scholarly journals Statistical Uncertainties of Space Plasma Properties Described by Kappa Distributions

Entropy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 541
Author(s):  
Georgios Nicolaou ◽  
George Livadiotis

The velocities of space plasma particles often follow kappa distribution functions, which have characteristic high energy tails. The tails of these distributions are associated with low particle flux and, therefore, it is challenging to precisely resolve them in plasma measurements. On the other hand, the accurate determination of kappa distribution functions within a broad range of energies is crucial for the understanding of physical mechanisms. Standard analyses of the plasma observations determine the plasma bulk parameters from the statistical moments of the underlined distribution. It is important, however, to also quantify the uncertainties of the derived plasma bulk parameters, which determine the confidence level of scientific conclusions. We investigate the determination of the plasma bulk parameters from observations by an ideal electrostatic analyzer. We derive simple formulas to estimate the statistical uncertainties of the calculated bulk parameters. We then use the forward modelling method to simulate plasma observations by a typical top-hat electrostatic analyzer. We analyze the simulated observations in order to derive the plasma bulk parameters and their uncertainties. Our simulations validate our simplified formulas. We further examine the statistical errors of the plasma bulk parameters for several shapes of the plasma velocity distribution function.

Entropy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Nicolaou ◽  
George Livadiotis ◽  
Robert T. Wicks

The velocities of space plasma particles, often follow kappa distribution functions. The kappa index, which labels and governs these distributions, is an important parameter in understanding the plasma dynamics. Space science missions often carry plasma instruments on board which observe the plasma particles and construct their velocity distribution functions. A proper analysis of the velocity distribution functions derives the plasma bulk parameters, such as the plasma density, speed, temperature, and kappa index. Commonly, the plasma bulk density, velocity, and temperature are determined from the velocity moments of the observed distribution function. Interestingly, recent studies demonstrated the calculation of the kappa index from the speed (kinetic energy) moments of the distribution function. Such a novel calculation could be very useful in future analyses and applications. This study examines the accuracy of the specific method using synthetic plasma proton observations by a typical electrostatic analyzer. We analyze the modeled observations in order to derive the plasma bulk parameters, which we compare with the parameters we used to model the observations in the first place. Through this comparison, we quantify the systematic and statistical errors in the derived moments, and we discuss their possible sources.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin G. Field ◽  
Benjamin P. Eftink ◽  
Chad M. Parish ◽  
Stuart A. Maloy

AbstractComplex material systems in which microstructure and microchemistry are nonuniformly dispersed require three-dimensional (3D) rendering(s) to provide an accurate determination of the physio-chemical nature of the system. Current scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)-based tomography techniques enable 3D visualization but can be time-consuming, so only select systems or regions are analyzed in this manner. Here, it is presented that through high-efficiency multidimensional STEM acquisition and reconstruction, complex point cloud-like microstructural features can quickly and effectively be reconstructed in 3D. The proposed set of techniques is demonstrated, analyzed, and verified for a high-chromium steel with heterogeneously situated features induced using high-energy neutron bombardment.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (08) ◽  
pp. 1219-1228
Author(s):  
JACQUES SOFFER

Some aspects of hyperon polarization phenomena in inclusive production in several high energy collision processes are reviewed. We concentrate on ways to achieve an accurate determination of the unpolarized and polarized fragmentation functions of a quark into a [Formula: see text]. A possible extension to the production of the other hyperons (Σ±,0, Ξ-,0), will be also briefly discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 524-525 ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M. Korsunsky ◽  
Shu Yan Zhang ◽  
Daniele Dini ◽  
Willem J.J. Vorster ◽  
Jian Liu

Diffraction of penetrating radiation such as neutrons or high energy X-rays provides a powerful non-destructive method for the evaluation of residual stresses in engineering components. In particular, strain scanning using synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction has been shown to offer a fast and highly spatially resolving measurement technique. Synchrotron beamlines provide best available instruments in terms of flux and low beam divergence, and hence spatial and measurement resolution and data collection rate. However, despite the rapidly growing number of facilities becoming available in Europe and across the world, access to synchrotron beamlines for routine industrial and research use remains regulated, comparatively slow and expensive. A laboratory high energy X-ray diffractometer for bulk residual strain evaluation (HEXameter) has been developed and built at Oxford University. It uses a twin-detector setup first proposed by one of the authors in the energy dispersive X-ray diffraction mode and allows simultaneous determination of macroscopic and microscopic strains in two mutually orthogonal directions that lie approximately within the plane normal to the incident beam. A careful procedure for detector response calibration is used in order to facilitate accurate determination of lattice parameters by pattern refinement. The results of HEXameter measurements are compared with synchrotron X-ray data for several samples e.g. made from a titanium alloy and a particulate composite with an aluminium alloy matrix. Experimental results are found to be consistent with synchrotron measurements and strain resolution close to 2×10-4 is routinely achieved by the new instrument.


1993 ◽  
Vol 312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Nörenberg ◽  
Nobuyuki Koguchi

Abstract(2×4) and c(4×4) reconstructed GaAs(001) surfaces prepared by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) were studied by Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED). A method for accurate determination of the Arsenic coverage of reconstructed GaAs(001) surfaces is introduced. The time of Gallium supply to the reconstructed surface until a halo appears in the RHEED pattern is taken as measure for the Arsenic coverage. Structures between them were investigated at a substrate temperature of 200°C. The RHEED results were verified by High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM). Dependent on the surface reconstruction, Arsenic coverages between 0.76 and 1.22 monolayer (ML) were observed. Surface structures, observed during transformation between β(2×4) and c(4×4) will be discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1582-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Mayo ◽  
Eyal Yahel ◽  
Yaron Greenberg ◽  
El'ad N. Caspi ◽  
Brigitte Beuneu ◽  
...  

Accurate determination of a liquid structure, especially at high temperatures, remains challenging, as reflected in the scatter between different measurements. The experimental challenge is compounded by the process of the numerical transformation from the structure factor to the radial distribution function. The resulting uncertainty is often greater than that required to resolve issues associated with changes in the short-range order of the liquid, such as the existence of liquid–liquid phase transitions or correlations between thermophysical properties and structure. In the present contribution it is demonstrated for liquid bismuth as a model system that the structure factor can be obtained to high accuracy, by comparing several independent measurements in different setups. A simple method is proposed for improving the accuracy of the radial distribution functions, based on the extension of the finite range of momentum transfer,q, in the measured data by analytical asymptotic expressions. A unified mathematical formalism for the asymptotic dependence of the structure factor is developed and the asymptotic form of the Percus–Yevick hard-sphere solution is obtained as a special limiting case. The multiple expressions in the literature are shown to reflect uncertainty in the nature of the repulsive interatomic interaction at short separation distances. Applying this asymptotic method, it is shown that it enables access to details of the fine structure of the liquid and its temperature dependence.


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