Accelerating global parameter estimation of gravitational waves from Galactic binaries using a genetic algorithm and GPUs

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a planned space-based gravitational wave telescope with the goal of measuring gravitational waves in the milli-Hertz frequency band, which is dominated by millions of Galactic binaries. While some of these binaries produce signals that are loud enough to stand out and be extracted, most of them blur into a confusion foreground. Current methods for analyzing the full frequency band recorded by LISA to extract as many Galactic binaries as possible and to obtain Bayesian posterior distributions for each of the signals are computationally expensive. We introduce a new approach to accelerate the extraction of the best fitting solutions for Galactic binaries across the entire frequency band from data with multiple overlapping signals. Furthermore, we use these best fitting solutions to omit the burn-in stage of a Markov chain Monte Carlo method and to take full advantage of GPU-accelerated signal simulation, allowing us to compute posterior distributions in 2 seconds per signal on a laptop-grade GPU.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure

Bayesian parameter-estimation of Galactic binaries in LISA data with Gaussian Process Regression

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), which is currently under construction, is designed to measure gravitational wave signals in the milli-Hertz frequency band. It is expected that tens of millions of Galactic binaries will be the dominant sources of observed gravitational waves. The Galactic binaries producing signals at mHz frequency range emit quasi monochromatic gravitational waves, which will be constantly measured by LISA. To resolve as many Galactic binaries as possible is a central challenge of the upcoming LISA data set analysis. Although it is estimated that tens of thousands of these overlapping gravitational wave signals are resolvable, and the rest blurs into a galactic foreground noise; extracting tens of thousands of signals using Bayesian approaches is still computationally expensive. We developed a new end-to-end pipeline using Gaussian Process Regression to model the log-likelihood function in order to rapidly compute Bayesian posterior distributions. Using the pipeline we are able to solve the Lisa Data Challange (LDC) 1-3 consisting of noisy data as well as additional challenges with overlapping signals and particularly faint signals.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Finite-difference modelling of wavefield constituents

The finite-difference method is among the most popular methods for modelling seismic wave propagation. Although the method has enjoyed huge success for its ability to produce full wavefield seismograms in complex models, it has one major limitation which is of critical importance for many modelling applications; to naturally output up- and downgoing and P- and S-wave constituents of synthesized seismograms. In this paper, we show how such wavefield constituents can be isolated in finite-difference-computed synthetics in complex models with high numerical precision by means of a simple algorithm. The description focuses on up- and downgoing and P- and S-wave separation of data generated using an isotropic elastic finite-difference modelling method. However, the same principles can also be applied to acoustic, electromagnetic and other wave equation

Higher Partial Waves in an Effective Field Theory Approach to nd Scattering

The phase shifts for the higher partial waves (l\ge 1) in the spin quartet and doublet channel of nd scattering at centre-of-mass energies up to 15 MeV are presented at next-to-leading and next-to-next-to-leading order in an effective field theory in which pions are integrated out. As available, the results agree with both phase shift analyses and potential model calculations.Comment: 23 pages LaTeX2e with 8 figures, uses packages includegraphicx (18 .eps files), amssymb, color and feynmp (necessary Metapost files included). Petty changes, version for publication in Nucl. Phys.

Subaquatic moraine amphitheatre in Lake Thun

The combination of a recently acquired high-resolution multibeam bathymetric dataset with 2D multichannel reflection seismic data from perialpine Lake Thun reveals new insights into the evolution of the lake basin upon deglaciation and a so far unknown subaquatic moraine. These new data improve our socomprehension of the landforms associated with the ice-contact zone, the facies architecture of the sub- to proglacial units, the related depositional processes, and thus the retreat mechanisms of the Aare Glacier. The overdeepened basin of Lake Thun was formed by a combination of tectonically predefined weak zones and glacial erosion during the last glaciation periods. Seismic stratigraphic analysis of the new data indicates that below the outermost edge of a morphologically distinct platform in the southeastern part of the lake basin (‘Bödeli’), a complex ridge structure marked by strong reflection amplitudes occurs. This structure is interpreted as a stack of several subaquatic terminal moraine crests, most likely created by a slightly advancing or stagnant and grounded Aare Glacier during its overall retreat phase. Packages of overridden moraine crests are distuinguishable, which smoothly transform downstream into prograding clinoforms with foresets with internally recognisable layering. They dip steeply towards the deepest part of the basin, eventually transforming into bottomsets. This stacked succession of subaquatic glacial sequences is overlain by lacustrine deposits formed by Late-Glacial and Holocene laminated muds comprising intercalated turbidites (Wirth et al. 2011). Little is known about the exact timing and behaviour of the retreating Aare Glacier between its recessional phase from the Alpine foreland to the deglaciation of the inner-Alpine ice cap, mostly due to the lack of well-developed moraines that indicate glacier stabilization or slight readvance. Radiocarbon-dated calcareous clay gyttja of Late-Glacial Lake Amsoldingen, located adjacent to the water outlet of Lake Thun, shows a ~16.3 ka BP age (Lotter, 1985), providing a minimum age for the formation of the postglacial small lake. Higher up in the catchment, the oldest 10Be exposure ages from the Grimsel area, the accumulation area of the Aare Glacier, indicate ice-free conditions around 14-11.3 ka BP (Kelly et al., 2006; Wirsig et al., 2016). The emplacement of the subaquatic moraine complex of the Aare Glacier must have occurred between these age constraints, implying high sedimentation rates in the lake basin

