Two-dimensional melting of colloids with long-range attractive interactions.

PubMed

Du, Di; Doxastakis, Manolis; Hilou, Elaa; Biswal, Sibani Lisa

2017-02-22

The solid-liquid melting transition in a two-dimensional (2-D) attractive colloidal system is visualized using superparamagnetic colloids that interact through a long-range isotropic attractive interaction potential, which is induced using a high-frequency rotating magnetic field. Various experiments, supported by Monte Carlo simulations, are carried out over a range of interaction potentials and densities to determine structure factors, Lindermann parameters, and translational and orientational order parameters. The system shows a first-order solid-liquid melting transition. Simulations and experiments suggest that dislocations and disclinations simultaneously unbind during melting. This is in direct contrast with reports of 2-D melting of paramagnetic particles that interact with a repulsive interaction potential.

The ferromagnetic-spin glass transition in PdMn alloys: symmetry breaking of ferromagnetism and spin glass studied by a multicanonical method.

PubMed

Kato, Tomohiko; Saita, Takahiro

2011-03-16

The magnetism of Pd(1-x)Mn(x) is investigated theoretically. A localized spin model for Mn spins that interact with short-range antiferromagnetic interactions and long-range ferromagnetic interactions via itinerant d electrons is set up, with no adjustable parameters. A multicanonical Monte Carlo simulation, combined with a procedure of symmetry breaking, is employed to discriminate between the ferromagnetic and spin glass orders. The transition temperature and the low-temperature phase are determined from the temperature variation of the specific heat and the probability distributions of the ferromagnetic order parameter and the spin glass order parameter at different concentrations. The calculation results reveal that only the ferromagnetic phase exists at x < 0.02, that only the spin glass phase exists at x > 0.04, and that the two phases coexist at intermediate concentrations. This result agrees semi-quantitatively with experimental results.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Markiewicz, R. S.; Buda, I. G.; Mistark, P.

Here, we propose a new approach to understand the origin of the pseudogap in the cuprates, in terms of bosonic entropy. The near-simultaneous softening of a large number of different q-bosons yields an extended range of short-range order, wherein the growth of magnetic correlations with decreasing temperature T is anomalously slow. These entropic effects cause the spectral weight associated with the Van Hove singularity (VHS) to shift rapidly and nearly linearly toward half filling at higher T, consistent with a picture of the VHS driving the pseudogap transition at a temperature ~T*. As a byproduct, we develop an order-parameter classificationmore » scheme that predicts supertransitions between families of order parameters. As one example, we find that by tuning the hopping parameters, it is possible to drive the cuprates across a transition between Mott and Slater physics, where a spin-frustrated state emerges at the crossover.« less

Entropic Origin of Pseudogap Physics and a Mott-Slater Transition in Cuprates

DOE PAGES

Markiewicz, R. S.; Buda, I. G.; Mistark, P.; ...

2017-03-22

Here, we propose a new approach to understand the origin of the pseudogap in the cuprates, in terms of bosonic entropy. The near-simultaneous softening of a large number of different q-bosons yields an extended range of short-range order, wherein the growth of magnetic correlations with decreasing temperature T is anomalously slow. These entropic effects cause the spectral weight associated with the Van Hove singularity (VHS) to shift rapidly and nearly linearly toward half filling at higher T, consistent with a picture of the VHS driving the pseudogap transition at a temperature ~T*. As a byproduct, we develop an order-parameter classificationmore » scheme that predicts supertransitions between families of order parameters. As one example, we find that by tuning the hopping parameters, it is possible to drive the cuprates across a transition between Mott and Slater physics, where a spin-frustrated state emerges at the crossover.« less

An Adaptive Moving Target Imaging Method for Bistatic Forward-Looking SAR Using Keystone Transform and Optimization NLCS.

PubMed

Li, Zhongyu; Wu, Junjie; Huang, Yulin; Yang, Haiguang; Yang, Jianyu

2017-01-23

Bistatic forward-looking SAR (BFSAR) is a kind of bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system that can image forward-looking terrain in the flight direction of an aircraft. Until now, BFSAR imaging theories and methods for a stationary scene have been researched thoroughly. However, for moving-target imaging with BFSAR, the non-cooperative movement of the moving target induces some new issues: (I) large and unknown range cell migration (RCM) (including range walk and high-order RCM); (II) the spatial-variances of the Doppler parameters (including the Doppler centroid and high-order Doppler) are not only unknown, but also nonlinear for different point-scatterers. In this paper, we put forward an adaptive moving-target imaging method for BFSAR. First, the large and unknown range walk is corrected by applying keystone transform over the whole received echo, and then, the relationships among the unknown high-order RCM, the nonlinear spatial-variances of the Doppler parameters, and the speed of the mover, are established. After that, using an optimization nonlinear chirp scaling (NLCS) technique, not only can the unknown high-order RCM be accurately corrected, but also the nonlinear spatial-variances of the Doppler parameters can be balanced. At last, a high-order polynomial filter is applied to compress the whole azimuth data of the moving target. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Estimating order statistics of network degrees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, J.; Nadarajah, S.

2018-01-01

We model the order statistics of network degrees of big data sets by a range of generalised beta distributions. A three parameter beta distribution due to Libby and Novick (1982) is shown to give the best overall fit for at least four big data sets. The fit of this distribution is significantly better than the fit suggested by Olhede and Wolfe (2012) across the whole range of order statistics for all four data sets.

Quality changes of pasteurised orange juice during storage: A kinetic study of specific parameters and their relation to colour instability.

PubMed

Wibowo, Scheling; Grauwet, Tara; Santiago, Jihan Santanina; Tomic, Jovana; Vervoort, Liesbeth; Hendrickx, Marc; Van Loey, Ann

2015-11-15

In view of understanding colour instability of pasteurised orange juice during storage, to the best of our knowledge, this study reports for the first time in a systematic and quantitative way on a range of changes in specific quality parameters as a function of time and as well as temperature (20-42 °C). A zero-order (°Brix, fructose, glucose), a first-order (vitamin C), a second-order (sucrose) and a fractional conversion model (oxygen) were selected to model the evolution of the parameters between parentheses. Activation energies ranged from 22 to 136 kJ mol(-1), HMF formation being the most temperature sensitive. High correlations were found between sugars, ascorbic acid, their degradation products (furfural and HMF) and total colour difference (ΔE(∗)). Based on PLS regression, the importance of the quality parameters for colour degradation was ranked relatively among each other: the acid-catalysed degradation of sugars and ascorbic acid degradation reactions appeared to be important for browning development in pasteurised orange juice during ambient storage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Temperature evolution of the local order parameter in relaxor ferroelectrics (1 - x)PMN-xPZT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gridnev, S. A.; Glazunov, A. A.; Tsotsorin, A. N.

2005-09-01

The temperature dependence of the local order parameter and relaxation time distribution function have been determined in (1 - x)PMN-xPZT ceramic samples via dielectric permittivity. Above the Burns temperature, the permittivity was found to follow the Currie-Weiss law, and with temperature decreasing the deviation was observed to increase. A local order parameter was calculated from the dielectric data using a modified Landau-Devonshire approach. These results are compared to the distribution function of relaxation times. It was found that a glasslike freezing of reorientable polar clusters occurs in the temperature range of diffuse relaxor transition. The evolution of the studied system to more ordered state arises from the increased PZT content.

Effective-range parameters and vertex constants for Λ-nuclear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rakityansky, S. A.; Gopane, I. M.

For a wide range of the core-nuclei (6 ≤ A ≤ 207), the scattering lengths, effective radii, and the other effective-range parameters (up to the order ˜ k8) for the angular momentum ℓ = 0, 1, 2 are calculated within a two-body ΛA-model. For the same hypernuclear systems, the S-matrix residues as well as the corresponding Nuclear-Vertex and Asymptotic-Normalization constants (NVC’s and ANC’s) for the bound states are also found.

Variability of textural features in FDG PET images due to different acquisition modes and reconstruction parameters.

PubMed

Galavis, Paulina E; Hollensen, Christian; Jallow, Ngoneh; Paliwal, Bhudatt; Jeraj, Robert

2010-10-01

Characterization of textural features (spatial distributions of image intensity levels) has been considered as a tool for automatic tumor segmentation. The purpose of this work is to study the variability of the textural features in PET images due to different acquisition modes and reconstruction parameters. Twenty patients with solid tumors underwent PET/CT scans on a GE Discovery VCT scanner, 45-60 minutes post-injection of 10 mCi of [(18)F]FDG. Scans were acquired in both 2D and 3D modes. For each acquisition the raw PET data was reconstructed using five different reconstruction parameters. Lesions were segmented on a default image using the threshold of 40% of maximum SUV. Fifty different texture features were calculated inside the tumors. The range of variations of the features were calculated with respect to the average value. Fifty textural features were classified based on the range of variation in three categories: small, intermediate and large variability. Features with small variability (range ≤ 5%) were entropy-first order, energy, maximal correlation coefficient (second order feature) and low-gray level run emphasis (high-order feature). The features with intermediate variability (10% ≤ range ≤ 25%) were entropy-GLCM, sum entropy, high gray level run emphsis, gray level non-uniformity, small number emphasis, and entropy-NGL. Forty remaining features presented large variations (range > 30%). Textural features such as entropy-first order, energy, maximal correlation coefficient, and low-gray level run emphasis exhibited small variations due to different acquisition modes and reconstruction parameters. Features with low level of variations are better candidates for reproducible tumor segmentation. Even though features such as contrast-NGTD, coarseness, homogeneity, and busyness have been previously used, our data indicated that these features presented large variations, therefore they could not be considered as a good candidates for tumor segmentation.

Variability of textural features in FDG PET images due to different acquisition modes and reconstruction parameters

PubMed Central

GALAVIS, PAULINA E.; HOLLENSEN, CHRISTIAN; JALLOW, NGONEH; PALIWAL, BHUDATT; JERAJ, ROBERT

2014-01-01

Background Characterization of textural features (spatial distributions of image intensity levels) has been considered as a tool for automatic tumor segmentation. The purpose of this work is to study the variability of the textural features in PET images due to different acquisition modes and reconstruction parameters. Material and methods Twenty patients with solid tumors underwent PET/CT scans on a GE Discovery VCT scanner, 45–60 minutes post-injection of 10 mCi of [18F]FDG. Scans were acquired in both 2D and 3D modes. For each acquisition the raw PET data was reconstructed using five different reconstruction parameters. Lesions were segmented on a default image using the threshold of 40% of maximum SUV. Fifty different texture features were calculated inside the tumors. The range of variations of the features were calculated with respect to the average value. Results Fifty textural features were classified based on the range of variation in three categories: small, intermediate and large variability. Features with small variability (range ≤ 5%) were entropy-first order, energy, maximal correlation coefficient (second order feature) and low-gray level run emphasis (high-order feature). The features with intermediate variability (10% ≤ range ≤ 25%) were entropy-GLCM, sum entropy, high gray level run emphsis, gray level non-uniformity, small number emphasis, and entropy-NGL. Forty remaining features presented large variations (range > 30%). Conclusion Textural features such as entropy-first order, energy, maximal correlation coefficient, and low-gray level run emphasis exhibited small variations due to different acquisition modes and reconstruction parameters. Features with low level of variations are better candidates for reproducible tumor segmentation. Even though features such as contrast-NGTD, coarseness, homogeneity, and busyness have been previously used, our data indicated that these features presented large variations, therefore they could not be considered as a good candidates for tumor segmentation. PMID:20831489

Ground-state phases of the spin-1 J1-J2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, P. H. Y.; Bishop, R. F.

2016-06-01

We study the zero-temperature quantum phase diagram of a spin-1 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice with both nearest-neighbor exchange coupling J1>0 and frustrating next-nearest-neighbor coupling J2≡κ J1>0 , using the coupled cluster method implemented to high orders of approximation, and based on model states with different forms of classical magnetic order. For each we calculate directly in the bulk thermodynamic limit both ground-state low-energy parameters (including the energy per spin, magnetic order parameter, spin stiffness coefficient, and zero-field uniform transverse magnetic susceptibility) and their generalized susceptibilities to various forms of valence-bond crystalline (VBC) order, as well as the energy gap to the lowest-lying spin-triplet excitation. In the range 0 <κ <1 we find evidence for four distinct phases. Two of these are quasiclassical phases with antiferromagnetic long-range order, one with two-sublattice Néel order for κ <κc1=0.250(5 ) , and another with four-sublattice Néel-II order for κ >κc 2=0.340 (5 ) . Two different paramagnetic phases are found to exist in the intermediate region. Over the range κc1<κ<κci=0.305 (5 ) we find a gapless phase with no discernible magnetic order, which is a strong candidate for being a quantum spin liquid, while over the range κci<κ <κc 2 we find a gapped phase, which is most likely a lattice nematic with staggered dimer VBC order that breaks the lattice rotational symmetry.

An unscaled parameter to measure the order of surfaces: a new surface elaboration to increase cells adhesion.

PubMed

Bigerelle, M; Anselme, K; Dufresne, E; Hardouin, P; Iost, A

2002-08-01

We present a new parameter to quantify the order of a surface. This parameter is scale-independent and can be used to compare the organization of a surface at different scales of range and amplitude. To test the accuracy of this roughness parameter versus a hundred existing ones, we created an original statistical bootstrap method. In order to assess the physical relevance of this new parameter, we elaborated a great number of surfaces with various roughness amplitudes on titanium and titanium-based alloys using different physical processes. Then we studied the influence of the roughness amplitude on in vitro adhesion and proliferation of human osteoblasts. It was then shown that our new parameter best discriminates among the cell adhesion phenomena than others' parameters (Average roughness (Ra em leader )): cells adhere better on isotropic surfaces with a low order, provided this order is quantified on a scale that is more important than that of the cells. Additionally, on these low ordered metallic surfaces, the shape of the cells presents the same morphological aspect as that we can see on the human bone trabeculae. The method used to prepare these isotropic surfaces (electroerosion) could be undoubtedly and easily applied to prepare most biomaterials with complex geometries and to improve bone implant integration. Moreover, the new order parameter we developed may be particularly useful for the fundamental understanding of the mechanism of bone cell installation on a relief and of the formation of bone cell-material interface.

Parameter Estimation for GRACE-FO Geometric Ranging Errors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wegener, H.; Mueller, V.; Darbeheshti, N.; Naeimi, M.; Heinzel, G.

2017-12-01

Onboard GRACE-FO, the novel Laser Ranging Instrument (LRI) serves as a technology demonstrator, but it is a fully functional instrument to provide an additional high-precision measurement of the primary mission observable: the biased range between the two spacecraft. Its (expectedly) two largest error sources are laser frequency noise and tilt-to-length (TTL) coupling. While not much can be done about laser frequency noise, the mechanics of the TTL error are widely understood. They depend, however, on unknown parameters. In order to improve the quality of the ranging data, it is hence essential to accurately estimate these parameters and remove the resulting TTL error from the data.Means to do so will be discussed. In particular, the possibility of using calibration maneuvers, the utility of the attitude information provided by the LRI via Differential Wavefront Sensing (DWS), and the benefit from combining ranging data from LRI with ranging data from the established microwave ranging, will be mentioned.

A general range-separated double-hybrid density-functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalai, Cairedine; Toulouse, Julien

2018-04-01

A range-separated double-hybrid (RSDH) scheme which generalizes the usual range-separated hybrids and double hybrids is developed. This scheme consistently uses a two-parameter Coulomb-attenuating-method (CAM)-like decomposition of the electron-electron interaction for both exchange and correlation in order to combine Hartree-Fock exchange and second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) correlation with a density functional. The RSDH scheme relies on an exact theory which is presented in some detail. Several semi-local approximations are developed for the short-range exchange-correlation density functional involved in this scheme. After finding optimal values for the two parameters of the CAM-like decomposition, the RSDH scheme is shown to have a relatively small basis dependence and to provide atomization energies, reaction barrier heights, and weak intermolecular interactions globally more accurate or comparable to range-separated MP2 or standard MP2. The RSDH scheme represents a new family of double hybrids with minimal empiricism which could be useful for general chemical applications.

Non-local order in Mott insulators, duality and Wilson loops

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rath, Steffen Patrick, E-mail: steffen.rath@ph.tum.de; Simeth, Wolfgang; Endres, Manuel

2013-07-15

It is shown that the Mott insulating and superfluid phases of bosons in an optical lattice may be distinguished by a non-local ‘parity order parameter’ which is directly accessible via single site resolution imaging. In one dimension, the lattice Bose model is dual to a classical interface roughening problem. We use known exact results from the latter to prove that the parity order parameter exhibits long range order in the Mott insulating phase, consistent with recent experiments by Endres et al. [M. Endres, M. Cheneau, T. Fukuhara, C. Weitenberg, P. Schauß, C. Gross, L. Mazza, M.C. Bañuls, L. Pollet, I.more » Bloch, et al., Science 334 (2011) 200]. In two spatial dimensions, the parity order parameter can be expressed in terms of an equal time Wilson loop of a non-trivial U(1) gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions which exhibits a transition between a Coulomb and a confining phase. The negative logarithm of the parity order parameter obeys a perimeter law in the Mott insulator and is enhanced by a logarithmic factor in the superfluid. -- Highlights: •Number statistics of cold atoms in optical lattices show non-local correlations. •These correlations are measurable via single site resolution imaging. •Incompressible phases exhibit an area law in particle number fluctuations. •This leads to long-range parity order of Mott-insulators in one dimension. •Parity order in 2d is connected with a Wilson-loop in a lattice gauge theory.« less

Infinitely Robust Order and Local Order-Parameter Tulips in Apollonian Networks with Quenched Disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nadir Kaplan, C.; Hinczewski, Michael; Berker, A. Nihat

2009-03-01

For a variety of quenched random spin systems on an Apollonian network, including ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic bond percolation and the Ising spin glass, we find the persistence of ordered phases up to infinite temperature over the entire range of disorder.[1] We develop a renormalization-group technique that yields highly detailed information, including the exact distributions of local magnetizations and local spin-glass order parameters, which turn out to exhibit, as function of temperature, complex and distinctive tulip patterns. [1] C.N. Kaplan, M. Hinczewski, and A.N. Berker, arXiv:0811.3437v1 [cond-mat.dis-nn] (2008).

Dynamo onset as a first-order transition: lessons from a shell model for magnetohydrodynamics.

PubMed

Sahoo, Ganapati; Mitra, Dhrubaditya; Pandit, Rahul

2010-03-01

We carry out systematic and high-resolution studies of dynamo action in a shell model for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence over wide ranges of the magnetic Prandtl number PrM and the magnetic Reynolds number ReM. Our study suggests that it is natural to think of dynamo onset as a nonequilibrium first-order phase transition between two different turbulent, but statistically steady, states. The ratio of the magnetic and kinetic energies is a convenient order parameter for this transition. By using this order parameter, we obtain the stability diagram (or nonequilibrium phase diagram) for dynamo formation in our MHD shell model in the (PrM-1,ReM) plane. The dynamo boundary, which separates dynamo and no-dynamo regions, appears to have a fractal character. We obtain a hysteretic behavior of the order parameter across this boundary and suggestions of nucleation-type phenomena.

Ordering process in the diffusively coupled logistic lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conrado, Claudine V.; Bohr, Tomas

1991-08-01

We study the ordering process in a lattice of diffusively coupled logistic maps for increasing lattice size. Within a window of parameters, the system goes into a weakly chaotic state with long range "antiferromagnetic" order. This happens for arbitrary lattice size L and the ordering time behaves as t ~ L2 as we would expect from a picture of diffusing defects.

Revealing hidden antiferromagnetic correlations in doped Hubbard chains via string correlators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilker, Timon A.; Salomon, Guillaume; Grusdt, Fabian; Omran, Ahmed; Boll, Martin; Demler, Eugene; Bloch, Immanuel; Gross, Christian

2017-08-01

Topological phases, like the Haldane phase in spin-1 chains, defy characterization through local order parameters. Instead, nonlocal string order parameters can be employed to reveal their hidden order. Similar diluted magnetic correlations appear in doped one-dimensional lattice systems owing to the phenomenon of spin-charge separation. Here we report on the direct observation of such hidden magnetic correlations via quantum gas microscopy of hole-doped ultracold Fermi-Hubbard chains. The measurement of nonlocal spin-density correlation functions reveals a hidden finite-range antiferromagnetic order, a direct consequence of spin-charge separation. Our technique, which measures nonlocal order directly, can be readily extended to higher dimensions to study the complex interplay between magnetic order and density fluctuations.

78 FR 41163 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-09

... Parameter (``ACE Parameter'') in Rule 1080.08(i), which is the price range outside of which a Complex Order.... Proposed new language is italicized; deleted text is in brackets. * * * * * Rule 1080. Phlx XL and Phlx XL...\\ See Rule 1080.08(a). Currently, the ACE Parameter is always a percentage, not less than 3 percent. The...

Order parameters from image analysis: a honeycomb example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaatz, Forrest H.; Bultheel, Adhemar; Egami, Takeshi

2008-11-01

Honeybee combs have aroused interest in the ability of honeybees to form regular hexagonal geometric constructs since ancient times. Here we use a real space technique based on the pair distribution function (PDF) and radial distribution function (RDF), and a reciprocal space method utilizing the Debye-Waller Factor (DWF) to quantify the order for a range of honeycombs made by Apis mellifera ligustica. The PDFs and RDFs are fit with a series of Gaussian curves. We characterize the order in the honeycomb using a real space order parameter, OP 3 , to describe the order in the combs and a two-dimensional Fourier transform from which a Debye-Waller order parameter, u, is derived. Both OP 3 and u take values from [0, 1] where the value one represents perfect order. The analyzed combs have values of OP 3 from 0.33 to 0.60 and values of u from 0.59 to 0.69. RDF fits of honeycomb histograms show that naturally made comb can be crystalline in a 2D ordered structural sense, yet is more ‘liquid-like’ than cells made on ‘foundation’ wax. We show that with the assistance of man-made foundation wax, honeybees can manufacture highly ordered arrays of hexagonal cells. This is the first description of honeycomb utilizing the Debye-Waller Factor, and provides a complete analysis of the order in comb from a real-space order parameter and a reciprocal space order parameter. It is noted that the techniques used are general in nature and could be applied to any digital photograph of an ordered array.

Variations in algorithm implementation among quantitative texture analysis software packages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foy, Joseph J.; Mitta, Prerana; Nowosatka, Lauren R.; Mendel, Kayla R.; Li, Hui; Giger, Maryellen L.; Al-Hallaq, Hania; Armato, Samuel G.

2018-02-01

Open-source texture analysis software allows for the advancement of radiomics research. Variations in texture features, however, result from discrepancies in algorithm implementation. Anatomically matched regions of interest (ROIs) that captured normal breast parenchyma were placed in the magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 20 patients at two time points. Six first-order features and six gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features were calculated for each ROI using four texture analysis packages. Features were extracted using package-specific default GLCM parameters and using GLCM parameters modified to yield the greatest consistency among packages. Relative change in the value of each feature between time points was calculated for each ROI. Distributions of relative feature value differences were compared across packages. Absolute agreement among feature values was quantified by the intra-class correlation coefficient. Among first-order features, significant differences were found for max, range, and mean, and only kurtosis showed poor agreement. All six second-order features showed significant differences using package-specific default GLCM parameters, and five second-order features showed poor agreement; with modified GLCM parameters, no significant differences among second-order features were found, and all second-order features showed poor agreement. While relative texture change discrepancies existed across packages, these differences were not significant when consistent parameters were used.

On the Relationship Between Transfer Function-derived Response Times and Hydrograph Analysis Timing Parameters: Are there Similarities?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bansah, S.; Ali, G.; Haque, M. A.; Tang, V.

2017-12-01

The proportion of precipitation that becomes streamflow is a function of internal catchment characteristics - which include geology, landscape characteristics and vegetation - and influence overall storage dynamics. The timing and quantity of water discharged by a catchment are indeed embedded in event hydrographs. Event hydrograph timing parameters, such as the response lag and time of concentration, are important descriptors of how long it takes the catchment to respond to input precipitation and how long it takes the latter to filter through the catchment. However, the extent to which hydrograph timing parameters relate to average response times derived from fitting transfer functions to annual hydrographs is unknown. In this study, we used a gamma transfer function to determine catchment average response times as well as event-specific hydrograph parameters across a network of eight nested watersheds ranging from 0.19 km2 to 74.6 km2 prairie catchments located in south central Manitoba (Canada). Various statistical analyses were then performed to correlate average response times - estimated using the parameters of the fitted gamma transfer function - to event-specific hydrograph parameters. Preliminary results show significant interannual variations in response times and hydrograph timing parameters: the former were in the order of a few hours to days, while the latter ranged from a few days to weeks. Some statistically significant relationships were detected between response times and event-specific hydrograph parameters. Future analyses will involve the comparison of statistical distributions of event-specific hydrograph parameters with that of runoff response times and baseflow transit times in order to quantity catchment storage dynamics across a range of temporal scales.

Range and Energy Straggling in Ion Beam Transport

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, John W.; Tai, Hsiang

2000-01-01

A first-order approximation to the range and energy straggling of ion beams is given as a normal distribution for which the standard deviation is estimated from the fluctuations in energy loss events. The standard deviation is calculated by assuming scattering from free electrons with a long range cutoff parameter that depends on the mean excitation energy of the medium. The present formalism is derived by extrapolating Payne's formalism to low energy by systematic energy scaling and to greater depths of penetration by a second-order perturbation. Limited comparisons are made with experimental data.

On the structure of the disordered Bi 2Te 4O 11 phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masson, O.; Thomas, P.; Durand, O.; Hansen, T.; Champarnaud, J. C.; Mercurio, D.

2004-06-01

The structure of the disordered metastable Bi 2Te 4O 11 phase has been investigated using both neutron powder diffraction and reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modelling. The average structure, of fluorite-type (space group Fm 3¯m ), is characterized by very high Debye-Waller parameters, especially for oxygen. Whereas the cations form a fairly well-defined FCC lattice, the oxygen sublattice is very disordered. It is shown that the local order is similar to that present in the stable monoclinic Bi 2Te 4O 11 phase. Clear differences are observed for the intermediate range order. The present phase is analogous to the "anti-glass" phases reported by Trömel in other tellurium-based mixed oxides. However, whereas Trömel defines anti-glass as having long range order but no short range order, it is shown here that this phase is best described as an intermediate state between the amorphous and crystalline states, i.e. having short and medium range order similar to that of tellurite glasses and a premise of long range order with the cations only.

Polyakov loop modeling for hot QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fukushima, Kenji; Skokov, Vladimir

Here, we review theoretical aspects of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at finite temperature. The most important physical variable to characterize hot QCD is the Polyakov loop, which is an approximate order parameter for quark deconfinement in a hot gluonic medium. Additionally to its role as an order parameter, the Polyakov loop has rich physical contents in both perturbative and non-perturbative sectors. This review covers a wide range of subjects associated with the Polyakov loop from topological defects in hot QCD to model building with coupling to the Polyakov loop.

Polyakov loop modeling for hot QCD

DOE PAGES

Fukushima, Kenji; Skokov, Vladimir

2017-06-19

Here, we review theoretical aspects of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at finite temperature. The most important physical variable to characterize hot QCD is the Polyakov loop, which is an approximate order parameter for quark deconfinement in a hot gluonic medium. Additionally to its role as an order parameter, the Polyakov loop has rich physical contents in both perturbative and non-perturbative sectors. This review covers a wide range of subjects associated with the Polyakov loop from topological defects in hot QCD to model building with coupling to the Polyakov loop.

X-ray microtomography study of the compaction process of rods under tapping.

PubMed

Fu, Yang; Xi, Yan; Cao, Yixin; Wang, Yujie

2012-05-01

We present an x-ray microtomography study of the compaction process of cylindrical rods under tapping. The process is monitored by measuring the evolution of the orientational order parameter, local, and overall packing densities as a function of the tapping number for different tapping intensities. The slow relaxation dynamics of the orientational order parameter can be well fitted with a stretched-exponential law with stretching exponents ranging from 0.9 to 1.6. The corresponding relaxation time versus tapping intensity follows an Arrhenius behavior which is reminiscent of the slow dynamics in thermal glassy systems. We also investigated the boundary effect on the ordering process and found that boundary rods order faster than interior ones. In searching for the underlying mechanism of the slow dynamics, we estimated the initial random velocities of the rods under tapping and found that the ordering process is compatible with a diffusion mechanism. The average coordination number as a function of the tapping number at different tapping intensities has also been measured, which spans a range from 6 to 8.

Accuracy of gravitational physics tests using ranges to the inner planets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashby, N.; Bender, P.

1981-01-01

A number of different types of deviations from Kepler's laws for planetary orbits can occur in nonNewtonian metric gravitational theories. These include secular changes in all of the orbital elements and in the mean motion, plus additional periodic perturbations in the coordinates. The first order corrections to the Keplerian motion of a single planet around the Sun due to the parameterized post Newtonian theory parameters were calculated as well as the corrections due to the solar quadrupole moment and a possible secular change in the gravitational constant. The results were applied to the case of proposed high accuracy ranging experiments from the Earth to a Mercury orbiting spacecraft in order to see how well the various parameters can be determined.

Chemical short-range order and lattice deformations in MgyTi1-yHx thin films probed by hydrogenography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gremaud, R.; Baldi, A.; Gonzalez-Silveira, M.; Dam, B.; Griessen, R.

2008-04-01

A multisite lattice gas approach is used to model pressure-optical-transmission isotherms (PTIs) recorded by hydrogenography on MgyTi1-yHx sputtered thin films. The model reproduces the measured PTIs well and allows us to determine the chemical short-range order parameter s . The s values are in good agreement with those determined from extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements. Additionally, the PTI multisite modeling yields a parameter L that accounts for the local lattice deformations with respect to the average MgyTi1-y lattice given by Vegard’s law. It is thus possible to extract two essential characteristics of a metastable alloy from hydrogenographic data.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Praseodymium Monopnictides: AN Ultrasonic Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhalla, Vyoma; Kumar, Raj; Tripathy, Chinmayee; Singh, Devraj

2013-09-01

We have computed ultrasonic attenuation, acoustic coupling constants and ultrasonic velocities of praseodymium monopnictides PrX(X: N, P, As, Sb and Bi) along the <100>, <110>, <111> in the temperature range 100-500 K using higher order elastic constants. The higher order elastic constants are evaluated using Coulomb and Born-Mayer potential with two basic parameters viz. nearest-neighbor distance and hardness parameter in the temperature range of 0-500 K. Several other mechanical and thermal parameters like bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson ratio, anisotropic ratio, tetragonal moduli, Breazeale's nonlinearity parameter and Debye temperature are also calculated. In the present study, the fracture/toughness (B/G) ratio is less than 1.75 which implies that PrX compounds are brittle in nature at room temperature. The chosen material fulfilled Born criterion of mechanical stability. We also found the deviation of Cauchy's relation at higher temperatures. PrN is most stable material as it has highest valued higher order elastic constants as well as the ultrasonic velocity. Further, the lattice thermal conductivity using modified approach of Slack and Berman is determined at room temperature. The ultrasonic attenuation due to phonon-phonon interaction and thermoelastic relaxation mechanisms have been computed using modified Mason's approach. The results with other well-known physical properties are useful for industrial applications.

Phenomenological Study of Interaction between Solar Acoustic Waves and Sunspots from Measured Scattered Wavefunctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ming-Hsu; Chou, Dean-Yi; Zhao, Hui; Liang, Zhi-Chao

2012-08-01

The solar acoustic waves around a sunspot are modified because of the interaction with the sunspot. The interaction can be viewed as that the sunspot, excited by the incident wave, generates the scattered wave, and the scattered wave is added to the incident wave to form the total wave around the sunspot. We define an interaction parameter, which could be complex, describing the interaction between the acoustic waves and the sunspot. The scattered wavefunction on the surface can be expressed as a two-dimensional integral of the product of the Green's function, the wavefunction, and the two-dimensional interaction parameter over the sunspot area for the Born approximation of different orders. We assume a simple model for the two-dimensional interaction parameter distribution: its absolute value is axisymmetric with a Gaussian distribution and its phase is a constant. The measured scattered wavefunctions of various modes for NOAAs 11084 and 11092 are fitted to the theoretical scattered wavefunctions to determine the three model parameters, magnitude, Gaussian radius, and phase, for the Born approximation of different orders. The three model parameters converge to some values at high-order Born approximations. The result of the first-order Born approximation is significantly different from the convergent value in some cases. The rate of convergence depends on the sunspot size and wavelength. It converges more rapidly for the smaller sunspot and longer wavelength. The magnitude increases with mode frequency and degree for each radial order. The Gaussian radius is insensitive to frequency and degree. The spatial range of the interaction parameter is greater than that of the continuum intensity deficit, but smaller than that of the acoustic power deficit of the sunspot. The phase versus phase speed falls into a small range. This suggests that the phase could be a function phase speed. NOAAs 11084 and 11092 have a similar magnitude and phase, although the ratio of their sizes is 0.75.

Fractional viscoelasticity of soft elastomers and auxetic foams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solheim, Hannah; Stanisauskis, Eugenia; Miles, Paul; Oates, William

2018-03-01

Dielectric elastomers are commonly implemented in adaptive structures due to their unique capabilities for real time control of a structure's shape, stiffness, and damping. These active polymers are often used in applications where actuator control or dynamic tunability are important, making an accurate understanding of the viscoelastic behavior critical. This challenge is complicated as these elastomers often operate over a broad range of deformation rates. Whereas research has demonstrated success in applying a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model to characterize the behavior of Very High Bond (VHB) 4910, robust predictions of the viscoelastic response over the entire range of time scales is still a significant challenge. An alternative formulation for viscoelastic modeling using fractional order calculus has shown significant improvement in predictive capabilities. While fractional calculus has been explored theoretically in the field of linear viscoelasticity, limited experimental validation and statistical evaluation of the underlying phenomena have been considered. In the present study, predictions across several orders of magnitude in deformation rates are validated against data using a single set of model parameters. Moreover, we illustrate the fractional order is material dependent by running complementary experiments and parameter estimation on the elastomer VHB 4949 as well as an auxetic foam. All results are statistically validated using Bayesian uncertainty methods to obtain posterior densities for the fractional order as well as the hyperelastic parameters.

Possible bicollinear nematic state with monoclinic lattice distortions in iron telluride compounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bishop, Christopher B.; Herbrych, Jacek W.; Dagotto, Elbio R.

2017-07-15

Here, iron telluride (FeTe) is known to display bicollinear magnetic order at low temperatures together with a monoclinic lattice distortion. Because the bicollinear order can involve two different wave vectors (π/2,π/2) and (π/2,–π/2), symmetry considerations allow for the possible stabilization of a nematic state with short-range bicollinear order coupled to monoclinic lattice distortions at a T S higher than the temperature T N where long-range bicollinear order fully develops. As a concrete example, the three-orbital spin-fermion model for iron telluride is studied with an additional coupling ˜λ 12 between the monoclinic lattice strain and an orbital-nematic order parameter with Bmore » 2g symmetry. Monte Carlo simulations show that with increasing ˜λ 12 the first-order transition characteristic of FeTe splits and bicollinear nematicity is stabilized in a (narrow) temperature range. In this new regime, the lattice is monoclinically distorted and short-range spin and orbital order breaks rotational invariance. A discussion of possible realizations of this exotic state is provided.« less

Homeostatic enhancement of sensory transduction

PubMed Central

Milewski, Andrew R.; Ó Maoiléidigh, Dáibhid; Salvi, Joshua D.; Hudspeth, A. J.

2017-01-01

Our sense of hearing boasts exquisite sensitivity, precise frequency discrimination, and a broad dynamic range. Experiments and modeling imply, however, that the auditory system achieves this performance for only a narrow range of parameter values. Small changes in these values could compromise hair cells’ ability to detect stimuli. We propose that, rather than exerting tight control over parameters, the auditory system uses a homeostatic mechanism that increases the robustness of its operation to variation in parameter values. To slowly adjust the response to sinusoidal stimulation, the homeostatic mechanism feeds back a rectified version of the hair bundle’s displacement to its adaptation process. When homeostasis is enforced, the range of parameter values for which the sensitivity, tuning sharpness, and dynamic range exceed specified thresholds can increase by more than an order of magnitude. Signatures in the hair cell’s behavior provide a means to determine through experiment whether such a mechanism operates in the auditory system. Robustness of function through homeostasis may be ensured in any system through mechanisms similar to those that we describe here. PMID:28760949

Convergence properties of η → 3π decays in chiral perturbation theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolesár, Marián; Novotný, Jiří

2017-01-01

The convergence of the decay widths and some of the Dalitz plot parameters of the decay η → 3π seems problematic in low energy QCD. In the framework of resummed chiral perturbation theory, we explore the question of compatibility of experimental data with a reasonable convergence of a carefully defined chiral series. By treating the uncertainties in the higher orders statistically, we numerically generate a large set of theoretical predictions, which are then confronted with experimental information. In the case of the decay widths, the experimental values can be reconstructed for a reasonable range of the free parameters and thus no tension is observed, in spite of what some of the traditional calculations suggest. The Dalitz plot parameters a and d can be described very well too. When the parameters b and α are concerned, we find a mild tension for the whole range of the free parameters, at less than 2σ C.L. This can be interpreted in two ways - either some of the higher order corrections are indeed unexpectedly large or there is a specific configuration of the remainders, which is, however, not completely improbable.

Phase diagram of the underdoped cuprates at high magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Debmalya; Morice, Corentin; Pépin, Catherine

2018-06-01

The experimentally measured phase diagram of cuprate superconductors in the temperature-applied magnetic field plane illuminates key issues in understanding the physics of these materials. At low temperature, the superconducting state gives way to a long-range charge order with increasing magnetic field; both the orders coexist in a small intermediate region. The charge order transition is strikingly insensitive to temperature and quickly reaches a transition temperature close to the zero-field superconducting Tc. We argue that such a transition along with the presence of the coexisting phase is difficult to obtain in a weak coupling competing orders formalism. We demonstrate that for some range of parameters there is an enlarged symmetry of the strongly coupled charge and superconducting orders in the system depending on their relative masses and the coupling strength of the two orders. We establish that this sharp switch from the superconducting phase to the charge order phase can be understood in the framework of a composite SU(2) order parameter comprising the charge and superconducting orders. Finally, we illustrate that there is a possibility of the coexisting phase of the competing charge and superconducting orders only when the SU(2) symmetry between them is weakly broken due to biquadratic terms in the free energy. The relation of this sharp transition to the proximity to the pseudogap quantum critical doping is also discussed.

Analytic expressions for perturbations and partial derivatives of range and range rate of a spacecraft with respect to the coefficient of the second harmonic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Georgevic, R. M.

1973-01-01

Closed-form analytic expressions for the time variations of instantaneous orbital parameters and of the topocentric range and range rate of a spacecraft moving in the gravitational field of an oblate large body are derived using a first-order variation of parameters technique. In addition, the closed-form analytic expressions for the partial derivatives of the topocentric range and range rate are obtained, with respect to the coefficient of the second harmonic of the potential of the central body (J sub 2). The results are applied to the motion of a point-mass spacecraft moving in the orbit around the equatorially elliptic, oblate sun, with J sub 2 approximately equal to .000027.

Long-range interactions in magnetic bilayer above the critical temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Souza, R. M. V.; Pereira, T. A. S.; Godoy, M.; de Arruda, A. S.

2018-01-01

In this paper we have studied the stabilization of the long-range order in (z ; x) -plane of two isotropic Heisenberg ferromagnetic monolayers coupled by a short-range exchange interaction (J⊥), by a long range dipole-dipole interactions and a magnetic field. We have applied a magnetic field along of the z-direction to study the thermodynamic properties above the critical temperature. The dispersion relation ω and the magnetization are given as function of dipolar anisotropy parameter defined as Ed =(gμ) 2 S /a3J∥ and for other Hamiltonian parameters, and they are calculated by the double-time Zubarev-Tyablikov Green's functions in the random-phase approximation (RPA). The results show that the system is unstable for values of Ed ≥ 0.012 with external magnetic field ranging between H /J∥ = 0 and 10-3. The instability appears for Ed larger then Edc = 0.0158 with H /J∥ = 10-5, Edc = 0.02885 with H /J∥ = 10-4, and Edc = 0.115 with H /J∥ = 10-3, i.e., a small magnetic field is sufficient to maintain the magnetic order in a greater range of the dipolar interaction.

Motor unit recruitment by size does not provide functional advantages for motor performance

PubMed Central

Dideriksen, Jakob L; Farina, Dario

2013-01-01

It is commonly assumed that the orderly recruitment of motor units by size provides a functional advantage for the performance of movements compared with a random recruitment order. On the other hand, the excitability of a motor neuron depends on its size and this is intrinsically linked to its innervation number. A range of innervation numbers among motor neurons corresponds to a range of sizes and thus to a range of excitabilities ordered by size. Therefore, if the excitation drive is similar among motor neurons, the recruitment by size is inevitably due to the intrinsic properties of motor neurons and may not have arisen to meet functional demands. In this view, we tested the assumption that orderly recruitment is necessarily beneficial by determining if this type of recruitment produces optimal motor output. Using evolutionary algorithms and without any a priori assumptions, the parameters of neuromuscular models were optimized with respect to several criteria for motor performance. Interestingly, the optimized model parameters matched well known neuromuscular properties, but none of the optimization criteria determined a consistent recruitment order by size unless this was imposed by an association between motor neuron size and excitability. Further, when the association between size and excitability was imposed, the resultant model of recruitment did not improve the motor performance with respect to the absence of orderly recruitment. A consistent observation was that optimal solutions for a variety of criteria of motor performance always required a broad range of innervation numbers in the population of motor neurons, skewed towards the small values. These results indicate that orderly recruitment of motor units in itself does not provide substantial functional advantages for motor control. Rather, the reason for its near-universal presence in human movements is that motor functions are optimized by a broad range of innervation numbers. PMID:24144879

Motor unit recruitment by size does not provide functional advantages for motor performance.

PubMed

Dideriksen, Jakob L; Farina, Dario

2013-12-15

It is commonly assumed that the orderly recruitment of motor units by size provides a functional advantage for the performance of movements compared with a random recruitment order. On the other hand, the excitability of a motor neuron depends on its size and this is intrinsically linked to its innervation number. A range of innervation numbers among motor neurons corresponds to a range of sizes and thus to a range of excitabilities ordered by size. Therefore, if the excitation drive is similar among motor neurons, the recruitment by size is inevitably due to the intrinsic properties of motor neurons and may not have arisen to meet functional demands. In this view, we tested the assumption that orderly recruitment is necessarily beneficial by determining if this type of recruitment produces optimal motor output. Using evolutionary algorithms and without any a priori assumptions, the parameters of neuromuscular models were optimized with respect to several criteria for motor performance. Interestingly, the optimized model parameters matched well known neuromuscular properties, but none of the optimization criteria determined a consistent recruitment order by size unless this was imposed by an association between motor neuron size and excitability. Further, when the association between size and excitability was imposed, the resultant model of recruitment did not improve the motor performance with respect to the absence of orderly recruitment. A consistent observation was that optimal solutions for a variety of criteria of motor performance always required a broad range of innervation numbers in the population of motor neurons, skewed towards the small values. These results indicate that orderly recruitment of motor units in itself does not provide substantial functional advantages for motor control. Rather, the reason for its near-universal presence in human movements is that motor functions are optimized by a broad range of innervation numbers.

Analysis of a decision model in the context of equilibrium pricing and order book pricing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, D. C.; Schmitt, T. A.; Schäfer, R.; Guhr, T.; Wolf, D. E.

2014-12-01

An agent-based model for financial markets has to incorporate two aspects: decision making and price formation. We introduce a simple decision model and consider its implications in two different pricing schemes. First, we study its parameter dependence within a supply-demand balance setting. We find realistic behavior in a wide parameter range. Second, we embed our decision model in an order book setting. Here, we observe interesting features which are not present in the equilibrium pricing scheme. In particular, we find a nontrivial behavior of the order book volumes which reminds of a trend switching phenomenon. Thus, the decision making model alone does not realistically represent the trading and the stylized facts. The order book mechanism is crucial.

Competing interactions in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic perovskite superlattices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Takamura, Y.; Biegalski, M.B.; Christen, H.M.

2009-10-22

Soft x-ray magnetic dichroism, magnetization, and magnetotransport measurements demonstrate that the competition between different magnetic interactions (exchange coupling, electronic reconstruction, and long-range interactions) in La{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.3}FeO{sub 3}(LSFO)/La{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3}(LSMO) perovskite oxide superlattices leads to unexpected functional properties. The antiferromagnetic order parameter in LSFO and ferromagnetic order parameter in LSMO show a dissimilar dependence on sublayer thickness and temperature, illustrating the high degree of tunability in these artificially layered materials.

Ordered weighted averaging with fuzzy quantifiers: GIS-based multicriteria evaluation for land-use suitability analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malczewski, Jacek

2006-12-01

The objective of this paper is to incorporate the concept of fuzzy (linguistic) quantifiers into the GIS-based land suitability analysis via ordered weighted averaging (OWA). OWA is a multicriteria evaluation procedure (or combination operator). The nature of the OWA procedure depends on some parameters, which can be specified by means of fuzzy (linguistic) quantifiers. By changing the parameters, OWA can generate a wide range of decision strategies or scenarios. The quantifier-guided OWA procedure is illustrated using land-use suitability analysis in a region of Mexico.

Influence of nematic range on birefringence, heat capacity and elastic modulus near a nematic-smectic-A phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beaubois, F.; Claverie, T.; Marcerou, J. P.; Rouillon, J. C.; Nguyen, H. T.; Garland, C. W.; Haga, H.

1997-11-01

The birefringence Δn, the specific heat Cp, and the layer compressional elastic modulus B are reported for two liquid crystals near the nematic (N) to smectic-A (SmA) phase transition. As predicted long ago by MacMillan and de Gennes [P. G. de Gennes and J. Prost, The Physics of Liquid Crystals (Clarendon, Oxford, 1993)] the coupling of the nematic orientational order parameter to the smectic-A layering order parameter can substantially alter the critical behavior near the N-SmA transition if the nematic range is small and the nematic order parameter susceptibility is large. In this paper, we present a direct experimental comparison of two compounds: 4-octyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) with a short nematic range and 4-octyloxybenzoyloxy-4'-cyanotolane (C8tolane) with a very large N range. The temperature variations of the apparent birefringence Δn and the specific heat Cp across the N-SmA phase transition show the definite influence of the proximity of the isotropic phase in the case of 8OCB while the C8tolane behaves as expected for the three-dimensional XY universality class. The elastic modulus B in the SmA phase, measured at several wave vectors by the second-sound resonance technique, was studied with high resolution as a function of temperature on approaching Tc(N-SmA). These elastic data confirm the B leveling off in both cases with an apparent breakdown of hydrodynamics in the case of the C8tolane compound.

Thermodynamic, electronic and magnetic properties of intermetallic compounds through statistical models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cadeville, M. C.; Pierron-Bohnes, V.; Bouzidi, L.; Sanchez, J. M.

1993-01-01

Local and average electronic and magnetic properties of transition metal alloys are strongly correlated to the distribution of atoms on the lattice sites. The ability of some systems to form long range ordered structures at low temperature allows to discuss their properties in term of well identified occupation operators as those related to long range order (LRO) parameters. We show that using theoretical determinations of these LRO parameters through statistical models like the cluster variation method (CVM) developed to simulate the experimental phase diagrams, we are able to reproduce a lot of physical properties. In this paper we focus on two points: (i) a comparison between CVM results and an experimental determination of the LRO parameter by NMR at 59Co in a CoPt3 compound, and (ii) the modelling of the resistivity of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic intermetallic compounds belonging to Co-Pt, Ni-Pt and Fe-Al systems. All experiments were performed on samples in identified thermodynamic states, implying that kinetic effects are thoroughly taken into account.

Nodal gap structure and order parameter symmetry of the unconventional superconductor UPt₃

DOE PAGES

Gannon, W. J.; Halperin, W. P.; Rastovski, C.; ...

2015-02-01

Spanning a broad range of physical systems, complex symmetry breaking is widely recognized as a hallmark of competing interactions. This is exemplified in superfluid ³He which has multiple thermodynamic phases with spin and orbital quantum numbers S = 1 and L = 1, that emerge on cooling from a nearly ferromagnetic Fermi liquid. The heavy fermion compound UPt₃ exhibits similar behavior clearly manifest in its multiple superconducting phases. However, consensus as to its order parameter symmetry has remained elusive. Our small angle neutron scattering measurements indicate a linear temperature dependence of the London penetration depth characteristic of nodal structure ofmore » the order parameter. Our theoretical analysis is consistent with assignment of its symmetry to an L = 3 odd parity state for which one of the three thermodynamic phases in non-zero magnetic field is chiral.« less

Nodal gap structure and order parameter symmetry of the unconventional superconductor UPt₃

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gannon, W. J.; Halperin, W. P.; Rastovski, C.

Spanning a broad range of physical systems, complex symmetry breaking is widely recognized as a hallmark of competing interactions. This is exemplified in superfluid ³He which has multiple thermodynamic phases with spin and orbital quantum numbers S = 1 and L = 1, that emerge on cooling from a nearly ferromagnetic Fermi liquid. The heavy fermion compound UPt₃ exhibits similar behavior clearly manifest in its multiple superconducting phases. However, consensus as to its order parameter symmetry has remained elusive. Our small angle neutron scattering measurements indicate a linear temperature dependence of the London penetration depth characteristic of nodal structure ofmore » the order parameter. Our theoretical analysis is consistent with assignment of its symmetry to an L = 3 odd parity state for which one of the three thermodynamic phases in non-zero magnetic field is chiral.« less

Nuclear magnetic resonance signal dynamics of liquids in the presence of distant dipolar fields, revisited

PubMed Central

Barros, Wilson; Gochberg, Daniel F.; Gore, John C.

2009-01-01

The description of the nuclear magnetic resonance magnetization dynamics in the presence of long-range dipolar interactions, which is based upon approximate solutions of Bloch–Torrey equations including the effect of a distant dipolar field, has been revisited. New experiments show that approximate analytic solutions have a broader regime of validity as well as dependencies on pulse-sequence parameters that seem to have been overlooked. In order to explain these experimental results, we developed a new method consisting of calculating the magnetization via an iterative formalism where both diffusion and distant dipolar field contributions are treated as integral operators incorporated into the Bloch–Torrey equations. The solution can be organized as a perturbative series, whereby access to higher order terms allows one to set better boundaries on validity regimes for analytic first-order approximations. Finally, the method legitimizes the use of simple analytic first-order approximations under less demanding experimental conditions, it predicts new pulse-sequence parameter dependencies for the range of validity, and clarifies weak points in previous calculations. PMID:19425789

Kinetic transition in the order-disorder transformation at a solid/liquid interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galenko, P. K.; Nizovtseva, I. G.; Reuther, K.; Rettenmayr, M.

2018-01-01

Phase-field analysis for the kinetic transition in an ordered crystal structure growing from an undercooled liquid is carried out. The results are interpreted on the basis of analytical and numerical solutions of equations describing the dynamics of the phase field, the long-range order parameter as well as the atomic diffusion within the crystal/liquid interface and in the bulk crystal. As an example, the growth of a binary A50B50 crystal is described, and critical undercoolings at characteristic changes of growth velocity and the long-range order parameter are defined. For rapidly growing crystals, analogies and qualitative differences are found in comparison with known non-equilibrium effects, particularly solute trapping and disorder trapping. The results and model predictions are compared qualitatively with results of the theory of kinetic phase transitions (Chernov 1968 Sov. Phys. JETP 26, 1182-1190) and with experimental data obtained for rapid dendritic solidification of congruently melting alloy with order-disorder transition (Hartmann et al. 2009 Europhys. Lett. 87, 40007 (doi:10.1209/0295-5075/87/40007)). This article is part of the theme issue `From atomistic interfaces to dendritic patterns'.

Ultra wideband (0.5-16 kHz) MR elastography for robust shear viscoelasticity model identification.

PubMed

Liu, Yifei; Yasar, Temel K; Royston, Thomas J

2014-12-21

Changes in the viscoelastic parameters of soft biological tissues often correlate with progression of disease, trauma or injury, and response to treatment. Identifying the most appropriate viscoelastic model, then estimating and monitoring the corresponding parameters of that model can improve insight into the underlying tissue structural changes. MR Elastography (MRE) provides a quantitative method of measuring tissue viscoelasticity. In a previous study by the authors (Yasar et al 2013 Magn. Reson. Med. 70 479-89), a silicone-based phantom material was examined over the frequency range of 200 Hz-7.75 kHz using MRE, an unprecedented bandwidth at that time. Six viscoelastic models including four integer order models and two fractional order models, were fit to the wideband viscoelastic data (measured storage and loss moduli as a function of frequency). The 'fractional Voigt' model (spring and springpot in parallel) exhibited the best fit and was even able to fit the entire frequency band well when it was identified based only on a small portion of the band. This paper is an extension of that study with a wider frequency range from 500 Hz to 16 kHz. Furthermore, more fractional order viscoelastic models are added to the comparison pool. It is found that added complexity of the viscoelastic model provides only marginal improvement over the 'fractional Voigt' model. And, again, the fractional order models show significant improvement over integer order viscoelastic models that have as many or more fitting parameters.

Short-Arc Analysis of Intersatellite Tracking Data in a Gravity Mapping Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowlands, David D.; Ray, Richard D.; Chinn, Douglas S.; Lemoine, Frank G.; Smith, David E. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A technique for the analysis of low-low intersatellite range-rate data in a gravity mapping mission is explored. The technique is based on standard tracking data analysis for orbit determination but uses a spherical coordinate representation of the 12 epoch state parameters describing the baseline between the two satellites. This representation of the state parameters is exploited to allow the intersatellite range-rate analysis to benefit from information provided by other tracking data types without large simultaneous multiple data type solutions. The technique appears especially valuable for estimating gravity from short arcs (e.g., less than 15 minutes) of data. Gravity recovery simulations which use short arcs are compared with those using arcs a day in length. For a high-inclination orbit, the short-arc analysis recovers low-order gravity coefficients remarkably well, although higher order terms, especially sectorial terms, are less accurate. Simulations suggest that either long or short arcs of GRACE data are likely to improve parts of the geopotential spectrum by orders of magnitude.

LES of Temporally Evolving Mixing Layers by an Eighth-Order Filter Scheme

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hadjadj, A; Yee, H. C.; Sjogreen, B.

2011-01-01

An eighth-order filter method for a wide range of compressible flow speeds (H.C. Yee and B. Sjogreen, Proceedings of ICOSAHOM09, June 22-26, 2009, Trondheim, Norway) are employed for large eddy simulations (LES) of temporally evolving mixing layers (TML) for different convective Mach numbers (Mc) and Reynolds numbers. The high order filter method is designed for accurate and efficient simulations of shock-free compressible turbulence, turbulence with shocklets and turbulence with strong shocks with minimum tuning of scheme parameters. The value of Mc considered is for the TML range from the quasi-incompressible regime to the highly compressible supersonic regime. The three main characteristics of compressible TML (the self similarity property, compressibility effects and the presence of large-scale structure with shocklets for high Mc) are considered for the LES study. The LES results using the same scheme parameters for all studied cases agree well with experimental results of Barone et al. (2006), and published direct numerical simulations (DNS) work of Rogers & Moser (1994) and Pantano & Sarkar (2002).

Characterization of gloss properties of differently treated polymer coating surfaces by surface clarity measurement methodology.

PubMed

Gruber, Dieter P; Buder-Stroisznigg, Michael; Wallner, Gernot; Strauß, Bernhard; Jandel, Lothar; Lang, Reinhold W

2012-07-10

With one measurement configuration, existing gloss measurement methodologies are generally restricted to specific gloss levels. A newly developed image-analytical gloss parameter called "clarity" provides the possibility to describe the perceptual result of a broad range of different gloss levels with one setup. In order to analyze and finally monitor the perceived gloss of products, a fast and flexible method also for the automated inspection is highly demanded. The clarity parameter is very fast to calculate and therefore usable for fast in-line surface inspection. Coated metal specimens were deformed by varying degree and polished afterwards in order to study the clarity parameter regarding the quantification of varying surface gloss types and levels. In order to analyze the correlation with the human gloss perception a study was carried out in which experts were asked to assess gloss properties of a series of surface samples under standardized conditions. The study confirmed clarity to exhibit considerably better correlation to the human perception than alternative gloss parameters.

The Influence of Interactions and Minor Mergers on the Structure of Galactic Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarzkopf, U.

1999-07-01

A detailed statistical study is presented focused on the effects of minor mergers and tidal interactions on the radial and vertical structure of galactic disks. The fundamental disk parameters of 112 highly-inclined/edge-on galaxies are studied in optical and in near-infrared passbands. This sample consists of two subsamples of 65 non-interacting and 47 interacting/merging galaxies. Additionally, 41 of these galaxies were observed in the near-infrared. A 3-dimensional disk modelling and -fitting procedure was applied in order to analyze and to compare characteristic disk parameters of all sample galaxies. Furthermore, n-body simulations were performed in order to study the influence of minor mergers in the mass range Msat/Mdisk 0.1 on the vertical structure of disks in spiral galaxies. In particular, the dependence of vertical, tidally-triggered disk thickening on initial disk parameters is investigated. The quantitative results of both simulation and observation are compared in order to find similarities in the distribution of characteristic disk parameters.

Magnetic damping in sputter-deposited C o2MnGe Heusler compounds with A 2 ,B 2 , and L 21 orders: Experiment and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, Justin M.; Delczeg-Czirjak, Erna K.; Edwards, Eric R. J.; Kvashnin, Yaroslav; Thonig, Danny; Schoen, Martin A. W.; Pufall, Matt; Schneider, Michael L.; Silva, Thomas J.; Karis, Olof; Rice, Katherine P.; Eriksson, Olle; Nembach, Hans T.

2018-03-01

We show that very low values of the magnetic damping parameter can be achieved in sputter deposited polycrystalline films of C o2MnGe annealed at relatively low temperatures ranging from 240 °C to 400 °C. Damping values as low as 0.0014 are obtained with an intrinsic value of 0.0010 after spin-pumping contributions are considered. Of importance to most applications is the low value of inhomogeneous linewidth that yields measured linewidths of 1.8 and 5.1 mT at 10 and 40 GHz, respectively. The damping parameter monotonically decreases as the B 2 order of the films increases. This trend is reproduced and explained by ab initio calculations of the electronic structure and damping parameter. Here, the damping parameter is calculated as the structure evolves from A 2 to B 2 to L 21 orders. The largest decrease in the damping parameter occurs during the A 2 to B 2 transition as the half-metallic phase becomes established.

Ground-state ordering of the J1-J2 model on the simple cubic and body-centered cubic lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farnell, D. J. J.; Götze, O.; Richter, J.

2016-06-01

The J1-J2 Heisenberg model is a "canonical" model in the field of quantum magnetism in order to study the interplay between frustration and quantum fluctuations as well as quantum phase transitions driven by frustration. Here we apply the coupled cluster method (CCM) to study the spin-half J1-J2 model with antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor bonds J1>0 and next-nearest-neighbor bonds J2>0 for the simple cubic (sc) and body-centered cubic (bcc) lattices. In particular, we wish to study the ground-state ordering of these systems as a function of the frustration parameter p =z2J2/z1J1 , where z1 (z2) is the number of nearest (next-nearest) neighbors. We wish to determine the positions of the phase transitions using the CCM and we aim to resolve the nature of the phase transition points. We consider the ground-state energy, order parameters, spin-spin correlation functions, as well as the spin stiffness in order to determine the ground-state phase diagrams of these models. We find a direct first-order phase transition at a value of p =0.528 from a state of nearest-neighbor Néel order to next-nearest-neighbor Néel order for the bcc lattice. For the sc lattice the situation is more subtle. CCM results for the energy, the order parameter, the spin-spin correlation functions, and the spin stiffness indicate that there is no direct first-order transition between ground-state phases with magnetic long-range order, rather it is more likely that two phases with antiferromagnetic long range are separated by a narrow region of a spin-liquid-like quantum phase around p =0.55 . Thus the strong frustration present in the J1-J2 Heisenberg model on the sc lattice may open a window for an unconventional quantum ground state in this three-dimensional spin model.

Phase coexistence and electric-field control of toroidal order in oxide superlattices.

PubMed

Damodaran, A R; Clarkson, J D; Hong, Z; Liu, H; Yadav, A K; Nelson, C T; Hsu, S-L; McCarter, M R; Park, K-D; Kravtsov, V; Farhan, A; Dong, Y; Cai, Z; Zhou, H; Aguado-Puente, P; García-Fernández, P; Íñiguez, J; Junquera, J; Scholl, A; Raschke, M B; Chen, L-Q; Fong, D D; Ramesh, R; Martin, L W

2017-10-01

Systems that exhibit phase competition, order parameter coexistence, and emergent order parameter topologies constitute a major part of modern condensed-matter physics. Here, by applying a range of characterization techniques, and simulations, we observe that in PbTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 superlattices all of these effects can be found. By exploring superlattice period-, temperature- and field-dependent evolution of these structures, we observe several new features. First, it is possible to engineer phase coexistence mediated by a first-order phase transition between an emergent, low-temperature vortex phase with electric toroidal order and a high-temperature ferroelectric a 1 /a 2 phase. At room temperature, the coexisting vortex and ferroelectric phases form a mesoscale, fibre-textured hierarchical superstructure. The vortex phase possesses an axial polarization, set by the net polarization of the surrounding ferroelectric domains, such that it possesses a multi-order-parameter state and belongs to a class of gyrotropic electrotoroidal compounds. Finally, application of electric fields to this mixed-phase system permits interconversion between the vortex and the ferroelectric phases concomitant with order-of-magnitude changes in piezoelectric and nonlinear optical responses. Our findings suggest new cross-coupled functionalities.

Phase coexistence and electric-field control of toroidal order in oxide superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damodaran, A. R.; Clarkson, J. D.; Hong, Z.; Liu, H.; Yadav, A. K.; Nelson, C. T.; Hsu, S.-L.; McCarter, M. R.; Park, K.-D.; Kravtsov, V.; Farhan, A.; Dong, Y.; Cai, Z.; Zhou, H.; Aguado-Puente, P.; García-Fernández, P.; Íñiguez, J.; Junquera, J.; Scholl, A.; Raschke, M. B.; Chen, L.-Q.; Fong, D. D.; Ramesh, R.; Martin, L. W.

2017-10-01

Systems that exhibit phase competition, order parameter coexistence, and emergent order parameter topologies constitute a major part of modern condensed-matter physics. Here, by applying a range of characterization techniques, and simulations, we observe that in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices all of these effects can be found. By exploring superlattice period-, temperature- and field-dependent evolution of these structures, we observe several new features. First, it is possible to engineer phase coexistence mediated by a first-order phase transition between an emergent, low-temperature vortex phase with electric toroidal order and a high-temperature ferroelectric a1/a2 phase. At room temperature, the coexisting vortex and ferroelectric phases form a mesoscale, fibre-textured hierarchical superstructure. The vortex phase possesses an axial polarization, set by the net polarization of the surrounding ferroelectric domains, such that it possesses a multi-order-parameter state and belongs to a class of gyrotropic electrotoroidal compounds. Finally, application of electric fields to this mixed-phase system permits interconversion between the vortex and the ferroelectric phases concomitant with order-of-magnitude changes in piezoelectric and nonlinear optical responses. Our findings suggest new cross-coupled functionalities.

Phase coexistence and electric-field control of toroidal order in oxide superlattices

DOE PAGES

Damodaran, A. R.; Clarkson, J. D.; Hong, Z.; ...

2017-08-07

Systems that exhibit phase competition, order parameter coexistence, and emergent order parameter topologies constitute a major part of modern condensed-matter physics. Here, by applying a range of characterization techniques, and simulations, we observe that in PbTiO 3/SrTiO 3 superlattices all of these effects can be found. By exploring superlattice period-, temperature- and field-dependent evolution of these structures, we observe several new features. First, it is possible to engineer phase coexistence mediated by a first-order phase transition between an emergent, low-temperature vortex phase with electric toroidal order and a high-temperature ferroelectric a 1/a 2 phase. At room temperature, the coexisting vortexmore » and ferroelectric phases form a mesoscale, fibre-textured hierarchical superstructure. The vortex phase possesses an axial polarization, set by the net polarization of the surrounding ferroelectric domains, such that it possesses a multi-order-parameter state and belongs to a class of gyrotropic electrotoroidal compounds. Finally, application of electric fields to this mixed-phase system permits interconversion between the vortex and the ferroelectric phases concomitant with order-of-magnitude changes in piezoelectric and nonlinear optical responses. Here, our findings suggest new cross-coupled functionalities.« less

Short- and long-range magnetic order in LaMnAsO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGuire, Michael A.; Garlea, Vasile Ovidiu

2016-02-02

The magnetic properties of the layered oxypnictide LaMnAsO have been revisited using neutron scattering and magnetization measurements. The present measurements identify the Néel temperature T N = 360(1) K. Below T N the critical exponent describing the magnetic order parameter is β=0.33–0.35 , consistent with a three-dimensional Heisenberg model. Above this temperature, diffuse magnetic scattering indicative of short-range magnetic order is observed, and this scattering persists up to T SRO = 650(10) K. Morevoer, the magnetic susceptibility shows a weak anomaly at T SRO and no anomaly at T N. Analysis of the diffuse scattering data using a reverse Montemore » Carlo algorithm indicates that above T N nearly two-dimensional, short-range magnetic order is present with a correlation length of 9.3(3) Å within the Mn layers at 400 K. The inelastic scattering data reveal a spin gap of 3.5 meV in the long-range ordered state, and strong, low-energy (quasielastic) magnetic excitations emerging in the short-range ordered state. When we compared it with other related compounds correlates the distortion of the Mn coordination tetrahedra to the sign of the magnetic exchange along the layer-stacking direction, and suggests that short-range order above T N is a common feature in the magnetic behavior of layered Mn-based pnictides and oxypnictides.« less

An improved model for the Earth's gravity field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tapley, B. D.; Shum, C. K.; Yuan, D. N.; Ries, J. C.; Schutz, B. E.

1989-01-01

An improved model for the Earth's gravity field, TEG-1, was determined using data sets from fourteen satellites, spanning the inclination ranges from 15 to 115 deg, and global surface gravity anomaly data. The satellite measurements include laser ranging data, Doppler range-rate data, and satellite-to-ocean radar altimeter data measurements, which include the direct height measurement and the differenced measurements at ground track crossings (crossover measurements). Also determined was another gravity field model, TEG-1S, which included all the data sets in TEG-1 with the exception of direct altimeter data. The effort has included an intense scrutiny of the gravity field solution methodology. The estimated parameters included geopotential coefficients complete to degree and order 50 with selected higher order coefficients, ocean and solid Earth tide parameters, Doppler tracking station coordinates and the quasi-stationary sea surface topography. Extensive error analysis and calibration of the formal covariance matrix indicate that the gravity field model is a significant improvement over previous models and can be used for general applications in geodesy.

