Point Source Approximation Research Articles

Dynamic Modelling of Tunnel Failure

Rupture dynamics along a relatively wide fault zone intersecting an underground tunnel is studied in the framework of recently developed damage-breakage rheological model. The propagating rupture produces rock damage and granulation in the process zone ahead of the rupture front, where intense torsion is simulated. It also produces an out-of-fault damage zone, of which the volume is calculated and compared with analytical predictions using the point source approximation. Interaction between propagating rupture and tunnel significantly enhances stresses around the tunnel leading to its failure with significant implosive component. Tunnel failure may occur with a certain delay after the rupture front passed, depending on the initial tunnel strength. This time delay is defined by the time needed to accumulate damage in the rock mass around the tunnel. In some cases such tunnel failure maybe interpreted as an independent implosive seismic event. Model results provide an insight into the near- and intermediate fields of seismic radiation produced by seismic sources close to and intersecting an underground tunnel. Energy dissipation in the process zone in front of the propagating rupture due to the damage–breakage mechanism significantly affects the S-wave radiation in the direction of the rupture propagation. On top of that the tunnel failure process, especially if it is surrounded by relatively weak and damaged rock, significantly reduces S-wave radiation also in the directions normal to the fault zone.

CURLING – I. The influence of point-like image approximation on the outcomes of cluster strong lens modelling

ABSTRACT Cluster-scale strong lensing is a powerful tool for exploring the properties of dark matter and constraining cosmological models. However, due to the complex parameter space, pixelized strong lens modelling in galaxy clusters is computationally expensive, leading to the point-source approximation of strongly lensed extended images, potentially introducing systematic biases. Herein, as the first paper of the ClUsteR strong Lens modelIng for the Next-Generation observations (CURLING) program, we use lensing ray-tracing simulations to quantify the biases and uncertainties arising from the point-like image approximation for JWST-like observations. Our results indicate that the approximation works well for reconstructing the total cluster mass distribution, but can bias the magnification measurements near critical curves and the constraints on the cosmological parameters, the total matter density of the universe Ωm, and dark energy equation of state parameter w. To mitigate the biases, we propose incorporating the extended surface brightness distribution of lensed sources into the modelling. This approach reduces the bias in magnification from 46.2 per cent to 0.09 per cent for μ ∼ 1000. Furthermore, the median values of cosmological parameters align more closely with the fiducial model. In addition to the improved accuracy, we also demonstrate that the constraining power can be substantially enhanced. In conclusion, it is necessary to model cluster-scale strong lenses with pixelized multiple images, especially for estimating the intrinsic luminosity of highly magnified sources and accurate cosmography in the era of high-precision observations.

The Potential of Crowdsourced Data for the Rapid Impact Assessment of Large Earthquakes: The 2023 M 7.8 Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık, Türkiye, Earthquake

Abstract Reliable and rapid impact assessment for large earthquakes is a challenge because it is difficult to rapidly determine the fault geometry and thus the spatial distribution of shaking intensities. In this retrospective study of the M 7.8 Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık, Türkiye, earthquake, we evaluate how eyewitness observations crowdsourced through the LastQuake system can improve such assessments. These data consist of felt reports describing the local level of shaking or damage and manually validated geolocated imagery. In the first part of this study, the methods used to derive macroseismic intensity values from felt reports, particularly for high values, are validated by comparison with independently determined intensities. This comparison confirms that the maximum intensity that can be derived from felt reports does not generally exceed VIII. A fatality estimate of 3000 could be made within a few hours by evaluating the number of people exposed to high intensities using the felt reports and assuming a point source. However, this estimate was known to be an underestimate because of the point-source approximation; this underestimate was also confirmed by the geolocated imagery showing high levels of damage at epicentral distances well beyond those predicted by circular isoseismals. However, improved estimates could have been derived from the event’s ShakeMaps using the U.S. Geological Survey Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) fatality loss-modeling system, either by incorporating the felt reports into the ShakeMaps computation or using, in addition, a finite-source (here line-source) model derived from the felt reports using the Finite-fault rupture Detector software. The inclusion of fault geometry would have resulted in a fatality estimate with data collected within 10 min of the origin determination, which was consistent with the final PAGER alert level and the reported death toll that were both only known days later. Although more work would be helpful to assess the reliability of the derived fault geometry, in regions where they are collected in large numbers, felt reports collected within 10 min of the earthquake can be used to substantially improve current fatality estimates.