Neotectonic fault structures in the Lake Thun area (Switzerland)

Strong historic earthquakes (i.e. intensities I0 ≥ V) are well documented by the earthquake catalogue of Switzerland ECOS-09 (e.g. Frutigen, 1729 AD, Mw=5.2, I0=VI). Many of these strong events can be recognized paleoseismically by large subaquatic, earthquake-triggered mass movements that occur frequently in Swiss Lakes. Some of these represent the occasional occurrence of even stronger earthquakes (i.e. Mw ~6.5) in the Alpine region (Strasser et al., 2013), which are expected to produce noticeable surface ruptures. However, convincing evidence for Quaternary displacements with offset surface expressions have scarcely been found (e.g., Wiemer et al., 2009). Applying a multi-disciplinary approach, this study presents potential candidates for such faults in the larger Lake Thun area at the edge of the Alps. The overdeepened basin of Lake Thun is situated at the northern Alpine front, which extends orthogonally to the general strike direction of the Alpine nappe front. The northern shoreline is predominantly shaped by the front of the Subalpine Molasse, which is in strong contrast to the south western shore built by the structurally higher units of the Middle and Lower Penninic nappes. This pattern with obvious differences of both lake sides suggests a major fault along the lake axis and high tectonic activity during nappe emplacement, i.e. from Eocene times throughout the Late Miocene. The area is dominated today by a strike-slip stress regime with a slight normal faulting component (Kastrup et al., 2004). As part of a multi-disciplinary study, attempting to find potential neotectonically active fault structures in the Lake Thun area, a 2D ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey was conducted. The aim of the GPR survey was to link observations from a multichannel reflection seismic survey and a multibeam bathymetric survey carried out in Lake Thun with findings in a nearby gravel quarry revealing suspicious deformation features such as rotated gravel clast as well as significantly offset horizons. The GPR data reveal the occurrence of several morphologic depressions from gypsum cones and clearly dipping reflections. The reflection seismic data set shows prominent reflections, characteristic seismic facies and a few sets of normal and reverse faults in the north western part of the lake basin within the glacio-lacustrine deposits that may point to a transpressional strike-slip regime. A first neotectonic analysis links these prominent lake floor features with geomorphologic patterns from the surrounding landscape, pointing to a potential candidate for a fault that is active in the Quaternary period

Geostatistical analysis of centimeter-scale hydraulic conductivity variations at the MADE site

This is the published version. Copyright American Geophysical Union[1] Spatial variations in hydraulic conductivity (K) provide critical controls on solute transport in the subsurface. Recently, new direct-push tools were developed for high-resolution characterization of K variations in unconsolidated settings. These tools were applied to obtain 58 profiles (vertical resolution of 1.5 cm) from the heavily studied macrodispersion experiment (MADE) site. We compare the data from these 58 profiles with those from the 67 flowmeter profiles that have served as the primary basis for characterizing the heterogeneous aquifer at the site. Overall, the patterns of variation displayed by the two data sets are quite similar, in terms of both large-scale structure and autocorrelation characteristics. The direct-push K values are, on average, roughly a factor of 5 lower than the flowmeter values. This discrepancy appears to be attributable, at least in part, to opposite biases between the two methods, with the current versions of the direct-push tools underestimating K in the highly permeable upper portions of the aquifer and the flowmeter overestimating K in the less permeable lower portions. The vertically averaged K values from a series of direct-push profiles in the vicinity of two pumping tests at the site are consistent with the K estimates from those tests, providing evidence that the direct-push estimates are of a reasonable magnitude. The results of this field demonstration show that direct-push profiling has the potential to characterize highly heterogeneous aquifers with a speed and resolution that has not previously been possible

First Focal Mechanisms of Marsquakes

Since February 2019, NASA's InSight lander is recording seismic signals on the planet Mars, which, for the first time, allows to observe ongoing tectonic processes with geophysical methods. A number of Marsquakes have been located in the Cerberus Fossae graben system in Elysium Planitia and further west, in the Orcus Patera depression. We present a first study of the focal mechanisms of three well-recorded events (S0173a, S0183a, S0235b) to determine the processes dominating in the source region. We infer for all three events a predominantly extensional setting. Our method is adapted to the case of a single, multicomponent receiver and based on fitting waveforms of P and S waves against synthetic seismograms computed for the initial crustal velocity model derived by the InSight team. We explore the uncertainty due to the single-station limitation and find that even data recorded by one station constrains the mechanisms (reasonably) well. For the events in the Cerberus Fossae region (S0173a, S0235b) normal faulting with a relatively steep dipping fault plane is inferred, suggesting an extensional regime mainly oriented E-W to NE-SW. The fault regime in the Orcus Patera region is not determined uniquely because only the P wave can be used for the source inversion. However, we find that the P and weak S waves of the S0183a event show similar polarities to the event S0173, which indicates similar fault regimes

Seismic detection of the martian core by InSight

A plethora of geophysical, geo- chemical, and geodynamical observations indicate that the terrestrial planets have differentiated into silicate crusts and mantles that surround a dense core. The latter consists primarily of Fe and some lighter alloying elements (e.g., S, Si, C, O, and H) [1]¿. The Martian meteorites show evidence of chalcophile element depletion, suggesting that the otherwise Fe-Ni- rich core likely contains a sulfide component, which influences physical state