Constant Sound Speed Research Articles

Lensing convergence and anisotropic dark energy in galaxy redshift surveys

Analyses of upcoming galaxy surveys will require careful modelling of relevant observables such as the power spectrum of galaxy counts in harmonic space Cℓ(z,z′). We investigate the impact of disregarding relevant relativistic effects by considering a model of dark energy including constant sound speed ceff2, constant equation of state w, and anisotropic stress sourced by matter perturbations π. Cosmological constraints were computed using cosmic microwave background anisotropies, baryon acoustic oscillations, supernovae type Ia, and redshift space distortions. Our results are consistent with w=−1, ceff2=1, and π=0. Then, a forecast for the performance of an Euclid-like galaxy survey was carried out also adding information from other probes. Here we show that, regardless of the galaxy survey configuration, neglecting the effect of lensing convergence will lead to substantial shifts in the galaxy bias b0 and the neutrino mass ∑mν. Shifts in the dark energy sound speed and anisotropic stress also appear, but they depend on the survey configuration and hence lack robustness. While neglecting lensing convergence also leads to a Hubble constant H0 moving downwards, the significance of the shift is not big enough to play a relevant part in the current H0 tension.

Waveguide invariant navigation of an AUV with a towed line array

Passive acoustics navigation of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) can reduce localization errors while being relatively low-cost. A promising approach for navigation in shallow water is to exploit the waveguide invariant, which makes it possible to estimate the range between an acoustic source with a known position and an acoustic receiver on the AUV. This range estimate can then be fused in a sequential Bayes framework to improve the navigation information of the AUV. While previously proposed methods consider a range-independent environment with a single acoustic source and a single receiver, we investigate a more realistic scenario with multiple sources in a potentially range-dependent environment. In particular, a shallow water environment with a constant slope and sound speed is considered. To resolve multiple sources, it is assumed that the AUV tows an acoustic line array. Simulated acoustic data provided by a normal mode program are used to study the feasibility of the AUV navigation in shallow water by exploiting the waveguide invariant in this setting.

Compensating unknown speed of sound in learned fast 3D limited-view photoacoustic tomography

Real-time applications in three-dimensional photoacoustic tomography from planar sensors rely on fast reconstruction algorithms that assume the speed of sound (SoS) in the tissue is homogeneous. Moreover, the reconstruction quality depends on the correct choice for the constant SoS. In this study, we discuss the possibility of ameliorating the problem of unknown or heterogeneous SoS distributions by using learned reconstruction methods. This can be done by modelling the uncertainties in the training data. In addition, a correction term can be included in the learned reconstruction method. We investigate the influence of both and while a learned correction component can improve reconstruction quality further, we show that a careful choice of uncertainties in the training data is the primary factor to overcome unknown SoS. We support our findings with simulated and in vivo measurements in 3D.

Investigating pulse-echo sound speed estimation in breast ultrasound with deep learning

Ultrasound is an adjunct tool to mammography that can quickly and safely aid physicians in diagnosing breast abnormalities. Clinical ultrasound often assumes a constant sound speed to form diagnostic B-mode images. However, the components of breast tissue, such as glandular tissue, fat, and lesions, differ in sound speed. Given a constant sound speed assumption, these differences can degrade the quality of reconstructed images via phase aberration. Sound speed images can be a powerful tool for improving image quality and identifying diseases if properly estimated. To this end, we propose a supervised deep-learning approach for sound speed estimation from analytic ultrasound signals. We develop a large-scale simulated ultrasound dataset that generates representative breast tissue samples by modeling breast gland, skin, and lesions with varying echogenicity and sound speed. We adopt a fully convolutional neural network architecture trained on a simulated dataset to produce an estimated sound speed map. The simulated tissue is interrogated with a plane wave transmit sequence, and the complex-value reconstructed images are used as input for the convolutional network. The network is trained on the sound speed distribution map of the simulated data, and the trained model can estimate sound speed given reconstructed pulse-echo signals. We further incorporate thermal noise augmentation during training to enhance model robustness to artifacts found in real ultrasound data. To highlight the ability of our model to provide accurate sound speed estimations, we evaluate it on simulated, phantom, and in-vivo breast ultrasound data.

