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At least 19 records

Enhanced Cross-Correlation Inter-Detector Timing

Inter-detector timing is one of the key steps for compositing signals obtained by multiple detectors. Conventionally this is done via inversing time gamma functions of individual detectors and then matching their times at the same gamma level. The applicability of the gamma inverse approach is often restricted to the monotonic gamma functions. This presentation presents a novel approach for inter-detector timing. This new approach introduced an enhanced cross-correlation of gamma values between two time intervals of two detectors. If this enhanced cross-correlation is close to 1, then both intervals should cover the same gamma segment of the signal. Consequently the time shift between the two detector can be derived from the time shift of the these two time intervals. This work will be presented at the 4th Annual Reaction History Analysis Workshop in North Las Vegas.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Precision measurements on oxygen formation in stellar helium burning with gamma-ray beams and a Time Projection Chamber

The carbon/oxygen (C/O) ratio at the end of stellar helium burning is the single most important nuclear input to stellar evolution theory. However, it is not known with sufficient accuracy, due to large uncertainties in the cross-section for the fusion of helium with 12 C to form 16 O, denoted as 12 C( α , γ ) 16 O. Here we present results based on a method that is significantly different from the experimental efforts of the past four decades. With data measured inside one detector and with vanishingly small background, angular distributions of the 12 C( α , γ ) 16 O reaction were obtained by measuring the inverse 16 O( γ , α ) 12 C reaction with gamma-beams and a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detector. We agree with current world data for the total reaction cross-section and further evidence the strength of our method with accurate angular distributions measured over the 1 - resonance at E cm ~2.4 MeV. Our technique promises to yield results that will surpass the quality of the currently available data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Predicted performance of a tangential viewing hard x-ray camera for the DIII-D high field side lower hybrid current drive experiment

High field side launch of lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) has improved accessibility and penetration over low field side launch on DIII-D. Simulations predict single pass absorption under a wide range of plasma conditions. Hard x-ray (HXR) measurement of LHCD generated fast electron bremsstrahlung (50–250 keV) will validate wave propagation and absorption. Emissivity profiles are recovered from one-dimensional inversion of HXR brightness to determine LH damping location, fast electron slowing down time, and some indication of the fast electron energy. The camera will be implemented by populating 32 tangential sightlines of the existing Gamma Ray Imager with Kromek SPEARTM Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors sensitive to 10–1000 keV photons with 10 keV energy resolution. Expected count rates allow for <0.5 ms time resolution. Pulses are processed using 50 ns shaping time Cremat CR-200 Gaussian shaping modules and are digitized by 25 MHz D-TACQ ACQ216 digitizers. The performance of the HXR camera is evaluated by comparing predicted fast electron density profiles and inverted synthetic brightnesses obtained from the ray-tracing/Fokker–Planck codes GENRAY/CQL3D. Inversions closely matched predicted fast electron profiles for a range of experimental parameters.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Simulations and models for the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability with broadband perturbations

The Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is shock driven and affects many phenomena from inertial fusion to supernova explosions. The behavior of single-modes in the RMI has been studied extensively but less is known with the broadband perturbations that occur in applications. Here, we describe extensive numerical simulations and modeling of the RMI with broadband perturbations with an initial power spectrum of the form P ∝ km, where k is the wavenumber. The hydrodynamic condition is the same as in the θ-Group Collaboration [Thornber et al., “Late-time growth rate, mixing, and anisotropy in the multimode narrowband Richtmyer–Meshkov instability: The θ-group collaboration,” Phys. Fluids 29, 105107 (2017)] with a Mach ∼1.86 shock and gamma-law = 5/3 fluids with Atwood number A = −0.5. The bubble amplitude hB is found to grow in two stages. Initially, hB undergoes a phase-inversion and grows linearly in time (t) at a rate consistent with a linear theory. Asymptotically, hB grows as a power law ∼tθ when k|hB| > O(1), where k is the average wavenumber for the initial spectrum. The RMI behavior in simulations and modeling agree over a wide range of exponent m, spectral width, initial amplitude, and time. The agreement is quantified objectively using statistical analysis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Simulations and models for the Richtmyer– Meshkov instability with broadband perturbations

The Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is shock driven and affects many phenomena from inertial fusion to supernova explosions. The behavior of single-modes in the RMI has been studied extensively but less is known with the broadband perturbations that occur in applications. Here, we describe extensive numerical simulations and modeling of the RMI with broadband perturbations with an initial power spectrum of the form P∝ k m , where k is the wavenumber. The hydrodynamic condition is the same as in the $\theta$-Group Collaboration [Thornber et al., “Late-time growth rate, mixing, and anisotropy in the multimode narrowband Richtmyer–Meshkov instability: The $\theta$-group collaboration,” Phys. Fluids 29, 105107 (2017)] with a Mach ~1.86 shock and gamma-law = 5/3 fluids with Atwood number A = 0.5. The bubble amplitude h B is found to grow in two stages. Initially, h B undergoes a phase-inversion and grows linearly in time (t) at a rate consistent with a linear theory. Asymptotically, h B grows as a power law $~t^{\theta}$ when $\langle{k}\rangle{|h_B|}$ > O(1), where $\langle{k}\rangle$ is the average wavenumber for the initial spectrum. The RMI behavior in simulations and modeling agree over a wide range of exponent m, spectral width, initial amplitude, and time. The agreement is quantified objectively using statistical analysis.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A Variational Inference Approach to Inverse Problems with Gamma Hyperpriors

Hierarchical models with gamma hyperpriors provide a flexible, sparse-promoting framework to bridge L 1 and L 2 regularizations in Bayesian formulations to inverse problems. Despite the Bayesian motivation for these models, existing methodologies are limited to maximum a posteriori estimation. The potential to perform uncertainty quantification has not yet been realized. This paper introduces a variational iterative alternating scheme for hierarchical inverse problems with gamma hyperpriors. The proposed variational inference approach yields accurate reconstruction, provides meaningful uncertainty quantification, and is easy to implement. In addition, it lends itself naturally to conduct model selection for the choice of hyperparameters. Here, we illustrate the performance of our methodology in several computed examples, including a deconvolution problem and sparse identification of dynamical systems from time series data.

Bayesian shrinkage↗

Stable and tunable MeV $$\gamma$$-ray generation via dual-laser inverse Thomson scattering from a laser-plasma accelerator

Abstract Inverse Thomson scattering from laser-plasma accelerators offers a pathway to compact, tunable MeV $$\gamma$$ -ray sources for reduced-dose radiography and enhanced performance in nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF)-based isotope identification. However, photon yield and spectral quality are often limited by constraints on interaction geometry and scatter-laser tunability. Here we demonstrate a MeV $$\gamma$$ -ray source based on a dual-laser inverse Thomson scattering configuration driven by a 100-TW laser-plasma accelerator. Electron beams tunable from 122 to 204 MeV with $$<5$$ mrad divergence and $$<1$$ mrad pointing stability generate $$\gamma$$ rays with peak energies from 276 keV to 1.2 MeV and yields up to $$2\times 10^{7}$$ photons per shot. By independently controlling the interaction position and the scatter-pulse duration, we experimentally match the scatter pulse to the walk-off-limited interaction length. Extending the scatter pulse to 200 fs increases photon production by approximately $$15\%$$ while maintaining operation in the linear Thomson regime, thereby preserving narrow spectral bandwidth and controlled radiation divergence. Radiographic characterization demonstrates MeV-level penetration and $$\approx 0.1$$ mm spatial resolution, while stable operation is sustained over multi-hour timescales across multiple days. These results show that interaction-length optimization provides a scalable strategy for improving photon yield, spectral control, and operational stability in compact laser-plasma-accelerator-driven $$\gamma$$ -ray sources.

