Publications

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A classification system is developed to identify driving situations from labeled examples of previous occurrences. The purpose of the classifier is to provide physical context to a separate system that mitigates unnecessary distractions, allowing the driver to maintain focus during periods of high difficulty. While watching videos of driving, we asked different users to indicate their perceptions of the current situation. We then trained a classifier to emulate the human recognition of driving situations using the Sandia Cognitive Framework. In unstructured conditions, such as driving in urban areas and the German autobahn, the classifier was able to correctly predict human perceptions of driving situations over 95% of the time. This paper focuses on the learning algorithms used to train the driving-situation classifier. Future work will reduce the human efforts needed to train the system. © 2005 IEEE.

A new multidomain/multiphysics computational framework for optimal control of aeroacoustic noise has been developed based on a near-field compressible Navier-Stokes solver coupled with a far-field linearized Euler solver both based on a discontinuous Galerkin formulation. In this approach, the coupling of near- and far-field domains is achieved by weakly enforcing continuity of normal fluxes across a coupling surface that encloses all nonlinearities and noise sources. For optimal control, gradient information is obtained by the solution of an appropriate adjoint problem that involves the propagation of adjoint information from the far-field to the near-field. This computational framework has been successfully applied to study optimal boundary-control of blade-vortex interaction, which is a significant noise source for helicopters on approach to landing. In the model-problem presented here, the noise propogated toward the ground is reduced by 12dB.

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An electrically programmable surface acoustic wave (SAW) correlator was recently completed from design through small scale production in support of low power space-based communications for NASA. Three different versions of this RF microsystem were built to satisfy design requirements and overcome packaging and system reliability related issues. Flip-chip packaging and conventional thick film hybrid assembly techniques are compared in the fabrication of this microsystem.

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The apparent metal-insulator transition is observed in a high-quality two-dimensional electron system (2DES) in the strained Si quantum well of a Si/Si{sub 1-x}Ge{sub x} heterostructure with mobility {mu} = 1.9 x 10{sup 5} cm{sup 2}/V s at density n = 1.45 x 10{sup 11} cm{sup -2}. The critical density, at which the thermal coefficient of low T resistivity changes sign, is -0.32 x 10{sup 11} cm{sup -2}, a very low value obtained in Si-based 2D systems. The in-plane magnetoresistivity {rho}(B{sub ip}) was measured in the density range, 0.35 x 10{sup 11} < n < 1.45 x 10{sup 11} cm{sup -2}, where the 2DES shows the metallic-like behavior. It first increases and then saturates to a finite value {rho}(B{sub c}) for B{sub ip}>B{sub c} , with B{sub c} the full spin-polarization field. Surprisingly, {rho}(B{sub c})/{rho}(0)-1.8 for all the densities, even down to n = 0.35 x 10{sup 11} cm{sup -2}, only 10% higher than n{sub c}. This is different from that in clean Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, where the enhancement is strongly density dependent and {rho}(B{sub c})/{rho}(0) appears to diverge as n {yields} n{sub c}. Finally, we show that in the fully spin-polarized regime, dependent on the 2DES density, the temperature dependence of {rho}(B{sub ip}) can be either metallic-like or insulating.

This article describes recent improvements in mapping a highly representative set of the world-wide scientific literature. The process described in this article extends existing work in this area in three major ways. First, we argue that a separate structural analysis of current literature vs. reference literature is required for R&D planning. Second, visualization software is used to improve coverage of the literature while maintaining structural integrity. Third, quantitative techniques for measuring the structural integrity of a map are introduced. Maps with high structural integrity, covering far more of the available literature, are presented.

