Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Sub-Kpc-Scale Binary Active Galactic Nucleus With Double Narrow-Line Regions, Jong-Hak Woo, Hojin Cho, Bernd Husemann, S. Komossa, Daeseong Park, Vardha N. Bennert

Physics

We present the kinematic properties of a type-2 Quasi stellar object (QSO), SDSS J132323.33−015941.9 at z ∼ 0.35, based on the analysis of Very Large Telescope integral field spectroscopy and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging, which suggest that the target is a binary active galactic nucleus (AGN) with double narrow-line regions. The QSO features double-peaked emission lines ([O iii] and Hβ) which can be decomposed into two kinematic components. The flux-weighted centroids of the blue and red components are separated by ∼0.2 arcsec (0.8 kpc in projection) and coincide with the location of the two stellar cores detected …

Longitudinal Emittance Blowup In The Large Hadron Collider, P. Baudrenghien, T. Mastoridis

Physics

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) relies on Landau damping for longitudinal stability. To avoid decreasing the stability margin at high energy, the longitudinal emittance must be continuously increased during the acceleration ramp. Longitudinal blowup provides the required emittance growth. The method was implemented through the summer of 2010. Band-limited RF phase-noise is injected in the main accelerating cavities during the whole ramp of about 11 min. Synchrotron frequencies change along the energy ramp, but the digitally created noise tracks the frequency change. The position of the noise-band, relative to the nominal synchrotron frequency, and the bandwidth of the spectrum are …

The Stratified Structure Of Spaces Of Smooth Orbifold Mappings, Joseph E. Borzellino, Victor Brunsden

Mathematics

We consider four notions of maps between smooth C^∞ orbifolds , with compact (without boundary). We show that one of these notions is natural and necessary in order to uniquely define the notion of orbibundle pullback. For the notion of complete orbifold map, we show that the corresponding set of C^r maps between and with the C^r topology carries the structure of a smooth C^∞ Banach (r finite)/Fréchet (r = ∞) manifold. For the notion of complete reduced orbifold map, the corresponding set of C^r maps between and with the C^r topology carries the …

Bayesian Approach For Uncertainty Analysis Of An Urban Storm Water Model And Its Applications To A Heavily Urbanized Watershed, Misgana K. Muleta, Jonathan Mcmillan, Geremew G. Amenu, Steven J. Burian

Physics

The significance of uncertainty analysis (UA) to quantify reliability of model simulations is being recognized. Consequently, literature on parameter and predictive uncertainty assessment of water resources models has been rising. Applications dealing with urban drainage systems are, however, very limited. This study applies formal Bayesian approach for uncertainty analysis of a widely used storm water management model and illustrates the methodology using a highly urbanized watershed in the Los Angeles Basin, California. A flexible likelihood function that accommodates heteroscedasticity, non-normality, and temporal correlation of model residuals has been used for the study along with a Markov-chain Monte Carlo-based sampling scheme. …

High Performance Regional Ocean Modeling With Gpu Acceleration, Ian Panzer, Spencer Lines, Jason Mak, Paul Choboter, Chris Lupo

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) is an open-source, free-surface, primitive equation ocean model used by the scientific community for a diverse range of applications [1]. ROMS employs sophisticated numerical techniques, including a split-explicit time-stepping scheme that treats the fast barotropic (2D) and slow baroclinic (3D) modes separately for improved efficiency [2]. ROMS also contains a suite of data assimilation tools that allow the user to improve the accuracy of a simulation by incorporating observational data. These tools are based on four dimensional variational methods [3], which generate reliable results, but require more computational resources than without any assimilation of …

Discovery Of An Eo-Meso-Neoarchean Terrane In The East Greenland Caledonides, Scott M. Johnston, Andrew R.C. Kylander-Clark

Physics

tThis study investigates basement gneisses from the Niggli Spids thrust sheet of the East Greenland Caledonides in an attempt to place them into the broader context of the Archean–Paleoproterozoicarchitecture of the Greenland shield. Our combined whole-rock geochemical and U–Pb zircon geochronol-ogy results from Gåseland reveal an Archean terrane defined by TTG magmatic events at 3607 Ma and3070–2980 Ma followed by metamorphism and high-K granite intrusion at 2790–2677 Ma. These results identify a relatively pristine Archean terrane with previously unknown Eoarchean rocks that holds poten-tial for future investigations into the early evolution of continental crust, and adds to a growing body …

