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At least 1,765 records · Page 98

Time-frequency analysis of non-stationary fusion plasma signals using an improved Hilbert-Huang transform

An improved Hilbert-Huang transform method is developed to the time-frequency analysis of non-stationary signals in tokamak plasmas. Maximal overlap discrete wavelet packet transform rather than wavelet packet transform is proposed as a preprocessor to decompose a signal into various narrow-band components. Then, a correlation coefficient based selection method is utilized to eliminate the irrelevant intrinsic mode functions obtained from empirical mode decomposition of those narrow-band components. Subsequently, a time varying vector autoregressive moving average model instead of Hilbert spectral analysis is performed to compute the Hilbert spectrum, i.e., a three-dimensional time-frequency distribution of the signal. The feasibility and effectiveness of the improved Hilbert-Huang transform method is demonstrated by analyzing a non-stationary simulated signal and actual experimental signals in fusion plasmas.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Infrared spectroscopy of the methanol cation and its methylene-oxonium isomer

The carbenium ion with nominal formula [C,H{sub 4},O]{sup +} is produced from methanol or ethylene glycol in a pulsed-discharge supersonic expansion source. The ion is mass selected, and its infrared spectrum is measured from 2000 to 4000 cm{sup −1} using laser photodissociation spectroscopy and the method of rare gas atom tagging. Computational chemistry predicts two isomers, the methanol and methylene-oxonium cations. Predicted vibrational spectra based on scaled harmonic and reduced dimensional treatments are compared to the experimental spectra. The methanol cation is the only isomer produced when methanol is used as a precursor. When ethylene glycol is used as the precursor, methylene-oxonium is produced in addition to the methanol cation. Theoretical results at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level show that methylene-oxonium is lower in energy than methanol cation by 6.4 kcal/mol, and is in fact the global minimum isomer on the [C,H{sub 4},O]{sup +} potential surface. Methanol cation is trapped behind an isomerization barrier in our source, providing a convenient method to produce and characterize this transient species. Analysis of the spectrum of the methanol cation provides evidence for strong CH stretch vibration/torsion coupling in this molecular ion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Quantum sensing effect of electron tunneling in DQD/analyte complex

We investigate electron tunneling between quantum dots and molecules to propose a quantum sensor. This sensor consists of double quantum dots (DQD) with energy levels specifically tailored to mirror those of the target analyte. By analyzing the spectral distribution of electron localizations in the DQD system, we can delineate the analyte’s spectrum and deduce its composition by comparing it with a reference sample. To understand electron tunneling dynamics within the DQD/analyte complex, we performed three-dimensional computational modeling applying the effective potential approach to the InAs/GaAs heterostructure. In this modeling, we mimicked the analyte spectrum by utilizing a quantum well characterized by a quasi-discrete spectrum. Our calculations reveal the inherent potential of utilizing this method as a highly sensitive and selective sensor.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

SU-E-T-470: Beam Performance of the Radiance 330 Proton Therapy System

Purpose: The ProTom Radiance 330 proton radiotherapy system is a fully functional, compact proton radiotherapy system that provides advanced proton delivery capabilities. It supports three-dimensional beam scanning with energy and intensity modulation. A series of measurements have been conducted to characterize the beam performance of the first installation of the system at the McLaren Proton Therapy Center in Flint, Michigan. These measurements were part of the technical commissioning of the system. Select measurements and results are presented. Methods: The Radiance 330 proton beam energy range is 70–250 MeV for treatment, and up to 330 MeV for proton tomography and radiography. Its 3-D scanning capability, together with a small beam emittance and momentum spread, provides a highly efficient beam delivery. During the technical commissioning, treatment plans were created to deliver uniform maps at various energies to perform Gamma Index analysis. EBT3 Gafchromic films were irradiated using the Planned irradiation maps. Bragg Peak chamber was used to test the dynamic range during a scan in one layer for high (250 MeV) and Low (70 MeV) energies. The maximum and minimum range, range adjustment and modulation, distal dose falloff (80%–20%), pencil beam spot size, spot placement accuracy were also measured. The accuracy testing included acquiring images, image registration, receiving correction vectors and applying the corrections to the robotic patient positioner. Results: Gamma Index analysis of the Treatment Planning System (TPS) data vs. Measured data showed more than 90% of points within (3%, 3mm) for the maps created by the TPS. At Isocenter Beam Size (One sigma) < 3mm at highest energy (250 MeV) in air. Beam delivery was within 0.6 mm of the intended target at the entrance and the exit of the beam, through the phantom. Conclusion: The Radiance 330 Beam Performance Measurements have confirmed that the system operates as designed with excellent clinical performance specifications. Hovakim Nazaryan, Vahagn Nazaryan and Fuhua Wang are employees of ProTom International, Inc. who contributed to the development and completed the technical commissioning of the Radiance 330 proton therapy delivery system manufactured by ProTom International.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Vertical transport in type-II heterojunctions with InAs/GaSb/AlSb composite quantum wells in a high magnetic field

