150 research outputs found
Structuring cooperative nuclear risk reduction initiatives with China
The Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation engaged several Chinese nuclear
organizations in cooperative research that focused on responses to radiological and nuclear terrorism. The objective was to identify joint research initiatives to reduce the global dangers of such threats and to pursue initial technical collaborations in several high priority areas.
Initiatives were identified in three primary research areas: 1) detection and interdiction of smuggled nuclear materials; 2) nuclear forensics; and 3) radiological (“dirty bomb”) threats and
countermeasures. Initial work emphasized the application of systems and risk analysis tools, which proved effective in structuring the collaborations. The extensive engagements between national
security nuclear experts in China and the U.S. during the research strengthened professional
relationships between these important communities.Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (PASCC)Grant Number N00244-14-I-003
Building an intelligent tutoring system for procedural domains
Jobs that require complex skills that are too expensive or dangerous to develop often use simulators in training. The strength of a simulator is its ability to mimic the 'real world', allowing students to explore and experiment. A good simulation helps the student develop a 'mental model' of the real world. The closer the simulation is to 'real life', the less difficulties there are transferring skills and mental models developed on the simulator to the real job. As graphics workstations increase in power and become more affordable they become attractive candidates for developing computer-based simulations for use in training. Computer based simulations can make training more interesting and accessible to the student
Reimagining Heliophysics: A bold new vision for the next decade and beyond
The field of Heliophysics has a branding problem. We need an answer to the
question: ``What is Heliophysics\?'', the answer to which should clearly and
succinctly defines our science in a compelling way that simultaneously
introduces a sense of wonder and exploration into our science and our missions.
Unfortunately, recent over-reliance on space weather to define our field, as
opposed to simply using it as a practical and relatable example of applied
Heliophysics science, narrows the scope of what solar and space physics is and
diminishes its fundamental importance. Moving forward, our community needs to
be bold and unabashed in our definition of Heliophysics and its big questions.
We should emphasize the general and fundamental importance and excitement of
our science with a new mindset that generalizes and expands the definition of
Heliophysics to include new ``frontiers'' of increasing interest to the
community. Heliophysics should be unbound from its current confinement to the
Sun-Earth connection and expanded to studies of the fundamental nature of space
plasma physics across the solar system and greater cosmos. Finally, we need to
come together as a community to advance our science by envisioning,
prioritizing, and supporting -- with a unified voice -- a set of bold new
missions that target compelling science questions - even if they do not explore
the traditional Sun- and Earth-centric aspects of Heliophysics science. Such
new, large missions to expand the frontiers and scope of Heliophysics science
large missions can be the key to galvanizing the public and policymakers to
support the overall Heliophysics program
The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe
The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the
dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for
life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront
of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early
evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The
Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed
plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE
is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity
neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream
of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed
as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research
Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in
Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at
Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino
charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet
cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can
accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional
combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and
potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility
for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around
the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program
of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of
LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics
worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will
possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for
LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a
comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the
landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate
and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure
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