Robust control with structured perturbations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keel, Leehyun

1988-01-01

Two important problems in the area of control systems design and analysis are discussed. The first is the robust stability using characteristic polynomial, which is treated first in characteristic polynomial coefficient space with respect to perturbations in the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial, and then for a control system containing perturbed parameters in the transfer function description of the plant. In coefficient space, a simple expression is first given for the l(sup 2) stability margin for both monic and non-monic cases. Following this, a method is extended to reveal much larger stability region. This result has been extended to the parameter space so that one can determine the stability margin, in terms of ranges of parameter variations, of the closed loop system when the nominal stabilizing controller is given. The stability margin can be enlarged by a choice of better stabilizing controller. The second problem describes the lower order stabilization problem, the motivation of the problem is as follows. Even though the wide range of stabilizing controller design methodologies is available in both the state space and transfer function domains, all of these methods produce unnecessarily high order controllers. In practice, the stabilization is only one of many requirements to be satisfied. Therefore, if the order of a stabilizing controller is excessively high, one can normally expect to have a even higher order controller on the completion of design such as inclusion of dynamic response requirements, etc. Therefore, it is reasonable to have a lowest possible order stabilizing controller first and then adjust the controller to meet additional requirements. The algorithm for designing a lower order stabilizing controller is given. The algorithm does not necessarily produce the minimum order controller; however, the algorithm is theoretically logical and some simulation results show that the algorithm works in general.

A new variation of the Buckingham exponential-6 potential with a tunable, singularity-free short-range repulsion and an adjustable long-range attraction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Werhahn, Jasper C.; Miliordos, Evangelos; Xantheas, Sotiris S.

2015-01-05

We introduce new generalized (reverting to the original) and extended (not reverting to the original) 4-parameter forms of the (B-2) Potential Energy Function (PEF) of Wang etal. (L.-P. Wang, J. Chen and T. van Voorhis, J. Chem. Theor. Comp. 9, 452 (2013)), which is itself a modification of the Buckingham exponential-6 PEF. The new forms have a tunable, singularity-free short-range repulsion and an adjustable long-range attraction. They produce fits to high quality ab initio data for the X–(H2O), X=F, Cl, Br, I and M+(H2O), M=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs dimers that are between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude bettermore » than the original 3-parameter (B-2) and modified Buckingham exponential-6 PEFs. They are also slightly better than the 4-parameter generalized Buckingham exponential-6(gBe-6) and of comparable quality with the 4-parameter extended Morse (eM) PEFs introduced recently by us.« less

Optimization of parameters for enhanced oil recovery from enzyme treated wild apricot kernels.

PubMed

Rajaram, Mahatre R; Kumbhar, Baburao K; Singh, Anupama; Lohani, Umesh Chandra; Shahi, Navin C

2012-08-01

Present investigation was undertaken with the overall objective of optimizing the enzymatic parameters i.e. moisture content during hydrolysis, enzyme concentration, enzyme ratio and incubation period on wild apricot kernel processing for better oil extractability and increased oil recovery. Response surface methodology was adopted in the experimental design. A central composite rotatable design of four variables at five levels was chosen. The parameters and their range for the experiments were moisture content during hydrolysis (20-32%, w.b.), enzyme concentration (12-16% v/w of sample), combination of pectolytic and cellulolytic enzyme i.e. enzyme ratio (30:70-70:30) and incubation period (12-16 h). Aspergillus foetidus and Trichoderma viride was used for production of crude enzyme i.e. pectolytic and cellulolytic enzyme respectively. A complete second order model for increased oil recovery as the function of enzymatic parameters fitted the data well. The best fit model for oil recovery was also developed. The effect of various parameters on increased oil recovery was determined at linear, quadric and interaction level. The increased oil recovery ranged from 0.14 to 2.53%. The corresponding conditions for maximum oil recovery were 23% (w.b.), 15 v/w of the sample, 60:40 (pectolytic:cellulolytic), 13 h. Results of the study indicated that incubation period during enzymatic hydrolysis is the most important factor affecting oil yield followed by enzyme ratio, moisture content and enzyme concentration in the decreasing order. Enzyme ratio, incubation period and moisture content had insignificant effect on oil recovery. Second order model for increased oil recovery as a function of enzymatic hydrolysis parameters predicted the data adequately.

Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings

PubMed Central

Petković, I.; Lollo, A.; Glazman, L. I.; Harris, J. G. E.

2016-01-01

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter's free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. We also demonstrate that phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity. PMID:27882924

Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings.

PubMed

Petković, I; Lollo, A; Glazman, L I; Harris, J G E

2016-11-24

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter's free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg-Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. We also demonstrate that phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.

Optimization of spectroscopic surveys for testing non-Gaussianity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raccanelli, Alvise; Doré, Olivier; Dalal, Neal, E-mail: alvise@caltech.edu, E-mail: Olivier.P.Dore@jpl.nasa.gov, E-mail: dalaln@illinois.edu

We investigate optimization strategies to measure primordial non-Gaussianity with future spectroscopic surveys. We forecast measurements coming from the 3D galaxy power spectrum and compute constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity parameters f{sub NL} and n{sub NG}. After studying the dependence on those parameters upon survey specifications such as redshift range, area, number density, we assume a reference mock survey and investigate the trade-off between number density and area surveyed. We then define the observational requirements to reach the detection of f{sub NL} of order 1. Our results show that power spectrum constraints on non-Gaussianity from future spectroscopic surveys can improve on currentmore » CMB limits, but the multi-tracer technique and higher order correlations will be needed in order to reach an even better precision in the measurements of the non-Gaussianity parameter f{sub NL}.« less

Magnetic field effect on the structural properties of a peptide model: Molecular dynamics simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Housaindokht, Mohammad Reza; Moosavi, Fatemeh

2018-06-01

The effect of magnetization on the properties of a system containing a peptide model is studied by molecular dynamics simulation at a range of 298-318 K. Two mole fractions of 0.001 and 0.002 of peptide were simulated and the variation of hydrogen bond number, orientational ordering parameter, gyration radius, mean square displacement, as well as radial distribution function, were under consideration. The results show that applying magnetic field will increase the number of hydrogen bonds between water molecules by clustering them and decreases the interaction of water and peptide. This reduction may cause more available free space and enhance the movement of the peptide. As a result, the diffusion coefficient of the peptide becomes greater and its conformation changes. Orientational ordering parameter besides radius of gyration demonstrates that peptide is expanded by static magnetic field and its orientational ordering parameter is affected.

Improvement to microphysical schemes in WRF Model based on observed data, part I: size distribution function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shan, Y.; Eric, W.; Gao, L.; Zhao, T.; Yin, Y.

2015-12-01

In this study, we have evaluated the performance of size distribution functions (SDF) with 2- and 3-moments in fitting the observed size distribution of rain droplets at three different heights. The goal is to improve the microphysics schemes in meso-scale models, such as Weather Research and Forecast (WRF). Rain droplets were observed during eight periods of different rain types at three stations on the Yellow Mountain in East China. The SDF in this study were M-P distribution with a fixed shape parameter in Gamma SDF(FSP). Where the Gamma SDFs were obtained with three diagnosis methods with the shape parameters based on Milbrandt (2010; denoted DSPM10), Milbrandt (2005; denoted DSPM05) and Seifert (2008; denoted DSPS08) for solving the shape parameter(SSP) and Lognormal SDF. Based on the preliminary experiments, three ensemble methods deciding Gamma SDF was also developed and assessed. The magnitude of average relative error caused by applying a FSP was 10-2 for fitting 0-order moment of the observed rain droplet distribution, and the magnitude of average relative error changed to 10-1 and 100 respectively for 1-4 order moments and 5-6 order moments. To different extent, DSPM10, DSPM05, DSPS08, SSP and ensemble methods could improve fitting accuracies for 0-6 order moments, especially the one coupling SSP and DSPS08 methods, which provided a average relative error 6.46% for 1-4 order moments and 11.90% for 5-6 order moments, respectively. The relative error of fitting three moments using the Lognormal SDF was much larger than that of Gamma SDF. The threshold value of shape parameter ranged from 0 to 8, because values beyond this range could cause overflow in the calculation. When average diameter of rain droplets was less than 2mm, the possibility of unavailable shape parameter value(USPV) increased with a decreasing droplet size. There was strong sensitivity of moment group in fitting accuracy. When ensemble method coupling SSP and DSPS08 was used, a better fit to 1-3-5 moments of the SDF was possible compared to fitting the 0-3-6 moment group.

Dipole and nondipole photoionization of molecular hydrogen

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zimmermann, B.; McKoy, V.; Southworth, S. H.

2015-05-01

We describe a theoretical approach to molecular photoionization that includes first-order corrections to the dipole approximation. The theoretical formalism is presented and applied to photoionization of H-2 over the 20-to 180-eV photon energy range. The angle-integrated cross section sigma, the electric dipole anisotropy parameter beta(e), the molecular alignment anisotropy parameter beta(m), and the first-order nondipole asymmetry parameters gamma and delta were calculated within the single-channel, static-exchange approximation. The calculated parameters are compared with previous measurements of sigma and beta(m) and the present measurements of beta(e) and gamma + 3 delta. The dipole and nondipole angular distribution parameters were determined simultaneouslymore » using an efficient, multiangle measurement technique. Good overall agreement is observed between the magnitudes and spectral variations of the calculated and measured parameters. The nondipole asymmetries of He 1s and Ne 2p photoelectrons were also measured in the course of this work.« less

AMT-200S Motor Glider Parameter and Performance Estimation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, Brian R.

2011-01-01

Parameter and performance estimation of an instrumented motor glider was conducted at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center in order to provide the necessary information to create a simulation of the aircraft. An output-error technique was employed to generate estimates from doublet maneuvers, and performance estimates were compared with results from a well-known flight-test evaluation of the aircraft in order to provide a complete set of data. Aircraft specifications are given along with information concerning instrumentation, flight-test maneuvers flown, and the output-error technique. Discussion of Cramer-Rao bounds based on both white noise and colored noise assumptions is given. Results include aerodynamic parameter and performance estimates for a range of angles of attack.

Front and pulse solutions for the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation with higher-order terms.

PubMed

Tian, Huiping; Li, Zhonghao; Tian, Jinping; Zhou, Guosheng

2002-12-01

We investigate one-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau equation with higher-order terms and discuss their influences on the multiplicity of solutions. An exact analytic front solution is presented. By stability analysis for the original partial differential equation, we derive its necessary stability condition for amplitude perturbations. This condition together with the exact front solution determine the region of parameter space where the uniformly translating front solution can exist. In addition, stable pulses, chaotic pulses, and attenuation pulses appear generally if the parameters are out of the range. Finally, applying these analysis into the optical transmission system numerically we find that the stable transmission of optical pulses can be achieved if the parameters are appropriately chosen.

Order-disorder transition in conflicting dynamics leading to rank-frequency generalized beta distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez-Martinez, R.; Martinez-Mekler, G.; Cocho, G.

2011-01-01

The behavior of rank-ordered distributions of phenomena present in a variety of fields such as biology, sociology, linguistics, finance and geophysics has been a matter of intense research. Often power laws have been encountered; however, their validity tends to hold mainly for an intermediate range of rank values. In a recent publication (Martínez-Mekler et al., 2009 [7]), a generalization of the functional form of the beta distribution has been shown to give excellent fits for many systems of very diverse nature, valid for the whole range of rank values, regardless of whether or not a power law behavior has been previously suggested. Here we give some insight on the significance of the two free parameters which appear as exponents in the functional form, by looking into discrete probabilistic branching processes with conflicting dynamics. We analyze a variety of realizations of these so-called expansion-modification models first introduced by Wentian Li (1989) [10]. We focus our attention on an order-disorder transition we encounter as we vary the modification probability p. We characterize this transition by means of the fitting parameters. Our numerical studies show that one of the fitting exponents is related to the presence of long-range correlations exhibited by power spectrum scale invariance, while the other registers the effect of disordering elements leading to a breakdown of these properties. In the absence of long-range correlations, this parameter is sensitive to the occurrence of unlikely events. We also introduce an approximate calculation scheme that relates this dynamics to multinomial multiplicative processes. A better understanding through these models of the meaning of the generalized beta-fitting exponents may contribute to their potential for identifying and characterizing universality classes.

Precision and broadband frequency swept laser source based on high-order modulation-sideband injection-locking.

PubMed

Wei, Fang; Lu, Bin; Wang, Jian; Xu, Dan; Pan, Zhengqing; Chen, Dijun; Cai, Haiwen; Qu, Ronghui

2015-02-23

A precision and broadband laser frequency swept technique is experimentally demonstrated. Using synchronous current compensation, a slave diode laser is dynamically injection-locked to a specific high-order modulation-sideband of a narrow-linewidth master laser modulated by an electro-optic modulator (EOM), whose driven radio frequency (RF) signal can be agilely, precisely controlled by a frequency synthesizer, and the high-order modulation-sideband enables multiplied sweep range and tuning rate. By using 5th order sideband injection-locking, the original tuning range of 3 GHz and tuning rate of 0.5 THz/s is multiplied by 5 times to 15 GHz and 2.5 THz/s respectively. The slave laser has a 3 dB-linewidth of 2.5 kHz which is the same to the master laser. The settling time response of a 10 MHz frequency switching is 2.5 µs. By using higher-order modulation-sideband and optimized experiment parameters, an extended sweep range and rate could be expected.

LES of Temporally Evolving Mixing Layers by Three High Order Schemes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yee, H.; Sjögreen, B.; Hadjadj, A.

2011-10-01

The performance of three high order shock-capturing schemes is compared for large eddy simulations (LES) of temporally evolving mixing layers for different convective Mach number (Mc) ranging from the quasi-incompressible regime to highly compressible supersonic regime. The considered high order schemes are fifth-order WENO (WENO5), seventh-order WENO (WENO7), and the associated eighth-order central spatial base scheme with the dissipative portion of WENO7 as a nonlinear post-processing filter step (WENO7fi). This high order nonlinear filter method (Yee & Sjögreen 2009) is designed for accurate and efficient simulations of shock-free compressible turbulence, turbulence with shocklets and turbulence with strong shocks with minimum tuning of scheme parameters. The LES results by WENO7fi using the same scheme parameter agree well with experimental results of Barone et al. (2006), and published direct numerical simulations (DNS) by Rogers & Moser (1994) and Pantano & Sarkar (2002), whereas results by WENO5 and WENO7 compare poorly with experimental data and DNS computations.

Thermal nanostructure: An order parameter multiscale ensemble approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheluvaraja, S.; Ortoleva, P.

2010-02-01

Deductive all-atom multiscale techniques imply that many nanosystems can be understood in terms of the slow dynamics of order parameters that coevolve with the quasiequilibrium probability density for rapidly fluctuating atomic configurations. The result of this multiscale analysis is a set of stochastic equations for the order parameters whose dynamics is driven by thermal-average forces. We present an efficient algorithm for sampling atomistic configurations in viruses and other supramillion atom nanosystems. This algorithm allows for sampling of a wide range of configurations without creating an excess of high-energy, improbable ones. It is implemented and used to calculate thermal-average forces. These forces are then used to search the free-energy landscape of a nanosystem for deep minima. The methodology is applied to thermal structures of Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid. The method has wide applicability to other nanosystems whose properties are described by the CHARMM or other interatomic force field. Our implementation, denoted SIMNANOWORLD™, achieves calibration-free nanosystem modeling. Essential atomic-scale detail is preserved via a quasiequilibrium probability density while overall character is provided via predicted values of order parameters. Applications from virology to the computer-aided design of nanocapsules for delivery of therapeutic agents and of vaccines for nonenveloped viruses are envisioned.

[Correlation between physical characteristics of sticks and quality of traditional Chinese medicine pills prepared by plastic molded method].

PubMed

Wang, Ling; Xian, Jiechen; Hong, Yanlong; Lin, Xiao; Feng, Yi

2012-05-01

To quantify the physical characteristics of sticks of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) honeyed pills prepared by the plastic molded method and the correlation of adhesiveness and plasticity-related parameters of sticks and quality of pills, in order to find major parameters and the appropriate range impacting pill quality. Sticks were detected by texture analyzer for their physical characteristic parameters such as hardness and compression action, and pills were observed by visual evaluation for their quality. The correlation of both data was determined by the stepwise discriminant analysis. Stick physical characteristic parameter l(CD) can exactly depict the adhesiveness, with the discriminant equation of Y0 - Y1 = 6.415 - 41.594l(CD). When Y0 < Y1, pills were scattered well; when Y0 > Y1, pills were adhesive with each other. Pills' physical characteristic parameters l(CD) and l(AC), Ar, Tr can exactly depict smoothness of pills, with the discriminant equation of Z0 - Z1 = -195.318 + 78.79l(AC) - 3 258. 982Ar + 3437.935Tr. When Z0 < Z1, pills were smooth on surface. When Z0 > Z1, pills were rough on surface. The stepwise discriminant analysis is made to show the obvious correlation between key physical characteristic parameters l(CD) and l(AC), Ar, Tr of sticks and appearance quality of pills, defining the molding process for preparing pills by the plastic molded and qualifying ranges of key physical characteristic parameters characterizing intermediate sticks, in order to provide theoretical basis for prescription screening and technical parameter adjustment for pills.

Adaptive Estimation and Heuristic Optimization of Nonlinear Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-15

Algorithm GPS Global Positioning System HOUF Higher Order Unscented Filter IC initial conditions IMM Interacting Multiple Model IMU Inertial Measurement Unit ...sources ranging from inertial measurement units to star sensors are used to construct observations for attitude estimation algorithms. The sensor...parameters. A single vector measurement will provide two independent parameters, as a unit vector constraint removes a DOF making the problem underdetermined

Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions in Spin Chains with Long-Range Interactions: Merging Different Concepts of Nonequilibrium Criticality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Žunkovič, Bojan; Heyl, Markus; Knap, Michael; Silva, Alessandro

2018-03-01

We theoretically study the dynamics of a transverse-field Ising chain with power-law decaying interactions characterized by an exponent α , which can be experimentally realized in ion traps. We focus on two classes of emergent dynamical critical phenomena following a quantum quench from a ferromagnetic initial state: The first one manifests in the time-averaged order parameter, which vanishes at a critical transverse field. We argue that such a transition occurs only for long-range interactions α ≤2 . The second class corresponds to the emergence of time-periodic singularities in the return probability to the ground-state manifold which is obtained for all values of α and agrees with the order parameter transition for α ≤2 . We characterize how the two classes of nonequilibrium criticality correspond to each other and give a physical interpretation based on the symmetry of the time-evolved quantum states.

Temperature and composition dependence of short-range order and entropy, and statistics of bond length: the semiconductor alloy (GaN)(1-x)(ZnO)(x).

PubMed

Liu, Jian; Pedroza, Luana S; Misch, Carissa; Fernández-Serra, Maria V; Allen, Philip B

2014-07-09

We present total energy and force calculations for the (GaN)1-x(ZnO)x alloy. Site-occupancy configurations are generated from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, on the basis of a cluster expansion model proposed in a previous study. Local atomic coordinate relaxations of surprisingly large magnitude are found via density-functional calculations using a 432-atom periodic supercell, for three representative configurations at x = 0.5. These are used to generate bond-length distributions. The configurationally averaged composition- and temperature-dependent short-range order (SRO) parameters of the alloys are discussed. The entropy is approximated in terms of pair distribution statistics and thus related to SRO parameters. This approximate entropy is compared with accurate numerical values from MC simulations. An empirical model for the dependence of the bond length on the local chemical environments is proposed.

Can benthic foraminifera be used as bio-indicators of pollution in areas with a wide range of physicochemical variability?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martins, Maria Virgínia Alves; Pinto, Anita Fernandes Souza; Frontalini, Fabrizio; da Fonseca, Maria Clara Machado; Terroso, Denise Lara; Laut, Lazaro Luiz Mattos; Zaaboub, Noureddine; da Conceição Rodrigues, Maria Antonieta; Rocha, Fernando

2016-12-01

The Ria de Aveiro, a lagoon located in the NW coast of Portugal, presents a wide range of changes to the natural hydrodynamical and physicochemical conditions induced for instance by works of port engineering and pollution. In order to evaluate the response of living benthic foraminifera to the fluctuations in physicochemical parameters and pollution (metals and TOC), eight sediment samples were collected from canals and salt pans within the Aveiro City, in four different sampling events. During the sampling events, salinity showed the most significant fluctuations among the physicochemical parameters with the maximum range of variation at Troncalhada and Santiago salt pans. Species such as Haynesina germanica, Trochammina inflata and Entzia macrescens were found inhabiting these hypersaline environments with the widest fluctuations of physicochemical parameters. In contrast, Ammonia tepida dominated zones with high concentrations of metals and organic matter and in lower salinity waters. Parameters related to benthic foraminiferal assemblages (i.e., diversity and evenness) were found to significantly decline in stations polluted by metals and characterized by higher TOC content. Foraminiferal density reduced significantly in locations with a wide range of physicochemical temporal variability. This work shows that, even under extreme conditions caused by highly variable physicochemical parameters, benthic foraminiferal assemblages might be used as valuable bioindicators of environmental stress.

An uncertainty analysis of the hydrogen source term for a station blackout accident in Sequoyah using MELCOR 1.8.5

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gauntt, Randall O.; Bixler, Nathan E.; Wagner, Kenneth Charles

2014-03-01

A methodology for using the MELCOR code with the Latin Hypercube Sampling method was developed to estimate uncertainty in various predicted quantities such as hydrogen generation or release of fission products under severe accident conditions. In this case, the emphasis was on estimating the range of hydrogen sources in station blackout conditions in the Sequoyah Ice Condenser plant, taking into account uncertainties in the modeled physics known to affect hydrogen generation. The method uses user-specified likelihood distributions for uncertain model parameters, which may include uncertainties of a stochastic nature, to produce a collection of code calculations, or realizations, characterizing themore » range of possible outcomes. Forty MELCOR code realizations of Sequoyah were conducted that included 10 uncertain parameters, producing a range of in-vessel hydrogen quantities. The range of total hydrogen produced was approximately 583kg 131kg. Sensitivity analyses revealed expected trends with respected to the parameters of greatest importance, however, considerable scatter in results when plotted against any of the uncertain parameters was observed, with no parameter manifesting dominant effects on hydrogen generation. It is concluded that, with respect to the physics parameters investigated, in order to further reduce predicted hydrogen uncertainty, it would be necessary to reduce all physics parameter uncertainties similarly, bearing in mind that some parameters are inherently uncertain within a range. It is suspected that some residual uncertainty associated with modeling complex, coupled and synergistic phenomena, is an inherent aspect of complex systems and cannot be reduced to point value estimates. The probabilistic analyses such as the one demonstrated in this work are important to properly characterize response of complex systems such as severe accident progression in nuclear power plants.« less

Exploring the free-energy landscape of a short peptide using an average force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chipot, Christophe; Hénin, Jérôme

2005-12-01

The reversible folding of deca-alanine is chosen as a test case for characterizing a method that uses an adaptive biasing force (ABF) to escape from the minima and overcome the barriers of the free-energy landscape. This approach relies on the continuous estimation of a biasing force that yields a Hamiltonian in which no average force is exerted along the ordering parameter ξ. Optimizing the parameters that control how the ABF is applied, the method is shown to be extremely effective when a nonequivocal ordering parameter can be defined to explore the folding pathway of the peptide. Starting from a β-turn motif and restraining ξ to a region of the conformational space that extends from the α-helical state to an ensemble of extended structures, the ABF scheme is successful in folding the peptide chain into a compact α helix. Sampling of this conformation is, however, marginal when the range of ξ values embraces arrangements of greater compactness, hence demonstrating the inherent limitations of free-energy methods when ambiguous ordering parameters are utilized.

Application and optimization of input parameter spaces in mass flow modelling: a case study with r.randomwalk and r.ranger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krenn, Julia; Zangerl, Christian; Mergili, Martin

2017-04-01

r.randomwalk is a GIS-based, multi-functional, conceptual open source model application for forward and backward analyses of the propagation of mass flows. It relies on a set of empirically derived, uncertain input parameters. In contrast to many other tools, r.randomwalk accepts input parameter ranges (or, in case of two or more parameters, spaces) in order to directly account for these uncertainties. Parameter spaces represent a possibility to withdraw from discrete input values which in most cases are likely to be off target. r.randomwalk automatically performs multiple calculations with various parameter combinations in a given parameter space, resulting in the impact indicator index (III) which denotes the fraction of parameter value combinations predicting an impact on a given pixel. Still, there is a need to constrain the parameter space used for a certain process type or magnitude prior to performing forward calculations. This can be done by optimizing the parameter space in terms of bringing the model results in line with well-documented past events. As most existing parameter optimization algorithms are designed for discrete values rather than for ranges or spaces, the necessity for a new and innovative technique arises. The present study aims at developing such a technique and at applying it to derive guiding parameter spaces for the forward calculation of rock avalanches through back-calculation of multiple events. In order to automatize the work flow we have designed r.ranger, an optimization and sensitivity analysis tool for parameter spaces which can be directly coupled to r.randomwalk. With r.ranger we apply a nested approach where the total value range of each parameter is divided into various levels of subranges. All possible combinations of subranges of all parameters are tested for the performance of the associated pattern of III. Performance indicators are the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) and the factor of conservativeness (FoC). This strategy is best demonstrated for two input parameters, but can be extended arbitrarily. We use a set of small rock avalanches from western Austria, and some larger ones from Canada and New Zealand, to optimize the basal friction coefficient and the mass-to-drag ratio of the two-parameter friction model implemented with r.randomwalk. Thereby we repeat the optimization procedure with conservative and non-conservative assumptions of a set of complementary parameters and with different raster cell sizes. Our preliminary results indicate that the model performance in terms of AUROC achieved with broad parameter spaces is hardly surpassed by the performance achieved with narrow parameter spaces. However, broad spaces may result in very conservative or very non-conservative predictions. Therefore, guiding parameter spaces have to be (i) broad enough to avoid the risk of being off target; and (ii) narrow enough to ensure a reasonable level of conservativeness of the results. The next steps will consist in (i) extending the study to other types of mass flow processes in order to support forward calculations using r.randomwalk; and (ii) in applying the same strategy to the more complex, dynamic model r.avaflow.

Singlet-catalyzed electroweak phase transitions in the 100 TeV frontier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotwal, Ashutosh V.; Ramsey-Musolf, Michael J.; No, Jose Miguel; Winslow, Peter

2016-08-01

We study the prospects for probing a gauge singlet scalar-driven strong first-order electroweak phase transition with a future proton-proton collider in the 100 TeV range. Singlet-Higgs mixing enables resonantly enhanced di-Higgs production, potentially aiding discovery prospects. We perform Monte Carlo scans of the parameter space to identify regions associated with a strong first-order electroweak phase transition, analyze the corresponding di-Higgs signal, and select a set of benchmark points that span the range of di-Higgs signal strengths. For the b b ¯γ γ and 4 τ final states, we investigate discovery prospects for each benchmark point for the high-luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider and for a future p p collider with √{s }=50 , 100, or 200 TeV. We find that any of these future collider scenarios could significantly extend the reach beyond that of the high-luminosity LHC, and that with √{s }=100 TeV (200 TeV) and 30 ab-1 , the full region of parameter space favorable to strong first-order electroweak phase transitions is almost fully (fully) discoverable.

Small Mercury Relativity Orbiter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bender, Peter L.; Vincent, Mark A.

1989-01-01

The accuracy of solar system tests of gravitational theory could be very much improved by range and Doppler measurements to a Small Mercury Relativity Orbiter. A nearly circular orbit at roughly 2400 km altitude is assumed in order to minimize problems with orbit determination and thermal radiation from the surface. The spacecraft is spin-stabilized and has a 30 cm diameter de-spun antenna. With K-band and X-band ranging systems using a 50 MHz offset sidetone at K-band, a range accuracy of 3 cm appears to be realistically achievable. The estimated spacecraft mass is 50 kg. A consider-covariance analysis was performed to determine how well the Earth-Mercury distance as a function of time could be determined with such a Relativity Orbiter. The minimum data set is assumed to be 40 independent 8-hour arcs of tracking data at selected times during a two year period. The gravity field of Mercury up through degree and order 10 is solved for, along with the initial conditions for each arc and the Earth-Mercury distance at the center of each arc. The considered parameters include the gravity field parameters of degree 11 and 12 plus the tracking station coordinates, the tropospheric delay, and two parameters in a crude radiation pressure model. The conclusion is that the Earth-Mercury distance can be determined to 6 cm accuracy or better. From a modified worst-case analysis, this would lead to roughly 2 orders of magnitude improvement in the knowledge of the precession of perihelion, the relativistic time delay, and the possible change in the gravitational constant with time.

Loss-resistant unambiguous phase measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinani, Hossein T.; Berry, Dominic W.

2014-08-01

Entangled multiphoton states have the potential to provide improved measurement accuracy, but are sensitive to photon loss. It is possible to calculate ideal loss-resistant states that maximize the Fisher information, but it is unclear how these could be experimentally generated. Here we propose a set of states that can be obtained by processing the output from parametric down-conversion. Although these states are not optimal, they provide performance very close to that of optimal states for a range of parameters. Moreover, we show how to use sequences of such states in order to obtain an unambiguous phase measurement that beats the standard quantum limit. We consider the optimization of parameters in order to minimize the final phase variance, and find that the optimum parameters are different from those that maximize the Fisher information.

Structure and property of metal melt I: The number of residual bonds after solid-liquid phase changes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mi, Guangbao; Li, Peijie; He, Liangju

2010-09-01

Based on the mechanism of metal solid-liquid phase change and the theory of liquid metal’s micro-inhomogeneity, a physical model is established between latent heats of fusion and vaporization and the numbers of residual bonds and short-range ordered atoms at the melting point inside a metal melt. Meanwhile, the mathematical derivation and proof are also offered. This model produces the numbers of residual bonds and short-range ordered atoms after the solid-liquid phase change only by using basic parameters and thermophysical properties of the crystal structure. Therefore, it presents a more effective way to analyze the melt’s structural information. By using this model, this study calculates the numbers of residual bonds and short-range ordered atoms in Al and Ni melts. The calculated results are consistent with the experimental results. Simultaneously, this study discusses the atomic number’s influence on the numbers of residual bonds and short-range ordered atoms in the melts within the first (IA) and second main group (IIA) elements.

Homeostatic enhancement of active mechanotransduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milewski, Andrew; O'Maoiléidigh, Dáibhid; Hudspeth, A. J.

2018-05-01

Our sense of hearing boasts exquisite sensitivity to periodic signals. Experiments and modeling imply, however, that the auditory system achieves this performance for only a narrow range of parameter values. As a result, small changes in these values could compromise the ability of the mechanosensory hair cells to detect stimuli. We propose that, rather than exerting tight control over parameters, the auditory system employs a homeostatic mechanism that ensures the robustness of its operation to variation in parameter values. Through analytical techniques and computer simulations we investigate whether a homeostatic mechanism renders the hair bundle's signal-detection ability more robust to alterations in experimentally accessible parameters. When homeostasis is enforced, the range of values for which the bundle's sensitivity exceeds a threshold can increase by more than an order of magnitude. The robustness of cochlear function based on somatic motility or hair bundle motility may be achieved by employing the approach we describe here.

Statistical uncertainties of a chiral interaction at next-to-next-to leading order

DOE PAGES

Ekström, A.; Carlsson, B. D.; Wendt, K. A.; ...

2015-02-05

In this paper, we have quantified the statistical uncertainties of the low-energy coupling-constants (LECs) of an optimized nucleon–nucleon interaction from chiral effective field theory at next-to-next-to-leading order. Finally, in addition, we have propagated the impact of the uncertainties of the LECs to two-nucleon scattering phase shifts, effective range parameters, and deuteron observables.

Holography and the Coleman-Mermin-Wagner theorem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anninos, Dionysios; Hartnoll, Sean A.; Iqbal, Nabil

2010-09-15

In 2+1 dimensions at finite temperature, spontaneous symmetry breaking of global symmetries is precluded by large thermal fluctuations of the order parameter. The holographic correspondence implies that analogous effects must also occur in 3+1 dimensional theories with gauged symmetries in certain curved spacetimes with horizon. By performing a one loop computation in the background of a holographic superconductor, we show that bulk quantum fluctuations wash out the classical order parameter at sufficiently large distance scales. The low temperature phase is seen to exhibit algebraic long-range order. Beyond the specific example we study, holography suggests that IR singular quantum fluctuations ofmore » the fields and geometry will play an interesting role for many 3+1 dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes with planar horizon.« less

Time-reversal and rotation symmetry breaking superconductivity in Dirac materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chirolli, Luca; de Juan, Fernando; Guinea, Francisco

2017-05-01

We consider mixed symmetry superconducting phases in Dirac materials in the odd-parity channel, where pseudoscalar and vector order parameters can coexist due to their similar critical temperatures when attractive interactions are of a finite range. We show that the coupling of these order parameters to unordered magnetic dopants favors the condensation of time-reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB) phases, characterized by a condensate magnetization, rotation symmetry breaking, and simultaneous ordering of the dopant moments. We find a rich phase diagram of mixed TRSB phases characterized by peculiar bulk quasiparticles, with Weyl nodes and nodal lines, and distinctive surface states. These findings are consistent with recent experiments on NbxBi2Se3 that report evidence of point nodes, nematicity, and TRSB superconductivity induced by Nb magnetic moments.

Coupling-parameter expansion in thermodynamic perturbation theory.

PubMed

Ramana, A Sai Venkata; Menon, S V G

2013-02-01

An approach to the coupling-parameter expansion in the liquid state theory of simple fluids is presented by combining the ideas of thermodynamic perturbation theory and integral equation theories. This hybrid scheme avoids the problems of the latter in the two phase region. A method to compute the perturbation series to any arbitrary order is developed and applied to square well fluids. Apart from the Helmholtz free energy, the method also gives the radial distribution function and the direct correlation function of the perturbed system. The theory is applied for square well fluids of variable ranges and compared with simulation data. While the convergence of perturbation series and the overall performance of the theory is good, improvements are needed for potentials with shorter ranges. Possible directions for further developments in the coupling-parameter expansion are indicated.

CALCULATION OF NONLINEAR CONFIDENCE AND PREDICTION INTERVALS FOR GROUND-WATER FLOW MODELS.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cooley, Richard L.; Vecchia, Aldo V.

1987-01-01

A method is derived to efficiently compute nonlinear confidence and prediction intervals on any function of parameters derived as output from a mathematical model of a physical system. The method is applied to the problem of obtaining confidence and prediction intervals for manually-calibrated ground-water flow models. To obtain confidence and prediction intervals resulting from uncertainties in parameters, the calibrated model and information on extreme ranges and ordering of the model parameters within one or more independent groups are required. If random errors in the dependent variable are present in addition to uncertainties in parameters, then calculation of prediction intervals also requires information on the extreme range of error expected. A simple Monte Carlo method is used to compute the quantiles necessary to establish probability levels for the confidence and prediction intervals. Application of the method to a hypothetical example showed that inclusion of random errors in the dependent variable in addition to uncertainties in parameters can considerably widen the prediction intervals.

A time-dependent order parameter for ultrafast photoinduced phase transitions.

PubMed

Beaud, P; Caviezel, A; Mariager, S O; Rettig, L; Ingold, G; Dornes, C; Huang, S-W; Johnson, J A; Radovic, M; Huber, T; Kubacka, T; Ferrer, A; Lemke, H T; Chollet, M; Zhu, D; Glownia, J M; Sikorski, M; Robert, A; Wadati, H; Nakamura, M; Kawasaki, M; Tokura, Y; Johnson, S L; Staub, U

2014-10-01

Strongly correlated electron systems often exhibit very strong interactions between structural and electronic degrees of freedom that lead to complex and interesting phase diagrams. For technological applications of these materials it is important to learn how to drive transitions from one phase to another. A key question here is the ultimate speed of such phase transitions, and to understand how a phase transition evolves in the time domain. Here we apply time-resolved X-ray diffraction to directly measure the changes in long-range order during ultrafast melting of the charge and orbitally ordered phase in a perovskite manganite. We find that although the actual change in crystal symmetry associated with this transition occurs over different timescales characteristic of the many electronic and vibrational coordinates of the system, the dynamics of the phase transformation can be well described using a single time-dependent 'order parameter' that depends exclusively on the electronic excitation.

Vestigial nematicity from spin and/or charge order in the cuprates

DOE PAGES

Nie, Laimei; Maharaj, Akash V.; Fradkin, Eduardo; ...

2017-08-01

Nematic order has manifested itself in a variety of materials in the cuprate family. We propose an effective field theory of a layered system with incommensurate, intertwined spin- and charge-density wave (SDW and CDW) orders, each of which consists of two components related by C4 rotations. Using a variational method (which is exact in a large N limit), we study the development of nematicity from partially melting those density waves by either increasing temperature or adding quenched disorder. As temperature decreases we first find a transition to a nematic phase, but depending on the range of parameters (e.g. doping concentration)more » the strongest fluctuations associated with this phase reflect either proximate SDW or CDW order. We also discuss the changes in parameters that can account for the differences in the SDW-CDW interplay between the (214) family and the other hole-doped cuprates.« less

Lattice parameters and structural phase transition of lanthanum titanate perovskite, La0.68(Ti0.95,Al0.05)O3.

PubMed

Ali, Roushown; Yashima, Masatomo

2003-05-01

Lattice parameters and the structural phase transition of La(0.68)(Ti(0.95),Al(0.05))O(3) have been investigated in situ in the temperature range 301-689 K by the synchrotron radiation powder diffraction (SR-PD) technique. High-angular-resolution SR-PD is confirmed to be a powerful technique for determining precise lattice parameters around a phase-transition temperature. The title compound exhibits a reversible phase transition between orthorhombic and tetragonal phases at 622.3 +/- 0.6 K. The following results were obtained: (i) the lattice parameters increased continuously with temperature, while the b/a ratio decreased continuously with temperature and became unity at the orthorhombic-tetragonal transition point; (ii) no hysteresis was observed between the lattice-parameter values measured on heating and on cooling. Results (i) and (ii) indicate that the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition is continuous and reversible. The b/a ratio is found to exhibit a more continuous temperature evolution than does the order parameter for a typical second-order phase transition based on Landau theory.

Transition from disordered to long-range ordered nanoparticles on Al2O3/Ni3Al(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alyabyeva, N.; Ouvrard, A.; Zakaria, A.-M.; Charra, F.; Bourguignon, B.

2018-06-01

Application of preparation recipes of the literature failed to produce an ordered array of NPs on our particular Ni3Al sample. This has motivated a systematic survey of Pd NP nucleation as a function of experimental parameters. We have shown that the increase of oxidation temperature during the preparation of Al2O3 ultra-thin film on Ni3Al(111) leads to a transition from disordered to long-range ordered Pd nanoparticle (NP) nucleation. Alumina films were prepared at different temperatures ranging from 990 to 1140 K. Crystallinity, electronic structure of the alumina film and Pd nucleation and growth have been investigated using Low Energy Electron Diffraction and Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy. NP density and long-range order nucleation along the so-called "dot structure" of 4.2 nm periodicity, strongly increase for temperatures higher than a threshold value of 1070 ± 20 K. This transition relies on the alumina film improvement and suggests that the modulation of Pd adsorption energy at nucleation centres which is necessary to nucleate NPs at ordered sites, requires higher preparation temperature. Long-range ordered NPs with a high density were obtained 140 K above reported recipes in the literature. This optimized temperature has been tested on a fresh sample (issued from the same supplier) for which just a few cleanings were enough to obtain long-range ordered NPs. Presumably the variability of the optimal oxidation temperature for our samples with respect to the literature is related to fluctuations of the stoichiometry from sample to sample.

Phase diagram for a two-dimensional, two-temperature, diffusive XY model.

PubMed

Reichl, Matthew D; Del Genio, Charo I; Bassler, Kevin E

2010-10-01

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we determine the phase diagram of a diffusive two-temperature conserved order parameter XY model. When the two temperatures are equal the system becomes the equilibrium XY model with the continuous Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) vortex-antivortex unbinding phase transition. When the two temperatures are unequal the system is driven by an energy flow from the higher temperature heat-bath to the lower temperature one and reaches a far-from-equilibrium steady state. We show that the nonequilibrium phase diagram contains three phases: A homogenous disordered phase and two phases with long range, spin texture order. Two critical lines, representing continuous phase transitions from a homogenous disordered phase to two phases of long range order, meet at the equilibrium KT point. The shape of the nonequilibrium critical lines as they approach the KT point is described by a crossover exponent φ=2.52±0.05. Finally, we suggest that the transition between the two phases with long-range order is first-order, making the KT-point where all three phases meet a bicritical point.

Comparative Study of Three High Order Schemes for LES of Temporally Evolving Mixing Layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yee, Helen M. C.; Sjogreen, Biorn Axel; Hadjadj, C.

2012-01-01

Three high order shock-capturing schemes are compared for large eddy simulations (LES) of temporally evolving mixing layers (TML) for different convective Mach numbers (Mc) ranging from the quasi-incompressible regime to highly compressible supersonic regime. The considered high order schemes are fifth-order WENO (WENO5), seventh-order WENO (WENO7) and the associated eighth-order central spatial base scheme with the dissipative portion of WENO7 as a nonlinear post-processing filter step (WENO7fi). This high order nonlinear filter method (H.C. Yee and B. Sjogreen, Proceedings of ICOSAHOM09, June 22-26, 2009, Trondheim, Norway) is designed for accurate and efficient simulations of shock-free compressible turbulence, turbulence with shocklets and turbulence with strong shocks with minimum tuning of scheme parameters. The LES results by WENO7fi using the same scheme parameter agree well with experimental results of Barone et al. (2006), and published direct numerical simulations (DNS) work of Rogers & Moser (1994) and Pantano & Sarkar (2002), whereas results by WENO5 and WENO7 compare poorly with experimental data and DNS computations.

On the Influence of Material Parameters in a Complex Material Model for Powder Compaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staf, Hjalmar; Lindskog, Per; Andersson, Daniel C.; Larsson, Per-Lennart

2016-10-01

Parameters in a complex material model for powder compaction, based on a continuum mechanics approach, are evaluated using real insert geometries. The parameter sensitivity with respect to density and stress after compaction, pertinent to a wide range of geometries, is studied in order to investigate completeness and limitations of the material model. Finite element simulations with varied material parameters are used to build surrogate models for the sensitivity study. The conclusion from this analysis is that a simplification of the material model is relevant, especially for simple insert geometries. Parameters linked to anisotropy and the plastic strain evolution angle have a small impact on the final result.

Evidence for different accretion regimes in GRO J1008-57

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kühnel, Matthias; Fürst, Felix; Pottschmidt, Katja; Kreykenbohm, Ingo; Ballhausen, Ralf; Falkner, Sebastian; Rothschild, Richard E.; Klochkov, Dmitry; Wilms, Jörn

2017-11-01

We present a comprehensive spectral analysis of the BeXRB GRO J1008-57 over a luminosity range of three orders of magnitude using NuSTAR, Suzaku, and RXTE data. We find significant evolution of the spectral parameters with luminosity. In particular, the photon index hardens with increasing luminosity at intermediate luminosities in the range 1036-1037 erg s-1. This evolution is stable and repeatedly observed over different outbursts. However, at the extreme ends of the observed luminosity range, we find that the correlation breaks down, with a significance level of at least 3.7σ. We conclude that these changes indicate transitions to different accretion regimes, which are characterized by different deceleration processes, such as Coulomb or radiation breaking. We compare our observed luminosity levels of these transitions to theoretical predications and discuss the variation of those theoretical luminosity values with fundamental neutron star parameters. Finally, we present detailed spectroscopy of the unique "triple peaked" outburst in 2014/15 which does not fit in the general parameter evolution with luminosity. The pulse profile on the other hand is consistent with what is expected at this luminosity level, arguing against a change in accretion geometry. In summary, GRO J1008-57 is an ideal target to study different accretion regimes due to the well-constrained evolution of its broad-band spectral continuum over several orders of magnitude in luminosity.

Fractional order analysis of Sephadex gel structures: NMR measurements reflecting anomalous diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magin, Richard L.; Akpa, Belinda S.; Neuberger, Thomas; Webb, Andrew G.

2011-12-01

We report the appearance of anomalous water diffusion in hydrophilic Sephadex gels observed using pulse field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR diffusion data was collected using a Varian 14.1 Tesla imaging system with a home-built RF saddle coil. A fractional order analysis of the data was used to characterize heterogeneity in the gels for the dynamics of water diffusion in this restricted environment. Several recent studies of anomalous diffusion have used the stretched exponential function to model the decay of the NMR signal, i.e., exp[-( bD) α], where D is the apparent diffusion constant, b is determined the experimental conditions (gradient pulse separation, durations and strength), and α is a measure of structural complexity. In this work, we consider a different case where the spatial Laplacian in the Bloch-Torrey equation is generalized to a fractional order model of diffusivity via a complexity parameter, β, a space constant, μ, and a diffusion coefficient, D. This treatment reverts to the classical result for the integer order case. The fractional order decay model was fit to the diffusion-weighted signal attenuation for a range of b-values (0 < b < 4000 s mm -2). Throughout this range of b values, the parameters β, μ and D, were found to correlate with the porosity and tortuosity of the gel structure.

Exact extreme-value statistics at mixed-order transitions.

PubMed

Bar, Amir; Majumdar, Satya N; Schehr, Grégory; Mukamel, David

2016-05-01

We study extreme-value statistics for spatially extended models exhibiting mixed-order phase transitions (MOT). These are phase transitions that exhibit features common to both first-order (discontinuity of the order parameter) and second-order (diverging correlation length) transitions. We consider here the truncated inverse distance squared Ising model, which is a prototypical model exhibiting MOT, and study analytically the extreme-value statistics of the domain lengths The lengths of the domains are identically distributed random variables except for the global constraint that their sum equals the total system size L. In addition, the number of such domains is also a fluctuating variable, and not fixed. In the paramagnetic phase, we show that the distribution of the largest domain length l_{max} converges, in the large L limit, to a Gumbel distribution. However, at the critical point (for a certain range of parameters) and in the ferromagnetic phase, we show that the fluctuations of l_{max} are governed by novel distributions, which we compute exactly. Our main analytical results are verified by numerical simulations.

Nanosecond electric modification of order parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borshch, Volodymyr

In this Dissertation, we study a nanosecond electro-optic response of a nematic liquid crystal in a geometry where an applied electric field E modifies the tensor order parameter but does not change the orientation of the optic axis (director N̂). We use nematics with negative dielectric anisotropy with the electric field applied perpendicularly to N̂. The field changes the dielectric tensor at optical frequencies (optic tensor), due to the following mechanisms: (a) nanosecond creation of biaxial orientational order; (b) uniaxial modification of the orientational order that occurs over the timescales of tens of nanoseconds, and (c) quenching of director fluctuations with a wide range of characteristic times up to milliseconds. We develop a model to describe the dynamics of all three mechanisms. We design the experimental conditions to selectively suppress the contributions from the quenching of director fluctuations (c) and from the biaxial order effect (a) and thus, separate the contributions of the three mechanisms in the electro-optic response. As a result, the experimental data can be well fitted with the model parameters. The analysis provides a rather detailed physical picture of how the liquid crystal responds to a strong electric field, E ˜ 108 V/m, on a timescale of nanoseconds. This work provides a useful guide in the current search of the biaxial nematic phase. Namely, the temperature dependence of the biaxial susceptibility allows one to estimate the temperature of the potential uniaxial-to-biaxial phase transition. An analysis of the quenching of director fluctuations indicates that on a timescale of nanoseconds, the classic model with constant viscoelastic material parameters might reach its limit of validity. The effect of nanosecond electric modification of the order parameter (NEMOP) can be used in applications in which one needs to achieve ultrafast (nanosecond) changes of optical characteristics, such as birefringence.

Coastal microbial quality of surface sediments in different environments along the Italian coast.

PubMed

Chiaretti, G; Onorati, F; Borrello, P; Orasi, A; Mugnai, C

2014-09-20

In order to improve sediment handling following dredging operations, this study aims to statistically derive ranges of distribution for certain microbiological parameters, according to four environmental types inspired by Italian legislation on seaports: ports of international/national importance, ports of regional importance, port channels in brackish environments, and marine coastal areas. A national database was developed using microbiological data from technical reports available at the Italian Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) for the period 1990-2008. The parameters considered were total coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, enterococci, sulfite-reducing clostridia (SRC), total bacterial counts at 22 °C and at 37 °C, and fungi. The data were statistically analyzed: (1) to verify the correspondence with the identified environmental types and rank them according to the concentration gradient and (2) to describe the data distribution in order to obtain reference ranges typical for each parameter/environmental type. The four environmental types considered were clearly different for enterococci, SRC, and fungi, highlighting a correspondence with Italian legislation. For the remaining parameters, at least two environmental types were merged. In general, the less contaminated environments were small ports and relatively unimpacted coastal areas. The ranges defined for relatively clean coastal areas can be considered a target for other areas both from an environmental point of view and for the sediment management implications. These values could be used as a comparison in environmental surveys addressing marine or brackish sediment handling and may represent a future line of evidence for the assessment of overall sediment quality.

Dependence of short and intermediate-range order on preparation in experimental and modeled pure a-Si

DOE PAGES

Holmstrom, Eero; Haberl, Bianca; Pakarinen, Olli H.; ...

2016-02-20

Variability in the short-to-intermediate range order of pure amorphous silicon prepared by different experimental and computational techniques is probed by measuring mass density, atomic coordination, bond-angle deviation, and dihedral angle deviation. It is found that there is significant variability in order parameters at these length scales in this archetypal covalently bonded, monoatomic system. This diversity strongly reflects preparation technique and thermal history in both experimental and simulated systems. Experiment and simulation do not fully quantitatively agree, partly due to differences in the way parameters are accessed. However, qualitative agreement in the trends is identified. Relaxed forms of amorphous silicon closelymore » resemble continuous random networks generated by a hybrid method of bond-switching Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulation. As-prepared ion implanted amorphous silicon can be adequately modeled using a structure generated from amorphization via ion bombardement using energetic recoils. Preparation methods which narrowly avoid crystallization such as experimental pressure-induced amorphization or simulated melt-quenching result in inhomogeneous structures that contain regions with significant variations in atomic ordering. Ad hoc simulated structures containing small (1 nm) diamond cubic crystal inclusions were found to possess relatively high bond-angle deviations and low dihedral angle deviations, a trend that could not be reconciled with any experimental material.« less

Plackett-Burman experimental design for bacterial cellulose-silica composites synthesis.

PubMed

Guzun, Anicuta Stoica; Stroescu, Marta; Jinga, Sorin Ion; Voicu, Georgeta; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Holban, Alina Maria

2014-09-01

Bacterial cellulose-silica hybrid composites were prepared starting from wet bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes using Stöber reaction. The structure and surface morphology of hybrid composites were examined by FTIR and SEM. The SEM pictures revealed that the silica particles are attached to BC fibrils and are well dispersed in the BC matrix. The influence of silica particles upon BC crystallinity was studied using XRD analysis. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed that the composites are stable up to 300°C. A Plackett-Burman design was applied in order to investigate the influence of process parameters upon silica particle sizes and silica content of BC-silica composites. The statistical model predicted that it is possible for silica particles size to vary the synthesis parameters in order to obtain silica particles deposed on BC membranes in the range from 34.5 to 500 nm, the significant parameters being ammonia concentration, reaction time and temperature. The silica content also varies depending on process parameters, the statistical model predicting that the most influential parameters are water-tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) ratio and reaction temperature. The antimicrobial behavior on Staphylococcus aureus of BC-silica composites functionalized with usnic acid (UA) was also studied, in order to create improved surfaces with antiadherence and anti-biofilm properties. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tunable Collagen I Hydrogels for Engineered Physiological Tissue Micro-Environments

PubMed Central

Antoine, Elizabeth E.; Vlachos, Pavlos P.; Rylander, Marissa N.

2015-01-01

Collagen I hydrogels are commonly used to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) for tissue engineering applications. However, the ability to design collagen I hydrogels similar to the properties of physiological tissues has been elusive. This is primarily due to the lack of quantitative correlations between multiple fabrication parameters and resulting material properties. This study aims to enable informed design and fabrication of collagen hydrogels in order to reliably and reproducibly mimic a variety of soft tissues. We developed empirical predictive models relating fabrication parameters with material and transport properties. These models were obtained through extensive experimental characterization of these properties, which include compression modulus, pore and fiber diameter, and diffusivity. Fabrication parameters were varied within biologically relevant ranges and included collagen concentration, polymerization pH, and polymerization temperature. The data obtained from this study elucidates previously unknown fabrication-property relationships, while the resulting equations facilitate informed a priori design of collagen hydrogels with prescribed properties. By enabling hydrogel fabrication by design, this study has the potential to greatly enhance the utility and relevance of collagen hydrogels in order to develop physiological tissue microenvironments for a wide range of tissue engineering applications. PMID:25822731

Application of the Aquifer Impact Model to support decisions at a CO 2 sequestration site: Modeling and Analysis: Application of the Aquifer Impact Model to support decisions at a CO 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bacon, Diana Holford; Locke II, Randall A.; Keating, Elizabeth

The National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) has developed a suite of tools to assess and manage risk at CO2 sequestration sites (1). The NRAP tool suite includes the Aquifer Impact Model (AIM), based on reduced order models developed using site-specific data from two aquifers (alluvium and carbonate). The models accept aquifer parameters as a range of variable inputs so they may have more broad applicability. Guidelines have been developed for determining the aquifer types for which the ROMs should be applicable. This paper considers the applicability of the aquifer models in AIM to predicting the impact of CO2 or Brinemore » leakage were it to occur at the Illinois Basin Decatur Project (IBDP). Based on the results of the sensitivity analysis, the hydraulic parameters and leakage source term magnitude are more sensitive than clay fraction or cation exchange capacity. Sand permeability was the only hydraulic parameter measured at the IBDP site. More information on the other hydraulic parameters, such as sand fraction and sand/clay correlation lengths, could reduce uncertainty in risk estimates. Some non-adjustable parameters, such as the initial pH and TDS and the pH no-impact threshold, are significantly different for the ROM than for the observations at the IBDP site. The reduced order model could be made more useful to a wider range of sites if the initial conditions and no-impact threshold values were adjustable parameters.« less

Tunnel transit-time (TUNNETT) devices for terahertz sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haddad, G. I.; East, J. R.; Kidner, C.

1991-01-01

The potential and capabilities of tunnel transit-time (TUNNETT) devices for power generation in the 100-1000 GHz range are presented. The basic properties of these devices and the important material parameters which determine their properties are discussed and criteria for designing such devices are presented. It is shown from a first-order model that significant amounts of power can be obtained from these devices in the terahertz frequency range.

Tuning jammed frictionless disk packings from isostatic to hyperstatic.

PubMed

Schreck, Carl F; O'Hern, Corey S; Silbert, Leonardo E

2011-07-01

We perform extensive computational studies of two-dimensional static bidisperse disk packings using two distinct packing-generation protocols. The first involves thermally quenching equilibrated liquid configurations to zero temperature over a range of thermal quench rates r and initial packing fractions followed by compression and decompression in small steps to reach packing fractions φ(J) at jamming onset. For the second, we seed the system with initial configurations that promote micro- and macrophase-separated packings followed by compression and decompression to φ(J). Using these protocols, we generate more than 10(4) static packings over a wide range of packing fraction, contact number, and compositional and positional order. We find that disordered, isostatic packings exist over a finite range of packing fractions in the large-system limit. In agreement with previous calculations, the most dilute mechanically stable packings with φ min ≈ 0.84 are obtained for r > r*, where r* is the rate above which φ(J) is insensitive to rate. We further compare the structural and mechanical properties of isostatic versus hyperstatic packings. The structural characterizations include the contact number, several order parameters, and mixing ratios of the large and small particles. We find that the isostatic packings are positionally and compositionally disordered (with only small changes in a number of order parameters), whereas bond-orientational and compositional order increase strongly with contact number for hyperstatic packings. In addition, we calculate the static shear modulus and normal mode frequencies (in the harmonic approximation) of the static packings to understand the extent to which the mechanical properties of disordered, isostatic packings differ from partially ordered packings. We find that the mechanical properties of the packings change continuously as the contact number increases from isostatic to hyperstatic.

Structural short-range order of the β-Ti phase in bulk Ti-Fe-(Sn) nanoeutectic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, J.; Eckert, J.; Theissmann, R.

2006-12-01

The authors report lattice distortion and "ω-like" structural short-range order (SRO) of the β-Ti phase in a Ti-Fe-(Sn) bulk nanoeutectic composite prepared by slow cooling from the melt. The nanoeuetctic phases are chemically homogeneous, but the addition of Sn releases the local lattice strain, modifies the structural SRO, and prevents the formation of stacking faults in the body centered cubic (bcc) β-Ti phase resulting in improved plastic deformability. The elastic properties and the structural SRO of the β-Ti phase are proposed to be important parameters for developing advanced high strength, ductile Ti-base nanocomposite alloys.

Tailoring of the free spectral range and geometrical cavity dispersion of a microsphere by a coating layer.

PubMed

Ristić, Davor; Mazzola, Maurizio; Chiappini, Andrea; Rasoloniaina, Alphonse; Féron, Patrice; Ramponi, Roberta; Righini, Giancarlo C; Cibiel, Gilles; Ivanda, Mile; Ferrari, Maurizio

2014-09-01

The modal dispersion of a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator is a very important parameter for use in all nonlinear optics applications. In order to tailor the WGM modal dispersion of a microsphere, we have coated a silica microsphere with a high-refractive-index coating in order to study its effect on the WGM modal dispersion. We used Er(3+) ions as a probe for a modal dispersion assessment. We found that, by varying the coating thickness, the geometrical cavity dispersion can be used to shift overall modal dispersion in a very wide range in both the normal and anomalous dispersion regime.

Properties of CGM-Absorbing Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamill, Colin; Conway, Matthew; Apala, Elizabeth; Scott, Jennifer

2018-01-01

We extend the results of a study of the sightlines of 45 low-redshift quasars (0.06 < z < 0.85) observed by HST/COS that lie within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We have used photometric data from the SDSS DR12, along with the known absorption characteristics of the intergalactic medium and circumgalactic medium, to identify the most probable galaxy matches to absorbers in the spectroscopic dataset. Here, we use photometric data and measured galaxy parameters from SDSS DR12 to examine the distributions of galaxy properties such as virial radius, morphology, and position angle among those that match to absorbers within a specific range of impact parameters. We compare those distributions to galaxies within the same impact parameter range that are not matched to any absorber in the HST/COS spectrum in order to investigate global properties of the circumgalactic medium.

Truncation effect on Taylor-Aris dispersion in lattice Boltzmann schemes: Accuracy towards stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ginzburg, Irina; Roux, Laetitia

2015-10-01

The Taylor dispersion in parabolic velocity field provides a well-known benchmark for advection-diffusion (ADE) schemes and serves as a first step towards accurate modeling of the high-order non-Gaussian effects in heterogeneous flow. While applying the Lattice Boltzmann ADE two-relaxation-times (TRT) scheme for a transport with given Péclet number (Pe) one should select six free-tunable parameters, namely, (i) molecular-diffusion-scale, equilibrium parameter; (ii) three families of equilibrium weights, assigned to the terms of mass, velocity and numerical-diffusion-correction, and (iii) two relaxation rates. We analytically and numerically investigate the respective roles of all these degrees of freedom in the accuracy and stability in the evolution of a Gaussian plume. For this purpose, the third- and fourth-order transient multi-dimensional analysis of the recurrence equations of the TRT ADE scheme is extended for a spatially-variable velocity field. The key point is in the coupling of the truncation and Taylor dispersion analysis which allows us to identify the second-order numerical correction δkT to Taylor dispersivity coefficient kT. The procedure is exemplified for a straight Poiseuille flow where δkT is given in a closed analytical form in equilibrium and relaxation parameter spaces. The predicted longitudinal dispersivity is in excellent agreement with the numerical experiments over a wide parameter range. In relatively small Pe-range, the relative dispersion error increases with Péclet number. This deficiency reduces in the intermediate and high Pe-range where it becomes Pe-independent and velocity-amplitude independent. Eliminating δkT by a proper parameter choice and employing specular reflection for zero flux condition on solid boundaries, the d2Q9 TRT ADE scheme may reproduce the Taylor-Aris result quasi-exactly, from very coarse to fine grids, and from very small to arbitrarily high Péclet numbers. Since free-tunable product of two eigenfunctions also controls stability of the model, the validity of the analytically established von Neumann stability diagram is examined in Poiseuille profile. The simplest coordinate-stencil subclass, which is the d2Q5 TRT bounce-back scheme, demonstrates the best performance and achieves the maximum accuracy for most stable relaxation parameters.

Modeling multivariate time series on manifolds with skew radial basis functions.

PubMed

Jamshidi, Arta A; Kirby, Michael J

2011-01-01

We present an approach for constructing nonlinear empirical mappings from high-dimensional domains to multivariate ranges. We employ radial basis functions and skew radial basis functions for constructing a model using data that are potentially scattered or sparse. The algorithm progresses iteratively, adding a new function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that accounts for correlation in the multivariate range variables. The test is applied on training and validation data and reveals nonstatistical or geometric structure when it fails. At each step, the added function is fit to data contained in a spatiotemporally defined local region to determine the parameters--in particular, the scale of the local model. The scale of the function is determined by the zero crossings of the autocorrelation function of the residuals. The model parameters and the number of basis functions are determined automatically from the given data, and there is no need to initialize any ad hoc parameters save for the selection of the skew radial basis functions. Compactly supported skew radial basis functions are employed to improve model accuracy, order, and convergence properties. The extension of the algorithm to higher-dimensional ranges produces reduced-order models by exploiting the existence of correlation in the range variable data. Structure is tested not just in a single time series but between all pairs of time series. We illustrate the new methodologies using several illustrative problems, including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of chaotic time series.

Spending Smart

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grush, Mary

2009-01-01

There is no doubt that eProcurement technology has turned cumbersome paper-based processes into highly connected online systems. The most basic parameters of eProcurement range from shopping for or sourcing goods, to creating purchase requisitions and getting them approved, to placing orders with suppliers, to receiving invoices--all…

Parametrization and Benchmark of Long-Range Corrected DFTB2 for Organic Molecules

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vuong, Van Quan; Akkarapattiakal Kuriappan, Jissy; Kubillus, Maximilian

In this paper, we present the parametrization and benchmark of long-range corrected second-order density functional tight binding (DFTB), LC-DFTB2, for organic and biological molecules. The LC-DFTB2 model not only improves fundamental orbital energy gaps but also ameliorates the DFT self-interaction error and overpolarization problem, and further improves charge-transfer excited states significantly. Electronic parameters for the construction of the DFTB2 Hamiltonian as well as repulsive potentials were optimized for molecules containing C, H, N, and O chemical elements. We use a semiautomatic parametrization scheme based on a genetic algorithm. With the new parameters, LC-DFTB2 describes geometries and vibrational frequencies of organicmore » molecules similarly well as third-order DFTB3/3OB, the de facto standard parametrization based on a GGA functional. Finally, LC-DFTB2 performs well also for atomization and reaction energies, however, slightly less satisfactorily than DFTB3/3OB.« less

Development of a General Form CO 2 and Brine Flux Input Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mansoor, K.; Sun, Y.; Carroll, S.

2014-08-01

The National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) project is developing a science-based toolset for the quantitative analysis of the potential risks associated with changes in groundwater chemistry from CO 2 injection. In order to address uncertainty probabilistically, NRAP is developing efficient, reduced-order models (ROMs) as part of its approach. These ROMs are built from detailed, physics-based process models to provide confidence in the predictions over a range of conditions. The ROMs are designed to reproduce accurately the predictions from the computationally intensive process models at a fraction of the computational time, thereby allowing the utilization of Monte Carlo methods to probemore » variability in key parameters. This report presents the procedures used to develop a generalized model for CO 2 and brine leakage fluxes based on the output of a numerical wellbore simulation. The resulting generalized parameters and ranges reported here will be used for the development of third-generation groundwater ROMs.« less

Parametrization and Benchmark of Long-Range Corrected DFTB2 for Organic Molecules

DOE PAGES

Vuong, Van Quan; Akkarapattiakal Kuriappan, Jissy; Kubillus, Maximilian; ...

2017-12-12

In this paper, we present the parametrization and benchmark of long-range corrected second-order density functional tight binding (DFTB), LC-DFTB2, for organic and biological molecules. The LC-DFTB2 model not only improves fundamental orbital energy gaps but also ameliorates the DFT self-interaction error and overpolarization problem, and further improves charge-transfer excited states significantly. Electronic parameters for the construction of the DFTB2 Hamiltonian as well as repulsive potentials were optimized for molecules containing C, H, N, and O chemical elements. We use a semiautomatic parametrization scheme based on a genetic algorithm. With the new parameters, LC-DFTB2 describes geometries and vibrational frequencies of organicmore » molecules similarly well as third-order DFTB3/3OB, the de facto standard parametrization based on a GGA functional. Finally, LC-DFTB2 performs well also for atomization and reaction energies, however, slightly less satisfactorily than DFTB3/3OB.« less

Emergent pattern formation in an interstitial biofilm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zachreson, Cameron; Wolff, Christian; Whitchurch, Cynthia B.; Toth, Milos

2017-01-01

Collective behavior of bacterial colonies plays critical roles in adaptability, survivability, biofilm expansion and infection. We employ an individual-based model of an interstitial biofilm to study emergent pattern formation based on the assumptions that rod-shaped bacteria furrow through a viscous environment and excrete extracellular polymeric substances which bias their rate of motion. Because the bacteria furrow through their environment, the substratum stiffness is a key control parameter behind the formation of distinct morphological patterns. By systematically varying this property (which we quantify with a stiffness coefficient γ ), we show that subtle changes in the substratum stiffness can give rise to a stable state characterized by a high degree of local order and long-range pattern formation. The ordered state exhibits characteristics typically associated with bacterial fitness advantages, even though it is induced by changes in environmental conditions rather than changes in biological parameters. Our findings are applicable to a broad range of biofilms and provide insights into the relationship between bacterial movement and their environment, and basic mechanisms behind self-organization of biophysical systems.

Tunable Quantum Spin Liquidity in the 1 /6 th-Filled Breathing Kagome Lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbari-Sharbaf, A.; Sinclair, R.; Verrier, A.; Ziat, D.; Zhou, H. D.; Sun, X. F.; Quilliam, J. A.

2018-06-01

We present measurements on a series of materials, Li2 In1 -xScx Mo3 O8 , that can be described as a 1 /6 th-filled breathing kagome lattice. Substituting Sc for In generates chemical pressure which alters the breathing parameter nonmonotonically. Muon spin rotation experiments show that this chemical pressure tunes the system from antiferromagnetic long range order to a quantum spin liquid phase. A strong correlation with the breathing parameter implies that it is the dominant parameter controlling the level of magnetic frustration, with increased kagome symmetry generating the quantum spin liquid phase. Magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest that this is related to distinct types of charge order induced by changes in lattice symmetry, in line with the theory of Chen et al. [Phys. Rev. B 93, 245134 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.245134]. The specific heat for samples at intermediate Sc concentration, which have the minimum breathing parameter, show consistency with the predicted U (1 ) quantum spin liquid.

[Passive ranging of infrared target using oxygen A-band and Elsasser model].