A dynamic hohlraum is created when an annular z-pinch plasma implodes onto a cylindrical 0.014 g/cc 6-mm-diameter CH{sub 2} foam. The impact launches a radiating shock that propagates toward the axis at {approx}350 {micro}m/ns. The radiation trapped by the tungsten z-pinch plasma forms a {approx}200 eV hohlraum that provides X-rays for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion capsule implosion experiments. We are developing the ability to diagnose the hohlraum interior using emission and absorption spectroscopy of Si atoms added as a tracer to the central portion of the foam. Time- and space-resolved Si spectra are recorded with an elliptical crystal spectrometer viewing the cylindrical hohlraum end-on. A rectangular aperture at the end of the hohlraum restricts the field of view so that the 1D spectrometer resolution corresponds approximately to the hohlraum radial direction. This enables distinguishing between spectra from the unshocked radiation-heated foam and from the shocked foam. Typical spectral lines observed include the Si Ly{alpha} with its He-like satellites and the He-like resonance sequence including He{alpha}, He{beta}, and He{gamma}, along with some of their associated Li-like satellites. Work is in progress to infer the hohlraum conditions using collisional-radiative modeling that accounts for the radiation environment and includes both opacity effects and detailed Stark broadening calculations. These 6-mm-scale radiation-heated plasmas might eventually also prove suitable for testing Stark broadening line profile calculations or for opacity measurements.

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Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is used to examine mobility of labeled probes at specific sites in supported bilayers consisting of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid domains in 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). Those sites are mapped beforehand with simultaneous atomic force microscopy and submicron confocal fluorescence imaging, allowing characterization of probe partitioning between gel DPPC and disordered liquid DOPC domains with corresponding topography of domain structure. We thus examine the relative partitioning and mobility in gel and disordered liquid phases for headgroup- and tailgroup-labeled GM1 ganglioside probes and for headgroup- and tailgroup-labeled phospholipid probes. For the GM1 probes, large differences in mobility between fluid and gel domains are observed; whereas unexpected mobility is observed in submicron gel domains for the phospholipid probes. We attribute the latter to domain heterogeneities that could be induced by the probe. Furthermore, fits to the FCS data for the phospholipid probes in the DOPC fluid phase require two components (fast and slow). Although proximity to the glass substrate may be a factor, local distortion of the probe by the fluorophore could also be important. Overall, we observe nonideal aspects of phospholipid probe mobility and partitioning that may not be restricted to supported bilayers.

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We consider linear systems arising from the use of the finite element method for solving a certain class of linear elliptic problems. Our main result is that these linear systems, which are symmetric and positive semidefinite, are well approximated by symmetric diagonally dominant matrices. Our framework for defining matrix approximation is support theory. Significant graph theoretic work has already been developed in the support framework for preconditioners in the diagonally dominant case, and in particular it is known that such systems can be solved with iterative methods in nearly linear time. Thus, our approximation result implies that these graph theoretic techniques can also solve a class of finite element problems in nearly linear time. We show that the quality of our approximation, which controls the number of iterations in the preconditioned iterative solver, depends primarily on a mesh quality measure but not on the problem size or shape of the domain.

The authors explore various possible approaches for generating lowest order and higher order bases for modeling surface currents and their divergence for moment method application to integral equations. The bases developed are defined on curved triangular and quadrilateral elements. All the bases are conveniently defined in parent element coordinates, and each expansion function spans one or two patches.

This article examines how well one can predict the importance of a current paper (a paper that is recently published in the literature). We look at three factors--journal importance, reference importance and author reputation. Citation-based measures of importance are used for all variables. We find that journal importance is the best predictor (explaining 22.3% out of a potential 29.1% of the variance in the data), and that this correlation value varies significantly by discipline. Journal importance is a better predictor of citation in Computer Science than in any other discipline. While the finding supports the present policy of using journal impact statistics as a surrogate for the importance of current papers, it calls into question the present policy of equally weighting current documents in text-based analyses. We suggest that future researchers take into account the expected importance of a document when attempting to describe the cognitive structure of a field.