Tsai, Hai-En↗

Dark matter halo mass functions and density profiles from mass and energy cascade

Abstract Halo abundance and structure play a central role for modeling structure formation and evolution. Without relying on a spherical or ellipsoidal collapse model, we analytically derive the halo mass function and cuspy halo density (inner slope of −4/3) based on the mass and energy cascade theory in dark matter flow. The hierarchical halo structure formation leads to halo or particle random walk with a position-dependent waiting time $$\tau _g$$ τ g . First, the inverse mass cascade from small to large scales leads to the halo random walk in mass space with $$\tau _g\propto m_h^{-\lambda }$$ τ g ∝ m h - λ , where $$m_h$$ m h is the halo mass and $$\lambda$$ λ is a halo geometry parameter with predicted value of 2/3. The corresponding Fokker-Planck solution for halo random walk in mass space gives rise to the halo mass function with a power-law behavior on small scale and exponential decay on large scale. This can be further improved by considering two different $$\lambda$$ λ for haloes below and above a critical mass scale $$m_h^*$$ m h ∗ , i.e. a double- $$\lambda$$ λ halo mass function. Second, a double- $$\gamma$$ γ density profile can be derived based on the particle random walk in 3D space with a position-dependent waiting time $$\tau _g \propto \Phi (r)^{-1} \propto r^{-\gamma }$$ τ g ∝ Φ ( r ) - 1 ∝ r - γ , where $$\Phi$$ Φ is the gravitational potential and r is the particle distance to halo center. Theory predicts $$\gamma =2/3$$ γ = 2 / 3 that leads to a cuspy density profile with an inner slope of −4/3, consistent with the predicted scaling laws from energy cascade. The Press-Schechter mass function and Einasto density profile are just special cases of proposed models. The small scale permanence can be identified due to the scale-independent rate of mass and energy cascade, where density profiles of different halo masses and redshifts converge to the $$-4/3$$ - 4 / 3 scaling law ( $$\rho _h \propto r^{-4/3}$$ ρ h ∝ r - 4 / 3 ) on small scales. Theory predicts the halo number density scales with halo mass as $$\propto m_h^{-1.9}$$ ∝ m h - 1.9 , while the halo mass density scales as $$\propto m_h^{4/9}$$ ∝ m h 4 / 9 . Results were compared against the Illustris simulations. This new perspective provides a theory for nearly universal halo mass functions and density profiles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the gamma-ray emission from the core of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy

ABSTRACT We use Fermi-LAT data to analyse the faint gamma-ray source located at the centre of the Sagittarius (Sgr) dwarf spheroidal galaxy. In the 4FGL-DR3 catalogue, this source is associated with the globular cluster, M54. We investigate the spectral energy distribution and spatial extension of this source, with the goal of testing two hypotheses: (1) the emission is due to millisecond pulsars within M54, or (2) the emission is due to annihilating dark matter from the Sgr halo. For the pulsar interpretation, we consider a two-component model which describes both the lower-energy magnetospheric emission and possible high-energy emission arising from inverse Compton scattering. We find that this source has a point-like morphology at low energies, consistent with magnetospheric emission, and find no evidence for a higher-energy component. For the dark matter interpretation, we find the signal favours a dark matter mass of mχ = 29.6 ± 5.8 GeV and an annihilation cross section of $\sigma v = (2.1 \pm 0.59) \times 10^{-26} \, \text{cm}^3$ s−1 for the $b \bar{b}$ channel (or mχ = 8.3 ± 3.8 GeV and $\sigma v = (0.90 \pm 0.25) \times 10^{-26} \, \text{cm}^3$ s−1 for the τ+τ− channel), when adopting a J-factor of $J=10^{19.6} \, \text{GeV}^2 \, \text{cm}^{-5}$. This parameter space is consistent with gamma-ray constraints from other dwarf galaxies and with dark matter interpretations of the Galactic Centre Gamma-Ray Excess.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Clustering and Cliques in Preferential Attachment Random Graphs with Edge Insertion