Observational Constraints on generalized dark matter properties in the presence of neutrinos with the final Planck release

In this paper, we investigate an extension of the standard ΛCDM model by allowing: a temporal evolution in the equation of state (EoS) of DM via Chevallier–Polarski–Linder parametrization, and the constant non-null sound speed. We also consider the properties of neutrinos, such as the effective neutrino mass and the effective number of neutrino species as free parameters. We derive the constraints on this scenario by using the data from the Planck-2018 cosmic microwave background (CMB), baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements, Pantheon+ compilation of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), and some large scale structure (LSS) information from the cosmic shear surveys: Kilo Degree Survey (KiDS)-1000 and Dark Energy Survey (DES). We find constraints on the EoS and sound speed of DM very close to the null value in all the analyses, and thus no significant evidence is found beyond the standard CDM paradigm. In all the analyses, we find the significantly tight upper bounds on the sum of neutrino masses, and significantly lower mean values of S8, which are in agreement with the LSS measurements. Thus, the well-known S8 tension is reconciled in the considered model.

On Variations of the Sound Signal Propagation Time under a Stationary Ice Cover

In experiments on a stationary acoustic track under a solid ice cover, estimates of possible sound signal propagation time variations at distances of ∼4 km with a period of more than 100 s were obtained. The experiments were carried out on Lake Baikal in the spring period, when the vertical profile of the sound speed has two sections characteristic of freshwater areas: an upper layer with a near constant sound speed and a lower layer with linear growth of sound speed. Under these conditions, the variations of the propagation time did not exceed ~10–4 s. Numerical modeling showed that the variations of propagation times due to the variability of the medium are minimal for the case when the sound source and receiver are located in the upper layer. It is demonstrated that in this case it is acceptable to take the sound speed in the upper quasi-homogeneous layer as the effective value of the sound speed, which determines the propagation time. The obtained results allowed us to formulate recommendations on under-ice acoustic positioning of autonomous underwater vehicles.

Constant sound speed and its thermodynamical interpretation in f(Q) gravity

On the basis of homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) geometry, solutions to the issues of cosmic acceleration and dark energy are being put forth within the context of f(Q) gravity. We take into account a power law f(Q) model using f(Q)=αQn, where α and n are free model parameters. In the current scenario, we may establish the energy density and pressure for our f(Q) cosmic model by applying the constant sound speed parameterizations, i.e., ϑs2=β, where a barotropic cosmic fluid is described in terms of β. The field equations are then derived, and their precise solutions are established. We obtain the constraints on the model parameters using the updated Hubble (Hz) data sets consisting of 31 data points, the recently published Pantheon samples (SNe) with 1048 points, and Baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) data sets. We also examine the physical behavior of the deceleration parameter, the equation of state (EoS) parameter, the statefinder diagnostic, and the Om diagnostic. We conclude that our f(Q) cosmic model predicts a transition in the universe from deceleration to acceleration. Further, to investigate the feasibility of the model, we discussed some of its thermodynamic aspects.

Constraining free parameters of a color superconducting nonlocal Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model using Bayesian analysis of neutron stars mass and radius measurements

We provide a systematic study of hybrid neutron star equations of state (EOS) consisting of a relativistic density functional for the hadronic phase and a covariant nonlocal Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (nlNJL) model to describe the color superconducting quark matter phase. Changing the values of the two free parameters, the dimensionless vector and diquark coupling strengths ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{V}$ and ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{D}$ results in a set of EOS with varying stiffness and deconfinement onset. The favorable parameters are obtained from a systematic Bayesian analysis for which the multimessenger constraint on the neutron star radius at $14{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ and the combined mass-radius constraint for PSR $\mathrm{J}0740+6620$ from NICER experiment are used as the constraints. Additionally, the transition from hadronic matter to deconfined quark matter is constrained to occur above nuclear saturation density. Hybrid stars modeled with these favorable parameters are compatible with the NICER results for the radius of the highest known mass neutron star, PSR $\mathrm{J}0740+6620$. Three new observations interesting for neutron star phenomenology are reported: (i) we show that the constant sound speed (CSS) EOS provides an excellent fit to that of the nlNJL model which implies the squared speed of sound at high densities to be about 0.5 for the optimized parameters; (ii) we give a simple functional form for the mapping between the parameter spaces of these two models valid for the whole range of relevant chemical potentials and (iii) we observe that the special point property of hybrid EOS based on CSS quark matter generalizes to a set of lines consisting of special points when two EOS parameters are varied instead of one. A lower limit for the maximum mass of hybrid stars as a function of the vector coupling strength is obtained.