The relative position of pyrolysis onset and flame front location for downward flame spread

The interaction of solid and gas phase phenomena in downward flame spread is studied under buoyant conditions. Phosphor thermometry (PT) was used to determine the spatiotemporally resolved surface temperatures both ahead and beneath the flame while CH* chemiluminescence allowed for the quantification of the flame location relative to the fuel surface. The combination of these measurements allowed for the superposition of the flame front location and the surface temperature distribution. The standoff distance (∼1.1 mm) and preheated distance along the surface (∼3.5 mm) were quantified. The application of PT allowed for the continued measurement of surface temperatures in the pyrolyzing region beneath the flame, where the surface temperature was found to remain relatively constant between 300 and 350 °C. The combination of measurements allowed for the calculation of the gas-phase heat flux distribution ahead of the flame front using a point-source approximation, which compared well with previous studies. PT and CH* measurements were used to expand previous work to quantify the thermal gradients through the solid both ahead of and behind the flame front. Surface temperature measurements were coupled with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a simple pyrolysis model to determine that the onset of pyrolysis occurs approximately 1 mm ahead of the flame front. This approach was also used to illustrate that pyrolysis gases were generated in sufficient volume to result in a flammable mixture at the leading edge of the flame. This study highlights the benefit of optical diagnostic techniques in exploring the controlling mechanisms of flame spread, and provides insight into the interaction of solid and gas-phase phenomena in downward flame spread.

Impact of mining-induced seismicity on land subsidence occurrence

Mining-induced seismicity can damage buildings and surface infrastructure and cause fatalities. It is a growing concern, owing to the sudden occurrence of seismic events, lack of effective prediction capabilities, and associated consequences. In this study, we analyzed 13 high-energy mining-induced earthquakes from 2016 to 2020 in Poland's Legnica-Glogow Copper District (LGCD), based on data recorded by the Induced Seismicity-European Plate Observing System (IS-EPOS). We used European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-1 Copernicus satellite radar images, to study the co-seismic subsidence in the region. Additionally, we employed volumetric point source approximation and a Bayesian inverse modeling scheme to estimate the location and strength of subsurface collapses from the land subsidence data. Finally, we correlated the geological constraints with the land subsidence and earthquake source parameters. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) displacement maps portrayed maximum line-of-sight (LOS) displacements of −144 mm and − 124 mm in ascending and descending images, respectively, with maximum land subsidence reaching −142 mm. Notably, only a few earthquakes with large magnitudes caused land subsidence. There was a significant correlation between earthquake magnitude and land subsidence; the greater the thickness of the loose Quaternary strata, the smaller the land subsidence. According to the inversion results, the focal depths of the collapses associated with the earthquakes were 437–669 m. However, the estimated collapse depths were situated above the mining exploitation fields, within the rigid Triassic rock layers. The associated collapse energy was 1.62 times greater than the seismic energy, indicating aseismic deformation in the field. Additionally, we observed spatial discrepancy between the location of the earthquake epicenters and the maximum land subsidence. Thus, our study can improve the current understanding of the impact of mining-induced seismicity, the occurrence of associated land subsidence, and seismic mechanisms in mining areas.

Space-resolved line shape model for sputtered atoms of finite-size targets

High-resolution emission spectroscopy provides valuable information on the physical sputtering process during plasma-wall interaction. Up to now, analyzing the observed spectral lines during sputtering did not account for the finite size of the targets. It becomes crucial if the size of the target becomes comparable with the distance the sputtered atoms travel before emitting the photons. So, for example, the generally used standard emission model based on an infinite target or the point source approximation breaks for observations using two lines of sight: parallel and perpendicular to the normal of the target. It is impossible to achieve consistent results for energy and angular distribution of sputtered atoms. The new space-resolved emission model for finite-size targets developed in this work removes this gap. It incorporates the space-velocity transformation for the distribution function and includes the finite lifetime of excited states. The model was validated using emission spectra of sputtered atoms from a polycrystalline tungsten sample bombarded by monoenergetic Ar+ with kinetic energies of 100 eV to 140 eV at normal incidence in the linear plasma device PSI-2. Using the new model enables the simultaneous fitting of the line shapes of sputtered tungsten for both observation angles. The optimization process is performed using the standard Thompson distribution by separating the energy-dependent parameter and the angular distribution.