PubMed

Li, Jin-Hua; Wang, Zhao-Ba; Wang Zhi

2014-09-01

Passive ranging method of short range and single band was developed based on target radiation and attenuation characteristic of oxygen spectrum absorption. The relation between transmittance of oxygen A band and range of measured target was analyzed. Radiation strength distribution of measured target can be obtained according to the distribution law of absorption coefficient with environmental parameters. Passive ranging mathematical model of short ranges was established using Elsasser model with Lorentz line shape based on the computational methods of band average transmittance and high-temperature gas radiation narrowband model. The range of measured object was obtained using transmittance fitting with test data calculation and theoretical model. Besides, ranging precision was corrected considering the influence of oxygen absorption with enviromental parameter. The ranging experiment platform was established. The source was a 10 watt black body, and a grating spectrometer with 17 cm(-1) resolution was used. In order to improve the light receiving efficiency, light input was collected with 23 mm calibre telescope. The test data was processed for different range in 200 m. The results show that the transmittance accuracy was better than 2.18% in short range compared to the test data with predicted value in the same conditions.

a Comparison Between Two Ols-Based Approaches to Estimating Urban Multifractal Parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Lin-Shan; Chen, Yan-Guang

Multifractal theory provides a new spatial analytical tool for urban studies, but many basic problems remain to be solved. Among various pending issues, the most significant one is how to obtain proper multifractal dimension spectrums. If an algorithm is improperly used, the parameter spectrums will be abnormal. This paper is devoted to investigating two ordinary least squares (OLS)-based approaches for estimating urban multifractal parameters. Using empirical study and comparative analysis, we demonstrate how to utilize the adequate linear regression to calculate multifractal parameters. The OLS regression analysis has two different approaches. One is that the intercept is fixed to zero, and the other is that the intercept is not limited. The results of comparative study show that the zero-intercept regression yields proper multifractal parameter spectrums within certain scale range of moment order, while the common regression method often leads to abnormal multifractal parameter values. A conclusion can be reached that fixing the intercept to zero is a more advisable regression method for multifractal parameters estimation, and the shapes of spectral curves and value ranges of fractal parameters can be employed to diagnose urban problems. This research is helpful for scientists to understand multifractal models and apply a more reasonable technique to multifractal parameter calculations.

Singlet-catalyzed electroweak phase transitions in the 100 TeV frontier

DOE PAGES

Kotwal, Ashutosh V.; Ramsey-Musolf, Michael J.; No, Jose Miguel; ...

2016-08-23

We study the prospects for probing a gauge singlet scalar-driven strong first-order electroweak phase transition with a future proton-proton collider in the 100 TeV range. Singlet-Higgs mixing enables resonantly enhanced di-Higgs production, potentially aiding discovery prospects. We perform Monte Carlo scans of the parameter space to identify regions associated with a strong first-order electroweak phase transition, analyze the corresponding di-Higgs signal, and select a set of benchmark points that span the range of di-Higgs signal strengths. For the bmore » $$\\bar{b}$$γγ and 4τ final states, we investigate discovery prospects for each benchmark point for the high-luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider and for a future pp collider with s=50, 100, or 200 TeV. We find that any of these future collider scenarios could significantly extend the reach beyond that of the high-luminosity LHC, and that with s=100 TeV (200 TeV) and 30 ab -1, the full region of parameter space favorable to strong first-order electroweak phase transitions is almost fully (fully) discoverable.« less

Mixed-order phase transition in a one-dimensional model.

PubMed

Bar, Amir; Mukamel, David

2014-01-10

We introduce and analyze an exactly soluble one-dimensional Ising model with long range interactions that exhibits a mixed-order transition, namely a phase transition in which the order parameter is discontinuous as in first order transitions while the correlation length diverges as in second order transitions. Such transitions are known to appear in a diverse classes of models that are seemingly unrelated. The model we present serves as a link between two classes of models that exhibit a mixed-order transition in one dimension, namely, spin models with a coupling constant that decays as the inverse distance squared and models of depinning transitions, thus making a step towards a unifying framework.

Structural Physics of Bee Honeycomb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaatz, Forrest; Bultheel, Adhemar; Egami, Takeshi

2008-03-01

Honeybee combs have aroused interest in the ability of honeybees to form regular hexagonal geometric constructs since ancient times. Here we use a real space technique based on the pair distribution function (PDF) and radial distribution function (RDF), and a reciprocal space method utilizing the Debye-Waller Factor (DWF) to quantify the order for a range of honeycombs made by Apis mellifera. The PDFs and RDFs are fit with a series of Gaussian curves. We characterize the order in the honeycomb using a real space order parameter, OP3, to describe the order in the combs and a two-dimensional Fourier transform from which a Debye-Waller order parameter, u, is derived. Both OP3 and u take values from [0, 1] where the value one represents perfect order. The analyzed combs have values of OP3 from 0.33 to 0.60 and values of u from 0.83 to 0.98. RDF fits of honeycomb histograms show that naturally made comb can be crystalline in a 2D ordered structural sense, yet is more `liquid-like' than cells made on `foundation' wax. We show that with the assistance of man-made foundation wax, honeybees can manufacture highly ordered arrays of hexagonal cells.

Possible ergodic-nonergodic regions in the quantum Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass model and quantum annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Sudip; Rajak, Atanu; Chakrabarti, Bikas K.

2018-02-01

We explore the behavior of the order parameter distribution of the quantum Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model in the spin glass phase using Monte Carlo technique for the effective Suzuki-Trotter Hamiltonian at finite temperatures and that at zero temperature obtained using the exact diagonalization method. Our numerical results indicate the existence of a low- but finite-temperature quantum-fluctuation-dominated ergodic region along with the classical fluctuation-dominated high-temperature nonergodic region in the spin glass phase of the model. In the ergodic region, the order parameter distribution gets narrower around the most probable value of the order parameter as the system size increases. In the other region, the Parisi order distribution function has nonvanishing value everywhere in the thermodynamic limit, indicating nonergodicity. We also show that the average annealing time for convergence (to a low-energy level of the model, within a small error range) becomes system size independent for annealing down through the (quantum-fluctuation-dominated) ergodic region. It becomes strongly system size dependent for annealing through the nonergodic region. Possible finite-size scaling-type behavior for the extent of the ergodic region is also addressed.

Choosing order of operations to accelerate strip structure analysis in parameter range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuksenko, S. P.; Akhunov, R. R.; Gazizov, T. R.

2018-05-01

The paper considers the issue of using iteration methods in solving the sequence of linear algebraic systems obtained in quasistatic analysis of strip structures with the method of moments. Using the analysis of 4 strip structures, the authors have proved that additional acceleration (up to 2.21 times) of the iterative process can be obtained during the process of solving linear systems repeatedly by means of choosing a proper order of operations and a preconditioner. The obtained results can be used to accelerate the process of computer-aided design of various strip structures. The choice of the order of operations to accelerate the process is quite simple, universal and could be used not only for strip structure analysis but also for a wide range of computational problems.

Colloidal heteroaggregation: a strategy to prepare composite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López-López, J. M.; Schmitt, A.; Moncho-Jordá, A.; Hidalgo-Álvarez, R.

2009-01-01

In this work, we make use of single-cluster light-scattering (SCLS) experiments and Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations in order to investigate the formation of binary clusters of oppositely-charged colloidal particles by heteroaggregation processes. Two parameters determinate the stability, size and structure of the clusters: the relative concentration of both species x and the range of the particle-particle interactions κa. SCLS experiments reveal that stable binary clusters arise in asymmetric systems when particle-particle interactions are long-ranged. These stable aggregates group in bell-shaped distributions that correspond to compact clusters with different orders, i.e., with a given number of minority particles. It is found that x controls the distribution of the clusters among the different orders and κa determine the average size of the clusters belonging to each order. Finally, BD simulations allow us to interpret all these results within the the frame of the classic Hogg-Healy-Fuersternau theory.

Long-range Coulomb interaction effects on the topological phase transitions between semimetals and insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, SangEun; Moon, Eun-Gook

2018-06-01

Topological states may be protected by a lattice symmetry in a class of topological semimetals. In three spatial dimensions, the Berry flux around gapless excitations in momentum space concretely defines a chirality, so a protecting symmetry may be referred to as a chiral symmetry. Prime examples include a Dirac semimetal (DSM) in a distorted spinel, BiZnSiO4, protected by a mirror symmetry, and a DSM in Na3Bi , protected by a rotational symmetry. In these states, topology and chiral symmetry are intrinsically tied. In this Rapid Communication, the characteristic interplay between a chiral symmetry order parameter and an instantaneous long-range Coulomb interaction is investigated with the standard renormalization group method. We show that a topological transition associated with chiral symmetry is stable under the presence of a Coulomb interaction and the electron velocity always becomes faster than the one of a chiral symmetry order parameter. Thus, the transition must not be relativistic, which implies that supersymmetry is intrinsically forbidden by the long-range Coulomb interaction. Asymptotically exact universal ratios of physical quantities such as the energy gap ratio are obtained, and connections with experiments and recent theoretical proposals are also discussed.

Information processing in dendrites I. Input pattern generalisation.

PubMed

Gurney, K N

2001-10-01

In this paper and its companion, we address the question as to whether there are any general principles underlying information processing in the dendritic trees of biological neurons. In order to address this question, we make two assumptions. First, the key architectural feature of dendrites responsible for many of their information processing abilities is the existence of independent sub-units performing local non-linear processing. Second, any general functional principles operate at a level of abstraction in which neurons are modelled by Boolean functions. To accommodate these assumptions, we therefore define a Boolean model neuron-the multi-cube unit (MCU)-which instantiates the notion of the discrete functional sub-unit. We then use this model unit to explore two aspects of neural functionality: generalisation (in this paper) and processing complexity (in its companion). Generalisation is dealt with from a geometric viewpoint and is quantified using a new metric-the set of order parameters. These parameters are computed for threshold logic units (TLUs), a class of random Boolean functions, and MCUs. Our interpretation of the order parameters is consistent with our knowledge of generalisation in TLUs and with the lack of generalisation in randomly chosen functions. Crucially, the order parameters for MCUs imply that these functions possess a range of generalisation behaviour. We argue that this supports the general thesis that dendrites facilitate input pattern generalisation despite any local non-linear processing within functionally isolated sub-units.

Complexity dynamics and Hopf bifurcation analysis based on the first Lyapunov coefficient about 3D IS-LM macroeconomics system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Junhai; Ren, Wenbo; Zhan, Xueli

2017-04-01

Based on the study of scholars at home and abroad, this paper improves the three-dimensional IS-LM model in macroeconomics, analyzes the equilibrium point of the system and stability conditions, focuses on the parameters and complex dynamic characteristics when Hopf bifurcation occurs in the three-dimensional IS-LM macroeconomics system. In order to analyze the stability of limit cycles when Hopf bifurcation occurs, this paper further introduces the first Lyapunov coefficient to judge the limit cycles, i.e. from a practical view of the business cycle. Numerical simulation results show that within the range of most of the parameters, the limit cycle of 3D IS-LM macroeconomics is stable, that is, the business cycle is stable; with the increase of the parameters, limit cycles becomes unstable, and the value range of the parameters in this situation is small. The research results of this paper have good guide significance for the analysis of macroeconomics system.

Effects of fragility and reduced glass transition temperature on the glass formation ability of amorphous alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiao-Jin; Long, Zhi-Lin; Liu, Wei; Liao, Guang-Kai

2017-11-01

In this paper, based on the reduced glass transition temperature ({{T}rg} ) proposed by Turnbull and the relation between the glass-forming ability (GFA) and the short-range bond ordering of liquids demonstrated by Tanaka, a detailed analysis on the specific roles of {{T}rg} and fragility of the glass forming liquid (m) in characterizing the GFA has been conducted, and then a novel GFA parameter α [=2/3× (100{{T}rg}{)}-(16/100)× m=67{{T}rg}-0.16m] was put forward. This new GFA parameter α , which increases with a decrease in the critical cooling rate (R c) for glass formation, is a complex function of {{T}rg} and m. The relationship between R c and the parameter α was identified and verified using available literature data for broad range of amorphous alloys with widely varying GFA. The correlation coefficient (R 2) of 0.9 clearly shows an excellent correlation between GFA and the parameter α and that α is a more superior indicator compared to currently reported similar GFA parameters.

Thermofluid Analysis of Magnetocaloric Refrigeration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abdelaziz, Omar; Gluesenkamp, Kyle R; Vineyard, Edward Allan

While there have been extensive studies on thermofluid characteristics of different magnetocaloric refrigeration systems, a conclusive optimization study using non-dimensional parameters which can be applied to a generic system has not been reported yet. In this study, a numerical model has been developed for optimization of active magnetic refrigerator (AMR). This model is computationally efficient and robust, making it appropriate for running the thousands of simulations required for parametric study and optimization. The governing equations have been non-dimensionalized and numerically solved using finite difference method. A parametric study on a wide range of non-dimensional numbers has been performed. While themore » goal of AMR systems is to improve the performance of competitive parameters including COP, cooling capacity and temperature span, new parameters called AMR performance index-1 have been introduced in order to perform multi objective optimization and simultaneously exploit all these parameters. The multi-objective optimization is carried out for a wide range of the non-dimensional parameters. The results of this study will provide general guidelines for designing high performance AMR systems.« less

Molecular order and functional properties of starches from three waxy wheat varieties grown in China.

PubMed

Wang, Shujun; Wang, Jinrong; Zhang, Wei; Li, Caili; Yu, Jinglin; Wang, Shuo

2015-08-15

Molecular order and functional properties of starch from three waxy wheat varieties grown in China were investigated by a combination of various technical analyses. The total starch content of the waxy wheat ranged between 54.1% and 55.0%, and the amylose content of the starch was between 0.71% and 1.63%. Average particle diameter of the three starches varied between 16.5 and 17.4 μm. Three waxy wheat starches presented the typical A-type X-ray diffraction pattern, with relative crystallinity between 38.7% and 40.0%. No significant differences were observed in relative crystallinity, IR ratios of 1047/1022 cm(-1) and 1022/995 cm(-1), and FWHH of the band at 480 cm(-1), indicating the similarity in long-range order of crystallites and short-range order of double helices of three starch granules. Small differences were observed in swelling power, gelatinization parameters, pasting viscosities, and in vitro enzymatic digestibility of three waxy wheat starches. Under the stored condition, no retrogradation occurred for three waxy wheat starches. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complex-ordered patterns in shaken convection.

PubMed

Rogers, Jeffrey L; Pesch, Werner; Brausch, Oliver; Schatz, Michael F

2005-06-01

We report and analyze complex patterns observed in a combination of two standard pattern forming experiments. These exotic states are composed of two distinct spatial scales, each displaying a different temporal dependence. The system is a fluid layer experiencing forcing from both a vertical temperature difference and vertical time-periodic oscillations. Depending on the parameters these forcing mechanisms produce fluid motion with either a harmonic or a subharmonic temporal response. Over a parameter range where these mechanisms have comparable influence the spatial scales associated with both responses are found to coexist, resulting in complex, yet highly ordered patterns. Phase diagrams of this region are reported and criteria to define the patterns as quasiperiodic crystals or superlattices are presented. These complex patterns are found to satisfy four-mode (resonant tetrad) conditions. The qualitative difference between the present formation mechanism and the resonant triads ubiquitously used to explain complex-ordered patterns in other nonequilibrium systems is discussed. The only exception to quantitative agreement between our analysis based on Boussinesq equations and laboratory investigations is found to be the result of breaking spatial symmetry in a small parameter region near onset.

Differential effects of genetically distinct mechanisms of elevating amylose on barley starch characteristics.

PubMed

Regina, Ahmed; Blazek, Jaroslav; Gilbert, Elliot; Flanagan, Bernadine M; Gidley, Michael J; Cavanagh, Colin; Ral, Jean-Philippe; Larroque, Oscar; Bird, Anthony R; Li, Zhongyi; Morell, Matthew K

2012-07-01

The relationships between starch structure and functionality are important in underpinning the industrial and nutritional utilisation of starches. In this work, the relationships between the biosynthesis, structure, molecular organisation and functionality have been examined using a series of defined genotypes in barley with low (<20%), standard (20-30%), elevated (30-50%) and high (>50%) amylose starches. A range of techniques have been employed to determine starch physical features, higher order structure and functionality. The two genetic mechanisms for generating high amylose contents (down-regulation of branching enzymes and starch synthases, respectively) yielded starches with very different amylopectin structures but similar gelatinisation and viscosity properties driven by reduced granular order and increased amylose content. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to elucidate the relationships between genotypes and starch molecular structure and functionality. Parameters associated with granule order (PC1) accounted for a large percentage of the variance (57%) and were closely related to amylose content. Parameters associated with amylopectin fine structure accounted for 18% of the variance but were less closely aligned to functionality parameters. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Classical Spin Nematic Transition in LiGa0.95In0.05Cr4O8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wawrzyńczak, R.; Tanaka, Y.; Yoshida, M.; Okamoto, Y.; Manuel, P.; Casati, N.; Hiroi, Z.; Takigawa, M.; Nilsen, G. J.

2017-08-01

We present the results of a combined 7Li -NMR and diffraction study on LiGa0.95In0.05Cr4O8, a member of the LiGa1 -xInxCr4O8 "breathing" pyrochlore family. Via specific heat and NMR measurements, we find that the complex sequence of first-order transitions observed for LiGaCr4O8 is replaced by a single second-order transition at Tf=11 K . Neutron and x-ray diffraction rule out both structural symmetry lowering and magnetic long-range order as the origin of this transition. Instead, reverse Monte Carlo fitting of the magnetic diffuse scattering indicates that the low-temperature phase may be described as a collinear spin nematic state, characterized by a quadrupolar order parameter. This state also shows signs of short-range order between collinear spin arrangements on tetrahedra, revealed by mapping the reverse Monte Carlo spin configurations onto a three-state color model.

Coincident structural and magnetic order in BaFe 2 ( As 1 - x P x ) 2 revealed by high-resolution neutron diffraction

DOE PAGES

Allred, J. M.; Taddei, K. M.; Bugaris, D. E.; ...

2014-09-19

We present neutron dffraction analysis of BaFe 2(As 1-xP x) 2 over a wide temperature (10 to 300 K) and compositional (0.11 < x < 0.79) range, including the normal state, the magnetically ordered state, and the superconducting state. The paramagnetic to spin-density wave and orthorhombic to tetragonal transitions are first order and coincident within the sensitivity of our measurements (~ 0:5 K). Extrapolation of the orthorhombic order parameter down to zero suggests that structural quantum criticality cannot exist at compositions higher than x = 0.28, which is much lower than values determined using other methods, but in good agreementmore » with our observations of the actual phase stability range. Lastly, the onset of spin-density wave order shows a stronger structural anomaly than the charge-doped system in the form of an enhancement of the c/a ratio below the transition.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petković, Ivana; Lollo, A.; Glazman, L. I.

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter’s free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. Furthermore, we also demonstrate thatmore » phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.« less

Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings

DOE PAGES

Petković, Ivana; Lollo, A.; Glazman, L. I.; ...

2016-11-24

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter’s free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. Furthermore, we also demonstrate thatmore » phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.« less

Primordial origin of nontopological solitons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frieman, Joshua A.; Gelmini, Graciela B.; Gleiser, Marcelo; Kolb, Edward W.

1988-01-01

The formation of nontopological solitons in a second-order phase transition in the early universe is discussed. Ratios of dimensionless coupling constants in the Lagrangian determine their abundance and mass. For a large range of parameters, nontopological solitons can be cosmologically significant, contributing a significant fraction of the present mass density of the universe.

On the Phase Transition of N-Isopropylcarbazole.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-01

vacinity of the phase transition (ca. T 137 + 40 K). We propose a semiquantitative interpretation of the phase transition in NIPC based on this assumption...the order parameter fluctuations in the vacinity of TO . V. Conclusions. The elastic properties of NIPC in the temperature range 90 K - 295 K have

Temporal correlations in the Vicsek model with vectorial noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulich, Damián; Baglietto, Gabriel; Rozenfeld, Alejandro F.

2018-07-01

We study the temporal correlations in the evolution of the order parameter ϕ(t) for the Vicsek model with vectorial noise by estimating its Hurst exponent H with detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). We present results on this parameter as a function of noise amplitude η introduced in simulations. We also compare with well known order-disorder phase transition for that same noise range. We find that - regardless of detrending degree - H spikes at the known coexistence noise for phase transition, and that this is due to nonstationarities introduced by the transit of the system between two well defined states with lower exponents. We statistically support this claim by successfully synthesizing equivalent cases derived from a transformed fractional Brownian motion (TfBm).

Generic instabilities in a fluid membrane coupled to a thin layer of ordered active polar fluid.

PubMed

Sarkar, Niladri; Basu, Abhik

2013-08-01

We develop an effective two-dimensional coarse-grained description for the coupled system of a planar fluid membrane anchored to a thin layer of polar ordered active fluid below. The macroscopic orientation of the active fluid layer is assumed to be perpendicular to the attached membrane. We demonstrate that activity or nonequilibrium drive of the active fluid makes such a system generically linearly unstable for either signature of a model parameter [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] that characterises the strength of activity. Depending upon boundary conditions and within a range of the model parameters, underdamped propagating waves may be present in our model. We discuss the phenomenological significance of our results.

The absence of intraband scattering in a consistent theory of Gilbert damping in pure metallic ferromagnets.

PubMed

Edwards, D M

2016-03-02

Damping of magnetization dynamics in a ferromagnetic metal, arising from spin-orbit coupling, is usually characterised by the Gilbert parameter α. Recent calculations of this quantity, using a formula due to Kambersky, find that it is infinite for a perfect crystal owing to an intraband scattering term which is of third order in the spin-orbit parameter ξ. This surprising result conflicts with recent work by Costa and Muniz who study damping numerically by direct calculation of the dynamical transverse susceptibility in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. We resolve this inconsistency by following the approach of Costa and Muniz for a slightly simplified model where it is possible to calculate α analytically. We show that to second order in ξ one retrieves the Kambersky result for α, but to higher order one does not obtain any divergent intraband terms. The present work goes beyond that of Costa and Muniz by pointing out the necessity of including the effect of long-range Coulomb interaction in calculating damping for large ξ. A direct derivation of the Kambersky formula is given which shows clearly the restriction of its validity to second order in ξ so that no intraband scattering terms appear. This restriction has an important effect on the damping over a substantial range of impurity content and temperature. The experimental situation is discussed.

Electronic control of different generation regimes in mode-locked all-fibre F8 laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobtsev, Sergey; Ivanenko, Aleksey; Kokhanovskiy, Alexey; Smirnov, Sergey

2018-04-01

We demonstrate for the first time an electronically controlled realisation of markedly different generation regimes in a mode-locked all-fibre figure-eight (F8) Yb-doped laser. Electronic adjustment of the ratio of pumping powers of two amplification stages in a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror enables the establishment of stable pulse generation regimes with different degrees of coherence and control over their parameters within relatively broad limits, with the pulse duration range exceeding a factor of two in the picosecond domain for coherent and incoherent pulses, the energy range exceeding an order of magnitude for incoherent pulses (2.2-24.8 nJ) and over a factor of 8 for coherent pulses (1.9-16.2 nJ). Adjustment of the pumping powers allows one to maintain the duration of the coherent pulses and to set their peak power in the range of 32.5-292.5 W. The proposed configuration of electronic control over the radiation parameters of a mode-locked all-fibre F8 laser enables reproducible generation of pulses of different types with specified parameters within a broad range of values.

Dichroic Liquid Crystal Displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bahadur, Birendra

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION * DICHROIC DYES * Chemical Structure * Chemical and Photochemical Stability * THEORETICAL MODELLING * DEFECTS CAUSED BY PROLONGED LIGHT IRRADIATION * CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND PHOTOSTABILITY * OTHER PARAMETERS AFFECTING PHOTOSTABILITY * CELL PREPARATION * DICHROIC PARAMETERS AND THEIR MEASUREMENTS * Order Parameter and Dichroic Ratio Of Dyes * Absorbance, Order Parameter and Dichroic Ratio Measurements * IMPACT OF DYE STRUCTURE AND LIQUID CRYSTAL HOST ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF A DICHROIC MIXTURE * Order Parameter and Dichroic Ratio * EFFECT OF LENGTH OF DICHROIC DYES ON THE ORDER PARAMETER * EFFECT OF THE BREADTH OF DYE ON THE ORDER PARAMETER * EFFECT OF THE HOST ON THE ORDER PARAMETER * TEMPERATURE VARIATION OF THE ORDER PARAMETER OF DYES IN A LIQUID CRYSTAL HOST * IMPACT OF DYE CONCENTRATION ON THE ORDER PARAMETER * Temperature Range * Viscosity * Dielectric Constant and Anisotropy * Refractive Indices and Birefringence * solubility43,153-156 * Absorption Wavelength and Auxochromic Groups * Molecular Engineering of Dichroic Dyes * OPTICAL, ELECTRO-OPTICAL AND LIFE PARAMETERS * Colour And CIE Colour space120,160-166 * CIE 1931 COLOUR SPACE * CIE 1976 CHROMATICITY DIAGRAM * CIE UNIFORM COLOUR SPACES & COLOUR DIFFERENCE FORMULAE120,160-166 * Electro-Optical Parameters120 * LUMINANCE * CONTRAST AND CONTRAST RATIO * SWITCHING SPEED * Life Parameters and Failure Modes * DICHROIC MIXTURE FORMULATION * Monochrome Mixture * Black Mixture * ACHROMATIC BLACK MIXTURE FOR HEILMEIER DISPLAYS * Effect of Illuminant on Display Colour * Colour of the Field-On State * Effect of Dye Linewidth * Optimum Centroid Wavelengths * Effect of Dye Concentration * Mixture Formulation Using More Than Three Dyes * ACHROMATIC MIXTURE FOR WHITE-TAYLOR TYPE DISPLAYS * HEILMEIER DISPLAYS * Theoretical Modelling * Threshold Characteristic * Effects of Dye Concentration on Electro-optical Parameters * Effect of Cholesteric Doping * Effect of Alignment * Effect of Thickness * Impact of Order Parameter * Impact of the Host * Impact of Polarizer * Colour Applications * Multiplexing * QUARTER WAVE PLATE DICHROIC DISPLAYS * Operational Principle and Display Configuration11-13 * Electro-Optical Performance * DYE-DOPED TN DISPLAYS * Threshold Characteristic, Contrast Ratio and Switching Speed * PHASE CHANGE EFFECT DICHROIC LCDs * Theoretical Background * Threshold Characteristic and Molecular Orientation * MOLECULAR ORIENTATION DURING FIELD-INDUCED PHASE TRANSITION WITH HOMOGENEOUS WALL ALIGNMENT * MOLECULAR ORIENTATION DURING FIELD-INDUCED PHASE TRANSITION WITH HOMEOTROPIC WALL ALIGNMENT * Contrast Ratio, Transmission, Brightness and Switching Speed3,7,10,198-214 * Memory or Reminiscent Contrast * Electro-optical Performance vs. Temperature * Multiplexing Phase Change Dichroic LCDs * DOUBLE CELL DICHROIC LCDs3,9,14-17,232-234 * Double Cell Nematic Dichroic LCD3,8,9,14,15,233 * Double Cell One Pitch Cholesteric LCD16,17 * Double Cell Phase Change Dichroic LCD214,232 * POSITIVE MODE DICHROIC LCDS3,8,9 * Positive Mode Heilmeier Cells3,8,9,43,77,78,235-238 * USING PLEOCHROIC DYES3,8,9,43,235-238 * USING NEGATIVE DICHROIC DYES3,8,9,63,77,78156 * DUAL FREQUENCY ADDRESSED DICHROIC DISPLAYS75,238 * Positive Mode Dichroic LCDs Using λ/4 Plate * Positive Mode Double Cell Dichroic LCD * Positive Mode Dichroic LCDs Using Special Electrode patterns7,8,239-241 * Positive Mode Phase Change Dichroic LCDs3,8,9,230,243-248 * Dichroic LCDs Using an Admixture of Pleochroic and Negative Dichroic Dyes78,118 * SUPERTWIST DICHROIC EFFECT (SDE) DISPLAYS21-23 * FERROELECTRIC DICHROIC LCDs24-27 * Devices Using A Single Polarizer * Devices Using No Polarizer24-27 * POLYMER DISPERSED DICHROIC LCDs28-30,252-259 * DICHROIC POLYMER LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS * Heilmeier Type Displays * Guest-Host Cell Using an Admixture Of L.C. Polymer and Low Molecular Weight Liquid Crysta As Host * Polymeric Ferroelectric Dichroic LCDs * SMECTIC A DICHROIC LCDs * Laser Addressed Dichroic SA Displays * Thermally and Electrically Addressed Dichroic SA Displays * FLUORESCENT DICHROIC LCDs * ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS * REFERENCES

Effects of the gaseous and liquid water content of the atmosphere on range delay and Doppler frequency

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flock, W. L.

1981-01-01

When high precision is required for range measurement on Earth space paths, it is necessary to correct as accurately as possible for excess range delays due to the dry air, water vapor, and liquid water content of the atmosphere. Calculations based on representative values of atmospheric parameters are useful for illustrating the order of magnitude of the expected delays. Range delay, time delay, and phase delay are simply and directly related. Doppler frequency variations or noise are proportional to the time rate of change of excess range delay. Tropospheric effects were examined as part of an overall consideration of the capability of precision two way ranging and Doppler systems.

Model reductions using a projection formulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De Villemagne, Christian; Skelton, Robert E.

1987-01-01

A new methodology for model reduction of MIMO systems exploits the notion of an oblique projection. A reduced model is uniquely defined by a projector whose range space and orthogonal to the null space are chosen among the ranges of generalized controllability and observability matrices. The reduced order models match various combinations (chosen by the designer) of four types of parameters of the full order system associated with (1) low frequency response, (2) high frequency response, (3) low frequency power spectral density, and (4) high frequency power spectral density. Thus, the proposed method is a computationally simple substitute for many existing methods, has an extreme flexibility to embrace combinations of existing methods and offers some new features.

A long-range-corrected density functional that performs well for both ground-state properties and time-dependent density functional theory excitation energies, including charge-transfer excited states.

PubMed

Rohrdanz, Mary A; Martins, Katie M; Herbert, John M

2009-02-07

We introduce a hybrid density functional that asymptotically incorporates full Hartree-Fock exchange, based on the long-range-corrected exchange-hole model of Henderson et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 128, 194105 (2008)]. The performance of this functional, for ground-state properties and for vertical excitation energies within time-dependent density functional theory, is systematically evaluated, and optimal values are determined for the range-separation parameter, omega, and for the fraction of short-range Hartree-Fock exchange. We denote the new functional as LRC-omegaPBEh, since it reduces to the standard PBEh hybrid functional (also known as PBE0 or PBE1PBE) for a certain choice of its two parameters. Upon optimization of these parameters against a set of ground- and excited-state benchmarks, the LRC-omegaPBEh functional fulfills three important requirements: (i) It outperforms the PBEh hybrid functional for ground-state atomization energies and reaction barrier heights; (ii) it yields statistical errors comparable to PBEh for valence excitation energies in both small and medium-sized molecules; and (iii) its performance for charge-transfer excitations is comparable to its performance for valence excitations. LRC-omegaPBEh, with the parameters determined herein, is the first density functional that satisfies all three criteria. Notably, short-range Hartree-Fock exchange appears to be necessary in order to obtain accurate ground-state properties and vertical excitation energies using the same value of omega.

5f delocalization-induced suppression of quadrupolar order in U(Pd 1-xPt x)₃

DOE PAGES

Walker, H. C.; Le, M. D.; McEwen, K. A.; ...

2011-12-27

We present bulk magnetic and transport measurements and x-ray resonant scattering measurements on U(Pd 1-xPt x)₃ for x=0.005 and 0.01, which demonstrate the high sensitivity of the quadrupolar order in the canonical antiferroquadrupolar ordered system UPd₃ to doping with platinum. Bulk measurements for x=0.005 reveal behavior similar to that seen in UPd₃, albeit at a lower temperature, and x-ray resonant scattering provides evidence of quadrupolar order described by the Q xy order parameter. In contrast, bulk measurements reveal only an indistinct transition in x=0.01, consistent with the observation of short-range quadrupolar order in our x-ray resonant scattering results.

Linear and nonlinear spectroscopy from quantum master equations.

PubMed

Fetherolf, Jonathan H; Berkelbach, Timothy C

2017-12-28

We investigate the accuracy of the second-order time-convolutionless (TCL2) quantum master equation for the calculation of linear and nonlinear spectroscopies of multichromophore systems. We show that even for systems with non-adiabatic coupling, the TCL2 master equation predicts linear absorption spectra that are accurate over an extremely broad range of parameters and well beyond what would be expected based on the perturbative nature of the approach; non-equilibrium population dynamics calculated with TCL2 for identical parameters are significantly less accurate. For third-order (two-dimensional) spectroscopy, the importance of population dynamics and the violation of the so-called quantum regression theorem degrade the accuracy of TCL2 dynamics. To correct these failures, we combine the TCL2 approach with a classical ensemble sampling of slow microscopic bath degrees of freedom, leading to an efficient hybrid quantum-classical scheme that displays excellent accuracy over a wide range of parameters. In the spectroscopic setting, the success of such a hybrid scheme can be understood through its separate treatment of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. Importantly, the presented approach has the computational scaling of TCL2, with the modest addition of an embarrassingly parallel prefactor associated with ensemble sampling. The presented approach can be understood as a generalized inhomogeneous cumulant expansion technique, capable of treating multilevel systems with non-adiabatic dynamics.

Linear and nonlinear spectroscopy from quantum master equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fetherolf, Jonathan H.; Berkelbach, Timothy C.

2017-12-01

We investigate the accuracy of the second-order time-convolutionless (TCL2) quantum master equation for the calculation of linear and nonlinear spectroscopies of multichromophore systems. We show that even for systems with non-adiabatic coupling, the TCL2 master equation predicts linear absorption spectra that are accurate over an extremely broad range of parameters and well beyond what would be expected based on the perturbative nature of the approach; non-equilibrium population dynamics calculated with TCL2 for identical parameters are significantly less accurate. For third-order (two-dimensional) spectroscopy, the importance of population dynamics and the violation of the so-called quantum regression theorem degrade the accuracy of TCL2 dynamics. To correct these failures, we combine the TCL2 approach with a classical ensemble sampling of slow microscopic bath degrees of freedom, leading to an efficient hybrid quantum-classical scheme that displays excellent accuracy over a wide range of parameters. In the spectroscopic setting, the success of such a hybrid scheme can be understood through its separate treatment of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. Importantly, the presented approach has the computational scaling of TCL2, with the modest addition of an embarrassingly parallel prefactor associated with ensemble sampling. The presented approach can be understood as a generalized inhomogeneous cumulant expansion technique, capable of treating multilevel systems with non-adiabatic dynamics.

A Survey of Cassini CAPS Ion Observations During Titan Flybys TA-T83

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodson, A. K.; Johnson, R. E.; Smith, H. T.; Crary, F. J.

2015-12-01

The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) sampled Titan's plasma environment during each of 83 encounters with the moon between orbit insertion on June 30, 2004 and June 1, 2012. The CAPS Ion Mass Spectrometer (IMS) acquired energy- and mass-per-charge-discriminated time-of-flight (TOF) spectra associated with ionospheric H+, H2+, H3+, CHx+, and C2Hx+ during at least 68 of those encounters. Herein we discuss ion energy distributions extracted from these spectra, each accumulated over an ~4 minute interval along the spacecraft trajectory. This is accomplished by fitting calibration peak models to TOF spectra in order to determine the TOF range associated with each aforementioned ion group, and then summing counts over each TOF range to obtain well-resolved energy peaks for each group. Energy distributions are determined by fitting the logistic power peak function to each of the resulting energy spectra. We then plot the resulting distribution parameters (peak energy, peak amplitude, and peak width or temperature) for each species and each encounter against Titan latitude, longitude, and altitude to generate a map of ion parameters. In addition, the encounters are grouped according to ambient plasma and magnetic field measurements in order to characterize the ion distribution parameters in different regions of Saturn's magnetosphere.

Memprot: a program to model the detergent corona around a membrane protein based on SEC–SAXS data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pérez, Javier, E-mail: javier.perez@synchrotron-soleil.fr; Koutsioubas, Alexandros; Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers, BP 48, Saint-Aubin, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette

Systematic SAXS simulations have been analysed over a wide range of parameters in order to better understand the detergent corona around a membrane protein. The application of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to structural investigations of transmembrane proteins in detergent solution has been hampered by two main inherent hurdles. On the one hand, the formation of a detergent corona around the hydrophobic region of the protein strongly modifies the scattering curve of the protein. On the other hand, free micelles of detergent without a precisely known concentration coexist with the protein–detergent complex in solution, therefore adding an uncontrolled signal. To gainmore » robust structural information on such systems from SAXS data, in previous work, advantage was taken of the online combination of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and SAXS, and the detergent corona around aquaporin-0, a membrane protein of known structure, could be modelled. A precise geometrical model of the corona, shaped as an elliptical torus, was determined. Here, in order to better understand the correlations between the corona model parameters and to discuss the uniqueness of the model, this work was revisited by analyzing systematic SAXS simulations over a wide range of parameters of the torus.« less

Methods for Probabilistic Radiological Dose Assessment at a High-Level Radioactive Waste Repository.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maheras, Steven James

Methods were developed to assess and evaluate the uncertainty in offsite and onsite radiological dose at a high-level radioactive waste repository to show reasonable assurance that compliance with applicable regulatory requirements will be achieved. Uncertainty in offsite dose was assessed by employing a stochastic precode in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulation using an offsite radiological dose assessment code. Uncertainty in onsite dose was assessed by employing a discrete-event simulation model of repository operations in conjunction with an occupational radiological dose assessment model. Complementary cumulative distribution functions of offsite and onsite dose were used to illustrate reasonable assurance. Offsite dose analyses were performed for iodine -129, cesium-137, strontium-90, and plutonium-239. Complementary cumulative distribution functions of offsite dose were constructed; offsite dose was lognormally distributed with a two order of magnitude range. However, plutonium-239 results were not lognormally distributed and exhibited less than one order of magnitude range. Onsite dose analyses were performed for the preliminary inspection, receiving and handling, and the underground areas of the repository. Complementary cumulative distribution functions of onsite dose were constructed and exhibited less than one order of magnitude range. A preliminary sensitivity analysis of the receiving and handling areas was conducted using a regression metamodel. Sensitivity coefficients and partial correlation coefficients were used as measures of sensitivity. Model output was most sensitive to parameters related to cask handling operations. Model output showed little sensitivity to parameters related to cask inspections.

The Compatibility of Friedmann Cosmological Models with Observed Properties of Gamma-Ray Bursts and a Large Hubble Constant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horack, John M.; Koshut, Thomas M.; Mallozzi, Robert S.; Emslie, A. Gordon; Meegan, Charles A.

1996-01-01

The distance scale to cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRB's) is still uncertain by many orders of magnitude; however, one viable scenario places GRB's at cosmological distances, thereby permitting them to be used as tracers of the cosmological expansion over a significant range of redshifts zeta. Also, several recent measurements of the Hubble constant H(sub 0) appearing in the referred literature report values of 70-80 km/s /Mpc. Although there is significant debate regarding these measurements, we proceed here under the assumption that they are evidence of a large value for H(sub 0). This is done in order to investigate the additional constraints on cosmological models that can be obtained under this hypothesis when combined with the age of the universe and the brightness distribution of cosmological gamma-ray bursts. We show that the range of cosmological models that can be consistent with the GRB brightness distribution, a Hubble constant of 70-80 km/s/Mpc, and a minimum age of the universe of 13-15 Gyr is constrained significantly, largely independent of a wide range of assumptions regarding the evolutionary nature of the burst population. Low-density, Lambda greater than 0 cosmological models with deceleration parameter in the range -1 less than q(sub 0) less than 0 and density parameter sigma(sub 0) in the range approximately equals 0.10-0.25(Omega(sub 0) approximately equals 0.2-0.5) are strongly favored.

Modified quadrupole mass analyzer RGA-100 for beam plasma research in forevacuum pressure range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zolotukhin, D. B.; Tyunkov, A. V.; Yushkov, Yu. G., E-mail: yuyushkov@gmail.com

2015-12-15

The industrial quadrupole RGA-100 residual gas analyzer was modified for the research of electron beam-generated plasma at forevacuum pressure range. The standard ionizer of the RGA-100 was replaced by three electrode extracting unit. We made the optimization of operation parameters in order to provide the maximum values of measured currents of any ion species. The modified analyzer was successfully tested with beam plasma of argon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrocarbons.

Hidden magnetism in periodically modulated one dimensional dipolar fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fazzini, S.; Montorsi, A.; Roncaglia, M.; Barbiero, L.

2017-12-01

The experimental realization of time-dependent ultracold lattice systems has paved the way towards the implementation of new Hubbard-like Hamiltonians. We show that in a one-dimensional two-components lattice dipolar Fermi gas the competition between long range repulsion and correlated hopping induced by periodically modulated on-site interaction allows for the formation of hidden magnetic phases, with degenerate protected edge modes. The magnetism, characterized solely by string-like nonlocal order parameters, manifests in the charge and/or in the spin degrees of freedom. Such behavior is enlighten by employing Luttinger liquid theory and numerical methods. The range of parameters for which hidden magnetism is present can be reached by means of the currently available experimental setups and probes.

Applying stochastic small-scale damage functions to German winter storms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prahl, B. F.; Rybski, D.; Kropp, J. P.; Burghoff, O.; Held, H.

2012-03-01

Analyzing insurance-loss data we derive stochastic storm-damage functions for residential buildings. On district level we fit power-law relations between daily loss and maximum wind speed, typically spanning more than 4 orders of magnitude. The estimated exponents for 439 German districts roughly range from 8 to 12. In addition, we find correlations among the parameters and socio-demographic data, which we employ in a simplified parametrization of the damage function with just 3 independent parameters for each district. A Monte Carlo method is used to generate loss estimates and confidence bounds of daily and annual storm damages in Germany. Our approach reproduces the annual progression of winter storm losses and enables to estimate daily losses over a wide range of magnitudes.

Cosmology from galaxy clusters as observed by Planck

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pierpaoli, Elena

We propose to use current all-sky data on galaxy clusters in the radio/infrared bands in order to constrain cosmology. This will be achieved performing parameter estimation with number counts and power spectra for galaxy clusters detected by Planck through their Sunyaev—Zeldovich signature. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to use clusters as tracers of matter density in order to provide information about fundamental properties of our Universe, such as the law of gravity on large scale, early Universe phenomena, structure formation and the nature of dark matter and dark energy. We will leverage on the availability of a larger and deeper cluster catalog from the latest Planck data release in order to include, for the first time, the cluster power spectrum in the cosmological parameter determination analysis. Furthermore, we will extend clusters' analysis to cosmological models not yet investigated by the Planck collaboration. These aims require a diverse set of activities, ranging from the characterization of the clusters' selection function, the choice of the cosmological cluster sample to be used for parameter estimation, the construction of mock samples in the various cosmological models with correct correlation properties in order to produce reliable selection functions and noise covariance matrices, and finally the construction of the appropriate likelihood for number counts and power spectra. We plan to make the final code available to the community and compatible with the most widely used cosmological parameter estimation code. This research makes use of data from the NASA satellites Planck and, less directly, Chandra, in order to constrain cosmology; and therefore perfectly fits the NASA objectives and the specifications of this solicitation.

Theoretical regime diagrams for thermally driven flows in a beta-plane channel in the presence of variable gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Geisler, J. E.; Fowlis, W. W.

1980-01-01

The effect of a power law gravity field on baroclinic instability is examined, with a focus on the case of inverse fifth power gravity, since this is the power law produced when terrestrial gravity is simulated in spherical geometry by a dielectric force. Growth rates are obtained of unstable normal modes as a function of parameters of the problem by solving a second order differential equation numerically. It is concluded that over the range of parameter space explored, there is no significant change in the character of theoretical regime diagrams if the vertically averaged gravity is used as parameter.

Diffusion of non-Gaussianity in heavy ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitazawa, Masakiyo; Asakawa, Masayuki; Ono, Hirosato

2014-05-01

We investigate the time evolution of higher order cumulants of bulk fluctuations of conserved charges in the hadronic stage in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The dynamical evolution of non-Gaussian fluctuations is modeled by the diffusion master equation. Using this model we predict that the fourth-order cumulant of net-electric charge is suppressed compared with the recently observed second-order one at ALICE for a reasonable parameter range. Significance of the measurements of various cumulants as functions of rapidity window to probe dynamical history of the hot medium created by heavy ion collisions is emphasized.

Visualization in mechanics: the dynamics of an unbalanced roller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cumber, Peter S.

2017-04-01

It is well known that mechanical engineering students often find mechanics a difficult area to grasp. This article describes a system of equations describing the motion of a balanced and an unbalanced roller constrained by a pivot arm. A wide range of dynamics can be simulated with the model. The equations of motion are embedded in a graphical user interface for its numerical solution in MATLAB. This allows a student's focus to be on the influence of different parameters on the system dynamics. The simulation tool can be used as a dynamics demonstrator in a lecture or as an educational tool driven by the imagination of the student. By way of demonstration the simulation tool has been applied to a range of roller-pivot arm configurations. In addition, approximations to the equations of motion are explored and a second-order model is shown to be accurate for a limited range of parameters.

Smectic order induced at homeotropically aligned nematic surfaces: A neutron reflection study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau, Y. G. J.; Richardson, Robert M.; Cubitt, R.

2006-06-01

Neutron reflection was used to measure the buildup of layers at a solid surface as the smectic phase is approached from higher temperatures in a nematic liquid crystal. The liquid crystal was 4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CB), and the solid was silicon with one of five different surface treatments that induce homeotropic alignment: (i) silicon oxide; (ii) a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide coating; (iii) an octadecyltrichlorosilane monolayer; (iv) an n-n-dimethyl-n-octadecyl-3- aminopropyltrimethyloxysilyl chloride monolayer; and (v) a lecithin coating. The development of surface smectic layers in the nematic phase of 8CB was followed by measuring specular reflectivity and monitoring the pseudo-Bragg peak from the layers. The scattering data were processed to remove the scattering from short-ranged smecticlike fluctuations in the bulk nematic phase from the specular reflection. The pseudo-Bragg peak at scattering vector Q ˜0.2Å-1 therefore corresponded to the formation of long-range smectic layers at the surface. The amplitude of the smectic density wave decayed with increasing distance from the surface, and the characteristic thickness of this smectic region diverged as the transition temperature was approached. It was found that the characteristic thickness for some of the surface treatments was greater than the correlation length in the bulk nematic. The different surfaces gave different values of the smectic order parameter at the surface. This suggests that the interaction with the surface is significantly different from a "hard wall" which would give the same values of the smectic order parameter and penetration depths similar to the bulk correlation length. Comparison of the different surfaces also suggested that the strength and range of the surface smectic ordering may be varied independently.

Hidden order and flux attachment in symmetry-protected topological phases: A Laughlin-like approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ringel, Zohar; Simon, Steven H.

2015-05-01

Topological phases of matter are distinct from conventional ones by their lack of a local order parameter. Still in the quantum Hall effect, hidden order parameters exist and constitute the basis for the celebrated composite-particle approach. Whether similar hidden orders exist in 2D and 3D symmetry protected topological phases (SPTs) is a largely open question. Here, we introduce a new approach for generating SPT ground states, based on a generalization of the Laughlin wave function. This approach gives a simple and unifying picture of some classes of SPTs in 1D and 2D, and reveals their hidden order and flux attachment structures. For the 1D case, we derive exact relations between the wave functions obtained in this manner and group cohomology wave functions, as well as matrix product state classification. For the 2D Ising SPT, strong analytical and numerical evidence is given to show that the wave function obtained indeed describes the desired SPT. The Ising SPT then appears as a state with quasi-long-range order in composite degrees of freedom consisting of Ising-symmetry charges attached to Ising-symmetry fluxes.

Measuring order in disordered systems and disorder in ordered systems: Random matrix theory for isotropic and nematic liquid crystals and its perspective on pseudo-nematic domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yan; Stratt, Richard M.

2018-05-01

Surprisingly long-ranged intermolecular correlations begin to appear in isotropic (orientationally disordered) phases of liquid crystal forming molecules when the temperature or density starts to close in on the boundary with the nematic (ordered) phase. Indeed, the presence of slowly relaxing, strongly orientationally correlated, sets of molecules under putatively disordered conditions ("pseudo-nematic domains") has been apparent for some time from light-scattering and optical-Kerr experiments. Still, a fully microscopic characterization of these domains has been lacking. We illustrate in this paper how pseudo-nematic domains can be studied in even relatively small computer simulations by looking for order-parameter tensor fluctuations much larger than one would expect from random matrix theory. To develop this idea, we show that random matrix theory offers an exact description of how the probability distribution for liquid-crystal order parameter tensors converges to its macroscopic-system limit. We then illustrate how domain properties can be inferred from finite-size-induced deviations from these random matrix predictions. A straightforward generalization of time-independent random matrix theory also allows us to prove that the analogous random matrix predictions for the time dependence of the order-parameter tensor are similarly exact in the macroscopic limit, and that relaxation behavior of the domains can be seen in the breakdown of the finite-size scaling required by that random-matrix theory.

Broadband dynamic phase matching of high-order harmonic generation by a high-peak-power soliton pump field in a gas-filled hollow photonic-crystal fiber.

PubMed

Serebryannikov, Evgenii E; von der Linde, Dietrich; Zheltikov, Aleksei M

2008-05-01

Hollow-core photonic-crystal fibers are shown to enable dynamically phase-matched high-order harmonic generation by a gigawatt soliton pump field. With a careful design of the waveguide structure and an appropriate choice of input-pulse and gas parameters, a remarkably broadband phase matching can be achieved for a soliton pump field and a large group of optical harmonics in the soft-x-ray-extreme-ultraviolet spectral range.

Impact parameter sensitive study of inner-shell atomic processes in the experimental storage ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gumberidze, A.; Kozhuharov, C.; Zhang, R. T.; Trotsenko, S.; Kozhedub, Y. S.; DuBois, R. D.; Beyer, H. F.; Blumenhagen, K.-H.; Brandau, C.; Bräuning-Demian, A.; Chen, W.; Forstner, O.; Gao, B.; Gassner, T.; Grisenti, R. E.; Hagmann, S.; Hillenbrand, P.-M.; Indelicato, P.; Kumar, A.; Lestinsky, M.; Litvinov, Yu. A.; Petridis, N.; Schury, D.; Spillmann, U.; Trageser, C.; Trassinelli, M.; Tu, X.; Stöhlker, Th.

2017-10-01

In this work, we present a pilot experiment in the experimental storage ring (ESR) at GSI devoted to impact parameter sensitive studies of inner shell atomic processes for low-energy (heavy-) ion-atom collisions. The experiment was performed with bare and He-like xenon ions (Xe54+, Xe52+) colliding with neutral xenon gas atoms, resulting in a symmetric collision system. This choice of the projectile charge states was made in order to compare the effect of a filled K-shell with the empty one. The projectile and target X-rays have been measured at different observation angles for all impact parameters as well as for the impact parameter range of ∼35-70 fm.

The generalized fracture criteria based on the multi-parameter representation of the crack tip stress field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stepanova, L. V.

2017-12-01

The paper is devoted to the multi-parameter asymptotic description of the stress field near the crack tip of a finite crack in an infinite isotropic elastic plane medium subject to 1) tensile stress; 2) in-plane shear; 3) mixed mode loading for a wide range of mode-mixity situations (Mode I and Mode II). The multi-parameter series expansion of stress tensor components containing higher-order terms is obtained. All the coefficients of the multiparameter series expansion of the stress field are given. The main focus is on the discussion of the influence of considering the higher-order terms of the Williams expansion. The analysis of the higher-order terms in the stress field is performed. It is shown that the larger the distance from the crack tip, the more terms it is necessary to keep in the asymptotic series expansion. Therefore, it can be concluded that several more higher-order terms of the Williams expansion should be used for the stress field description when the distance from the crack tip is not small enough. The crack propagation direction angle is calculated. Two fracture criteria, the maximum tangential stress criterion and the strain energy density criterion, are used. The multi-parameter form of the two commonly used fracture criteria is introduced and tested. Thirty and more terms of the Williams series expansion for the near-crack-tip stress field enable the angle to be calculated more precisely.

Dynamical susceptibility near a long-wavelength critical point with a nonconserved order parameter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, Avraham; Lederer, Samuel; Chowdhury, Debanjan; Berg, Erez; Chubukov, Andrey

2018-04-01

We study the dynamic response of a two-dimensional system of itinerant fermions in the vicinity of a uniform (Q =0 ) Ising nematic quantum critical point of d - wave symmetry. The nematic order parameter is not a conserved quantity, and this permits a nonzero value of the fermionic polarization in the d - wave channel even for vanishing momentum and finite frequency: Π (q =0 ,Ωm)≠0 . For weak coupling between the fermions and the nematic order parameter (i.e., the coupling is small compared to the Fermi energy), we perturbatively compute Π (q =0 ,Ωm)≠0 over a parametrically broad range of frequencies where the fermionic self-energy Σ (ω ) is irrelevant, and use Eliashberg theory to compute Π (q =0 ,Ωm) in the non-Fermi-liquid regime at smaller frequencies, where Σ (ω )>ω . We find that Π (q =0 ,Ω ) is a constant, plus a frequency-dependent correction that goes as |Ω | at high frequencies, crossing over to |Ω| 1 /3 at lower frequencies. The |Ω| 1 /3 scaling holds also in a non-Fermi-liquid regime. The nonvanishing of Π (q =0 ,Ω ) gives rise to additional structure in the imaginary part of the nematic susceptibility χ″(q ,Ω ) at Ω >vFq , in marked contrast to the behavior of the susceptibility for a conserved order parameter. This additional structure may be detected in Raman scattering experiments in the d - wave geometry.

SU-E-T-248: An Extended Generalized Equivalent Uniform Dose Accounting for Dose-Range Dependency of Radio-Biological Parameters.

PubMed

Troeller, A; Soehn, M; Yan, D

2012-06-01

Introducing an extended, phenomenological, generalized equivalent uniform dose (eEUD) that incorporates multiple volume-effect parameters for different dose-ranges. The generalized EUD (gEUD) was introduced as an estimate of the EUD that incorporates a single, tissue-specific parameter - the volume-effect-parameter (VEP) 'a'. As a purely phenomenological concept, its radio-biological equivalency to a given inhomogeneous dose distribution is not a priori clear and mechanistic models based on radio-biological parameters are assumed to better resemble the underlying biology. However, for normal organs mechanistic models are hard to derive, since the structural organization of the tissue plays a significant role. Consequently, phenomenological approaches might be especially useful in order to describe dose-response for normal tissues. However, the single parameter used to estimate the gEUD may not suffice in accurately representing more complex biological effects that have been discussed in the literature. For instance, radio-biological parameters and hence the effects of fractionation are known to be dose-range dependent. Therefore, we propose an extended phenomenological eEUD formula that incorporates multiple VEPs accounting for dose-range dependency. The eEUD introduced is a piecewise polynomial expansion of the gEUD formula. In general, it allows for an arbitrary number of VEPs, each valid for a certain dose-range. We proved that the formula fulfills required mathematical and physical criteria such as invertibility of the underlying dose-effect and continuity in dose. Furthermore, it contains the gEUD as a special case, if all VEPs are equal to 'a' from the gEUD model. The eEUD is a concept that expands the gEUD such that it can theoretically represent dose-range dependent effects. Its practicality, however, remains to be shown. As a next step, this will be done by estimating the eEUD from patient data using maximum-likelihood based NTCP modelling in the same way it is commonly done for the gEUD. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Estimation of genetic parameters related to eggshell strength using random regression models.

PubMed

Guo, J; Ma, M; Qu, L; Shen, M; Dou, T; Wang, K

2015-01-01

This study examined the changes in eggshell strength and the genetic parameters related to this trait throughout a hen's laying life using random regression. The data were collected from a crossbred population between 2011 and 2014, where the eggshell strength was determined repeatedly for 2260 hens. Using random regression models (RRMs), several Legendre polynomials were employed to estimate the fixed, direct genetic and permanent environment effects. The residual effects were treated as independently distributed with heterogeneous variance for each test week. The direct genetic variance was included with second-order Legendre polynomials and the permanent environment with third-order Legendre polynomials. The heritability of eggshell strength ranged from 0.26 to 0.43, the repeatability ranged between 0.47 and 0.69, and the estimated genetic correlations between test weeks was high at > 0.67. The first eigenvalue of the genetic covariance matrix accounted for about 97% of the sum of all the eigenvalues. The flexibility and statistical power of RRM suggest that this model could be an effective method to improve eggshell quality and to reduce losses due to cracked eggs in a breeding plan.

The kinetic analysis of the pyrolysis of agricultural residue under non-isothermal conditions.

PubMed

Gai, Chao; Dong, Yuping; Zhang, Tonghui

2013-01-01

The study concerns the pyrolysis kinetics of agricultural wastes, corn straw (CS) and rice husk (RH). Thermogravimetric experiments were carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer under inert conditions, and operated at different heating rates ranging from 5 to 40K/min. As the increment of heating rates, the variations of characteristic parameters from the TG-DTG curves were determined. Iso-conversional Starink approach and Avrami theory were used to evaluate the kinetic parameters, including apparent activation energy and reaction order. For the range of conversion fraction investigated (20-80%), the apparent activation energy of CS initially increased from 98.715 to 148.062 kJ/mol and then decreased to 144.387 kJ/mol afterwards, whilst the apparent activation energy of RH increased gradually from 50.492 to 88.994 kJ/mol. With varied temperatures (517-697 K), the corresponding value of reaction order was increased from 0.288 and 0.359 to 0.441 and 0.692, along with a decrease to 0.306 and 0.445, respectively. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Currents and Flows in Distant Magnetospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kivelson, Margaret Galland

2000-01-01

Space scientists have explored, described, and explained the terrestrial magnetosphere for four decades. Rarely do they point out that the planetary and solar wind parameters controlling the size, shape, and activity of Earth's magnetosphere map out only a small portion of the space of dimensionless parameters that govern magnetospheric properties. With the discovery of Ganymede's magnetosphere, the range of parameters relevant to magnetospheric studies has grown by orders of magnitude. Consider the extremes of Ganymede's and Jupiter's magnetospheres. Jupiter's magnetosphere forms within a plasma flowing at super-Alfvenic speed, whereas Ganymede's forms in a sub-Alfvenic flow. The scale sizes of these magnetospheres, characterized by distances to the magnetopause of order 7x10(exp 6) km and 5x10(exp 3) km, respectively, differ by three orders of magnitude, ranging from 100 to 0.1 times the scale of Earth's magnetosphere. The current systems that control the structure and dynamics of a magnetosphere depend on specific plasma and field properties. Magnetopause currents at Ganymede differ greatly from the forms familiar for Earth and Jupiter, principally because the Mach number of the ambient plasma flow greatly influences the shape of the magnetosphere. A magnetodisk current, present at Jupiter because of its rapid rotation, is absent at Earth and Ganymede. The ring current, extensively investigated at Earth, is probably unimportant at Ganymede because the dynamical variations of the external flow are slow. The ring current is subsumed within the magnetodisk current at Jupiter. This paper describes and contrasts aspects of these and other current systems for the three bodies.

15N CSA tensors and 15N-1H dipolar couplings of protein hydrophobic core residues investigated by static solid-state NMR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vugmeyster, Liliya; Ostrovsky, Dmitry; Fu, Riqiang

2015-10-01

In this work, we assess the usefulness of static 15N NMR techniques for the determination of the 15N chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensor parameters and 15N-1H dipolar splittings in powder protein samples. By using five single labeled samples of the villin headpiece subdomain protein in a hydrated lyophilized powder state, we determine the backbone 15N CSA tensors at two temperatures, 22 and -35 °C, in order to get a snapshot of the variability across the residues and as a function of temperature. All sites probed belonged to the hydrophobic core and most of them were part of α-helical regions. The values of the anisotropy (which include the effect of the dynamics) varied between 130 and 156 ppm at 22 °C, while the values of the asymmetry were in the 0.32-0.082 range. The Leu-75 and Leu-61 backbone sites exhibited high mobility based on the values of their temperature-dependent anisotropy parameters. Under the assumption that most differences stem from dynamics, we obtained the values of the motional order parameters for the 15N backbone sites. While a simple one-dimensional line shape experiment was used for the determination of the 15N CSA parameters, a more advanced approach based on the ;magic sandwich; SAMMY pulse sequence (Nevzorov and Opella, 2003) was employed for the determination of the 15N-1H dipolar patterns, which yielded estimates of the dipolar couplings. Accordingly, the motional order parameters for the dipolar interaction were obtained. It was found that the order parameters from the CSA and dipolar measurements are highly correlated, validating that the variability between the residues is governed by the differences in dynamics. The values of the parameters obtained in this work can serve as reference values for developing more advanced magic-angle spinning recoupling techniques for multiple labeled samples.

Deep-space navigation with differenced data types. Part 3: An expanded information content and sensitivity analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Estefan, J. A.; Thurman, S. W.

1992-01-01

An approximate six-parameter analytic model for Earth-based differential range measurements is presented and is used to derive a representative analytic approximation for differenced Doppler measurements. The analytical models are tasked to investigate the ability of these data types to estimate spacecraft geocentric angular motion, Deep Space Network station oscillator (clock/frequency) offsets, and signal-path calibration errors over a period of a few days, in the presence of systematic station location and transmission media calibration errors. Quantitative results indicate that a few differenced Doppler plus ranging passes yield angular position estimates with a precision on the order of 0.1 to 0.4 micro-rad, and angular rate precision on the order of 10 to 25 x 10(exp -12) rad/sec, assuming no a priori information on the coordinate parameters. Sensitivity analyses suggest that troposphere zenith delay calibration error is the dominant systematic error source in most of the tracking scenarios investigated; as expected, the differenced Doppler data were found to be much more sensitive to troposphere calibration errors than differenced range. By comparison, results computed using wideband and narrowband (delta) VLBI under similar circumstances yielded angular precisions of 0.07 to 0.4 micro-rad, and angular rate precisions of 0.5 to 1.0 x 10(exp -12) rad/sec.

Deep-space navigation with differenced data types. Part 3: An expanded information content and sensitivity analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Estefan, J. A.; Thurman, S. W.

1992-01-01

An approximate six-parameter analytic model for Earth-based differenced range measurements is presented and is used to derive a representative analytic approximation for differenced Doppler measurements. The analytical models are tasked to investigate the ability of these data types to estimate spacecraft geocentric angular motion, Deep Space Network station oscillator (clock/frequency) offsets, and signal-path calibration errors over a period of a few days, in the presence of systematic station location and transmission media calibration errors. Quantitative results indicate that a few differenced Doppler plus ranging passes yield angular position estimates with a precision on the order of 0.1 to 0.4 microrad, and angular rate precision on the order of 10 to 25(10)(exp -12) rad/sec, assuming no a priori information on the coordinate parameters. Sensitivity analyses suggest that troposphere zenith delay calibration error is the dominant systematic error source in most of the tracking scenarios investigated; as expected, the differenced Doppler data were found to be much more sensitive to troposphere calibration errors than differenced range. By comparison, results computed using wide band and narrow band (delta)VLBI under similar circumstances yielded angular precisions of 0.07 to 0.4 /microrad, and angular rate precisions of 0.5 to 1.0(10)(exp -12) rad/sec.

Disordered λ φ4+ρ φ6 Landau-Ginzburg model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diaz, R. Acosta; Svaiter, N. F.; Krein, G.; Zarro, C. A. D.

2018-03-01

We discuss a disordered λ φ4+ρ φ6 Landau-Ginzburg model defined in a d -dimensional space. First we adopt the standard procedure of averaging the disorder-dependent free energy of the model. The dominant contribution to this quantity is represented by a series of the replica partition functions of the system. Next, using the replica-symmetry ansatz in the saddle-point equations, we prove that the average free energy represents a system with multiple ground states with different order parameters. For low temperatures we show the presence of metastable equilibrium states for some replica fields for a range of values of the physical parameters. Finally, going beyond the mean-field approximation, the one-loop renormalization of this model is performed, in the leading-order replica partition function.

Matching Pion-Nucleon Roy-Steiner Equations to Chiral Perturbation Theory.

PubMed

Hoferichter, Martin; Ruiz de Elvira, Jacobo; Kubis, Bastian; Meissner, Ulf-G

2015-11-06

We match the results for the subthreshold parameters of pion-nucleon scattering obtained from a solution of Roy-Steiner equations to chiral perturbation theory up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order, to extract the pertinent low-energy constants including a comprehensive analysis of systematic uncertainties and correlations. We study the convergence of the chiral series by investigating the chiral expansion of threshold parameters up to the same order and discuss the role of the Δ(1232) resonance in this context. Results for the low-energy constants are also presented in the counting scheme usually applied in chiral nuclear effective field theory, where they serve as crucial input to determine the long-range part of the nucleon-nucleon potential as well as three-nucleon forces.

Mutual information as an order parameter for quantum synchronization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ameri, V.; Eghbali-Arani, M.; Mari, A.; Farace, A.; Kheirandish, F.; Giovannetti, V.; Fazio, R.

2015-01-01

Spontaneous synchronization is a fundamental phenomenon, important in many theoretical studies and applications. Recently, this effect has been analyzed and observed in a number of physical systems close to the quantum-mechanical regime. In this work we propose mutual information as a useful order parameter which can capture the emergence of synchronization in very different contexts, ranging from semiclassical to intrinsically quantum-mechanical systems. Specifically, we first study the synchronization of two coupled Van der Pol oscillators in both classical and quantum regimes and later we consider the synchronization of two qubits inside two coupled optical cavities. In all these contexts, we find that mutual information can be used as an appropriate figure of merit for determining the synchronization phases independently of the specific details of the system.

Matching Pion-Nucleon Roy-Steiner Equations to Chiral Perturbation Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoferichter, Martin; Ruiz de Elvira, Jacobo; Kubis, Bastian; Meißner, Ulf-G.

2015-11-01

We match the results for the subthreshold parameters of pion-nucleon scattering obtained from a solution of Roy-Steiner equations to chiral perturbation theory up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order, to extract the pertinent low-energy constants including a comprehensive analysis of systematic uncertainties and correlations. We study the convergence of the chiral series by investigating the chiral expansion of threshold parameters up to the same order and discuss the role of the Δ (1232 ) resonance in this context. Results for the low-energy constants are also presented in the counting scheme usually applied in chiral nuclear effective field theory, where they serve as crucial input to determine the long-range part of the nucleon-nucleon potential as well as three-nucleon forces.

Theoretical investigation of excitonic magnetism in LaSrCoO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández Afonso, J.; Sotnikov, A.; Kuneš, J.

2018-04-01

We use the LDA+U approach to search for possible ordered ground states of LaSrCoO4. We find a staggered arrangement of magnetic multipoles to be stable over a broad range of Co 3d interaction parameters. This ordered state can be described as a spin-density-wave-type condensate of dxy \\otimes dx^2-y^2 excitons carrying spin S  =  1. Further, we construct an effective strong-coupling model, calculate the exciton dispersion and investigate closing of the exciton gap, which marks the exciton condensation instability. Comparing the layered LaSrCoO4 with its pseudo cubic analog LaCoO3, we find that for the same interaction parameters the excitonic gap is smaller (possibly vanishing) in the layered cobaltite.

On the use of published radiobiological parameters and the evaluation of NTCP models regarding lung pneumonitis in clinical breast radiotherapy.

