arXiv subjects

R. Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to R. Fischer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Integrated Data Analysis and Validation

A major challenge in nuclear fusion research is the coherent combination of data from heterogeneous diagnostics and modelling codes for machine control and safety as well as physics studies. Measured data from different diagnostics often provide information about the same subset of physical parameters. Additionally, information provided by some diagnostics might be needed for the analysis of other diagnostics. A joint analysis of complementary and redundant data allows, e.g., to improve the reliability of parameter estimation, to increase the spatial and temporal resolution of profiles, to obtain synergistic effects, to consider diagnostics interdependencies and to find and resolve data inconsistencies. Physics-based modelling and parameter relationships provide additional information improving the treatment of ill-posed inversion problems. A coherent combination of all kind of available information within a probabilistic framework allows for improved data analysis results. The concept of Integrated Data Analysis (IDA) in the framework of Bayesian probability theory is outlined and contrasted with conventional data analysis. Components of the probabilistic approach are summarized and specific ingredients beneficial for data analysis at fusion devices are discussed.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

On learning latent dynamics of the AUG plasma state

In this work, we demonstrate the utility of state representation learning applied to modeling the time evolution of electron density and temperature profiles at ASDEX-Upgrade (AUG). The proposed model is a deep neural network which learns to map the high dimensional profile observations to a lower dimensional state. The mapped states, alongside the original profile's corresponding machine parameters are used to learn a forward model to propagate the state in time. We show that this approach is able to predict AUG discharges using only a selected set of machine parameters. The state is then further conditioned to encode information about the confinement regime, which yields a simple baseline linear classifier, while still retaining the information needed to predict the evolution of profiles. We then discuss the potential use cases and limitations of state representation learning algorithms applied to fusion devices.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

A quasi-continuous exhaust scenario for a fusion reactor: the renaissance of small edge localized modes

Tokamak operational regimes with small edge localized modes (ELMs) could be a solution to the problem of large transient heat loads in future fusion reactors because they provide quasi-continuous exhaust while keeping a good plasma confinement. A ballooning mode mechanism near the last closed flux surface (LCFS) governed by an interplay of the pressure gradient and the magnetic shear there has been proposed for small ELMs in high density ASDEX Upgrade and TCV discharges. In this manuscript we explore different factors relevant for plasma edge stability in a wide range of edge safety factors by changing the connection length between the good and the bad curvature side. Simultaneously this influences the stabilizing effect of the local magnetic shear close to the LCFS as well as the $E \times B$ flow shear. Ideal ballooning stability calculations with the HELENA code reveal that small ELM plasmas are indeed unstable against ballooning modes very close to the LCFS but can exhibit second ballooning stability in the steep gradient region which correlates with enhanced confinement. We also present first non-linear simulations of small ELM regimes with the JOREK code including the $E \times B$ shear which indeed develop ballooning like fluctuations in the high triangularity limit. In the region where the small ELMs originate the dimensionless parameters are very similar in our investigated discharges and in a reactor, making this regime the ideal exhaust scenario for a future reactor.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

I-mode pedestal relaxation events at ASDEX Upgrade

The I-mode confinement regime can feature small edge temperature drops that can lead to an increase in the energy deposited onto the divertor targets. In this work, we show that these events are associated with a relaxation of both electron temperature and density edge profiles, with the largest drop found at the pedestal top position. Stability analysis of edge profiles reveals that the operational points are far from the ideal peeling-ballooning boundary. Also, we show that these events appear close to the H-mode transition in the typical I-mode operational space in ASDEX Upgrade, and that no further enhancement of energy confinement is found when they occur. Moreover, scrape-off layer transport during these events is found to be very similar to type-I ELMs, with regard to timescales ($\approx$ 800 $\mu$s), filament propagation, toroidally asymmetric energy effluxes at the midplane and asymmetry between inner and outer divertor deposited energy. In particular, the latter reveals that more energy reaches the outer divertor target. Lastly, first measurements of the divertor peak energy fluence are reported, and projections to ARC - a reactor designed to operate in I-mode - are drawn.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Redox evolution via gravitational differentiation on low mass planets: implications for abiotic oxygen, water loss and habitability