In this paper, we investigate the global clustering coefficient (a.k.a transitivity) and clique number of graphs generated by a preferential attachment random graph model with an additional feature of allowing edge connections between existing vertices. Specifically, at each time step t, either a new vertex is added with probability f(t), or an edge is added between two existing vertices with probability 1 – f(t). We establish concentration inequalities for the global clustering and clique number of the resulting graphs under the assumption that f(t) is a regularly varying function at infinity with index of regular variation –$\gamma$, where $\gamma$ $\in$ [0, 1). Finally, we also demonstrate an inverse relation between these two statistics: the clique number is essentially the reciprocal of the global clustering coefficient.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Three-dimensional reconstruction of neutron, gamma-ray, and x-ray sources using a cylindrical-harmonics expansion

Inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions produce neutron, gamma-ray, and x-ray emission, which are recorded by a variety of detectors, both time integrated and time resolved, to determine the performance of the implosion. Further, two-dimensional emission images from multiple directions can now be combined to infer three-dimensional structures in the implosion, such as the distribution of thermonuclear fuel density, carbon ablator, and impurities. Because of the cost and complexity of the imaging systems, however, only a few measurements can be made, so reconstructions of the source must be made from a limited number of views. Here, a cylindrical-harmonics decomposition technique to reconstruct the three-dimensional object from two views in the same symmetry plane is presented. In the limit of zero order, this method recovers the Abel inversion method. The detailed algorithms used for this characterization and the resulting reconstructed neutron source from an experiment collected at the National Ignition Facility are presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

First observations of solar halo gamma rays over a full solar cycle

We analyze 15 years of Fermi-LAT data and produce a detailed model of the Sun’s inverse-Compton scattering emission (solar halo), which is powered by interactions between ambient cosmic-ray electrons and positrons with sunlight. By developing a novel analysis method to analyze moving sources, we robustly detect the solar halo at energies between 31.6 MeV and 100 GeV, and angular extensions up to 45° from the Sun, providing new insight into spatial regions where there are no direct measurements of the Galactic cosmic-ray flux. The large statistical significance of our signal allows us to subdivide the data and provide the first 𝛾-ray probes into the time variation and azimuthal asymmetry of the solar modulation potential, finding time-dependent changes in solar modulation both parallel and perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. Our results are consistent with (but with independent uncertainties from) local cosmic-ray measurements, unlocking new probes into astrophysical processes near the solar surface.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Radiative Reconnection-powered TeV Flares from the Black Hole Magnetosphere in M87

Abstract Active galactic nuclei in general, and the supermassive black hole in M87 in particular, show bright and rapid gamma-ray flares up to energies of 100 GeV and above. For M87, the flares show multiwavelength components, and the variability timescale is comparable to the dynamical time of the event horizon, suggesting that the emission may come from a compact region near the nucleus. However, the emission mechanism for these flares is not well understood. Recent high-resolution general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations show the occurrence of episodic magnetic reconnection events that can power flares near the black hole event horizon. In this work, we analyze the radiative properties of the reconnecting current layer under the extreme plasma conditions applicable to the black hole in M87 from first principles. We show that abundant pair production is expected in the vicinity of the reconnection layer, to the extent that the produced secondary pair plasma dominates the reconnection dynamics. Using analytic estimates backed by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that in the presence of strong synchrotron cooling, reconnection can produce a hard power-law distribution of pair plasma imprinted in the outgoing synchrotron (up to a few tens of MeV) and the inverse-Compton signal (up to TeV). We produce synthetic radiation spectra from our simulations, which can be directly compared with the results of future multiwavelength observations of M87* flares.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

ML Classifier Fusion for Three Data Streams with Quality Inversely Proportional to Time Resolution

We consider a monitoring scenario of phenomenon using three different streams of measurements whose quality is proportional to their constant inter-arrival times. Each measurement of a stream needs to be binary-classified to reflect the state of interest of the phenomenon. A set of classifiers is separately trained and fused for each stream at its time resolution using measurements collected under known states. We present a machine learning method to fuse the outputs of these fusers to provide a final classification at the finest time resolution. We show that this fused-fusers method provides decisions with likely superior classification probability compared to the best individual classifiers and fused-classifiers. We derive generalization equations that guarantee a superior classification probability of fused-fusers with a confidence probability specified by the classifiers’ generalization equations. We apply these results to study a practical problem of classifying Pu/Np target dissolution events at a radiochemical processing facility using gamma spectral measurements of effluent flows.