PubMed

Svolos, Patricia; Tsougos, Ioannis; Kyrgias, Georgios; Kappas, Constantine; Theodorou, Kiki

2011-04-01

In this study we sought to evaluate and accent the importance of radiobiological parameter selection and implementation to the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models. The relative seriality (RS) and the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) models were studied. For each model, a minimum and maximum set of radiobiological parameter sets was selected from the overall published sets applied in literature and a theoretical mean parameter set was computed. In order to investigate the potential model weaknesses in NTCP estimation and to point out the correct use of model parameters, these sets were used as input to the RS and the LKB model, estimating radiation induced complications for a group of 36 breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The clinical endpoint examined was Radiation Pneumonitis. Each model was represented by a certain dose-response range when the selected parameter sets were applied. Comparing the models with their ranges, a large area of coincidence was revealed. If the parameter uncertainties (standard deviation) are included in the models, their area of coincidence might be enlarged, constraining even greater their predictive ability. The selection of the proper radiobiological parameter set for a given clinical endpoint is crucial. Published parameter values are not definite but should be accompanied by uncertainties, and one should be very careful when applying them to the NTCP models. Correct selection and proper implementation of published parameters provides a quite accurate fit of the NTCP models to the considered endpoint.

Kinetics of Polydomain Ordering at Second-Order Phase Transitions (by the Example of the AuCu3 Alloy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feldman, E. P.; Stefanovich, L. I.; Gumennyk, K. V.

2008-08-01

Kinetics of polydomain spinodal ordering is studied in alloys of AuCu3 type. We introduce four non-conserved long-range order parameters whose sum, however, is conserved and, using the statistical approach, follow the temporal evolution of their random spatial distribution after a rapid temperature quench. A system of nonlinear differential equations for correlators of second and third order is derived. Asymptotical analysis of this system allows to investigate the scaling regime, which develops on the late stages of evolution and to extract additional information concerning the rate of decrease of the specific volume of disordered regions and the rate of decrease of the average thickness of antiphase boundaries. Comparison of these results to experimental data is given. The quench below the spinodal and the onset of long-range order may be separated by the incubation time, whose origin is different from that in first-order phase transitions. Numerical integration of equations for correlators shows also, that it is possible to prepare a sample in such a way that its further evolution will go with formation of transient kinetically slowed polydomain structures different from the final L12 structure.

Characterisation of temperature dependent parameters of multi-quantum well (MQW) Ti/Au/n-AlGaAs/n-GaAs/n-AlGaAs Schottky diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filali, Walid; Sengouga, Nouredine; Oussalah, Slimane; Mari, Riaz H.; Jameel, Dler; Al Saqri, Noor Alhuda; Aziz, Mohsin; Taylor, David; Henini, Mohamed

2017-11-01

Forward and reverse current-voltage (Isbnd V) of Ti/Au/n-Al0.33Ga0.67As/n-GaAs/n-Al0.33Ga0.67As multi-quantum well (MQW) Schottky diodes were measured over a range of temperatures from 20 to 400 K by a step of 20 K. The Schottky diodes parameters were then extracted from these characteristics. The Cheung method is used for this purpose, assuming a thermionic conduction mechanism. The extracted ideality factor decrease with increasing temperatures. But their values at low temperatures were found to be unrealistic. In order to explain this uncertainty, three assumptions were explored. Firstly an assumed inhomogeneous barrier height gave better parameters especially the Richardson constant but the ideality factor is still unrealistic at low temperatures. Secondly, by using numerical simulation, it was demonstrated that defects including interface states are not responsible for the apparent unrealistic Schottky diode parameters. The third assumption is the tunnelling mechanism through the barrier in the low temperature range. At these lower temperatures, the tunnelling mechanism was more suitable to explain the extracted parameters values.

Modeling of crack growth under mixed-mode loading by a molecular dynamics method and a linear fracture mechanics approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stepanova, L. V.

2017-12-01

Atomistic simulations of the central crack growth process in an infinite plane medium under mixed-mode loading using Large-Scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS), a classical molecular dynamics code, are performed. The inter-atomic potential used in this investigation is the Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potential. Plane specimens with an initial central crack are subjected to mixed-mode loadings. The simulation cell contains 400,000 atoms. The crack propagation direction angles under different values of the mixity parameter in a wide range of values from pure tensile loading to pure shear loading in a wide range of temperatures (from 0.1 K to 800 K) are obtained and analyzed. It is shown that the crack propagation direction angles obtained by molecular dynamics coincide with the crack propagation direction angles given by the multi-parameter fracture criteria based on the strain energy density and the multi-parameter description of the crack-tip fields. The multi-parameter fracture criteria are based on the multi-parameter stress field description taking into account the higher order terms of the Williams series expansion of the crack tip fields.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Effects of preionization in radiative shocks (Sutherland+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutherland, R. S.; Dopita, M. A.

2017-06-01

In this paper we treat the preionization problem in shocks over the velocity range 10

Uncertainty Due to Unsteady Fluid/Structure Interaction for the Ares I Vehicle Traversing the Transonic Regime

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartels, Robert E.

2012-01-01

Rapid reduced-order numerical models are being investigated as candidates to simulate the dynamics of a flexible launch vehicle during atmospheric ascent. There has also been the extension of these new approaches to include gust response. These methods are used to perform aeroelastic and gust response analyses at isolated Mach numbers. Such models require a method to time march through a succession of ascent Mach numbers. An approach is presented for interpolating reduced-order models of the unsteady aerodynamics at successive Mach numbers. The transonic Mach number range is considered here since launch vehicles can suffer the highest dynamic loads through this range. Realistic simulations of the flexible vehicle behavior as it traverses this Mach number range are presented. The response of the vehicle due to gusts is computed. Uncertainties in root mean square and maximum bending moment and crew module accelerations are presented due to assumed probability distributions in design parameters, ascent flight conditions, gusts. The primary focus is on the uncertainty introduced by modeling fidelity. It is found that an unsteady reduced order model produces larger excursions in the root mean square loading and accelerations than does a quasi-steady reduced order model.

Effect of chain stiffness on the competition between crystallization and glass-formation in model unentangled polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Hong T.; Smith, Tyler B.; Hoy, Robert S.; Karayiannis, Nikos Ch.

2015-10-01

We map out the solid-state morphologies formed by model soft-pearl-necklace polymers as a function of chain stiffness, spanning the range from fully flexible to rodlike chains. The ratio of Kuhn length to bead diameter (lK/r0) increases monotonically with increasing bending stiffness kb and yields a one-parameter model that relates chain shape to bulk morphology. In the flexible limit, monomers occupy the sites of close-packed crystallites while chains retain random-walk-like order. In the rodlike limit, nematic chain ordering typical of lamellar precursors coexists with close-packing. At intermediate values of bending stiffness, the competition between random-walk-like and nematic chain ordering produces glass-formation; the range of kb over which this occurs increases with the thermal cooling rate | T ˙ | implemented in our molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, values of kb between the glass-forming and rodlike ranges produce complex ordered phases such as close-packed spirals. Our results should provide a useful initial step in a coarse-grained modeling approach to systematically determining the effect of chain stiffness on the crystallization-vs-glass-formation competition in both synthetic and colloidal polymers.

Orientational ordering of lamellar structures on closed surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

PÈ©kalski, J.; Ciach, A.

2018-05-01

Self-assembly of particles with short-range attraction and long-range repulsion interactions on a flat and on a spherical surface is compared. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for the two systems having the same area and the density optimal for formation of stripes of particles. Structural characteristics, e.g., a cluster size distribution, a number of defects, and an orientational order parameter (OP), as well as the specific heat, are obtained for a range of temperatures. In both cases, the cluster size distribution becomes bimodal and elongated clusters appear at the temperature corresponding to the maximum of the specific heat. When the temperature decreases, orientational ordering of the stripes takes place and the number of particles per cluster or stripe increases in both cases. However, only on the flat surface, the specific heat has another maximum at the temperature corresponding to a rapid change of the OP. On the sphere, the crossover between the isotropic and anisotropic structures occur in a much broader temperature interval; the orientational order is weaker and occurs at significantly lower temperature. At low temperature, the stripes on the sphere form spirals and the defects resemble defects in the nematic phase of rods adsorbed at a sphere.

Higher Order Analysis of Turbulent Changes Found in the ELF Range Electric Field Plasma Before Major Earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosciesza, M.; Blecki, J. S.; Parrot, M.

2014-12-01

We report the structure function analysis of changes found in electric field in the ELF range plasma turbulence registered in the ionosphere over epicenter region of major earthquakes with depth less than 40 km that took place during 6.5 years of the scientific mission of the DEMETER satellite. We compare the data for the earthquakes for which we found turbulence with events without any turbulent changes. The structure functions were calculated also for the Polar CUSP region and equatorial spread F region. Basic studies of the turbulent processes were conducted with use of higher order spectra and higher order statistics. The structure function analysis was performed to locate and check if there are intermittent behaviors in the ionospheres plasma over epicenter region of the earthquakes. These registrations are correlated with the plasma parameters measured onboard DEMETER satellite and with geomagnetic indices.

An asymptotic solution to a passive biped walker model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yudaev, Sergey A.; Rachinskii, Dmitrii; Sobolev, Vladimir A.

2017-02-01

We consider a simple model of a passive dynamic biped robot walker with point feet and legs without knee. The model is a switched system, which includes an inverted double pendulum. Robot’s gait and its stability depend on parameters such as the slope of the ramp, the length of robot’s legs, and the mass distribution along the legs. We present an asymptotic solution of the model. The first correction to the zero order approximation is shown to agree with the numerical solution for a limited parameter range.

Study of parameters in precision optical glass molding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Ying; Wang, Qin-hua; Yu, Jing-chi

2010-10-01

Precision glass compression molding is an attractive approach to manufacture small precision optics in large volume over traditional manufacturing techniques because of its advantages such as lower cost, faster time to market and being environment friendly. In order to study the relationship between the surface figures of molded lenses and molding process parameters such as temperature, pressure, heating rate, cooling rate and so on, we present some glass compression molding experiments using same low Tg (transition temperature) glass material to produce two different kinds of aspheric lenses by different molding process parameters. Based on results from the experiments, we know the major factors influencing surface figure of molded lenses and the changing range of these parameters. From the knowledge we could easily catch proper molding parameters which are suitable for aspheric lenses with diameter from 10mm to 30mm.

Bootstrap percolation on spatial networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jian; Zhou, Tao; Hu, Yanqing

2015-10-01

Bootstrap percolation is a general representation of some networked activation process, which has found applications in explaining many important social phenomena, such as the propagation of information. Inspired by some recent findings on spatial structure of online social networks, here we study bootstrap percolation on undirected spatial networks, with the probability density function of long-range links’ lengths being a power law with tunable exponent. Setting the size of the giant active component as the order parameter, we find a parameter-dependent critical value for the power-law exponent, above which there is a double phase transition, mixed of a second-order phase transition and a hybrid phase transition with two varying critical points, otherwise there is only a second-order phase transition. We further find a parameter-independent critical value around -1, about which the two critical points for the double phase transition are almost constant. To our surprise, this critical value -1 is just equal or very close to the values of many real online social networks, including LiveJournal, HP Labs email network, Belgian mobile phone network, etc. This work helps us in better understanding the self-organization of spatial structure of online social networks, in terms of the effective function for information spreading.

General order parameter based correlation analysis of protein backbone motions between experimental NMR relaxation measurements and molecular dynamics simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Qing; Shi, Chaowei; Yu, Lu

Internal backbone dynamic motions are essential for different protein functions and occur on a wide range of time scales, from femtoseconds to seconds. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation measurements are valuable tools to gain access to fast (nanosecond) internal motions. However, there exist few reports on correlation analysis between MD and NMR relaxation data. Here, backbone relaxation measurements of {sup 15}N-labeled SH3 (Src homology 3) domain proteins in aqueous buffer were used to generate general order parameters (S{sup 2}) using a model-free approach. Simultaneously, 80 ns MD simulations of SH3 domain proteins in amore » defined hydrated box at neutral pH were conducted and the general order parameters (S{sup 2}) were derived from the MD trajectory. Correlation analysis using the Gromos force field indicated that S{sup 2} values from NMR relaxation measurements and MD simulations were significantly different. MD simulations were performed on models with different charge states for three histidine residues, and with different water models, which were SPC (simple point charge) water model and SPC/E (extended simple point charge) water model. S{sup 2} parameters from MD simulations with charges for all three histidines and with the SPC/E water model correlated well with S{sup 2} calculated from the experimental NMR relaxation measurements, in a site-specific manner. - Highlights: • Correlation analysis between NMR relaxation measurements and MD simulations. • General order parameter (S{sup 2}) as common reference between the two methods. • Different protein dynamics with different Histidine charge states in neutral pH. • Different protein dynamics with different water models.« less

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy in cobalt based magnets: a choice of correlation parameters and the relativistic effects

DOE PAGES

Nguyen, Manh Cuong; Yao, Yongxin; Wang, Cai-Zhuang; ...

2018-05-16

The dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) in MCo 5 (M = Y, La, Ce, Gd) and CoPt on the Coulomb correlations and strength of spin orbit (SO) interaction within the GGA + U scheme is investigated. A range of parameters suitable for the satisfactory description of key magnetic properties is determined. We show that for a large variation of SO interaction the MAE in these materials can be well described by the traditional second order perturbation theory. We also show that in these materials the MAE can be both proportional and negatively proportional to the orbital moment anisotropymore » (OMA) of Co atoms. Dependence of relativistic effects on Coulomb correlations, applicability of the second order perturbation theory for the description of MAE, and effective screening of the SO interaction in these systems are discussed using a generalized virial theorem. Finally, such determined sets of parameters of Coulomb correlations can be used in much needed large scale atomistic simulations.« less

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy in cobalt based magnets: a choice of correlation parameters and the relativistic effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Manh Cuong; Yao, Yongxin; Wang, Cai-Zhuang; Ho, Kai-Ming; Antropov, Vladimir P.

2018-05-01

The dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) in MCo5 (M  =  Y, La, Ce, Gd) and CoPt on the Coulomb correlations and strength of spin orbit (SO) interaction within the GGA  +  U scheme is investigated. A range of parameters suitable for the satisfactory description of key magnetic properties is determined. We show that for a large variation of SO interaction the MAE in these materials can be well described by the traditional second order perturbation theory. We also show that in these materials the MAE can be both proportional and negatively proportional to the orbital moment anisotropy (OMA) of Co atoms. Dependence of relativistic effects on Coulomb correlations, applicability of the second order perturbation theory for the description of MAE, and effective screening of the SO interaction in these systems are discussed using a generalized virial theorem. Such determined sets of parameters of Coulomb correlations can be used in much needed large scale atomistic simulations.

Analytical design of modified Smith predictor for unstable second-order processes with time delay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ajmeri, Moina; Ali, Ahmad

2017-06-01

In this paper, a modified Smith predictor using three controllers, namely, stabilising (Gc), set-point tracking (Gc1), and load disturbance rejection (Gc2) controllers is proposed for second-order unstable processes with time delay. Controllers of the proposed structure are tuned using direct synthesis approach as this method enables the user to achieve a trade-off between the performance and robustness by adjusting a single design parameter. Furthermore, suitable values of the tuning parameters are recommended after studying their effect on the closed-loop performance and robustness. This is the main advantage of the proposed work over other recently published manuscripts, where authors provide only suitable ranges for the tuning parameters in spite of giving their suitable values. Simulation studies show that the proposed method results in satisfactory performance and improved robustness as compared to the recently reported control schemes. It is observed that the proposed scheme is able to work in the noisy environment also.

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy in cobalt based magnets: a choice of correlation parameters and the relativistic effects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nguyen, Manh Cuong; Yao, Yongxin; Wang, Cai-Zhuang

The dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) in MCo 5 (M = Y, La, Ce, Gd) and CoPt on the Coulomb correlations and strength of spin orbit (SO) interaction within the GGA + U scheme is investigated. A range of parameters suitable for the satisfactory description of key magnetic properties is determined. We show that for a large variation of SO interaction the MAE in these materials can be well described by the traditional second order perturbation theory. We also show that in these materials the MAE can be both proportional and negatively proportional to the orbital moment anisotropymore » (OMA) of Co atoms. Dependence of relativistic effects on Coulomb correlations, applicability of the second order perturbation theory for the description of MAE, and effective screening of the SO interaction in these systems are discussed using a generalized virial theorem. Finally, such determined sets of parameters of Coulomb correlations can be used in much needed large scale atomistic simulations.« less

On ballistic parameters of less lethal projectiles influencing the severity of thoracic blunt impacts.

PubMed

Pavier, Julien; Langlet, André; Eches, Nicolas; Jacquet, Jean-François

2015-01-01

The development and safety certification of less lethal projectiles require an understanding of the influence of projectile parameters on projectile-chest interaction and on the resulting terminal effect. Several energy-based criteria have been developed for chest injury assessment. Many studies consider kinetic energy (KE) or energy density as the only projectile parameter influencing terminal effect. In a common KE range (100-160 J), analysis of the firing tests of two 40 mm projectiles of different masses on animal surrogates has been made in order to investigate the severity of the injuries in the thoracic region. Experimental results have shown that KE and calibre are not sufficient to discriminate between the two projectiles as regards their injury potential. Parameters, such as momentum, shape and impedance, influence the projectile-chest interaction and terminal effect. A simplified finite element model of projectile-structure interaction confirms the experimental tendencies. Within the range of ballistic parameters used, it has been demonstrated that maximum thoracic deflection is a useful parameter to predict the skeletal level of injury, and it largely depends on the projectile pre-impact momentum. However, numerical simulations show that these results are merely valid for the experimental conditions used and cannot be generalised. Nevertheless, the transmitted impulse seems to be a more general factor governing the thorax deflection.

Thermal ageing and short-range ordering of Alloy 690 between 350 and 550 °C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mouginot, Roman; Sarikka, Teemu; Heikkilä, Mikko; Ivanchenko, Mykola; Ehrnstén, Ulla; Kim, Young Suk; Kim, Sung Soo; Hänninen, Hannu

2017-03-01

Thermal ageing of Alloy 690 triggers an intergranular (IG) carbide precipitation and is known to promote an ordering reaction causing lattice contraction. It may affect the long-term primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) resistance of pressurized water reactor (PWR) components. Four conditions of Alloy 690 (solution annealed, cold-rolled and/or heat-treated) were aged between 350 and 550 °C for 10 000 h and characterized. Although no direct observation of ordering was made, variations in hardness and lattice parameter were attributed to the formation of short-range ordering (SRO) in all conditions with a peak level at 420 °C, consistent with the literature. Prior heat treatment induced ordering before thermal ageing. At higher temperatures, stress relaxation, recrystallization and α-Cr precipitation were observed in the cold-worked samples, while a disordering reaction was inferred in all samples based on a decrease in hardness. IG precipitation of M23C6 carbides increased with increasing ageing temperature in all conditions, as well as diffusion-induced grain boundary migration (DIGM).

Superclimbing dislocation with a Coulomb-type interaction between jogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Longxiang; Kuklov, Anatoly B.

2018-03-01

The main candidate for the superfluid pathways in solid 4He are dislocations with Burgers vector along the hcp symmetry axis. Here we focus on the quantum behavior of a generic edge dislocation which can perform superclimb; that is, it can climb due to the superflow along its core. The role of the long-range elastic interactions between jogs is addressed by Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that such interactions do not change qualitatively the phase diagram found without accounting for the long-range forces. Their main effect consists of renormalizing the effective scale determining the compressibility of the dislocation in the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid phase. It is also found that the quantum rough phase of the dislocation can be well described within the Gaussian approximation which features off-diagonal long-range order (ODLRO) in one dimension for the superfluid order parameter along the core.

Effect of smectic A temperature width on the soft mode in ferroelectric liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhary, A.; Kaur, S.; Prakash, J.; Sreenivas, K.; Bawa, S. S.; Biradar, A. M.

2008-08-01

The behavior of soft mode range with respect to the temperature width of smectic A (Sm A) phase has been studied in four different ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) materials in the frequency range 10Hz-10MHz. The studies have been carried out in a planarly well aligned cells at different temperatures and different bias fields in Sm C* and Sm A phases. Dielectric studies of these FLCs near Sm C*-Sm A phase transition show that the temperature range of soft mode relaxation frequency phenomenon varies with the temperature width of Sm A phase. The dependence of tilt angle on temperature shows the nature of the order of transition at Sm C*-Sm A phase. The coupling between order parameters of Sm C* and Sm A phase influences the soft mode and phase transition in Sm C* and Sm A phases.

Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal.

PubMed

Alert, Ricard; Tierno, Pietro; Casademunt, Jaume

2017-12-05

Mixed-order phase transitions display a discontinuity in the order parameter like first-order transitions yet feature critical behavior like second-order transitions. Such transitions have been predicted for a broad range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. Here, we analytically predict and experimentally realize a mixed-order equilibrium phase transition. Specifically, a discontinuous solid-solid transition in a 2D crystal of paramagnetic colloidal particles is induced by a magnetic field [Formula: see text] At the transition field [Formula: see text], the energy landscape of the system becomes completely flat, which causes diverging fluctuations and correlation length [Formula: see text] Mean-field critical exponents are predicted, since the upper critical dimension of the transition is [Formula: see text] Our colloidal system provides an experimental test bed to probe the unconventional properties of mixed-order phase transitions.

Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alert, Ricard; Tierno, Pietro; Casademunt, Jaume

2017-12-01

Mixed-order phase transitions display a discontinuity in the order parameter like first-order transitions yet feature critical behavior like second-order transitions. Such transitions have been predicted for a broad range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. Here, we analytically predict and experimentally realize a mixed-order equilibrium phase transition. Specifically, a discontinuous solid-solid transition in a 2D crystal of paramagnetic colloidal particles is induced by a magnetic field H. At the transition field Hs, the energy landscape of the system becomes completely flat, which causes diverging fluctuations and correlation length ξ∝|H2-Hs2|-1/2. Mean-field critical exponents are predicted, since the upper critical dimension of the transition is du=2. Our colloidal system provides an experimental test bed to probe the unconventional properties of mixed-order phase transitions.

Anomalies of thermal expansion and electrical resistivity of layered cobaltates YBaCo2O5 + x : The role of oxygen chain ordering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhdanov, K. R.; Kameneva, M. Yu.; Kozeeva, L. P.; Lavrov, A. N.

2016-08-01

Layered cobaltates YBaCo2O5 + x have been investigated in the oxygen concentration range 0.23 ≤ x ≤ 0.52. It has been revealed that the oxygen ordering plays the key role in the appearance of anomalies in temperature dependences of structural parameters and electron transport. It has been shown that the orthorhombic lattice distortion caused by oxygen chain ordering is a necessary "trigger" for the phase transition from the insulating state to the metallic state at T ≈ 290-295 K, after which the orthorhombic distortion is significantly more pronounced. In the boundary region of the cobaltate compositions, where the oxygen ordering has a partial or local character, there are additional low-temperature (100-240 K) structural and resistive features with a large hysteresis. The observed anomalies can be explained by a change in the spin state of the cobalt ions, which is extremely sensitive to parameters of the crystal field acting on the ions, as well as by the spin-transition-induced delocalization of electrons.

Hydrogen and deuterium transport and inventory parameters through W and W-alloys for fusion reactor applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benamati, G.; Serra, E.; Wu, C. H.

2000-12-01

The aim of this work is to measure the hydrogen/deuterium transport and inventory parameters in relevant structural and/or armour materials for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) divertor such as W and W-alloys. The W-alloys: W, W + 1% La 2O 3 and W + 5% Re have been investigated. The materials were supplied from the Metallwerk Plansee GmbH (Austria). Measurements were conducted using a time-dependent permeation method over the temperature range 673-873 K with hydrogen and deuterium pressures in the range 10-100 kPa (100-1000 mbar). The samples were also characterized using optical microscopy, SEM and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in order to investigate the composition, microstructure and morphology of the surfaces and cross-sections through the samples.

Static shape control for flexible structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodriguez, G.; Scheid, R. E., Jr.

1986-01-01

An integrated methodology is described for defining static shape control laws for large flexible structures. The techniques include modeling, identifying and estimating the control laws of distributed systems characterized in terms of infinite dimensional state and parameter spaces. The models are expressed as interconnected elliptic partial differential equations governing a range of static loads, with the capability of analyzing electromagnetic fields around antenna systems. A second-order analysis is carried out for statistical errors, and model parameters are determined by maximizing an appropriate defined likelihood functional which adjusts the model to observational data. The parameter estimates are derived from the conditional mean of the observational data, resulting in a least squares superposition of shape functions obtained from the structural model.

Doubly stochastic radial basis function methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fenglian; Yan, Liang; Ling, Leevan

2018-06-01

We propose a doubly stochastic radial basis function (DSRBF) method for function recoveries. Instead of a constant, we treat the RBF shape parameters as stochastic variables whose distribution were determined by a stochastic leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) estimation. A careful operation count is provided in order to determine the ranges of all the parameters in our methods. The overhead cost for setting up the proposed DSRBF method is O (n2) for function recovery problems with n basis. Numerical experiments confirm that the proposed method not only outperforms constant shape parameter formulation (in terms of accuracy with comparable computational cost) but also the optimal LOOCV formulation (in terms of both accuracy and computational cost).

Neutron polarization analysis study of the frustrated magnetic ground state of β-Mn1-xAlx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, J. R.; Andersen, K. H.; Cywinski, R.

2008-07-01

We have performed a neutron polarization analysis study of the short-range nuclear and magnetic correlations present in the dilute alloy, β-Mn1-xAlx with 0.03≤x≤0.16 , in order to study the evolution of the magnetic ground state of this system as it achieves static spin-glass order at concentrations x>0.09 . To this end we have developed a reverse-Monte Carlo algorithm which has enabled us to extract Warren-Cowley nuclear short-range order parameters and magnetic spin correlations. Using conventional neutron powder diffraction, we show that the nonmagnetic Al substituents preferentially occupy the magnetic site II Wyckoff positions in the β-Mn structure—resulting in a reduction of the magnetic topological frustration of the Mn atoms. These Al impurities are found to display strong anticlustering behavior. The magnetic spin correlations are predominantly antiferromagnetic, persisting over a short range which is similar for all the samples studied—above and below the spin-liquid-spin-glass boundary—while the observed static (disordered) moment is shown to increase with increasing Al concentration.

Off-diagonal long-range order, cycle probabilities, and condensate fraction in the ideal Bose gas.

PubMed

Chevallier, Maguelonne; Krauth, Werner

2007-11-01

We discuss the relationship between the cycle probabilities in the path-integral representation of the ideal Bose gas, off-diagonal long-range order, and Bose-Einstein condensation. Starting from the Landsberg recursion relation for the canonic partition function, we use elementary considerations to show that in a box of size L3 the sum of the cycle probabilities of length k>L2 equals the off-diagonal long-range order parameter in the thermodynamic limit. For arbitrary systems of ideal bosons, the integer derivative of the cycle probabilities is related to the probability of condensing k bosons. We use this relation to derive the precise form of the pik in the thermodynamic limit. We also determine the function pik for arbitrary systems. Furthermore, we use the cycle probabilities to compute the probability distribution of the maximum-length cycles both at T=0, where the ideal Bose gas reduces to the study of random permutations, and at finite temperature. We close with comments on the cycle probabilities in interacting Bose gases.

Fractional Order Spatiotemporal Chaos with Delay in Spatial Nonlinear Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yingqian; Wang, Xingyuan; Liu, Liyan; Liu, Jia

We investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics with fractional order differential logistic map with delay under nonlinear chaotic maps for spatial coupling connections. Here, the coupling methods between lattices are the nonlinear chaotic map coupling of lattices. The fractional order differential logistic map with delay breaks the limits of the range of parameter μ ∈ [3.75, 4] in the classical logistic map for chaotic states. The Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy density and universality, and bifurcation diagrams are employed to investigate the chaotic behaviors of the proposed model in this paper. The proposed model can also be applied for cryptography, which is verified in a color image encryption scheme in this paper.

Reduced-Order Models for the Aeroelastic Analysis of Ares Launch Vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silva, Walter A.; Vatsa, Veer N.; Biedron, Robert T.

2010-01-01

This document presents the development and application of unsteady aerodynamic, structural dynamic, and aeroelastic reduced-order models (ROMs) for the ascent aeroelastic analysis of the Ares I-X flight test and Ares I crew launch vehicles using the unstructured-grid, aeroelastic FUN3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The purpose of this work is to perform computationally-efficient aeroelastic response calculations that would be prohibitively expensive via computation of multiple full-order aeroelastic FUN3D solutions. These efficient aeroelastic ROM solutions provide valuable insight regarding the aeroelastic sensitivity of the vehicles to various parameters over a range of dynamic pressures.

Automatic low-order aberrations compensator for a conduction-cooled end-pumped solid-state zigzag slab laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Xin; Dong, Lizhi; Lai, Boheng; Yang, Ping; Wang, Shuai; Wang, Xun; Liu, Yong; Tang, Guomao; Xu, Bing

2017-11-01

In order to solve the problem of large low-order aberrations with solid-state zigzag slab lasers, an automatic compensator has been developed in this paper. In this compensator, three lenses are mounted on a motorized rail, whose positions can be obtained using ray tracing method based on the beam parameters detected by a wave-front sensor. The initial peak to valley (PV) values of the wave-front range up to several tens of microns. Both simulated and experimental results show that the PV values of the wave-front can be reduced to around 1 . 6 μm with the proposed automatic compensator.

Methods and means of 3D diffuse Mueller-matrix tomography of depolarizing optically anisotropic biological layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubolazov, O. V.; Ushenko, V. O.; Trifoniuk, L.; Ushenko, Yu. O.; Zhytaryuk, V. G.; Prydiy, O. G.; Grytsyuk, M.; Kushnerik, L.; Meglinskiy, I.

2017-09-01

A new technique of Mueller-matrix mapping of polycrystalline structure of histological sections of biological tissues is suggested. The algorithms of reconstruction of distribution of parameters of linear and circular birefringence of prostate histological sections are found. The interconnections between such distributions and parameters of linear and circular birefringence of prostate tissue histological sections are defined. The comparative investigations of coordinate distributions of phase anisotropy parameters formed by fibrillar networks of prostate tissues of different pathological states (adenoma and carcinoma) are performed. The values and ranges of change of the statistical (moments of the 1st - 4th order) parameters of coordinate distributions of the value of linear and circular birefringence are defined. The objective criteria of cause of Benign and malignant conditions differentiation are determined.

Non-linear Parameter Estimates from Non-stationary MEG Data

PubMed Central

Martínez-Vargas, Juan D.; López, Jose D.; Baker, Adam; Castellanos-Dominguez, German; Woolrich, Mark W.; Barnes, Gareth

2016-01-01

We demonstrate a method to estimate key electrophysiological parameters from resting state data. In this paper, we focus on the estimation of head-position parameters. The recovery of these parameters is especially challenging as they are non-linearly related to the measured field. In order to do this we use an empirical Bayesian scheme to estimate the cortical current distribution due to a range of laterally shifted head-models. We compare different methods of approaching this problem from the division of M/EEG data into stationary sections and performing separate source inversions, to explaining all of the M/EEG data with a single inversion. We demonstrate this through estimation of head position in both simulated and empirical resting state MEG data collected using a head-cast. PMID:27597815

Investigating Response from Turbulent Boundary Layer Excitations on a Real Launch Vehicle using SEA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, Phillip; LaVerde,Bruce; Teague, David

2009-01-01

Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) response has been fairly well anchored to test observations for Diffuse Acoustic Field (DAF) loading by others. Meanwhile, not many examples can be found in the literature anchoring the SEA vehicle panel response results to Turbulent Boundary Layer (TBL) fluctuating pressure excitations. This deficiency is especially true for supersonic trajectories such as those required by this nation s launch vehicles. Space Shuttle response and excitation data recorded from vehicle flight measurements during the development flights were used in a trial to assess the capability of the SEA tool to predict similar responses. Various known/measured inputs were used. These were supplemented with a range of assumed values in order to cover unknown parameters of the flight. This comparison is presented as "Part A" of the study. A secondary, but perhaps more important, objective is to provide more clarity concerning the accuracy and conservatism that can be expected from response estimates of TBL-excited vehicle models in SEA (Part B). What range of parameters must be included in such an analysis in order to land on the conservative side in response predictions? What is the sensitivity of changes in these input parameters on the results? The TBL fluid structure loading model used for this study is provided by the SEA module of the commercial code VA One.

Rotational spectrum of NSF3 in the ground and v5 = 1 vibrational states: observation of Q-branch perturbation-allowed transitions with delta(k - l) = 0, +/-3, +/-6 and anomalies in the rovibrational structure of the v5 = 1 state.

PubMed

Macholl, Sven; Mäder, Heinrich; Harder, Hauke; Margulès, Laurent; Dréan, Pascal; Cosléou, Jean; Demaison, Jean; Pracna, Petr

2009-01-29

The rotational spectrum of NSF3 in the ground and v5 = 1 vibrational states has been investigated in the centimeter- and millimeter-wave ranges. R-branch (J + 1 <-- J) transitions for J = 0, 1 and Q-branch rotational transitions for the v5 = 1 vibrational state have been measured by waveguide Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the range 8-26.5 GHz. The Q-branch transitions include 28 direct l-type doubling transitions (kl = +1, A1) <--> (kl = +1, A2) with J < or = 62, and 108 direct l-type resonance transitions following the selection rule delta k = delta l = +/-2 with J < or = 60 and G = |k - l| < or = 3. A process called "regional resonance" was observed in which a cluster of levels interacted strongly over a large range in J. This process led to the observation of 55 perturbation-allowed transitions following the selection rules delta(k - l) = +/-3, +/-6. In particular, (kl = +1, A+) <--> (kl = -2, A-), (kl = +4, A+) <--> (kl = +1, A-), (kl = +2) <--> (kl = -1), (kl = +3) <--> (kl = 0), (kl = +2) <--> (kl = -3), and (kl = +3) <--> (kl = -3). The various aspects of the regional resonances are discussed in detail. An accidental near-degeneracy of the kl = 0 and kl = -4 levels at J = 26/27 led to the observation of perturbation-allowed transitions following the selection rule delta(k-l) = +/-6 with (kl = +2) <--> (kl = -4). A corresponding near-degeneracy between kl = -1 and kl = -3 levels at J = 30/31 led to the detection of similar transitions, but with (kl = +3) <--> (kl = -3). In the range 230-480 GHz, R-branch rotational transitions have been measured by absorption spectroscopy up to J = 49 in the ground-state and up to J = 50 in the v5 = 1 vibrational state. The transition frequencies have been analyzed using various reduced forms of the effective Hamiltonians. The data for the v5 = 1 vibrational state have been fitted successfully using two models up to seventh order with delta k = +/-3 interaction parameters constrained (dt constrained to zero, and epsilon to zero or to the ground-state value). On the other hand, reductions with the (delta k = +/-1, deltal = -/+2) interaction parameter q12 fixed to zero failed to reproduce the experimental data since the parameters defining the reduction transformation do not arise in the correct order of magnitude. The ground-state data have been analyzed including parameters up to fourth order constraining either parameters of the delta k = +/-3 interactions to zero (reduction A), or of the delta k = +/-6 interactions to zero (reduction B). The unitary equivalence of the different parameter sets obtained is demonstrated for both vibrational states.

Whole-Lesion Apparent Diffusion Coefficient-Based Entropy-Related Parameters for Characterizing Cervical Cancers: Initial Findings.

PubMed

Guan, Yue; Li, Weifeng; Jiang, Zhuoran; Chen, Ying; Liu, Song; He, Jian; Zhou, Zhengyang; Ge, Yun

2016-12-01

This study aimed to develop whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-based entropy-related parameters of cervical cancer to preliminarily assess intratumoral heterogeneity of this lesion in comparison to adjacent normal cervical tissues. A total of 51 women (mean age, 49 years) with cervical cancers confirmed by biopsy underwent 3-T pelvic diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with b values of 0 and 800 s/mm 2 prospectively. ADC-based entropy-related parameters including first-order entropy and second-order entropies were derived from the whole tumor volume as well as adjacent normal cervical tissues. Intraclass correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction, Kruskal-Wallis test, and receiver operating characteristic curve were used for statistical analysis. All the parameters showed excellent interobserver agreement (all intraclass correlation coefficients  > 0.900). Entropy, entropy(H) 0 , entropy(H) 45 , entropy(H) 90 , entropy(H) 135 , and entropy(H) mean were significantly higher, whereas entropy(H) range and entropy(H) std were significantly lower in cervical cancers compared to adjacent normal cervical tissues (all P <.0001). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there were no significant differences among the values of various second-order entropies including entropy(H) 0, entropy(H) 45 , entropy(H) 90 , entropy(H) 135 , and entropy(H) mean. All second-order entropies had larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than first-order entropy in differentiating cervical cancers from adjacent normal cervical tissues. Further, entropy(H) 45 , entropy(H) 90 , entropy(H) 135 , and entropy(H) mean had the same largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.867. Whole-lesion ADC-based entropy-related parameters of cervical cancers were developed successfully, which showed initial potential in characterizing intratumoral heterogeneity in comparison to adjacent normal cervical tissues. Copyright © 2016 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spatiotemporal chaos in mixed linear-nonlinear two-dimensional coupled logistic map lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ying-Qian; He, Yi; Wang, Xing-Yuan

2018-01-01

We investigate a new spatiotemporal dynamics with mixing degrees of nonlinear chaotic maps for spatial coupling connections based on 2DCML. Here, the coupling methods are including with linear neighborhood coupling and the nonlinear chaotic map coupling of lattices, and the former 2DCML system is only a special case in the proposed system. In this paper the criteria such Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy density and universality, bifurcation diagrams, space-amplitude and snapshot pattern diagrams are provided in order to investigate the chaotic behaviors of the proposed system. Furthermore, we also investigate the parameter ranges of the proposed system which holds those features in comparisons with those of the 2DCML system and the MLNCML system. Theoretical analysis and computer simulation indicate that the proposed system contains features such as the higher percentage of lattices in chaotic behaviors for most of parameters, less periodic windows in bifurcation diagrams and the larger range of parameters for chaotic behaviors, which is more suitable for cryptography.

Design and evaluation of precise current integrator for scanning probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raczkowski, Kamil; Piasecki, Tomasz; Rudek, Maciej; Gotszalk, Teodor

2017-03-01

Several of the scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques, such as the scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) or conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM), rely on precise measurements of current flowing between the investigated sample and the conductive nanoprobe. The parameters of current-to-voltage converter (CVC), which should detect current in the picompere range, are of utmost importance to those systems as they determine the microscopes’ measuring capabilities. That was the motivation for research on the precise current integrator (PCI), described in this paper, which could be used as the CVC in the C-AFM systems. The main design goal of the PCI was to provide a small and versatile device with the sub-picoampere level resolution with high dynamic range in the order of nanoamperes. The PCI was based on the integrating amplifier (Texas Instruments DDC112) paired with a STM32F4 microcontroller unit (MCU).The gain and bandwidth of the PCI might be easily changed by varying the integration time and the feedback capacitance. Depending on these parameters it was possible to obtain for example the 2.15 pA resolution at 688 nA range with 1 kHz bandwidth or 7.4 fA resolution at 0.98 nA range with 10 Hz bandwidth. The measurement of sinusoidal current with 28 fA amplitude was also presented. The PCI was integrated with the C-AFM system and used in the highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and graphene samples imaging.

Dissipation-driven phase transitions in superconducting wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lobos, Alejandro; Iucci, Aníbal; Müller, Markus; Giamarchi, Thierry

2010-03-01

Narrow superconducting wires with diameter dξ0 (where ξ0 is the bulk superconducting coherence length) are quasi-1D systems in which fluctuations of the order parameter strongly affect low-temperature properties. Indeed, fluctuations cause the magnitude of the order parameter to temporarily vanish at some point along the wire, allowing its phase to slip by 2π, and to produce finite resistivity for all temperatures below Tc. In this work, we show that a weak coupling to a diffusive metallic film reinforces superconductivity in the wire through a quench of phase fluctuations. We analyze the effective phase-only action of the system by a perturbative renormalization-group and a self-consistent variational approach to obtain the critical points and phases at T=0. We predict a quantum phase transition towards a superconducting phase with long-range order as a function of the wire stiffness and coupling to the metal. Finally we discuss implications for the DC resistivity of the wire.

Order and anarchy hand in hand in 5D SO(10)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feruglio, Ferruccio; Patel, Ketan M.; Vicino, Denise

2014-09-01

We update a five-dimensional SO(10) grand unified model of fermion masses and mixing angles originally proposed by Kitano and Li. In our setup Yukawa couplings are anarchical and quark and lepton sectors are diversified by the profiles of the fermion zero modes in the extra dimension. The breaking of SO(10) down to SU(5)×U(1)X provides the key parameter that distinguishes the profiles of the different SU(5) components inside the same 16 representation. With respect to the original version of the model, we extend the Higgs sector to explicitly solve the doublet-triplet splitting problem through the missing partner mechanism and we perform a fit to an idealized set of data. By scanning the Yukawa couplings of the model we find that, for large tan β, both normal and inverted ordered neutrino spectrum can be accommodated. However, while the case of inverted order requires a severe fine tuning of the Yukawa parameters, the normal ordering is compatible with an anarchical distribution of Yukawa couplings. Thus, in a natural portion of the parameter space, the model predicts a normal ordered neutrino spectrum, the lightest neutrino mass below 5 meV, and | m ββ | in the range 0.1-5 meV. No particular preference is found for the Dirac CP phase in the lepton sector while the right-handed neutrino masses are too small to explain the baryon asymmetry of the universe through thermal leptogenesis.

Random growth lattice filling model of percolation: a crossover from continuous to discontinuous transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Bappaditya; Santra, S. B.

2018-05-01

A random growth lattice filling model of percolation with a touch and stop growth rule is developed and studied numerically on a two dimensional square lattice. Nucleation centers are continuously added one at a time to the empty lattice sites and clusters are grown from these nucleation centers with a growth probability g. For a given g (), the system passes through a critical point during the growth process where the transition from a disconnected to a connected phase occurs. The model is found to exhibit second order continuous percolation transitions as ordinary percolation for whereas for it exhibits weak first order discontinuous percolation transitions. The continuous transitions are characterized by estimating the values of the critical exponents associated with the order parameter fluctuation and the fractal dimension of the spanning cluster over the whole range of g. The discontinuous transitions, however, are characterized by a compact spanning cluster, lattice size independent fluctuation of the order parameter per lattice, departure from power law scaling in the cluster size distribution and weak bimodal distribution of the order parameter. The nature of transitions are further confirmed by studying the Binder cumulant. Instead of a sharp tricritical point, a tricritical region is found to occur for 0.5  <  g  <  0.8 within which the values of the critical exponents change continuously until the crossover from continuous to discontinuous transition is completed.

The SEASAT altimeter wet tropospheric range correction revisited

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tapley, D. B.; Lundberg, J. B.; Born, G. H.

1984-01-01

An expanded set of radiosonde observations was used to calculate the wet tropospheric range correction for the brightness temperature measurements of the SEASAT scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR). The accuracy of the conventional algorithm for wet tropospheric range correction was evaluated. On the basis of the expanded observational data set, the algorithm was found to have a bias of about 1.0 cm, and a standard deviation 2.8 cm. In order to improve the algorithm, the exact linear, quadratic and logarithmic relationships between brightness temperatures and range corrections were determined. Various combinations of measurement parameters were used to reduce the standard deviation between SEASAT SMMR and radiosonde observations to about 2.1 cm. The performance of various range correction formulas is compared in a table.

Thermodynamic model of social influence on two-dimensional square lattice: Case for two features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genzor, Jozef; Bužek, Vladimír; Gendiar, Andrej

2015-02-01

We propose a thermodynamic multi-state spin model in order to describe equilibrial behavior of a society. Our model is inspired by the Axelrod model used in social network studies. In the framework of the statistical mechanics language, we analyze phase transitions of our model, in which the spin interaction J is interpreted as a mutual communication among individuals forming a society. The thermal fluctuations introduce a noise T into the communication, which suppresses long-range correlations. Below a certain phase transition point Tt, large-scale clusters of the individuals, who share a specific dominant property, are formed. The measure of the cluster sizes is an order parameter after spontaneous symmetry breaking. By means of the Corner transfer matrix renormalization group algorithm, we treat our model in the thermodynamic limit and classify the phase transitions with respect to inherent degrees of freedom. Each individual is chosen to possess two independent features f = 2 and each feature can assume one of q traits (e.g. interests). Hence, each individual is described by q2 degrees of freedom. A single first-order phase transition is detected in our model if q > 2, whereas two distinct continuous phase transitions are found if q = 2 only. Evaluating the free energy, order parameters, specific heat, and the entanglement von Neumann entropy, we classify the phase transitions Tt(q) in detail. The permanent existence of the ordered phase (the large-scale cluster formation with a non-zero order parameter) is conjectured below a non-zero transition point Tt(q) ≈ 0.5 in the asymptotic regime q → ∞.

Spiking and bursting patterns of fractional-order Izhikevich model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teka, Wondimu W.; Upadhyay, Ranjit Kumar; Mondal, Argha

2018-03-01

Bursting and spiking oscillations play major roles in processing and transmitting information in the brain through cortical neurons that respond differently to the same signal. These oscillations display complex dynamics that might be produced by using neuronal models and varying many model parameters. Recent studies have shown that models with fractional order can produce several types of history-dependent neuronal activities without the adjustment of several parameters. We studied the fractional-order Izhikevich model and analyzed different kinds of oscillations that emerge from the fractional dynamics. The model produces a wide range of neuronal spike responses, including regular spiking, fast spiking, intrinsic bursting, mixed mode oscillations, regular bursting and chattering, by adjusting only the fractional order. Both the active and silent phase of the burst increase when the fractional-order model further deviates from the classical model. For smaller fractional order, the model produces memory dependent spiking activity after the pulse signal turned off. This special spiking activity and other properties of the fractional-order model are caused by the memory trace that emerges from the fractional-order dynamics and integrates all the past activities of the neuron. On the network level, the response of the neuronal network shifts from random to scale-free spiking. Our results suggest that the complex dynamics of spiking and bursting can be the result of the long-term dependence and interaction of intracellular and extracellular ionic currents.

Phase behavior and orientational ordering in block copolymers doped with anisotropic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osipov, M. A.; Gorkunov, M. V.; Berezkin, A. V.; Kudryavtsev, Y. V.

2018-04-01

A molecular field theory and coarse-grained computer simulations with dissipative particle dynamics have been used to study the spontaneous orientational ordering of anisotropic nanoparticles in the lamellar and hexagonal phases of diblock copolymers and the effect of nanoparticles on the phase behavior of these systems. Both the molecular theory and computer simulations indicate that strongly anisotropic nanoparticles are ordered orientationally mainly in the boundary region between the domains and the nematic order parameter possesses opposite signs in adjacent domains. The orientational order is induced by the boundary and by the interaction between nanoparticles and the monomer units in different domains. In simulations, sufficiently long and strongly selective nanoparticles are ordered also inside the domains. The nematic order parameter and local concentration profiles of nanoparticles have been calculated numerically using the model of a nanoparticle with two interaction centers and also determined using the results of computer simulations. A number of phase diagrams have been obtained which illustrate the effect of nanoparticle selectivity and molar fraction of the stability ranges of various phases. Different morphologies have been identified by analyzing the static structure factor and a phase diagram has been constructed in coordinates' nanoparticle concentration-copolymer composition. Orientational ordering of even a small fraction of nanoparticles may result in a significant increase of the dielectric anisotropy of a polymer nanocomposite, which is important for various applications.

Guidelines for reducing dynamic loads in two-bladed teetering-hub downwind wind turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, A. D.; Bir, G. S.; Butterfield, C. D.

1995-06-01

A major goal of the federal Wind Energy Program is the rapid development and validation of structural models to determine loads and response for a wide variety of different wind turbine configurations operating under extreme conditions. Such codes are crucial to the successful design of future advanced wind turbines. In previous papers the authors described steps they took to develop a model of a two-bladed teetering-hub downwind wind turbine using ADAMS (Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems), as well as comparison of model predictions to test data. In this paper they show the use of this analytical model to study the influence of various turbine parameters on predicted system loads. They concentrate their study on turbine response in the frequency range of six to ten times the rotor rotational frequency (6P to 10P). Their goal is to identify the most important parameters which influence the response of this type of machine in this frequency range and give turbine designers some general design guidelines for designing two-bladed teetering-hub machines to be less susceptible to vibration. They study the effects of such parameters as blade edgewise and flapwise stiffness, tower top stiffness, blade tip-brake mass, low-speed shaft stiffness, nacelle mass momenta of inertia, and rotor speed. They show which parameters can be varied in order to make the turbine less responsive to such atmospheric inputs as wind shear and tower shadow. They then give designers a set of design guidelines in order to show how these machines can be designed to be less responsive to these inputs.

Thermally induced changes of optical and vital parameters in human cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dressler, C.; Schwandt, D.; Beuthan, J.; Mildaziene, V.; Zabarylo, U.; Minet, O.

2010-11-01

Minimally invasive laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) presents an alternative method to conventional tumor therapeutically interventions, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or nuclear medicine. Optical tissue characteristics of tumor cells and their heat-induced changes are essential issues for controlling LITT progressions. Therefore, it is indispensable to exactly know the absorption coefficient μa, the scattering coefficient μs and the anisotropy factor g as well as their changes under rising temperatures in order to simulate the treatment parameters successfully. Optical parameters of two different cancer model tissues - breast cancer cells species MX1 and colon cancer cells species CX1 - were measured in the spectral range 400 - 1100 nm as well as in the temperature range 37 - 60°C. The absorption coefficient of both cell species was low throughout the spectral range analyzed, while μs of both species rose with increasing temperatures. The anisotropy factor g however dropped for both tissues with increasing temperatures. Light scatterings inside tissues proceeded continuously forward for all species tested. It was demonstrated that optical tissue properties undergo significant changes along with the vital status of the cells when the temperature increases.

Higgs Inflation in f(Φ, r) Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakravarty, Girish Kumar; Mohanty, Subhendra; Singh, Naveen K.

2014-02-01

We generalize the scalar-curvature coupling model ξΦ2R of Higgs inflation to ξΦaRb to study inflation. We compute the amplitude and spectral index of curvature perturbations generated during inflation and fix the parameters of the model by comparing these with the Planck + WP data. We find that if the scalar self-coupling λ is in the range 10-5-0.1, parameter a in the range 2.3-3.6 and b in the range 0.77-0.22 at the Planck scale, one can have a viable inflation model even for ξ ≃ 1. The tensor to scalar ratio r in this model is small and our model with scalar-curvature couplings is not ruled out by observational limits on r unlike the pure (λ )/(4) Φ 4 theory. By requiring the curvature coupling parameter to be of order unity, we have evaded the problem of unitarity violation in scalar-graviton scatterings which plague the ξΦ2R Higgs inflation models. We conclude that the Higgs field may still be a good candidate for being the inflaton in the early universe if one considers higher-dimensional curvature coupling.

Fast prediction and evaluation of eccentric inspirals using reduced-order models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barta, Dániel; Vasúth, Mátyás

2018-06-01

A large number of theoretically predicted waveforms are required by matched-filtering searches for the gravitational-wave signals produced by compact binary coalescence. In order to substantially alleviate the computational burden in gravitational-wave searches and parameter estimation without degrading the signal detectability, we propose a novel reduced-order-model (ROM) approach with applications to adiabatic 3PN-accurate inspiral waveforms of nonspinning sources that evolve on either highly or slightly eccentric orbits. We provide a singular-value decomposition-based reduced-basis method in the frequency domain to generate reduced-order approximations of any gravitational waves with acceptable accuracy and precision within the parameter range of the model. We construct efficient reduced bases comprised of a relatively small number of the most relevant waveforms over three-dimensional parameter-space covered by the template bank (total mass 2.15 M⊙≤M ≤215 M⊙ , mass ratio 0.01 ≤q ≤1 , and initial orbital eccentricity 0 ≤e0≤0.95 ). The ROM is designed to predict signals in the frequency band from 10 Hz to 2 kHz for aLIGO and aVirgo design sensitivity. Beside moderating the data reduction, finer sampling of fiducial templates improves the accuracy of surrogates. Considerable increase in the speedup from several hundreds to thousands can be achieved by evaluating surrogates for low-mass systems especially when combined with high-eccentricity.

Pressure-induced quantum phase transition in the quantum antiferromagnet CsFeCl3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashida, Shohei; Zaharko, Oksana; Kurita, Nobuyuki; Tanaka, Hidekazu; Hagihala, Masato; Soda, Minoru; Itoh, Shinichi; Uwatoko, Yoshiya; Masuda, Takatsugu

2018-04-01

We have studied the pressure-induced quantum phase transition in the singlet-ground-state antiferromagnet CsFeCl3. Neutron diffraction experiments under pressure evidence the magnetic long-range order at low temperatures. Magnetic structure analysis reveals a 120∘ structure with a propagation vector of kmag=(1 /3 ,1 /3 ,0 ) . The estimated critical exponent of the order parameter suggests that CsFeCl3 belongs to the universality class of U (1 ) ×Z2 symmetry which is expected to realize the chiral liquid state.

Tunneling from the past horizon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Subeom; Yeom, Dong-han

2018-04-01

We investigate a tunneling and emission process of a thin-shell from a Schwarzschild black hole, where the shell was initially located beyond the Einstein-Rosen bridge and finally appears at the right side of the Penrose diagram. In order to obtain such a solution, we should assume that the areal radius of the black hole horizon increases after the tunneling. Hence, there is a parameter range such that the tunneling rate is exponentially enhanced, rather than suppressed. We may have two interpretations regarding this. First, such a tunneling process from the past horizon is improbable by physical reasons; second, such a tunneling is possible in principle, but in order to obtain a stable Einstein-Rosen bridge, one needs to restrict the parameter spaces. If such a process is allowed, this can be a nonperturbative contribution to Einstein-Rosen bridges as well as eternal black holes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sehgal, Ray M.; Maroudas, Dimitrios, E-mail: maroudas@ecs.umass.edu, E-mail: ford@ecs.umass.edu; Ford, David M., E-mail: maroudas@ecs.umass.edu, E-mail: ford@ecs.umass.edu

We have developed a coarse-grained description of the phase behavior of the isolated 38-atom Lennard-Jones cluster (LJ{sub 38}). The model captures both the solid-solid polymorphic transitions at low temperatures and the complex cluster breakup and melting transitions at higher temperatures. For this coarse model development, we employ the manifold learning technique of diffusion mapping. The outcome of the diffusion mapping analysis over a broad temperature range indicates that two order parameters are sufficient to describe the cluster's phase behavior; we have chosen two such appropriate order parameters that are metrics of condensation and overall crystallinity. In this well-justified coarse-variable space,more » we calculate the cluster's free energy landscape (FEL) as a function of temperature, employing Monte Carlo umbrella sampling. These FELs are used to quantify the phase behavior and onsets of phase transitions of the LJ{sub 38} cluster.« less

radiation and electric field induced effects on the order-disorder phase in lithium sodium sulphate crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamed, A. E.; Kassem, M. E.; El-Wahidy, E. F.; El-Abshehy, M. A.

1995-03-01

The temperature dependence of specific heat at constant pressure, Cp(T), has been measured for lithium sodium sulphate, LiNaSo4 crystals, at different ?-radiation doses and external bias electric field (Eb), in the temperature range 300-900 K. A nonlinear dependence of transition temperature, T1 and a remarkable change in the thermodynamic parameters, were obtained as the effect of both electric field and ?-radiation. The effect of ?-radiation doses on the phase transition in LiNaSO4 crystals was explained as due to an internal bias field, Eb, originating from the interaction of polar defects with the order parameter of the host lattice. The internal bias field effect on the behaviour of Cp(T) in LiNaSO4 crystals was similar to that of the external electric field (E).

Hole mobility in various transition-metal-oxides doped organic semiconductor films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Seung-Jun; Lee, Jeong-Hwan; Kim, Jae-Min; Kim, Jang-Joo

2017-01-01

Hole mobility in various p-doped organic semiconductors possessing different energetic disorder parameters in low-to-moderate doping range is reported. The hole mobility is reduced by orders of magnitude and converged to 10-7-10-6 cm2/Vs at a doping concentration of 5 mol. % for all the materials, even though the pristine organic films possess orders of magnitude of different mobilities from 10-5 to 10-3 cm2/Vs. These results indicate that the ionized dopants behave as traps for generated carriers to reduce the mobility. Further increase in the doping concentration either increases or decreases the mobility depending on the energetic disorder parameters of the organic films. These phenomena are interpreted based on the Coulomb trap depth of the ionized dopants and energetic disorder of the host layers.

Thermal inactivation kinetics of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis bacteriophage pll98-22.

PubMed

Sanlibaba, Pinar; Buzrul, S; Akkoç, Nefise; Alpas, H; Akçelik, M

2009-03-01

Survival curves of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis bacteriophage pll98 inactivated by heat were obtained at seven temperature values (50-80 degrees C) in M17 broth and skim milk. Deviations from first-order kinetics in both media were observed as sigmoidal shapes in the survival curves of pll98. An empirical model with four parameters was used to define the thermal inactivation. Number of parameters of the model was reduced from four to two in order to increase the robustness of the model. The reduced model produced comparable fits to the full model. Both the survival data and the calculations done using the reduced model (time necessary to reduce the number of phage pll98 six- or seven- log10) indicated that skim milk is a more protective medium than M17 broth within the assayed temperature range.

Why some plant species are rare.

PubMed

Wieger Wamelink, G W; Wamelink, G W Weiger; Goedhart, Paul W; Frissel, Joep; Frissel, Josep Y

2014-01-01

Biodiversity, including plant species diversity, is threatened worldwide as a result of anthropogenic pressures such as an increase of pollutants and climate change. Rare species in particular are on the verge of becoming extinct. It is still unclear as to why some plant species are rare and others are not. Are they rare due to: intrinsic reasons, dispersal capacity, the effects of management or abiotic circumstances? Habitat preference of rare plant species may play an important role in determining why some species are rare. Based on an extensive data set of soil parameters we investigated if rarity is due to a narrow habitat preference for abiotic soil parameters. For 23 different abiotic soil parameters, of which the most influential were groundwater-table, soil-pH and nutrient-contents, we estimated species responses for common and rare species. Based on the responses per species we calculated the range of occurrence, the range between the 5 and 95 percentile of the response curve giving the habitat preference. Subsequently, we calculated the average response range for common and rare species. In addition, we designed a new graphic in order to provide a better means for presentation of the results. The habitat preferences of rare species for abiotic soil conditions are significantly narrower than for common species. Twenty of the twenty-three abiotic parameters showed on average significantly narrower habitat preferences for rare species than for common species; none of the abiotic parameters showed on average a narrower habitat preference for common species. The results have major implications for the conservation of rare plant species; accordingly management and nature development should be focussed on the maintenance and creation of a broad range of environmental conditions, so that the requirements of rare species are met. The conservation of (abiotic) gradients within ecosystems is particularly important for preserving rare species.

Estimating turbidity current conditions from channel morphology: A Froude number approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sequeiros, Octavio E.

2012-04-01

There is a growing need across different disciplines to develop better predictive tools for flow conditions of density and turbidity currents. Apart from resorting to complex numerical modeling or expensive field measurements, little is known about how to estimate gravity flow parameters from scarce available data and how they relate to each other. This study presents a new method to estimate normal flow conditions of gravity flows from channel morphology based on an extensive data set of laboratory and field measurements. The compilation consists of 78 published works containing 1092 combined measurements of velocity and concentration of gravity flows dating as far back as the early 1950s. Because the available data do not span all ranges of the critical parameters, such as bottom slope, a validated Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)κ-ɛnumerical model is used to cover the gaps. It is shown that gravity flows fall within a range of Froude numbers spanning 1 order of magnitude centered on unity, as opposed to rivers and open-channel flows which extend to a much wider range. It is also observed that the transition from subcritical to supercritical flow regime occurs around a slope of 1%, with a spread caused by parameters other than the bed slope, like friction and suspended sediment settling velocity. The method is based on a set of equations relating Froude number to bed slope, combined friction, suspended material, and other flow parameters. The applications range from quick estimations of gravity flow conditions to improved numerical modeling and back calculation of missing parameters. A real case scenario of turbidity current estimation from a submarine canyon off the Nigerian coast is provided as an example.

The Virtual Brain: Modeling Biological Correlates of Recovery after Chronic Stroke

PubMed Central

Falcon, Maria Inez; Riley, Jeffrey D.; Jirsa, Viktor; McIntosh, Anthony R.; Shereen, Ahmed D.; Chen, E. Elinor; Solodkin, Ana

2015-01-01

There currently remains considerable variability in stroke survivor recovery. To address this, developing individualized treatment has become an important goal in stroke treatment. As a first step, it is necessary to determine brain dynamics associated with stroke and recovery. While recent methods have made strides in this direction, we still lack physiological biomarkers. The Virtual Brain (TVB) is a novel application for modeling brain dynamics that simulates an individual’s brain activity by integrating their own neuroimaging data with local biophysical models. Here, we give a detailed description of the TVB modeling process and explore model parameters associated with stroke. In order to establish a parallel between this new type of modeling and those currently in use, in this work we establish an association between a specific TVB parameter (long-range coupling) that increases after stroke with metrics derived from graph analysis. We used TVB to simulate the individual BOLD signals for 20 patients with stroke and 10 healthy controls. We performed graph analysis on their structural connectivity matrices calculating degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and global efficiency. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that long-range coupling is negatively correlated with global efficiency (P = 0.038), but is not correlated with degree centrality or betweenness centrality. Our results suggest that the larger influence of local dynamics seen through the long-range coupling parameter is closely associated with a decreased efficiency of the system. We thus propose that the increase in the long-range parameter in TVB (indicating a bias toward local over global dynamics) is deleterious because it reduces communication as suggested by the decrease in efficiency. The new model platform TVB hence provides a novel perspective to understanding biophysical parameters responsible for global brain dynamics after stroke, allowing the design of focused therapeutic interventions. PMID:26579071

Cell death, perfusion and electrical parameters are critical in models of hepatic radiofrequency ablation

PubMed Central

Hall, Sheldon K.; Ooi, Ean H.; Payne, Stephen J.

2015-01-01

Abstract Purpose: A sensitivity analysis has been performed on a mathematical model of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the liver. The purpose of this is to identify the most important parameters in the model, defined as those that produce the largest changes in the prediction. This is important in understanding the role of uncertainty and when comparing the model predictions to experimental data. Materials and methods: The Morris method was chosen to perform the sensitivity analysis because it is ideal for models with many parameters or that take a significant length of time to obtain solutions. A comprehensive literature review was performed to obtain ranges over which the model parameters are expected to vary, crucial input information. Results: The most important parameters in predicting the ablation zone size in our model of RFA are those representing the blood perfusion, electrical conductivity and the cell death model. The size of the 50 °C isotherm is sensitive to the electrical properties of tissue while the heat source is active, and to the thermal parameters during cooling. Conclusions: The parameter ranges chosen for the sensitivity analysis are believed to represent all that is currently known about their values in combination. The Morris method is able to compute global parameter sensitivities taking into account the interaction of all parameters, something that has not been done before. Research is needed to better understand the uncertainties in the cell death, electrical conductivity and perfusion models, but the other parameters are only of second order, providing a significant simplification. PMID:26000972

Simulation of spatial and temporal properties of aftershocks by means of the fiber bundle model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monterrubio-Velasco, Marisol; Zúñiga, F. R.; Márquez-Ramírez, Victor Hugo; Figueroa-Soto, Angel

2017-11-01

The rupture processes of any heterogeneous material constitute a complex physical problem. Earthquake aftershocks show temporal and spatial behaviors which are consequence of the heterogeneous stress distribution and multiple rupturing following the main shock. This process is difficult to model deterministically due to the number of parameters and physical conditions, which are largely unknown. In order to shed light on the minimum requirements for the generation of aftershock clusters, in this study, we perform a simulation of the main features of such a complex process by means of a fiber bundle (FB) type model. The FB model has been widely used to analyze the fracture process in heterogeneous materials. It is a simple but powerful tool that allows modeling the main characteristics of a medium such as the brittle shallow crust of the earth. In this work, we incorporate spatial properties, such as the Coulomb stress change pattern, which help simulate observed characteristics of aftershock sequences. In particular, we introduce a parameter ( P) that controls the probability of spatial distribution of initial loads. Also, we use a "conservation" parameter ( π), which accounts for the load dissipation of the system, and demonstrate its influence on the simulated spatio-temporal patterns. Based on numerical results, we find that P has to be in the range 0.06 < P < 0.30, whilst π needs to be limited by a very narrow range ( 0.60 < π < 0.66) in order to reproduce aftershocks pattern characteristics which resemble those of observed sequences. This means that the system requires a small difference in the spatial distribution of initial stress, and a very particular fraction of load transfer in order to generate realistic aftershocks.

Effect of Oblique Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves on Relativistic Electron Scattering: CRRES Based Calculation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gamayunov, K. V.; Khazanov, G. V.

2007-01-01

We consider the effect of oblique EMIC waves on relativistic electron scattering in the outer radiation belt using simultaneous observations of plasma and wave parameters from CRRES. The main findings can be s ummarized as follows: 1. In 1comparison with field-aligned waves, int ermediate and highly oblique distributions decrease the range of pitc h-angles subject to diffusion, and reduce the local scattering rate b y an order of magnitude at pitch-angles where the principle absolute value of n = 1 resonances operate. Oblique waves allow the absolute va lue of n > 1 resonances to operate, extending the range of local pitc h-angle diffusion down to the loss cone, and increasing the diffusion at lower pitch angles by orders of magnitude; 2. The local diffusion coefficients derived from CRRES data are qualitatively similar to the local results obtained for prescribed plasma/wave parameters. Conseq uently, it is likely that the bounce-averaged diffusion coefficients, if estimated from concurrent data, will exhibit the dependencies similar to those we found for model calculations; 3. In comparison with f ield-aligned waves, intermediate and highly oblique waves decrease th e bounce-averaged scattering rate near the edge of the equatorial lo ss cone by orders of magnitude if the electron energy does not excee d a threshold (approximately equal to 2 - 5 MeV) depending on specified plasma and/or wave parameters; 4. For greater electron energies_ ob lique waves operating the absolute value of n > 1 resonances are more effective and provide the same bounce_averaged diffusion rate near the loss cone as fiel_aligned waves do.

Continuous production of itraconazole-based solid dispersions by hot melt extrusion: Preformulation, optimization and design space determination.

PubMed

Thiry, Justine; Lebrun, Pierre; Vinassa, Chloe; Adam, Marine; Netchacovitch, Lauranne; Ziemons, Eric; Hubert, Philippe; Krier, Fabrice; Evrard, Brigitte

2016-12-30

The purpose of this work was to increase the solubility and the dissolution rate of itraconazole, which was chosen as the model drug, by obtaining an amorphous solid dispersion by hot melt extrusion. Therefore, an initial preformulation study was conducted using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and Hansen's solubility parameters in order to find polymers which would have the ability to form amorphous solid dispersions with itraconazole. Afterwards, the four polymers namely Kollidon ® VA64, Kollidon ® 12PF, Affinisol ® HPMC and Soluplus ® , that met the set criteria were used in hot melt extrusion along with 25wt.% of itraconazole. Differential scanning confirmed that all four polymers were able to amorphize itraconazole. A stability study was then conducted in order to see which polymer would keep itraconazole amorphous as long as possible. Soluplus ® was chosen and, the formulation was fine-tuned by adding some excipients (AcDiSol ® , sodium bicarbonate and poloxamer) during the hot melt extrusion process in order to increase the release rate of itraconazole. In parallel, the range limits of the hot melt extrusion process parameters were determined. A design of experiment was performed within the previously defined ranges in order to optimize simultaneously the formulation and the process parameters. The optimal formulation was the one containing 2.5wt.% of AcDiSol ® produced at 155°C and 100rpm. When tested with a biphasic dissolution test, more than 80% of itraconazole was released in the organic phase after 8h. Moreover, this formulation showed the desired thermoformability value. From these results, the design space around the optimum was determined. It corresponds to the limits within which the process would give the optimized product. It was observed that a temperature between 155 and 170°C allowed a high flexibility on the screw speed, from about 75 to 130rpm. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of the structure of mesoporous silicas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zienkiewicz-Strzałka, M.; Skibińska, M.; Pikus, S.

