Ames Research Center

About: Ames Research Center is a facility organization based out in Mountain View, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Mars Exploration Program & Planet. The organization has 13766 authors who have published 35830 publications receiving 1350076 citations. The organization is also known as: ARC & NASA Ames.

Quantum supremacy using a programmable superconducting processor

Abstract: The promise of quantum computers is that certain computational tasks might be executed exponentially faster on a quantum processor than on a classical processor1. A fundamental challenge is to build a high-fidelity processor capable of running quantum algorithms in an exponentially large computational space. Here we report the use of a processor with programmable superconducting qubits2-7 to create quantum states on 53 qubits, corresponding to a computational state-space of dimension 253 (about 1016). Measurements from repeated experiments sample the resulting probability distribution, which we verify using classical simulations. Our Sycamore processor takes about 200 seconds to sample one instance of a quantum circuit a million times-our benchmarks currently indicate that the equivalent task for a state-of-the-art classical supercomputer would take approximately 10,000 years. This dramatic increase in speed compared to all known classical algorithms is an experimental realization of quantum supremacy8-14 for this specific computational task, heralding a much-anticipated computing paradigm.

ZONAL TWO EQUATION k-w TURBULENCE MODELS FOR AERODYNAMIC FLOWS

Abstract: Two new versions of the k - w two-equation turbulence model will be presented. The new Baseline (BSL) model is designed to give results similar to those of the original k - w model of Wilcox. but without its strong dependency on arbitrary freestream values. The BSL model is identical to the Wilcox model in the inner SOC7£; of the boundary-layer but changes gradually to the standard k - f. model (in a k - w fonnulation) towards the boundary-layer edge. The new model is also virtually identical to the k - f. model for free shear layers. The second version of the model is called Shear-Stress Transport (SSn model. It is a variation of the BSL model with the additional ability to account for the transport of the principal turbulent shear stress in adverse pressure gradient boundary-layers. The model is based on Bradshaw's assumption that the principal shear-stress is pro­ portional to the turbulent kinetic energy, which is introduced into the definition of the eddy-viscosity. Both models are tested for a large number of different fiowfields. The results of the BSL model are similar to those of the original k - w model, but without the undesirable free stream dependency. The predictions of the SST model are also independent of the freestrearn values but show better agreement with exper­ imental data for adverse pressure gradient boundary-layer flows.

QUEST: a Bayesian adaptive psychometric method.

Abstract: An adaptive psychometric procedure that places each trial at the current most probable Bayesian estimate of threshold is described. The procedure takes advantage of the common finding that the human psychometric function is invariant in form when expressed as a function of log intensity. The procedure is simple, fast, and efficient, and may be easily implemented on any computer.

Sdss-iii: massive spectroscopic surveys of the distant universe, the milky way, and extra-solar planetary systems

Abstract: Building on the legacy of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-I and II), SDSS-III is a program of four spectroscopic surveys on three scientific themes: dark energy and cosmological parameters, the history and structure of the Milky Way, and the population of giant planets around other stars. In keeping with SDSS tradition, SDSS-III will provide regular public releases of all its data, beginning with SDSS DR8 (which occurred in Jan 2011). This paper presents an overview of the four SDSS-III surveys. BOSS will measure redshifts of 1.5 million massive galaxies and Lya forest spectra of 150,000 quasars, using the BAO feature of large scale structure to obtain percent-level determinations of the distance scale and Hubble expansion rate at z 100 per resolution element), H-band (1.51-1.70 micron) spectra of 10^5 evolved, late-type stars, measuring separate abundances for ~15 elements per star and creating the first high-precision spectroscopic survey of all Galactic stellar populations (bulge, bar, disks, halo) with a uniform set of stellar tracers and spectral diagnostics. MARVELS will monitor radial velocities of more than 8000 FGK stars with the sensitivity and cadence (10-40 m/s, ~24 visits per star) needed to detect giant planets with periods up to two years, providing an unprecedented data set for understanding the formation and dynamical evolution of giant planet systems. (Abridged)