Rao, Nageswara↗

A matched-filter approach to radio variability and transients: searching for orphan afterglows in the VAST Pilot Survey

Radio transient searches using traditional variability metrics struggle to recover sources whose evolution time-scale is significantly longer than the survey cadence. Motivated by the recent observations of slowly evolving radio afterglows at gigahertz frequency, we present the results of a search for radio variables and transients using an alternative matched-filter approach. We designed our matched-filter to recover sources with radio light curves that have a high-significance fit to power-law and smoothly broken power-law functions; light curves following these functions are characteristic of synchrotron transients, including ‘orphan’ gamma-ray burst afterglows, which were the primary targets of our search. Applying this matched-filter approach to data from Variables and Slow Transients Pilot Survey conducted using the Australian SKA Pathfinder, we produced five candidates in our search. Subsequent Australia Telescope Compact Array observations and analysis revealed that: one is likely a synchrotron transient; one is likely a flaring active galactic nucleus, exhibiting a flat-to-steep spectral transition over 4 months; one is associated with a starburst galaxy, with the radio emission originating from either star formation or an underlying slowly evolving transient; and the remaining two are likely extrinsic variables caused by interstellar scintillation. The synchrotron transient, VAST J175036.1–181454, has a multifrequency light curve, peak spectral luminosity, and volumetric rate that is consistent with both an off-axis afterglow and an off-axis tidal disruption event; interpreted as an off-axis afterglow would imply an average inverse beaming factor $\langle f^{-1}_{\text{b}} \rangle = 860^{+1980}_{-710}$, or equivalently, an average jet opening angle of $\langle \theta _{\textrm {j}} \rangle = 3^{+4}_{-1}\,$ deg.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Novel application of neutrinos to evaluate U.S. nuclear weapons performance

There is a growing realization that neutrinos can be used as a diagnostic tool to better understand the inner workings of a nuclear weapon. Robust estimates demonstrate that an Inverse Beta Decay (IBD) neutrino scintillation detector built at the Nevada Test Site with a 1000-ton active target mass at a standoff distance of 500 m would detect thousands of antineutrino events per nuclear test. This would provide less than 4% statistical error on the measured antineutrino rate and 5% error on antineutrino energy. Extrapolating this to an error on the test device explosive yield requires knowledge from evaluated nuclear databases, non-equilibrium fission rates, and assumptions on internal neutron fluxes. Initial calculations demonstrate that the total number of neutrinos emitted per fission in the first 10 3 s after a short pulse of 239 Pu fission is about a factor of two less than that from Pu fissioning under steady state conditions. Furthermore, there are significant energy spectral differences as a function of time after the pulse that must be considered. These and other model dependencies will be discussed in the paper. In the absence of nuclear weapons testing, many of the technical and theoretical challenges of a full nuclear test could be mitigated with a low cost smaller scale 20 ton fiducial mass IBD demonstration detector placed near a pulsed reactor. Potential reactors include the Texas A&M University TRIGA 1 GW–10 ms pulsed facility or the Sandia Annular Core Research Reactor. The short duty cycle and repeatability of pulses would provide critical real environment testing and measurements, which would be valuable for planning a possible real test shot in the future. Furthermore, the antineutrino rate as a function of time data would provide unique constraints on fission databases and model assumptions. Finally, there are impactful science drivers such as sensitive searches for ∼1 eV 2 sterile neutrinos and ∼MeV scale axions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Beam particle identification and tagging of incompletely stripped heavy beams with HEIST