2017-11-01

Mesoporous ordered silica nanostructures show strong interaction with X-ray radiation in the range of small-angles. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements based on the elastically scattered X-rays are important in analysis of condensed matter. In the case of mesoporous silica materials SAXS technique provides information on the distribution of electron density in the mesoporous material, in particular describing their structure and size of the unit cell as well as type of ordered structure and finally their parameters. The characterization of nanopowder materials, nanocomposites and porous materials by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering seems to be valuable and useful. In presented work, the SAXS investigation of structures from the group of mesoporous ordered silicates was performed. This work has an objective to prepare functional materials modified by noble metal ions and nanoparticles and using the small-angle X-ray scattering to illustrate their properties. We report the new procedure for describing mesoporous materials belonging to SBA-15 and MCM-41 family modified by platinum, palladium and silver nanoparticles, based on detailed analysis of characteristic peaks in the small-angle range of X-ray scattering. This procedure allows to obtained the most useful parameters for mesoporous materials characterization and their successfully compare with experimental measurements reducing the time and material consumption with good precision for particles and pores with a size below 10 nm.

On the plasmonic properties of a symmetry-breaking silver nanoring structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Bozhi; Sun, Cheng

2018-07-01

This work reports on a study regarding the plasmonic properties of a symmetry-breaking silver nanoring structure, in the wavelength range of 0.6-4.5 μm. A broken silver ring with a certain angle, as well as a full ring composed of silver and other metallic/dielectric materials, are proposed. The extinction efficiencies of the nanostructure are numerically calculated with several parameters being varied, including the broken angle, the inner and outer radii, and the thickness of the broken ring, as well as the material in the composite full ring. Multiple plasmonic resonances are observed in the extinction efficiency curves, which are attributed to the quadrupolar, octupolar, and hexadecapolar resonance modes that are revealed by the electric field distributions. The results demonstrate that the high-order modes can be altered, by varying the value of the broken angle of the ring. It is also illustrated that the resonance wavelength and the full width at half maximum of certain high-order plasmonic resonance peaks can be tuned in the wavelength range studied, by adjusting the values of the geometrical parameters of the nanoring. The plasmonic characteristics of the symmetry-breaking nanoring structure revealed in this study, provide a great platform for the designs of plasmonic devices utilizing the high-order plasmonic resonances. Besides, it is also proposed a scheme to switch the device between the multi-wavelength and single-wavelength modes.

An Integrated Optimal Estimation Approach to Spitzer Space Telescope Focal Plane Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bayard, David S.; Kang, Bryan H.; Brugarolas, Paul B.; Boussalis, D.

2004-01-01

This paper discusses an accurate and efficient method for focal plane survey that was used for the Spitzer Space Telescope. The approach is based on using a high-order 37-state Instrument Pointing Frame (IPF) Kalman filter that combines both engineering parameters and science parameters into a single filter formulation. In this approach, engineering parameters such as pointing alignments, thermomechanical drift and gyro drifts are estimated along with science parameters such as plate scales and optical distortions. This integrated approach has many advantages compared to estimating the engineering and science parameters separately. The resulting focal plane survey approach is applicable to a diverse range of science instruments such as imaging cameras, spectroscopy slits, and scanning-type arrays alike. The paper will summarize results from applying the IPF Kalman Filter to calibrating the Spitzer Space Telescope focal plane, containing the MIPS, IRAC, and the IRS science Instrument arrays.

Gas-liquid nucleation at large metastability: unusual features and a new formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santra, Mantu; Singh, Rakesh S.; Bagchi, Biman

2011-03-01

Nucleation at large metastability is still largely an unsolved problem, even though it is a problem of tremendous current interest, with wide-ranging practical value, from atmospheric research to materials science. It is now well accepted that the classical nucleation theory (CNT) fails to provide a qualitative picture and gives incorrect quantitative values for such quantities as activation-free energy barrier and supersaturation dependence of nucleation rate, especially at large metastability. In this paper, we present an alternative formalism to treat nucleation at large supersaturation by introducing an extended set of order parameters in terms of the kth largest liquid-like clusters, where k = 1 is the largest cluster in the system, k = 2 is the second largest cluster and so on. At low supersaturation, the size of the largest liquid-like cluster acts as a suitable order parameter. At large supersaturation, the free energy barrier for the largest liquid-like cluster disappears. We identify this supersaturation as the one at the onset of kinetic spinodal. The kinetic spinodal is system-size-dependent. Beyond kinetic spinodal many clusters grow simultaneously and competitively and hence the nucleation and growth become collective. In order to describe collective growth, we need to consider the full set of order parameters. We derive an analytic expression for the free energy of formation of the kth largest cluster. The expression predicts that, at large metastability (beyond kinetic spinodal), the barrier of growth for several largest liquid-like clusters disappears, and all these clusters grow simultaneously. The approach to the critical size occurs by barrierless diffusion in the cluster size space. The expression for the rate of barrier crossing predicts weaker supersaturation dependence than what is predicted by CNT at large metastability. Such a crossover behavior has indeed been observed in recent experiments (but eluded an explanation till now). In order to understand the large numerical discrepancy between simulation predictions and experimental results, we carried out a study of the dependence on the range of intermolecular interactions of both the surface tension of an equilibrium planar gas-liquid interface and the free energy barrier of nucleation. Both are found to depend significantly on the range of interaction for the Lennard-Jones potential, both in two and three dimensions. The value of surface tension and also the free energy difference between the gas and the liquid phase increase significantly and converge only when the range of interaction is extended beyond 6-7 molecular diameters. We find, with the full range of interaction potential, that the surface tension shows only a weak dependence on supersaturation, so the reason for the breakdown of CNT (with simulated values of surface tension and free energy gap) cannot be attributed to the supersaturation dependence of surface tension. This remains an unsettled issue at present because of the use of the value of surface tension obtained at coexistence.

Effect of environment and variety on the relationships of wheat grain physical and chemical characteristics with ethanol yield.

PubMed

Awole, Kedija D; Kettlewell, Peter S; Hare, Martin C; Agu, Reginald C; Brosnan, James M; Bringhurst, Thomas A

2012-02-01

Following the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), there is an increasing demand for wheat grain for liquid biofuel in the UK. In order to enhance productivity of the bioethanol industry, good quality wheat must be used. A total of 84 grain samples comprising 14 varieties collected from 11 sites in two harvest years were analysed for a range of grain quality parameters and ethanol yield (EY). The grain quality parameters studied were starch and protein concentration, specific weight, grain density, packing efficiency, thousand-grain weight (TGW), grain length, width, length/width ratio and hardness index. Regression analysis was used to establish the relationships between grain quality parameters and EY. Apart from grain length and density, all grain parameters had significant relationships with EY. In the order of importance, protein concentration, TGW, packing efficiency and specific weight showed good relationships with EY. All other parameters, including starch concentration, showed a poor correlation with EY. EY and the relationship with the grain parameters were affected more by environment than by variety. Some sites gave consistently higher EY than others. When site and variety were considered with TGW and protein, a good prediction of EY could be made (variance accounted for = 87%). Combining TGW and protein concentration could be a better indicator of EY than the current practice of specific weight and protein. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

Silicon device performance measurements to support temperature range enhancement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bromstead, James; Weir, Bennett; Nelms, R. Mark; Johnson, R. Wayne; Askew, Ray

1994-01-01

Silicon based power devices can be used at 200 C. The device measurements made during this program show a predictable shift in device parameters with increasing temperature. No catastrophic or abrupt changes occurred in the parameters over the temperature range. As expected, the most dramatic change was the increase in leakage currents with increasing temperature. At 200 C the leakage current was in the milliAmp range but was still several orders of magnitude lower than the on-state current capabilities of the devices under test. This increase must be considered in the design of circuits using power transistors at elevated temperature. Three circuit topologies have been prototyped using MOSFET's and IGBT's. The circuits were designed using zero current or zero voltage switching techniques to eliminate or minimize hard switching of the power transistors. These circuits have functioned properly over the temperature range. One thousand hour life data have been collected for two power supplies with no failures and no significant change in operating efficiency. While additional reliability testing should be conducted, the feasibility of designing soft switched circuits for operation at 200 C has been successfully demonstrated.

Analyses of kinetic glass transition in short-range attractive colloids based on time-convolutionless mode-coupling theory.

PubMed

Narumi, Takayuki; Tokuyama, Michio

2017-03-01

For short-range attractive colloids, the phase diagram of the kinetic glass transition is studied by time-convolutionless mode-coupling theory (TMCT). Using numerical calculations, TMCT is shown to recover all the remarkable features predicted by the mode-coupling theory for attractive colloids: the glass-liquid-glass reentrant, the glass-glass transition, and the higher-order singularities. It is also demonstrated through the comparisons with the results of molecular dynamics for the binary attractive colloids that TMCT improves the critical values of the volume fraction. In addition, a schematic model of three control parameters is investigated analytically. It is thus confirmed that TMCT can describe the glass-glass transition and higher-order singularities even in such a schematic model.

An NTCP Analysis of Urethral Complications from Low Doserate Mono- and Bi-Radionuclide Brachytherapy.

PubMed

Nuttens, V E; Nahum, A E; Lucas, S

2011-01-01

Urethral NTCP has been determined for three prostates implanted with seeds based on (125)I (145 Gy), (103)Pd (125 Gy), (131)Cs (115 Gy), (103)Pd-(125)I (145 Gy), or (103)Pd-(131)Cs (115 Gy or 130 Gy). First, DU(20), meaning that 20% of the urhral volume receive a dose of at least DU(20), is converted into an I-125 LDR equivalent DU(20) in order to use the urethral NTCP model. Second, the propagation of uncertainties through the steps in the NTCP calculation was assessed in order to identify the parameters responsible for large data uncertainties. Two sets of radiobiological parameters were studied. The NTCP results all fall in the 19%-23% range and are associated with large uncertainties, making the comparison difficult. Depending on the dataset chosen, the ranking of NTCP values among the six seed implants studied changes. Moreover, the large uncertainties on the fitting parameters of the urethral NTCP model result in large uncertainty on the NTCP value. In conclusion, the use of NTCP model for permanent brachytherapy is feasible but it is essential that the uncertainties on the parameters in the model be reduced.

Photoinduced ultrafast charge-order melting: Charge-order inversion and nonthermal effects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

van Veenendaal, Michel

2016-09-01

The effect of photoexcitation is studied for a system with checkerboard charge order induced by displacements of ligands around a metal site. The motion of the ligands is treated classically and the electronic charges are simplified to two-level molecular bond charges. The calculations are done for a checkerboard charge-ordered system with about 100 000 ligand oscillators coupled to a fixed-temperature bath. The initial photoexcitation is followed by a rapid decrease in the charge-order parameter within 50–100 femtoseconds while leaving the correlation length almost unchanged. Depending on the fluence, a complete melting of the charge order occurs in less than amore » picosecond. While for low fluences, the system returns to its original state, for full melting, it recovers to its broken-symmetry state leading to an inversion of the charge order. For small long-range interactions, recovery can be slow due to domain formation.« less

Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal

PubMed Central

Tierno, Pietro; Casademunt, Jaume

2017-01-01

Mixed-order phase transitions display a discontinuity in the order parameter like first-order transitions yet feature critical behavior like second-order transitions. Such transitions have been predicted for a broad range of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, but their experimental observation has remained elusive. Here, we analytically predict and experimentally realize a mixed-order equilibrium phase transition. Specifically, a discontinuous solid–solid transition in a 2D crystal of paramagnetic colloidal particles is induced by a magnetic field H. At the transition field Hs, the energy landscape of the system becomes completely flat, which causes diverging fluctuations and correlation length ξ∝|H2−Hs2|−1/2. Mean-field critical exponents are predicted, since the upper critical dimension of the transition is du=2. Our colloidal system provides an experimental test bed to probe the unconventional properties of mixed-order phase transitions. PMID:29158388

Photoinduced ultrafast charge-order melting: Charge-order inversion and nonthermal effects

DOE PAGES

van Veenendaal, Michel

2016-09-01

The effect of photoexcitation is studied for a system with checkerboard charge order induced by displacements of ligands around a metal site. The motion of the ligands is treated classically and the electronic charges are simplified to two-level molecular bond charges. The calculations are done for a checkerboard charge-ordered system with about 100 000 ligand oscillators coupled to a fixed-temperature bath. The initial photoexcitation is followed by a rapid decrease in the charge-order parameter within 50–100 femtoseconds while leaving the correlation length almost unchanged. Depending on the fluence, a complete melting of the charge order occurs in less than amore » picosecond. While for low fluences, the system returns to its original state, for full melting, it recovers to its broken-symmetry state leading to an inversion of the charge order. Finally, for small long-range interactions, recovery can be slow due to domain formation.« less

Radiophysical methods of diagnostics the Earth's ionosphere and the underlying earth's surface by remote sensing in the short-wave range of radio waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belov, S. Yu.; Belova, I. N.

2017-11-01

Monitoring of the earth's surface by remote sensing in the short-wave band can provide quick identification of some characteristics of natural systems. This band range allows one to diagnose subsurface aspects of the earth, as the scattering parameter is affected by irregularities in the dielectric permittivity of subsurface structures. This method based on the organization of the monitoring probe may detect changes in these environments, for example, to assess seismic hazard, hazardous natural phenomena such as earthquakes, as well as some man-made hazards and etc. The problem of measuring and accounting for the scattering power of the earth's surface in the short-range of radio waves is important for a number of purposes, such as diagnosing properties of the medium, which is of interest for geological, environmental studies. In this paper, we propose a new method for estimating the parameters of incoherent signal/noise ratio. The paper presents the results of comparison of the measurement method from the point of view of their admissible relative analytical errors. The new method is suggested. Analysis of analytical error of estimation of this parameter allowed to recommend new method instead of standard method. A comparative analysis and shows that the analytical (relative) accuracy of the determination of this parameter new method on the order exceeds the widely-used standard method.

PINGU: A vision for neutrino and particle physics at the South Pole

DOE PAGES

Aartsen, M. G.; Abraham, K.; Ackermann, M.; ...

2017-04-07

The Precision IceCube Next Generation Upgrade (PINGU) is a proposed low-energy in-fill extension to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. With detection technology modeled closely on the successful IceCube example, PINGU will provide a 6 Mton effective mass for neutrino detection with an energy threshold of a few GeV. Also, with an unprecedented sample of over 60 000 atmospheric neutrinos per year in this energy range, PINGU will make highly competitive measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters in an energy range over an order of magnitude higher than long-baseline neutrino beam experiments. PINGU will measure the mixing parameters Θ 23 and Δmmore » $$2\\atop{32}$$ , including the octant of Θ 23 for a wide range of values, and determine the neutrino mass ordering at 3σ median significance within five years of operation. PINGU's high precision measurement of the rate of v T appearance will provide essential tests of the unitarity of the 3 ×3 PMNS neutrino mixing matrix. PINGU will also improve the sensitivity of searches for low mass dark matter in the Sun, use neutrino tomography to directly probe the composition of the Earth's core, and improve IceCube's sensitivity to neutrinos from Galactic supernovae. Finally, reoptimization of the PINGU design has permitted substantial reduction in both cost and logistical requirements while delivering performance nearly identical to configurations previously studied.« less

PINGU: A vision for neutrino and particle physics at the South Pole

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aartsen, M. G.; Abraham, K.; Ackermann, M.

The Precision IceCube Next Generation Upgrade (PINGU) is a proposed low-energy in-fill extension to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. With detection technology modeled closely on the successful IceCube example, PINGU will provide a 6 Mton effective mass for neutrino detection with an energy threshold of a few GeV. Also, with an unprecedented sample of over 60 000 atmospheric neutrinos per year in this energy range, PINGU will make highly competitive measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters in an energy range over an order of magnitude higher than long-baseline neutrino beam experiments. PINGU will measure the mixing parameters Θ 23 and Δmmore » $$2\\atop{32}$$ , including the octant of Θ 23 for a wide range of values, and determine the neutrino mass ordering at 3σ median significance within five years of operation. PINGU's high precision measurement of the rate of v T appearance will provide essential tests of the unitarity of the 3 ×3 PMNS neutrino mixing matrix. PINGU will also improve the sensitivity of searches for low mass dark matter in the Sun, use neutrino tomography to directly probe the composition of the Earth's core, and improve IceCube's sensitivity to neutrinos from Galactic supernovae. Finally, reoptimization of the PINGU design has permitted substantial reduction in both cost and logistical requirements while delivering performance nearly identical to configurations previously studied.« less

PINGU: a vision for neutrino and particle physics at the South Pole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aartsen, M. G.; Abraham, K.; Ackermann, M.; Adams, J.; Aguilar, J. A.; Ahlers, M.; Ahrens, M.; Altmann, D.; Andeen, K.; Anderson, T.; Ansseau, I.; Anton, G.; Archinger, M.; Arguelles, C.; Arlen, T. C.; Auffenberg, J.; Axani, S.; Bai, X.; Bartos, I.; Barwick, S. W.; Baum, V.; Bay, R.; Beatty, J. J.; Becker Tjus, J.; Becker, K.-H.; BenZvi, S.; Berghaus, P.; Berley, D.; Bernardini, E.; Bernhard, A.; Besson, D. Z.; Binder, G.; Bindig, D.; Bissok, M.; Blaufuss, E.; Blot, S.; Boersma, D. J.; Bohm, C.; Börner, M.; Bos, F.; Bose, D.; Böser, S.; Botner, O.; Braun, J.; Brayeur, L.; Bretz, H.-P.; Burgman, A.; Carver, T.; Casier, M.; Cheung, E.; Chirkin, D.; Christov, A.; Clark, K.; Classen, L.; Coenders, S.; Collin, G. H.; Conrad, J. M.; Cowen, D. F.; Cross, R.; Day, M.; de André, J. P. A. M.; De Clercq, C.; Pino del Rosendo, E.; Dembinski, H.; De Ridder, S.; Desiati, P.; de Vries, K. D.; de Wasseige, G.; de With, M.; DeYoung, T.; Díaz-Vélez, J. C.; di Lorenzo, V.; Dujmovic, H.; Dumm, J. P.; Dunkman, M.; Eberhardt, B.; Ehrhardt, T.; Eichmann, B.; Eller, P.; Euler, S.; Evans, J. J.; Evenson, P. A.; Fahey, S.; Fazely, A. R.; Feintzeig, J.; Felde, J.; Filimonov, K.; Finley, C.; Flis, S.; Fösig, C.-C.; Franckowiak, A.; Friedman, E.; Fuchs, T.; Gaisser, T. K.; Gallagher, J.; Gerhardt, L.; Ghorbani, K.; Giang, W.; Gladstone, L.; Glagla, M.; Glüsenkamp, T.; Goldschmidt, A.; Golup, G.; Gonzalez, J. G.; Grant, D.; Griffith, Z.; Haack, C.; Haj Ismail, A.; Hallgren, A.; Halzen, F.; Hansen, E.; Hansmann, B.; Hansmann, T.; Hanson, K.; Haugen, J.; Hebecker, D.; Heereman, D.; Helbing, K.; Hellauer, R.; Hickford, S.; Hignight, J.; Hill, G. C.; Hoffman, K. D.; Hoffmann, R.; Holzapfel, K.; Hoshina, K.; Huang, F.; Huber, M.; Hultqvist, K.; In, S.; Ishihara, A.; Jacobi, E.; Japaridze, G. S.; Jeong, M.; Jero, K.; Jones, B. J. P.; Jurkovic, M.; Kalekin, O.; Kappes, A.; Karagiorgi, G.; Karg, T.; Karle, A.; Katori, T.; Katz, U.; Kauer, M.; Keivani, A.; Kelley, J. L.; Kemp, J.; Kheirandish, A.; Kim, M.; Kintscher, T.; Kiryluk, J.; Kittler, T.; Klein, S. R.; Kohnen, G.; Koirala, R.; Kolanoski, H.; Konietz, R.; Köpke, L.; Kopper, C.; Kopper, S.; Koskinen, D. J.; Kowalski, M.; Krauss, C. B.; Krings, K.; Kroll, M.; Krückl, G.; Krüger, C.; Kunnen, J.; Kunwar, S.; Kurahashi, N.; Kuwabara, T.; Labare, M.; Lanfranchi, J. L.; Larson, M. J.; Lauber, F.; Lennarz, D.; Lesiak-Bzdak, M.; Leuermann, M.; Leuner, J.; LoSecco, J.; Lu, L.; Lünemann, J.; Madsen, J.; Maggi, G.; Mahn, K. B. M.; Mancina, S.; Mandalia, S.; Mandelartz, M.; Marka, S.; Marka, Z.; Maruyama, R.; Mase, K.; Maunu, R.; McNally, F.; Meagher, K.; Medici, M.; Meier, M.; Meli, A.; Menne, T.; Merino, G.; Meures, T.; Miarecki, S.; Mohrmann, L.; Montaruli, T.; Moore, R. W.; Moulai, M.; Nahnhauer, R.; Naumann, U.; Neer, G.; Niederhausen, H.; Nowicki, S. C.; Nygren, D. R.; Obertacke Pollmann, A.; Olivas, A.; O'Murchadha, A.; Palazzo, A.; Palczewski, T.; Pandya, H.; Pankova, D. V.; Penek, Ö.; Pepper, J. A.; Pérez de los Heros, C.; Petersen, T. C.; Pieloth, D.; Pinat, E.; Pinfold, J. L.; Price, P. B.; Przybylski, G. T.; Quinnan, M.; Raab, C.; Rädel, L.; Rameez, M.; Rawlins, K.; Reimann, R.; Relethford, B.; Relich, M.; Resconi, E.; Rhode, W.; Richman, M.; Riedel, B.; Robertson, S.; Rongen, M.; Rott, C.; Ruhe, T.; Ryckbosch, D.; Rysewyk, D.; Sabbatini, L.; E Sanchez Herrera, S.; Sandrock, A.; Sandroos, J.; Sandstrom, P.; Sarkar, S.; Satalecka, K.; Schimp, M.; Schlunder, P.; Schmidt, T.; Schoenen, S.; Schöneberg, S.; Schumacher, L.; Seckel, D.; Seunarine, S.; Shaevitz, M. H.; Soldin, D.; Söldner-Rembold, S.; Song, M.; Spiczak, G. M.; Spiering, C.; Stahlberg, M.; Stanev, T.; Stasik, A.; Steuer, A.; Stezelberger, T.; Stokstad, R. G.; Stößl, A.; Ström, R.; Strotjohann, N. L.; Sullivan, G. W.; Sutherland, M.; Taavola, H.; Taboada, I.; Taketa, A.; Tanaka, H. K. M.; Tatar, J.; Tenholt, F.; Ter-Antonyan, S.; Terliuk, A.; Tešić, G.; Tilav, S.; Toale, P. A.; Tobin, M. N.; Toscano, S.; Tosi, D.; Tselengidou, M.; Turcati, A.; Unger, E.; Usner, M.; Vandenbroucke, J.; van Eijndhoven, N.; Vanheule, S.; van Rossem, M.; van Santen, J.; Veenkamp, J.; Vehring, M.; Voge, M.; Vraeghe, M.; Walck, C.; Wallace, A.; Wallraff, M.; Wandkowsky, N.; Weaver, Ch; Weiss, M. J.; Wendt, C.; Westerhoff, S.; Whelan, B. J.; Wickmann, S.; Wiebe, K.; Wiebusch, C. H.; Wille, L.; Williams, D. R.; Wills, L.; Wolf, M.; Wood, T. R.; Woolsey, E.; Woschnagg, K.; Wren, S.; Xu, D. L.; Xu, X. W.; Xu, Y.; Yanez, J. P.; Yodh, G.; Yoshida, S.; Zoll, M.

2017-05-01

The Precision IceCube Next Generation Upgrade (PINGU) is a proposed low-energy in-fill extension to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. With detection technology modeled closely on the successful IceCube example, PINGU will provide a 6 Mton effective mass for neutrino detection with an energy threshold of a few GeV. With an unprecedented sample of over 60 000 atmospheric neutrinos per year in this energy range, PINGU will make highly competitive measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters in an energy range over an order of magnitude higher than long-baseline neutrino beam experiments. PINGU will measure the mixing parameters {θ }23 and {{Δ }}{m}322, including the octant of {θ }23 for a wide range of values, and determine the neutrino mass ordering at 3σ median significance within five years of operation. PINGU’s high precision measurement of the rate of {ν }τ appearance will provide essential tests of the unitarity of the 3 × 3 PMNS neutrino mixing matrix. PINGU will also improve the sensitivity of searches for low mass dark matter in the Sun, use neutrino tomography to directly probe the composition of the Earth’s core, and improve IceCube’s sensitivity to neutrinos from Galactic supernovae. Reoptimization of the PINGU design has permitted substantial reduction in both cost and logistical requirements while delivering performance nearly identical to configurations previously studied.

Evaluation of Parameter Uncertainty Reduction in Groundwater Flow Modeling Using Multiple Environmental Tracers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnold, B. W.; Gardner, P.

2013-12-01

Calibration of groundwater flow models for the purpose of evaluating flow and aquifer heterogeneity typically uses observations of hydraulic head in wells and appropriate boundary conditions. Environmental tracers have a wide variety of decay rates and input signals in recharge, resulting in a potentially broad source of additional information to constrain flow rates and heterogeneity. A numerical study was conducted to evaluate the reduction in uncertainty during model calibration using observations of various environmental tracers and combinations of tracers. A synthetic data set was constructed by simulating steady groundwater flow and transient tracer transport in a high-resolution, 2-D aquifer with heterogeneous permeability and porosity using the PFLOTRAN software code. Data on pressure and tracer concentration were extracted at well locations and then used as observations for automated calibration of a flow and transport model using the pilot point method and the PEST code. Optimization runs were performed to estimate parameter values of permeability at 30 pilot points in the model domain for cases using 42 observations of: 1) pressure, 2) pressure and CFC11 concentrations, 3) pressure and Ar-39 concentrations, and 4) pressure, CFC11, Ar-39, tritium, and He-3 concentrations. Results show significantly lower uncertainty, as indicated by the 95% linear confidence intervals, in permeability values at the pilot points for cases including observations of environmental tracer concentrations. The average linear uncertainty range for permeability at the pilot points using pressure observations alone is 4.6 orders of magnitude, using pressure and CFC11 concentrations is 1.6 orders of magnitude, using pressure and Ar-39 concentrations is 0.9 order of magnitude, and using pressure, CFC11, Ar-39, tritium, and He-3 concentrations is 1.0 order of magnitude. Data on Ar-39 concentrations result in the greatest parameter uncertainty reduction because its half-life of 269 years is similar to the range of transport times (hundreds to thousands of years) in the heterogeneous synthetic aquifer domain. The slightly higher uncertainty range for the case using all of the environmental tracers simultaneously is probably due to structural errors in the model introduced by the pilot point regularization scheme. It is concluded that maximum information and uncertainty reduction for constraining a groundwater flow model is obtained using an environmental tracer whose half-life is well matched to the range of transport times through the groundwater flow system. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mudholkar, Mihir; Ahmed, Shamin; Ericson, Milton Nance

A compact model for SiC Power MOSFETs is presented. The model features a physical description of the channel current and internal capacitances and has been validated for dc, CV, and switching characteristics with measured data from a 1200-V, 20-A SiC power MOSFET in a temperature range of 25 degrees C to 225 degrees C. The peculiar variation of on-state resistance with temperature for SiC power MOSFETs has also been demonstrated through measurements and accounted for in the developed model. In order to improve the user experience with the model, a new datasheet driven parameter extraction strategy has been presented whichmore » requires only data available in device datasheets, to enable quick parameter extraction for off-the-shelf devices. Excellent agreement is shown between measurement and simulation using the presented model over the entire temperature range.« less

disLocate: tools to rapidly quantify local intermolecular structure to assess two-dimensional order in self-assembled systems.

PubMed

Bumstead, Matt; Liang, Kunyu; Hanta, Gregory; Hui, Lok Shu; Turak, Ayse

2018-01-24

Order classification is particularly important in photonics, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, biology, and biomedicine, as self-assembled and living systems tend to be ordered well but not perfectly. Engineering sets of experimental protocols that can accurately reproduce specific desired patterns can be a challenge when (dis)ordered outcomes look visually similar. Robust comparisons between similar samples, especially with limited data sets, need a finely tuned ensemble of accurate analysis tools. Here we introduce our numerical Mathematica package disLocate, a suite of tools to rapidly quantify the spatial structure of a two-dimensional dispersion of objects. The full range of tools available in disLocate give different insights into the quality and type of order present in a given dispersion, accessing the translational, orientational and entropic order. The utility of this package allows for researchers to extract the variation and confidence range within finite sets of data (single images) using different structure metrics to quantify local variation in disorder. Containing all metrics within one package allows for researchers to easily and rapidly extract many different parameters simultaneously, allowing robust conclusions to be drawn on the order of a given system. Quantifying the experimental trends which produce desired morphologies enables engineering of novel methods to direct self-assembly.

Design and performance of the KSC Biomass Production Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prince, Ralph P.; Knott, William M.; Sager, John C.; Hilding, Suzanne E.

1987-01-01

NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System program has instituted the Kennedy Space Center 'breadboard' project of which the Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) presently discussed is a part. The BPC is based on a modified hypobaric test vessel; its design parameters and operational parameters have been chosen in order to meet a wide range of plant-growing objectives aboard future spacecraft on long-duration missions. A control and data acquisition subsystem is used to maintain a common link between the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the illumination system, the gas-circulation system, and the nutrient delivery and monitoring subsystems.

Verification techniques for x-ray and mammography applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotsopoulos, Stavros A.; Lymberopoulos, Dimitris C.

1993-07-01

The integration of Medical Information Environment demands the study and development of high speed data communication systems with special designed 'endsystems' (MWS, etc.) for flexible and reliable data transmission/reception, handling and manipulation. An important parameter which affects the overall system's performance is the 'quality factor' of the communicated medical data produced by a wide range of modern modalities. The present paper describes a set of tests, done in a medical communication network based on a teleworking platform, in order to optimize the sensitivity parameters of the modalities by remote fine re-adjustments guided by experts.

Characterization of modulated time-of-flight range image sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Payne, Andrew D.; Dorrington, Adrian A.; Cree, Michael J.; Carnegie, Dale A.

2009-01-01

A number of full field image sensors have been developed that are capable of simultaneously measuring intensity and distance (range) for every pixel in a given scene using an indirect time-of-flight measurement technique. A light source is intensity modulated at a frequency between 10-100 MHz, and an image sensor is modulated at the same frequency, synchronously sampling light reflected from objects in the scene (homodyne detection). The time of flight is manifested as a phase shift in the illumination modulation envelope, which can be determined from the sampled data simultaneously for each pixel in the scene. This paper presents a method of characterizing the high frequency modulation response of these image sensors, using a pico-second laser pulser. The characterization results allow the optimal operating parameters, such as the modulation frequency, to be identified in order to maximize the range measurement precision for a given sensor. A number of potential sources of error exist when using these sensors, including deficiencies in the modulation waveform shape, duty cycle, or phase, resulting in contamination of the resultant range data. From the characterization data these parameters can be identified and compensated for by modifying the sensor hardware or through post processing of the acquired range measurements.

Formulation and Evaluation of Tramadol hydrochloride Rectal Suppositories.

PubMed

Saleem, M A; Taher, M; Sanaullah, S; Najmuddin, M; Ali, Javed; Humaira, S; Roshan, S

2008-09-01

Rectal suppositories of tramadol hydrochloride were prepared using different bases and polymers like PEG, cocoa butter, agar and the effect of different additives on in vitro release of tramadol hydrochloride was studied. The agar-based suppositories were non-disintegrating/non-dissolving, whereas PEGs were disintegrating/dissolving and cocoa butter were melting suppositories. All the prepared suppositories were evaluated for various physical parameters like weight variation, drug content and hardness. The PEG and cocoa butter suppositories were evaluated for macromelting range, disintegration and liquefaction time. In vitro release study was performed by USP type I apparatus. The prepared suppositories were within the permissible range of all physical parameters. In vitro drug release was in the order of PEG>Agar>cocoa butter. Addition of PVP, HPMC in agar suppositories retards the release. The mechanism of drug release was diffusion controlled and follows first order kinetics. The results suggested that blends of PEG of low molecular weight (1000) with high molecular weight (4000 and 6000) in different percentage and agar in 10% w/w as base used to formulate rapid release suppositories. The sustained release suppositories can be prepared by addition of PVP, HPMC in agar-based suppositories and by use of cocoa butter as base.

A mixed-order nonlinear diffusion compressed sensing MR image reconstruction.

PubMed

Joy, Ajin; Paul, Joseph Suresh

2018-03-07

Avoid formation of staircase artifacts in nonlinear diffusion-based MR image reconstruction without compromising computational speed. Whereas second-order diffusion encourages the evolution of pixel neighborhood with uniform intensities, fourth-order diffusion considers smooth region to be not necessarily a uniform intensity region but also a planar region. Therefore, a controlled application of fourth-order diffusivity function is used to encourage second-order diffusion to reconstruct the smooth regions of the image as a plane rather than a group of blocks, while not being strong enough to introduce the undesirable speckle effect. Proposed method is compared with second- and fourth-order nonlinear diffusion reconstruction, total variation (TV), total generalized variation, and higher degree TV using in vivo data sets for different undersampling levels with application to dictionary learning-based reconstruction. It is observed that the proposed technique preserves sharp boundaries in the image while preventing the formation of staircase artifacts in the regions of smoothly varying pixel intensities. It also shows reduced error measures compared with second-order nonlinear diffusion reconstruction or TV and converges faster than TV-based methods. Because nonlinear diffusion is known to be an effective alternative to TV for edge-preserving reconstruction, the crucial aspect of staircase artifact removal is addressed. Reconstruction is found to be stable for the experimentally determined range of fourth-order regularization parameter, and therefore not does not introduce a parameter search. Hence, the computational simplicity of second-order diffusion is retained. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Determination of material distribution in heading process of small bimetallic bar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Presz, Wojciech; Cacko, Robert

2018-05-01

The electrical connectors mostly have silver contacts joined by riveting. In order to reduce costs, the core of the contact rivet can be replaced with cheaper material, e.g. copper. There is a wide range of commercially available bimetallic (silver-copper) rivets on the market for the production of contacts. Following that, new conditions in the riveting process are created because the bi-metal object is riveted. In the analyzed example, it is a small size object, which can be placed on the border of microforming. Based on the FEM modeling of the load process of bimetallic rivets with different material distributions, the desired distribution was chosen and the choice was justified. Possible material distributions were parameterized with two parameters referring to desirable distribution characteristics. The parameter: Coefficient of Mutual Interactions of Plastic Deformations and the method of its determination have been proposed. The parameter is determined based of two-parameter stress-strain curves and is a function of these parameters and the range of equivalent strains occurring in the analyzed process. The proposed method was used for the upsetting process of the bimetallic head of the electrical contact. A nomogram was established to predict the distribution of materials in the head of the rivet and the appropriate selection of a pair of materials to achieve the desired distribution.

A method for approximating acoustic-field-amplitude uncertainty caused by environmental uncertainties.

PubMed

James, Kevin R; Dowling, David R

2008-09-01

In underwater acoustics, the accuracy of computational field predictions is commonly limited by uncertainty in environmental parameters. An approximate technique for determining the probability density function (PDF) of computed field amplitude, A, from known environmental uncertainties is presented here. The technique can be applied to several, N, uncertain parameters simultaneously, requires N+1 field calculations, and can be used with any acoustic field model. The technique implicitly assumes independent input parameters and is based on finding the optimum spatial shift between field calculations completed at two different values of each uncertain parameter. This shift information is used to convert uncertain-environmental-parameter distributions into PDF(A). The technique's accuracy is good when the shifted fields match well. Its accuracy is evaluated in range-independent underwater sound channels via an L(1) error-norm defined between approximate and numerically converged results for PDF(A). In 50-m- and 100-m-deep sound channels with 0.5% uncertainty in depth (N=1) at frequencies between 100 and 800 Hz, and for ranges from 1 to 8 km, 95% of the approximate field-amplitude distributions generated L(1) values less than 0.52 using only two field calculations. Obtaining comparable accuracy from traditional methods requires of order 10 field calculations and up to 10(N) when N>1.

Kinetics of hydrophobic organic contaminant extraction from sediment by granular activated carbon.

PubMed

Rakowska, M I; Kupryianchyk, D; Smit, M P J; Koelmans, A A; Grotenhuis, J T C; Rijnaarts, H H M

2014-03-15

Ex situ solid phase extraction with granular activated carbon (GAC) is a promising technique to remediate contaminated sediments. The methods' efficiency depends on the rate by which contaminants are transferred from the sediment to the surface of GAC. Here, we derive kinetic parameters for extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from sediment by GAC, using a first-order multi-compartment kinetic model. The parameters were obtained by modeling sediment-GAC exchange kinetic data following a tiered model calibration approach. First, parameters for PAH desorption from sediment were calibrated using data from systems with 50% (by weight) GAC acting as an infinite sink. Second, the estimated parameters were used as fixed input to obtain GAC uptake kinetic parameters in sediment slurries with 4% GAC, representing the ex situ remediation scenario. PAH uptake rate constants (kGAC) by GAC ranged from 0.44 to 0.0005 d(-1), whereas GAC sorption coefficients (KGAC) ranged from 10(5.57) to 10(8.57) L kg(-1). These values are the first provided for GAC in the presence of sediment and show that ex situ extraction with GAC is sufficiently fast and effective to reduce the risks of the most available PAHs among those studied, such as fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A study on the effects of temperature and substrate structure on the templated two-phase film growth via a hybrid model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xiao; Li, Jia; Zhu, Jian-Gang; Laughlin, David E.; Zhu, Jingxi

2018-06-01

Templated growth of two-phase thin films can achieve desirably ordered microstructures. In such cases, the microstructure of the growing films follows the topography of the template. By combining the Potts model Monte Carlo simulation and the "level set" method, an attempt was previously made to understand the physical mechanism behind the templated growth process. In the current work, this model is further used to study the effect of two parameters within the templated growth scenario, namely, the temperature and the geometric features of the template. The microstructure of the thin film grown with different lattice temperatures and domes is analyzed. It is found that within a moderate temperature range, the effect of geometric features took control of the ordering of the microstructure by its influence on the surface energy gradient. Interestingly, within this temperature range, as the temperature is increased, an ordered microstructure forms on a template without the optimal geometric features, which seems to be a result of competition between the kinetics and the thermodynamics during deposition. However, when the temperature was either above or below this temperature range, the template provided no guide to the whole deposition so that no ordered microstructure formed.

Approximate, computationally efficient online learning in Bayesian spiking neurons.

PubMed

Kuhlmann, Levin; Hauser-Raspe, Michael; Manton, Jonathan H; Grayden, David B; Tapson, Jonathan; van Schaik, André

2014-03-01

Bayesian spiking neurons (BSNs) provide a probabilistic interpretation of how neurons perform inference and learning. Online learning in BSNs typically involves parameter estimation based on maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (ML-EM) which is computationally slow and limits the potential of studying networks of BSNs. An online learning algorithm, fast learning (FL), is presented that is more computationally efficient than the benchmark ML-EM for a fixed number of time steps as the number of inputs to a BSN increases (e.g., 16.5 times faster run times for 20 inputs). Although ML-EM appears to converge 2.0 to 3.6 times faster than FL, the computational cost of ML-EM means that ML-EM takes longer to simulate to convergence than FL. FL also provides reasonable convergence performance that is robust to initialization of parameter estimates that are far from the true parameter values. However, parameter estimation depends on the range of true parameter values. Nevertheless, for a physiologically meaningful range of parameter values, FL gives very good average estimation accuracy, despite its approximate nature. The FL algorithm therefore provides an efficient tool, complementary to ML-EM, for exploring BSN networks in more detail in order to better understand their biological relevance. Moreover, the simplicity of the FL algorithm means it can be easily implemented in neuromorphic VLSI such that one can take advantage of the energy-efficient spike coding of BSNs.

A hybrid phononic crystal for roof application.

PubMed

Wan, Qingmian; Shao, Rong

2017-11-01

Phononic crystal is a type of acoustic material, and the study of phononic crystals has attracted great attention from national research institutions. Meanwhile, noise reduction in the low-frequency range has always encountered difficulties and troubles in the engineering field. In order to obtain a unique and effective low-frequency noise reduction method, in this paper a low frequency noise attenuation system based on phononic crystal structure is proposed and demonstrated. The finite element simulation of the band gap is consistent with the final test results. The effects of structure parameters on the band gaps were studied by changing the structure parameters and the band gaps can be controlled by suitably tuning structure parameters. The structure and results provide a good support for phononic crystal structures engineering application.

Automated airplane surface generation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, R.E.; Cordero, Y.; Jones, W.

1996-12-31

An efficient methodology and software axe presented for defining a class of airplane configurations. A small set of engineering design parameters and grid control parameters govern the process. The general airplane configuration has wing, fuselage, vertical tall, horizontal tail, and canard components. Wing, canard, and tail surface grids axe manifested by solving a fourth-order partial differential equation subject to Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The design variables are incorporated into the boundary conditions, and the solution is expressed as a Fourier series. The fuselage is described by an algebraic function with four design parameters. The computed surface grids are suitablemore » for a wide range of Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation and configuration optimizations. Both batch and interactive software are discussed for applying the methodology.« less

Performance Assessment Uncertainty Analysis for Japan's HLW Program Feasibility Study (H12)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

BABA,T.; ISHIGURO,K.; ISHIHARA,Y.

1999-08-30

Most HLW programs in the world recognize that any estimate of long-term radiological performance must be couched in terms of the uncertainties derived from natural variation, changes through time and lack of knowledge about the essential processes. The Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute followed a relatively standard procedure to address two major categories of uncertainty. First, a FEatures, Events and Processes (FEPs) listing, screening and grouping activity was pursued in order to define the range of uncertainty in system processes as well as possible variations in engineering design. A reference and many alternative cases representing various groups of FEPs weremore » defined and individual numerical simulations performed for each to quantify the range of conceptual uncertainty. Second, parameter distributions were developed for the reference case to represent the uncertainty in the strength of these processes, the sequencing of activities and geometric variations. Both point estimates using high and low values for individual parameters as well as a probabilistic analysis were performed to estimate parameter uncertainty. A brief description of the conceptual model uncertainty analysis is presented. This paper focuses on presenting the details of the probabilistic parameter uncertainty assessment.« less

Colossal magnetic phase transition asymmetry in mesoscale FeRh stripes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Uhlir, V.; Arregi, J. A.; Fullerton, E. E.

Coupled order parameters in phase-transition materials can be controlled using various driving forces such as temperature, magnetic and electric field, strain, spin-polarized currents and optical pulses. Tuning the material properties to achieve efficient transitions would enable fast and low-power electronic devices. Here we show that the first-order metamagnetic phase transition in FeRh films becomes strongly asymmetric in mesoscale structures. In patterned FeRh stripes we observed pronounced supercooling and an avalanche-like abrupt transition from the ferromagnetic to the antiferromagnetic phase, while the reverse transition remains nearly continuous over a broad temperature range. Although modest asymmetry signatures have been found in FeRhmore » films, the effect is dramatically enhanced at the mesoscale. The activation volume of the antiferromagnetic phase is more than two orders of magnitude larger than typical magnetic heterogeneities observed in films. Finally, the collective behaviour upon cooling results from the role of long-range ferromagnetic exchange correlations that become important at the mesoscale and should be a general property of first-order metamagnetic phase transitions.« less

Colossal magnetic phase transition asymmetry in mesoscale FeRh stripes

DOE PAGES

Uhlir, V.; Arregi, J. A.; Fullerton, E. E.

2016-10-11

Coupled order parameters in phase-transition materials can be controlled using various driving forces such as temperature, magnetic and electric field, strain, spin-polarized currents and optical pulses. Tuning the material properties to achieve efficient transitions would enable fast and low-power electronic devices. Here we show that the first-order metamagnetic phase transition in FeRh films becomes strongly asymmetric in mesoscale structures. In patterned FeRh stripes we observed pronounced supercooling and an avalanche-like abrupt transition from the ferromagnetic to the antiferromagnetic phase, while the reverse transition remains nearly continuous over a broad temperature range. Although modest asymmetry signatures have been found in FeRhmore » films, the effect is dramatically enhanced at the mesoscale. The activation volume of the antiferromagnetic phase is more than two orders of magnitude larger than typical magnetic heterogeneities observed in films. Finally, the collective behaviour upon cooling results from the role of long-range ferromagnetic exchange correlations that become important at the mesoscale and should be a general property of first-order metamagnetic phase transitions.« less

Spaceborne Hybrid Quad-Pol SAR Range Ambiguity Analysis and Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shilin; Li, Yang; Zhang, Jingjing; Hong, Wen

2014-11-01

The higher levels of range ambiguities in the cross-polarized measurement channels are the primary limitations for the matched quad-pol (e.g., HH, VV, VH, and HV) spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. These ambiguities severely constrain the useful range of incident angles and the swath widths particularly at larger incidence. Adopting hybridpolarimetric architecture can remarkably reduce these ambiguities. In this paper, we analyse and develop the expression of range ambiguity to signal ratio (RASR) in the hybrid-polarimetric architecture. Simulations are made to testify this novel architecture’s advantage in the improvement of range ambiguities. The system operating parameters are derived from NASA’s DESDynl mission. In addition, we used the second order moments of polarimetric covariance matrices to depict target or the environment which are more precisely.

Spaceborne Hybrid Quad-Pol SAR Range Ambiguity Analysis and Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shilin; Li, Yang; Zhang, Jingjing; Hong, Wen

2014-11-01

The higher levels of range ambiguities in the cross- polarized measurement channels are the primary limitations for the matched quad-pol (e.g., HH, VV, VH, and HV) spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. These ambiguities severely constrain the useful range of incident angles and the swath widths particularly at larger incidence. Adopting hybrid- polarimetric architecture can remarkably reduce these ambiguities. In this paper, we analyse and develop the expression of range ambiguity to signal ratio (RASR) in the hybrid-polarimetric architecture. Simulations are made to testify this novel architecture's advantage in the improvement of range ambiguities. The system operating parameters are derived from NASA's DESDynl mission. In addition, we used the second order moments of polarimetric covariance matrices to depict target or the environment which are more precisely.

A novel kinetic modeling method for the stabilization phase of the composting process for biodegradation of solid wastes.

PubMed

Ebrahimzadeh, Reza; Ghazanfari Moghaddam, Ahmad; Sarcheshmehpour, Mehdi; Mortezapour, Hamid

2017-12-01

Biomass degradation kinetics of the composting process for kitchen waste, pruned elm tree branches and sheep manure were studied to model changes in volatile solids (VS) over time. Three experimental reactors containing raw mixtures with a carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of 27:1 and a moisture content of 65% were prepared. During the composting process two of the reactors used forced air and the third used natural aeration. The composting stabilization phases in all reactors were completed in 30 days. During this period, composting indexes such as temperature, moisture content and VS changes were recorded. Elementary reactions were used for kinetics modeling of the degradation process. Results showed that the numerical values of rate constant ( k) for zero-order ranged from 0.86 to 1.03 VS×day -1 , for first-order models it ranged from 0.01 to 0.02 day -1 , for second-order the range was from 1.36×10 -5 to 1.78×10 -5 VS -1 ×day -1 and for n-order the rate constant ranged from 0.031 to 0.095 VS (1-n) ×day -1 . The resulting models were validated by comparing statistical parameters. Evaluation of the models showed that, in the aerated reactors, the n-order models (less than 1) successfully estimated the VS changes. In the non-aeration reactor, for the second-order model good agreement was achieved between the simulated and actual quantities of VS. Also, half-life time provided a useful criterion for the estimation of expected time for completion of different phases of composting.

Auxiliary-fermion approach to critical fluctuations in the two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brinckmann, Jan; Woelfle, Peter

2004-11-01

The nearest-neighbor quantum antiferromagnetic (AF) Heisenberg model for spin-1/2 on a two-dimensional square lattice is studied in the auxiliary-fermion representation. Expressing spin operators by canonical fermionic particles requires a constraint on the fermion charge Q{sub i}=1 on each lattice site i, which is imposed approximately through the thermal average. The resulting interacting fermion system is first treated in mean-field theory (MFT), which yields an AF ordered ground state and spin waves in quantitative agreement with conventional spin-wave theory. At finite temperature a self-consistent approximation beyond mean field is required in order to fulfill the Mermin-Wagner theorem. We first discuss amore » fully self-consistent approximation, where fermions are renormalized due to fluctuations of their spin density, in close analogy to FLEX. While static properties like the correlation length, {xi}(T){proportional_to}exp(aJ/T), come out correctly, the dynamical response lacks the magnon-like peaks which would reflect the appearance of short-range order at low T. This drawback, which is caused by overdamping, is overcome in a 'minimal self-consistent approximation' (MSCA), which we derive from the equations of motion. The MSCA features dynamical scaling at small energy and temperature and is qualitatively correct both in the regime of order-parameter relaxation at long wavelengths {lambda}>{xi} and in the short-range-order regime at {lambda}<{xi}. We also discuss the impact of vertex corrections and the problem of pseudo-gap formation in the single-particle density of states due to long-range fluctuations. Finally we show that the (short-range) magnetic order in MFT and MSCA helps to fulfill the constraint on the local fermion occupancy.« less

Enabling Searches on Wavelengths in a Hyperspectral Indices Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piñuela, F.; Cerra, D.; Müller, R.

2017-10-01

Spectral indices derived from hyperspectral reflectance measurements are powerful tools to estimate physical parameters in a non-destructive and precise way for several fields of applications, among others vegetation health analysis, coastal and deep water constituents, geology, and atmosphere composition. In the last years, several micro-hyperspectral sensors have appeared, with both full-frame and push-broom acquisition technologies, while in the near future several hyperspectral spaceborne missions are planned to be launched. This is fostering the use of hyperspectral data in basic and applied research causing a large number of spectral indices to be defined and used in various applications. Ad hoc search engines are therefore needed to retrieve the most appropriate indices for a given application. In traditional systems, query input parameters are limited to alphanumeric strings, while characteristics such as spectral range/ bandwidth are not used in any existing search engine. Such information would be relevant, as it enables an inverse type of search: given the spectral capabilities of a given sensor or a specific spectral band, find all indices which can be derived from it. This paper describes a tool which enables a search as described above, by using the central wavelength or spectral range used by a given index as a search parameter. This offers the ability to manage numeric wavelength ranges in order to select indices which work at best in a given set of wavelengths or wavelength ranges.

Magnetic Anisotropy and Chemical Order of Artificially Synthesized L10-Ordered FeNi Films on Au-Cu-Ni Buffer Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kojima, Takayuki; Mizuguchi, Masaki; Koganezawa, Tomoyuki; Osaka, Keiichi; Kotsugi, Masato; Takanashi, Koki

2012-01-01

L10-FeNi films were grown by alternate monatomic layer deposition on Au-Cu-Ni buffer layers at several substrate temperatures (Ts), and the relation between the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy (Ku) and the long-range chemical order parameter (S) was investigated. A large Ku of (7.0 ±0.2) ×106 erg/cm3 and S of 0.48 ±0.05 were obtained. The value of Ku was larger than those reported previously for artificially synthesized FeNi films. It was first found that both Ku and S increased with Ts, and Ku was roughly proportional to S.

Selective THz control of magnetic order: new opportunities from superradiant undulator sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovalev, S.; Wang, Zhe; Deinert, J.-C.; Awari, N.; Chen, M.; Green, B.; Germanskiy, S.; de Oliveira, T. V. A. G.; Lee, J. S.; Deac, A.; Turchinovich, D.; Stojanovic, N.; Eisebitt, S.; Radu, I.; Bonetti, S.; Kampfrath, T.; Gensch, M.

2018-03-01

Recent advancements of accelerator technology enable the generation of carrier-envelope-phase stable THz pulses with high fields at adjustable high repetition rates. The appropriate choice of THz radiator allows generation of narrow-band, spectrally dense, multicycle THz transients of tunable THz frequency which are ideally suited to selectively excite low-energy excitations such as magnons or phonons. They also allow one to study the frequency dependence of nonresonant THz-field interactions with various order parameters with high dynamic range. In this paper, we discuss the future prospects of this new type of THz light source for studying the coherent control of magnetic order based on recent results.

Development of a multiple-parameter nonlinear perturbation procedure for transonic turbomachinery flows: Preliminary application to design/optimization problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahara, S. S.; Elliott, J. P.; Spreiter, J. R.

1983-01-01

An investigation was conducted to continue the development of perturbation procedures and associated computational codes for rapidly determining approximations to nonlinear flow solutions, with the purpose of establishing a method for minimizing computational requirements associated with parametric design studies of transonic flows in turbomachines. The results reported here concern the extension of the previously developed successful method for single parameter perturbations to simultaneous multiple-parameter perturbations, and the preliminary application of the multiple-parameter procedure in combination with an optimization method to blade design/optimization problem. In order to provide as severe a test as possible of the method, attention is focused in particular on transonic flows which are highly supercritical. Flows past both isolated blades and compressor cascades, involving simultaneous changes in both flow and geometric parameters, are considered. Comparisons with the corresponding exact nonlinear solutions display remarkable accuracy and range of validity, in direct correspondence with previous results for single-parameter perturbations.

Computational manipulation of a radiative MHD flow with Hall current and chemical reaction in the presence of rotating fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alias Suba, Subbu; Muthucumaraswamy, R.

2018-04-01

A numerical analysis of transient radiative MHD(MagnetoHydroDynamic) natural convective flow of a viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting and rotating fluid along a semi-infinite isothermal vertical plate is carried out taking into consideration Hall current, rotation and first order chemical reaction.The coupled non-linear partial differential equations are expressed in difference form using implicit finite difference scheme. The difference equations are then reduced to a system of linear algebraic equations with a tri-diagonal structure which is solved by Thomas Algorithm. The primary and secondary velocity profiles, temperature profile, concentration profile, skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood Number are depicted graphically for a range of values of rotation parameter, Hall parameter,magnetic parameter, chemical reaction parameter, radiation parameter, Prandtl number and Schmidt number.It is recognized that rate of heat transfer and rate of mass transfer decrease with increase in time but they increase with increasing values of radiation parameter and Schmidt number respectively.

Automated parameter tuning applied to sea ice in a global climate model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roach, Lettie A.; Tett, Simon F. B.; Mineter, Michael J.; Yamazaki, Kuniko; Rae, Cameron D.

2018-01-01

This study investigates the hypothesis that a significant portion of spread in climate model projections of sea ice is due to poorly-constrained model parameters. New automated methods for optimization are applied to historical sea ice in a global coupled climate model (HadCM3) in order to calculate the combination of parameters required to reduce the difference between simulation and observations to within the range of model noise. The optimized parameters result in a simulated sea-ice time series which is more consistent with Arctic observations throughout the satellite record (1980-present), particularly in the September minimum, than the standard configuration of HadCM3. Divergence from observed Antarctic trends and mean regional sea ice distribution reflects broader structural uncertainty in the climate model. We also find that the optimized parameters do not cause adverse effects on the model climatology. This simple approach provides evidence for the contribution of parameter uncertainty to spread in sea ice extent trends and could be customized to investigate uncertainties in other climate variables.

Visualization and Quality Control Web Tools for CERES Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitrescu, C.; Doelling, D.; Chu, C.; Mlynczak, P.

2014-12-01

The CERES project continues to provide the scientific community a wide variety of satellite-derived data products. The flagship products TOA broadband shortwave and longwave observed fluxes, computed TOA and Surface fluxes, as well as cloud, aerosol, and other atmospheric parameters. These datasets encompass a wide range of temporal and spatial resolutions, suited to specific applications. We thus offer time resolutions that range from instantaneous to monthly means, with spatial resolutions that range from 20-km footprint to global scales. The 14-year record is mostly used by climate modeling communities that focus on global mean energetics, meridianal heat transport, and climate trend studies. CERES products are also used by the remote sensing community for their climatological studies. In the last years however, our CERES products had been used by an even broader audience, like the green energy, health and environmental research communities, and others. Because of that, the CERES project has implemented a now well-established web-oriented Ordering and Visualization Tool (OVT), which is well into its fifth year of development. In order to help facilitate a comprehensive quality control of CERES products, the OVT Team began introducing a series of specialized functions. These include the 1- and 2-D histogram, anomaly, deseasonalization, temporal and spatial averaging, side-by-side parameter comparison, and other specialized scientific application capabilities. Over time increasingly higher order temporal and spatial resolution products are being made available to the public through the CERES OVT. These high-resolution products require accessing the existing long-term archive - thus the reading of many very large netCDF or HDF files that pose a real challenge to the task of near instantaneous visualization. An overview of the CERES OVT basic functions and QC capabilities as well as future steps in expanding its capabilities will be presented at the meeting.

Combined Yamamoto approach for simultaneous estimation of adsorption isotherm and kinetic parameters in ion-exchange chromatography.

PubMed

Rüdt, Matthias; Gillet, Florian; Heege, Stefanie; Hitzler, Julian; Kalbfuss, Bernd; Guélat, Bertrand

2015-09-25

Application of model-based design is appealing to support the development of protein chromatography in the biopharmaceutical industry. However, the required efforts for parameter estimation are frequently perceived as time-consuming and expensive. In order to speed-up this work, a new parameter estimation approach for modelling ion-exchange chromatography in linear conditions was developed. It aims at reducing the time and protein demand for the model calibration. The method combines the estimation of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters based on the simultaneous variation of the gradient slope and the residence time in a set of five linear gradient elutions. The parameters are estimated from a Yamamoto plot and a gradient-adjusted Van Deemter plot. The combined approach increases the information extracted per experiment compared to the individual methods. As a proof of concept, the combined approach was successfully applied for a monoclonal antibody on a cation-exchanger and for a Fc-fusion protein on an anion-exchange resin. The individual parameter estimations for the mAb confirmed that the new approach maintained the accuracy of the usual Yamamoto and Van Deemter plots. In the second case, offline size-exclusion chromatography was performed in order to estimate the thermodynamic parameters of an impurity (high molecular weight species) simultaneously with the main product. Finally, the parameters obtained from the combined approach were used in a lumped kinetic model to simulate the chromatography runs. The simulated chromatograms obtained for a wide range of gradient lengths and residence times showed only small deviations compared to the experimental data. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Position control of an industrial robot using fractional order controller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clitan, Iulia; Muresan, Vlad; Abrudean, Mihail; Clitan, Andrei; Miron, Radu

2017-02-01

This paper presents the design of a control structure that ensures no overshoot for the movement of an industrial robot, used for the evacuation of round steel blocks from inside a rotary hearth furnace. First, a mathematical model for the positioning system is derived from a set of experimental data, and further, the paper focuses on obtaining a PID type controller, using the relay method as tuning method in order to obtain a stable closed loop system. The controller parameters are further tuned in order to achieve the imposed set of performances for the positioning of the industrial robot through computer simulation, using trial and error method. Further, a fractional - order PID controller is obtained in order to improve the control signal variation, so as to fit within the range of unified current's variation, 4 to 20 mA.

Optimization of GATE and PHITS Monte Carlo code parameters for uniform scanning proton beam based on simulation with FLUKA general-purpose code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurosu, Keita; Takashina, Masaaki; Koizumi, Masahiko; Das, Indra J.; Moskvin, Vadim P.

2014-10-01

Although three general-purpose Monte Carlo (MC) simulation tools: Geant4, FLUKA and PHITS have been used extensively, differences in calculation results have been reported. The major causes are the implementation of the physical model, preset value of the ionization potential or definition of the maximum step size. In order to achieve artifact free MC simulation, an optimized parameters list for each simulation system is required. Several authors have already proposed the optimized lists, but those studies were performed with a simple system such as only a water phantom. Since particle beams have a transport, interaction and electromagnetic processes during beam delivery, establishment of an optimized parameters-list for whole beam delivery system is therefore of major importance. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimized parameters list for GATE and PHITS using proton treatment nozzle computational model. The simulation was performed with the broad scanning proton beam. The influences of the customizing parameters on the percentage depth dose (PDD) profile and the proton range were investigated by comparison with the result of FLUKA, and then the optimal parameters were determined. The PDD profile and the proton range obtained from our optimized parameters list showed different characteristics from the results obtained with simple system. This led to the conclusion that the physical model, particle transport mechanics and different geometry-based descriptions need accurate customization in planning computational experiments for artifact-free MC simulation.

Freeze-out conditions in heavy ion collisions from QCD thermodynamics.

PubMed

Bazavov, A; Ding, H-T; Hegde, P; Kaczmarek, O; Karsch, F; Laermann, E; Mukherjee, Swagato; Petreczky, P; Schmidt, C; Smith, D; Soeldner, W; Wagner, M

2012-11-09

We present a determination of freeze-out conditions in heavy ion collisions based on ratios of cumulants of net electric charge fluctuations. These ratios can reliably be calculated in lattice QCD for a wide range of chemical potential values by using a next-to-leading order Taylor series expansion around the limit of vanishing baryon, electric charge and strangeness chemical potentials. From a computation of up to fourth order cumulants and charge correlations we first determine the strangeness and electric charge chemical potentials that characterize freeze-out conditions in a heavy ion collision and confirm that in the temperature range 150 MeV ≤ T ≤ 170 MeV the hadron resonance gas model provides good approximations for these parameters that agree with QCD calculations on the 5%-15% level. We then show that a comparison of lattice QCD results for ratios of up to third order cumulants of electric charge fluctuations with experimental results allows us to extract the freeze-out baryon chemical potential and the freeze-out temperature.

Magnetic specific heat and structural phase transitions in (CH3)4NMnCl3 (TMMC) and TMMC:Cu2+ studied by crystal optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levola, T.; Kleemann, W.

1985-10-01

High-resolution refractive index (RI) and linear birefringence (LB) measurements are performed on the one-dimensional antiferromagnet tetramethyl ammonium manganese trichloride (TMMC) in order to reveal the temperature dependence of the magnetic short-range order. In agreement with values obtained by other methods an exchange constant J/kB=-7.3 K is reliably extracted. Anomalies of the in-plane LB and of the ordinary RI at the hexagonal-to-monoclinic structural phase transition (Tc=126 K) are successfully described with the use of linear elasto-optic response theory and the Landau approximation, which accounts for symmetry-adapted coupling between the components of the order parameter and of the spontaneous strain. Cu2+ ions, substituting Mn2+ ions of TMMC at a rate exceeding x=1.5%, are shown to stabilize an intermediate, possibly incommensurate phase. Its stability range is marked by very drastic decreases &=145 K and &=55 K for x=4.5%, respectively.

First principles statistical mechanics of alloys and magnetism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenbach, Markus; Khan, Suffian N.; Li, Ying Wai

Modern high performance computing resources are enabling the exploration of the statistical physics of phase spaces with increasing size and higher fidelity of the Hamiltonian of the systems. For selected systems, this now allows the combination of Density Functional based first principles calculations with classical Monte Carlo methods for parameter free, predictive thermodynamics of materials. We combine our locally selfconsistent real space multiple scattering method for solving the Kohn-Sham equation with Wang-Landau Monte-Carlo calculations (WL-LSMS). In the past we have applied this method to the calculation of Curie temperatures in magnetic materials. Here we will present direct calculations of the chemical order - disorder transitions in alloys. We present our calculated transition temperature for the chemical ordering in CuZn and the temperature dependence of the short-range order parameter and specific heat. Finally we will present the extension of the WL-LSMS method to magnetic alloys, thus allowing the investigation of the interplay of magnetism, structure and chemical order in ferrous alloys. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering Division and it used Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility resources at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

MICROSCOPE Mission: First Constraints on the Violation of the Weak Equivalence Principle by a Light Scalar Dilaton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergé, Joel; Brax, Philippe; Métris, Gilles; Pernot-Borràs, Martin; Touboul, Pierre; Uzan, Jean-Philippe

2018-04-01

The existence of a light or massive scalar field with a coupling to matter weaker than gravitational strength is a possible source of violation of the weak equivalence principle. We use the first results on the Eötvös parameter by the MICROSCOPE experiment to set new constraints on such scalar fields. For a massive scalar field of mass smaller than 10-12 eV (i.e., range larger than a few 1 05 m ), we improve existing constraints by one order of magnitude to |α |<10-11 if the scalar field couples to the baryon number and to |α |<10-12 if the scalar field couples to the difference between the baryon and the lepton numbers. We also consider a model describing the coupling of a generic dilaton to the standard matter fields with five parameters, for a light field: We find that, for masses smaller than 10-12 eV , the constraints on the dilaton coupling parameters are improved by one order of magnitude compared to previous equivalence principle tests.

MICROSCOPE Mission: First Constraints on the Violation of the Weak Equivalence Principle by a Light Scalar Dilaton.

PubMed

Bergé, Joel; Brax, Philippe; Métris, Gilles; Pernot-Borràs, Martin; Touboul, Pierre; Uzan, Jean-Philippe

2018-04-06

The existence of a light or massive scalar field with a coupling to matter weaker than gravitational strength is a possible source of violation of the weak equivalence principle. We use the first results on the Eötvös parameter by the MICROSCOPE experiment to set new constraints on such scalar fields. For a massive scalar field of mass smaller than 10^{-12}  eV (i.e., range larger than a few 10^{5}  m), we improve existing constraints by one order of magnitude to |α|<10^{-11} if the scalar field couples to the baryon number and to |α|<10^{-12} if the scalar field couples to the difference between the baryon and the lepton numbers. We also consider a model describing the coupling of a generic dilaton to the standard matter fields with five parameters, for a light field: We find that, for masses smaller than 10^{-12}  eV, the constraints on the dilaton coupling parameters are improved by one order of magnitude compared to previous equivalence principle tests.

Investigating the Effect of Cosmic Opacity on Standard Candles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, J.; Yu, H.; Wang, F. Y.

2017-02-01

Standard candles can probe the evolution of dark energy over a large redshift range. But the cosmic opacity can degrade the quality of standard candles. In this paper, we use the latest observations, including Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the “joint light-curve analysis” sample and Hubble parameters, to probe the opacity of the universe. A joint fitting of the SNe Ia light-curve parameters, cosmological parameters, and opacity is used in order to avoid the cosmological dependence of SNe Ia luminosity distances. The latest gamma-ray bursts are used in order to explore the cosmic opacity at high redshifts. The cosmic reionization process is considered at high redshifts. We find that the sample supports an almost transparent universe for flat ΛCDM and XCDM models. Meanwhile, free electrons deplete photons from standard candles through (inverse) Compton scattering, which is known as an important component of opacity. This Compton dimming may play an important role in future supernova surveys. From analysis, we find that about a few per cent of the cosmic opacity is caused by Compton dimming in the two models, which can be corrected.