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In large-scale parallel applications a graph coloring is often carried out to schedule computational tasks. In this paper, we describe a new distributed-memory algorithm for doing the coloring itself in parallel. The algorithm operates in an iterative fashion; in each round vertices are speculatively colored based on limited information, and then a set of incorrectly colored vertices, to be recolored in the next round, is identified. Parallel speedup is achieved in part by reducing the frequency of communication among processors. Experimental results on a PC cluster using up to 16 processors show that the algorithm is scalable. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.

The Knudsen layer is an important rarefaction phenomenon in gas flows in and around microdevices. Its accurate and efficient modeling is of critical importance in the design of such systems and in predicting their performance. In this paper we investigate the potential that higher-order continuum equations may have to model the Knudsen layer, and compare their predictions to high-accuracy DSMC (direct simulation Monte Carlo) data, as well as a standard result from kinetic theory. We find that, for a benchmark case, the most common higher-order continuum equation sets (Grad's 13 moment, Burnett, and super-Burnett equations) cannot capture the Knudsen layer. Variants of these equation families have, however, been proposed and some of them can qualitatively describe the Knudsen layer structure. To make quantitative comparisons, we obtain additional boundary conditions (needed for unique solutions to the higher-order equations) from kinetic theory. However, we find the quantitative agreement with kinetic theory and DSMC data is only slight. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Conventional wisdom contends that high-energy nanosecond UV laser sources operate near the optical damage thresholds of their constituent materials. This notion is particularly true for nonlinear frequency converters like optical parametric oscillators, where poor beam quality combined with high intra-cavity fluence leads to catastrophic failure of crystals and optical coatings. The collective disappointment of many researchers supports this contention. However, we're challenging this frustrating paradigm by developing high-energy nanosecond UV sources that are efficient, mechanically robust, and most important, resistant to optical damage. Based on sound design principles developed through numerical modeling and rigorous laboratory testing, our sources generate 8-10 ns 190 mJ pulses at 320 nm with fluences ≤ 1 J/cm 2. Using the second harmonic of a Q-switched, injection-seeded Nd: YAG laser as the pump source, we convert the near-IR Nd:YAG fundamental to UV with optical-to-optical efficiency exceeding 21%. © 2005 Materials Research Society.

Stress measurements have been obtained from within the Norton Mine in support of site characterization activities intended to determine the in situ stress field around the mine. These results together with other measurements in the area permit an estimate of the principal stresses at the mine. Based on the most recent measurements, the maximum (σHmax) and minimum (σHmin) stresses acting in the horizontal plane are oriented nearly east-west and north-south, respectively, and their magnitudes are 5330 psi and 4100 psi, respectively. These values are expected to be essentially uniform within a few hundred feet vertically above and below the mine elevation. The stress acting in the vertical direction has a magnitude of 3270 psi at the mine level. This measured vertical stress is related to the overburden weight according to σv=1.26ρgh (where ρ is the overburden density, g acceleration of gravity, and h overburden depth). The measured vertical stress exceeds the stress calculated from overburden weight by a factor of 1.26. These in situ stresses are assumed to be principal stresses and, as a result, the vertical stress is the minimum principal stress. These measurements are generally consistent in magnitude and direction with two other much older sets of measurements taken in the mine and they are consistent with the east-west trend of the regional in situ principal stress direction. The average of all three sets of measurements, recent and old, in the mine give a maximum horizontal stress of 6110 psi, a minimum horizontal stress of 3630, and a vertical stress of 3030 psi. The directions of the mine excavation development, which normally are oriented according to the principal stresses, are also consistent with the current and past measurements.