Correction Methods for Exchange Source Terms in Unstructured Euler-Lagrange Solvers with Point-Source Approximation

Correction Methods for Exchange Source Terms in Unstructured Euler-Lagrange Solvers with Point-Source Approximation

Joint inversion of centroid moment tensor for large earthquakes by combining teleseismicP-wave andW-phase records

SUMMARYCentroid moment tensor inversion involves the determinations of the moment tensor solution, which is usually done with low-frequency signals to meet the requirement of the point-source approximation, and the moment centroid, which requires high-frequency signals to improve the resolution. Traditional centroid moment tensor inversion techniques, such as the W-phase inversion, mainly use low-frequency data to estimate the magnitude and fault parameters, which limits the resolution of the moment centroid. In this study, we combine the P wave and W phase to constrain both the moment tensor and moment centroid. The rupture directivity is considered in the P-wave inversion, and the rupture velocity is resolved by inverting the P wave solely. The moment centroid is estimated by the rupture velocity from the P-wave inversion and the grid search in the W-phase inversion. The final moment tensor solution is determined based on the moment centroid by jointly inverting both P-wave and W-phase data. The resulting centroid moment tensor solution can fit a broad frequency band (0.001–0.1 Hz) of waveforms. Through synthetic inversion tests and applications to several large earthquakes, we demonstrate that the magnitudes and fault parameters from our joint inversion are more stable than the P-wave inversion, and the moment centroids, especially the centroid depths, seem more reasonable than those from the W-phase inversion.

Beyond the Teleseism: Introducing Regional Seismic and Geodetic Data into Routine USGS Finite-Fault Modeling

Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) routinely produces finite-fault models following significant earthquakes. These models are spatiotemporal estimates of coseismic slip critical to constraining downstream response products such as ShakeMap ground motion estimates, Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquake for Response loss estimates, and ground failure assessments. Because large earthquakes can involve slip over tens to hundreds of kilometers, point-source approximations are insufficient, and it is vital to rapidly assess the amount, timing, and location of slip along the fault. Initially, the USGS finite-fault products were computed in the first several hours after a significant earthquake, using teleseismic body wave and surface wave observations. With only teleseismic waveforms, it is generally possible to obtain a reliable model for earthquakes of magnitude 7 and larger. Here, we detail newly implemented updates to NEIC’s modeling capabilities, specifically to allow joint modeling of local-to-regional strong-motion accelerometer, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations in addition to teleseismic waveforms. We present joint inversion results for the 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel, Chile, earthquake, to confirm the method’s reliability. Next, we provide examples from recent earthquakes: the 29 July 2021 Mw 8.2 Chignik, Alaska, United States, the 14 August 2021 Mw 7.2 Nippes, Haiti, and the 8 July 2021 Mw 6.0 Antelope Valley, California, United States, earthquakes. These examples confirm that jointly leveraging a variety of geophysical datasets improves the reliability of the slip model and demonstrate that such a combination can be leveraged for rapid response. The inclusion of these new datasets allows for more consistent finite-fault modeling of earthquakes as small as magnitude 6. As accelerometer, GNSS, and InSAR observations worldwide become more accessible, these joint models will become more routine, providing improved resolution and spatiotemporal constraints on rapid finite-fault models, and thereby improving the estimates of downstream earthquake response products.

Finite-Difference Simulation for Infrasound Generated by Finite-Extent Ground Motions

Abstract Underground explosions can produce infrasound in the atmosphere, and the wavefield characteristics are often governed by the ground surface motions. Finite-difference methods are popular for infrasound simulation as their generality and robustness allow for complex atmospheric structures and surface topography. A simple point-source approximation is often used because infrasound wavelengths tend to be large relative to the source dimensions. However, this assumption may not be able to capture the complexity of explosion-induced ground motions if the surface area is not compact, and appropriate source models must be incorporated into the finite-difference simulations for accurate infrasound prediction. In this study, we develop a point source representation of the complex ground motions for infrasound sources. Instead of a single point source, we use a series of point sources distributed over the source area. These distributed point sources can be equivalent to air volume changes produced by the ground motions in the atmosphere. We apply the distributed point-source method to a series of buried chemical explosions conducted during the Source Physics Experiment Phase I. Epicentral ground-motion measurements during the experiments provide a way to calculate accurate distributed point sources. We validate and evaluate the accuracy of distributed point source approach for infrasound simulations by direct comparison with acoustic observations in the field experiment.