Self-Organized Dynamic Flocking Behavior from a Simple Deterministic Map

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krueger, Wesley

2007-10-01

Coherent motion exhibiting large-scale order, such as flocking, swarming, and schooling behavior in animals, can arise from simple rules applied to an initial random array of self-driven particles. We present a completely deterministic dynamic map that exhibits emergent, collective, complex motion for a group of particles. Each individual particle is driven with a constant speed in two dimensions adopting the average direction of a fixed set of non-spatially related partners. In addition, the particle changes direction by π as it reaches a circular boundary. The dynamical patterns arising from these rules range from simple circular-type convective motion to highly sophisticated, complex, collective behavior which can be easily interpreted as flocking, schooling, or swarming depending on the chosen parameters. We present the results as a series of short movies and we also explore possible order parameters and correlation functions capable of quantifying the resulting coherence.

Safety and compliance of prescription spectacles ordered by the public via the Internet.

PubMed

Citek, Karl; Torgersen, Daniel L; Endres, Jeffrey D; Rosenberg, Robert R

2011-09-01

This study investigated prescription spectacles ordered from online vendors and delivered directly to the public for compliance with the optical tolerance and impact resistance requirements for eyewear dispensed in the United States. Ten individuals ordered 2 pairs of spectacles from each of 10 of the most visited Internet vendors, totaling 200 eyewear orders. Spectacles ordered consisted of ranges of lens and frame materials, lens styles, and refractive corrections reflecting current distributions in the United States. Evaluations included measurement of sphere power, cylinder power and axis, add power (if indicated), horizontal prism imbalance, and impact testing. We received and evaluated 154 pairs of spectacles, comprising 308 lenses. Several spectacles were provided incorrectly, such as single vision instead of multifocal and lens treatments added or omitted. In 28.6% of spectacles, at least 1 lens failed tolerance standards for at least 1 optical parameter, and in 22.7% of spectacles, at least 1 lens failed impact testing. Overall, 44.8% of spectacles failed at least 1 parameter of optical or impact testing. Nearly half of prescription spectacles delivered directly by online vendors did not meet either the optical requirements of the patient's visual needs or the physical requirements for the patient's safety. Copyright © 2011 American Optometric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Power Aware Management Middleware for Multiple Radio Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, Roy; Kogan, Alex

Modern mobile phones and laptops are equipped with multiple wireless communication interfaces, such as WiFi and Bluetooth (BT), enabling the creation of ad-hoc networks. These interfaces significantly differ from one another in their power requirements, transmission range, bandwidth, etc. For example, BT is an order of magnitude more power efficient than WiFi, but its transmission range is an order of magnitude shorter. This paper introduces a management middleware that establishes a power efficient overlay for such ad-hoc networks, in which most devices can shut down their long range power hungry wireless interface (e.g., WiFi). Yet, the resulting overlay is fully connected, and for capacity and latency needs, no message ever travels more than 2k short range (e.g., BT) hops, where k is an arbitrary parameter. The paper describes the architecture of the solution and the management protocol, as well as a detailed simulations based performance study. The simulations largely validate the ability of the management infrastructure to obtain considerable power savings while keeping the network connected and maintaining reasonable latency. The performance study covers both static and mobile networks.

Onboard TDI stage estimation and calibration using SNR analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haghshenas, Javad

2017-09-01

Electro-Optical design of a push-broom space camera for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) remote sensing satellite is performed based on the noise analysis of TDI sensors for very high GSDs and low light level missions. It is well demonstrated that the CCD TDI mode of operation provides increased photosensitivity relative to a linear CCD array, without the sacrifice of spatial resolution. However, for satellite imaging, in order to utilize the advantages which the TDI mode of operation offers, attention should be given to the parameters which affect the image quality of TDI sensors such as jitters, vibrations, noises and etc. A predefined TDI stages may not properly satisfy image quality requirement of the satellite camera. Furthermore, in order to use the whole dynamic range of the sensor, imager must be capable to set the TDI stages in every shots based on the affecting parameters. This paper deals with the optimal estimation and setting the stages based on tradeoffs among MTF, noises and SNR. On-board SNR estimation is simulated using the atmosphere analysis based on the MODTRAN algorithm in PcModWin software. According to the noises models, we have proposed a formulation to estimate TDI stages in such a way to satisfy the system SNR requirement. On the other hand, MTF requirement must be satisfy in the same manner. A proper combination of both parameters will guaranty the full dynamic range usage along with the high SNR and image quality.

Inflationary spectra with inverse-volume corrections in loop quantum cosmology and their observational constraints from Planck 2015 data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, Tao; Wang, Anzhong; Wu, Qiang

We first derive the primordial power spectra, spectral indices and runnings of both scalar and tensor perturbations of a flat inflationary universe to the second-order approximations of the slow-roll parameters, in the framework of loop quantum cosmology with the inverse-volume quantum corrections. This represents an extension of our previous work in which the parameter σ was assumed to be an integer, where σ characterizes the quantum corrections and in general can take any of values from the range σ  element of  (0, 6]. Restricting to the first-order approximations of the slow-roll parameters, we find corrections to the results obtained previously inmore » the literature, and point out the causes for such errors. To our best knowledge, these represent the most accurate calculations of scalar and tensor perturbations given so far in the literature. Then, fitting the perturbations to the recently released data by Planck (2015), we obtain the most severe constraints for various values of σ. Using these constraints as our referring point, we discuss whether these quantum gravitational corrections can lead to measurable signatures in the future cosmological observations. We show that, depending on the value of σ, the scale-dependent contributions to the relativistic inflationary spectra due to the inverse-volume corrections could be well within the range of the detectability of the forthcoming generations of experiments, such as the Stage IV experiments.« less

X-ray-diffraction study of in-plane and interlayer correlations in layered compounds AgxTiS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuroiwa, Yoshihiro; Ohshima, Ken-Ichi; Watanabe, Yousuke

1990-12-01

X-ray measurements have been performed on the development of in-plane and interplanar correlations of intercalated Ag atoms in stage-2 and -1 AgxTiS2 single crystals. The abrupt change of the c-axis parameter for stage-2 Ag0.15TiS2 at around 250 K, due to the structural transformation of the stacking sequence, was observed, although the a-axis parameter changes continuously. Rodlike diffuse scattering parallel to c* at 1/31/3.0, 2/32/3.0, and their equivalent positions is observed for stage-2 Ag0.15TiS2 above 250 K and shows the two-dimensional (2D) feature of the disordered state. Such a diffuse rod is modulated below 250 K, with maxima appearing at every half-integer. This reveals an enhancement of the three-dimensional nature and a stacking sequence αβαβ... . By analyzing rodlike diffuse scattering at 350, 300, 280, and 250 K for stage-2 Ag0.15TiS2, the 2D short-range-order parameters were determined. By comparing the 2D short-range-order parameters with the 2D Ornstein-Zernike correlation function, it was obtained that the correlation length varies from 4.1+/-0.6 Å at 350 K to 37.1+/-1.6 Å at 250 K. These results can be interpreted with the use of the Daumas-Hérold island model. On the other hand, for stage-1 AgxTiS2, the modulation of the diffuse rod parallel to the c* axis at 1/31/3.0, 2/32/3.0, and their equivalent positions was observed at room temperature, which shows the 3D nature.

Estimation of genetic parameters for milk yield in Murrah buffaloes by Bayesian inference.

PubMed

Breda, F C; Albuquerque, L G; Euclydes, R F; Bignardi, A B; Baldi, F; Torres, R A; Barbosa, L; Tonhati, H

2010-02-01

Random regression models were used to estimate genetic parameters for test-day milk yield in Murrah buffaloes using Bayesian inference. Data comprised 17,935 test-day milk records from 1,433 buffaloes. Twelve models were tested using different combinations of third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-order orthogonal polynomials of weeks of lactation for additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. All models included the fixed effects of contemporary group, number of daily milkings and age of cow at calving as covariate (linear and quadratic effect). In addition, residual variances were considered to be heterogeneous with 6 classes of variance. Models were selected based on the residual mean square error, weighted average of residual variance estimates, and estimates of variance components, heritabilities, correlations, eigenvalues, and eigenfunctions. Results indicated that changes in the order of fit for additive genetic and permanent environmental random effects influenced the estimation of genetic parameters. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.19 to 0.31. Genetic correlation estimates were close to unity between adjacent test-day records, but decreased gradually as the interval between test-days increased. Results from mean squared error and weighted averages of residual variance estimates suggested that a model considering sixth- and seventh-order Legendre polynomials for additive and permanent environmental effects, respectively, and 6 classes for residual variances, provided the best fit. Nevertheless, this model presented the largest degree of complexity. A more parsimonious model, with fourth- and sixth-order polynomials, respectively, for these same effects, yielded very similar genetic parameter estimates. Therefore, this last model is recommended for routine applications. Copyright 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Critical behavior and phase transition of dilaton black holes with nonlinear electrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dayyani, Z.; Sheykhi, A.; Dehghani, M. H.; Hajkhalili, S.

2018-02-01

In this paper, we take into account the dilaton black hole solutions of Einstein gravity in the presence of logarithmic and exponential forms of nonlinear electrodynamics. First of all, we consider the cosmological constant and nonlinear parameter as thermodynamic quantities which can vary. We obtain thermodynamic quantities of the system such as pressure, temperature and Gibbs free energy in an extended phase space. We complete the analogy of the nonlinear dilaton black holes with the Van der Waals liquid-gas system. We work in the canonical ensemble and hence we treat the charge of the black hole as an external fixed parameter. Moreover, we calculate the critical values of temperature, volume and pressure and show that they depend on the dilaton coupling constant as well as on the nonlinear parameter. We also investigate the critical exponents and find that they are universal and independent of the dilaton and nonlinear parameters, which is an expected result. Finally, we explore the phase transition of nonlinear dilaton black holes by studying the Gibbs free energy of the system. We find that in the case of T>T_c, we have no phase transition. When T=T_c, the system admits a second-order phase transition, while for T=T_f

Dispersion dependence of second-order refractive index and complex third-order optical susceptibility in oxide glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdel Wahab, F. A.; El-Diasty, Fouad; Abdel-Baki, Manal

2009-10-01

A method correlates Fresnel-based spectrophotometric measurements and Lorentz dispersion theory is presented to study the dispersion of nonlinear optical parameters in particularly oxide glasses in a very wide range of angular frequency. The second-order refractive index and third-order optical susceptibility of Cr-doped glasses are determined from linear refractive index. Furthermore, both real and imaginary components of the complex susceptibility are carried out. The study reveals the importance of determining the dispersion of nonlinear absorption (two-photon absorption coefficient) to find the maximum resonant and nonresonant susceptibilities of investigated glasses. The present method is applied on Cr-doped lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses due to their semiconductor-like behavior and also to their application in laser industry.

Local Variability of Parameters for Characterization of the Corneal Subbasal Nerve Plexus.

PubMed

Winter, Karsten; Scheibe, Patrick; Köhler, Bernd; Allgeier, Stephan; Guthoff, Rudolf F; Stachs, Oliver

2016-01-01

The corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) offers high potential for early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Changes in subbasal nerve fibers can be assessed in vivo by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and quantified using specific parameters. While current study results agree regarding parameter tendency, there are considerable differences in terms of absolute values. The present study set out to identify factors that might account for this high parameter variability. In three healthy subjects, we used a novel method of software-based large-scale reconstruction that provided SNP images of the central cornea, decomposed the image areas into all possible image sections corresponding to the size of a single conventional CLSM image (0.16 mm2), and calculated a set of parameters for each image section. In order to carry out a large number of virtual examinations within the reconstructed image areas, an extensive simulation procedure (10,000 runs per image) was implemented. The three analyzed images ranged in size from 3.75 mm2 to 4.27 mm2. The spatial configuration of the subbasal nerve fiber networks varied greatly across the cornea and thus caused heavily location-dependent results as well as wide value ranges for the parameters assessed. Distributions of SNP parameter values varied greatly between the three images and showed significant differences between all images for every parameter calculated (p < 0.001 in each case). The relatively small size of the conventionally evaluated SNP area is a contributory factor in high SNP parameter variability. Averaging of parameter values based on multiple CLSM frames does not necessarily result in good approximations of the respective reference values of the whole image area. This illustrates the potential for examiner bias when selecting SNP images in the central corneal area.

Short-range order in the quantum XXZ honeycomb lattice material BaCo2(PO4)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nair, Harikrishnan S.; Brown, J. M.; Coldren, E.; Hester, G.; Gelfand, M. P.; Podlesnyak, A.; Huang, Q.; Ross, K. A.

2018-04-01

We present observations of highly frustrated quasi-two-dimensional (2D) magnetic correlations in the honeycomb lattice layers of the Seff =1 /2 compound γ -BaCo2(PO4)2 (γ -BCPO). Specific heat shows a broad peak comprised of two weak kink features at TN 1˜6 K and TN 2˜3.5 K, the relative weights of which can be modified by sample annealing. Neutron powder diffraction measurements reveal short range quasi-2D order that is established below TN 1 and TN 2, at which two separate, incompatible, short range magnetic orders onset: commensurate antiferromagnetic correlations with correlation length ξc=60 ±2 Å (TN 1) and in quasi-2D helical domains with ξh=350 ±11 Å (TN 2). The ac magnetic susceptibility response lacks frequency dependence, ruling out spin freezing. Inelastic neutron scattering data on γ -BCPO is compared with linear spin wave theory, and two separate parameter regions of the XXZ J1-J2-J3 model with ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange J1 are favored, both near regions of high classical degeneracy. High energy coherent excitations (˜10 meV) persist up to at least 40 K, suggesting strong in-plane correlations persist above TN. These data show that γ -BCPO is a rare highly frustrated, quasi-2D Seff =1 /2 honeycomb lattice material which resists long range magnetic order and spin freezing.

Aqueous solubility and alkaline hydrolysis of the novel high explosive hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20).

PubMed

Karakaya, Pelin; Sidhoum, Mohammed; Christodoulatos, Christos; Nicolich, Steve; Balas, Wendy

2005-04-11

The recently developed polycyclic nitramine CL-20 is considered as a possible replacement for the monocyclic nitramines RDX and HMX. The present study reports aqueous solubility data for CL-20, as well as the kinetic parameters for its alkaline hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide below and above its solubility limits. Aqueous solubility of CL-20 was measured in the temperature range of 4-69 degrees C and the data were fitted to a generalized solubility model. Alkaline hydrolysis experiments were conducted at 15, 20, 30 and 40 degrees C, with hydroxide concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 300 mM. Like RDX and HMX, alkaline hydrolysis of CL-20 follows second-order kinetics. CL-20 alkaline hydrolysis was found to proceed at a significantly faster rate than RDX. The temperature dependency of the second-order rate constants was evaluated using the Arrhenius model. The activation energy for CL-20 was found to be within close range of the activation energies reported for RDX and HMX.

Application of differential game theory to role-determination in aerial combat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merz, A. W.

1975-01-01

The development of criteria which specify the roles of pursuer and evader as functions of the relative geometry and of the important parameters of the problem are discussed. A reduced-order model of the relative motion is derived and discussed. In this model, the two aircraft move in the same plane at unequal but constant speeds, and with different maximum turn rates. The equations of relative motion are of third order, the dependent variables being the relative range, bearing, and heading of the two aircraft. Termination of the pursuit-evasion game is defined by either the heading-limited or the range-limited end condition. These are geometric conditions for which the evading aircraft is in front of the other, with the relative heading and relative range satisfying certain inequalities. Retrograde solutions to the equations of relative motion were used with the derived optimal terminal maneuvers to find where an assumed set of end conditions could have begun.

The influence of magnetic order on the magnetoresistance anisotropy of Fe1 + δ-x Cu x Te

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helm, T.; Valdivia, P. N.; Bourret-Courchesne, E.; Analytis, J. G.; Birgeneau, R. J.

2017-07-01

We performed resistance measurements on \\text{F}{{\\text{e}}1+δ -x} Cu x Te with {{x}\\text{EDX}}≤slant 0.06 in the presence of in-plane applied magnetic fields, revealing a resistance anisotropy that can be induced at a temperature far below the structural and magnetic zero-field transition temperatures. The observed resistance anisotropy strongly depends on the field orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes, as well as on the field-cooling history. Our results imply a correlation between the observed features and the low-temperature magnetic order. Hysteresis in the angle-dependence indicates a strong pinning of the magnetic order within a temperature range that varies with the Cu content. The resistance anisotropy vanishes at different temperatures depending on whether an external magnetic field or a remnant field is present: the closing temperature is higher in the presence of an external field. For {{x}\\text{EDX}}=0.06 the resistance anisotropy closes above the structural transition, at the same temperature at which the zero-field short-range magnetic order disappears and the sample becomes paramagnetic. Thus we suggest that under an external magnetic field the resistance anisotropy mirrors the magnetic order parameter. We discuss similarities to nematic order observed in other iron pnictide materials.

The influence of magnetic order on the magnetoresistance anisotropy of Fe 1+δ–xCu xTe

DOE PAGES

Helm, T.; Valdivia, P. N.; Bourret-Courchesne, E.; ...

2017-06-08

We performed resistance measurements on [Formula: see text]Cu x Te with [Formula: see text] in the presence of in-plane applied magnetic fields, revealing a resistance anisotropy that can be induced at a temperature far below the structural and magnetic zero-field transition temperatures. The observed resistance anisotropy strongly depends on the field orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes, as well as on the field-cooling history. Our results imply a correlation between the observed features and the low-temperature magnetic order. Hysteresis in the angle-dependence indicates a strong pinning of the magnetic order within a temperature range that varies with the Cumore » content. The resistance anisotropy vanishes at different temperatures depending on whether an external magnetic field or a remnant field is present: the closing temperature is higher in the presence of an external field. For [Formula: see text] the resistance anisotropy closes above the structural transition, at the same temperature at which the zero-field short-range magnetic order disappears and the sample becomes paramagnetic. Thus we suggest that under an external magnetic field the resistance anisotropy mirrors the magnetic order parameter. We discuss similarities to nematic order observed in other iron pnictide materials.« less

Assessing doses to terrestrial wildlife at a radioactive waste disposal site: inter-comparison of modelling approaches.

PubMed

Johansen, M P; Barnett, C L; Beresford, N A; Brown, J E; Černe, M; Howard, B J; Kamboj, S; Keum, D-K; Smodiš, B; Twining, J R; Vandenhove, H; Vives i Batlle, J; Wood, M D; Yu, C

2012-06-15

Radiological doses to terrestrial wildlife were examined in this model inter-comparison study that emphasised factors causing variability in dose estimation. The study participants used varying modelling approaches and information sources to estimate dose rates and tissue concentrations for a range of biota types exposed to soil contamination at a shallow radionuclide waste burial site in Australia. Results indicated that the dominant factor causing variation in dose rate estimates (up to three orders of magnitude on mean total dose rates) was the soil-to-organism transfer of radionuclides that included variation in transfer parameter values as well as transfer calculation methods. Additional variation was associated with other modelling factors including: how participants conceptualised and modelled the exposure configurations (two orders of magnitude); which progeny to include with the parent radionuclide (typically less than one order of magnitude); and dose calculation parameters, including radiation weighting factors and dose conversion coefficients (typically less than one order of magnitude). Probabilistic approaches to model parameterisation were used to encompass and describe variable model parameters and outcomes. The study confirms the need for continued evaluation of the underlying mechanisms governing soil-to-organism transfer of radionuclides to improve estimation of dose rates to terrestrial wildlife. The exposure pathways and configurations available in most current codes are limited when considering instances where organisms access subsurface contamination through rooting, burrowing, or using different localised waste areas as part of their habitual routines. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Oscillatory Neural Activity in Series Network Models of Parkinson's Disease During Deep Brain Stimulation.

PubMed

Davidson, Clare M; de Paor, Annraoi M; Cagnan, Hayriye; Lowery, Madeleine M

2016-01-01

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by hallmark motor symptoms. It is associated with pathological, oscillatory neural activity in the basal ganglia. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is often successfully used to treat medically refractive Parkinson's disease. However, the selection of stimulation parameters is based on qualitative assessment of the patient, which can result in a lengthy tuning period and a suboptimal choice of parameters. This study explores fourth-order, control theory-based models of oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia. Describing function analysis is applied to examine possible mechanisms for the generation of oscillations in interacting nuclei and to investigate the suppression of oscillations with high-frequency stimulation. The theoretical results for the suppression of the oscillatory activity obtained using both the fourth-order model, and a previously described second-order model, are optimized to fit clinically recorded local field potential data obtained from Parkinsonian patients with implanted DBS. Close agreement between the power of oscillations recorded for a range of stimulation amplitudes is observed ( R(2)=0.69-0.99 ). The results suggest that the behavior of the system and the suppression of pathological neural oscillations with DBS is well described by the macroscopic models presented. The results also demonstrate that in this instance, a second-order model is sufficient to model the clinical data, without the need for added complexity. Describing the system behavior with computationally efficient models could aid in the identification of optimal stimulation parameters for patients in a clinical environment.

Comparative Sensitivity Analysis of Muscle Activation Dynamics

PubMed Central

Günther, Michael; Götz, Thomas

2015-01-01

We mathematically compared two models of mammalian striated muscle activation dynamics proposed by Hatze and Zajac. Both models are representative for a broad variety of biomechanical models formulated as ordinary differential equations (ODEs). These models incorporate parameters that directly represent known physiological properties. Other parameters have been introduced to reproduce empirical observations. We used sensitivity analysis to investigate the influence of model parameters on the ODE solutions. In addition, we expanded an existing approach to treating initial conditions as parameters and to calculating second-order sensitivities. Furthermore, we used a global sensitivity analysis approach to include finite ranges of parameter values. Hence, a theoretician striving for model reduction could use the method for identifying particularly low sensitivities to detect superfluous parameters. An experimenter could use it for identifying particularly high sensitivities to improve parameter estimation. Hatze's nonlinear model incorporates some parameters to which activation dynamics is clearly more sensitive than to any parameter in Zajac's linear model. Other than Zajac's model, Hatze's model can, however, reproduce measured shifts in optimal muscle length with varied muscle activity. Accordingly we extracted a specific parameter set for Hatze's model that combines best with a particular muscle force-length relation. PMID:26417379

Experiments and Reaction Models of Fundamental Combustion Properties

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-31

in liquid hydrocarbon flames Lennard - Jones 12-6 potential parameters were estimated for n-alkanes and 1-alkenes with carbon numbers ranging from 5...hydrocarbons, were studied both experimentally and numerically. The fuel mixtures were chosen in order to gain insight into potential kinetic couplings...initio electronic structure theory, transition state theory, and master equation modelling. The potential energy surface was examined with the coupled

Temporal contrast enhancement of a femtosecond fiber CPA system by filtering of SPM broadened spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buldt, J.; Müller, M.; Klas, R.; Eidam, T.; Limpert, J.; Tünnermann, A.

2018-02-01

We present a novel approach for temporal contrast enhancement of energetic laser pulses by filtered SPM broadened spectra. A measured temporal contrast enhancement by at least 7 orders of magnitude in a simple setup has been achieved. This technique is applicable to a wide range of laser parameters and poses a highly efficient alternative to existing contrast-enhancement methods.

Simultaneous estimation of local-scale and flow path-scale dual-domain mass transfer parameters using geoelectrical monitoring

USGS Publications Warehouse

Briggs, Martin A.; Day-Lewis, Frederick D.; Ong, John B.; Curtis, Gary P.; Lane, John W.

2013-01-01

Anomalous solute transport, modeled as rate-limited mass transfer, has an observable geoelectrical signature that can be exploited to infer the controlling parameters. Previous experiments indicate the combination of time-lapse geoelectrical and fluid conductivity measurements collected during ionic tracer experiments provides valuable insight into the exchange of solute between mobile and immobile porosity. Here, we use geoelectrical measurements to monitor tracer experiments at a former uranium mill tailings site in Naturita, Colorado. We use nonlinear regression to calibrate dual-domain mass transfer solute-transport models to field data. This method differs from previous approaches by calibrating the model simultaneously to observed fluid conductivity and geoelectrical tracer signals using two parameter scales: effective parameters for the flow path upgradient of the monitoring point and the parameters local to the monitoring point. We use regression statistics to rigorously evaluate the information content and sensitivity of fluid conductivity and geophysical data, demonstrating multiple scales of mass transfer parameters can simultaneously be estimated. Our results show, for the first time, field-scale spatial variability of mass transfer parameters (i.e., exchange-rate coefficient, porosity) between local and upgradient effective parameters; hence our approach provides insight into spatial variability and scaling behavior. Additional synthetic modeling is used to evaluate the scope of applicability of our approach, indicating greater range than earlier work using temporal moments and a Lagrangian-based Damköhler number. The introduced Eulerian-based Damköhler is useful for estimating tracer injection duration needed to evaluate mass transfer exchange rates that range over several orders of magnitude.

The AmP project: Comparing species on the basis of dynamic energy budget parameters.

PubMed

Marques, Gonçalo M; Augustine, Starrlight; Lika, Konstadia; Pecquerie, Laure; Domingos, Tiago; Kooijman, Sebastiaan A L M

2018-05-01

We developed new methods for parameter estimation-in-context and, with the help of 125 authors, built the AmP (Add-my-Pet) database of Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) models, parameters and referenced underlying data for animals, where each species constitutes one database entry. The combination of DEB parameters covers all aspects of energetics throughout the full organism's life cycle, from the start of embryo development to death by aging. The species-specific parameter values capture biodiversity and can now, for the first time, be compared between animals species. An important insight brought by the AmP project is the classification of animal energetics according to a family of related DEB models that is structured on the basis of the mode of metabolic acceleration, which links up with the development of larval stages. We discuss the evolution of metabolism in this context, among animals in general, and ray-finned fish, mollusks and crustaceans in particular. New DEBtool code for estimating DEB parameters from data has been written. AmPtool code for analyzing patterns in parameter values has also been created. A new web-interface supports multiple ways to visualize data, parameters, and implied properties from the entire collection as well as on an entry by entry basis. The DEB models proved to fit data well, the median relative error is only 0.07, for the 1035 animal species at 2018/03/12, including some extinct ones, from all large phyla and all chordate orders, spanning a range of body masses of 16 orders of magnitude. This study is a first step to include evolutionary aspects into parameter estimation, allowing to infer properties of species for which very little is known.

The AmP project: Comparing species on the basis of dynamic energy budget parameters

PubMed Central

Lika, Konstadia; Pecquerie, Laure; Kooijman, Sebastiaan A. L. M.

2018-01-01

We developed new methods for parameter estimation-in-context and, with the help of 125 authors, built the AmP (Add-my-Pet) database of Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) models, parameters and referenced underlying data for animals, where each species constitutes one database entry. The combination of DEB parameters covers all aspects of energetics throughout the full organism’s life cycle, from the start of embryo development to death by aging. The species-specific parameter values capture biodiversity and can now, for the first time, be compared between animals species. An important insight brought by the AmP project is the classification of animal energetics according to a family of related DEB models that is structured on the basis of the mode of metabolic acceleration, which links up with the development of larval stages. We discuss the evolution of metabolism in this context, among animals in general, and ray-finned fish, mollusks and crustaceans in particular. New DEBtool code for estimating DEB parameters from data has been written. AmPtool code for analyzing patterns in parameter values has also been created. A new web-interface supports multiple ways to visualize data, parameters, and implied properties from the entire collection as well as on an entry by entry basis. The DEB models proved to fit data well, the median relative error is only 0.07, for the 1035 animal species at 2018/03/12, including some extinct ones, from all large phyla and all chordate orders, spanning a range of body masses of 16 orders of magnitude. This study is a first step to include evolutionary aspects into parameter estimation, allowing to infer properties of species for which very little is known. PMID:29742099

Prediction on sunspot activity based on fuzzy information granulation and support vector machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Lingling; Yan, Haisheng; Yang, Zhigang

2018-04-01

In order to analyze the range of sunspots, a combined prediction method of forecasting the fluctuation range of sunspots based on fuzzy information granulation (FIG) and support vector machine (SVM) was put forward. Firstly, employing the FIG to granulate sample data and extract va)alid information of each window, namely the minimum value, the general average value and the maximum value of each window. Secondly, forecasting model is built respectively with SVM and then cross method is used to optimize these parameters. Finally, the fluctuation range of sunspots is forecasted with the optimized SVM model. Case study demonstrates that the model have high accuracy and can effectively predict the fluctuation of sunspots.

Analysis of the variation of range parameters of thermal cameras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bareła, Jarosław; Kastek, Mariusz; Firmanty, Krzysztof; Krupiński, Michał

2016-10-01

Measured range characteristics may vary considerably (up to several dozen percent) between different samples of the same camera type. The question is whether the manufacturing process somehow lacks repeatability or the commonly used measurement procedures themselves need improvement. The presented paper attempts to deal with the aforementioned question. The measurement method has been thoroughly analyzed as well as the measurement test bed. Camera components (such as detector and optics) have also been analyzed and their key parameters have been measured, including noise figures of the entire system. Laboratory measurements are the most precise method used to determine range parameters of a thermal camera. However, in order to obtain reliable results several important conditions have to be fulfilled. One must have the test equipment capable of measurement accuracy (uncertainty) significantly better than the magnitudes of measured quantities. The measurements must be performed in a controlled environment thus excluding the influence of varying environmental conditions. The personnel must be well-trained, experienced in testing the thermal imaging devices and familiar with the applied measurement procedures. The measurement data recorded for several dozen of cooled thermal cameras (from one of leading camera manufacturers) have been the basis of the presented analysis. The measurements were conducted in the accredited research laboratory of Institute of Optoelectronics (Military University of Technology).

Design of a Uranium Dioxide Spheroidization System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cavender, Daniel P.; Mireles, Omar R.; Frendi, Abdelkader

2013-01-01

The plasma spheroidization system (PSS) is the first process in the development of tungsten-uranium dioxide (W-UO2) fuel cermets. The PSS process improves particle spherocity and surface morphology for coating by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Angular fully dense particles melt in an argon-hydrogen plasma jet at between 32-36 kW, and become spherical due to surface tension. Surrogate CeO2 powder was used in place of UO2 for system and process parameter development. Particles range in size from 100 - 50 microns in diameter. Student s t-test and hypothesis testing of two proportions statistical methods were applied to characterize and compare the spherocity of pre and post process powders. Particle spherocity was determined by irregularity parameter. Processed powders show great than 800% increase in the number of spherical particles over the stock powder with the mean spherocity only mildly improved. It is recommended that powders be processed two-three times in order to reach the desired spherocity, and that process parameters be optimized for a more narrow particles size range. Keywords: spherocity, spheroidization, plasma, uranium-dioxide, cermet, nuclear, propulsion

Analysis of PH3 spectra in the Octad range 2733-3660 cm-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikitin, A. V.; Ivanova, Y. A.; Rey, M.; Tashkun, S. A.; Toon, G. C.; Sung, K.; Tyuterev, Vl. G.

2017-12-01

Improved analysis of positions and intensities of phosphine spectral lines in the Octad region 2733-3660 cm-1 is reported. Some 5768 positions and 1752 intensities were modelled with RMS deviations of 0.00185 cm-1 and 10.9%, respectively. Based on an ab initio potential energy surface, the full Hamiltonian of phosphine nuclear motion was reduced to an effective Hamiltonian using high-order Contact Transformations method adapted to polyads of symmetric top AB3-type molecules with a subsequent empirical optimization of parameters. More than 2000 new ro-vibrational lines were assigned that include transitions for all 13 vibrational Octad sublevels. This new fitting of measured positions and intensities considerably improved the accuracy of line parameters in the calculated database. A comparison of our results with experimental spectra of PNNL showed that the new set of line parameters from this work permits better simulation of observed cross-sections than the HITRAN2012 linelist. In the 2733-3660 cm-1 range, our integrated intensities show a good consistency with recent ab initio variational calculations.

Coexistence of fraternity and egoism for spatial social dilemmas.

PubMed

Szabó, György; Szolnoki, Attila; Czakó, Lilla

2013-01-21

We have studied an evolutionary game with spatially arranged players who can choose one of the two strategies (named cooperation and defection for social dilemmas) when playing with their neighbors. In addition to the application of the usual strategies in the present model the players are also characterized by one of the two extreme personal features representing the egoist or fraternal behavior. During the evolution each player can modify both her own strategy and/or personal feature via a myopic update process in order to improve her utility. The results of numerical simulations and stability analysis are summarized in phase diagrams representing a wide scale of spatially ordered distribution of strategies and personal features when varying the payoff parameters. In most of the cases only two of the four possible options prevail and may form sublattice ordered spatial structure. The evolutionary advantage of the fraternal attitude is demonstrated within a large range of payoff parameters including the region of prisoner's dilemma where egoist defectors and fraternal cooperators form a role-separating chessboard like pattern. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Relation between the Mid-Infrared [Ne v] 14.3 Micrometers and [Ne III] 15.6 Micrometer Lines in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gorjian, V.; Cleary, K.; Werner, M. W.; Lawrence, C. R.

2007-01-01

We present a strong correlation between the [Ne v] 14.3 mm and [Ne III] 15.6 mm emission lines arising from the narrow-line regions (NLRs) of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), spanning 4 orders of magnitude in luminosity. The data are compiled primarily from Spitzer Space Telescope observations of nearby Seyfert galaxies (median z p 0.01) and 3C radio sources (median z p 0.52). This correlation is consistent with earlier studies in the optical/UV bands showing that line ratios arising in the NLRs are remarkably constant across AGNs. We also show that the correlation allows only a very narrow range in ionization parameter for simple photoionization models. The observed correlation will place tight constraints on alternative models, which predict constant line ratios over a broader range in ionization parameter.

Comparison and experimental validation of two potential resonant viscosity sensors in the kilohertz range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemaire, Etienne; Heinisch, Martin; Caillard, Benjamin; Jakoby, Bernhard; Dufour, Isabelle

2013-08-01

Oscillating microstructures are well established and find application in many fields. These include force sensors, e.g. AFM micro-cantilevers or accelerometers based on resonant suspended plates. This contribution presents two vibrating mechanical structures acting as force sensors in liquid media in order to measure hydrodynamic interactions. Rectangular cross section microcantilevers as well as circular cross section wires are investigated. Each structure features specific benefits, which are discussed in detail. Furthermore, their mechanical parameters and their deflection in liquids are characterized. Finally, an inverse analytical model is applied to calculate the complex viscosity near the resonant frequency for both types of structures. With this approach it is possible to determine rheological parameters in the kilohertz range in situ within a few seconds. The monitoring of the complex viscosity of yogurt during the fermentation process is used as a proof of concept to qualify at least one of the two sensors in opaque mixtures.

Caracterisation mecanique dynamique de materiaux poro-visco-elastiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renault, Amelie

Poro-viscoelastic materials are well modelled with Biot-Allard equations. This model needs a number of geometrical parameters in order to describe the macroscopic geometry of the material and elastic parameters in order to describe the elastic properties of the material skeleton. Several characterisation methods of viscoelastic parameters of porous materials are studied in this thesis. Firstly, quasistatic and resonant characterization methods are described and analyzed. Secondly, a new inverse dynamic characterization of the same modulus is developed. The latter involves a two layers metal-porous beam, which is excited at the center. The input mobility is measured. The set-up is simplified compared to previous methods. The parameters are obtained via an inversion procedure based on the minimisation of the cost function comparing the measured and calculated frequency response functions (FRF). The calculation is done with a general laminate model. A parametric study identifies the optimal beam dimensions for maximum sensitivity of the inversion model. The advantage of using a code which is not taking into account fluid-structure interactions is the low computation time. For most materials, the effect of this interaction on the elastic properties is negligible. Several materials are tested to demonstrate the performance of the method compared to the classical quasi-static approaches, and set its limitations and range of validity. Finally, conclusions about their utilisation are given. Keywords. Elastic parameters, porous materials, anisotropy, vibration.

Application of Parametrized Post-Newtonian Methods to the Gravitational IS of Satellite Energy Exchange Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smalley, Larry L.

1998-01-01

Project Satellite Energy Exchange (SEE) is a free-flying, high altitude satellite that utilizes space to construct a passive, low-temperature, nano-g environment in order to accurately measure the poorly known gravitational constant G plus other gravitational parameters that are difficult to measure in an earth-based laboratory. Eventually data received from SEE must be analyzed using a model of the gravitational interaction including parameters that describe deviations from general relativity and experiment. One model that can be used to fit tile data is the Parametrized post- Newtonian (PPN) approximation of general relativity (GR) which introduces ten parameters which have specified values in (GR). It is the lowest-order, consistent approximation that contains non linear terms. General relativity predicts that the Robertson parameters, gamma (light deflection), and beta (advance of the perihelion), are both 1 in GR. Another eight parameters, alpha(sub k), k=1,2,3 and zeta(sub k), k=1,2,3,4 and Xi are all zero in GR. Non zero values for alpha(sub k) parameters predict preferred frame effects; for zeta(sub k) violations of globally conserved quantities such as mass, momentum and angular momentum; and for Xi a contribution from the Whitehead theory of gravitation, once thought to be equivalent to GR. In addition, there is the possibility that there may be a preferred frame for the universe. If such a frame exists, then all observers must measure the velocity omega of their motion with respect to this universal rest frame. Such a frame is somewhat reminiscent of the concept of the ether which was supposedly the frame in which the velocity of light took the value c predicted by special relativity. The SEE mission can also look for deviations from the r(exp -2) law of Newtonian gravity, adding parameters alpha and lamda for non Newtonian behavior that describe the magnitude and range of the r(exp -2) deviations respectively. The foundations of the GR supposedly agree with Newtonian gravity to first order so that the parameters alpha and lamda are zero in GR. More important, however, GR subsequently depends on this Newtonian approximation to build up the non linear higher-order terms which forms the basis of the PPN frame work.

In vivo spectroscopy of healthy skin and pathology in terahertz frequency range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaytsev, Kirill I.; Kudrin, Konstantin G.; Reshetov, Igor V.; Gavdush, Arseniy A.; Chernomyrdin, Nikita V.; Karasik, Valeriy E.; Yurchenko, Stanislav O.

2015-01-01

Biomedical applications of terahertz (THz) technology and, in particular, THz pulsed spectroscopy have attracted considerable interest in the scientific community. A lot of papers have been dedicated to studying the ability for human disease diagnosis, including the diagnosis of human skin cancers. In this paper we have studied the THz material parameters and THz dielectric properties of human skin and pathology in vivo, and THz pulsed spectroscopy has been utilized for this purpose. We have found a contrast between material parameters of basal cell carcinoma and healthy skin, and we have also compared the THz material parameters of dysplastic and non-dysplastic pigmentary nevi in order to study the ability for early melanoma diagnosis. Significant differences between the THz material parameters of healthy skin and pathology have been detected, thus, THz pulsed spectroscopy promises to be become an effective tool for non-invasive diagnosis of skin neoplasms.

Azimuthally invariant Mueller-matrix mapping of biological optically anisotropic network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ushenko, Yu. O.; Vanchuliak, O.; Bodnar, G. B.; Ushenko, V. O.; Grytsyuk, M.; Pavlyukovich, N.; Pavlyukovich, O. V.; Antonyuk, O.

2017-09-01

A new technique of Mueller-matrix mapping of polycrystalline structure of histological sections of biological tissues is suggested. The algorithms of reconstruction of distribution of parameters of linear and circular dichroism of histological sections liver tissue of mice with different degrees of severity of diabetes are found. The interconnections between such distributions and parameters of linear and circular dichroism of liver of mice tissue histological sections are defined. The comparative investigations of coordinate distributions of parameters of amplitude anisotropy formed by Liver tissue with varying severity of diabetes (10 days and 24 days) are performed. The values and ranges of change of the statistical (moments of the 1st - 4th order) parameters of coordinate distributions of the value of linear and circular dichroism are defined. The objective criteria of cause of the degree of severity of the diabetes differentiation are determined.

Parametric optimisation and microstructural analysis on high power Yb-fibre laser welding of Ti-6Al-4V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, J.; Chen, L.; Davies, C. M.; Dear, J. P.

2016-11-01

In this work thin sheets of Ti-6Al-4V were full penetration welded using a 5 kW fibre laser in order to evaluate the effectiveness of high power fibre laser as a welding processing tool for welding Ti-6Al-4V with the requirements of the aircraft industry and to determine the effect of welding parameters including laser power, welding speed and beam focal position on the weld microstructure, bead profile and weld quality. It involved establishing an understanding of the influence of welding parameters on microstructural change, welding defects, and the characteristics of heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal (WM) of fibre laser welded joints. The optimum range of welding parameters which produced welds without cracking and porosity were identified. The influence of the welding parameters on the weld joint heterogeneity was characterised by conducting detailed microstructural analysis.

Multidimensional Characterization and Differentiation of Neurons in the Anteroventral Cochlear Nucleus

PubMed Central

Typlt, Marei; Englitz, Bernhard; Sonntag, Mandy; Dehmel, Susanne; Kopp-Scheinpflug, Cornelia; Ruebsamen, Rudolf

2012-01-01

Multiple parallel auditory pathways ascend from the cochlear nucleus. It is generally accepted that the origin of these pathways are distinct groups of neurons differing in their anatomical and physiological properties. In extracellular in vivo recordings these neurons are typically classified on the basis of their peri-stimulus time histogram. In the present study we reconsider the question of classification of neurons in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) by taking a wider range of response properties into account. The study aims at a better understanding of the AVCN's functional organization and its significance as the source of different ascending auditory pathways. The analyses were based on 223 neurons recorded in the AVCN of the Mongolian gerbil. The range of analysed parameters encompassed spontaneous activity, frequency coding, sound level coding, as well as temporal coding. In order to categorize the unit sample without any presumptions as to the relevance of certain response parameters, hierarchical cluster analysis and additional principal component analysis were employed which both allow a classification on the basis of a multitude of parameters simultaneously. Even with the presently considered wider range of parameters, high number of neurons and more advanced analytical methods, no clear boundaries emerged which would separate the neurons based on their physiology. At the current resolution of the analysis, we therefore conclude that the AVCN units more likely constitute a multi-dimensional continuum with different physiological characteristics manifested at different poles. However, more complex stimuli could be useful to uncover physiological differences in future studies. PMID:22253838

Maximising municipal solid waste--legume trimming residue mixture degradation in composting by control parameters optimization.

PubMed

Cabeza, I O; López, R; Ruiz-Montoya, M; Díaz, M J

2013-10-15

Composting is one of the most successful biological processes for the treatment of the residues enriched in putrescible materials. The optimization of parameters which have an influence on the stability of the products is necessary in order to maximize recycling and recovery of waste components. The influence of the composting process parameters (aeration, moisture, C/N ratio, and time) on the stability parameters (organic matter, N-losses, chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, biodegradability coefficient) of the compost was studied. The composting experiment was carried out using Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Legume Trimming Residues (LTR) in 200 L isolated acrylic barrels following a Box-Behnken central composite experimental design. Second-order polynomial models were found for each of the studied compost stability parameter, which accurately described the relationship between the parameters. The differences among the experimental values and those estimated by using the equations never exceeded 10% of the former. Results of the modelling showed that excluding the time, the C/N ratio is the strongest variable influencing almost all the stability parameters studied in this case, with the exception of N-losses which is strongly dependent on moisture. Moreover, an optimized ratio MSW/LTR of 1/1 (w/w), moisture content in the range of 40-55% and moderate to low aeration rate (0.05-0.175 Lair kg(-)(1) min(-1)) is recommended to maximise degradation and to obtain a stable product during co-composting of MSW and LTR. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oxidation Kinetics of Ferritic Alloys in High-Temperature Steam Environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parker, Stephen S.; White, Josh; Hosemann, Peter

High-temperature isothermal steam oxidation kinetic parameters of several ferritic alloys were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. We measured the oxidation kinetic constant (k) as a function of temperature from 900°C to 1200°C. The results show a marked increase in oxidation resistance compared to reference Zircaloy-2, with kinetic constants 3–5 orders of magnitude lower across the experimental temperature range. Our results of this investigation supplement previous findings on the properties of ferritic alloys for use as candidate cladding materials and extend kinetic parameter measurements to high-temperature steam environments suitable for assessing accident tolerance for light water reactor applications.

Iron-Based Amorphous Coatings Produced by HVOF Thermal Spray Processing-Coating Structure and Properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beardsley, M B

2008-03-26

The feasibility to coat large SNF/HLW containers with a structurally amorphous material (SAM) was demonstrated on sub-scale models fabricated from Type 316L stainless steel. The sub-scale model were coated with SAM 1651 material using kerosene high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) torch to thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to 2 mm. The process parameters such as standoff distance, oxygen flow, and kerosene flow, were optimized in order to improve the corrosion properties of the coatings. Testing in an electrochemical cell and long-term exposure to a salt spray environment were used to guide the selection of process parameters.

Nonparaxial Dark-Hollow Gaussian Beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Zeng-Hui; Lü, Bai-Da

2006-01-01

The concept of nonparaxial dark-hollow Gaussian beams (DHGBs) is introduced. By using the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, the analytical propagation equation of DHGBs in free space is derived. The on-axis intensity, far-field equation and, in particular, paraxial expressions are given and treated as special cases of our result. It is shown that the parameter f = 1/kw0 with k being the wave number and w0 being the waist width determines the nonparaxiality of DHGBs. However, the parameter range, within which the paraxial approach is valid, depends on the propagation distance. The beam order affects the beam profile and position of maximum on-axis intensity.

String model for the dynamics of glass-forming liquids

PubMed Central

Pazmiño Betancourt, Beatriz A.; Douglas, Jack F.; Starr, Francis W.

2014-01-01

We test the applicability of a living polymerization theory to describe cooperative string-like particle rearrangement clusters (strings) observed in simulations of a coarse-grained polymer melt. The theory quantitatively describes the interrelation between the average string length L, configurational entropy Sconf, and the order parameter for string assembly Φ without free parameters. Combining this theory with the Adam-Gibbs model allows us to predict the relaxation time τ in a lower temperature T range than accessible by current simulations. In particular, the combined theories suggest a return to Arrhenius behavior near Tg and a low T residual entropy, thus avoiding a Kauzmann “entropy crisis.” PMID:24880303

String model for the dynamics of glass-forming liquids.

PubMed

Pazmiño Betancourt, Beatriz A; Douglas, Jack F; Starr, Francis W

2014-05-28

We test the applicability of a living polymerization theory to describe cooperative string-like particle rearrangement clusters (strings) observed in simulations of a coarse-grained polymer melt. The theory quantitatively describes the interrelation between the average string length L, configurational entropy Sconf, and the order parameter for string assembly Φ without free parameters. Combining this theory with the Adam-Gibbs model allows us to predict the relaxation time τ in a lower temperature T range than accessible by current simulations. In particular, the combined theories suggest a return to Arrhenius behavior near Tg and a low T residual entropy, thus avoiding a Kauzmann "entropy crisis."

Variance of foot biomechanical parameters across age groups for the elderly people in Romania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deselnicu, D. C.; Vasilescu, A. M.; Militaru, G.

2017-10-01

The paper presents the results of a fieldwork study conducted in order to analyze major causal factors that influence the foot deformities and pathologies of elderly women in Romania. The study has an exploratory and descriptive nature and uses quantitative methodology. The sample consisted of 100 elderly women from Romania, ranging from 55 to over 75 years of age. The collected data was analyzed on multiple dimensions using a statistic analysis software program. The analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences across age groups in terms of several biomechanical parameters such as travel speed, toe off phase and support phase in the case of elderly women.

Oxidation Kinetics of Ferritic Alloys in High-Temperature Steam Environments

DOE PAGES

Parker, Stephen S.; White, Josh; Hosemann, Peter; ...

2017-11-03

High-temperature isothermal steam oxidation kinetic parameters of several ferritic alloys were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. We measured the oxidation kinetic constant (k) as a function of temperature from 900°C to 1200°C. The results show a marked increase in oxidation resistance compared to reference Zircaloy-2, with kinetic constants 3–5 orders of magnitude lower across the experimental temperature range. Our results of this investigation supplement previous findings on the properties of ferritic alloys for use as candidate cladding materials and extend kinetic parameter measurements to high-temperature steam environments suitable for assessing accident tolerance for light water reactor applications.

Oxidation Kinetics of Ferritic Alloys in High-Temperature Steam Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Stephen S.; White, Josh; Hosemann, Peter; Nelson, Andrew

2018-02-01

High-temperature isothermal steam oxidation kinetic parameters of several ferritic alloys were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The oxidation kinetic constant ( k) was measured as a function of temperature from 900°C to 1200°C. The results show a marked increase in oxidation resistance compared to reference Zircaloy-2, with kinetic constants 3-5 orders of magnitude lower across the experimental temperature range. The results of this investigation supplement previous findings on the properties of ferritic alloys for use as candidate cladding materials and extend kinetic parameter measurements to high-temperature steam environments suitable for assessing accident tolerance for light water reactor applications.

Sloppy-model universality class and the Vandermonde matrix.

PubMed

Waterfall, Joshua J; Casey, Fergal P; Gutenkunst, Ryan N; Brown, Kevin S; Myers, Christopher R; Brouwer, Piet W; Elser, Veit; Sethna, James P

2006-10-13

In a variety of contexts, physicists study complex, nonlinear models with many unknown or tunable parameters to explain experimental data. We explain why such systems so often are sloppy: the system behavior depends only on a few "stiff" combinations of the parameters and is unchanged as other "sloppy" parameter combinations vary by orders of magnitude. We observe that the eigenvalue spectra for the sensitivity of sloppy models have a striking, characteristic form with a density of logarithms of eigenvalues which is roughly constant over a large range. We suggest that the common features of sloppy models indicate that they may belong to a common universality class. In particular, we motivate focusing on a Vandermonde ensemble of multiparameter nonlinear models and show in one limit that they exhibit the universal features of sloppy models.

The effect of seasonal birth pulses on pathogen persistence in wild mammal populations.

PubMed

Peel, A J; Pulliam, J R C; Luis, A D; Plowright, R K; O'Shea, T J; Hayman, D T S; Wood, J L N; Webb, C T; Restif, O

2014-07-07

The notion of a critical community size (CCS), or population size that is likely to result in long-term persistence of a communicable disease, has been developed based on the empirical observations of acute immunizing infections in human populations, and extended for use in wildlife populations. Seasonal birth pulses are frequently observed in wildlife and are expected to impact infection dynamics, yet their effect on pathogen persistence and CCS have not been considered. To investigate this issue theoretically, we use stochastic epidemiological models to ask how host life-history traits and infection parameters interact to determine pathogen persistence within a closed population. We fit seasonal birth pulse models to data from diverse mammalian species in order to identify realistic parameter ranges. When varying the synchrony of the birth pulse with all other parameters being constant, our model predicted that the CCS can vary by more than two orders of magnitude. Tighter birth pulses tended to drive pathogen extinction by creating large amplitude oscillations in prevalence, especially with high demographic turnover and short infectious periods. Parameters affecting the relative timing of the epidemic and birth pulse peaks determined the intensity and direction of the effect of pre-existing immunity in the population on the pathogen's ability to persist beyond the initial epidemic following its introduction.

The effect of seasonal birth pulses on pathogen persistence in wild mammal populations

PubMed Central

Peel, A. J.; Pulliam, J. R. C.; Luis, A. D.; Plowright, R. K.; O'Shea, T. J.; Hayman, D. T. S.; Wood, J. L. N.; Webb, C. T.; Restif, O.

2014-01-01

The notion of a critical community size (CCS), or population size that is likely to result in long-term persistence of a communicable disease, has been developed based on the empirical observations of acute immunizing infections in human populations, and extended for use in wildlife populations. Seasonal birth pulses are frequently observed in wildlife and are expected to impact infection dynamics, yet their effect on pathogen persistence and CCS have not been considered. To investigate this issue theoretically, we use stochastic epidemiological models to ask how host life-history traits and infection parameters interact to determine pathogen persistence within a closed population. We fit seasonal birth pulse models to data from diverse mammalian species in order to identify realistic parameter ranges. When varying the synchrony of the birth pulse with all other parameters being constant, our model predicted that the CCS can vary by more than two orders of magnitude. Tighter birth pulses tended to drive pathogen extinction by creating large amplitude oscillations in prevalence, especially with high demographic turnover and short infectious periods. Parameters affecting the relative timing of the epidemic and birth pulse peaks determined the intensity and direction of the effect of pre-existing immunity in the population on the pathogen's ability to persist beyond the initial epidemic following its introduction. PMID:24827436

Validation of Extended MHD Models using MST RFP Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacobson, C. M.; Chapman, B. E.; Craig, D.; McCollam, K. J.; Sovinec, C. R.

2016-10-01

Significant effort has been devoted to improvement of computational models used in fusion energy sciences. Rigorous validation of these models is necessary in order to increase confidence in their ability to predict the performance of future devices. MST is a well diagnosed reversed-field pinch (RFP) capable of operation over a wide range of parameters. In particular, the Lundquist number S, a key parameter in resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), can be varied over a wide range and provide substantial overlap with MHD RFP simulations. MST RFP plasmas are simulated using both DEBS, a nonlinear single-fluid visco-resistive MHD code, and NIMROD, a nonlinear extended MHD code, with S ranging from 104 to 5 ×104 for single-fluid runs, with the magnetic Prandtl number Pm = 1 . Experiments with plasma current IP ranging from 60 kA to 500 kA result in S from 4 ×104 to 8 ×106 . Validation metric comparisons are presented, focusing on how magnetic fluctuations b scale with S. Single-fluid NIMROD results give S b - 0.21 , and experiments give S b - 0.28 for the dominant m = 1 , n = 6 mode. Preliminary two-fluid NIMROD results are also presented. Work supported by US DOE.

Computer simulation results for bounds on the effective conductivity of composite media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, P. A.; Torquato, S.

1989-02-01

This paper studies the determination of third- and fourth-order bounds on the effective conductivity σe of a composite material composed of aligned, infinitely long, identical, partially penetrable, circular cylinders of conductivity σ2 randomly distributed throughout a matrix of conductivity σ1. Both bounds involve the microstructural parameter ζ2 which is a multifold integral that depends upon S3, the three-point probability function of the composite. This key integral ζ2 is computed (for the possible range of cylinder volume fraction φ2) using a Monte Carlo simulation technique for the penetrable-concentric-shell model in which cylinders are distributed with an arbitrary degree of impenetrability λ, 0≤λ≤1. Results for the limiting cases λ=0 (``fully penetrable'' or randomly centered cylinders) and λ=1 (``totally impenetrable'' cylinders) compare very favorably with theoretical predictions made by Torquato and Beasley [Int. J. Eng. Sci. 24, 415 (1986)] and by Torquato and Lado [Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A 417, 59 (1988)], respectively. Results are also reported for intermediate values of λ: cases which heretofore have not been examined. For a wide range of α=σ2/σ1 (conductivity ratio) and φ2, the third-order bounds on σe significantly improve upon second-order bounds which just depend upon φ2. The fourth-order bounds are, in turn, narrower than the third-order bounds. Moreover, when the cylinders are highly conducting (α≫1), the fourth-order lower bound provides an excellent estimate of the effective conductivity for a wide range of volume fractions.

Elastic-plastic Crack Growth Along Ductile/Ductile Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drugan, W. J.

An analytical study is performed of the stress and deformation fields near the tip of a crack that grows quasi-statically along an interface between two generally dissimilar ductile materials. The materials are modeled as homogeneous, isotropic, incompressible, elastic-ideally plastic Prandtl-Reuss-Mises, and the analysis is carried out within a small-displacement-gradient formulation. The case of anti-plane shear deformations is considered first. We derive near-tip solutions for the full range of the ratio of the two materials' yield stresses, and show that a near-tip family of solutions exists for each set of material properties; the implication is that far-field loading and geometrical conditions determine which specific near-tip solution governs in a particular problem. As a by-product of this analysis, we derive a new solution family for anti-plane shear crack growth in homogeneous material, one limiting member of which is the familiar Chitaley and McClintock (1971) solution. We also analyze the case of plane strain crack growth under applied tensile loading. Here, we account for curvature of inter-sector boundaries, in an attempt to obtain a complete set of solutions. When the material properties are identical, the solution family of Drugan and Chen (1989) for homogeneous material crack growth, which has an undetermined parameter in the near-tip field, is recovered. As the ratio of the two materials' yield strengths, ĸ, deviates from unity, the near-tip solution structure is found to change, but the near-tip fields are shown to continue to possess a free parameter for a substantial range of ĸ. Below this range, a second solution structure develops for which the near-tip free parameter has a restricted range of freedom. Finally, a third near-tip solution structure develops for sufficiently low ĸ, for which there are no free parameters. The implications of these results appear to be that as the plastic yield strength mismatch of the two materials becomes larger, far-field loading and geometry have increasingly weaker effects on the leading-order near-tip fields, until finally a mismatch level is reached beyond which far-field conditions no longer affect the leading-order fields. However, conclusions are complicated by the fact that the analysis also implies the radius of validity of the leading-order fields to decrease continuously with increasing yield strength mismatch (beyond a certain level), so that below some ¯k value, it will become necessary to retain more than one term to describe the physical near-tip fields. Although not specifically explored here, our analysis also allows comparison of the effects of changing elastic and plastic properties of the two materials on crack growth propensity, so that perhaps this analysis could assist in the optimization of interfacial fracture properties.

[Optimize dropping process of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills by using design space approach].

PubMed

Shen, Ji-Chen; Wang, Qing-Qing; Chen, An; Pan, Fang-Lai; Gong, Xing-Chu; Qu, Hai-Bin

2017-07-01

In this paper, a design space approach was applied to optimize the dropping process of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills. Firstly, potential critical process parameters and potential process critical quality attributes were determined through literature research and pre-experiments. Secondly, experiments were carried out according to Box-Behnken design. Then the critical process parameters and critical quality attributes were determined based on the experimental results. Thirdly, second-order polynomial models were used to describe the quantitative relationships between critical process parameters and critical quality attributes. Finally, a probability-based design space was calculated and verified. The verification results showed that efficient production of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills can be guaranteed by operating within the design space parameters. The recommended operation ranges for the critical dropping process parameters of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills were as follows: dropping distance of 5.5-6.7 cm, and dropping speed of 59-60 drops per minute, providing a reference for industrial production of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Application of Optical Imaging Techniques for Quantification of pH and O2 Dynamicsin Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, B.; Seliman, A. F.; Pales, A. R.; Liang, W.; Sams, A.; Darnault, C. J. G.; DeVol, T. A.

2016-12-01

Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of physical and chemical parameters (e.g. pH, O2) is imperative to characterize the behavior of contaminants in a natural environment. The objectives of this research are to calibrate pH and O2 sensor foils, to develop a dual pH/O2 sensor foil, and to apply them into flow and transport experiments, in order to understand the physical and chemical parameters that control contaminant fate and transport in an unsaturated sandy porous medium. In addition, demonstration of a sensor foil that quantifies aqueous uranium concentration will be presented. Optical imaging techniques will be conducted with 2D tanks to investigate the influence of microbial exudates and plant roots on pH and O2 parameters and radionuclides transport. As a non-invasive method, the optical imaging technique utilizes optical chemical sensor films and either a digital camera or a spectrometer to capture the changes with high temporal and spatial resolutions. Sensor foils are made for different parameters by applying dyes to generate favorable fluorescence that is proportional to the parameter of interest. Preliminary results suggested that this method could detect pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.5. The result from uranium foil test with different concentrations in the range of 2 to 8 ppm indicated that a higher concentration of uranium resulted in a greater color intensity.

On the structural properties of small-world networks with range-limited shortcut links

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Tao; Kulkarni, Rahul V.

2013-12-01

We explore a new variant of Small-World Networks (SWNs), in which an additional parameter (r) sets the length scale over which shortcuts are uniformly distributed. When r=0 we have an ordered network, whereas r=1 corresponds to the original Watts-Strogatz SWN model. These limited range SWNs have a similar degree distribution and scaling properties as the original SWN model. We observe the small-world phenomenon for r≪1, indicating that global shortcuts are not necessary for the small-world effect. For limited range SWNs, the average path length changes nonmonotonically with system size, whereas for the original SWN model it increases monotonically. We propose an expression for the average path length for limited range SWNs based on numerical simulations and analytical approximations.

Gapped paramagnetic state in a frustrated spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the cross-striped square lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, P. H. Y.; Bishop, R. F.

2018-03-01

We implement the coupled cluster method to very high orders of approximation to study the spin-1/2 J1 -J2 Heisenberg model on a cross-striped square lattice. Every nearest-neighbour pair of sites on the square lattice has an isotropic antiferromagnetic exchange bond of strength J1 > 0 , while the basic square plaquettes in alternate columns have either both or neither next-nearest-neighbour (diagonal) pairs of sites connected by an equivalent frustrating bond of strength J2 ≡ αJ1 > 0 . By studying the magnetic order parameter (i.e., the average local on-site magnetization) in the range 0 ≤ α ≤ 1 of the frustration parameter we find that the quasiclassical antiferromagnetic Néel and (so-called) double Néel states form the stable ground-state phases in the respective regions α < α1ac = 0 . 46(1) and α > α1bc = 0.615(5) . The double Néel state has Néel (⋯ ↑↓↑↓ ⋯) ordering along the (column) direction parallel to the stripes of squares with both or no J2 bonds, and spins alternating in a pairwise (⋯ ↑↑↓↓↑↑↓↓ ⋯) fashion along the perpendicular (row) direction, so that the parallel pairs occur on squares with both J2 bonds present. Further explicit calculations of both the triplet spin gap and the zero-field uniform transverse magnetic susceptibility provide compelling evidence that the ground-state phase over all or most of the intermediate regime α1ac < α < α1bc is a gapped state with no discernible long-range magnetic order.

Sensitivity of numerical simulation models of debris flow to the rheological parameters and application in the engineering environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosso, M.; Sesenna, R.; Magni, L.; Demurtas, L.; Uras, G.

2009-04-01

Debris flows represents serious hazards in mountainous regions. For engineers it is important to know the quantitative analysis of the flow in terms of volumes, velocities and front height, and it is significant to predict possible triggering and deposition areas. In order to predict flow and deposition behaviour, debris flows traditionally have been regarded as homogenous fluids and bulk flow behaviour that was considered to be controlled by the rheological properties of the matrix. Flow mixtures with a considerable fraction of fines particles typically show a viscoplastic flow behaviour but due to the high variability of the material composition, complex physical interactions on the particle scale and time dependent effects, no generally applicable models are at time capable to cover the full range of all possible flow types. A first category of models, mostly of academic origin, uses a rigorous methodological approach, directed to describe to the phenomenon characterizing all the main parameters that regulate the origin and the propagation of the debris flow, with detail attention to rheology. A second category, which are referred mainly to the commercial environment, has as first objective the versatility and the simplicity of use, introducing theoretical simplifications in the definition of the rheology and in the propagation of the debris flow. The physical variables connected to the rheology are often difficult to determine and involve complex procedures of calibration of the model or long and expensive campaigns of measure, whose application can turn out not suitable to the engineering environment. The rheological parameters of the debris are however to the base of the codes of calculation mainly used in commerce. The necessary data to the implementation of the model refer mainly to the dynamic viscosity, to the shear stress, to the volumetric mass and to the volumetric concentration, that are linked variables. Through the application of various bidimensional and monodimensional commercial models for the simulation of debris flow, in particular because of the reconstruction of famous and expected events in the river basin of the Comboè torrent (Aosta Valley, Italy), it has been possible to reach careful consideration about the calibration of the rheological parameters and the sensitivity of simulation models, specifically about the variability of them. The geomechanical and volumetric characteristics of the sediment at the bottom of the debris could produce uncertainties in model implementation, above all in not exclusively cinematic models, mostly influenced by the rheological parameters. The parameter that mainly influences the final result of the applied numerical models is the volumetric solid concentration that is variable in space and time during the debris flow propagation. In fact rheological parameters are described by a power equation of volumetric concentration. The potentiality and the suitability of a numerical code in the engineering environmental application have to be consider not referring only to the quality and amount of results, but also to the sensibility regarding the parameters variability that are bases of the inner ruotines of the program. Therefore, a suitable model will have to be sensitive to the variability of parameters that the customer can calculate with greater precision. On the other side, it will have to be sufficiently stable to the variation of those parameters that the customer cannot define univocally, but only by range of variation. One of the models utilized for the simulation of debris flow on the Comboè Torrent has been demonstrated as an heavy influenced example by small variation of rheological parameters. Consequently, in spite of the possibility to lead accurate procedures of back-analysis about a recent intense event, it has been found a difficulty in the calibration of the concentration for new expected events. That involved an extreme variability of the final results. In order to achieve more accuracy in the numerical simulation, the rheological parameters were estimated by an implicit way, proceeding to their determination through the application of simple numerical iteration. In fact they can link the obtained values of velocity and hydraulic levels. Literature formulations were used in order to determine rheological parameters. The parameters and ? wowere correlated to velocity and to empirical parameters that have small range of variability. This approach allows to produce a control of input parameters in the calculation models, comparing the obtained base result (velocity and water surface elevation). The implementation of numerical models for engineering profession must be carried out in order that aleatory variables, that are difficult to determine, do not involve an extreme variability of the final result. However, it's a good manner to proceed to the determination of interested variables by means of empirical formulations and through the comparison between different simplified models, including in the analysis pure cinematic models.

Measurements of Plasma Density in a Fast and Compact Plasma Focus Operating at Hundreds of Joules

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pavez, Cristian; Universidad de Concepcion, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Fisica, Concepcion; Silva, Patricio

2006-12-04

It is known that there are plasma parameters that remain relatively constant for plasma focus facilities operating in a wide range of de energy, from 1kJ to 1MJ, such as: electron density, temperature and plasma energy density. Particularly the electron density is of the order of 1025m-3. Recently the experimental studies in plasma focus has been extended to devices operating under 1kJ, in the range of hundreds and tens of joules. In this work an optical refractive system was implemented in order to measure the electron density in a plasma focus devices of hundred of joules, PF-400J (880 nF, 30more » kV, 120 kA, 400 J, 300 ns time to peak current, dI/dt{approx}4x1011 A/s. The plasma discharge was synchronized with a pulsed Nd-YAG laser ({approx}6ns FWHM at 532nm) in order to obtain optical diagnostics as interferometry and Schlieren. An electron density of (0.9{+-}0.25)x1025m-3 was obtained at the axis of the plasma column close to the pinch time. This value is of the same order that the obtained in devices oparating in the energy range of 1kJ to 1MJ.« less

Thermodynamic properties of hematite — ilmenite — geikielite solid solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghiorso, Mark S.

1990-11-01

A solution model is developed for rhombohedral oxide solid solutions having compositions within the ternary system ilmenite [(Fe{2+/ s }Ti{4+/1- s }) A (Fe{2+/1- s }Ti{4+/s}) B O3]-geikielite [(Mg{2+/ t }Ti{4+/1- t }) A (Mg{2+/1- t }Ti{4+/ t }) B O3]-hematite [(Fe3+) A (Fe3+) B O3]. The model incorporates an expression for the configurational entropy of solution, which accounts for varying degrees of structural long-range order (0≤s, t≤1) and utilizes simple regular solution theory to characterize the excess Gibbs free energy of mixing within the five-dimensional composition-ordering space. The 13 model parameters are calibrated from available data on: (1) the degree of long-range order and the composition-temperature dependence of theRbar 3c - Rbar 3 transition along the ilmenite-hematite binary join; (2) the compositions of coexisting olivine and rhombohedral oxide solid solutions close to the Mg-Fe2+ join; (3) the shape of the miscibility gap along the ilmenite-hematite join; (4) the compositions of coexisting spinel and rhombohedral oxide solid solutions along the Fe2+-Fe3+ join. In the course of calibration, estimates are obtained for the reference state enthalpy of formation of ulvöspinel and stoichiometric hematite (-1488.5 and -822.0 kJ/mol at 298 K and 1 bar, respectively). The model involves no excess entropies of mixing nor does it incorporate ternary interaction parameters. The formulation fits the available data and represents an internally consistent energetic model when used in conjuction with the standard state thermodynamic data set of Berman (1988) and the solution theory for orthopyroxenes, olivines and Fe-Mg titanomagnetite-aluminate-chromate spinels developed by Sack and Ghiorso (1989, 1990a, b). Calculated activity-composition relations for the end-members of the series, demonstrate the substantial degree of nonideality associated with interactions between the ordered and disordered structures and the dominant influence of the miscibility gap across much of the ternary system. The predicted shape of the miscibility gap, and the orientation of tie-lines relating the compositions of coexisting phases, display the effects of coupling between the excess enthalpy of solution and the degree of long-range order. One limb of the miscibility gap follows the composititiontemperature surface corresponding to the ternaryRbar 3 - Rbar 3c second-order transition.