The oxidation of rocky planet surfaces and atmospheres, which arises from the twin forces of stellar nucleosynthesis and gravitational differentiation, is a universal process of key importance to habitability and exoplanet biosignature detection. Here we take a generalized approach to this phenomenon. Using a single parameter to describe redox state, we model the evolution of terrestrial planets around nearby M-stars and the Sun. Our model includes atmospheric photochemistry, diffusion and escape, line-by-line climate calculations and interior thermodynamics and chemistry. In most cases we find abiotic atmospheric O2 buildup around M-stars during the pre-main sequence phase to be much less than calculated previously, because the planet's magma ocean absorbs most oxygen liberated from H2O photolysis. However, loss of non-condensing atmospheric gases after the mantle solidifies remains a significant potential route to abiotic atmospheric O2 subsequently. In all cases, we predict that exoplanets that receive lower stellar fluxes, such as LHS1140b and TRAPPIST-1f and g, have the lowest probability of abiotic O2 buildup and hence may be the most interesting targets for future searches for biogenic O2. Key remaining uncertainties can be minimized in future by comparing our predictions for the atmospheres of hot, sterile exoplanets such as GJ1132b and TRAPPIST-1b and --c with observations.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2017

Three dimensional boundary displacement due to stable ideal kink modes excited by external n=2 magnetic perturbations

In low-collisionality scenarios exhibiting mitigation of edge localized modes (ELMs), stable ideal kink modes at the edge are excited by externally applied magnetic perturbation (MP)-fields. In ASDEX Upgrade these modes can cause three-dimensional (3D) boundary displacements up to the centimeter range. These displacements have been measured using toroidally localized high resolution diagnostics and rigidly rotating n = 2 MP-fields with various applied poloidal mode spectra. These measurements are compared to non-linear 3D ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equilibria calculated by VMEC. Comprehensive comparisons have been conducted, which consider for instance plasma movements due to the position control system, attenuation due to internal conductors and changes in the edge pressure profiles. VMEC accurately reproduces the amplitude of the displacement and its dependencies on the applied poloidal mode spectra. Quantitative agreement is found around the low field side (LFS) midplane. The response at the plasma top is qualitatively compared. The measured and predicted displacements at the plasma top maximize when the applied spectra is optimized for ELM-mitigation. The predictions from the vacuum modeling generally fails to describe the displacement at the LFS midplane as well as at the plasma top. When the applied mode spectra is set to maximize the displacement, VMEC and the measurements clearly surpass the predictions from the vacuum modeling by a factor of four. Minor disagreements between VMEC and the measurements are discussed. This study underlines the importance of the stable ideal kink modes at the edge for the 3D boundary displacement in scenarios relevant for ELM-mitigation.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Optical probing of mechanical loss of a Si_{3}N_{4} membrane below 100 mK

We report on low mechanical loss in a high-stress silicon nitride (Si_{3}N_{4}) membrane at temperatures below 100 mK. We isolate a membrane via a phononic shield formed within a supporting silicon frame, and measure the mechanical quality factor of a number of high-tension membrane modes as we vary our dilution refrigerator base temperature between 35 mK and 5 K. At the lowest temperatures, we obtain a maximum quality factor (Q) of 2.3\times10^{8}, corresponding to a Q-frequency product (QFP) of 3.7\times10^{14} Hz. These measurements complement the recent observation of improved quality factors of Si_{3}N_{4} at ultralow temperatures via electrical detection. We also observe a dependence of the quality factor on optical heating of the device. By combining exceptional material properties, high tension, advanced isolation and clamping techniques, high-stress mechanical objects are poised to explore a new regime of exceptional quality factors. Such quality factors combined with an optical probe at cryogenic temperatures will have a direct impact on resonators as quantum objects, as well as force sensors at mK temperatures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Improving broadband displacement detection with quantum correlations