Tomographic reconstruction of a spatially-extended source from the perimeter of a restricted-access zone using a SCoTSS compton gamma imager

It is a standard procedure in many countries that response to a nuclear or radiological accident or incident would involve mobile aerial- or ground-based survey with highly sensitive gamma-ray detectors to map the distribution of radioactivity. There may however arise situations in which ground- or air-based detectors are not able to access an area to survey for radioactive materials, therefore technologies and techniques that can estimate the position and activity of radioactive materials from a distance are under development. Tomographic reconstruction methods, well-known in medical physics, permit the reconstruction of an N-dimensional map or image, from a number of N-1-dimensional cross-sectional images, or back-projections. We are investigating a tomographic reconstruction method to reconstruct the radioactivity distribution within a restricted-access zone using measurements from a Compton gamma imager placed at several locations around the perimeter of the zone. In this work an extended source of La-140 with an activity of 35 GBq was deposited within a 500 m by 500 m zone that was surveyed from the perimeter at six locations using a Silicon photomultiplier-based Compton Telescope for Safety and Security (SCoTSS) gamma imager. The reconstructed Compton images from multiple viewpoints were then projected back into the zone to reconstruct the distribution of La-140 within it. This tomographic method reconstructed high intensity along the known location of the La-140 source, suggesting that the method is able to localize the radioactive material. A simple fit to measured counts using a point-source approximation of the source distribution yielded a strength estimate of (7 ± 2) GBq at time of deposition, a reasonable result given the presence of soil and snow attenuation. Our method provides an expedient estimate of the distribution of radioactivity using tomographic techniques. It may be used to inform decisions made on the scene in urgent situations where the distribution of radioactivity must be reconstructed from a distance.

Lateral spreading effects on VLBI radio images of neutron star merger jets

ABSTRACT Very long baseline interferometry radio images recently proved to be essential in breaking the degeneracy in the ejecta model for the neutron star merger GW170817. We discuss the properties of synthetic radio images of merger jet afterglows by using semi-analytical models of laterally spreading or non-spreading jets. The image centroid initially moves away from the explosion point in the sky with apparent superluminal velocity. After reaching a maximum displacement, its motion is reversed. This behaviour is in line with that found in full hydrodynamic simulations. We show that the evolution of the centroid shift and the image size are significantly different when lateral spreading is considered. For Gaussian jet models with plausible model parameters, the morphology of the laterally spreading jet images is much closer to circular. The maximum displacement of the centroid shift and its occurrence time are smaller/earlier by a factor of a few for spreading jets. Our results indicate that it is crucial to include lateral spreading effects when analysing radio images of neutron star merger jets. We also obtain the viewing angle θobs by using the centroid shift of radio images provided the ratio of the jet core size θc and θobs is determined by afterglow light curves. We show that a simple method based on a point-source approximation provides reasonable angular estimates ($10{-}20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ errors at most). By taking a sample of laterally spreading structured Gaussian jets, we obtain θobs ∼ 0.32 for GW170817, consistent with previous studies.

