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Bryn Lloyd

Publications and source records attributed to Bryn Lloyd.

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Assessing the Projector Augmented-Wave Method for Stopping Power Calculations

The stopping power of charged particles is investigated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Such simulations are made possible by recent advances in computational resources and numerical implementations of this first-principles method. In practice, DFT simulations widely employ the projector augmented-wave (PAW) method to approximate all-electron behaviour, but the implications of the PAW approximation for non-adiabatic stopping simulations remain insufficiently explored. Here, the suitability of the PAW method for stopping power simulations is evaluated. A workflow for generating and selecting PAW datasets tailored to these simulations is developed, enabling systematic optimisation of augmentation radii and projector constructions. The approach is applied to proton stopping in FCC aluminium, demonstrating how dataset design influences stopping predictions, and enabling an investigation of crystal channelling effects on charged-particle transport.

physics.plasm-ph

Articulatory movements influence electromagnetic wave transmission through the vocal tract

This study experimentally validates a numerical model of electromagnetic propagation through the human head during the pronunciation of different vowels, with the goal of improving our understanding of the underlying physical phenomena. A realistic finite element model was created from magnetic resonance images acquired while pronouncing the vowels /a/, /i/, and /u/. The model was validated against scattering matrix measurements obtained from two subjects whose geometries were modeled. Despite several potential sources of discrepancy, the simulations and measurements showed good qualitative agreement, confirming the validity of the approach. Similar transmission coefficient patterns were observed across subjects for the same vowels. Within the investigated frequency range of (1-6~GHz), the electric field exhibited a Mie scattering pattern. Local minima and maxima in the transmission coefficient, characterizing different articulatory configurations, were correlated with local variations in the electric field amplitude. The transmission coefficient's shape results from an interplay between resonance patterns and antenna placement, while the degree of mouth opening influences the shape of scattering modes. Although technically challenging, this numerical approach proved effective for studying electromagnetic propagation in the human head. The resulting robust numerical model and improved understanding of the underlying physics are expected to facilitate the development of radio-frequency-based silent speech interfaces.

physics.app-ph

An Online Data Analysis Framework for Small-Scale Physics Experiments

A robust and flexible architecture capable of providing real-time analysis on diagnostic data is of crucial importance to physics experiments. In this paper, we present such an online framework, used in June 2025 as part of the HRMT-68 experiment, performed at the HiRadMat facility at CERN, using the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) beam line. HRMT-68 was a fixed-target laboratory astrophysics experiment aiming to identify plasma instabilities generated by a relativistic electron-positron beam during traversal of an argon plasma. This framework was essential for experimental data acquisition and analysis, and can be adapted for a broad range of experiments with a variety of experimental diagnostics. The framework's modular and customizable design enabled us to rapidly observe and extract emergent features from a diverse range of diagnostic data. Simultaneously, it allowed for both the introduction of new diagnostic devices and the modification of our analysis as features of interest were identified. As a result, we were able to effectively diagnose equipment malfunction, and infer the beam's response to varying bunch duration, beam intensity, and the plasma state without resorting to offline analysis, at which time adjustment or improvement would have been impossible. We present the features of this agile framework, whose codebase we have made publicly available, which can be adapted for future experiments with minimal modification.

physics.acc-ph