De-Star: Phased-Array Laser Technology For Planetary Defense And Other Scientific Purposes, Gary B. Hughes, Philip Lubin, J Bible, Jesse Bublitz, Josh Arriola, Caio Motta, Jon Suen, Isabella Johansson, Jordan Riley, Nilou Sarvian, Jan Wu, Deborah Clayton-Warwick, Andrew Milich, Mitch Oleson, Mikka Kangas, Mark Pryor, Peter Krogen

Statistics

Current strategies for diverting threatening asteroids require dedicated operations for every individual object. We propose a stand-off, Earth-orbiting system capable of vaporizing the surface of asteroids as a futuristic but feasible approach to impact risk mitigation. We call the system DE-STAR (Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation). DE-STAR is a modular phased array of laser amplifiers, powered by solar photovoltaic panels. Lowcost development of test systems is possible with existing technology. Larger arrays could be tested in sub-orbital demonstrations, leading eventually to an orbiting system. Design requirements are established by seeking to vaporize the surface of an …

Relativistic Propulsion Using Directed Energy, J Bible, Isabella Johansson, Gary B. Hughes, Philip M. Lubin

Statistics

We propose a directed energy orbital planetary defense system capable of heating the surface of potentially hazardous objects to the evaporation point as a futuristic but feasible approach to impact risk mitigation. The system is based on recent advances in high efficiency photonic systems. The system could also be used for propulsion of kinetic or nuclear tipped asteroid interceptors or other interplanetary spacecraft. A photon drive is possible using direct photon pressure on a spacecraft similar to a solar sail. Given a laser power of 70GW, a 100 kg craft can be propelled to 1AU in approximately 3 days achieving …

Directed Energy Planetary Defense, Philip Lubin, Gary B. Hughes, J Bible, Jesse Bublitz, Josh Arriola, Caio Motta, Jon Suen, Isabella Johansson, Jordan Riley, Nilou Sarvian, Deborah Clayton-Warwick, Jane Wu, Andrew Milich, Mitch Oleson, Mikka Kangas, Mark Pryor, Peter Krogen

Statistics

Asteroids and comets that cross Earth’s orbit pose a credible risk of impact, with potentially severe disturbances to Earth and society. Numerous risk mitigation strategies have been described, most involving dedicated missions to a threatening object. We propose an orbital planetary defense system capable of heating the surface of potentially hazardous objects to the vaporization point as a feasible approach to impact risk mitigation. We call the system DE-STAR for Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation. DE-STAR is a modular phased array of kilowatt class lasers powered by photovoltaic's. Modular design allows for incremental development, test, and …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Thermally-Responsive Coatings Based Upon Diels–Alder Chemistry And Renewable Materials, Dahlia N. Amato, Gregory A. Strange, John P. Swanson, Anton D. Chavez, Suzanne E. Roy, Kim L. Varney, Craig A. Machado, Douglas V. Amato, Philip Costanzo

Chemistry and Biochemistry

A soybean based coating with thermally responsive Diels–Alder linkages has been prepared following an automotive 2-component formulation. The resulting coatings displayed the capability to be healed following physical deformation by a thermal stimulus, and such a material has significant potential for end users. Various curing agents were employed, and resulted in variation of scratch resistance and re-healablity. Different thermally responsive soybean resins were synthesized to have varying amounts reversible and nonreversible linkages when incorporated into the coating. Additionally, different isocyanates were added at differing ratios of NCO:OH in search of the optimum coating. It was found through the analysis of …

Towards Three-Dimensional Underwater Mapping Without Odometry, Alistair Dobke, Joshua Vasquez, Lauren Lieu, Ben Chasnov, Christopher Clark, Ian Dunn, Zoë J. Wood, Timothy Gambin

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper presents a method for the creation of three-dimensional maps of underwater cisterns and wells using a submersible robot equipped with two scanning sonars and a compass. Previous work in this area utilized a particle filter to perform offline simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in two dimensions using a single sonar [11]. This work utilizes scan matching and incorporates an additional sonar that scans in a perpendicular plane. Given a set of overlapping horizontal and vertical sonar scans, an algorithm was implemented to map underwater chambers by matching sets of scans using a weighted iterative closest point (ICP) method. …

Use Of Thermodynamic Models For Optimizing Fuel Treatment Processes, Shawn Pj Kirby, Andrew Guenthner