Vertical transport in type-II heterojunctions with a two-barrier AlSb/InAs/GaSb/AlSb quantum well (QW) grown by MOVPE on an n-InAs (100) substrate is investigated in quantizing magnetic fields up to B = 14 T at low temperatures T = 1.5 and 4.2 K. The width of the QWs is selected from the formation condition of the inverted band structure. Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations are measured at two orientations of the magnetic field (perpendicular and parallel) relative to the structure plane. It is established that conduction in the structure under study is occurs via both three-dimensional (3D) substrate electrons and two-dimensional 2D QW electrons under quantum limit conditions for bulk electrons (B > 5 T). The electron concentrations in the substrate and InAs QW are determined. The g-factor for 3D carriers is determined by spin splitting of the zero Landau level. It is shown that the conductance maxima in a magnetic field perpendicular to the structure plane and parallel to the current across the structure in fields B > 9 T correspond to the resonant tunneling of 3D electrons from the emitter substrate into the InAs QW through the 2D electron states of the Landau levels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Measurement of single top-quark production in association with a W boson in the single-lepton channel at $\sqrt{s} = 8\,\text {TeV}$ with the ATLAS detector

The production cross-section of a top quark in association with a W boson is measured using proton–proton collisions at √s = 8TeV. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb –1 , and was collected in 2012 by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The analysis is performed in the single-lepton channel. Events are selected by requiring one isolated lepton (electron or muon) and at least three jets. A neural network is trained to separate the tW signal from the dominant tt¯ background. The cross-section is extracted from a binned profile maximum-likelihood fit to a two-dimensional discriminant built from the neural-network output and the invariant mass of the hadronically decaying W boson. The measured cross-section is σ tW = 26 ± 7pb, in good agreement with the Standard Model expectation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Direct control of the grid point distribution in meshes generated by elliptic equations

The generation of computational grids suitable for obtaining accurate numerical solutions to the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is the subject of intensive research. For a wide class of nozzle configurations, a three-dimensional grid can be constructed by a sequence of two-dimensional grids in successive cross-sectional planes. The present paper is concerned with numerical generation of two-dimensional grids. An effective method of interior grid control is presented based on a modified elliptic system containing free parameters. For a simply connected region, the free parameters are computed from the Dirichlet boundary values. The resulting interior grid point distribution is controlled entirely by a priori selection of the grid point distribution along the boundaries of the section.

Middlecoff, J. F.↗

Real gas flow fields about three dimensional configurations

Real gas, inviscid supersonic flow fields over a three-dimensional configuration are determined using a factored implicit algorithm. Air in chemical equilibrium is considered and its local thermodynamic properties are computed by an equilibrium composition method. Numerical solutions are presented for both real and ideal gases at three different Mach numbers and at two different altitudes. Selected results are illustrated by contour plots and are also tabulated for future reference. Results obtained compare well with existing tabulated numerical solutions and hence validate the solution technique.

Balakrishnan, A.↗

Analog Video Image-Enhancing Device

Inexpensive system yields pseudo-three-dimensional effect. Includes video camera with lens, connected to video monitor for analog video enhancement. Video signal obtained from monitor at point beyond where synchronization signals are detected, eliminating need to regenerate composite video signal. Analog video image-enhancing device improves appearance of technical photographs by selectively compressing overall dynamic ranges while accentuating edges or small details of greatest interest.