Interferometers enable ultrasensitive measurement in a wide array of applications from gravitational wave searches to force microscopes. The role of quantum mechanics in the metrological limits of interferometers has a rich history, and a large number of techniques to surpass conventional limits have been proposed. In a typical measurement configuration, the tradeoff between the probe's shot noise (imprecision) and its quantum backaction results in what is known as the standard quantum limit (SQL). In this work we investigate how quantum correlations accessed by modifying the readout of the interferometer can access physics beyond the SQL and improve displacement sensitivity. Specifically, we use an optical cavity to probe the motion of a silicon nitride membrane off mechanical resonance, as one would do in a broadband displacement or force measurement, and observe sensitivity better than the SQL dictates for our quantum efficiency. Our measurement illustrates the core idea behind a technique known as \textit{variational readout}, in which the optical readout quadrature is changed as a function of frequency to improve broadband displacement detection. And more generally our result is a salient example of how correlations can aid sensing in the presence of backaction.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Plasma response measurements of external magnetic perturbations using electron cyclotron emission and comparisons to 3D ideal MHD equilibrium

The plasma response from an external n = 2 magnetic perturbation field in ASDEX Upgrade has been measured using mainly electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics and a rigid rotating field. To interpret ECE and ECE-imaging (ECE-I) measurements accurately, forward modeling of the radiation transport has been combined with ray tracing. The measured data is compared to synthetic ECE data generated from a 3D ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equilibrium calculated by VMEC. The measured amplitudes of the helical displacement around the low field side midplane are in reasonable agreement with the one from the synthetic VMEC diagnostics. Both exceed the prediction from the vacuum field calculations and indicate the presence of a kink response at the edge, which amplifies the perturbation. VMEC and MARS-F have been used to calculate the properties of this kink mode. The poloidal mode structure of the magnetic perturbation of this kink mode at the edge peaks at poloidal mode numbers larger than the resonant components |m| > |nq|, whereas the poloidal mode structure of its displacement is almost resonant |m| ~ |nq|. This is expected from ideal MHD in the proximity of rational surfaces. The displacement measured by ECE-I confirms this resonant response.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Probing quantum capacitance in a 3D topological insulator

We measure the quantum capacitance and probe thus directly the electronic density of states of the high mobility, Dirac type of two-dimensional electron system, which forms on the surface of strained HgTe. Here we show that observed magneto-capacitance oscillations probe, in contrast to magnetotransport, primarily the top surface. Capacitance measurements constitute thus a powerful tool to probe only one topological surface and to reconstruct its Landau level spectrum for different positions of the Fermi energy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on low collisionality discharges in MAST and a comparison with ASDEX Upgrade

Sustained ELM mitigation has been achieved on MAST and AUG using RMPs with a range of toroidal mode numbers over a wide region of low to medium collisionality discharges. The ELM energy loss and peak heat loads at the divertor targets have been reduced. The ELM mitigation phase is typically associated with a drop in plasma density and overall stored energy. In one particular scenario on MAST, by carefully adjusting the fuelling it has been possible to counteract the drop in density and to produce plasmas with mitigated ELMs, reduced peak divertor heat flux and with minimal degradation in pedestal height and confined energy. While the applied resonant magnetic perturbation field can be a good indicator for the onset of ELM mitigation on MAST and AUG there are some cases where this is not the case and which clearly emphasise the need to take into account the plasma response to the applied perturbations. The plasma response calculations show that the increase in ELM frequency is correlated with the size of the edge peeling-tearing like response of the plasma and the distortions of the plasma boundary in the X-point region.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2013

Detecting and polarizing nuclear spins with double resonance on a single electron spin

We report the detection and polarization of nuclear spins in diamond at room temperature by using a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center. We use Hartmann-Hahn double resonance to coherently enhance the signal from a single nuclear spin while decoupling from the noisy spin-bath, which otherwise limits the detection sensitivity. As a proof-of-principle we: (I) observe coherent oscillations between the NV center and a weakly coupled nuclear spin, (II) demonstrate nuclear bath cooling which prolongs the coherence time of the NV sensor by more than a factor of five. Our results provide a route to nanometer scale magnetic resonance imaging, and novel quantum information processing protocols.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

The Infrared Absorption Band and Vibronic Structure of the Nitrogen-Vacancy Center in Diamond

Negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV$^-$) color centers in diamond have generated much interest for use in quantum technology. Despite the progress made in developing their applications, many questions about the basic properties of NV$^-$ centers remain unresolved. Understanding these properties can validate theoretical models of NV$^-$, improve their use in applications, and support their development into competitive quantum devices. In particular, knowledge of the phonon modes of the $^1A_1$ electronic state is key for understanding the optical pumping process. Using pump-probe spectroscopy, we measured the phonon sideband of the ${^1}E\rightarrow{^1}A_1$ electronic transition in the NV$^-$ center. From this we calculated the ${^1}E\rightarrow{^1}A_1$ one-phonon absorption spectrum and found it to differ from that of the ${^3}E\rightarrow{^3}A_2$ transition, a result which is not anticipated by previous group-theoretical models of the NV$^-$ electronic states. We identified a high-energy 169 meV localized phonon mode of the $^1A_1$ level.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Validation of gyrokinetic modelling of light impurity transport including rotation in ASDEX Upgrade

Upgraded spectroscopic hardware and an improved impurity concentration calculation allow accurate determination of boron density in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak. A database of boron measurements is compared to quasilinear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations including Coriolis and centrifugal rotational effects over a range of H-mode plasma regimes. The peaking of the measured boron profiles shows a strong anti-correlation with the plasma rotation gradient, via a relationship explained and reproduced by the theory. It is demonstrated that the rotodiffusive impurity flux driven by the rotation gradient is required for the modelling to reproduce the hollow boron profiles at higher rotation gradients. The nonlinear simulations validate the quasilinear approach, and, with the addition of perpendicular flow shear, demonstrate that each symmetry breaking mechanism that causes momentum transport also couples to rotodiffusion. At lower rotation gradients, the parallel compressive convection is required to match the most peaked boron profiles. The sensitivities of both datasets to possible errors is investigated, and quantitative agreement is found within the estimated uncertainties. The approach used can be considered a template for mitigating uncertainty in quantitative comparisons between simulation and experiment.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

A Development Environment for Visual Physics Analysis

The Visual Physics Analysis (VISPA) project integrates different aspects of physics analyses into a graphical development environment. It addresses the typical development cycle of (re-)designing, executing and verifying an analysis. The project provides an extendable plug-in mechanism and includes plug-ins for designing the analysis flow, for running the analysis on batch systems, and for browsing the data content. The corresponding plug-ins are based on an object-oriented toolkit for modular data analysis. We introduce the main concepts of the project, describe the technical realization and demonstrate the functionality in example applications.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2012

Applying the Background-Source separation algorithm to Chandra Deep Field South data

A probabilistic two-component mixture model allows one to separate the diffuse background from the celestial sources within a one-step algorithm without data censoring. The background is modeled with a thin-plate spline combined with the satellite's exposure time. Source probability maps are created in a multi-resolution analysis for revealing faint and extended sources. All detected sources are automatically parametrized to produce a list of source positions, fluxes and morphological parameters. The present analysis is applied to the Chandra Deep Field South 2 Ms public released data. Within its 1.884 ks of exposure time and its angular resolution (0.984 arcsec), the Chandra Deep Field South data are particularly suited for testing the Background-Source separation algorithm.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2009

Background-Source Separation in astronomical images with Bayesian probability theory (I): the method

A probabilistic technique for the joint estimation of background and sources with the aim of detecting faint and extended celestial objects is described. Bayesian probability theory is applied to gain insight into the coexistence of background and sources through a probabilistic two-component mixture model, which provides consistent uncertainties of background and sources. A multi-resolution analysis is used for revealing faint and extended objects in the frame of the Bayesian mixture model. All the revealed sources are parameterized automatically providing source position, net counts, morphological parameters and their errors.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2008

Visual Physics Analysis (VISPA) - Concepts and First Applications

VISPA is a novel development environment for high energy physics analyses, based on a combination of graphical and textual steering. The primary aim of VISPA is to support physicists in prototyping, performing, and verifying a data analysis of any complexity. We present example screenshots, and describe the underlying software concepts.

physics.data-an↗