A review of the models of near-Earth object impact cratering on Earth

Near-Earth object (NEO) impact cratering is one of the frontier themes of planetary research. The cratering process and types, laboratory impact cratering phenomena, and cratering scaling are introduced. The hypervelocity impact-cratering process is conventionally divided into three successive stages: contact and compression, excavation, and modification. When large impact craters are formed in geological materials, shearing is the main deformation mode. At small scales, cratering in brittle materials is dominated by surface spalling; much of the crater volume consists of a wide, flat spall zone. According to the morphological characteristics of impact craters, impact craters are generally divided into two groups: simple and complex craters. The cratering mechanism of NEO impact cratering and the deficiency of point source model are analyzed. The cratering mechanism can be divided into strength regime and gravity regime. In the strength regime, the cratering results are controlled by strength, and in the gravity regime, the cratering results are dominated by gravity. Crater scaling laws have been established based on dimensional analysis, point source approximation and the results of experimental and numerical impact. The scaling law is a specific power rate form, which describes well the scaling of crater size, ejecta, and crater growth. But the scaling law of the point source model is not applicable to the experimental phenomenon in several impactor radii. The suggestions for future research of NEO impact cratering are pointed out:(1) scaling where the point source hypothesis is not applicable; (2) the effect of melting, gasification, atmosphere and temperature on the cratering process; (3) scaling law and model of oblique impact; (4) momentum enhancement effect of impact; (5) experimental and numerical methods to simulate the formation of impact craters.

Recommendations for intraoperative mesh brachytherapy: Report of AAPM Task Group No. 222.

Mesh brachytherapy is a special type of a permanent brachytherapy implant: it uses low-energy radioactive seeds in an absorbable mesh that is sutured onto the tumor bed immediately after a surgical resection. This treatment offers low additional risk to the patient as the implant procedure is carried out as part of the tumor resection surgery. Mesh brachytherapy utilizes identification of the tumor bed through direct visual evaluation during surgery or medical imaging following surgery through radiographic imaging of radio-opaque markers within the sources located on the tumor bed. Thus, mesh brachytherapy is customizable for individual patients. Mesh brachytherapy is an intraoperative procedure involving mesh implantation and potentially real-time treatment planning while the patient is under general anesthesia. The procedure is multidisciplinary and requires the complex coordination of multiple medical specialties. The preimplant dosimetry calculation can be performed days beforehand or expediently in the operating room with the use of lookup tables. In this report, the guidelines of American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) are presented on the physics aspects of mesh brachytherapy. It describes the selection of radioactive sources, design and preparation of the mesh, preimplant treatment planning using a Task Group (TG) 43-based lookup table, and postimplant dosimetric evaluation using the TG-43 formalism or advanced algorithms. It introduces quality metrics for the mesh implant and presents an example of a risk analysis based on the AAPM TG-100 report. Recommendations include that the preimplant treatment plan be based upon the TG-43 dose calculation formalism with the point source approximation, and the postimplant dosimetric evaluation be performed by using either the TG-43 approach, or preferably the newer model-based algorithms (viz., TG-186 report) if available to account for effects of material heterogeneities. To comply with the written directive and regulations governing the medical use of radionuclides, this report recommends that the prescription and written directive be based upon the implanted source strength, not target-volume dose coverage. The dose delivered by mesh implants can vary and depends upon multiple factors, such as postsurgery recovery and distortions in the implant shape over time. For the sake of consistency necessary for outcome analysis, prescriptions based on the lookup table (with selection of the intended dose, depth, and treatment area) are recommended, but the use of more advanced techniques that can account for real situations, such as material heterogeneities, implant geometric perturbations, and changes in source orientations, is encouraged in the dosimetric evaluation. The clinical workflow, logistics, and precautions are also presented.

Identifying low-amplitude pulsating stars through microlensing observations

ABSTRACT One possibility for detecting low-amplitude pulsational variations is through gravitational microlensing. During a microlensing event, the temporary brightness increase leads to improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and thereby better detectability of pulsational signatures in light curves. We explore this possibility under two primary considerations. The first is when the standard point-source and point-lens approximation applies. In this scenario, dividing the observed light curve by the best-fitted microlensing model leads to residuals that result in pulsational features with improved uncertainties. The second is for transit events (single lens) or caustic crossing (binary lens). The point-source approximation breaks down, and residuals relative to a simple best-fitted microlensing model display more complex behaviour. We employ a Monte Carlo simulation of microlensing of pulsating variables toward the Galactic bulge for the surveys of OGLE and of KMTNet. We demonstrate that the efficiency for detecting pulsational signatures with intrinsic amplitudes of <0.25 mag during single and binary microlensing events, at differences in χ2 of Δχ2 > 350, is $\sim \!50\!-\!60{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. The maximum efficiency occurs for pulsational periods P ≃ 0.1–0.3 d. We also study the possibility that high-magnification microlensing events of non-radially pulsating stars could be misinterpreted as planetary or binary microlensing events. We conclude that small asymmetric features around light curve peaks due to stellar pulsations could be misdiagnosed with crossing (or passing close to) small caustic curves.