Weinstein, L. M.↗

Three Dimensional Atmospheric Radiative Transfer-Applications and Methods Comparison

We review applications of 3D radiative transfer in the atmosphere, emphasizing the wide spectrum of scales important to remote sensing and modeling of cloud fields, and the characteristic scales introduced into observed radiances and fluxes by the distribution of photon pathlengths at conservative and absorbing wavelengths. We define the "plane-parallel bias", which is a measure of the importance of 3D cloud structure in large-scale models, and the "independent pixel errors" that quantify the significance of 3D effects in remote sensing, and emphasize their relative magnitude and scale dependence. A variety of approaches in current use in 3D radiative transfer, and issues of speed, accuracy, and flexibility are summarized. We also describe a recently initiated "International Intercomparison of 3-Dimensional Radiation Codes", or I3RC. I3RC is a 3-phase effort that has as its goals to: (1) understand the errors and limits of 3D methods; (2) provide "baseline" cases for future 3D code development; (3) promote sharing of 3D tools; (4) derive guidelines for 3D tool selection; and (5) improve atmospheric science education in 3D radiative transfer. Selected results from Phases 1 and 2 of I3RC are discussed. These are taken from five cloud fields: a 1D field of bar clouds, a 2D radar-derived field, a 3D Landsat-derived field, a stratiform cloud from the model of C. Moeng, and a convective cloud from the model of B. Stevens. Computations have been carried out for three monochromatic wavelengths (one conservative, one absorptive, and one thermal) and two solar zenith angles (0, 60 degrees).

Cahalan, Robert F.↗

An Approach for Assessing Delamination Propagation Capabilities in Commercial Finite Element Codes

An approach for assessing the delamination propagation capabilities in commercial finite element codes is presented and demonstrated for one code. For this investigation, the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimen and the Single Leg Bending (SLB) specimen were chosen for full three-dimensional finite element simulations. First, benchmark results were created for both specimens. Second, starting from an initially straight front, the delamination was allowed to propagate. Good agreement between the load-displacement relationship obtained from the propagation analysis results and the benchmark results could be achieved by selecting the appropriate input parameters. Selecting the appropriate input parameters, however, was not straightforward and often required an iterative procedure. Qualitatively, the delamination front computed for the DCB specimen did not take the shape of a curved front as expected. However, the analysis of the SLB specimen yielded a curved front as may be expected from the distribution of the energy release rate and the failure index across the width of the specimen. Overall, the results are encouraging but further assessment on a structural level is required.

Krueger, Ronald↗

An Approach for Assessing Delamination Propagation Capabilities in Commercial Finite Element Codes

An approach to assessing the delamination propagation capabilities in commercial finite element codes is presented and demonstrated for one code. For this investigation, the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimen and the Single Leg Bending (SLB) specimen were chosen for full three-dimensional finite element simulations. First, benchmark results were created for both specimens. Second, starting from an initially straight front, the delamination was allowed to propagate. Good agreement between the load-displacement relationship obtained from the propagation analysis results and the benchmark results could be achieved by selecting the appropriate input parameters. Selecting the appropriate input parameters, however, was not straightforward and often required an iterative procedure. Qualitatively, the delamination front computed for the DCB specimen did not take the shape of a curved front as expected. However, the analysis of the SLB specimen yielded a curved front as may be expected from the distribution of the energy release rate and the failure index across the width of the specimen. Overall, the results are encouraging but further assessment on a structural level is required.

Krueger, Ronald↗

Tribological Evaluation of Candidate Gear Materials Operating Under Light Loads in Highly Humid Conditions