STAR Program Research Presentations

Dyes are often added to fuels for tax purposes, but they cause degradation of the fuels. It would be advantageous to remove the dyes prior to their use in critical aerospace applications. Current technologies vary in the efficiency with which they can remove unwanted dyes from fuel sources. We have used Hansen Solubility Parameters to develop an “ideal solvent” that can be used to extract these dyes from fuel. This will also be applied to removal of sulfur compounds from fuels. Sulfur compounds in fuels create sulfates during combustion, which in turn react with water to make sulfuric acid. Sulfuric …

The Influence Of Soil Organic Matter Stabilization Mechanisms On Carbon Mean Residence Time Within Various Ecosystems In The United States, Vicky Lynn Giese, Kate Heckman Phd

STAR Program Research Presentations

Some terrestrial ecosystems and soils serve as carbon sinks, partially offsetting rising atmospheric CO₂ levels. Physiochemical mechanisms of soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization affect how carbon stocks respond to global warming. In order to clarify the variance in SOM stabilization mechanisms across different soil types, SOM abundance, distribution and mean residence time (MRT) were compared for thirty-two soil samples from six ecosystems across the United States. Soils were previously described, collected and archived by the United States Geological Survey. Samples were processed by LLNL at the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) using density fractionation to separate particulate organics …

Investigation Of Ozone In Urban And Rural Areas Of California, Mia J. Hiles, David Parrish

STAR Program Research Presentations

Ozone is the air pollutant about which we have probably heard the most. Two types of ozone exist: stratospheric and tropospheric. Stratospheric ozone absorbs most of the damaging ultra-violet sunlight and tropospheric ozone comes into direct contact with life-forms and is toxic at high levels. Ozone concentration in California has been studied for over five decades, and there is a long history of control efforts. During 2010, California Air Resources Board (CARB) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted a major climate and air quality study in California called CalNex 2010 (California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality …

Validation Of Data Reduction Interactive Pipeline For Forcast On Sofia, Brent C. Nicklas, William T. Reach, Sachindev S. Shenoy

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a heavily modified Boeing 747SP aircraft equipped with 2.5 meter reflecting telescope. Among the suite of instruments onboard is the Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST). FORCAST features two cameras for short (5-25 microns) and long (25-40 microns) wavelength detection. Making infrared observations in these wavelengths presents a challenge because the telescope and sky emit background radiation magnitudes brighter than the object of interest. Because of this, the raw FORCAST data must be corrected and reduced. The Data Reduction Interactive Pipeline (DRIP) was developed to process all FORCAST data …

Characterization Of Samples For Optimization Of Infrared Stray Light Coatings, Carey L. Baxter, Rebecca Salvemini, Zaheer A. Ali, Patrick Waddell, Greg Perryman, Bob Thompson

STAR Program Research Presentations

NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a converted 747SP that houses a 2.5 m telescope that observes the sky through an opening in the side of the aircraft. Because it flies at altitudes up to 45,000 feet, SOFIA gets 99.99% transmission in the infrared. Multiple science instruments mount one at a time on the telescope to interpret infrared and visible light from target sources. Ball Infrared Black (BIRB) currently coats everything that the optics sees inside the telescope assembly (TA) cavity in order to eliminate noise from the glow of background sky, aircraft exhaust, and other sources. A …

Zooplankton Trophic Ecology In The San Francisco Estuary During Summer As Determined By Stable Isotope Analysis, Kyla Bradylong, Steven Westbrook, Julien Moderan, Wim Kimmerer

STAR Program Research Presentations

Declines in the abundance of several pelagic fish species in the upper San Francisco Estuary have prompted investigation into food web interactions within the estuary and delta (the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers). This area is characterized by low primary production and pelagic food webs much longer and reticulated than previously thought, implying low efficiency in the energy transfers from primary producers to planktivorous fish. We determined the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope (SI) composition of zooplankton samples collected monthly between June 2012 and February 2013 at eight stations along the salinity gradient. As consumers SI composition reflects that …

Io3- And I- Sorption From Groundwater By Layered Double Hydroxides, Abbey Rickelmann, Emily Campbell, Natasha Pence, Tatiana Levitskaia, Sayandev Chatterjee, Frances Smith

