Parton distribution functions at LO,NLO and NNLO with correlated uncertainties between orders

Sets of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton are reported for the leading (LO), next-to-leading (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD calculations. The parton distribution functions are determined with the HERAFitter program using the data from the HERA experiments and preserving correlations between uncertainties for the LO, NLO and NNLO PDF sets. The sets are used to study cross-section ratios and their uncertainties when calculated at different orders in QCD. A reduction of the overall theoretical uncertainty is observed if correlations between the PDF sets are taken into account for the ratio of \(WW\) di-boson to \(Z\) boson production cross sections at the LHC.     

Spontaneous edge <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> sheared flow development studies in the TJ-II stellarator

The influence of plasma density and edge gradients in the development of perpendicular sheared flow has been investigated in the plasma edge region of the TJ-II stellarator. It has been experimentally observed that the generation of spontaneous perpendicular sheared flow (i.e. the naturally occurring shear layer) requires a minimum plasma density or gradient. It has been found that there is a coupling between the onset of sheared flow development and an increase in the level of plasma edge turbulence; once sheared flow is fully developed the level of fluctuations and turbulent transport slightly decreases whereas edge gradients and plasma density increase. The resulting shearing rate is close to the one required to trigger a transition to improved confinement regimes with reduction of edge turbulence, showing that spontaneous sheared flows and fluctuations keep themselves near marginal stability. Presented at the Workshop “Electric Fields, Structures and Relaxation in Edge Plasmas”, Tarragona, Spain, July 3–4, 2005.     

Multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge along improved confinement mode in LHCD plasmas with graphite limiters on HT-7 tokamak

Multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge (MARFE) phenomena during lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) Experiments on the HT-7 superconducting tokamak are summarized in this paper. The best correlation has been found between the total input (ohmic + LHCD) power and the product of the edge line average density and Z _eff. Studies show that the critical density of MARFE onset is observed in the region of Z _eff ^1/2f_GW = 0.6-0.9, where , (here is the maximum line average electron density and n_GW is the Greenwald density). These MARFEs generally appear to have the same characteristics as high f_GW MARFEs and are positionally stable throughout the LHCD pulse. Improved confinement mode induced by a MARFE is observed, and it is maintained for about 65 ms. MARFE cools the plasma edge, and the electron density profile is observed to become more narrow and peaked.     

Nonlinear mapping technique for data visualization and clustering assessment of LIBS data: application to ChemCam data

ChemCam is a remote laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument that will arrive on Mars in 2012, on-board the Mars Science Laboratory Rover. The LIBS technique is crucial to accurately identify samples and quantify elemental abundances at various distances from the rover. In this study, we compare different linear and nonlinear multivariate techniques to visualize and discriminate clusters in two dimensions (2D) from the data obtained with ChemCam. We have used principal components analysis (PCA) and independent components analysis (ICA) for the linear tools and compared them with the nonlinear Sammon’s map projection technique. We demonstrate that the Sammon’s map gives the best 2D representation of the data set, with optimization values from 2.8% to 4.3% (0% is a perfect representation), together with an entropy value of 0.81 for the purity of the clustering analysis. The linear 2D projections result in three (ICA) and five times (PCA) more stress, and their clustering purity is more than twice higher with entropy values about 1.8. We show that the Sammon’s map algorithm is faster and gives a slightly better representation of the data set if the initial conditions are taken from the ICA projection rather than the PCA projection. We conclude that the nonlinear Sammon’s map projection is the best technique for combining data visualization and clustering assessment of the ChemCam LIBS data in 2D. PCA and ICA projections on more dimensions would improve on these numbers at the cost of the intuitive interpretation of the 2D projection by a human operator.     

Diagnostics for first plasma study on EAST tokamak

The first plasma was obtained in the EAST on September 26th, 2006. Single-null (SN) and double-null (DN) diverted plasmas were achieved successfully in the EAST tokamak on January 22nd, 2007. The employed plasma diagnostics for first plasma study of EAST are as follows: a vertical one-channel far-infrared (FIR) hydrogen cyanide (HCN) laser interferometer for measuring the line average density, a 10-channel soft X-ray array for intensity measurement, a 16-channel heterodyne Electron Cyclotron Emission (ECE) for measuring the electron temperature profile, a 8-channel XUV bolometer array to measure plasma radiation losses, a 3-channel hard X-ray array for intensity measurement, an electromagnetic measurement system, a 35-channel Hα radiation array, 20 probes for divertor plasma, a one-channel visible bremsstrahlung emission, an impurity optical spectrum measurement system and two optical spectroscopic multi-channel analyzers (OMA). The first experimental results of diagnostic systems are summarized in this Letter.     

Triggered confinement enhancement and pedestal expansion in high-confinement-mode discharges in the national spherical torus experiment

We report observation of a new high performance regime in discharges in the National Spherical Torus Experiment, where the H mode edge "pedestal" temperature doubles and the energy confinement increases by 50%. The spontaneous transition is triggered by a large edge-localized mode, either natural or externally triggered by 3D fields. The transport barrier grows inward from the edge, with a doubling of both the pedestal pressure width and the spatial extent of steep radial electric field shear. The dynamics suggest that 3D fields could be applied to reduce edge transport in fusion devices.     

Raman spectroscopic analysis of arctic nodules: relevance to the astrobiological exploration of Mars

The discovery of small, spherical nodules termed ‘blueberries’ in Gusev Crater on Mars, by the NASA rover Opportunity has given rise to much debate on account of their interesting and novel morphology. A terrestrial analogue in the form of spherical nodules of similar size and morphology has been analysed using Raman spectroscopy; the mineralogical composition has been determined and evidence found for the biological colonisation of these nodules from the spectral signatures of cyanobacterial protective biochemical residues such as scytonemin, carotenoids, phycocyanins and xanthophylls. This is an important result for the recognition of future sites for the planned astrobiological exploration of planetary surfaces using remote robotic instrumentation in the search for extinct and extant life biosignatures and for the expansion of putative terrestrial Mars analogue geological niches and morphologies.