A challenge preventing successful inverse kinematics measurements with heavy nuclei that are not fully stripped is identifying and tagging the beam particles. For this purpose, the HEavy ISotope Tagger (HEIST) has been developed. HEIST utilizes two micro-channel plate timing detectors to measure the time-of-flight, a multi-sampling ion chamber to measure energy loss, and a high-purity germanium detector to identify isomer decays and calibrate the isotope identification system. HEIST has successfully identified 198 Pb and other nearby nuclei at energies of about 75 MeV/A. In the experiment discussed, a typical cut containing 89% of all 198 Pb 80+ in the beam had a purity of 86%. We examine the issues of charge state contamination. Here, the observed charge state populations of these ions are presented and, using an adjusted beam energy, are well described by the charge state model GLOBAL.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Evaluation of Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Monitor the Transport of Past Releases Beneath Tank Farms

Underground storage tanks at the Hanford Site, in southeastern Washington State, hold radioactive waste generated from four decades of plutonium production. The 149 single-shell tanks and the 28 double-shell tanks have all exceeded their initial design life of approximately 25 years. At least 67 tanks are assumed to have leaked in the past, resulting in radioactive releases into the vadose zone. Gamma ray logging within dry monitoring wells is currently the primary method for tracking the migration of leaked tank waste through the vadose zone. While this approach provides an accurate assessment of radioactive contamination, that information is only provided near (within ~1m) the borehole, leaving most of the vadose zone unmonitored, particularly the important region directly beneath the tank. This report describes a numerical study that investigates the feasibility and performance of time-lapse 3D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for long-term monitoring of a hypothetical tank waste location and migration through the vadose zone. ERT is a method of remotely imaging the bulk electrical conductivity (EC) of the subsurface, which is significantly impacted by the presence of conductive solid and liquid tank waste. The release of liquid tank wastes increases subsurface fluid conductivity and saturation over time, creating a target to use time-lapse ERT for long-term monitoring. Although the presence of metallic infrastructure can cause ERT interference, recent advancements in ERT data processing enable the deleterious effects of buried metallic infrastructure (e.g. pipes, wellbore casings, tanks) to be removed to better determine the liquid tank waste migration over time. Three hypothetical realistic scenarios were simulated in the ERT evaluation. The first two scenarios assume the same leak amount and rate (i.e., between 1/1/1951 and 12/31/1951 at the rate of 347 m 3 per year) but different leaky tanks. Scenario 1 assumes leaks under tank B-102, which is located on the edge of the B-tank farm and surrounded by a few metallic infrastructure including cased pipes/wells/tanks. Scenario 2 assumes leaks under tank B-108, which is located near the center of the B-tank farm and surrounded by larger amount of metallic infrastructure than B-102. Scenario 3 assumes the same metallic infrastructure as B-102, with a more recent contaminant leak that was simulated to have occurred between 1/1/2018 and 12/31/2023 at a rate of 1.89 m 3 per year. The leak time in Scenarios 1 and 2 corresponds to a historical overfill event in 1951 and Scenario 3 corresponds to a recent found tank leak in 2019. In each scenario, a “true” bulk EC model vs. time reflecting contaminant migration was generated. ERT data was simulated from these “true” bulk EC models and a time-lapse ERT inversion produced “imaged” bulk EC vs. time. Three electrode configurations in two, four and eight boreholes surrounding the leak tank were used in the ERT simulations in each scenario. These borehole configurations were considered logistically feasible and cost-effective for monitoring. The hypothetical ERT boreholes are assumed to have non-metallic casing. By comparing the “imaged” bulk EC with the “true” bulk EC, it was demonstrated that the three configurations of wells used (two, four, and eight wells) were able to successfully monitor the migration of tank leaks through the vadose zone, with bulk EC resolution increasing with the number of down borehole ERT arrays for all scenarios. Therefore, the use of eight boreholes to perform ERT monitoring beneath the tanks provided the best spatiotemporal information.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