A Detailed Comparison of Multi-Dimensional Boltzmann Neutrino Transport Methods in Core-Collapse Supernovae

The mechanism driving core-collapse supernovae is sensitive to the interplay between matter and neutrino radiation. However, neutrino radiation transport is very difficult to simulate, and several radiation transport methods of varying levels of approximation are available. We carefully compare for the first time in multiple spatial dimensions the discrete ordinates (DO) code of Nagakura, Yamada, and Sumiyoshi and the Monte Carlo (MC) code Sedonu, under the assumptions of a static fluid background, flat spacetime, elastic scattering, and full special relativity. We find remarkably good agreement in all spectral, angular, and fluid interaction quantities, lending confidence to both methods. The DO method excels in determining the heating and cooling rates in the optically thick region. The MC method predicts sharper angular features due to the effectively infinite angular resolution, but struggles to drive down noise in quantities where subtractive cancellation is prevalent, such as the net gain in the protoneutron star and off-diagonal components of the Eddington tensor. We also find that errors in the angular moments of the distribution functions induced by neglecting velocity dependence are sub-dominant to those from limited momentum-space resolution. We briefly compare directly computed second angular moments to those predicted by popular algebraic two-moment closures, and find that the errors from the approximate closures are comparable to the difference between the DO and MC methods. Included in this work is an improved Sedonu code, which now implements a fully special relativistic, time-independent version of the grid-agnostic Monte Carlo random walk approximation.Comment: Accepted to ApJS. 24 pages, 19 figures. Key simulation results and codes are available at https://stellarcollapse.org/MCvsD

Design of orbital debris shields for oblique hypervelocity impact

A new impact debris propagation code was written to link CTH simulations of space debris shield perforation to the Lagrangian finite element code DYNA3D, for space structure wall impact simulations. This software (DC3D) simulates debris cloud evolution using a nonlinear elastic-plastic deformable particle dynamics model, and renders computationally tractable the supercomputer simulation of oblique impacts on Whipple shield protected structures. Comparison of three dimensional, oblique impact simulations with experimental data shows good agreement over a range of velocities of interest in the design of orbital debris shielding. Source code developed during this research is provided on the enclosed floppy disk. An abstract based on the work described was submitted to the 1994 Hypervelocity Impact Symposium

High-resolution state-selected ion-molecule reaction studies using pulsed field ionization photoelectron-secondary ion coincidence method

We have developed an octopole-quadrupole photoionization apparatus at the Advanced Light Source for absolute integral cross-section measurements of rovibrational-state-selected ion-molecule reactions. This apparatus consists of a high-resolution photoionization ion source, a wired ion gate lens, a dual radio-frequency (rf) octopole ion guide reaction gas cell, and a quadrupole mass spectrometer for reactant and product ion detection. The unique feature of this apparatus is the implementation of the high-resolution pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE)-photoion coincidence (PFI-PEPICO) technique, which has allowed the rotational-state selection of diatomic ions for ion-molecule reaction studies. The novel application of the wired ion gate lens for the rejection of false coincidence background ions is described. This application, along with the differential-ion-gate scheme, has made possible the measurements of rovibrational-state-selected absolute integral reaction cross sections for ion-molecule collisions using the PFI-PE-secondary ion coincidence PFI-PESICO method. The successful measurement of absolute state-selected cross sections for H2 + (X,v+,N+)+Ar(Ne) with v+ up to 17 [the third to the last vibrational state of H2+(X)] demonstrates the high sensitivity of this differential-ion-gate PFI-PESICO method. In order to gain a detailed understanding and to obtain optimal performance of the wired ion gate lens for PFI-PESICO measurements, we have carried out ion trajectory calculations of reactant ions between the photoionization region and the rf-octopole ion guide. On the basis of these calculations, possible future improvements for the application of this differential-ion-gate PFI-PESICO scheme are discussed

Highlights of Aeroacoustics Research in the U.S. 1998

Highlights of aeroacoustics research in the United States of America during 1998 are reported in a summary compiled from information provided by members of the Aeroacoustics Technical Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and other leading research groups in industry, national laboratories, and academia. The past few years have seen significant progress in aeroacoustics. Research has steadily progressed toward enhanced safety, noise benefits, and lower costs. Since industrial progress is generally not published in the archival literature, it is particularly important to highlight these accomplishments. This year we chose to report on five topics of great interest to the aerospace industry including a synopsis of fundamental research at universities and national laboratories. The topics chosen are: (1) Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST), (2) High Speed Research (HSR), (3) Rotorcraft, (4) Weapons bay aeroacoustics control and (5) Academic research including Computational AeroAcoustics (CAA). Although the information presented in this review is not all encompassing we hope that the topics covered will provide some insights into aeroacoustics activity in the U.S