Optical MEMS devices are commonly interfaced with lasers for communication, switching, or imaging applications. Dissipation of the absorbed energy in such devices is often limited by dimensional constraints which may lead to overheating and damage of the component. Surface micromachined, optically powered thermal actuators fabricated from two 2.25 μm thick polycrystalline silicon layers were irradiated with 808 nm continuous wave laser light with a 100 μm diameter spot under increasing power levels to assess their resistance to laser-induced damage. Damage occurred immediately after laser irradiation at laser powers above 275 mW and 295 mW for 150 urn diameter circular and 194 urn by 150 μm oval targets, respectively. At laser powers below these thresholds, the exposure time required to damage the actuators increased linearly and steeply as the incident laser power decreased. Increasing the area of the connections between the two polycrystalline silicon layers of the actuator target decreases the extent of the laser damage. Additionally, an optical thermal actuator target with 15 μm × 15 μm posts withstood 326 mW for over 16 minutes without exhibiting damage to the surface. Copyright © 2005 by ASME.

Unconstrained Plastering is a new algorithm with the goal of generating a conformal all-hexahedral mesh on any solid geometry assembly. Paving[1] has proven reliable for quadrilateral meshing on arbitrary surfaces. However, the 3D corollary, Plastering [2][3][4][5], is unable to resolve the unmeshed center voids due to being over-constrained by a pre-existing boundary mesh. Unconstrained Plastering attempts to leverage the benefits of Paving and Plastering, without the over-constrained nature of Plastering. Unconstrained Plastering uses advancing fronts to inwardly project unconstrained hexahedral layers from an unmeshed boundary. Only when three layers cross, is a hex element formed. Resolving the final voids is easier since closely spaced, randomly oriented quadrilaterals do not over-constrain the problem. Implementation has begun on Unconstrained Plastering, however, proof of its reliability is still forthcoming. © 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Strategies for risk assessment and management of high consequence operations are often based on factors such as physical analysis, analysis of software and other logical processing, and analysis of statistically determined human actions. Conventional analysis methods work well for processing objective information. However, in practical situations, much or most of the data available are subjective. Also, there are potential resultant pitfalls where conventional analysis might be unrealistic, such as improperly using event tree and fault tree failure descriptions where failures or events are soft (partial) rather than crisp (binary), neglecting or misinterpreting dependence (positive, negative, correlation), and aggregating nonlinear contributions linearly. There are also personnel issues that transcend basic human factors statistics. For example, sustained productivity and safety in critical operations can depend on the morale of involved personnel. In addition, motivation is significantly influenced by "latent effects," which are pre-occurring influences. This paper addresses these challenges and proposes techniques for subjective risk analysis, latent effects risk analysis and a hybrid analysis that also includes objective risk analysis. The goal is an improved strategy for risk management. © 2005 WIT Press.

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Control of the synthesis of nanomaterials to produce morphologies exhibiting quantized properties will enable device integration of several novel applications including biosensors, catalysis, and optical devices. In this work, solvothermal routes to produce zinc oxide nanorods are explored. Much previous work has relied on the addition of growth directing/inhibiting agents to control morphology. It was found in coarsening studies that zinc oxide nanodots will ripen to nanorod morphologies at temperatures of 90 to 120°C. The resulting nanorods have widths of 9-12 nm average dimension, which is smaller than current methods for nanorod synthesis. Use of nanodots as nuclei may be an approach that will allow for controlled growth of higher aspect ratio nanorods. © 2005 Materials Research Society.

In this paper we describe a data analysis toolkit constructed to meet the needs of data discovery in large scale spatio-temporal data. The toolkit is a C library of building blocks that can be assembled into data analyses. Our goals were to build a toolkit which is easy to use, is applicable to a wide variety of science domains, supports feature-based analysis, and minimizes low-level processing. The discussion centers on the design of a data model and interface that best supports these goals and we present three usage examples. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.

Face recognition systems require the ability to efficiently scan an existing database of faces to locate a match for a newly acquired face. The large number of faces in real world databases makes computationally intensive algorithms impractical for scanning entire databases. We propose the use of more efficient algorithms to “prescreen” face databases, determining a limited set of likely matches that can be processed further to identify a match. We use both radial symmetry and shape to extract five features of interest on 3D range images of faces. These facial features determine a very small subset of discriminating points which serve as input to a prescreening algorithm based on a Hausdorff fraction. We show how to compute the Haudorff fraction in linear O(n) time using a range image representation. Our feature extraction and prescreening algorithms are verified using the FRGC v1.0 3D face scan data. Results show 97% of the extracted facial features are within 10 mm or less of manually marked ground truth, and the prescreener has a rank 6 recognition rate of 100%.