A series of pin-on-disk sliding wear tests were undertaken to identify candidate materials for a pair of lightly loaded timing gears operating under highly humid conditions. The target application involves water purification and thus precludes the use of oil, grease and potentially toxic solid lubricants. The baseline sliding pair is austenitic stainless steel operating against a carbon filled polyimide. The test load and sliding speed (4.9N, 2.7ms) were chosen to represent average contact conditions of the meshing gear teeth. In addition to the baseline materials, the hard superelastic NiTiNOL 60 (60NiTi) was slid against itself, against the baseline polyimide, and against 60NiTi onto which a commercially deposited dry film lubricant (DFL) was applied. The alternate materials were evaluated as potential replacements to achieve a longer wear life and improved dimensional stability for the timing gear application. An attempt was also made to provide solid lubrication to self-mated 60NiTi by rubbing the polyimide against the disk wear track outside the primary 60NiTi-60NiTi contact, a method named stick or transfer-film lubrication. The selected test conditions gave repeatable friction and wear data and smooth sliding surfaces for the baseline materials similar to those in the target application. Friction and wear for self-mated stainless steel were high and erratic. Self-mated 60NiTi gave acceptably low friction (0.2) and modest wear but the sliding surfaces were rough and potentially unsuitable for the gear application. Tests in which 60NiTi pins were slid against DFL coated 60NiTi and DFL coated stainless steel gave low friction and long wear life. The use of stick lubrication via a secondary polyimide pin provided effective transfer film lubrication to self-mated 60NiTi tribological specimens. Using this approach, friction levels were equal or lower than the baseline polyimide-stainless combination and wear was higher but within data scatter observed in these preliminary tests. Based upon these results, self-mated 60NiTi gear teeth utilizing solid lubrication, is a reasonable approach for the target application.

tribology↗

Tribological Evaluation of Candidate Gear Materials Operating Under Light Loads in Highly Humid Conditions

A series of pin-on-disk sliding wear tests were undertaken to identify candidate materials for a pair of lightly loaded timing gears operating under highly humid conditions. The target application involves water purification and thus precludes the use of oil, grease and potentially toxic solid lubricants. The baseline sliding pair is austenitic stainless steel operating against a carbon filled polyimide. The test load and sliding speed (4.9 N, 2.7 m/s) were chosen to represent average contact conditions of the meshing gear teeth. In addition to the baseline materials, the hard superelastic NiTiNOL 60 (60NiTi) was slid against itself, against the baseline polyimide, and against 60NiTi onto which a commercially deposited dry film lubricant (DFL) was applied. The alternate materials were evaluated as potential replacements to achieve a longer wear life and improved dimensional stability for the timing gear application. An attempt was also made to provide solid lubrication to self-mated 60NiTi by rubbing the polyimide against the disk wear track outside the primary 60NiTi-60NiTi contact, a method named stick or transfer-film lubrication. The selected test conditions gave repeatable friction and wear data and smooth sliding surfaces for the baseline materials similar to those in the target application. Friction and wear for self-mated stainless steel were high and erratic. Self-mated 60NiTi gave acceptably low friction (approx. 0.2) and modest wear but the sliding surfaces were rough and potentially unsuitable for the gear application. Tests in which 60NiTi pins were slid against DFL coated 60NiTi and DFL coated stainless steel gave low friction and long wear life. The use of stick lubrication via the secondary polyimide pin provided effective transfer film lubrication to self-mated 60NiTi tribological specimens. Using this approach, friction levels were equal or lower than the baseline polyimide-stainless combination and wear was higher but within data scatter observed in these preliminary tests. Based upon these results, self-mated 60NiTi gear teeth utilizing solid lubrication, is a reasonable approach for the target application.

tribology↗

A Model for Jet-Surface Interaction Noise Using Physically Realizable Upstream Turbulence Conditions

This paper is a continuation of previous work in which a generalized Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT) formulation was used to model low-frequency trailing-edge noise. The research was motivated by proposed next-generation aircraft configurations where the exhaust system is tightly integrated with the airframe. Data from recent experiments at NASA on the interaction between high-Reynolds-number subsonic jet flows and an external flat plate showed that the power spectral density (PSD) of the far-field pressure underwent considerable amplification at low frequencies. For example, at the 90deg observation angle, the low-frequency noise could be as much as 10 dB greater than the jet noise itself. In this paper, we present predictions of the noise generated by the interaction of a rectangular jet with the trailing edge of a semi-infinite flat plate. The calculations are based on a formula for the acoustic spectrum of this noise source derived from an exact formal solution of the linearized Euler equations involving (in this case) one arbitrary convected scalar quantity and a Rayleigh equation Green's function. A low-frequency asymptotic approximation for the Green's function based on a two-dimensional mean flow is used in the calculations along with a physically realizable upstream turbulence spectrum, which includes a finite decorrelation region. Numerical predictions of the sound field, based on three-dimensional RANS solutions to determine the mean flow, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulence length and time scales, for a range of subsonic acoustic Mach number jets and nozzle aspect ratios are compared with experimental data. Comparisons of the RANS results with flow data are also presented for selected cases. We find that a finite decorrelation region in the turbulence spectrum increases the low-frequency algebraic decay (the low frequency "roll-off") of the acoustic spectrum with angular frequency thereby producing much closer agreement with noise data for Strouhal numbers less than 0.1. Secondly, the large-aspect-ratio theory is able to predict the low-frequency amplification due to the jet-edge interaction reasonably well, even for moderate aspect ratio nozzles. We show also that the noise predictions for smaller aspect ratio jets can be fine-tuned using the appropriate RANS-based mean flow and turbulence properties.