Influence of temperature on the spectral characteristics of semiconductor lasers in the visible range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamov, A. A.; Baranov, M. S.; Khramov, V. N.

2018-04-01

The results of studies on the effect of temperature on the output spectral characteristics of continuous semiconductor lasers of the visible range are presented. The paper presents the results of studying the spectral-optical radiation parameters of semiconductor lasers, their coherence lengths, and the dependence of the position of the spectral peak of the wavelength on temperature. This is necessary for the selection of the most optimal laser in order to use it for medical ophthalmologic diagnosis. The experiment was carried out using semiconductor laser modules based on a laser diode. The spectra were recorded by using a two-channel automated spectral complex based on the MDR-23 monochromator. Spectral dependences on the temperature of semiconductor lasers are obtained, in the range from 300 to 370 K. The possibility of determining the internal damage to the stabilization of laser modules without opening the case is shown, but only with the use of their spectral characteristics. The obtained data allow taking into account temperature characteristics and further optimization of parameters of such lasers when used in medical practice, in particular, in ophthalmologic diagnostics.

Design of crossed planar phase grating for metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Yu; Chen, Xinrong; Li, Chaoming; Wang, Rui; Xu, Haiyan; Cheng, Yushui

2018-01-01

Crossed-grating is widely used as the standard element for metrology in two-dimensional precision positioning system. It has many advantages such as high resolution, compact structure, good environmental adaptability and less Abbe error. In this paper, the design of crossed planar reflecting phase grating used under the Littrow condition with circularly polarized light at 780nm wavelength has been carried out. The aim of the design is to find out the range of structure parameters of crossed-grating that has higher -1st order diffraction efficiency and good efficiency equilibrium for both of TE- and TM-polarized incident lights. By adoption of the Fourier modal method (FMM), the microstructure parameters of the 1200lines/mm crossed grating with the duty cycle range of 10% to 50% and the profile depth of 150nm to 350nm have been searched exactly. The calculation results show that: When the duty cycle range of the grating is 42% to 44% and profile depth is 210nm to 220nm, the -1st diffraction efficiencies of TE- and TM-polarized lights are both above 60% and the efficiency equilibrium is better than 80%.

Overview and Evaluation of Bluetooth Low Energy: An Emerging Low-Power Wireless Technology

PubMed Central

Gomez, Carles; Oller, Joaquim; Paradells, Josep

2012-01-01

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is an emerging low-power wireless technology developed for short-range control and monitoring applications that is expected to be incorporated into billions of devices in the next few years. This paper describes the main features of BLE, explores its potential applications, and investigates the impact of various critical parameters on its performance. BLE represents a trade-off between energy consumption, latency, piconet size, and throughput that mainly depends on parameters such as connInterval and connSlaveLatency. According to theoretical results, the lifetime of a BLE device powered by a coin cell battery ranges between 2.0 days and 14.1 years. The number of simultaneous slaves per master ranges between 2 and 5,917. The minimum latency for a master to obtain a sensor reading is 676 μs, although simulation results show that, under high bit error rate, average latency increases by up to three orders of magnitude. The paper provides experimental results that complement the theoretical and simulation findings, and indicates implementation constraints that may reduce BLE performance.

Effects of molecular composition of natural organic matter on ferric iron complexation at circumneutral pH.

PubMed

Fujii, Manabu; Imaoka, Akira; Yoshimura, Chihiro; Waite, T D

2014-04-15

Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for ferric iron (Fe[III]) complexation by well-characterized humic substances (HS) from various origins were determined by a competitive ligand method with 5-sulfosalicylic acid at circumneutral pH (6.0-8.0) and an ionic strength of ∼0.06 M. The measured Fe binding properties including conditional stability constants and complexation capacities ranged over more than 2 orders of magnitude, depending on the origin and the particular operationally defined fraction of HS examined. Statistical comparison of the complexation parameters to a range of chemical properties of the HS indicated a strong positive correlation between Fe(III) complexation capacity and aromatic carbon content in the HS at all pHs examined. In contrast, the complexation capacity was determined to be up to a few orders of magnitude smaller than the concentration of carboxylic and phenolic groups present. Therefore, specific functional groups including those resident in the proximity of aromatic structures within the HS are likely preferable for Fe(III) coordination under the conditions examined. Overall, our results suggest that the concentration of dissolved Fe(III) complexes in natural waters is substantially influenced by variation in HS characteristics in addition to other well-known factors such as HS concentration and nature and concentration of competing cations present.

Computing UV/vis spectra using a combined molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry approach: bis-triazin-pyridine (BTP) ligands studied in solution.

PubMed

Höfener, Sebastian; Trumm, Michael; Koke, Carsten; Heuser, Johannes; Ekström, Ulf; Skerencak-Frech, Andrej; Schimmelpfennig, Bernd; Panak, Petra J

2016-03-21

We report a combined computational and experimental study to investigate the UV/vis spectra of 2,6-bis(5,6-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine (BTP) ligands in solution. In order to study molecules in solution using theoretical methods, force-field parameters for the ligand-water interaction are adjusted to ab initio quantum chemical calculations. Based on these parameters, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out from which snapshots are extracted as input to quantum chemical excitation-energy calculations to obtain UV/vis spectra of BTP ligands in solution using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) employing the Tamm-Dancoff approximation (TDA). The range-separated CAM-B3LYP functional is used to avoid large errors for charge-transfer states occurring in the electronic spectra. In order to study environment effects with theoretical methods, the frozen-density embedding scheme is applied. This computational procedure allows to obtain electronic spectra calculated at the (range-separated) DFT level of theory in solution, revealing solvatochromic shifts upon solvation of up to about 0.6 eV. Comparison to experimental data shows a significantly improved agreement compared to vacuum calculations and enables the analysis of relevant excitations for the line shape in solution.

Uncertainty in the evaluation of the Predicted Mean Vote index using Monte Carlo analysis.

PubMed

Ricciu, R; Galatioto, A; Desogus, G; Besalduch, L A

2018-06-06

Today, evaluation of thermohygrometric indoor conditions is one of the most useful tools for building design and re-design and can be used to determine energy consumption in conditioned buildings. Since the beginning of the Predicted Mean Vote index (PMV), researchers have thoroughly investigated its issues in order to reach more accurate results; however, several shortcomings have yet to be solved. Among them is the uncertainty of environmental and subjective parameters linked to the standard PMV approach of ISO 7730 that classifies the thermal environment. To this end, this paper discusses the known thermal comfort models and the measurement approaches, paying particular attention to measurement uncertainties and their influence on PMV determination. Monte Carlo analysis has been applied on a data series in a "black-box" environment, and each involved parameter has been analysed in the PMV range from -0.9 to 0.9 under different Relative Humidity conditions. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis has been performed in order to define the role of each variable. The results showed that an uncertainty propagation method could improve PMV model application, especially where it should be very accurate (-0.2 < PMV<0.2 range; winter season with Relative Humidity of 30%). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid quantitative chemical mapping of surfaces with sub-2 nm resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Chia-Yun; Perri, Saverio; Santos, Sergio; Garcia, Ricardo; Chiesa, Matteo

2016-05-01

We present a theory that exploits four observables in bimodal atomic force microscopy to produce maps of the Hamaker constant H. The quantitative H maps may be employed by the broader community to directly interpret the high resolution of standard bimodal AFM images as chemical maps while simultaneously quantifying chemistry in the non-contact regime. We further provide a simple methodology to optimize a range of operational parameters for which H is in the closest agreement with the Lifshitz theory in order to (1) simplify data acquisition and (2) generalize the methodology to any set of cantilever-sample systems.We present a theory that exploits four observables in bimodal atomic force microscopy to produce maps of the Hamaker constant H. The quantitative H maps may be employed by the broader community to directly interpret the high resolution of standard bimodal AFM images as chemical maps while simultaneously quantifying chemistry in the non-contact regime. We further provide a simple methodology to optimize a range of operational parameters for which H is in the closest agreement with the Lifshitz theory in order to (1) simplify data acquisition and (2) generalize the methodology to any set of cantilever-sample systems. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00496b

Structure determination from XAFS using high-accuracy measurements of x-ray mass attenuation coefficients of silver, 11 keV-28 keV, and development of an all-energies approach to local dynamical analysis of bond length, revealing variation of effective thermal contributions across the XAFS spectrum.

PubMed

Tantau, L J; Chantler, C T; Bourke, J D; Islam, M T; Payne, A T; Rae, N A; Tran, C Q

2015-07-08

We use the x-ray extended range technique (XERT) to experimentally determine the mass attenuation coefficient of silver in the x-ray energy range 11 kev-28 kev including the silver K absorption edge. The results are accurate to better than 0.1%, permitting critical tests of atomic and solid state theory. This is one of the most accurate demonstrations of cross-platform accuracy in synchrotron studies thus far. We derive the mass absorption coefficients and the imaginary component of the form factor over this range. We apply conventional XAFS analytic techniques, extended to include error propagation and uncertainty, yielding bond lengths accurate to approximately 0.24% and thermal Debye-Waller parameters accurate to 30%. We then introduce the FDMX technique for accurate analysis of such data across the full XAFS spectrum, built on full-potential theory, yielding a bond length accuracy of order 0.1% and the demonstration that a single Debye parameter is inadequate and inconsistent across the XAFS range. Two effective Debye-Waller parameters are determined: a high-energy value based on the highly-correlated motion of bonded atoms (σ(DW) = 0.1413(21) Å), and an uncorrelated bulk value (σ(DW) = 0.1766(9) Å) in good agreement with that derived from (room-temperature) crystallography.

Evaluation, Calibration and Comparison of the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) National Hydrologic Model (NHM) Using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) Gridded Datasets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norton, P. A., II; Haj, A. E., Jr.

2014-12-01

The United States Geological Survey is currently developing a National Hydrologic Model (NHM) to support and facilitate coordinated and consistent hydrologic modeling efforts at the scale of the continental United States. As part of this effort, the Geospatial Fabric (GF) for the NHM was created. The GF is a database that contains parameters derived from datasets that characterize the physical features of watersheds. The GF was used to aggregate catchments and flowlines defined in the National Hydrography Dataset Plus dataset for more than 100,000 hydrologic response units (HRUs), and to establish initial parameter values for input to the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS). Many parameter values are adjusted in PRMS using an automated calibration process. Using these adjusted parameter values, the PRMS model estimated variables such as evapotranspiration (ET), potential evapotranspiration (PET), snow-covered area (SCA), and snow water equivalent (SWE). In order to evaluate the effectiveness of parameter calibration, and model performance in general, several satellite-based Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) gridded datasets including ET, PET, SCA, and SWE were compared to PRMS-simulated values. The MODIS and SNODAS data were spatially averaged for each HRU, and compared to PRMS-simulated ET, PET, SCA, and SWE values for each HRU in the Upper Missouri River watershed. Default initial GF parameter values and PRMS calibration ranges were evaluated. Evaluation results, and the use of MODIS and SNODAS datasets to update GF parameter values and PRMS calibration ranges, are presented and discussed.

Conditional High-Order Boltzmann Machines for Supervised Relation Learning.

PubMed

Huang, Yan; Wang, Wei; Wang, Liang; Tan, Tieniu

2017-09-01

Relation learning is a fundamental problem in many vision tasks. Recently, high-order Boltzmann machine and its variants have shown their great potentials in learning various types of data relation in a range of tasks. But most of these models are learned in an unsupervised way, i.e., without using relation class labels, which are not very discriminative for some challenging tasks, e.g., face verification. In this paper, with the goal to perform supervised relation learning, we introduce relation class labels into conventional high-order multiplicative interactions with pairwise input samples, and propose a conditional high-order Boltzmann Machine (CHBM), which can learn to classify the data relation in a binary classification way. To be able to deal with more complex data relation, we develop two improved variants of CHBM: 1) latent CHBM, which jointly performs relation feature learning and classification, by using a set of latent variables to block the pathway from pairwise input samples to output relation labels and 2) gated CHBM, which untangles factors of variation in data relation, by exploiting a set of latent variables to multiplicatively gate the classification of CHBM. To reduce the large number of model parameters generated by the multiplicative interactions, we approximately factorize high-order parameter tensors into multiple matrices. Then, we develop efficient supervised learning algorithms, by first pretraining the models using joint likelihood to provide good parameter initialization, and then finetuning them using conditional likelihood to enhance the discriminant ability. We apply the proposed models to a series of tasks including invariant recognition, face verification, and action similarity labeling. Experimental results demonstrate that by exploiting supervised relation labels, our models can greatly improve the performance.

Helicopter TEM parameters analysis and system optimization based on time constant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Pan; Wu, Xin; Shi, Zongyang; Li, Jutao; Liu, Lihua; Fang, Guangyou

2018-03-01

Helicopter transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is a kind of common geophysical prospecting method, widely used in mineral detection, underground water exploration and environment investigation. In order to develop an efficient helicopter TEM system, it is necessary to analyze and optimize the system parameters. In this paper, a simple and quantitative method is proposed to analyze the system parameters, such as waveform, power, base frequency, measured field and sampling time. A wire loop model is used to define a comprehensive 'time constant domain' that shows a range of time constant, analogous to a range of conductance, after which the characteristics of the system parameters in this domain is obtained. It is found that the distortion caused by the transmitting base frequency is less than 5% when the ratio of the transmitting period to the target time constant is greater than 6. When the sampling time window is less than the target time constant, the distortion caused by the sampling time window is less than 5%. According to this method, a helicopter TEM system, called CASHTEM, is designed, and flight test has been carried out in the known mining area. The test results show that the system has good detection performance, verifying the effectiveness of the method.

A parametric comparative study of electrocoagulation and coagulation using ultrafine quartz suspensions.

PubMed

Kiliç, Mehtap Gülsün; Hoşten, Cetin; Demirci, Sahinde

2009-11-15

This paper attempts to compare electrocoagulation using aluminum anodes and stainless steel cathodes with conventional coagulation by aluminum sulfate dosing on aqueous suspensions of ultrafine quartz. Several key parameters affecting the efficiency of electrocoagulation and coagulation were investigated with laboratory scale experiments in search of optimal parameter values. Optimal values of the parameters were determined on the basis of the efficiency of turbidity removal from ultrafine quartz suspensions. The parameters investigated in the study were suspension pH, electrical potential, current density, electrocoagulation time, and aluminum dosage. A comparison between electrocoagulation and coagulation was made on the basis of total dissolved aluminum, revealing that electrocoagulation and coagulation were equally effective at the same aluminum dosage for the removal of quartz particles from suspensions. Coagulation, however, was more effective in a wider pH range (pH 6-9) than electrocoagulation which yielded optimum effectiveness in a relatively narrower pH range around 9, where, in both methods, these pH values corresponded to near-zero zeta potentials of quartz particles. Furthermore, experimental results confirmed that electrocoagulation could display some pH buffering capacity. The kinetics of electrocoagulation was very fast (<10 min) in approaching a residual turbidity, which could be modeled with a second-order rate equation.

Prediction of Chemoresistance in Women Undergoing Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Volumetric Analysis of First-Order Textural Features Extracted from Multiparametric MRI

PubMed Central

Losio, C.; Della Corte, A.; Venturini, E.; Ambrosi, A.; Panizza, P.; De Cobelli, F.

2018-01-01

Purpose To assess correlations between volumetric first-order texture parameters on baseline MRI and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods 69 patients with locally advanced BC candidate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent MRI within 4 weeks from the start of therapeutic regimen. T2, DWI, and DCE sequences were analyzed and maps were generated for Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), T2 signal intensity, and the following dynamic parameters: k-trans, peak enhancement, area under curve (AUC), time to maximal enhancement (TME), wash-in rate, and washout rate. Volumetric analysis of these parameters was performed, yielding a histogram analysis including first-order texture kinetics (percentiles, maximum value, minimum value, range, standard deviation, mean, median, mode, skewness, and kurtosis). Finally, correlations between these values and response to NAC (evaluated on the surgical specimen according to RECIST 1.1 criteria) were assessed. Results Out of 69 tumors, 33 (47.8%) achieved complete pathological response, 26 (37.7%) partial response, and 10 (14.5%) no response. Higher levels of AUCmax (p value = 0.0338), AUCrange (p value = 0.0311), and TME75 (p value = 0.0452) and lower levels of washout10 (p value = 0.0417), washout20 (p value = 0.0138), washout25 (p value = 0.0114), and washout30 (p value = 0.05) were predictive of noncomplete response. Conclusion Histogram-derived texture analysis of MRI images allows finding quantitative parameters predictive of nonresponse to NAC in women affected by locally advanced BC. PMID:29853811

Prediction of Chemoresistance in Women Undergoing Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Volumetric Analysis of First-Order Textural Features Extracted from Multiparametric MRI.

PubMed

Panzeri, M M; Losio, C; Della Corte, A; Venturini, E; Ambrosi, A; Panizza, P; De Cobelli, F

2018-01-01

To assess correlations between volumetric first-order texture parameters on baseline MRI and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced breast cancer (BC). 69 patients with locally advanced BC candidate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent MRI within 4 weeks from the start of therapeutic regimen. T2, DWI, and DCE sequences were analyzed and maps were generated for Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), T2 signal intensity, and the following dynamic parameters: k -trans, peak enhancement, area under curve (AUC), time to maximal enhancement (TME), wash-in rate, and washout rate. Volumetric analysis of these parameters was performed, yielding a histogram analysis including first-order texture kinetics (percentiles, maximum value, minimum value, range, standard deviation, mean, median, mode, skewness, and kurtosis). Finally, correlations between these values and response to NAC (evaluated on the surgical specimen according to RECIST 1.1 criteria) were assessed. Out of 69 tumors, 33 (47.8%) achieved complete pathological response, 26 (37.7%) partial response, and 10 (14.5%) no response. Higher levels of AUCmax ( p value = 0.0338), AUCrange ( p value = 0.0311), and TME 75 ( p value = 0.0452) and lower levels of washout 10 ( p value = 0.0417), washout 20 ( p value = 0.0138), washout 25 ( p value = 0.0114), and washout 30 ( p value = 0.05) were predictive of noncomplete response. Histogram-derived texture analysis of MRI images allows finding quantitative parameters predictive of nonresponse to NAC in women affected by locally advanced BC.

Application of empirical and dynamical closure methods to simple climate models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padilla, Lauren Elizabeth

This dissertation applies empirically- and physically-based methods for closure of uncertain parameters and processes to three model systems that lie on the simple end of climate model complexity. Each model isolates one of three sources of closure uncertainty: uncertain observational data, large dimension, and wide ranging length scales. They serve as efficient test systems toward extension of the methods to more realistic climate models. The empirical approach uses the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) to estimate the transient climate sensitivity (TCS) parameter in a globally-averaged energy balance model. Uncertainty in climate forcing and historical temperature make TCS difficult to determine. A range of probabilistic estimates of TCS computed for various assumptions about past forcing and natural variability corroborate ranges reported in the IPCC AR4 found by different means. Also computed are estimates of how quickly uncertainty in TCS may be expected to diminish in the future as additional observations become available. For higher system dimensions the UKF approach may become prohibitively expensive. A modified UKF algorithm is developed in which the error covariance is represented by a reduced-rank approximation, substantially reducing the number of model evaluations required to provide probability densities for unknown parameters. The method estimates the state and parameters of an abstract atmospheric model, known as Lorenz 96, with accuracy close to that of a full-order UKF for 30-60% rank reduction. The physical approach to closure uses the Multiscale Modeling Framework (MMF) to demonstrate closure of small-scale, nonlinear processes that would not be resolved directly in climate models. A one-dimensional, abstract test model with a broad spatial spectrum is developed. The test model couples the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation to a transport equation that includes cloud formation and precipitation-like processes. In the test model, three main sources of MMF error are evaluated independently. Loss of nonlinear multi-scale interactions and periodic boundary conditions in closure models were dominant sources of error. Using a reduced order modeling approach to maximize energy content allowed reduction of the closure model dimension up to 75% without loss in accuracy. MMF and a comparable alternative model peformed equally well compared to direct numerical simulation.

Spatial inhomogeneities in ionic liquids, charged proteins, and charge stabilized colloids from collective variables theory.

PubMed

Patsahan, O; Ciach, A

2012-09-01

Effects of size and charge asymmetry between oppositely charged ions or particles on spatial inhomogeneities are studied for a large range of charge and size ratios. We perform a stability analysis of the primitive model of ionic systems with respect to periodic ordering using the collective variables-based theory. We extend previous studies [Ciach et al., Phys. Rev. E 75, 051505 (2007)] in several ways. First, we employ a nonlocal approximation for the reference hard-sphere fluid which leads to the Percus-Yevick pair direct correlation functions for the uniform case. Second, we use the Weeks-Chandler-Anderson regularization scheme for the Coulomb potential inside the hard core. We determine the relevant order parameter connected with the periodic ordering and analyze the character of the dominant fluctuations along the λ lines. We show that the above-mentioned modifications produce large quantitative and partly qualitative changes in the phase diagrams obtained previously. We discuss possible scenarios of the periodic ordering for the whole range of size and charge ratios of the two ionic species, covering electrolytes, ionic liquids, charged globular proteins or nanoparticles in aqueous solutions, and charge-stabilized colloids.

Numerical Analysis of Orbital Perturbation Effects on Inclined Geosynchronous SAR

PubMed Central

Dong, Xichao; Hu, Cheng; Long, Teng; Li, Yuanhao

2016-01-01

The geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (GEO SAR) is susceptible to orbit perturbations, leading to orbit drifts and variations. The influences behave very differently from those in low Earth orbit (LEO) SAR. In this paper, the impacts of perturbations on GEO SAR orbital elements are modelled based on the perturbed dynamic equations, and then, the focusing is analyzed theoretically and numerically by using the Systems Tool Kit (STK) software. The accurate GEO SAR slant range histories can be calculated according to the perturbed orbit positions in STK. The perturbed slant range errors are mainly the first and second derivatives, leading to image drifts and defocusing. Simulations of the point target imaging are performed to validate the aforementioned analysis. In the GEO SAR with an inclination of 53° and an argument of perigee of 90°, the Doppler parameters and the integration time are different and dependent on the geometry configurations. Thus, the influences are varying at different orbit positions: at the equator, the first-order phase errors should be mainly considered; at the perigee and apogee, the second-order phase errors should be mainly considered; at other positions, first-order and second-order exist simultaneously. PMID:27598168

Structural correlation of the chalcogenide Ge40Se60 glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moharram, A. H.

2017-01-01

Binary Ge40Se60 glass was prepared using the melt-quench technique. The total structure factors, S( K), are obtained using the X-ray diffraction in the wave vector interval 0.28 ≤ K ≤ 6.5 Å-1. The appearance of the first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) in the structure factor indicates the presence of the intermediate range order. Radial distribution functions, RDF( r), have been obtained using either the conventional (Fourier) transformation or the Monte Carlo simulation of the experimental X-ray data. The short range order parameters deduced from the Monte Carlo total correlation, T( r), functions are better than those obtained from the conventional (Fourier) T( r) data. Gaussian analyses of the total correlation function show that Ge2(Se1/2)6 molecular units are the basic structural units for the investigated Ge40Se60 glass.

Optical design and simulation of a new coherence beamline at NSLS-II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Garth J.; Chubar, Oleg; Berman, Lonny; Chu, Yong S.; Robinson, Ian K.

2017-08-01

We will discuss the optical design for a proposed beamline at NSLS-II, a late-third generation storage ring source, designed to exploit the spatial coherence of the X-rays to extract high-resolution spatial information from ordered and disordered materials through Coherent Diffractive Imaging, executed in the Bragg- and forward-scattering geometries. This technique offers a powerful tool to image sub-10 nm spatial features and, within ordered materials, sub-Angstrom mapping of deformation fields. Driven by the opportunity to apply CDI to a wide range of samples, with sizes ranging from sub-micron to tens-of-microns, two optical designs have been proposed and simulated under a wide variety of optical configurations using the software package Synchrotron Radiation Workshop. The designs, their goals, and the results of the simulation, including NSLS-II ring and undulator source parameters, of the beamline performance as a function of its variable optical components is described.

Long-time predictability in disordered spin systems following a deep quench

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, J.; Gheissari, R.; Machta, J.; Newman, C. M.; Stein, D. L.

2017-04-01

We study the problem of predictability, or "nature vs nurture," in several disordered Ising spin systems evolving at zero temperature from a random initial state: How much does the final state depend on the information contained in the initial state, and how much depends on the detailed history of the system? Our numerical studies of the "dynamical order parameter" in Edwards-Anderson Ising spin glasses and random ferromagnets indicate that the influence of the initial state decays as dimension increases. Similarly, this same order parameter for the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick infinite-range spin glass indicates that this information decays as the number of spins increases. Based on these results, we conjecture that the influence of the initial state on the final state decays to zero in finite-dimensional random-bond spin systems as dimension goes to infinity, regardless of the presence of frustration. We also study the rate at which spins "freeze out" to a final state as a function of dimensionality and number of spins; here the results indicate that the number of "active" spins at long times increases with dimension (for short-range systems) or number of spins (for infinite-range systems). We provide theoretical arguments to support these conjectures, and also study analytically several mean-field models: the random energy model, the uniform Curie-Weiss ferromagnet, and the disordered Curie-Weiss ferromagnet. We find that for these models, the information contained in the initial state does not decay in the thermodynamic limit—in fact, it fully determines the final state. Unlike in short-range models, the presence of frustration in mean-field models dramatically alters the dynamical behavior with respect to the issue of predictability.

Long-time predictability in disordered spin systems following a deep quench.

PubMed

Ye, J; Gheissari, R; Machta, J; Newman, C M; Stein, D L

2017-04-01

We study the problem of predictability, or "nature vs nurture," in several disordered Ising spin systems evolving at zero temperature from a random initial state: How much does the final state depend on the information contained in the initial state, and how much depends on the detailed history of the system? Our numerical studies of the "dynamical order parameter" in Edwards-Anderson Ising spin glasses and random ferromagnets indicate that the influence of the initial state decays as dimension increases. Similarly, this same order parameter for the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick infinite-range spin glass indicates that this information decays as the number of spins increases. Based on these results, we conjecture that the influence of the initial state on the final state decays to zero in finite-dimensional random-bond spin systems as dimension goes to infinity, regardless of the presence of frustration. We also study the rate at which spins "freeze out" to a final state as a function of dimensionality and number of spins; here the results indicate that the number of "active" spins at long times increases with dimension (for short-range systems) or number of spins (for infinite-range systems). We provide theoretical arguments to support these conjectures, and also study analytically several mean-field models: the random energy model, the uniform Curie-Weiss ferromagnet, and the disordered Curie-Weiss ferromagnet. We find that for these models, the information contained in the initial state does not decay in the thermodynamic limit-in fact, it fully determines the final state. Unlike in short-range models, the presence of frustration in mean-field models dramatically alters the dynamical behavior with respect to the issue of predictability.

Magnetic quasi-long-range ordering in nematic systems due to competition between higher-order couplings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Žukovič, Milan; Kalagov, Georgii

2018-05-01

Critical properties of the two-dimensional X Y model involving solely nematic-like terms of the second and third orders are investigated by spin-wave analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. It is found that, even though neither of the nematic-like terms alone can induce magnetic ordering, their coexistence and competition leads to an extended phase of the magnetic quasi-long-range-order phase, wedged between the two nematic-like phases induced by the respective couplings. Thus, except for the multicritical point, at which all the phases meet, for any finite value of the coupling parameters ratio there are two phase transition: one from the paramagnetic phase to one of the two nematic-like phases followed by another one at lower temperatures to the magnetic phase. The finite-size scaling analysis indicates that the phase transitions between the magnetic and nematic-like phases belong to the Ising and three-state Potts universality classes. Inside the competition-induced algebraic magnetic phase, the spin-pair correlation function is found to decay even much more slowly than in the standard X Y model with purely magnetic interactions. Such a magnetic phase is characterized by an extremely low vortex-antivortex pair density attaining a minimum close to the point at which the two couplings are of about equal strength.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Helm, T.; Valdivia, P. N.; Bourret-Courchesne, E.

In this study, e performed resistance measurements onmore » $$\\text{F}{{\\text{e}}_{1+\\delta -x}}$$ Cu x Te with $${{x}_{\\text{EDX}}}\\leqslant 0.06$$ in the presence of in-plane applied magnetic fields, revealing a resistance anisotropy that can be induced at a temperature far below the structural and magnetic zero-field transition temperatures. The observed resistance anisotropy strongly depends on the field orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes, as well as on the field-cooling history. Our results imply a correlation between the observed features and the low-temperature magnetic order. Hysteresis in the angle-dependence indicates a strong pinning of the magnetic order within a temperature range that varies with the Cu content. The resistance anisotropy vanishes at different temperatures depending on whether an external magnetic field or a remnant field is present: the closing temperature is higher in the presence of an external field. For $${{x}_{\\text{EDX}}}=0.06$$ the resistance anisotropy closes above the structural transition, at the same temperature at which the zero-field short-range magnetic order disappears and the sample becomes paramagnetic. Finally, we suggest that under an external magnetic field the resistance anisotropy mirrors the magnetic order parameter. We discuss similarities to nematic order observed in other iron pnictide materials.« less

Double-stage nematic bond ordering above double stripe magnetism: Application to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O

DOE PAGES

Zhang, G.; Glasbrenner, J. K.; Flint, R.; ...

2017-05-01

Spin-driven nemore » maticity, or the breaking of the point-group symmetry of the lattice without long-range magnetic order, is clearly quite important in iron-based superconductors. From a symmetry point of view, nematic order can be described as a coherent locking of spin fluctuations in two interpenetrating Néel sublattices with ensuing nearest-neighbor bond order and an absence of static magnetism. In this paper, we argue that the low-temperature state of the recently discovered superconductor BaTi 2 Sb 2 O is a strong candidate for a more exotic form of spin-driven nematic order, in which fluctuations occurring in four Néel sublattices promote both nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor bond order. We develop a low-energy field theory of this state and show that it can have, as a function of temperature, up to two separate bond-order phase transitions, namely, one that breaks rotation symmetry and one that breaks reflection and translation symmetries of the lattice. The resulting state has an orthorhombic lattice distortion, an intra-unit-cell charge density wave, and no long-range magnetic order, all consistent with reported measurements of the low-temperature phase of BaTi 2 Sb 2 O . Finally, we then use density functional theory calculations to extract exchange parameters to confirm that the model is applicable to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O .« less

Double-stage nematic bond ordering above double stripe magnetism: Application to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, G.; Glasbrenner, J. K.; Flint, R.

Spin-driven nemore » maticity, or the breaking of the point-group symmetry of the lattice without long-range magnetic order, is clearly quite important in iron-based superconductors. From a symmetry point of view, nematic order can be described as a coherent locking of spin fluctuations in two interpenetrating Néel sublattices with ensuing nearest-neighbor bond order and an absence of static magnetism. In this paper, we argue that the low-temperature state of the recently discovered superconductor BaTi 2 Sb 2 O is a strong candidate for a more exotic form of spin-driven nematic order, in which fluctuations occurring in four Néel sublattices promote both nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor bond order. We develop a low-energy field theory of this state and show that it can have, as a function of temperature, up to two separate bond-order phase transitions, namely, one that breaks rotation symmetry and one that breaks reflection and translation symmetries of the lattice. The resulting state has an orthorhombic lattice distortion, an intra-unit-cell charge density wave, and no long-range magnetic order, all consistent with reported measurements of the low-temperature phase of BaTi 2 Sb 2 O . Finally, we then use density functional theory calculations to extract exchange parameters to confirm that the model is applicable to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O .« less

Differential Geometry Applied To Least-Square Error Surface Approximations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolle, Ruud M.; Sabbah, Daniel

1987-08-01

This paper focuses on extraction of the parameters of individual surfaces from noisy depth maps. The basis for this are least-square error polynomial approximations to the range data and the curvature properties that can be computed from these approximations. The curvature properties are derived using the invariants of the Weingarten Map evaluated at the origin of local coordinate systems centered at the range points. The Weingarten Map is a well-known concept in differential geometry; a brief treatment of the differential geometry pertinent to surface curvature is given. We use the curvature properties for extracting certain surface parameters from the curvature properties of the approximations. Then we show that curvature properties alone are not enough to obtain all the parameters of the surfaces; higher order properties (information about change of curvature) are needed to obtain full parametric descriptions. This surface parameter estimation problem arises in the design of a vision system to recognize 3D objects whose surfaces are composed of planar patches and patches of quadrics of revolution. (Quadrics of revolution are quadrics that are surfaces of revolution.) A significant portion of man-made objects can be modeled using these surfaces. The actual process of recognition and parameter extraction is framed as a set of stacked parameter space transforms. The transforms are "stacked" in the sense that any one transform computes only a partial geometric description that forms the input to the next transform. Those who are interested in the organization and control of the recognition and parameter recognition process are referred to [Sabbah86], this paper briefly touches upon the organization, but concentrates mainly on geometrical aspects of the parameter extraction.

The Ramachandran Number: An Order Parameter for Protein Geometry

DOE PAGES

Mannige, Ranjan V.; Kundu, Joyjit; Whitelam, Stephen; ...

2016-08-04

Three-dimensional protein structures usually contain regions of local order, called secondary structure, such as α-helices and β-sheets. Secondary structure is characterized by the local rotational state of the protein backbone, quantified by two dihedral angles called Øand Ψ. Particular types of secondary structure can generally be described by a single (diffuse) location on a two-dimensional plot drawn in the space of the angles Ø andΨ, called a Ramachandran plot. By contrast, a recently-discovered nanomaterial made from peptoids, structural isomers of peptides, displays a secondary-structure motif corresponding to two regions on the Ramachandran plot [Mannige et al., Nature 526, 415 (2015)].more » In order to describe such 'higher-order' secondary structure in a compact way we introduce here a means of describing regions on the Ramachandran plot in terms of a single Ramachandran number, R, which is a structurally meaningful combination of Ø andΨ. We show that the potential applications of R are numerous: it can be used to describe the geometric content of protein structures, and can be used to draw diagrams that reveal, at a glance, the frequency of occurrence of regular secondary structures and disordered regions in large protein datasets. We propose that R might be used as an order parameter for protein geometry for a wide range of applications.« less

Aeroelastic System Development Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Volterra Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lucia, David J.; Beran, Philip S.; Silva, Walter A.

2003-01-01

This research combines Volterra theory and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) into a hybrid methodology for reduced-order modeling of aeroelastic systems. The out-come of the method is a set of linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) describing the modal amplitudes associated with both the structural modes and the POD basis functions for the uid. For this research, the structural modes are sine waves of varying frequency, and the Volterra-POD approach is applied to the fluid dynamics equations. The structural modes are treated as forcing terms which are impulsed as part of the uid model realization. Using this approach, structural and uid operators are coupled into a single aeroelastic operator. This coupling converts a free boundary uid problem into an initial value problem, while preserving the parameter (or parameters) of interest for sensitivity analysis. The approach is applied to an elastic panel in supersonic cross ow. The hybrid Volterra-POD approach provides a low-order uid model in state-space form. The linear uid model is tightly coupled with a nonlinear panel model using an implicit integration scheme. The resulting aeroelastic model provides correct limit-cycle oscillation prediction over a wide range of panel dynamic pressure values. Time integration of the reduced-order aeroelastic model is four orders of magnitude faster than the high-order solution procedure developed for this research using traditional uid and structural solvers.

EGRAM- ECHELLE SPECTROGRAPH DESIGN AID

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dantzler, A. A.

1994-01-01

EGRAM aids in the design of spectrographic systems that utilize an echelle-first order cross disperser combination. This optical combination causes a two dimensional echellogram to fall on a detector. EGRAM describes the echellogram with enough detail to allow the user to effectively judge the feasibility of the spectrograph's design. By iteratively altering system parameters, the desired echellogram can be achieved without making a physical model. EGRAM calculates system parameters which are accurate to the first order and compare favorably to results from ray tracing techniques. The spectrographic system modelled by EGRAM consists of an entrance aperture, collimator, echelle, cross dispersion grating, focusing options, and a detector. The system is assumed to be free of aberrations and the echelle, cross disperser, and detector should be planar. The EGRAM program is menu driven and has a HELP facility. The user is prompted for information such as minimum and maximum wavelengths, slit dimensions, ruling frequencies, detector geometry, and angle of incidence. EGRAM calculates the resolving power and range of order numbers covered by the echellogram. A numerical map is also produced. This tabulates the order number, slit bandpass, and high/middle/low wavelengths. EGRAM can also compute the centroid coordinates of a specific wavelength and order (or vice versa). EGRAM is written for interactive execution and is written in Microsoft BASIC A. It has been implemented on an IBM PC series computer operating under DOS. EGRAM was developed in 1985.

Short-range order in the quantum XXZ honeycomb lattice material BaCo 2 ( PO 4 ) 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nair, Harikrishnan S.; Brown, J; Coldren, E.

In this paper, we present observations of highly frustrated quasi-two-dimensional (2D) magnetic correlations in the honeycomb lattice layers of the S eff =1/2 compound γ-BaCo 2(PO 4) 2 (γ-BCPO). Specific heat shows a broad peak comprised of two weak kink features at T N1~6 K and T N2~3.5 K, the relative weights of which can be modified by sample annealing. Neutron powder diffraction measurements reveal short range quasi-2D order that is established below T N1 and T N2, at which two separate, incompatible, short range magnetic orders onset: commensurate antiferromagnetic correlations with correlation length ξ c=60±2 Å (T N1) andmore » in quasi-2D helical domains with ξ h=350±11 Å (T N2). The ac magnetic susceptibility response lacks frequency dependence, ruling out spin freezing. Inelastic neutron scattering data on γ-BCPO is compared with linear spin wave theory, and two separate parameter regions of the XXZ J 1-J 2-J 3 model with ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange J 1 are favored, both near regions of high classical degeneracy. High energy coherent excitations (~10 meV) persist up to at least 40 K, suggesting strong in-plane correlations persist above TN. Finally, these data show that γ-BCPO is a rare highly frustrated, quasi-2D S eff =1/2 honeycomb lattice material which resists long range magnetic order and spin freezing.« less

Aquatic insect community of lake, Phulbari anua in Cachar, Assam.

PubMed

Gupta, Susmita; Narzary, Rupali

2013-05-01

An investigation on the water quality and aquatic insect community of an oxbow lake (Phulbari anua) of south Assam, North-East India was carried out during February to April, 2010. Aquatic insect community of the oxbow lake was represented by 9 species belonging to 9 families and 4 orders during the study period. Order Ephemeroptera and Hemiptera were found to be dominant. Record of 5 species and 5 families from the order Hemiptera showed that this is the largest order in terms of aquatic insect diversity of the lake. Computation of dominance status of different species of aquatic insects of the lake based on Engelmann's Scale revealed that Anisops lundbladiana and Cloeon sp. were eudominant in the system. The Shannon- Weiner's Diversity Index (H') and Shannon evenness values (J') were found to range from 0.3-0.69 and 0.53 -0.97, respectively indicating perturbation of the system. Again in terms of physico-chemical properties of water the lake is in a satisfactory condition where all the parameters are well within the range of IS 10500. The DO values were found to range from 6.8 to 14.8 mgl(-1). Free CO2 fluctuated from 1 to 4.98 mgl(-1) and nitrate in water ranged from 0.4 to 2.1 mgl(-1). Margalef's water quality index values of most of the samplings also indicated clean water condition of the lake. Correlation coefficient analyses of the environmental variables, aquatic insect diversity and density of the lake revealed that aquatic insect diversity of the lake is mainly governed by dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and free carbon dioxide.

Short-range order in the quantum XXZ honeycomb lattice material BaCo 2 ( PO 4 ) 2

DOE PAGES

Nair, Harikrishnan S.; Brown, J; Coldren, E.; ...

2018-04-12

In this paper, we present observations of highly frustrated quasi-two-dimensional (2D) magnetic correlations in the honeycomb lattice layers of the S eff =1/2 compound γ-BaCo 2(PO 4) 2 (γ-BCPO). Specific heat shows a broad peak comprised of two weak kink features at T N1~6 K and T N2~3.5 K, the relative weights of which can be modified by sample annealing. Neutron powder diffraction measurements reveal short range quasi-2D order that is established below T N1 and T N2, at which two separate, incompatible, short range magnetic orders onset: commensurate antiferromagnetic correlations with correlation length ξ c=60±2 Å (T N1) andmore » in quasi-2D helical domains with ξ h=350±11 Å (T N2). The ac magnetic susceptibility response lacks frequency dependence, ruling out spin freezing. Inelastic neutron scattering data on γ-BCPO is compared with linear spin wave theory, and two separate parameter regions of the XXZ J 1-J 2-J 3 model with ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange J 1 are favored, both near regions of high classical degeneracy. High energy coherent excitations (~10 meV) persist up to at least 40 K, suggesting strong in-plane correlations persist above TN. Finally, these data show that γ-BCPO is a rare highly frustrated, quasi-2D S eff =1/2 honeycomb lattice material which resists long range magnetic order and spin freezing.« less

A corresponding-states framework for the description of the Mie family of intermolecular potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramrattan, N. S.; Avendaño, C.; Müller, E. A.; Galindo, A.

2015-05-01

The Mie (λr, λa) intermolecular pair potential has been suggested as an alternative to the traditional Lennard-Jones (12-6) potential for modelling real systems both via simulation and theory as its implementation leads to an accuracy and flexibility in the determination of thermophysical properties that cannot be obtained when potentials of fixed range are considered. An additional advantage of using variable-range potentials is noted in the development of coarse-grained models where, as the superatoms become larger, the effective potentials are seen to become softer. However, the larger number of parameters that characterise the Mie potential (λr, λa, σ, ɛ) can hinder a rational study of the particular effects that each individual parameter have on the observed thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria, and higher degeneracy of models is observed. Here a three-parameter corresponding states model is presented in which a cohesive third parameter α is proposed following a perturbation expansion and assuming a mean-field limit. It is shown that in this approximation the free energy of any two Mie systems sharing the same value of α will be the same. The parameter α is an explicit function of the repulsive and attractive exponents and consequently dictates the form of the intermolecular pair potential. Molecular dynamics simulations of a variety of Mie systems over a range of values of α are carried out and the solid-liquid, liquid-vapour and vapour-solid phase boundaries for the systems considered are presented. Using the simulation data, we confirm that systems of the same α exhibit conformal phase behaviour for the fluid-phase properties as well as for the solid-fluid boundary, although larger differences are noted in the solid region; these can be related to the approximations in the definition of the parameter. Furthermore, it is found that the temperature range over which the vapour-liquid envelope of a given Mie system is stable follows a linear dependency with α when expressed as the ratio of the critical-point temperature to the triple-point temperature. The limit where potentials of the Mie family will not present a stable fluid envelope is predicted in terms of the parameter α and the result is found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies. This unique relation between the fluid range and the cohesive parameter α is shown to be useful to limit the pairs of Mie exponents that can be used in coarse-grained potentials to treat real systems in order to obtain temperature ranges of stability for the fluid envelope consistent with experiment.

Measuring the order in ordered porous arrays: can bees outperform humans?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaatz, F. H.

2006-08-01

A method that explains how to quantify the amount of order in “ordered” and “highly ordered” porous arrays is derived. Ordered arrays from bee honeycomb and several from the general field of nanoscience are compared. Accurate measures of the order in porous arrays are made using the discrete radial distribution function (RDF). Nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO), hexagonal arrays from functional materials, hexagonal arrays from nanosphere lithography, and square arrays defined by interference lithography (all taken from the literature) are compared to two-dimensional model systems. These arrays have a range of pore diameters from ˜60 to 180 nm. An order parameter, OP 3 , is defined to evaluate the total order in a given array such that an ideal network has the value of 1. When we compare RDFs of man-made arrays with that of our honeycomb (pore diameter ˜5.89 mm), a locally grown version made by Apis mellifera without the use of foundation comb, we find OP 3 =0.399 for the honeycomb and OP 3 =0.572 for man’s best hexagonal array. The nearest neighbor peaks range from 4.65 for the honeycomb to 5.77 for man’s best hexagonal array, while the ideal hexagonal array has an average of 5.93 nearest neighbors. Ordered arrays are now becoming quite common in nanostructured science, while bee honeycombs were studied for millennia. This paper describes the first method to quantify the order found in these arrays with a simple yet elegant procedure that provides a precise measurement of the order in one array compared to other arrays.

NONLINEAR AND FIBER OPTICS: Thermal self-interaction of laser beams in water within the anomalous density range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gribova, E. Z.; Sorokin, Yu M.

1990-04-01

A theoretical model is proposed in order to account for the temperature dependence of the refractive index of water in the range of parameters not far from the crystallization point. It is shown that the thermal self-interaction results in defocusing in supercooled water and in the temperature range of the anomalous density. Penetrating self-convection is predicted and confirmed experimentally for this case: this is manifested by a local change of the sign of the buoyancy forces in the region occupied by a laser beam. The possibility of suppression of such self-convection and enhancement of symmetric nonlinear refraction effects near an extremum of the density of water is also predicted and demonstrated experimentally.

Ising antiferromagnet on the Archimedean lattices.

PubMed

Yu, Unjong

2015-06-01

Geometric frustration effects were studied systematically with the Ising antiferromagnet on the 11 Archimedean lattices using the Monte Carlo methods. The Wang-Landau algorithm for static properties (specific heat and residual entropy) and the Metropolis algorithm for a freezing order parameter were adopted. The exact residual entropy was also found. Based on the degree of frustration and dynamic properties, ground states of them were determined. The Shastry-Sutherland lattice and the trellis lattice are weakly frustrated and have two- and one-dimensional long-range-ordered ground states, respectively. The bounce, maple-leaf, and star lattices have the spin ice phase. The spin liquid phase appears in the triangular and kagome lattices.

Ising antiferromagnet on the Archimedean lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Unjong

2015-06-01

Geometric frustration effects were studied systematically with the Ising antiferromagnet on the 11 Archimedean lattices using the Monte Carlo methods. The Wang-Landau algorithm for static properties (specific heat and residual entropy) and the Metropolis algorithm for a freezing order parameter were adopted. The exact residual entropy was also found. Based on the degree of frustration and dynamic properties, ground states of them were determined. The Shastry-Sutherland lattice and the trellis lattice are weakly frustrated and have two- and one-dimensional long-range-ordered ground states, respectively. The bounce, maple-leaf, and star lattices have the spin ice phase. The spin liquid phase appears in the triangular and kagome lattices.

Complementary methods of study for Zr1-xCexO2 compounds for applications in medical prosthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savin, Adriana; Craus, Mihail-Liviu; Turchenko, Vitalii; Bruma, Alina; Dubos, Pierre-Antoine; Malo, Sylvie; Konstantinova, Tatiana E.; Burkhovetsky, Valerii V.

2017-08-01

Zirconia (ZrO2)-based ceramics are preferred due to their advanced mechanical properties such as high-fracture toughness and bulk modulus, corrosion resistance, high dielectric constant, chemical inertness, low chemical conductivity and biocompatibility. The medical prosthesis components made from ZrO2 oxides present a very good biocompatibility as well as especially mechanical properties. In order to ensure implant safety of these prostheses, wide ranges of examinations based on nondestructive testing are imperative for these medical implants. In this study, we aim to emphasize the improvement of Zr-based ceramics properties as a function of addition of Ce ions in the structure of the original ceramics. The substitution of the Zr with Ce in the Zr1-xCexO2 compounds, where x = 0.0-0.17, leads to a change of the phase composition, a gradual transition from the monoclinic to tetragonal structure, at room temperature. The structural investigations proposed in this paper are based on X-ray and neutron diffraction in order to establish a first indication of the variation of the phase composition and the structural parameters, as well as micro-hardness measurements and nondestructive evaluations in order to establish a correlation between the structural parameters and mechanical properties of the samples. These ranges of tests are imperative in order to ensure the safety and reliability of these composite materials, which are widely used as hip-implants or dental implants/coatings. In combination of Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy, which makes use of the resonance frequencies corresponding to the normal vibrational modes of a solid in order to evaluate the elastic constants of the materials, we emphasize a unique approach on evaluating the physical properties of these ceramics, which could help in advancing the understanding of properties and applications in medical fields.

The influence of magnetic order on the magnetoresistance anisotropy of Fe 1 + δ–xCu xTe

DOE PAGES

Helm, T.; Valdivia, P. N.; Bourret-Courchesne, E.; ...

2017-05-17

In this study, e performed resistance measurements onmore » $$\\text{F}{{\\text{e}}_{1+\\delta -x}}$$ Cu x Te with $${{x}_{\\text{EDX}}}\\leqslant 0.06$$ in the presence of in-plane applied magnetic fields, revealing a resistance anisotropy that can be induced at a temperature far below the structural and magnetic zero-field transition temperatures. The observed resistance anisotropy strongly depends on the field orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes, as well as on the field-cooling history. Our results imply a correlation between the observed features and the low-temperature magnetic order. Hysteresis in the angle-dependence indicates a strong pinning of the magnetic order within a temperature range that varies with the Cu content. The resistance anisotropy vanishes at different temperatures depending on whether an external magnetic field or a remnant field is present: the closing temperature is higher in the presence of an external field. For $${{x}_{\\text{EDX}}}=0.06$$ the resistance anisotropy closes above the structural transition, at the same temperature at which the zero-field short-range magnetic order disappears and the sample becomes paramagnetic. Finally, we suggest that under an external magnetic field the resistance anisotropy mirrors the magnetic order parameter. We discuss similarities to nematic order observed in other iron pnictide materials.« less

Investigating the Effect of Cosmic Opacity on Standard Candles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, J.; Yu, H.; Wang, F. Y., E-mail: fayinwang@nju.edu.cn

Standard candles can probe the evolution of dark energy over a large redshift range. But the cosmic opacity can degrade the quality of standard candles. In this paper, we use the latest observations, including Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the “joint light-curve analysis” sample and Hubble parameters, to probe the opacity of the universe. A joint fitting of the SNe Ia light-curve parameters, cosmological parameters, and opacity is used in order to avoid the cosmological dependence of SNe Ia luminosity distances. The latest gamma-ray bursts are used in order to explore the cosmic opacity at high redshifts. The cosmicmore » reionization process is considered at high redshifts. We find that the sample supports an almost transparent universe for flat ΛCDM and XCDM models. Meanwhile, free electrons deplete photons from standard candles through (inverse) Compton scattering, which is known as an important component of opacity. This Compton dimming may play an important role in future supernova surveys. From analysis, we find that about a few per cent of the cosmic opacity is caused by Compton dimming in the two models, which can be corrected.« less

Optimisation of a propagation-based x-ray phase-contrast micro-CT system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesterets, Yakov I.; Gureyev, Timur E.; Dimmock, Matthew R.

2018-03-01

Micro-CT scanners find applications in many areas ranging from biomedical research to material sciences. In order to provide spatial resolution on a micron scale, these scanners are usually equipped with micro-focus, low-power x-ray sources and hence require long scanning times to produce high resolution 3D images of the object with acceptable contrast-to-noise. Propagation-based phase-contrast tomography (PB-PCT) has the potential to significantly improve the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) or, alternatively, reduce the image acquisition time while preserving the CNR and the spatial resolution. We propose a general approach for the optimisation of the PB-PCT imaging system. When applied to an imaging system with fixed parameters of the source and detector this approach requires optimisation of only two independent geometrical parameters of the imaging system, i.e. the source-to-object distance R 1 and geometrical magnification M, in order to produce the best spatial resolution and CNR. If, in addition to R 1 and M, the system parameter space also includes the source size and the anode potential this approach allows one to find a unique configuration of the imaging system that produces the required spatial resolution and the best CNR.

Effects of Increased Gravity Force on Nutations of Sunflower Hypocotyls 1

PubMed Central

Brown, Allan H.; Chapman, David K.

1977-01-01

A centrifuge was used to provide sustained acceleration in order to study the hypocotyl nutation of 6-day-old Helianthus annuus L. over a range of g-forces, up to 20 times normal g. At the upper end of this g-range, nutation was impeded and at times was erratic evidently because the weight of the cotyledons exceeded the supportive abilities of the hypocotyls. Over the range 1 to 9 g, the period of nutation was independent of the resultant force vector. Over the same g-range, the amplitude of nutation was nearly independent of the chronic g-force. If nutation in sunflower seedlings is an oscillation caused by a succession of geotropic responses which continue to overshoot the equilibrium position (plumb line), we might expect its amplitude to be more sensitive to changes in magnitude of the sustained g-force. In order to preserve the geotropic model of nutation-viz. that it is a sustained oscillation driven by geotropic reactions, it is necessary to assume that geotropic response must increase with increasing g most rapidly in the region of the g-parameter below the terrestrial value of 1 g. PMID:16659909

Effects of increased gravity force on nutations of sunflower hypocotyls

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, A. H.; Chapman, D. K.

1977-01-01

A centrifuge was used to provide sustained acceleration in order to study the hypocotyl nutation of 6-day-old Helianthus annuus L. over a range of g-forces, up to 20 times normal g. At the upper end of this g-range, nutation was impeded and at times was erratic evidently because the weight of the cotyledons exceeded the supportive abilities of the hypocotyls. Over the range 1 to 9 g, the period of nutation was independent of the resultant force vector. Over the same g-range, the amplitude of nutation was nearly independent of the chronic g-force. If nutation in sunflower seedlings is an oscillation caused by a succession of geotropic responses which continue to overshoot the equilibrium position (plumb line), its amplitude might be expected to be more sensitive to changes in magnitude of the sustained g-force. In order to preserve the geotropic model, in which nutation is considered to be a sustained oscillation driven by geotropic reactions, it is necessary to assume that geotropic response must increase with increasing g most rapidly in the region of the g-parameter below the terrestrial value of 1 g.

A statistical survey of heat input parameters into the cusp thermosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moen, J. I.; Skjaeveland, A.; Carlson, H. C.

2017-12-01

Based on three winters of observational data, we present those ionosphere parameters deemed most critical to realistic space weather ionosphere and thermosphere representation and prediction, in regions impacted by variability in the cusp. The CHAMP spacecraft revealed large variability in cusp thermosphere densities, measuring frequent satellite drag enhancements, up to doublings. The community recognizes a clear need for more realistic representation of plasma flows and electron densities near the cusp. Existing average-value models produce order of magnitude errors in these parameters, resulting in large under estimations of predicted drag. We fill this knowledge gap with statistics-based specification of these key parameters over their range of observed values. The EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) tracks plasma flow Vi , electron density Ne, and electron, ion temperatures Te, Ti , with consecutive 2-3 minute windshield-wipe scans of 1000x500 km areas. This allows mapping the maximum Ti of a large area within or near the cusp with high temporal resolution. In magnetic field-aligned mode the radar can measure high-resolution profiles of these plasma parameters. By deriving statistics for Ne and Ti , we enable derivation of thermosphere heating deposition under background and frictional-drag-dominated magnetic reconnection conditions. We separate our Ne and Ti profiles into quiescent and enhanced states, which are not closely correlated due to the spatial structure of the reconnection foot point. Use of our data-based parameter inputs can make order of magnitude corrections to input data driving thermosphere models, enabling removal of previous two fold drag errors.

Laboratory Reflectance Spectra in the Middle-infrared: Effects of Grain Size on Spectral Features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Bras, A.; Erard, S.; Fulchignoni, M.

2000-10-01

Since spectral mineral features are sensitive to surface parameters, interpretation of remote-sensing asteroids spectra in terms of mineral composition is not easy nor unique, and laboratory spectra are needed in order to understand the influence of each parameter. We developped an experimental program at IAS, using the 2.5-120 microns interferometer spectrometer, to study the influence of surface parameters on mineral features. We present here the results obtained variing the grain size. We studied grain size effects with two types of terrestrial rocks: anorthosite (bright) and basalte (dark) in the 2-40 microns range. We observed variations of the spectral contrast with grain size, shifts in wavelengths and variations of the intensity of some characteristic spectral features, and appearence of transparency features at wavelengths longer than 8 microns.

Building a LiDAR point cloud simulator: Testing algorithms for high resolution topographic change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrea, Dario; Abellán, Antonio; Derron, Marc-Henri; Jaboyedoff, Michel

2014-05-01

Terrestrial laser technique (TLS) is becoming a common tool in Geosciences, with clear applications ranging from the generation of a high resolution 3D models to the monitoring of unstable slopes and the quantification of morphological changes. Nevertheless, like every measurement techniques, TLS still has some limitations that are not clearly understood and affect the accuracy of the dataset (point cloud). A challenge in LiDAR research is to understand the influence of instrumental parameters on measurement errors during LiDAR acquisition. Indeed, different critical parameters interact with the scans quality at different ranges: the existence of shadow areas, the spatial resolution (point density), and the diameter of the laser beam, the incidence angle and the single point accuracy. The objective of this study is to test the main limitations of different algorithms usually applied on point cloud data treatment, from alignment to monitoring. To this end, we built in MATLAB(c) environment a LiDAR point cloud simulator able to recreate the multiple sources of errors related to instrumental settings that we normally observe in real datasets. In a first step we characterized the error from single laser pulse by modelling the influence of range and incidence angle on single point data accuracy. In a second step, we simulated the scanning part of the system in order to analyze the shifting and angular error effects. Other parameters have been added to the point cloud simulator, such as point spacing, acquisition window, etc., in order to create point clouds of simple and/or complex geometries. We tested the influence of point density and vitiating point of view on the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) alignment and also in some deformation tracking algorithm with same point cloud geometry, in order to determine alignment and deformation detection threshold. We also generated a series of high resolution point clouds in order to model small changes on different environments (erosion, landslide monitoring, etc) and we then tested the use of filtering techniques using 3D moving windows along the space and time, which considerably reduces data scattering due to the benefits of data redundancy. In conclusion, the simulator allowed us to improve our different algorithms and to understand how instrumental error affects final results. And also, improve the methodology of scans acquisition to find the best compromise between point density, positioning and acquisition time with the best accuracy possible to characterize the topographic change.

Detection of cat-eye effect echo based on unit APD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Dong-Sheng; Zhang, Peng; Hu, Wen-Gang; Ying, Jia-Ju; Liu, Jie

2016-10-01

The cat-eye effect echo of optical system can be detected based on CCD, but the detection range is limited within several kilometers. In order to achieve long-range even ultra-long-range detection, it ought to select APD as detector because of the high sensitivity of APD. The detection system of cat-eye effect echo based on unit APD is designed in paper. The implementation scheme and key technology of the detection system is presented. The detection performances of the detection system including detection range, detection probability and false alarm probability are modeled. Based on the model, the performances of the detection system are analyzed using typical parameters. The results of numerical calculation show that the echo signal-to-noise ratio is greater than six, the detection probability is greater than 99.9% and the false alarm probability is less tan 0.1% within 20 km detection range. In order to verify the detection effect, we built the experimental platform of detection system according to the design scheme and carry out the field experiments. The experimental results agree well with the results of numerical calculation, which prove that the detection system based on the unit APD is feasible to realize remote detection for cat-eye effect echo.

DISCOUNTING OF DELAYED AND PROBABILISTIC LOSSES OVER A WIDE RANGE OF AMOUNTS

PubMed Central

Green, Leonard; Myerson, Joel; Oliveira, Luís; Chang, Seo Eun

2014-01-01

The present study examined delay and probability discounting of hypothetical monetary losses over a wide range of amounts (from $20 to $500,000) in order to determine how amount affects the parameters of the hyperboloid discounting function. In separate conditions, college students chose between immediate payments and larger, delayed payments and between certain payments and larger, probabilistic payments. The hyperboloid function accurately described both types of discounting, and amount of loss had little or no systematic effect on the degree of discounting. Importantly, the amount of loss also had little systematic effect on either the rate parameter or the exponent of the delay and probability discounting functions. The finding that the parameters of the hyperboloid function remain relatively constant across a wide range of amounts of delayed and probabilistic loss stands in contrast to the robust amount effects observed with delayed and probabilistic rewards. At the individual level, the degree to which delayed losses were discounted was uncorrelated with the degree to which probabilistic losses were discounted, and delay and probability loaded on two separate factors, similar to what is observed with delayed and probabilistic rewards. Taken together, these findings argue that although delay and probability discounting involve fundamentally different decision-making mechanisms, nevertheless the discounting of delayed and probabilistic losses share an insensitivity to amount that distinguishes it from the discounting of delayed and probabilistic gains. PMID:24745086

An automated approach for tone mapping operator parameter adjustment in security applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krasula, LukáÅ.¡; Narwaria, Manish; Le Callet, Patrick

2014-05-01

High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging has been gaining popularity in recent years. Different from the traditional low dynamic range (LDR), HDR content tends to be visually more appealing and realistic as it can represent the dynamic range of the visual stimuli present in the real world. As a result, more scene details can be faithfully reproduced. As a direct consequence, the visual quality tends to improve. HDR can be also directly exploited for new applications such as video surveillance and other security tasks. Since more scene details are available in HDR, it can help in identifying/tracking visual information which otherwise might be difficult with typical LDR content due to factors such as lack/excess of illumination, extreme contrast in the scene, etc. On the other hand, with HDR, there might be issues related to increased privacy intrusion. To display the HDR content on the regular screen, tone-mapping operators (TMO) are used. In this paper, we present the universal method for TMO parameters tuning, in order to maintain as many details as possible, which is desirable in security applications. The method's performance is verified on several TMOs by comparing the outcomes from tone-mapping with default and optimized parameters. The results suggest that the proposed approach preserves more information which could be of advantage for security surveillance but, on the other hand, makes us consider possible increase in privacy intrusion.

Top-quark loops and the muon anomalous magnetic moment

DOE PAGES

Czarnecki, Andrzej; Marciano, William J.

2017-12-07

The current status of electroweak radiative corrections to the muon anomalous magnetic moment is discussed. Asymptotic expansions for some important electroweak two-loop top quark triangle diagrams are illustrated and extended to higher order. Results are compared with the more general integral representation solution for generic fermion triangle loops coupled to pseudoscalar and scalar bosons of arbitrary mass. Furthermore, excellent agreement is found for a broader than expected range of mass parameters.

IAXO, next-generation of helioscopes

DOE PAGES

Giannotti, M.; Ruz, J.; Vogel, J. K.

2017-09-27

The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) is a forth generation axion helioscope designed to detect solar axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) with a coupling to the photon gaγ down to a few 10 -12 GeV -1, 1.5 orders of magnitude beyond the current best astrophysical and experimental upper bounds. This range includes parameter values invoked in the context of the observed anomalies in light propagation over astronomical distances and to explain the excessive cooling observed in a number of stellar objects. Here we review the status of the IAXO project and of its potential to probe the most physically motivated regionsmore » of the axion/ALPs parameter space.« less

Crystallographic Characterization of Extraterrestrial Materials by Energy-Scanning X-ray Diffraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagiya, Kenji; Mikouchi, Takashi; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Terada, Yasuko; Yagi, Naoto; Komatsu, Mutsumi; Yamaguchi, Shoki; Hirata, Arashi; Kurokawa, Ayaka; Zolensky, Michael E. (Principal Investigator)

2016-01-01

We have continued our long-term project using X-ray diffraction to characterize a wide range of extraterrestrial samples. The stationary sample method with polychromatic X-rays is advantageous because the irradiated area of the sample is always same and fixed, meaning that all diffraction spots occur from the same area of the sample, however, unit cell parameters cannot be directly obtained by this method though they are very important for identification of mineral and for determination of crystal structures. In order to obtain the cell parameters even in the case of the sample stationary method, we apply energy scanning of a micro-beam of monochromatic SR at SPring-8.

[New method for determining endemic levels].

PubMed

Orellano, Pablo Wenceslao; Reynoso, Julieta Itatí

2011-05-01

Design an instrument for determining endemic levels or ranges using simple calculations; identify and estimate the parameters related to the dynamic transmission of communicable diseases. The parameters for establishing a theoretical curve of expected incidence based on the logistic growth model were identified. The parameters were estimated by nonlinear regression based on the cumulative incidence data from the previous five years. The weekly cumulative incidence of cases of influenza-like illness in Argentina in 2009 was used as an example. It was compared to the 2004-2008 case series in order to determine the cumulative and non-cumulative endemic levels. According to the cumulative endemic levels identified, the country entered the outbreak area in week 2. The data from previous years showed that the maximum expected number of cases or carrying capacity (K) was 1 090 660. When the non-cumulative levels were considered, the outbreak was present in 34 out of 51 weeks. A range of 1.05 to 1.13 was estimated for the basic reproductive rate (R0) in the non-epidemic period from 2004-2008. The new method facilitated the determination of endemic levels using a simple procedure with the identification of parameters that are important for transmission. Although it has limitations such as the fact that the equation used is more appropriate for evaluating diseases with a pronounced annual cycle and less accurate for cycles of less than 1 year, it can be considered a valuable alternative method for determining endemic ranges and a new contribution to the study of epidemic outbreaks at local health surveillance levels.

Note: Temperature effects in the modified Howland current source for electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy.

PubMed

Fernandez Santos, S; Bertemes-Filho, P

2017-07-01

The aim of this study is to show how the modified Howland current source (MHCS) is affected by temperature changes. The source has been tested in a temperature range from 20 to 70 °C and frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. Parameters like output current, output impedance, total harmonic distortion, and oscillation have been measured. The measurements were made inside a temperature controlled environment. It was showed that the MHCS is stable at temperatures below 70 °C. Operational amplifiers with a low temperature drift and matching resistor should be carefully considered in order to prevent oscillations at high temperatures.

Note: Temperature effects in the modified Howland current source for electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandez Santos, S.; Bertemes-Filho, P.

2017-07-01

The aim of this study is to show how the modified Howland current source (MHCS) is affected by temperature changes. The source has been tested in a temperature range from 20 to 70 °C and frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. Parameters like output current, output impedance, total harmonic distortion, and oscillation have been measured. The measurements were made inside a temperature controlled environment. It was showed that the MHCS is stable at temperatures below 70 °C. Operational amplifiers with a low temperature drift and matching resistor should be carefully considered in order to prevent oscillations at high temperatures.

Robust transmission of non-Gaussian entanglement over optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Asoka; Lidar, Daniel A.

2006-12-01

We show how the entanglement in a wide range of continuous variable non-Gaussian states can be preserved against decoherence for long-range quantum communication through an optical fiber. We apply protection via decoherence-free subspaces and quantum dynamical decoupling to this end. The latter is implemented by inserting phase shifters at regular intervals Δ inside the fiber, where Δ is roughly the ratio of the speed of light in the fiber to the bath high-frequency cutoff. Detailed estimates of relevant parameters are provided using the boson-boson model of system-bath interaction for silica fibers and Δ is found to be on the order of a millimeter.