Energy-Density Modeling of Strongly Interacting Matter: Atomic Nuclei and Dense Stars

We seek a simple but physically motivated model of strongly interacting matter applicable in atomic nuclei and the dense matter in the core of neutron stars. For densities below and somewhat above normal nuclear density, energy density functional (EDF) theory based on nucleonic degrees of freedom is the ideal candidate. We have explored that direction within the KIDS (Korea-IBS-Daegu-SKKU) framework, which we review in this contribution. The formalism for the KIDS-EoS and microscopic KIDS-EDF and optimization options for the EDF are described in a practical way to facilitate further applications. At densities higher than one nucleon per single-nucleon volume, i.e., roughly 0.4 fm−3, nucleonic degrees of freedom are no longer appropriate. The pseudo-conformal symmetry emergent in dense, topologically altered nuclear matter provides a simple expression for the energy per baryon in terms of the baryonic density. Besides resembling a simple EDF for dense matter, the expression has the appeal that it predicts a converged speed of sound at high densities. It can thus be implemented as a special case of the constant speed of sound (CSS) model. Here we consider a matching between representative nucleonic KIDS-EoSs and the CSS model, including the pseudo-conformal EoS, and apply the unified model to describe the mass–radius relation of neutron stars and examine the compatibility of CSS cores with heavy neutron stars. Although an abrupt transition to the pseudo-conformal regime at low densities does not favor heavy neutron stars, intermediate scenarios including a cusp in the speed of sound are not ruled out, while some appear more favorable to heavy stars than purely nucleonic matter.

Holographic energy density, dark energy sound speed, and tensions in cosmological parameters: H0 and S8

Interesting discrepancies in cosmological parameters are challenging the success of the ΛCDM model. Direct measurements of the Hubble constant H 0 using Cepheid variables and supernovae turn out to be higher than inferred from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Weak galaxy lensing surveys consistently report values of the strength of matter clustering σ 8 lower than values derived from the CMB in the context of ΛCDM. In this paper we address these discrepancies in cosmological parameters by considering Dark Energy (DE) as a fluid with evolving equation of state w de(z), constant sound speed squared ĉ s 2, and vanishing anisotropic stress σ. Our w de(z) is derived from the Holographic Principle and can consecutively exhibit radiation-like, matter-like, and DE-like behaviour, thus affecting the sound horizon and the comoving angular diameter distance, hence H 0. Here we show DE sound speed plays a part in the matter clustering behaviour through its effect on the evolution of the gravitational potential. We compute cosmological constraints using several data set combinations including primary CMB, CMB lensing, redshift-space-distortions, local distance-ladder, supernovae, and baryon acoustic oscillations. In our analysis we marginalise over ĉ s 2 and find ĉ s 2 = 1 is excluded at ≳ 3σ. For our baseline result including the whole data set we found H 0 and σ 8 in good agreement (within ≈ 2σ) with low redshift probes. Our constraint for the baryon energy density ω b is however in ≈ 3σ tension with BBN constraints. We conclude evolving DE also having non-standard clustering properties [e.g., ĉ s 2(z,k)] might be relevant for the solution of current discrepancies in cosmological parameters.

The effect of seafloor roughness on passive estimates of the seabed reflection coefficient.

In this work, a model is developed for the effect of seafloor interface roughness on passive estimates of the reflection coefficient. The main result is an expression for the total intensity reflection coefficient, with separate coherent and incoherent contributions. Assumptions of this model include constant sound speed in the ocean, stationary and Gaussian seafloor roughness, and ambient noise. Numerical examples for the coherent, incoherent, and total contributions to the intensity reflection coefficient are presented for halfspace and layered environments-all using the small slope approximation. To illustrate the potential parameter errors that results from using a flat interface wave model when roughness is present, a geoacoustic inversion is performed using the proposed model as input data. A joint roughness-geoacoustic inversion of simulated data using the proposed model was also performed. It was found that the true roughness and geoacoustic parameters can be inverted using this model, but the sensitivity to the outer scale of the rough surface has the highest error compared to the other parameters.

The refined resilient model for underwater acoustic positioning

The variation of sound speed is a major factor affecting the accuracy of the acoustic positioning underwater. A refined resilient model is constructed which includes temporal variations and horizontal variations on the basis of the simple resilient observation model which includes range bias and time bias parameters. The integrated estimation method and the stepwise estimation method were used to calculate the temporal and spatial variations of the sound speed using the GNSS-Acoustic (GNSS-A) measurements. The sound speed model was used in the long baseline (LBL) underwater acoustic positioning, and the position of the transducer calculated by acoustic ranges is compared with that provided by GNSS. The results show that, there are obvious temporal and spatial variations in the sound speed in different water area. The temporal variation of the sound speed is less than 0.8 m/s and the spatial variation is less than 0.15 m/s. The variation of sound speed under water not only shows obvious periodicity, but also presents negative gradient in the horizontal direction. When the coordinates of the transducer are calculated by using the sound speed model considering temporal and spatial variations constructed by the integrated estimation, the precision of the coordinates is improved by about 28%, compared with that calculated using the constant sound speed model. The 3D root mean square (RMS) of the LBL underwater acoustic positioning is about 0.73 m, and the RMS is less than 0.13 m in the vertical direction, when the coordinates of the ship bottom transducer are calculated within the area covered by five seafloor transponders. It indicates that the coordinate accuracy of the five seafloor transponders is high in the vertical direction.

