Functionality of the LEP tune meters with 3rd generation DSPs

The LEP tune meters have been upgraded by replacing the original Motorola 68020 processor cards by Texas Instruments TSM320C30 Digital Signal Processor cards with floating point arithmetic and by creating an optional connection to a more sensitive beam position monitor. This upgrade has lead to a considerable increase in speed and accuracy. The new instrument can generate a continuous real time display of the beam motion in the frequency domain which is well suited to monitor dynamic phenomena occurring during injection and acceleration of the LEP collider. The dynamic phenomena can also be stored for off line analysis. The paper describes the functionality of the instrument in terms of user interface and covers some aspects of code debugging and process synchronization for DSP's connected to the standard control system of an accelerator

Investigating the stimulus-dependent temporal dynamics of the BOLD signal using spectral methods

PURPOSE: To compare several spectral parameters using different durations of visual hemifield stimulation in order to explore the different temporal behavior of the blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signal in various brain regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spectral methods were applied to three different groups of subjects with visual stimulation lasting 6, 12, and 30 seconds. Furthermore, diffusion weighting was applied in an interleaved way. The core of the data processing was the computation of the spectral density matrix using the multidimensional weighted covariance estimate. Spectral parameters of coherence and phase shift were computed. RESULTS: The correlation between signal changes and phase shifts was dependent on the duration of the visual stimulation. The shorter the duration of visual stimulation, the stronger the correlation between percentage signal change and phase shift. CONCLUSION: The experiments with short and long stimuli differed mainly in the distribution of the activated voxels in the plane of percentage signal change and phase shift. It was revealed that the height of the signal change depends on the phase shift, whereas the diffusion weighting has no influence

Wavelet statistics of functional MRI data and the general linear model

PURPOSE: To improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, an approach is developed that combines wavelet-based methods with the general linear model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ruttimann et al. (1) developed a wavelet-based statistical procedure to test wavelet-space partitions for significant wavelet coefficients. Their method is applicable for the detection of differences between images acquired under two experimental conditions using long blocks of stimulation. However, many neuropsychological questions require more complicated event-related paradigms and more experimental conditions. Therefore, in order to apply wavelet-based methods to a wide range of experiments, we present a new approach that is based on the general linear model and wavelet thresholding. RESULTS: In contrast to a monoresolution filter, the application of the wavelet method increased the SNR and showed a set of clearly dissociable activations. Furthermore, no relevant decrease of the local maxima was observed. CONCLUSION: Wavelet-based methods can increase the SNR without diminishing the signal amplitude, while preserving the spatial resolution of the image. The anatomical localization is strongly improved

The Q-Loop: a Function Driven Feedback System for the Betatron Tunes During the LEP Energy Ramp

In normal operation LEP is ramped from injection energy, typically 22 GeV, to energies of over 90 GeV where physics taking takes place. Effective control of the betatron during the ramp is essential t o ensure good transmission of stored current. The LEP Q-loop is a feedback system used to control the tunes during the energy ramp. By following a pre-programmed tune function it provides a means of avoiding dangerous resonances and thus beam loss. The basic components the Q-loop will be described, and operational results presented. Emphasis will be given to the problems encountered and the solut ions found

Real-Time Monitoring of Beam-Beam Modes at LEP

By slightly exciting one of two colliding bunches in LEP, it is possible to enhance the eigenfrequencies of the resonant system of the two bunches coupled by the space charge force. The LEP Qmeter has been adapted to detect, among these excited frequencies, the so called s- and p- modes, whose distance is proportional to the luminosity. A real time display of these quantities provides the Operators with an effective way of finely optimizing the luminosity

Identification problems of muon and electron events in the Super-Kamiokande detector

In the measurement of atmospheric nu_e and nu_mu fluxes, the calculations of the Super Kamiokande group for the distinction between muon-like and electronlike events observed in the water Cerenkov detector have initially assumed a misidentification probability of less than 1 % and later 2 % for the sub-GeV range. In the multi-GeV range, they compared only the observed behaviors of ring patterns of muon and electron events, and claimed a 3 % mis-identification. However, the expressions and the calculation method do not include the fluctuation properties due to the stochastic nature of the processes which determine the expected number of photoelectrons (p.e.) produced by muons and electrons. Our full Monte Carlo (MC) simulations including the fluctuations of photoelectron production show that the total mis-identification rate for electrons and muons should be larger than or equal to 20 % for sub-GeV region. Even in the multi-GeV region we expect a mis-identification rate of several % based on our MC simulations taking into account the ring patterns. The mis-identified events are mostly of muonic origin.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure

On model differences and skill in predicting sea surface temperature in the Nordic and Barents Seas

The Nordic Seas and the Barents Sea is the Atlantic Ocean’s gateway to the Arctic Ocean, and the Gulf Stream’s northern extension brings large amounts of heat into this region and modulates climate in northwestern Europe. We have investigated the predictive skill of initialized hindcast simulations performed with three state-of-the-art climate prediction models within the CMIP5-framework, focusing on sea surface temperature (SST) in the Nordic Seas and Barents Sea, but also on sea ice extent, and the subpolar North Atlantic upstream. The hindcasts are compared with observation-based SST for the period 1961–2010. All models have significant predictive skill in specific regions at certain lead times. However, among the three models there is little consistency concerning which regions that display predictive skill and at what lead times. For instance, in the eastern Nordic Seas, only one model has significant skill in predicting observed SST variability at longer lead times (7–10 years). This region is of particular promise in terms of predictability, as observed thermohaline anomalies progress from the subpolar North Atlantic to the Fram Strait within the time frame of a couple of years. In the same model, predictive skill appears to move northward along a similar route as forecast time progresses. We attribute this to the northward advection of SST anomalies, contributing to skill at longer lead times in the eastern Nordic Seas. The skill at these lead times in particular beats that of persistence forecast, again indicating the potential role of ocean circulation as a source for skill. Furthermore, we discuss possible explanations for the difference in skill among models, such as different model resolutions, initialization techniques, and model climatologies and variance. © 2016 The Author(s

Surface flux drivers for the slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in a high resolution global coupled climate model

This paper investigates the causation for the decline of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) from approximately 17 Sv to about 9 Sv, when the atmospheric resolution of the Max Planck Institute-Earth System Model is enhanced from ∼1° to ∼0.5°. The results show that the slowdown of the AMOC is caused by the cessation of deep convection. In most modeling studies, this is thought to be controlled by buoyancy fluxes in the convective regions, for example, by surface freshwater flux that is introduced locally or via enormous input from glacier or iceberg melts. While we find that freshwater is still the key to the reduction of AMOC seen in the higher-resolution run, the freshening of the North Atlantic does not need to be directly caused by local freshwater fluxes. Instead, it can be caused indirectly through winds via a reduced wind-driven gyre circulation and salinity transport associated to this circulation, as seen in the higher-resolution run. © 2019. The Authors