Heavy metals binding properties of esterified lemon.

PubMed

Arslanoglu, Hasan; Altundogan, Hamdi Soner; Tumen, Fikret

2009-05-30

Sorption of Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+) onto a carboxyl groups-rich material prepared from lemon was investigated in batch systems. The results revealed that the sorption is highly pH dependent. Sorption kinetic data indicated that the equilibrium was achieved in the range of 30-240 min for different metal ions and sorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model for all metals studied. Relative sorption rate of various metal cations was found to be in the general order of Ni(2+)>Cd(2+)>Cu(2+)>Pb(2+)>Zn(2+)>Cr(3+). The binding characteristics of the sorbent for heavy metal ions were analyzed under various conditions and isotherm data was accurately fitted to the Langmuir equation. The metal binding capacity order calculated from Langmuir isotherm was Pb(2+)>Cu(2+)>Ni(2+)>Cd(2+)>Zn(2+)>Cr(3+). The mean free energy of metal sorption process calculated from Dubinin-Radushkevich parameter and the Polanyi potential was found to be in the range of 8-11 kJ mol(-1) for the metals studied showing that the main mechanism governing the sorption process seems to be ion exchange. The basic thermodynamic parameters of metals ion sorption process were calculated by using the Langmuir constants obtained from equilibration study. The DeltaG degrees and DeltaH degrees values for metals ion sorption on the lemon sorbent showed the process to be spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Relatively low DeltaH degrees values revealed that physical adsorption significantly contributed to the mechanism.

Equilibrium and kinetic modeling of contaminant immobilization by activated carbon amended to sediments in the field.

PubMed

Rakowska, Magdalena I; Kupryianchyk, Darya; Koelmans, Albert A; Grotenhuis, Tim; Rijnaarts, Huub H M

2014-12-15

Addition of activated carbons (AC) to polluted sediments and soils is an attractive remediation technique aiming at reducing pore water concentrations of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). In this study, we present (pseudo-)equilibrium as well as kinetic parameters for sorption of a series of PAHs and PCBs to powdered and granular activated carbons (AC) after three different sediment treatments: sediment mixed with powdered AC (PAC), sediment mixed with granular AC (GAC), and addition of GAC followed by 2 d mixing and subsequent removal ('sediment stripping'). Remediation efficiency was assessed by quantifying fluxes of PAHs towards SPME passive samplers inserted in the sediment top layer, which showed that the efficiency decreased in the order of PAC > GAC stripping > GAC addition. Sorption was very strong to PAC, with Log KAC (L/kg) values up to 10.5. Log KAC values for GAC ranged from 6.3-7.1 and 4.8-6.2 for PAHs and PCBs, respectively. Log KAC values for GAC in the stripped sediment were 7.4-8.6 and 5.8-7.7 for PAH and PCB. Apparent first order adsorption rate constants for GAC (kGAC) in the stripping scenario were calculated with a first-order kinetic model and ranged from 1.6 × 10(-2) (PHE) to 1.7 × 10(-5) d(-1) (InP). Sorption affinity parameters did not change within 9 months post treatment, confirming the longer term effectiveness of AC in field applications for PAC and GAC. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Design of experiments for zeroth and first-order reaction rates.

PubMed

Amo-Salas, Mariano; Martín-Martín, Raúl; Rodríguez-Aragón, Licesio J

2014-09-01

This work presents optimum designs for reaction rates experiments. In these experiments, time at which observations are to be made and temperatures at which reactions are to be run need to be designed. Observations are performed along time under isothermal conditions. Each experiment needs a fixed temperature and so the reaction can be measured at the designed times. For these observations under isothermal conditions over the same reaction a correlation structure has been considered. D-optimum designs are the aim of our work for zeroth and first-order reaction rates. Temperatures for the isothermal experiments and observation times, to obtain the most accurate estimates of the unknown parameters, are provided in these designs. D-optimum designs for a single observation in each isothermal experiment or for several correlated observations have been obtained. Robustness of the optimum designs for ranges of the correlation parameter and comparisons of the information gathered by different designs are also shown. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A brief note on the magnecule order parameter upgrade hypothesis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schmidt, Nathan O.

2015-03-10

In this short remark, we report on recent hypothetical work that aims to equip Santilli’s magnecule model with topological deformation order parameters (OP) of fractional statistics to define a preliminary set of wavepacket wavefunctions for the electron toroidal polarizations. The primary objective is to increase the representational precision and predictive accuracy of the magnecule model by exemplifying the fluidic characteristics for direct industrial application. In particular, the OPs are deployed to encode the spontaneous superfluidic gauge symmetry breaking (which may be restored at the iso-topic level) and correlated with Leggett’s superfluid B phases to establish a long range constraint formore » the wavefunctions. These new, developing, theoretical results may be significant because the OP configuration arms us with an extra degree of freedom for encoding a magnecule’s states and transitions, which may reveal further insight into the underlying physical mechanisms and features associated with these state-of-the-art magnecular bonds.« less

Ice haze, snow, and the Mars water cycle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kahn, Ralph

1990-01-01

Light curves and extinction profiles derived from Martian limb observations are used to constrain the atmospheric temperature structure in regions of the atmosphere with thin haze and to analyze the haze particle properties and atmospheric eddy mixing. Temperature between 170 and 190 K are obtained for three cases at levels in the atmosphere ranging from 20 to 50 km. Eddy diffusion coefficients around 100,000 sq cm/s, typical of a nonconvecting atmosphere, are derived in the haze regions at times when the atmosphere is relatively clear of dust. This parameter apparently changes by more than three orders of magnitude with season and local conditions. The derived particle size parameter varies systematically by more than an order of magnitude with condensation level, in such a way that the characteristic fall time is always about one Martian day. Ice hazes provide a mechanism for scavenging water vapor in the thin Mars atmosphere and may play a key role in the seasonal cycle of water on Mars.

Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Humping Phenomena in Laser Micro Welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otto, Andreas; Patschger, Andreas; Seiler, Michael

The Humping effect is a phenomenon which is observed approximately since 50 years in various welding procedures and is characterized by droplets due to a pile-up of the melt pool. It occurs within a broad range of process parameters. Particularly during micro welding, humping effect is critical due to typically high feed rates. In the past, essentially two approaches (fluid-dynamic approach of streaming melt within the molten pool and the Plateau-Rayleigh instability of a liquid jet) were discussed in order to explain the occurrence of the humping effect. But none of both can fully explain all observed effects. For this reason, experimental studies in micro welding of thin metal foils were performed in order to determine the influence of process parameters on the occurrence of humping effects. The experimental observations were compared with results from numerical multi-physical simulations (incorporating beam propagation, incoupling, heat transfer, fluid dynamics etc.) to provide a deeper understanding of the causes for hump formation.

Structural and magnetic phase transitions in EuTi 1-xNb xO 3

DOE PAGES

Li, Ling; Morris, James R.; Koehler, Michael R.; ...

2015-07-30

Here, we investigate the structural and magnetic phase transitions in EuTi 1-xNb xO 3 (0≤x≤0.3) with synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, and magnetization measurements. Upon Nb doping, the Pmmore » $$\\bar{3}$$m ↔ I4/mcm structural transition shifts to higher temperatures and the room temperature lattice parameter increases while the magnitude of the octahedral tilting decreases. In addition, Nb substitution for Ti destabilizes the antiferromagnetic ground state of the parent compound and long-range ferromagnetic order is observed in the samples with x≥0.1. Moreover, the structural transition in pure and doped compounds is marked by a dramatic step-like softening of the elastic moduli near T S, which resembles that of SrTiO 3 and can be adequately modeled using the Landau free energy model employing the same coupling between strain and octahedral tilting order parameter as previously used to model SrTiO 3.« less

Modification of modulated plasma plumes for the quasi-phase-matching of high-order harmonics in different spectral ranges

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganeev, R. A., E-mail: rashid-ganeev@mail.ru; Ophthalmology and Advanced Laser Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-0495; Boltaev, G. S.

We demonstrate the technique allowing the fine tuning of the distance between the laser-produced plasma plumes on the surfaces of different materials, as well as the variation of the sizes of these plumes. The modification of plasma formations is based on the tilting of the multi-slit mask placed between the heating laser beam and target surface, as well as the positioning of this mask in the telescope placed on the path of heating radiation. The modulated plasma plumes with the sizes of single plume ranging between 0.1 and 1 mm were produced on the manganese and silver targets. Modification of themore » geometrical parameters of plasma plumes proved to be useful for the fine tuning of the quasi-phase-matched high-order harmonics generated in such structures during propagation of the ultrashort laser pulses. We show the enhancement of some groups of harmonics along the plateau range and the tuning of maximally enhanced harmonic by variable modulation of the plasma.« less

Tele-autonomous control involving contacts: The applications of a high precision laser line range sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volz, R. A.; Shao, L.; Walker, M. W.; Conway, L. A.

1989-01-01

The object localization algorithm based on line-segment matching is presented. The method is very simple and computationally fast. In most cases, closed-form formulas are used to derive the solution. The method is also quite flexible, because only few surfaces (one or two) need to be accessed (sensed) to gather necessary range data. For example, if the line-segments are extracted from boundaries of a planar surface, only parameters of one surface and two of its boundaries need to be extracted, as compared with traditional point-surface matching or line-surface matching algorithms which need to access at least three surfaces in order to locate a planar object. Therefore, this method is especially suitable for applications when an object is surrounded by many other work pieces and most of the object is very difficult, is not impossible, to be measured; or when not all parts of the object can be reached. The theoretical ground on how to use line range sensor to located an object was laid. Much work has to be done in order to be really useful.

4-spin plaquette singlet state in the Shastry-Sutherland compound SrCu2(BO3)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zayed, M. E.; Rüegg, Ch.; Larrea J., J.; Läuchli, A. M.; Panagopoulos, C.; Saxena, S. S.; Ellerby, M.; McMorrow, D. F.; Strässle, Th.; Klotz, S.; Hamel, G.; Sadykov, R. A.; Pomjakushin, V.; Boehm, M.; Jiménez-Ruiz, M.; Schneidewind, A.; Pomjakushina, E.; Stingaciu, M.; Conder, K.; Rønnow, H. M.

2017-10-01

The study of interacting spin systems is of fundamental importance for modern condensed-matter physics. On frustrated lattices, magnetic exchange interactions cannot be simultaneously satisfied, and often give rise to competing exotic ground states. The frustrated two-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland lattice realized by SrCu2(BO3)2 (refs ,) is an important test case for our understanding of quantum magnetism. It was constructed to have an exactly solvable 2-spin dimer singlet ground state within a certain range of exchange parameters and frustration. While the exact dimer state and the antiferromagnetic order at both ends of the phase diagram are well known, the ground state and spin correlations in the intermediate frustration range have been widely debated. We report here the first experimental identification of the conjectured plaquette singlet intermediate phase in SrCu2(BO3)2. It is observed by inelastic neutron scattering after pressure tuning to 21.5 kbar. This gapped singlet state leads to a transition to long-range antiferromagnetic order above 40 kbar, consistent with the existence of a deconfined quantum critical point.

Kinetics of nonoxidative leaching of galena in perchloric, hydrobromic, and hydrochloric acid solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Núñez, C.; Espiell, F.; García-Zayas, J.

1988-08-01

Several kinetic studies are presented on the nonoxidative leaching of galena with solutions of hydrocloric, hydrobromic, and perchloric acid. The kinetic parameters were set up in terms of the mean ionic activities of the electrolytes. The apparent order of reaction for the mean ionic activity of perchloric acid is one. For hydrochloric acid the order of reaction over a wide range of concentrations is 3/2 with respect to its mean activity. For hydrobromic acid, whose anion has greater complex-forming power for lead than HC1, the order of reaction is 2. Activation energies are 64.4 kJ/mole for HC1, 71.5 kJ/mole for HC104, and 66.5 kJ mole for HBr. The complete kinetic equations are given for the three reactions.

Third order maximum-principle-satisfying direct discontinuous Galerkin methods for time dependent convection diffusion equations on unstructured triangular meshes

DOE PAGES

Chen, Zheng; Huang, Hongying; Yan, Jue

2015-12-21

We develop 3rd order maximum-principle-satisfying direct discontinuous Galerkin methods [8], [9], [19] and [21] for convection diffusion equations on unstructured triangular mesh. We carefully calculate the normal derivative numerical flux across element edges and prove that, with proper choice of parameter pair (β 0,β 1) in the numerical flux formula, the quadratic polynomial solution satisfies strict maximum principle. The polynomial solution is bounded within the given range and third order accuracy is maintained. There is no geometric restriction on the meshes and obtuse triangles are allowed in the partition. As a result, a sequence of numerical examples are carried outmore » to demonstrate the accuracy and capability of the maximum-principle-satisfying limiter.« less

On financial markets trading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matassini, Lorenzo; Franci, Fabio

2001-01-01

Starting from the observation of the real trading activity, we propose a model of a stockmarket simulating all the typical phases taking place in a stock exchange. We show that there is no need of several classes of agents once one has introduced realistic constraints in order to confine money, time, gain and loss within an appropriate range. The main ingredients are local and global coupling, randomness, Zipf distribution of resources and price formation when inserting an order. The simulation starts with the initial public offer and comprises the broadcasting of news/advertisements and the building of the book, where all the selling and buying orders are stored. The model is able to reproduce fat tails and clustered volatility, the two most significant characteristics of a real stockmarket, being driven by very intuitive parameters.

Relationship between thermodynamic parameter and thermodynamic scaling parameter for orientational relaxation time for flip-flop motion of nematic liquid crystals.

PubMed

Satoh, Katsuhiko

2013-03-07

Thermodynamic parameter Γ and thermodynamic scaling parameter γ for low-frequency relaxation time, which characterize flip-flop motion in a nematic phase, were verified by molecular dynamics simulation with a simple potential based on the Maier-Saupe theory. The parameter Γ, which is the slope of the logarithm for temperature and volume, was evaluated under various conditions at a wide range of temperatures, pressures, and volumes. To simulate thermodynamic scaling so that experimental data at isobaric, isothermal, and isochoric conditions can be rescaled onto a master curve with the parameters for some liquid crystal (LC) compounds, the relaxation time was evaluated from the first-rank orientational correlation function in the simulations, and thermodynamic scaling was verified with the simple potential representing small clusters. A possibility of an equivalence relationship between Γ and γ determined from the relaxation time in the simulation was assessed with available data from the experiments and simulations. In addition, an argument was proposed for the discrepancy between Γ and γ for some LCs in experiments: the discrepancy arises from disagreement of the value of the order parameter P2 rather than the constancy of relaxation time τ1(*) on pressure.

From boiling point to glass transition temperature: transport coefficients in molecular liquids follow three-parameter scaling.

PubMed

Schmidtke, B; Petzold, N; Kahlau, R; Hofmann, M; Rössler, E A

2012-10-01

The phenomenon of the glass transition is an unresolved problem in condensed matter physics. Its prominent feature, the super-Arrhenius temperature dependence of the transport coefficients, remains a challenge to be described over the full temperature range. For a series of molecular glass formers, we combined τ(T) collected from dielectric spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering covering a range 10(-12) s < τ(T) < 10(2) s. Describing the dynamics in terms of an activation energy E(T), we distinguish a high-temperature regime characterized by an Arrhenius law with a constant activation energy E(∞) and a low-temperature regime for which E(coop)(T) ≡ E(T)-E(∞) increases exponentially while cooling. A scaling is introduced, specifically E(coop)(T)/E(∞) [proportionality] exp[-λ(T/T(A)-1)], where λ is a fragility parameter and T(A) a reference temperature proportional to E(∞). In order to describe τ(T) still the attempt time τ(∞) has to be specified. Thus, a single interaction parameter E(∞) describing the high-temperature regime together with λ controls the temperature dependence of low-temperature cooperative dynamics.

Comparison of gimbal approaches to decrease drag force and radar cross sectional area in missile application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakarya, Doǧan Uǧur

2017-05-01

Drag force effect is an important aspect of range performance in missile applications especially for long flight time. However, old fashioned gimbal approaches force to increase missile diameter. This increase has negative aspect of rising in both drag force and radar cross sectional area. A new gimbal approach was proposed recently. It uses a beam steering optical arrangement. Therefore, it needs less volume envelope for same field of regard and same optomechanical assembly than the old fashioned gimbal approaches. In addition to longer range performance achieved with same fuel in the new gimbal approach, this method provides smaller cross sectional area which can be more invisible in enemies' radar. In this paper, the two gimbal approaches - the old fashioned one and the new one- are compared in order to decrease drag force and radar cross sectional area in missile application. In this study; missile parameters are assumed to generate gimbal and optical design parameters. Optical design is performed according to these missile criteria. Two gimbal configurations are designed with respect to modeled missile parameters. Also analyzes are performed to show decreased drag force and radar cross sectional area in the new approach for comparison.

Charge and current orders in the spin-fermion model with overlapping hot spots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volkov, Pavel A.; Efetov, Konstantin B.

2018-04-01

Experiments carried over the last years on the underdoped cuprates have revealed a variety of symmetry-breaking phenomena in the pseudogap state. Charge-density waves, breaking of C4 rotational symmetry as well as time-reversal symmetry breaking have all been observed in several cuprate families. In this regard, theoretical models where multiple nonsuperconducting orders emerge are of particular interest. We consider the recently introduced [Volkov and Efetov, Phys. Rev. B 93, 085131 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.085131] spin-fermion model with overlapping `hot spots' on the Fermi surface. Focusing on the particle-hole instabilities we obtain a rich phase diagram with the chemical potential relative to the dispersion at (0 ,π );(π ,0 ) and the Fermi surface curvature in the antinodal regions being the control parameters. We find evidence for d-wave Pomeranchuk instability, d-form factor charge density waves, as well as commensurate and incommensurate staggered bond current phases similar to the d-density wave state. The current orders are found to be promoted by the curvature. Considering the appropriate parameter range for the hole-doped cuprates, we discuss the relation of our results to the pseudogap state and incommensurate magnetic phases of the cuprates.

Consistency relation and non-Gaussianity in a Galileon inflation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Asadi, Kosar; Nozari, Kourosh, E-mail: k.asadi@stu.umz.ac.ir, E-mail: knozari@umz.ac.ir

2016-12-01

We study a particular Galileon inflation in the light of Planck2015 observational data in order to constraint the model parameter space. We study the spectrum of the primordial modes of the density perturbations by expanding the action up to the second order in perturbations. Then we pursue by expanding the action up to the third order and find the three point correlation functions to find the amplitude of the non-Gaussianity of the primordial perturbations in this setup. We study the amplitude of the non-Gaussianity both in equilateral and orthogonal configurations and test the model with recent observational data. Our analysismore » shows that for some ranges of the non-minimal coupling parameter, the model is consistent with observation and it is also possible to have large non-Gaussianity which would be observable by future improvements in experiments. Moreover, we obtain the tilt of the tensor power spectrum and test the standard inflationary consistency relation ( r = −8 n {sub T} ) against the latest bounds from the Planck2015 dataset. We find a slight deviation from the standard consistency relation in this setup. Nevertheless, such a deviation seems not to be sufficiently remarkable to be detected confidently.« less

Discretization analysis of bifurcation based nonlinear amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feldkord, Sven; Reit, Marco; Mathis, Wolfgang

2017-09-01

Recently, for modeling biological amplification processes, nonlinear amplifiers based on the supercritical Andronov-Hopf bifurcation have been widely analyzed analytically. For technical realizations, digital systems have become the most relevant systems in signal processing applications. The underlying continuous-time systems are transferred to the discrete-time domain using numerical integration methods. Within this contribution, effects on the qualitative behavior of the Andronov-Hopf bifurcation based systems concerning numerical integration methods are analyzed. It is shown exemplarily that explicit Runge-Kutta methods transform the truncated normalform equation of the Andronov-Hopf bifurcation into the normalform equation of the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation. Dependent on the order of the integration method, higher order terms are added during this transformation.A rescaled normalform equation of the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation is introduced that allows a parametric design of a discrete-time system which corresponds to the rescaled Andronov-Hopf system. This system approximates the characteristics of the rescaled Hopf-type amplifier for a large range of parameters. The natural frequency and the peak amplitude are preserved for every set of parameters. The Neimark-Sacker bifurcation based systems avoid large computational effort that would be caused by applying higher order integration methods to the continuous-time normalform equations.

Keep-Left Behavior Induced by Asymmetrically Profiled Walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, C. L. N.; Vieira, A. P.; Helbing, D.; Andrade, J. S.; Herrmann, H. J.

2016-01-01

We show, computationally and analytically, that asymmetrically shaped walls can organize the flow of pedestrians driven in opposite directions through a corridor. Precisely, a two-lane ordered state emerges in which people always walk on the left-hand side (or right-hand side), controlled by the system's parameters. This effect depends on features of the channel geometry, such as the asymmetry of the profile and the channel width, as well as on the density and the drift velocity of pedestrians, and the intensity of noise. We investigate in detail the influence of these parameters on the flow and discover a crossover between ordered and disordered states. Our results show that an ordered state only appears within a limited range of drift velocities. Moreover, increasing noise may suppress such flow organization, but the flow is always sustained. This is in contrast with the "freezing by heating" phenomenon according to which pedestrians tend to clog in smooth channels for strong noise [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1240 (2000)]. Therefore, the ratchetlike effect proposed here acts on the system not only to induce a "keep-left" behavior but also to prevent the freezing by heating clogging phenomenon. Besides pedestrian flow, this new phenomenon has other potential applications in microfluidics systems.

Antidamping-Torque-Induced Switching in Biaxial Antiferromagnetic Insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, X. Z.; Zarzuela, R.; Zhang, J.; Song, C.; Zhou, X. F.; Shi, G. Y.; Li, F.; Zhou, H. A.; Jiang, W. J.; Pan, F.; Tserkovnyak, Y.

2018-05-01

We investigate the current-induced switching of the Néel order in NiO (001 )/Pt heterostructures, which is manifested electrically via the spin Hall magnetoresistance. Significant reversible changes in the longitudinal and transverse resistances are found at room temperature for a current threshold lying in the range of 1 07 A /cm2 . The order-parameter switching is ascribed to the antiferromagnetic dynamics triggered by the (current-induced) antidamping torque, which orients the Néel order towards the direction of the writing current. This is in stark contrast to the case of antiferromagnets such as Mn2Au and CuMnAs, where fieldlike torques induced by the Edelstein effect drive the Néel switching, therefore resulting in an orthogonal alignment between the Néel order and the writing current. Our findings can be readily generalized to other biaxial antiferromagnets, providing broad opportunities for all-electrical writing and readout in antiferromagnetic spintronics.

Ultracold Realization of AntiFerromagenteic Order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, Uttam

2011-03-01

We investigate numerically the experimental feasibility of observing the antiferromagnetic (AF) order in the bosonic mixtures of rubidium (87 Rb) and potassium (41 K) in a two-dimensional optical lattice with external trapping potential. Within the mean-field approximation we have found the ground states which, for a specific range of parameters such as inter-species interactions and lattice height, interpolate from phase separation to the AF order. For the moderate lattice heights the coexistence of the Mott and AF phase is possible for rubidium atoms while the potassium atoms remain superfluid with overlapped AF phase. In our view there has not been any study on AF order in two-component systems when one component remains in the superfluid phase while the other is in the Mott phase. Therefore, this observation may provide a novel regime for studying quantum magnetism in ultracold systems. This work was supported by the EU Contract EU STREP NAMEQUAM.

Mesoscale Particle-Based Model of Electrophoretic Deposition

DOE PAGES

Giera, Brian; Zepeda-Ruiz, Luis A.; Pascall, Andrew J.; ...

2016-12-20

In this paper, we present and evaluate a semiempirical particle-based model of electrophoretic deposition using extensive mesoscale simulations. We analyze particle configurations in order to observe how colloids accumulate at the electrode and arrange into deposits. In agreement with existing continuum models, the thickness of the deposit increases linearly in time during deposition. Resulting colloidal deposits exhibit a transition between highly ordered and bulk disordered regions that can give rise to an appreciable density gradient under certain simulated conditions. The overall volume fraction increases and falls within a narrow range as the driving force due to the electric field increasesmore » and repulsive intercolloidal interactions decrease. We postulate ordering and stacking within the initial layer(s) dramatically impacts the microstructure of the deposits. Finally, we find a combination of parameters, i.e., electric field and suspension properties, whose interplay enhances colloidal ordering beyond the commonly known approach of only reducing the driving force.« less

iSCHRUNK--In Silico Approach to Characterization and Reduction of Uncertainty in the Kinetic Models of Genome-scale Metabolic Networks.

PubMed

Andreozzi, Stefano; Miskovic, Ljubisa; Hatzimanikatis, Vassily

2016-01-01

Accurate determination of physiological states of cellular metabolism requires detailed information about metabolic fluxes, metabolite concentrations and distribution of enzyme states. Integration of fluxomics and metabolomics data, and thermodynamics-based metabolic flux analysis contribute to improved understanding of steady-state properties of metabolism. However, knowledge about kinetics and enzyme activities though essential for quantitative understanding of metabolic dynamics remains scarce and involves uncertainty. Here, we present a computational methodology that allow us to determine and quantify the kinetic parameters that correspond to a certain physiology as it is described by a given metabolic flux profile and a given metabolite concentration vector. Though we initially determine kinetic parameters that involve a high degree of uncertainty, through the use of kinetic modeling and machine learning principles we are able to obtain more accurate ranges of kinetic parameters, and hence we are able to reduce the uncertainty in the model analysis. We computed the distribution of kinetic parameters for glucose-fed E. coli producing 1,4-butanediol and we discovered that the observed physiological state corresponds to a narrow range of kinetic parameters of only a few enzymes, whereas the kinetic parameters of other enzymes can vary widely. Furthermore, this analysis suggests which are the enzymes that should be manipulated in order to engineer the reference state of the cell in a desired way. The proposed approach also sets up the foundations of a novel type of approaches for efficient, non-asymptotic, uniform sampling of solution spaces. Copyright © 2015 International Metabolic Engineering Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A graphical approach to optimizing variable-kernel smoothing parameters for improved deformable registration of CT and cone beam CT images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hart, Vern; Burrow, Damon; Li, X. Allen

2017-08-01

A systematic method is presented for determining optimal parameters in variable-kernel deformable image registration of cone beam CT and CT images, in order to improve accuracy and convergence for potential use in online adaptive radiotherapy. Assessed conditions included the noise constant (symmetric force demons), the kernel reduction rate, the kernel reduction percentage, and the kernel adjustment criteria. Four such parameters were tested in conjunction with reductions of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40%. Noise constants ranged from 1.0 to 1.9 for pelvic images in ten prostate cancer patients. A total of 516 tests were performed and assessed using the structural similarity index. Registration accuracy was plotted as a function of iteration number and a least-squares regression line was calculated, which implied an average improvement of 0.0236% per iteration. This baseline was used to determine if a given set of parameters under- or over-performed. The most accurate parameters within this range were applied to contoured images. The mean Dice similarity coefficient was calculated for bladder, prostate, and rectum with mean values of 98.26%, 97.58%, and 96.73%, respectively; corresponding to improvements of 2.3%, 9.8%, and 1.2% over previously reported values for the same organ contours. This graphical approach to registration analysis could aid in determining optimal parameters for Demons-based algorithms. It also establishes expectation values for convergence rates and could serve as an indicator of non-physical warping, which often occurred in cases  >0.6% from the regression line.

An Embedded Sensory System for Worker Safety: Prototype Development and Evaluation

PubMed Central

Cho, Chunhee; Park, JeeWoong

2018-01-01

At a construction site, workers mainly rely on two senses, which are sight and sound, in order to perceive their physical surroundings. However, they are often hindered by the nature of most construction sites, which are usually dynamic, loud, and complicated. To overcome these challenges, this research explored a method using an embedded sensory system that might offer construction workers an artificial sensing ability to better perceive their surroundings. This study identified three parameters (i.e., intensity, signal length, and delay between consecutive pulses) needed for tactile-based signals for the construction workers to communicate quickly. We developed a prototype system based on these parameters, conducted experimental studies to quantify and validate the sensitivity of the parameters for quick communication, and analyzed test data to reveal what was added by this method in order to perceive information from the tactile signals. The findings disclosed that the parameters of tactile-based signals and their distinguishable ranges could be perceived in a short amount of time (i.e., a fraction of a second). Further experimentation demonstrated the capability of the identified unit signals combined with a signal mapping technique to effectively deliver simple information to individuals and offer an additional sense of awareness to the surroundings. The findings of this study could serve as a basis for future research in exploring advanced tactile-based messages to overcome challenges in environments for which communication is a struggle. PMID:29662008

An Embedded Sensory System for Worker Safety: Prototype Development and Evaluation.

PubMed

Cho, Chunhee; Park, JeeWoong

2018-04-14

At a construction site, workers mainly rely on two senses, which are sight and sound, in order to perceive their physical surroundings. However, they are often hindered by the nature of most construction sites, which are usually dynamic, loud, and complicated. To overcome these challenges, this research explored a method using an embedded sensory system that might offer construction workers an artificial sensing ability to better perceive their surroundings. This study identified three parameters (i.e., intensity, signal length, and delay between consecutive pulses) needed for tactile-based signals for the construction workers to communicate quickly. We developed a prototype system based on these parameters, conducted experimental studies to quantify and validate the sensitivity of the parameters for quick communication, and analyzed test data to reveal what was added by this method in order to perceive information from the tactile signals. The findings disclosed that the parameters of tactile-based signals and their distinguishable ranges could be perceived in a short amount of time (i.e., a fraction of a second). Further experimentation demonstrated the capability of the identified unit signals combined with a signal mapping technique to effectively deliver simple information to individuals and offer an additional sense of awareness to the surroundings. The findings of this study could serve as a basis for future research in exploring advanced tactile-based messages to overcome challenges in environments for which communication is a struggle.

Period and amplitude of non-volcanic tremors and repeaters: a dimensional analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nielsen, Stefan

2017-04-01

Since its relatively recent discovery, the origin of non-volcanic tremor has been source of great curiosity and debate. Two main interpretations have been proposed, one based on fluid migration, the other relating to slow slip events on a plate boundary (the latter hypothesis has recently gained considerable ground). Here I define the conditions of slip of one or more small asperities embedded within a larger creeping fault patch. The radiation-damping equation coupled with rate-and-state friction evolution equations results in a system of ordinary differential equations. For a finite size asperity, the system equates to a peculiar non-linear damped oscillator, converging to a limit cycle. Dimensional analysis shows that period and amplitude of the oscillations depend on dimensional parameter combinations formed from a limited set of parameters: asperity dimension Γ, rate and state friction parameters (a, b, L), shear stiffness of the medium G, mass density ρ, background creep rate ˙V and normal stress σ. Under realistic parameter ranges, the asperity may show (1) tremor-like short period oscillations, accelerating to radiate sufficient energy to be barely detectable and a periodicity of the order of one to ten Hertz, as observed for non-volcanic tremor activity at the base of large inter-plate faults; (2) isolated stick-slip events with intervals in the order of days to months, as observed in repeater events of modest magnitude within creeping fault sections.

Influence of life-history parameters on organochlorine concentrations in free-ranging killer whales (Orcinus orca) from Prince William Sound, AK.

PubMed

Ylitalo, G M; Matkin, C O; Buzitis, J; Krahn, M M; Jones, L L; Rowles, T; Stein, J E

2001-12-17

Certain populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) have been extensively studied over the past 30 years, including populations that use Puget Sound, WA, the inside waters of British Columbia, Southeastern Alaska and Kenai Fjords/Prince William Sound, Alaska. Two eco-types of killer whales, 'transient' and 'resident', occur in all of these regions. These eco-types are genetically distinct and differ in various aspects of morphology, vocalization patterns, diet and habitat use. Various genetic and photo-identification studies of eastern North Pacific killer whales have provided information on the male-female composition of most of these resident pods and transient groups, as well as the approximate ages, reproductive status and putative recruitment order (birth order) of the individual whales. Biopsy blubber samples of free-ranging resident and transient killer whales from the Kenai Fjords/Prince William Sound, AK region were acquired during the 1994-1999 field seasons and analyzed for selected organochlorines (OCs), including dioxin-like CB congeners and DDTs. Concentrations of OCs in transient killer whales (marine mammal-eating) were much higher than those found in resident animals (fish-eating) apparently due to differences in diets of these two killer whale eco-types. Certain life-history parameters such as sex, age and reproductive status also influenced the concentrations of OCs in the Alaskan killer whales. Reproductive female whales contained much lower levels of OCs than sexually immature whales or mature male animals in the same age class likely due to transfer of OCs from the female to her offspring during gestation and lactation. Recruitment order also influenced the concentrations of OCs in the Alaskan killer whales. In adult male residents, first-recruited whales contained much higher OC concentrations than those measured in non-first-recruited (e.g. second recruited, third recruited) resident animals in the same age group. This study provides baseline OC data for free ranging Alaskan killer whales for which there is little contaminant information.

Surfatron acceleration of protons by an electromagnetic wave at the heliosphere periphery

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Loznikov, V. M., E-mail: loznikov@yandex.ru; Erokhin, N. S.; Zol’nikova, N. N.

2013-10-15

The trapping and subsequent efficient surfatron acceleration of weakly relativistic protons by an electromagnetic wave propagating across an external magnetic field in plasma at the heliosphere periphery is considered. The problem is reduced to analysis of a second-order time-dependent nonlinear equation for the wave phase on the particle trajectory. The conditions of proton trapping by the wave, the dynamics of the components of the particle momentum and velocity, the structure of the phase plane, the particle trajectories, and the dependence of the acceleration rate on initial parameters of the problem are analyzed. The asymptotic behavior of the characteristics of acceleratedmore » particles for the heliosphere parameters is investigated. The optimum conditions for surfatron acceleration of protons by an electromagnetic wave are discussed. It is demonstrated that the experimentally observed deviation of the spectra of cosmic-ray protons from standard power-law dependences can be caused by the surfatron mechanism. It is shown that protons with initial energies of several GeV can be additionally accelerated in the heliosphere (the region located between the shock front of the solar wind and the heliopause at distances of about 100 astronomical units (a.u.) from the Sun) up to energies on the order of several thousands of GeV. In order to explain the proton spectra in the energy range of ∼20–500 GeV, a two-component phenomenological model is proposed. The first component corresponds to the constant (in this energy range) galactic contribution, while the second (variable) component corresponds to the heliospheric contribution, which appears due to the additional acceleration of soft cosmic-ray protons at the heliosphere periphery. Variations in the proton spectra measured on different time scales between 1992 and 2008 in the energy range from several tens to several hundred GeV, as well as the dependence of these spectra on the heliospheric weather, can be explained by surfatron acceleration of protons in the heliosphere.« less

Ising-like chain magnetism, Arrhenius magnetic relaxation, and case against 3D magnetic ordering in β-manganese phthalocyanine (C₃₂H₁₆MnN₈).

PubMed

Wang, Zhengjun; Seehra, Mohindar S

2016-04-06

Previous magnetic studies in the organic semiconductor β-manganese phthalocyanine (β-MnPc) have reported it to be a canted ferromagnet below T(C)  ≈  8.6 K. However, the recent result of the lack of a λ-type anomaly in the specific heat versus temperature data near the quoted T(C) has questioned the presence of long-range 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic ordering in this system. In this paper, detailed measurements and analysis of the temperature (2 K-300 K) and magnetic field (up to 90 kOe) dependence of the dc and ac magnetic susceptibilities in a powder sample of β-MnPc leads us to conclude that 3D long-range magnetic ordering is absent in this material. This is supported by the Arrott plots and the lack of a peak in the ac susceptibilities, χ' and χ″, near the quoted T(C). Instead, the system can be best described as an Ising-like chain magnet with Arrhenius relaxation of the magnetization governed by an intra-layer ferromagnetic exchange constant J/k(B)  =  2.6 K and the single ion anisotropy energy parameter |D|/k(B)  =  8.3 K. The absence of 3D long range order is consistent with the measured |D|/  >  J.

A validation procedure for a LADAR system radiometric simulation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leishman, Brad; Budge, Scott; Pack, Robert

2007-04-01

The USU LadarSIM software package is a ladar system engineering tool that has recently been enhanced to include the modeling of the radiometry of Ladar beam footprints. This paper will discuss our validation of the radiometric model and present a practical approach to future validation work. In order to validate complicated and interrelated factors affecting radiometry, a systematic approach had to be developed. Data for known parameters were first gathered then unknown parameters of the system were determined from simulation test scenarios. This was done in a way to isolate as many unknown variables as possible, then build on the previously obtained results. First, the appropriate voltage threshold levels of the discrimination electronics were set by analyzing the number of false alarms seen in actual data sets. With this threshold set, the system noise was then adjusted to achieve the appropriate number of dropouts. Once a suitable noise level was found, the range errors of the simulated and actual data sets were compared and studied. Predicted errors in range measurements were analyzed using two methods: first by examining the range error of a surface with known reflectivity and second by examining the range errors for specific detectors with known responsivities. This provided insight into the discrimination method and receiver electronics used in the actual system.

Modeling of Internet Influence on Group Emotion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czaplicka, Agnieszka; Hołyst, Janusz A.

Long-range interactions are introduced to a two-dimensional model of agents with time-dependent internal variables ei = 0, ±1 corresponding to valencies of agent emotions. Effects of spontaneous emotion emergence and emotional relaxation processes are taken into account. The valence of agent i depends on valencies of its four nearest neighbors but it is also influenced by long-range interactions corresponding to social relations developed for example by Internet contacts to a randomly chosen community. Two types of such interactions are considered. In the first model the community emotional influence depends only on the sign of its temporary emotion. When the coupling parameter approaches a critical value a phase transition takes place and as result for larger coupling constants the mean group emotion of all agents is nonzero over long time periods. In the second model the community influence is proportional to magnitude of community average emotion. The ordered emotional phase was here observed for a narrow set of system parameters.

Simulation study and guidelines to generate Laser-induced Surface Acoustic Waves for human skin feature detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Tingting; Fu, Xing; Chen, Kun; Dorantes-Gonzalez, Dante J.; Li, Yanning; Wu, Sen; Hu, Xiaotang

2015-12-01

Despite the seriously increasing number of people contracting skin cancer every year, limited attention has been given to the investigation of human skin tissues. To this regard, Laser-induced Surface Acoustic Wave (LSAW) technology, with its accurate, non-invasive and rapid testing characteristics, has recently shown promising results in biological and biomedical tissues. In order to improve the measurement accuracy and efficiency of detecting important features in highly opaque and soft surfaces such as human skin, this paper identifies the most important parameters of a pulse laser source, as well as provides practical guidelines to recommended proper ranges to generate Surface Acoustic Waves (SAWs) for characterization purposes. Considering that melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, we conducted a finite element simulation-based research on the generation and propagation of surface waves in human skin containing a melanoma-like feature, determine best pulse laser parameter ranges of variation, simulation mesh size and time step, working bandwidth, and minimal size of detectable melanoma.

The effect of hot isostatic pressing parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of Eurofer powder HIPed material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gentzbittel, J. M.; Chu, I.; Burlet, H.

2002-12-01

The production of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel by powder metallurgy and high isostatic pressing (HIP) offers numerous advantages for different nuclear applications. The objective of this work is to optimise the Eurofer powder HIP process in order to obtain RAFM solid HIPed steel with similar mechanical properties to those of a forged material. Starting from the forged solid Eurofer steel batch, the material is atomized and the Eurofer powder is characterized in terms of granulometry, chemical composition, surface oxides, etc. Different compaction HIP cycle parameters in the temperature range (950-1100 °C) are tested. The chemical composition of the HIPed material is comparable to the initial forged Eurofer. All the obtained materials are fully dense and the microstructure of the compacted material is well martensitic. The prior austenite grain size seems to be constant in this temperature range. The mechanical tests performed at room temperature reveal acceptable hardness, tensile and Charpy impact properties regarding the ITER specification.

Fabrication of Titania Nanotubes for Gas Sensing Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzilal, A. A.; Muti, M. N.; John, O. D.

2010-03-01

Detection of hydrogen is needed for industrial process control and medical applications where presence of hydrogen indicates different type of health problems. Titanium dioxide nanotube structure is chosen as an active component in the gas sensor because of its highly sensitive electrical resistance to hydrogen over a wide range of concentrations. The objective of the work is to fabricate good quality titania nanotubes suitable for hydrogen sensing applications. The fabrication method used is anodizing method. The anodizing parameters namely the voltage, time duration, concentration of hydrofluoric acid in water, separation between the electrodes and the ambient temperature are varied accordingly to find the optimum anodizing conditions for production of good quality titania nanotubes. The highly ordered porous titania nanotubes produced by this method are in tabular shape and have good uniformity and alignment over large areas. From the investigation done, certain set of anodizing parameters have been found to produce good quality titania nanotubes with diameter ranges from 47 nm to 94 nm.

Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) radiometric performance on-orbit

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morfitt, Ron; Barsi, Julia A.; Levy, Raviv; Markham, Brian L.; Micijevic, Esad; Ong, Lawrence; Scaramuzza, Pat; Vanderwerff, Kelly

2015-01-01

Expectations of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) radiometric performance onboard Landsat-8 have been met or exceeded. The calibration activities that occurred prior to launch provided calibration parameters that enabled ground processing to produce imagery that met most requirements when data were transmitted to the ground. Since launch, calibration updates have improved the image quality even more, so that all requirements are met. These updates range from detector gain coefficients to reduce striping and banding to alignment parameters to improve the geometric accuracy. This paper concentrates on the on-orbit radiometric performance of the OLI, excepting the radiometric calibration performance. Topics discussed in this paper include: signal-to-noise ratios that are an order of magnitude higher than previous Landsat missions; radiometric uniformity that shows little residual banding and striping, and continues to improve; a dynamic range that limits saturation to extremely high radiance levels; extremely stable detectors; slight nonlinearity that is corrected in ground processing; detectors that are stable and 100% operable; and few image artifacts.

User's manual for the BNW-I optimization code for dry-cooled power plants. [AMCIRC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Braun, D.J.; Daniel, D.J.; De Mier, W.V.

1977-01-01

This appendix provides a listing, called Program AMCIRC, of the BNW-1 optimization code for determining, for a particular size power plant, the optimum dry cooling tower design using ammonia flow in the heat exchanger tubes. The optimum design is determined by repeating the design of the cooling system over a range of design conditions in order to find the cooling system with the smallest incremental cost. This is accomplished by varying five parameters of the plant and cooling system over ranges of values. These parameters are varied systematically according to techniques that perform pattern and gradient searches. The dry coolingmore » system optimized by program AMCIRC is composed of a condenser/reboiler (condensation of steam and boiling of ammonia), piping system (transports ammonia vapor out and ammonia liquid from the dry cooling towers), and circular tower system (vertical one-pass heat exchangers situated in circular configurations with cocurrent ammonia flow in the tubes of the heat exchanger). (LCL)« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang Yu; Liu Jinliang; Fan Xuliang

In this paper, the electromagnetic dispersion theory and the classic telegraph equations were combined to calculate the important parameters of the helical Blumlein pulse forming line (BPFL) of accelerator based on tape helix. In the work band of the BPFL at several hundred ns range, electromagnetic dispersion characteristics were almost determined by the zeroth harmonic. In order to testify the dispersion theory of BPFL in this paper, filling dielectrics, such as de-ionized water, transformer oil, and air were employed in the helical BPFL, respectively. Parameters such as capacitance, inductance, characteristic impedance, and pulse duration of the BPFL were calculated. Effectsmore » of dispersion on these parameters were analyzed. Circuit simulation and electromagnetic simulation were carried out to prove these parameters of BPFL filled with these three kinds of dielectrics, respectively. The accelerator system was set up, and experimental results also corresponded to the theoretical calculations. The average theoretical errors of impedances and pulse durations were 3.5% and 3.4%, respectively, which proved the electromagnetic dispersion analyses in this paper.« less

Effects of Parameter Uncertainty on Long-Term Simulations of Lake Alkalinity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sijin; Georgakakos, Konstantine P.; Schnoor, Jerald L.

1990-03-01

A first-order second-moment uncertainty analysis has been applied to two lakes in the Adirondack Park, New York, to assess the long-term response of lakes to acid deposition. Uncertainty due to parameter error and initial condition error was considered. Because the enhanced trickle-down (ETD) model is calibrated with only 3 years of field data and is used to simulate a 50-year period, the uncertainty in the lake alkalinity prediction is relatively large. When a best estimate of parameter uncertainty is used, the annual average alkalinity is predicted to be -11 ±28 μeq/L for Lake Woods and 142 ± 139 μeq/L for Lake Panther after 50 years. Hydrologic parameters and chemical weathering rate constants contributed most to the uncertainty of the simulations. Results indicate that the uncertainty in long-range predictions of lake alkalinity increased significantly over a 5- to 10-year period and then reached a steady state.

Fast and accurate fitting and filtering of noisy exponentials in Legendre space.

PubMed

Bao, Guobin; Schild, Detlev

2014-01-01

The parameters of experimentally obtained exponentials are usually found by least-squares fitting methods. Essentially, this is done by minimizing the mean squares sum of the differences between the data, most often a function of time, and a parameter-defined model function. Here we delineate a novel method where the noisy data are represented and analyzed in the space of Legendre polynomials. This is advantageous in several respects. First, parameter retrieval in the Legendre domain is typically two orders of magnitude faster than direct fitting in the time domain. Second, data fitting in a low-dimensional Legendre space yields estimates for amplitudes and time constants which are, on the average, more precise compared to least-squares-fitting with equal weights in the time domain. Third, the Legendre analysis of two exponentials gives satisfactory estimates in parameter ranges where least-squares-fitting in the time domain typically fails. Finally, filtering exponentials in the domain of Legendre polynomials leads to marked noise removal without the phase shift characteristic for conventional lowpass filters.

Effects of temperature and electric field on order parameters in ferroelectric hexagonal manganites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, C. X.; Yang, K. L.; Jia, P.; Lin, H. L.; Li, C. F.; Lin, L.; Yan, Z. B.; Liu, J.-M.

2018-03-01

In Landau-Devonshire phase transition theory, the order parameter represents a unique property for a disorder-order transition at the critical temperature. Nevertheless, for a phase transition with more than one order parameter, such behaviors can be quite different and system-dependent in many cases. In this work, we investigate the temperature (T) and electric field (E) dependence of the two order parameters in improper ferroelectric hexagonal manganites, addressing the phase transition from the high-symmetry P63/mmc structure to the polar P63cm structure. It is revealed that the trimerization as the primary order parameter with two components: the trimerization amplitude Q and phase Φ, and the spontaneous polarization P emerging as the secondary order parameter exhibit quite different stability behaviors against various T and E. The critical exponents for the two parameters Q and P are 1/2 and 3/2, respectively. As temperature increases, the window for the electric field E enduring the trimerization state will shrink. An electric field will break the Z2 part of the Z2×Z3 symmetry. The present work may shed light on the complexity of the vortex-antivortex domain structure evolution near the phase transition temperature.

Evolution of process control parameters during extended co-composting of green waste and solid fraction of cattle slurry to obtain growing media.

PubMed

Cáceres, Rafaela; Coromina, Narcís; Malińska, Krystyna; Marfà, Oriol

2015-03-01

This study aimed to monitor process parameters when two by-products (green waste - GW, and the solid fraction of cattle slurry - SFCS) were composted to obtain growing media. Using compost in growing medium mixtures involves prolonged composting processes that can last at least half a year. It is therefore crucial to study the parameters that affect compost stability as measured in the field in order to shorten the composting process at composting facilities. Two mixtures were prepared: GW25 (25% GW and 75% SFCS, v/v) and GW75 (75% GW and 25% SFCS, v/v). The different raw mixtures resulted in the production of two different growing media, and the evolution of process management parameters was different. A new parameter has been proposed to deal with attaining the thermophilic temperature range and maintaining it during composting, not only it would be useful to optimize composting processes, but also to assess the hygienization degree. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topological Fulde-Ferrell and Larkin-Ovchinnikov states in spin-orbit-coupled lattice system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Yao-Wu; Chen, Yan

2018-04-01

The spin-orbit coupled lattice system under Zeeman fields provides an ideal platform to realize exotic pairing states. Notable examples range from the topological superfluid/superconducting (tSC) state, which is gapped in the bulk but metallic at the edge, to the Fulde-Ferrell (FF) state (having a phase-modulated order parameter with a uniform amplitude) and the Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) state (having a spatially varying order parameter amplitude). Here, we show that the topological FF state with Chern number ( C = -1) (tFF1) and topological LO state with C= 2 (tLO2) can be stabilized in Rashba spin-orbit coupled lattice systems in the presence of both in-plane and out-of-plane Zeeman fields. Besides the inhomogeneous tSC states, in the presence of a weak in-plane Zeeman field, two topological BCS phases may emerge with C = -1 (tBCS1) far from half filling and C = 2 (tBCS2) near half filling. We show intriguing effects such as different spatial profiles of order parameters for FF and LO states, the topological evolution among inhomogeneous tSC states, and different non-trivial Chern numbers for the tFF1 and tLO1,2 states, which are peculiar to the lattice system. Global phase diagrams for various topological phases are presented for both half-filling and doped cases. The edge states as well as local density of states spectra are calculated for tSC states in a 2D strip.

Numerical analysis of electrically tunable aspherical optofluidic lenses.

PubMed

In this work, we use the numerical simulation platform Zemax to investigate the optical properties of electrically tunable aspherical liquid lenses, as we recently reported in an experimental study [ K. Mishra C. Murade B. Carreel I. Roghair J. M. Oh G. Manukyan D. van den Ende F. Mugele , "Optofluidic lens with tunable focal length and asphericity," Sci. Rep.4, 6378 (2014)]. Based on the measured lens profiles in the presence of an inhomogeneous electric field and the geometry of the optical device, we calculate the optical aberrations, focusing in particular on the Z11 Zernike coefficient of spherical aberration obtained at zero defocus (Z4). Focal length and spherical aberrations are calculated for a wide range of control parameters (fluid pressure and electric field), parallel with the experimental results. Similarly, the modulation transfer function (MTF), image spot diagrams, Strehl's ratio, and peak-to-valley (P-V) and root mean square (RMS) wavefront errors are calculated to quantify the performance of our aspherical liquid lenses. We demonstrate that the device concept allows compensation for a wide range of spherical aberrations encountered in optical systems.; Mishra, Kartikeya; Mugele, Frieder

2016-06-27

In this work, we use the numerical simulation platform Zemax to investigate the optical properties of electrically tunable aspherical liquid lenses, as we recently reported in an experimental study [ K. Mishra C. Murade B. Carreel I. Roghair J. M. Oh G. Manukyan D. van den Ende F. Mugele , "Optofluidic lens with tunable focal length and asphericity," Sci. Rep.4, 6378 (2014)]. Based on the measured lens profiles in the presence of an inhomogeneous electric field and the geometry of the optical device, we calculate the optical aberrations, focusing in particular on the Z11 Zernike coefficient of spherical aberration obtained at zero defocus (Z4). Focal length and spherical aberrations are calculated for a wide range of control parameters (fluid pressure and electric field), parallel with the experimental results. Similarly, the modulation transfer function (MTF), image spot diagrams, Strehl's ratio, and peak-to-valley (P-V) and root mean square (RMS) wavefront errors are calculated to quantify the performance of our aspherical liquid lenses. We demonstrate that the device concept allows compensation for a wide range of spherical aberrations encountered in optical systems.

Adaptive tracking for complex systems using reduced-order models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carnigan, Craig R.

1990-01-01

Reduced-order models are considered in the context of parameter adaptive controllers for tracking workspace trajectories. A dual-arm manipulation task is used to illustrate the methodology and provide simulation results. A parameter adaptive controller is designed to track a payload trajectory using a four-parameter model instead of the full-order, nine-parameter model. Several simulations with different payload-to-arm mass ratios are used to illustrate the capabilities of the reduced-order model in tracking the desired trajectory.

Adaptive tracking for complex systems using reduced-order models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carignan, Craig R.

1990-01-01

Reduced-order models are considered in the context of parameter adaptive controllers for tracking workspace trajectories. A dual-arm manipulation task is used to illustrate the methodology and provide simulation results. A parameter adaptive controller is designed to track the desired position trajectory of a payload using a four-parameter model instead of a full-order, nine-parameter model. Several simulations with different payload-to-arm mass ratios are used to illustrate the capabilities of the reduced-order model in tracking the desired trajectory.

Slowly-rotating neutron stars in massive bigravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sullivan, A.; Yunes, N.

2018-02-01

We study slowly-rotating neutron stars in ghost-free massive bigravity. This theory modifies general relativity by introducing a second, auxiliary but dynamical tensor field that couples to matter through the physical metric tensor through non-linear interactions. We expand the field equations to linear order in slow rotation and numerically construct solutions in the interior and exterior of the star with a set of realistic equations of state. We calculate the physical mass function with respect to observer radius and find that, unlike in general relativity, this function does not remain constant outside the star; rather, it asymptotes to a constant a distance away from the surface, whose magnitude is controlled by the ratio of gravitational constants. The Vainshtein-like radius at which the physical and auxiliary mass functions asymptote to a constant is controlled by the graviton mass scaling parameter, and outside this radius, bigravity modifications are suppressed. We also calculate the frame-dragging metric function and find that bigravity modifications are typically small in the entire range of coupling parameters explored. We finally calculate both the mass-radius and the moment of inertia-mass relations for a wide range of coupling parameters and find that both the graviton mass scaling parameter and the ratio of the gravitational constants introduce large modifications to both. These results could be used to place future constraints on bigravity with electromagnetic and gravitational-wave observations of isolated and binary neutron stars.

Microwave dielectric relaxation spectroscopy study of propylene glycol/ethanol binary mixtures: Temperature dependence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vishwam, T.; Shihab, Suriya; Murthy, V. R. K.; Tiong, Ha Sie; Sreehari Sastry, S.

2017-05-01

Complex dielectric permittivity measurements of propylene glycol (PG) in ethanol at various mole fractions were measured by using open-ended coaxial probe technique at different temperatures in the frequency range 0.02 < ν/GHz < 20. The dipole moment (μ), excess dipole moment (Δμ),excess permittivity (εE), excess inverse relaxation time(1/τ)E, Bruggeman parameter (fB), excess Helmholtz energy (ΔFE) are determined using experimental data. From the minimum energy based geometry optimization, dipole moments of individual monomers of propylene glycol and ethanol and their binary system have been evaluated theoretically at gaseous state as well as alcoholic medium by using PCM and IEFPCM solvation models from the Hatree-Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT-B3LYP) methods with 6-311G* and 6-311G** basis sets. The obtained results have been interpreted in terms of the short and long range ordering of the dipoles, Kirkwood correlation factor (geff), thermodynamic parameters, mean molecular polarizability (αM) and interaction in the mixture through hydrogen bonding. Dielectric relaxation study of propylene glycol in ethanol medium Determination of excess dielectric and thermodynamic parameters Comparison of experimental dipole moment with theoretical calculations Interpretation of the molecular interactions in the liquid through H-bonding Correlation between the evaluated dielectric parameters and theoretical results

Water and sediment quality parameters in the Chalan Beel, the largest wetland of Bangladesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayeed, Md. Abu; Hossain, Mostafa Ali Reza; Wahab, Md. Abdul; Hasan, Md. Tawheed; Simon, Kumar Das; Mazumder, Sabuj Kanti

2015-07-01

A study was conducted to investigate the status of the water and sediment quality in the Chalan Beel-a major fresh water fish reservoir of the country for a period of one year from July 2007 to June 2008. The mean values of water quality parameters (depth: 214.73±152.22 cm, temperature 27.68±4.26°C, transparency 123±82 cm, pH 9.7±0.47, total alkalinity 137±42 mg/L, conductivity 307±147 μs/cm, total dissolved solids 183±89 mg/L, ammonia-N 0.27±0.39 mg/L, nitrate-N 0.09±0.07 mg/L, phosphate-P 2.01±2.53 mg/L) and sediment quality parameters (pH 7.21±0.35, organic matter 2.59±0.52%, total nitrogen 0.09±0.04%, available phosphorus 5.4±3.6 Meq./100 g and exchangeable potassium 0.43±0.14 Meq./100 g) were within the range recommended for most of the inland fishes of Bangladesh. Although the water and sediment quality parameters except ammonia and phosphate are in the suitable range, the overall results suggest that better management techniques should be practiced in order to overcome the declining trend of associated aquatic life (fauna and flora) of this important fresh water body of Bangladesh.

Nuclear recoil effect on the binding energies in highly charged He-like ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malyshev, A. V.; Popov, R. V.; Shabaev, V. M.; Zubova, N. A.

2018-04-01

The most precise to-date evaluation of the nuclear recoil effect on the n = 1 and n = 2 energy levels of He-like ions is presented in the range Z = 12–100. The one-electron recoil contribution is calculated within the framework of the rigorous quantum electrodynamics approach to first order in the electron-to-nucleus mass ratio m/M and to all orders in the parameter αZ. The two-electron m/M recoil term is calculated employing the 1/Z perturbation theory. The recoil contribution of the zeroth order in 1/Z is evaluated to all orders in αZ, while the 1/Z term is calculated using the Breit approximation. The recoil corrections of the second and higher orders in 1/Z are taken into account within the nonrelativistic approach. The obtained results are compared with the previous evaluation of this effect (Artemyev et al 2005 Phys. Rev. A 71 062104).

Nuclear symmetry energy in terms of single-nucleon potential and its effect on the proton fraction of β-stable npeμ matter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sahoo, Babita, E-mail: patra-babita@rediffmail.com; Chakraborty, Suparna, E-mail: banerjee.suparna@hotmail.com; Sahoo, Sukadev, E-mail: sukadevsahoo@yahoo.com

2016-01-15

Momentum and density dependence of single-nucleon potential u{sub τ} (k, ρ, β) is analyzed using a density dependent finite range effective interaction of the Yukawa form. Depending on the choice of the strength parameters of exchange interaction, two different trends of the momentum dependence of nuclear symmetry potential are noticed which lead to two opposite types of neutron and proton effective mass splitting. The 2nd-order and 4th-order symmetry energy of isospin asymmetric nuclear matter are expressed analytically in terms of the single-nucleon potential. Two distinct behavior of the density dependence of 2nd-order and 4th-order symmetry energy are observed depending onmore » neutron and proton effective mass splitting. It is also found that the 4th-order symmetry energy has a significant contribution towards the proton fraction of β-stable npeμ matter at high densities.« less

Secuencias evolutivas e isocronas para estrellas de baja masa e intermedia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panei, J.; Baume, G.

2016-08-01

We present theoretical evolutionary sequences for low- and intermediate-mass stars. The masses calculated range from 1.7 to 10 M. The initial chemical composition is . In addition, we have taken into account a nuclear network with 17 isotopes and 34 nuclear reactions. With respect to the mix, we considered overshooting with a parameter . The evolutionary calculations were initialized from the region of instability of Hayashi, in order to calculate isochrones of pre-sequence, too.

Near-infrared extension of a visible spectrum airborne Sun photometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starace, Marco; von Bismarck, Jonas; Hollstein, André; Ruhtz, Thomas; Preusker, René; Fischer, Jürgen

2013-05-01

The continuously-measuring, multispectral airborne Sun and aureole photometers FUBISS-ASA and FUBISSASA2 were developed at the Institute for Space Sciences of the Freie Universität Berlin in 2002 and 2006 respectively, for the retrieval of aerosol optical and microphysical parameters at wavelengths ranging from 400 to 900 nm. A multispectral near-infrared direct sun radiometer measuring in a spectral range of 1000 to 1700 nm has now been added to FUBISS-ASA2. The main objective of this NIR extension is to enhance the characterization of larger aerosol particles, as Mie scattering theory offers a more accurate approximation for their interaction with electromagnetic radiation, if both the VIS and NIR parts of the spectrum are considered, than it does for the VIS part only. The spectral transmissivity of atmospheric models was computed using the HITRAN2008 database in order to determine local absorption minima suitable for aerosol retrieval. Measurements were first carried out aboard the research vessel FS Polarstern on its transatlantic voyage ANT-XXVI/1. Additional measurements were performed from the Sphinx High Altitude Research Station on the Jungfraujoch and in the nearby Kleine Scheidegg locality during the CLACE2010 measurement campaign. Aerosol optical parameters derived from VIS aureole and direct sun measurements were compared to those of simulated aerosol mixtures in order to estimate the composition of the measured aerosol.

Effects of high-frequency damping on iterative convergence of implicit viscous solver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishikawa, Hiroaki; Nakashima, Yoshitaka; Watanabe, Norihiko

2017-11-01

This paper discusses effects of high-frequency damping on iterative convergence of an implicit defect-correction solver for viscous problems. The study targets a finite-volume discretization with a one parameter family of damped viscous schemes. The parameter α controls high-frequency damping: zero damping with α = 0, and larger damping for larger α (> 0). Convergence rates are predicted for a model diffusion equation by a Fourier analysis over a practical range of α. It is shown that the convergence rate attains its minimum at α = 1 on regular quadrilateral grids, and deteriorates for larger values of α. A similar behavior is observed for regular triangular grids. In both quadrilateral and triangular grids, the solver is predicted to diverge for α smaller than approximately 0.5. Numerical results are shown for the diffusion equation and the Navier-Stokes equations on regular and irregular grids. The study suggests that α = 1 and 4/3 are suitable values for robust and efficient computations, and α = 4 / 3 is recommended for the diffusion equation, which achieves higher-order accuracy on regular quadrilateral grids. Finally, a Jacobian-Free Newton-Krylov solver with the implicit solver (a low-order Jacobian approximately inverted by a multi-color Gauss-Seidel relaxation scheme) used as a variable preconditioner is recommended for practical computations, which provides robust and efficient convergence for a wide range of α.

Order parameter analysis of synchronization transitions on star networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hong-Bin; Sun, Yu-Ting; Gao, Jian; Xu, Can; Zheng, Zhi-Gang

2017-12-01

The collective behaviors of populations of coupled oscillators have attracted significant attention in recent years. In this paper, an order parameter approach is proposed to study the low-dimensional dynamical mechanism of collective synchronizations, by adopting the star-topology of coupled oscillators as a prototype system. The order parameter equation of star-linked phase oscillators can be obtained in terms of the Watanabe-Strogatz transformation, Ott-Antonsen ansatz, and the ensemble order parameter approach. Different solutions of the order parameter equation correspond to the diverse collective states, and different bifurcations reveal various transitions among these collective states. The properties of various transitions in the star-network model are revealed by using tools of nonlinear dynamics such as time reversibility analysis and linear stability analysis.

Validation of the replica trick for simple models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinzato, Takashi

2018-04-01

We discuss the replica analytic continuation using several simple models in order to prove mathematically the validity of the replica analysis, which is used in a wide range of fields related to large-scale complex systems. While replica analysis consists of two analytical techniques—the replica trick (or replica analytic continuation) and the thermodynamical limit (and/or order parameter expansion)—we focus our study on replica analytic continuation, which is the mathematical basis of the replica trick. We apply replica analysis to solve a variety of analytical models, and examine the properties of replica analytic continuation. Based on the positive results for these models we propose that replica analytic continuation is a robust procedure in replica analysis.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Zheng; Huang, Hongying; Yan, Jue

We develop 3rd order maximum-principle-satisfying direct discontinuous Galerkin methods [8], [9], [19] and [21] for convection diffusion equations on unstructured triangular mesh. We carefully calculate the normal derivative numerical flux across element edges and prove that, with proper choice of parameter pair (β 0,β 1) in the numerical flux formula, the quadratic polynomial solution satisfies strict maximum principle. The polynomial solution is bounded within the given range and third order accuracy is maintained. There is no geometric restriction on the meshes and obtuse triangles are allowed in the partition. As a result, a sequence of numerical examples are carried outmore » to demonstrate the accuracy and capability of the maximum-principle-satisfying limiter.« less

Natural extension of fast-slow decomposition for dynamical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubin, J. E.; Krauskopf, B.; Osinga, H. M.

2018-01-01

Modeling and parameter estimation to capture the dynamics of physical systems are often challenging because many parameters can range over orders of magnitude and are difficult to measure experimentally. Moreover, selecting a suitable model complexity requires a sufficient understanding of the model's potential use, such as highlighting essential mechanisms underlying qualitative behavior or precisely quantifying realistic dynamics. We present an approach that can guide model development and tuning to achieve desired qualitative and quantitative solution properties. It relies on the presence of disparate time scales and employs techniques of separating the dynamics of fast and slow variables, which are well known in the analysis of qualitative solution features. We build on these methods to show how it is also possible to obtain quantitative solution features by imposing designed dynamics for the slow variables in the form of specified two-dimensional paths in a bifurcation-parameter landscape.

Patchy screening of the cosmic microwave background by inhomogeneous reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gluscevic, Vera; Kamionkowski, Marc; Hanson, Duncan

2013-02-01

We derive a constraint on patchy screening of the cosmic microwave background from inhomogeneous reionization using off-diagonal TB and TT correlations in WMAP-7 temperature/polarization data. We interpret this as a constraint on the rms optical-depth fluctuation Δτ as a function of a coherence multipole LC. We relate these parameters to a comoving coherence scale, of bubble size RC, in a phenomenological model where reionization is instantaneous but occurs on a crinkly surface, and also to the bubble size in a model of “Swiss cheese” reionization where bubbles of fixed size are spread over some range of redshifts. The current WMAP data are still too weak, by several orders of magnitude, to constrain reasonable models, but forthcoming Planck and future EPIC data should begin to approach interesting regimes of parameter space. We also present constraints on the parameter space imposed by the recent results from the EDGES experiment.

An improved model of the Earth's gravitational field: GEM-T1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marsh, J. G.; Lerch, F. J.; Christodoulidis, D. C.; Putney, B. H.; Felsentreger, T. L.; Sanchez, B. V.; Smith, D. E.; Klosko, S. M.; Martin, T. V.; Pavlis, E. C.

1987-01-01

Goddard Earth Model T1 (GEM-T1), which was developed from an analysis of direct satellite tracking observations, is the first in a new series of such models. GEM-T1 is complete to degree and order 36. It was developed using consistent reference parameters and extensive earth and ocean tidal models. It was simultaneously solved for gravitational and tidal terms, earth orientation parameters, and the orbital parameters of 580 individual satellite arcs. The solution used only satellite tracking data acquired on 17 different satellites and is predominantly based upon the precise laser data taken by third generation systems. In all, 800,000 observations were used. A major improvement in field accuracy was obtained. For marine geodetic applications, long wavelength geoidal modeling is twice as good as in earlier satellite-only GEM models. Orbit determination accuracy has also been substantially advanced over a wide range of satellites that have been tested.

Analysis of helicopter flight dynamics through modeling and simulation of primary flight control actuation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Hunter Barton

A simplified second-order transfer function actuator model used in most flight dynamics applications cannot easily capture the effects of different actuator parameters. The present work integrates a nonlinear actuator model into a nonlinear state space rotorcraft model to determine the effect of actuator parameters on key flight dynamics. The completed actuator model was integrated with a swashplate kinematics where step responses were generated over a range of key hydraulic parameters. The actuator-swashplate system was then introduced into a nonlinear state space rotorcraft simulation where flight dynamics quantities such as bandwidth and phase delay analyzed. Frequency sweeps were simulated for unique actuator configurations using the coupled nonlinear actuator-rotorcraft system. The software package CIFER was used for system identification and compared directly to the linearized models. As the actuator became rate saturated, the effects on bandwidth and phase delay were apparent on the predicted handling qualities specifications.