Training physics-informed neural networks to directly predict acoustic field values in simple environments

As acousticians turn to machine learning for solutions to old and new problems, neural networks have become a go-to tool due to their capacity for model representation and quick forward computations. However, these benefits come at the cost of obscurity; it is difficult to determine whether the proficiency of a trained neural network is limited by training effort, training dataset size or scope, or compatibility of the network’s design with the data’s underlying pattern of interest. For neural networks trained to provide solutions to the point-source Helmholtz-equation in axisymmetric single-path, two-path, and multi-path (ideal waveguide) environments with constant sound speed, the key limitations are the dataset composition and network design. This study examines the effects on performance and explainablity which result from providing physical information (governing equation and boundary conditions) to these neural networks, instead of only acoustic-field solutions generated from well-known analytic solutions. The outcome of using physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for these simple environments informs their possible extension to more complex, realistic environments. This study emphasizes source frequencies in the 100’s of Hz, depths up to 500 m, and ranges up to 10 km for sound speeds near 1500 m/s. [Work supported by the NDSEG fellowship program.]

Three-dimensional acoustic propagation model for shallow waters based on an indirect boundary element method

This work has a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, the theoretical formulation of a three-dimensional (3D) acoustic propagation model for shallow waters with a constant sound speed is presented, based on the boundary element method (BEM), which uses a half-space Green function instead of the more conventional free-space Green function. On the other hand, a numerical implementation is illustrated to explore the formulation in simple idealized cases, controlled by a few parameters, which provides necessary tests for the accuracy and performance of the model. The half-space Green’s function, which has been previously used in scattering and diffraction, adds terms to the usual expressions of the integral operators without altering their continuity properties. Verifications against the wavenumber integration solution of the Pekeris waveguide suggest that the model allows an adequate prediction for the acoustic field. Likewise, numerical experiments in relation to the necessary mesh size for the description of the water-marine sediment interface lead to the conclusion that a transmission loss prediction with acceptable accuracy can be obtained with the use of a limited mesh around the desired evaluation region.

Dynamics of constant sound speed inspires warm inflation

In this work, we consider a modern form of single-field inflationary models (known as power-law plateau inflation and preheating phase for a class of plateau inflationary model) and ASPIC models by considering the Dirac–Born–Infeld (DBI) non-canonical scalar field in the light of warm inflationary scenario. For these models, we assume constant sound speed [Formula: see text] and compute different slow-roll [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as well as inflationary parameters (number of [Formula: see text]-folds [Formula: see text], spectral index [Formula: see text], scalar spectral index [Formula: see text] and tensor-to-scalar ratio [Formula: see text]) for specific anti-de Sitter warp factor of the DBI inflation. Next, we plot the trajectories of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with different choices of [Formula: see text] and found the ranges [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] (for minimal inflation model), [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] (for modified minimal inflation model) and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] (mixed large field inflation), respectively. Moreover, the ranges of these parametric plots for power-law plateau inflationary model are [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. Finally, we find that the results of all these parametric plots are consistent with 68% and 95% with current observational data except scalar-to-tensor ratio [Formula: see text] for modified minimal and power-law Plateau inflation models.

Induced gravitational waves from multi-sound speed resonances during cosmological inflation

We explore the possibility of multi-parametric resonances from time varying sound speed during cosmological inflation. In particular, we fix our set-up to the simpler case beyond a single oscillation model already explored in literature: two sinusoidal harmonics around a constant sound speed equal to one. We find that, within the perturbative regime, except for some certain extreme corners of the parameter space, the primordial density spectrum is characterized by two groups of amplified peaks centered around two critical oscillatory frequencies of the sound speed. As a general result, we show that the energy spectrum of the secondary induced GWs from the inflationary era has a single major broad peak, whereas the one from the radiation dominated phase consists of one/two principle peak-like configuration(s) for relatively small/large ratio of two oscillatory frequencies. The GW relic stochastic backgrounds carry a gravitational memory of the parametric resonances during inflation. GW signals from double sound speed resonances can be tested in complementary channels from Pulsar-timing radio-astronomy, space and terrestrial GW interferometers.

