Methods and results of modeling and transmission-line calculations of the superconducting dipole chains of CERN's LHC collider

Electrical modeling and simulation of the LHC magnet strings are being used to determine the key parameters that are needed for the design of the powering and energy extraction equipment. Poles and zeros of the Laplace expression approximating the Bode plot of the measured coil impedance are used to synthesize an R/L/C model of the magnet. Subsequently, this model is used to simulate the behavior of the LHC main dipole magnet string. Lumped transmission line behavior, impedance, resonance, propagation of the power supply ripple, ramping errors, energy extraction transients and their damping are presented in this paper. (3 refs)

Evaluation of Impact from Ripple and Transient Phenomena in the LHC Dipole Strings

Based on measurements of the A.C. electrical characteristics of prototype magnets, synthesized computer models of the principal, individual, superconducting magnetic elements of the Large Hadron Collider have been elaborated. The models constitute the basic elements for the determination of the transfer functions of the magnet chains. This tool provides the possibility to evaluate the resonance spectrum of the chains and to determine the needs for additional damping. Results of the analysis of transmission line effects in the LHC main dipole chains are presented. In particular, data from ripple calculations and ramping studies are discussed. Computer simulations of the quench protection circuit provide information about the transient phenomena occurring in the dipole chains during normal operation of the fast de-excitation switches and under abnormal conditions

Gains from the upgrade of the cold neutron triple-axis spectrometer FLEXX at the BER-II reactor

The upgrade of the cold neutron triple-axis spectrometer FLEXX is described. We discuss the characterisation of the gains from the new primary spectrometer, including a larger guide and double focussing monochromator, and present measurements of the energy and momentum resolution and of the neutron flux of the instrument. We found an order of magnitude gain in intensity (at the cost of coarser momentum resolution), and that the incoherent elastic energy widths are measurably narrower than before the upgrade. The much improved count rate should allow the use of smaller single crystals samples and thus enable the upgraded FLEXX spectrometer to continue making leading edge measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 5 table

Does Lipoprotein(a) Inhibit Elastolysis in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms?

AbstractPurpose: to test the hypothesis that there is a negative association between serum levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and elastin-derived peptides (EDP) as well as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activation in the aneurysm wall in patients with asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).Material and Methods: from 30 patients operated for asymptomatic AAAs, preoperative serum samples and AAA biopsies were collected. Lp(a) (mg/L) and EDP (ng/ml) in serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. MMP-9 activity (arbitrary units) in the AAA wall was measured by gelatin zymography and the ratio: active MMP-9/total MMP-9 were calculated.Results: there was a significant negative correlation (Spearman's rho) between serum levels of Lp(a) and EDP (r=−0.707, p<0.001), as well as the share of activated MMP-9 (r=−0.461, p=0.01) in the AAA wall.Conclusion: this preliminary study indicate that Lp(a) inhibit elastolysis in asymptomatic AAA

Energy Extraction for the LHC Superconducting Circuits

The superconducting magnets of the LHC will be powered in about 1700 electrical circuits. The energy stored in circuits, up to 1.3 GJ, can potentially cause severe damage of magnets, bus bars and current leads. In order to protect the superconducting elements after a resistive transition, the energy is dissipated into a dump resistor installed in series with the magnet chain that is switched into the circuit by opening current breakers. Experiments and simulation studies have been performed to identify the LHC circuits that need energy extraction. The required values of the extraction resistors have been computed. The outcome of the experimental results and the simulation studies are presented and the design of the different energy extraction systems that operate at 600 A and at 13 kA is described

Fully integrated transport approach to heavy ion reactions with an intermediate hydrodynamic stage

We present a coupled Boltzmann and hydrodynamics approach to relativistic heavy ion reactions. This hybrid approach is based on the Ultra-relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics (UrQMD) transport approach with an intermediate hydrodynamical evolution for the hot and dense stage of the collision. Event-by-event fluctuations are directly taken into account via the non-equilibrium initial conditions generated by the initial collisions and string fragmentations in the microscopic UrQMD model. After a (3+1)-dimensional ideal hydrodynamic evolution, the hydrodynamical fields are mapped to hadrons via the Cooper-Frye equation and the subsequent hadronic cascade calculation within UrQMD proceeds to incorporate the important final state effects for a realistic freeze-out. This implementation allows to compare pure microscopic transport calculations with hydrodynamic calculations using exactly the same initial conditions and freeze-out procedure. The effects of the change in the underlying dynamics - ideal fluid dynamics vs. non-equilibrium transport theory - will be explored. The freeze-out and initial state parameter dependences are investigated for different observables. Furthermore, the time evolution of the baryon density and particle yields are discussed. We find that the final pion and proton multiplicities are lower in the hybrid model calculation due to the isentropic hydrodynamic expansion while the yields for strange particles are enhanced due to the local equilibrium in the hydrodynamic evolution. The results of the different calculations for the mean transverse mass excitation function, rapidity and transverse mass spectra for different particle species at three different beam energies are discussed in the context of the available data.Comment: 20 pages, 21 figures, 1 additional figure, minor corrections and revised figures for clarity, version published in PR

Second Overtone Pulsators Among Delta Scuti Stars

We investigate the modal stability of stellar models at masses and luminosity levels corresponding to post main sequence luminous delta scuti pulsators. The envelope models have been computed at fixed mass value, luminosity level and chemical composition (Y=0.28, Z=0.02). According to a nonlinear approach to radial oscillations the present investigation predicts the occurrence of stable second overtone pulsators for the first time. The shape of both light and velocity curves are presented and discussed, providing a useful tool for the identification of second overtone pulsators among the known groups of radially pulsating stars. The period ratios of mixed mode pulsators obtained by perturbing the first and the second overtone radial eigenfunctions are in agreement with observative values. Finally, the physical structure and the dynamical properties of second overtone pulsators are discussed in detail. The role played by the nodal lines in the destabilization of second overtone pulsators is also pointed out.Comment: 20 pages, 11 Postscript figures, uses aaspp4.sty and tighten.st