STAR Program Research Presentations

Several subsurface water plumes are found at the Hanford U.S. DOE site. These plumes contain many different types of hazardous components including radioactive iodate (IO₃^-) and iodide (I^-), which may have deleterious health effects. To selectively uptake IO₃^- and I^-, inorganic layered double hydroxide (LDH) compounds were synthesized and tested. LDHs are mixed transition metal hydroxides that contain positively charged layers that undergo anion exchange. When LDHs are submerged in the plume water, they can selectively uptake IO₃^- and I^- and remove them from the plume. Raman spectroscopy …

Analyzing The Performance Of The Sofia Infrared Telescope, Sarah M. Bass, Jeffrey Van Cleve, Zaheer Ali

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is an airborne near-space observatory onboard a modified Boeing 747-SP aircraft, which flies at altitudes of 45,000 ft., above 99% of the Earth’s water vapor. SOFIA contains an effective 2.5 m infrared (IR) telescope that has a dichroic tertiary mirror, reflecting IR and visible wavelengths to the science instrument (SI) and focal plane imager (FPI), respectively. To date, seven different SIs have been designed to cover a wide range of wavelengths and spectral resolutions. Since the telescope operates in the infrared, different techniques, including chopping, nodding, and dithering, are used to reduce the …

Effects Of Composition And Separation Techniques On The Structure Of Aggregates In The Milk Fat Globular Membrane, Tristan Dilbeck, Jose Ibarra, Rafael Jimenez-Flores, Tracey Nguyen

STAR Program Research Presentations

The milk fat globular membrane (MFGM) is a complex structure composed mainly of phospholipids, sphingolipids, and membrane specific proteins. The composition and size of the MFGM differs based on the isolation, purification, and techniques used in analysis of the membrane as well as physiological, chemical, and mechanical factors present during its creation. The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the effects of separation techniques and composition of lipids and proteins on the structure of aggregates in the MFGM. The aggregates found in whey protein isolate (95% pure whey protein), whey buttermilk (whey protein and phospholipids), and sweet buttermilk (whey …

Smart Sampling Of Noble Gases To Detect Underground Nuclear Explosions, Lindsey M. Skelton, Steven Hunter, Charles Carrigan

STAR Program Research Presentations

One element of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is the provision for an on site inspection (OSI). The purpose of an OSI is to monitor for the occurrence of an underground nuclear explosion (UNE) in violation of the treaty. Detection of certain rare radioactive noble gases transported to the surface can be an excellent indicator of a UNE. These gases can be very difficult to capture and require specialized sampling methods. This study aims to determine an algorithm that will increase the efficiency of the subsurface gas sampling technique being used to detect UNEs. Continuous sampling of subsurface …

Vertical Beam Size Measurements In The Spear3 Accelerator At Slac, Natalie Ann Larosa, Jeff Corbett

STAR Program Research Presentations

Synchrotron radiation is a powerful tool used in many fields of science ranging from materials characterization to structural biology. Each year thousands of scientists travel to SLAC to use high-resolution x-rays emitted from a relativistic electron beam circulating in the SPEAR3 synchrotron light source. To characterize the beam size in SPEAR3, we constructed a visible-light interferometer capable of measuring the 22um vertical beam size. The interferometer is located 17m away from the source point and consists of two vertically separated slits. Visible light emitted from the synchrotron passes through the two slits and interferes on a CCD camera to produce …

Spectroscopic Study Of Uranium (Vi) Reduction By Plant Biomass, Margaret C. Murphy, John Bargar, Noémie Janot

STAR Program Research Presentations

Uranium is a common and problematic groundwater contaminant at Department of Energy legacy sites. At the former uranium ore processing plant at Rifle, Colorado, sediments rich in decayed plant biomass contain large concentrations of uranium that are slowly being released back to the aquifer. To simulate the reaction that occurs in organic rich sediments of the Rifle aquifer, biomass was incubated in U (VI) bearing groundwater. Carbon X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was then used to measure if uranium was bound to the biomass. When uranium binds to biomass the peaks in the C XAS spectra will change shape. Uranium L …

Verifying R Code And Visualizing Power Grid Data: Signature Quality Metrics And Gui Development, Emmanuel C. Herrera, Brett Amidan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Verifying R code and visualizing Power Grid data:

Signature Quality Metrics and GUI development

Author: Emmanuel Herrera

Mentors: Brett Amidan and Landon Sego

There are many bioforensic signatures produced by analytical instruments that are expensive to produce and maintain accuracy. SQM is an R package which will provide subject matter experts with tools that will help them assess the specific quality of signatures and determine their accuracy, utility and cost by simple function calls. Many published academic papers were surveyed on the kinds of metrics already being implemented. Once understood how some metrics measured accuracy, the SQM package was duplicated …

Breaking Peroxy Bonds In H20 Ice Doped With H202 To Create Positive Hole Charge Carriers., Corey C. Stockburger

STAR Program Research Presentations

Using stress-activated electric conductivity in water ice doped with hydrogen peroxide as a model for stress-activated electric conductivity of igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks due to the presence of peroxy defects, which when broken, createpositive-hole charge carriers. Blocks of pure H2O ice and H2O2–doped H2O ices, frozen at –20°C, will be stressed with piezo electric transducers(pzt) at one end to generate stress-activated electric currents flowing down the stress gradient. Pure H2O ice should produce no current or a small insignificant amount during rapid deformation or fracture. Stressing H2O2-doped H2O ices, however, should lead to 100-1000 times higher currents. These stress-activated …

Characterization Of The Drilling Via The Vibration Augmenter Of Rotary-Drills And Sound Signal Processing Of Impacted Pipe As A Potential Water Height Assessment Tool, Nicholas Morris

STAR Program Research Presentations

The focus of the internship has been on two topics: a) Characterize the drilling performance of a novel percussive augmenter – this drill was developed by the JPL’s Advanced Technologies Group and its performance was characterized; and b) Examine the feasibility of striking a pipe as a means of assessing the water height inside the pipe. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the possibility of using a simple method of applying impacts to a pipe wall and determining the water height from the sonic characteristic differences including damping, resonance frequencies, etc. Due to multiple variables that are relevant …

Wireless Cloud Architecture Based On Thin Clients And Ontologies, Todor Cooklev, Lubomir Stanchev, Chao Chen

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Recently, several researchers have discovered the need for radios to use description techniques for the objects in the wireless realm. The concept of RF field-programmable analog array (FPAA) was also proposed recently and the lack of hardware abstractions was identified as a problem. We propose a hardware abstraction for RF FPAAs, which enables an open RF-digital interface. We advance the concept of wireless thin clients. These clients are connected to the cloud using the open RF-digital interface. We describe the architecture of a comprehensive wireless ontology.

Lithic Analysis Of Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site Sediments, Kaitlin M. Hill, George V. Last

STAR Program Research Presentations

The landforms and geologic layers of Southeastern Washington record fascinating, unique geologic events, including repeated catastrophic flooding that occurred during the last Ice Age. These floods left behind many distinctive features, and a variety of fossils. After discovery of mammoth-sized bones in 1999, and confirmation that more bones were still in place in 2008, the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site near Kennewick, Washington was secured for research, and formal excavation began in 2010.

Previous research suggests that the remains are buried in Ice Age flood deposits, which are overlain by eolian sediments, and those in turn overlain by slope wash. We …

Tools And Methods To Optimize The Analysis Of Telescopic Performance Metrics On Sofia, Steven R. Wilson, Holger Jakob, Stefan Teufel, Zaheer Ali, Jeffrey Van Cleve, Brian Eney, Greg Perryman

STAR Program Research Presentations

SOFIA is an infrared observatory mounted on a modified 747 engineered to do infrared astronomy at 45000 feet. The telescope equipment contains a number of sensors and stabilizers that allow the telescope to capture images while mounted in a moving plane. We have developed methods to analyze the performance of the telescope assembly that will help improve the stabilization and image capturing performance of the observatory. Here we present reusable methods to analyze telescope performance data that will enable improvements in the quality of the scientific data that is produced by the SOFIA. This poster focuses on the multi-flight performance …

Feedback Stabilization At Spear3, Daniel Kelley, Jeff Corbett

STAR Program Research Presentations

The SPEAR3 synchrotron lightsource at SLAC relies on a sophisticated radio frequency (RF) timing system to maintain current – electrons – in the storage ring. One problem SPEAR3 operators have dealt with is the thermal expansion of one of the cables supporting this RF timing system. As the cable expands and contracts with the diurnal rise and fall of the sun, the phase of the RF in the cable shifts. This shifting phase affects the timing accuracy of electron injections into the storage ring.

A common feedback control algorithm PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) has countless applications in engineering. PID feedback …