Response Surface Model Applied to Fine Arts: The Case of the Restoration of Paintings

Cleaning polychrome paintings and sculptures is an essential task in restoration treatment, since it irreversibly affects the appearance and material structure of such works of art. It is a completely “analogical” process consisting of removing surface dirt, aged varnishes or repainting (paints added to the original) based on the restorer’s experience and knowledge, as well as on different internationally accepted criteria for such interventions. In this chapter we are presenting an example of the adaptation of the response surface model to this field, which is complex and difficult to adapt to quantitative parameters and has never before been studied with this approach. Using the MODDE Go® experiment optimization and statistical design software, the effectiveness of cleaning pictorial works of art has been studied using various formulas composed mainly of water and a low-toxicity monoterpene: limonene. The model’s statistical validity is demonstrated, as well as its ability to determine the main factors that affect the cleaning by means of different responses (methods) to evaluate its effectiveness: an expert’s opinion using visible light and ultraviolet light, the amount of varnish removed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and the effects on color, lightness and gloss. The main influential factors were the concentrations of the two main components of the proposed formulations, water and limonene, which regulate the cleaners’ level of hydrophilia and lipophilicity, followed by the types of pigments and type of varnish used, and aging. Using an in silico simulation, the proposed model also enables specific compositions to be formulated for different scenarios and cleaning applications that are potentially effective and harmless to the pictorial materials and the restorers’ health

Attitudinal Responses to Changes in Noise Exposure in Residential Communities

The purpose of this study is (1) to investigate the current body of knowledge encompassing two related topics: (a) to what extent can we reliably predict the change in people's attitudes in response to an abrupt change in noise exposure, and (b) after the change, is there a decay in the abrupt-change effect whereby people's attitudes slowly shift from their initial reaction to a steady-state value? and (2) to provide recommendations for any future work that may be needed. The literature search located 23 studies relating to one or both of the above topics. These prior studies shed considerable light on the current ability to predict initial reaction and decay effects. The literature makes one point very clear: Great care in both experimental design and data analysis is necessary to produce credible, convincing findings, both in the reanalysis of existing data and for planning future data acquisition and analysis studies. New airport studies must be designed to minimize nuisance variables and avoid past design features that may have introduced sufficient unexplained variance to mask sought after effects. Additionally, the study must be designed to tie in with previous investigations by incorporating similar survey questions and techniques

Dynamic Time Windows and Generalized Virtual Clocks-Combined Closed-Loop/Open-Loop Mechanisms for Congestion Control of Data Traffic in High Speed Wide Area Networks

This paper presents a set of mechanisms for congestion control of data traffic in high speed wide area networks (HSWANs) along with preliminary performance results. The model of the network assumes reservation of resources based on average requirements. The mechanisms address (a) the different network time constants (short term and medium-term), (b) admission control that allows controlled variance of traffic as a function of medium-term congestion, and (c) prioritized scheduling which is based on a new fairness criterion. This latter criterion is perceived as the appropriate fairness measure for HSWANs. Preliminary performance studies show that the queue length statistics at switching nodes (mean, variance and max) are approximately proportional to the end-point \u27time window\u27 size. Further, * when network utilization approaches unity, the time window mechanism can protect the network from buffer overruns and excessive queueing delays, and * when network utilization level is smaller, the time window may be increased to allow a controlled amount of variance that attempts to simultaneously meet the performance goals of the end-user and that of the network. The prioritized scheduling algorithms proposed and studied in this paper are a generalization of the Virtual Clock algorithm [Zhang 1989]. The study here investigates * necessary and sufficient conditions for accomplishing desired fairness, * simulation and (limited analytical results for expected waiting times, * ability to protect against misbehaving users, and * relationship between end-point admission control (Time-Window) and internal scheduling (\u27Pulse\u27 and Virtual Clock) at the switch

Preliminary results of the scientific experiments on the Kosmos-936 biosatellite

The scientific equipment and experiments on the Kosmos-936 biosatellite are described, including various ground controls and the lab unit for studies at the descent vehicle landing site. Preliminary results are presented of the physiological experiment with rats, biological experiments with drosophila and higher and lower plants, and radiation physics and radiobiology studies for the planning of biological protection on future space flights. The most significant conclusion from the preliminary data is that rats tolerate space flight better with an artificial force of gravity