberley formation, the composition of which is significantly different from the Murray formation, showing that the model works on other compositions beyond those used to build the model. For long-distance observations up to ~6 m, corrections can be made back to an equivalent composition at the median distance of ChemCam observations (2.6 m). Finally, the model has been validated up to 6.2 m, although ChemCam is able to observe bedrock targets to >7 m, and iron meteorites to distances of >9 m.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Slow Electron Holes in the Earth's Magnetosheath

Here, we present a statistical analysis of electrostatic solitary waves observed aboard Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft in the Earth's magnetosheath. Applying single-spacecraft interferometry to several hundred solitary waves collected in about 2-minute interval, we show that almost all of them have the electrostatic potential of positive polarity and propagate quasi-parallel to the local magnetic field with plasma frame velocities of the order of 100 km/s. The solitary waves have typical parallel half-widths from 10 to 100 m that is between 1 and 10 Debye lengths and typical amplitudes of the electrostatic potential from 10 to 200 mV that is between 0.01% and 1% of local electron temperature. The solitary waves are associated with quasi-Maxwellian ion velocity distribution functions, and their plasma frame velocities are comparable with ion thermal speed and well below electron thermal speed. We argue that the solitary waves of positive polarity are slow electron holes and estimate the time scale of their acceleration, which occurs due to interaction with ions, to be of the order of one second. The observation of slow electron holes indicates that their lifetime was shorter than the acceleration time scale. We argue that multi-spacecraft interferometry applied previously to these solitary waves is not applicable because of their too-short spatial scales. The source of the slow electron holes and the role in electron-ion energy exchange remain to be established.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Calibration of energy density functionals with deformed nuclei

Nuclear density functional theory is the prevalent theoretical framework for accurately describing nuclear properties at the scale of the entire chart of nuclides. Given an energy functional and a many-body scheme (e.g., single- or multireference level), the predictive power of the theory depends strongly on how the parameters of the energy functionals have been calibrated with experimental data. Expanded algorithms and computing power have enabled recent optimization protocols to include data in deformed nuclei in order to optimize the coupling constants of the energy functional. The primary motivation of this work is to test the robustness of such protocols with respect to some of the technical and numerical details of the underlying calculations, especially when the calibration explores a large parameter space. To this end, we quantify the effect of these uncertainties on both the optimization and statistical emulation of composite objective functions. We also emphasize that Bayesian calibration can provide better estimates of the theoretical errors used to define objective functions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

New constraints on cosmological modified gravity theories from anisotropic three-point correlation functions of BOSS DR12 galaxies

Here we report a new test of modified gravity theories using the large-scale structure of the Universe. This paper is the first attempt to (1) apply a joint analysis of the anisotropic components of galaxy two- and three-point correlation functions (2 and 3PCFs) to actual galaxy data and (2) constrain the non-linear effects of degenerate higher-order scalar-tensor (DHOST) theories on cosmological scales. Applying this analysis to the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) data release 12, we obtain the lower bounds of –1.655 < ξ t and –0.504 < ξ s at the $95{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence level on the parameters characterizing the time evolution of the tidal and shift terms of the second-order velocity field. These constraints are consistent with GR predictions of ξ t = 15/1144 and ξs = 0. Moreover, they represent a 35-fold and 20-fold improvement, respectively, over the joint analysis with only the isotropic 3PCF. We ensure the validity of our results by investigating various quantities, including theoretical models of the 3PCF, window function corrections, cumulative S/N, Fisher matrices, and statistical scattering effects of mock simulation data. We also find statistically significant discrepancies between the BOSS data and the Patchy mocks for the 3PCF measurement. Finally, we package all of our 3PCF analysis codes under the name hitomi and make them publicly available so that readers can reproduce all the results of this paper and easily apply them to ongoing future galaxy surveys.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Observation of the Rare Decay of the 𝜂 Meson to Four Muons

A search for the rare η → μ + μ − μ + μ − double-Dalitz decay is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions, collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with high-rate muon triggers in 2017-2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb −1 . A signal having a statistical significance well in excess of 5 standard deviations is observed. Using the η → μ + μ − decay as normalization, the branching fraction B(η → μ + μ − μ + μ − ) = [5.0 ± 0.8 (stat) ± 0.7 (syst) ± 0.7 (B 2μ )] × 10 −9 is measured, where the last term is the uncertainty in the normalization channel branching fraction. This work achieves an improved precision of over five orders of magnitude compared to previous results, leading to the first measurement of this branching fraction, which is found to agree with theoretical predictions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A precise measurement of the Z -boson double-differential transverse momentum and rapidity distributions in the full phase space of the decay leptons with the ATLAS experiment at $\sqrt{s}=8$ TeV