Jet↗

Tunable Spectral Ordering of Magnetic Plasmon Resonances in Noble Metal Nanoclusters

Experimental characterization of the optical and magnetic properties of noble metal nanoclusters has exposed a size regime in between single-ring and extended two-dimensional nanocluster networks where the behavior of magnetic plasmon resonances is not well understood. In this intermediate size regime, individual electric dipole plasmons on each nanoparticle within the cluster can hybridize into delocalized magnetic modes that couple to either the electric or magnetic field of light with seemingly arbitrary energy ordering. In this work, using a coupled-dipole model that includes fully retarded interactions between electric dipole plasmons, we show that magnetic plasmon resonance energies can be controllably tuned and even made to cross as a function of nanocluster size. Experimental confirmation of this prediction is challenging because optical selection rules dictate the simultaneous excitation of many spectrally overlapping magnetic plasmon modes. However, based on analytic modeling and numerical simulation, we show that angle-resolved cathodoluminescence offers an approach to cleanly isolate these magnetic modes and observe the size-dependence of their spectrum. Not only does our work clarify the rich optical and magnetic behavior of noble metal nanoclusters in the intermediate-size regime, but it also suggests strategies to design negative-index plasmonic metamaterials with multiple tunable resonances in the visible spectrum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Three dimensional dust-acoustic solitary waves in an electron depleted dusty plasma with two-superthermal ion-temperature

A theoretical investigation is carried out to study the existence and characteristics of propagation of dust-acoustic (DA) waves in an electron-depleted dusty plasma with two-temperature ions, which are modeled by kappa distribution functions. A three-dimensional cylindrical Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation governing evolution of small but finite amplitude DA waves is derived by means of a reductive perturbation method. The influence of physical parameters on solitary wave structure is examined. Furthermore, the energy integral equation is used to study the existence domains of the localized structures. It is found that the present model can be employed to describe the existence of positive as well as negative polarity DA solitary waves by selecting special values for parameters of the system, e.g., superthermal index of cold and/or hot ions, cold to hot ion density ratio, and hot to cold ion temperature ratio. This model may be useful to understand the excitation of nonlinear DA waves in astrophysical objects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Substance P in the Gas Phase: Conformational Changes and Dissociations Induced by Collisional Activation in a Drift Tube

The work presented below is related to our companion paper in this issue, entitled: Substance P in solution: trans-to-cis configurational changes of penultimate prolines initiate non-enzymatic peptide bond cleavages. Two-dimensional ion mobility spectrometry (IMS-IMS) and mass spectrometry techniques are used to investigate structural transitions for [M+3H]{sup 3+} ions of substance P (subP) upon collisional activation (CA) in the gas phase. In this approach, different conformations of ions having a specified mobility are selected after an initial IMS separation, collisionally activated to produce new conformers, and these product structures are separated again using a second IMS region. In this way, it is possible to follow folding and unfolding transitions of different conformations. The analysis shows evidence for five conformations. Unlike other systems, every transition is irreversible. Studies as a function of activation voltage are used to discern pathways of structural changes prior to reaching the energy required for dissociation. Thresholds associated with the onsets of transitions are calibrated to obtain estimates of the energetic barriers between different structures and semi-quantitative potential energy diagrams are presented. Overall, barriers associated with structural transitions of [subP+3H]{sup 3+} in the absence of solvent are on the order of ~ 40 kJ mol{sup −1}, substantially lower than the ~ 90 kJ mol{sup −1} required for some similar structural transitions in solutions of ethanol. Comparisons of the transition energies in the gas phase with thermochemistry for similar transitions in solution provide clues about why reverse transitions are prohibited. .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