Grid dependence of evaporation rates in Euler–Lagrange simulations of dilute sprays

The present study addresses the grid dependence of evaporation rates in the context of Euler-Lagrange simulations and presents error estimates as a function of characteristic parameters. The common approach of using local cell values as ambient conditions for the evaporation model and returning heat and mass to the gas phase via source terms, which is known as the particle-source-in-cell (PSI-cell) model, is not grid independent and leads to large deviations in the evaporation rates if the cell size is of the order of the droplet diameter. This problem has become increasingly important in recent years as increased computing power now allow direct numerical simulations of the carrier gas and large-eddy simulations with much smaller cell sizes to be used, making the point-source approximation increasingly inadequate. It is therefore necessary to estimate the error that is introduced by the PSI-cell model to be able to perform simulations with a given (and a priori known) error level. Focusing on a single droplet in an infinite environment, expressions are derived for the deviation of the evaporation rate and time compared to a reference solution for both quiescent and convective environments and including the effects of heat transfer. It is found that the error of the steady-state evaporation rate is a function of the ratio of cell size to droplet diameter and the cell Péclet number. The error of the evaporation time additionally depends on the initial ratio of liquid to gaseous mass in the computational cell and on the reference mass transfer number, whose influence can be combined in a modified mass ratio. The presented expressions are simple to use and valid across a wide range of gas and droplet properties that are typical for spray combustion applications and provide guidelines for the correct choice of the cell size in Euler-Lagrange simulations of dilute sprays.

The relation between XR-QA2 and RT-QA2 GafchromicTM film optical density and absorbed dose in water produced by radionuclides

Purpose. In this study, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were done to relate the dose-response of the film to that in water. The effect of backscattering materials (PMMA, lead, polystyrene, and air) was investigated on its influence on film density for radionuclides including Am-241, Tc-99m, I-131, Cs-137. Methods. A BEAMnrc MC simulation was designed to score a phase-space file (PSF) below the container of the radionuclide under consideration to use as an input file for the subsequent DOSXYZnrc MC simulation. The geometry of the container holding the radionuclide was built using the component modules available in BEAMnrc. BEAMDP was used to investigate the container effect on the radionuclide spectrum as well as the fluence. The DOSXYZnrc simulation produced the absorbed dose in XR-QA2 and RT-QA2 GafchromicTM films. The DOSXYZnrc simulations were repeated for the GafchromicTM film now replaced with water to get the absorbed dose in water. From these results, conversion factors for the dose in water to the film dose for the different radionuclides, Am-241, Tc-99m, I-131, and Cs-137 were obtained. The actual film dose was calculated using the specific gamma exposure constant (Γ) at a distance of 50 cm for a point source approximation. From the BEAMnrc simulations, the particle fluence was extracted from PSFs to correct for the fluence at 0.1 cm below the sources from the fluence 50 cm away since the inverse square law will not apply to finite-size sources. The absorbed dose profiles in the film were compared to the absorbed dose profiles from the MC simulations. Results. A fitting function based on the neutron depletion model fits the optical density versus absorbed film dose data well and can be used as a calibration tool to obtain the film dose from its optical density. Lead as a backscatter material results in a higher optical density change but a lower absorbed dose. The XR-QA2 GafchromicTM film is more sensitive than the RT-QA2 GafchromicTM film, showing a more responsive optical density (OD) change in the energy range of radionuclides used in this study. Conversion factors were determined to convert the dose in water to the dose in GafchromicTM film. The Am-241 and I-131 simulated absorbed dose in the film to dose in water does not fluctuate as much as the simulated absorbed dose in film and water when using Tc-99m and Cs-137. Validation was shown for the comparison of the film and MC simulation absorbed dose profiles. Conclusions. MC BEAMnrc simulations are useful to simulate radionuclides and their containers. BEAMDP extracted energy spectra showed that the radionuclide containers produced a Compton effect on the energy spectra and added filtration on the lower spectral photon components. Extracted fluence ratios from PSFs were used to calculate the absorbed dose value at 0.1 cm distance from the source. By using the fit function, the dose in the film can be determined for known optical density values. The effect of the backscatter materials showed that the XR-QA2 GafchromicTM film results in higher optical density values than the RT-QA2 GafchromicTM film. The absorbed dose in both the films is comparable but not for a radionuclide such as Am-241 with an activity of 74MBq. The lead backscatter material showed to be the most prominent in optical density enhancement, and the air equivalent material was the least prominent. The XR-QA2 GafchromicTM film is the most sensitive and will be the best option if working with low energies. The absorbed dose in the XR-QA2 GafchromicTM film also showed a good comparison to the absorbed dose in water for the Am-241 radionuclide with an activity of 74MBq. The absorbed dose in the films compares well to the MC simulated doses.