This paper presents for the first time a precise measurement of the production properties of the Z boson in the full phase space of the decay leptons. This is in contrast to the many previous precise unfolded measurements per formed in the fiducial phase space of the decay leptons. The measurement is obtained from proton–proton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2012 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 8 TeV at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb -1 . The results, based on a total of 15.3 million Z boson decays to electron and muon pairs, extend and improve a previous measurement of the full set of angular coefficients describing Z-boson decay. The double-differential cross section distributions in Z-boson transverse momentum pT and rapidity y are measured in the pole region, defined as 80 < m ℓℓ < 100 GeV, over the range |y| < 3.6. The total uncertainty of the normalised cross-section measurements in the peak region of the pT distribution is dominated by statistical uncertainties over the full range and increases as a function of rapidity from 0.5–1.0% for |y| < 2.0 to 2 - 7% at higher rapidities. The results for the rapidity-dependent transverse momentum distributions are compared to state of-the-art QCD predictions, which combine in the best cases approximate N 4 LL resummation with N 3 LO fixed-order per turbative calculations. The differential rapidity distributions integrated over pT are even more precise, with accuracies from 0.2–0.3% for |y| < 2.0 to 0.4–0.9% at higher rapidities, and are compared to fixed-order QCD predictions using the most recent parton distribution functions. The agreement between data and predictions is quite good in most cases.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Data used for Figure 3 of the Nature Reviews Earth and Environment (NREE) paper: "A low-to-no snow future and its impacts on water resources in the western United States

In order to synthesize western United States snowpack projections, this dataset contains the results of 18 peer-review journal articles over three periods of interest (2025-2049, 2050-2074, and 2075-2099) and over 4 mountain ranges (Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Rockies, Wasatch/Uinta) in addition to western-US wide projections. Distinction is made by model type (Earth System Models, bias-corrected statistically downscaled Earth System Models, and regional climate models). RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios are considered. Percent snow water equivalent (SWE) loss considers 1 April, peak SWE and/or seasonal SWE. Heterogeneity in projected snowpack changes exists across mountain ranges and for different modeling approaches, but generally indicate agreement in decreases by the end of the century.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

ForSE: A GAN-based Algorithm for Extending CMB Foreground Models to Subdegree Angular Scales

We present ForSE (Foreground Scale Extender), a novel Python package that aims to overcome the current limitations in the simulation of diffuse Galactic radiation, in the context of cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments. ForSE exploits the ability of generative adversarial neural networks (GANs) to learn and reproduce complex features present in a set of images, with the goal of simulating realistic and non-Gaussian foreground radiation at subdegree angular scales. This is of great importance in order to estimate the foreground contamination to lensing reconstruction, delensing, and primordial B-modes for future CMB experiments. We applied this algorithm to Galactic thermal dust emission in both total intensity and polarization. Our results show how ForSE is able to generate small-scale features (at 12') having as input the large-scale ones (80'). The injected structures have statistical properties, evaluated by means of the Minkowski functionals, in good agreement with those of the real sky and which show the correct amplitude scaling as a function of the angular dimension. Furthermore, the obtained thermal dust Stokes Q and U full-sky maps as well as the ForSE package are publicly available for download.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Estimating maximum instantaneous distortion from inlet total pressure rms measurements

In the present paper, a new mathematical model of inlet turbulence is developed by application of basic fluid dynamics and statistical concepts. The model provides an understanding of the turbulent inlet flow as well as a means of describing the flow in quantitative terms. Specifically, the maximum instantaneous distortion produced by inlet unsteady flow can be estimated by the simple measurement of rms data. Practical application of these techniques leads to a data/acquisition/reduction system that is at least one, and maybe two, orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional methods. Each data point can be reduced in terms of the mean strength of the turbulent vortices. By storing these two parameters (that are representative of the unsteady flow with the steady state information), the maximal instantaneous distortion can be reconstructed for other distortion factors at any time subsequent to the test.

Melick, H. C., Jr.↗

PDF approach for turbulent scalar field: Some recent developments

The probability density function (PDF) method has been proven a very useful approach in turbulence research. It has been particularly effective in simulating turbulent reacting flows and in studying some detailed statistical properties generated by a turbulent field There are, however, some important questions that have yet to be answered in PDF studies. Our efforts in the past year have been focused on two areas. First, a simple mixing model suitable for Monte Carlo simulations has been developed based on the mapping closure. Secondly, the mechanism of turbulent transport has been analyzed in order to understand the recently observed abnormal PDF's of turbulent temperature fields generated by linear heat sources.

Gao, Feng↗

Analysis of MMU FDIR expert system

This paper describes the analysis of a rulebase for fault diagnosis, isolation, and recovery for NASA's Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). The MMU is used by a human astronaut to move around a spacecraft in space. In order to provide maneuverability, there are several thrusters oriented in various directions, and hand-controlled devices for useful groups of them. The rulebase describes some error detection procedures, and corrective actions that can be applied in a few cases. The approach taken in this paper is to treat rulebases as symbolic objects and compute correctness and 'reasonableness' criteria that use the statistical distribution of various syntactic structures within the rulebase. The criteria should identify awkward situations, and otherwise signal anomalies that may be errors. The rulebase analysis agorithms are derived from mathematical and computational criteria that implement certain principles developed for rulebase evaluation. The principles are Consistency, Completeness, Irredundancy, Connectivity, and finally, Distribution. Several errors were detected in the delivered rulebase. Some of these errors were easily fixed. Some errors could not be fixed with the available information. A geometric model of the thruster arrangement is needed to show how to correct certain other distribution nomalies that are in fact errors. The investigations reported here were partially supported by The Aerospace Corporation's Sponsored Research Program.