Intermediate and Power-law Inflation in the Tachyon Model with Constant Sound Speed

By adopting the intermediate and power-law scale factors, we study the tachyon inflation with constant sound speed. We perform some numerical analysis on the perturbation and non-Gaussianity parameters in this model and compare the results with observational data. By using the constraints on the scalar spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio obtained from Planck2018 TT, TE, and EE+lowE+lensing+BAO+BK14 data; the constraints on the running of the scalar spectral index obtained from Planck2018 TT, TE, and EE+lowEB+lensing data; and the constraints on tensor spectral index obtained from Planck2018 TT, TE, and EE+lowE+lensing+BK14+BAO+LIGO and Virgo2016 data, we find the observationally viable ranges of the model’s parameters at both 68% CL and 95% CL. We also analyze the non-Gaussian features of the model in the equilateral and orthogonal configurations. Based on Planck2018 TTT, EEE, TTE, and EET data, we find constraints on the sound speed of 0.276 ≤ c s ≤ 1 at 68% CL, 0.213 ≤ c s ≤ 1 at 95% CL, and 0.186 ≤ c s ≤ 1 at 97% CL.

Refraction-Corrected Transcranial Ultrasound Imaging Through the Human Temporal Window Using a Single Probe.

Transcranial ultrasound imaging (TUI) is a diagnostic modality with numerous applications, but unfortunately, it is hindered by phase aberration caused by the skull. In this article, we propose to reconstruct a transcranial B-mode image with a refraction-corrected synthetic aperture imaging (SAI) scheme. First, the compressional sound velocity of the aberrator (i.e., the skull) is estimated using the bidirectional headwave technique. The medium is described with four layers (i.e., lens, water, skull, and water), and a fast marching method calculates the travel times between individual array elements and image pixels. Finally, a delay-and-sum algorithm is used for image reconstruction with coherent compounding. The point spread function (PSF) in a wire phantom image and reconstructed with the conventional technique (using a constant sound speed throughout the medium), and the proposed method was quantified with numerical synthetic data and experiments with a bone-mimicking plate and a human skull, compared with the PSF achieved in a ground truth image of the medium without the aberrator (i.e., the bone plate or skull). A phased-array transducer (P4-1, ATL/Philips, 2.5 MHz, 96 elements, pitch = 0.295 mm) was used for the experiments. The results with the synthetic signals, the bone-mimicking plate, and the skull indicated that the proposed method reconstructs the scatterers with an average lateral/axial localization error of 0.06/0.14 mm, 0.11/0.13 mm, and 1.0/0.32 mm, respectively. With the human skull, an average contrast ratio (CR) and full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) of 37.1 dB and 1.75 mm were obtained with the proposed approach, respectively. This corresponds to an improvement of CR and FWHM by 7.1 dB and 36% compared with the conventional method, respectively. These numbers were 12.7 dB and 41% with the bone-mimicking plate.

Modeling the effects of internal waves on synthetic aperture sonar resolution

Synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) beamforming is performed under the assumption of a constant sound speed within the water column or by utilizing a measured sound speed profile. Water column features, such as internal waves or internal wave boluses that cause a sound speed structure different than that assumed, can break the constant sound speed assumption resulting in image defocusing and loss of resolution. The resultant loss of resolution can be quantified using the point spread function (PSF). An ellipse fitting technique was applied to SAS images collected by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) using the HISAS system. In conjunction with the analysis conducted on real data, a ray tracing method was applied to model the broadening effects on the PSF for sound speed differences caused by internal wave boluses. A wavenumber beamforming algorithm was also applied to artificial echo data, in which sound speed errors were introduced. It is hoped that the two models can be used in conjunction with SAS data to determine the sound speed within an internal wave feature from the observed loss in resolution.

Time-domain formulation for coherent plane wave compounding in horizontally layered media

The locations of origin of ultrasonic echoes from soft tissue in conventional ultrasound beamforming are based on measured time of flight. For simplicity it is usually assumed that the region of interest is homogeneous with a constant sound speed, but in many in vivo and benchtop applications the imaging region is composed of horizontal layers, each with a distinct sound speed. In addition to time-of-flight complications, sound speed differences between the layers result in refraction through the interface of both the transmitted pulse and those reflected from the tissue, further influencing the fidelity of beamforming for target localization or other quantitative ultrasound metrics. A formulation is presented for delay-and-sum coherent Plane Wave Compounding (PWC) that accounts for variation in sound speed and refraction of ultrasound pulses in a region with two horizontal layers. The algorithm is formulated completely in the time domain, enabling simple implementation or extension of existing homogeneous PWC algorithms. Simulated and experimental images are investigated for a typical two-layer benchtop configuration, where the sound speeds in the upper and lower layers are relatively slow (water or gel) and fast (muscle), respectively. Extension of the formulation to a medium with N distinct layers is discussed.