A variety of methods exist for the assembly of microscale devices. One such strategy uses microscale force-fit pin insertion to assemble LIGA parts together. One of the challenges associated with this strategy is the handling of small pins which are 170 microns in diameter and with lengths ranging from 500 to 1000 microns. In preparation for insertion, a vibratory micro-pin feeder has been used to successfully singulate and manipulate the pins into a pin storage magazine. This paper presents the development of a deterministic model, simulation tool, and methodology in order to identify and analyze key performance attributes of the vibratory micro-pin feeder system. A brief parametric study was conducted to identify the effects of changing certain system parameters on the bulk behavior of the system, namely the capture rate of the pins. Results showing trends have been obtained for a few specific cases. These results indicate that different system parameters can be chosen to yield better system performance. Copyright © 2005 by ASME.

The accurate quantification and control of mixture stoichiometry is critical in many applications using new combustion strategies and fuels (e.g., homogeneous charge compression ignition, gasoline direct injection, and oxygenated fuels). The parameter typically used to quantify mixture stoichiometry (i.e., the proximity of a reactant mixture to its stoichiometric condition) is the equivalence ratio, φ. The traditional definition of φ is based on the relative amounts of fuel and oxidizer molecules in a mixture. This definition provides an accurate measure of mixture stoichiometry when the fuel molecule does not contain oxidizer elements and when the oxidizer molecule does not contain fuel elements. However, the traditional definition of φ leads to problems when the fuel molecule contains an oxidizer element, as is the case when an oxygenated fuel is used, or once reactions have started and the fuel has begun to oxidize. The problems arise because an oxidizer element in a fuel molecule is counted as part of the fuel, even though it is an oxidizer element. Similarly, if an oxidizer molecule contains fuel elements, the fuel elements in the oxidizer molecule are misleadingly lumped in with the oxidizer in the traditional definition of φ. In either case, use of the traditional definition of φ to quantify the mixture stoichiometry can lead to significant errors. This paper introduces the oxygen equivalence ratio, φΩ, a parameter that properly characterizes the instantaneous mixture stoichiometry for a broader class of reactant mixtures than does φ. Because it is an instantaneous measure of mixture stoichiometry, φΩ can be used to track the time-evolution of stoichiometry as a reaction progresses. The relationship between φΩ and φ is shown. Errors are involved when the traditional definition of φ is used as a measure of mixture stoichiometry with fuels that contain oxidizer elements or oxidizers that contain fuel elements; φΩ is used to quantify these errors. Proper usage of φΩ is discussed, and φΩ is used to interpret results in a practical example. Copyright © 2005 SAE International.

Proposed Supplement 1 to the GUM outlines a "propagation of distributions " approach to deriving the distribution of a measurandfor any non-linear function and for any set of random inputs. The Supplement 's proposed Monte Carlo approach assumes that the distributions of the random inputs are known exactly. This implies that the sample sizes are effectively infinite. In this case the mean of the measurand can be determined precisely using a large number of Monte Carlo simulations. In practice, however, the distributions of the inputs will rarely be known exactly, but must be estimated using possibly small samples. If these approximated distributions are treated as exact, the uncertainty in estimating the mean is not properly taken into account. In this paper we propose a two-stage Monte Carlo procedure that explicitly takes into account the finite sample sizes used to estimate parameters of the input distributions. We will illustrate the approach with a case study involving the efficiency of a thermistor mount power sensor. The performance of the proposed approach will be compared to the standard GUM approach for finite samples using simple non-linear measurement equations. We will investigate performance in terms of coverage probabilities of derived confidence intervals. © 2005 IEEE.