Landauer, Christopher↗

Variability of Arctic Sea Ice as Viewed from Space

Over the past 20 years, satellite passive-microwave radiometry has provided a marvelous means for obtaining information about the variability of the Arctic sea ice cover and particularly about sea ice concentrations (% areal coverages) and from them ice extents and the lengths of the sea ice season. This ability derives from the sharp contrast between the microwave emissions of sea ice versus liquid water and allows routine monitoring of the vast Arctic sea ice cover, which typically varies in extent from a minimum of about 8,000,000 sq km in September to a maximum of about 15,000,000 sq km in March, the latter value being over 1.5 times the area of either the United States or Canada. The vast Arctic ice cover has many impacts, including hindering heat, mass, and y momentum exchanges between the oceans and the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation absorbed at the Earth's surface, affecting freshwater transports and ocean circulation, and serving as a vital surface for many species of polar animals. These direct impacts also lead to indirect impacts, including effects on local and perhaps global atmospheric temperatures, effects that are being examined in general circulation modeling studies, where preliminary results indicate that changes on the order of a few percent sea ice concentration can lead to temperature changes of 1 K or greater even in local areas outside of the sea ice region. Satellite passive-microwave data for November 1978 through December 1996 reveal marked regional and interannual variabilities in both the ice extents and the lengths of the sea ice season, as well as some statistically significant trends. For the north polar ice cover as a whole, maximum ice extents varied over a range of 14,700,000 - 15,900,000 km(2), while individual regions showed much greater percentage variations, e.g., with the Greenland Sea experiencing a range of 740,000 - 1,1110,000 km(2) in its yearly maximum ice coverage. Although variations from year to year and region to region are large, overall the Arctic ice extents did show a statistically significant, 2.8%/ decade negative trend over the 18.2-year period. Ice season lengths, which vary from only a few weeks near the ice margins to the full year in the large region of perennial ice coverage, also experienced interannual variability, and mapping their trends allows detailed geographic information on exactly where the ice season lengthened and where it shortened. Over the 18 years, ice season lengthening occurred predominantly in the western hemisphere and was strongest in the western Labrador Sea, while ice season shortening occurred predominantly in the eastern hemisphere and was strongest in the eastern Barents Sea. Much information about other important Arctic sea ice variables has also been obtained from satellite data, including information about melt ponding, temperature, snow cover, and ice velocities. For instance, maps of ice velocities have now been made from satellite scatterometry data, including information about melt ponding, temperature, snow cover, and ice velocities.

Parkinson, Claire L.↗

Evaluation of Refractivity Profiles from CHAMP and SAC-C GPS Radio Occultation

The GeoForschungsZentrum's Challenging Minisatellite Payload for Geophysical Research and Application (CHAMP, Germany-US) and the Comision Nacional de Actividades Especiales' Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas-C (SAC-C, Argentina-US) missions are the first missions to carry a second-generation Blackjack Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. One of the new features of this receiver is its ability to sense the lower troposphere closer to the surface than the proof-of-concept GPS Meteorology experiment (GPS/MET). Since their launch, CHAMP and SAC-C have collected thousands of GPS radio occultations, representing a wealth of measurements available for data assimilation and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). In order to evaluate the refractivity data derived by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from raw radio occultation measurements, we use Data Assimilation Office (DAO) 6-hour forecasts as an independent state of the atmosphere. We compare CHAMP and SAC-C refractivity (processed by JPL) with refractivity calculated from the DAO global fields of temperature, water vapor content and humidity. We show statistics of the differences as well as histograms of the differences.

Poli, Paul↗

GOES-R AWG GLM Val Tool Development

We are developing tools needed to enable the validation of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). In order to develop and test these tools, we have need of a robust, high-fidelity set of GLM proxy data. Many steps have been taken to ensure that the proxy data are high quality. LIS is the closest analog that exists for GLM, so it has been used extensively in developing the GLM proxy. We have verified the proxy data both statistically and algorithmically. The proxy data are pixel (event) data, called Level 1B. These data were then clustered into flashes by the Lightning Cluster-Filter Algorithm (LCFA), generating proxy Level 2 data. These were then compared with the data used to generate the proxy, and both the proxy data and the LCFA were validated. We have developed tools to allow us to visualize and compare the GLM proxy data with several other sources of lightning and other meteorological data (the so-called shallow-dive tool). The shallow-dive tool shows storm-level data and can ingest many different ground-based lightning detection networks, including: NLDN, LMA, WWLLN, and ENTLN. These are presented in a way such that it can be seen if the GLM is properly detecting the lightning in location and time comparable to the ground-based networks. Currently in development is the deep-dive tool, which will allow us to dive into the GLM data, down to flash, group and event level. This will allow us to assess performance in comparison with other data sources, and tell us if there are detection, timing, or geolocation problems. These tools will be compatible with the GLM Level-2 data format, so they can be used beginning on Day 0.

Bateman, Monte↗