Maximum likelihood reconstructions for rotating scatter mask imaging

The rotating scatter mask system is capable of determining the direction of a single point gamma or neutron source. However, the point source approximation does not hold for many realistic applications, requiring more detailed reconstructions with this system. This study is the first to characterize the rotating scatter mask as a gamma imager, or camera, through a detailed analysis of the relative error, precision, noise, and convergence time as a measure of reconstruction performance. Simulated 137Cs sources and detector responses were generated in MCNP v6.1.4 and v6.2 with high fidelity and low statistical uncertainty. An analysis of variance was applied to maximum-likelihood expectation–maximization algorithms to determine the most significant factors in reconstructing the image, focusing on the source’s shape, size, and direction relative to the detector. Parameters for a Median Root Prior smoothing function were optimized to balance performance over a variety of source distributions. The algorithm performed reasonably well for point sources and for sources that spanned less than 30° in size and were located near the equatorial region of the rotating system. In most other scenarios, the algorithm either oversmoothed the image, resulting in blurry images, or completely failed to reconstruct the image. Increasing the resolution improved the reconstruction quality, while increasing the neighborhood size for the Median Root Prior reduced the image’s noise, but at a significant cost to computational efficiency. These results demonstrate that rotating scatter mask imaging is possible and introduces a potential alternative to other imagers. However, they also demonstrate that new techniques must be developed to increase the system’s performance and robustness for gamma imaging applications.

Large Isotropic Component in the Source Mechanism of the 2013 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Nuclear Test Revealed via a Hierarchical Bayesian Inversion

ABSTRACTThe 12 February 2013 nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea stands out among other nuclear tests because it produced unusually large transversal motions. Previous studies found various percentages of isotropic components of the seismic moment tensor (MT), which opens up an important question about the reliability of the methods and assumptions we routinely use to recover the seismic MT in the point source approximation. Of particular interest is the data noise model that can be utilized to represent the uncertainty associated with the recorded data. If the noise is not accounted for, this may result in a range of unwanted effects such as overfitting waveform data, and, in turn, it may lead to erroneous conclusions. We thus scrutinize the analyses of the seismic MT of this explosion by performing a thorough analysis of the source depth and time utilizing newly developed Earth structure models to invert seismograms at regional distances at different frequency bands. In addition, we estimate the solution uncertainty within a hierarchical Bayesian framework that allows accounting for noise in the data. Our results show that the resulting MT of this event contains an expectedly large isotropic component (about 70%) and a dip-slip faulting.

Design Ultra-Compact Aspherical Lenses for Extended Sources Using Particle Swarm Optical Optimization Algorithm

This paper presents a global optimization algorithm specifically tailored for ultra-compact aspherical lens design problems for extended LED sources. The main purpose is to obtain prescribed illumination patterns, particularly the uniform illuminance distribution. This method begins by calculating the initial aspherical lens with two surfaces based on point source approximation. Then a system of polynomials is employed to fit the meridian curves of the two surfaces. In the optimization process, we use the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to automatically find the optimal polynomial coefficients when the ray tracing simulation is being performed. A series of ultra-compact aspherical lenses with dimension ratio of h / d ranging from 0.95 to 1.25 are presented, where h denotes the center height of the lens and d represents the diameter of the extended source. The results show the high efficiency and versatility of the proposed method in prescribed illumination design for extended LED sources in three-dimensional rotational symmetry geometry. Additionally, an aspherical lens is fabricated and tested, and its practical performance approaches the design.