Dust-Radiation Universes: Stability Analysis

Flat and open universe models are considered, containing a mixture of cold matter (dust) and radiation interacting only through gravity, with the aim of studying their stability with respect to linear scalar perturbations. To this end the perturbed universe is considered as a dynamical system, described by coupled differential equations for a gauge\hs invariant perturbation variable and a relevant background variable. The phase\hs space analysis of this dynamical system shows that flat dust\hs radiation models are unstable, and open models structurally unstable, with respect to adiabatic perturbations. It is shown that there are perturbations which decay even if their wavelength at equidensity is larger than the corresponding Jeans scale. Metric and curvature perturbations are also briefly discussed. We believe that this analysis gives a clearer idea of the stability properties of realistic universe models than the standard one based on the Jeans scale, despite our simplifying assumptions.Comment: 21 pages + 4 figures (available as hard copies from K.P.), LaTeX, SISSA 126/93/

NASA space materials research

The effect of the space environment on: (1) thermal control coatings and thin polymer films; (2) radiation stability of 250 F and 350 F cured graphite/epoxy composites; and (3) the thermal mechanical stability of graphite/epoxy, graphite/glass composites are considered. Degradation in mechanical properties due to combined radiation and thermal cycling is highlighted. Damage mechanisms are presented and chemistry modifications to improve stability are suggested. The dimensional instabilities in graphite/epoxy composites associated with microcracking during thermal cycling is examined as well as the thermal strain hysteresis found in metal-matrix composites

Stability of the toroidal magnetic field in stellar radiation zones

Understanding the stability of the magnetic field in radiation zones is of crucial importance for various processes in stellar interior like mixing, circulation and angular momentum transport. The stability properties of a star containing a prominent toroidal field in a radiation zone is investigated by means of a linear stability analysis in the Boussinesq approximation taking into account the effect of thermal conductivity. The growth rate of the instability is explicitly calculated and the effects of stable stratification and heat transport are discussed in detail. It is argued that the stabilizing influence of gravity can never entirely suppress the instability caused by electric currents in radiation zones although the stable stratification can significantly decrease the growth rate of instabilityComment: 12 pages, 3 figure

The initial state of generalized radiation universes

We use asymptotic methods to study the early time stability of isotropic and homogeneous solutions filled with radiation which are close initially to the exact, flat, radiation solution in quadratic lagrangian theories of gravity. For such models, we analyze all possible modes of approach to the initial singularity and prove the essential uniqueness and stability of the resulting asymptotic scheme in all cases except perhaps that of the conformally invariant Bach-Weyl gravity. We also provide a formal series representation valid near the initial singularity of the general solution of these models and show that this is dominated at early times by a form in which both curvature and radiation play a subdominant role. We also discuss the implications of these results for the generic initial state of the theory.Comment: 15 pages, latex, v2: minor corrections, matches version to appear in Phys. Lett.

String Effective Actions and Cosmological Stability of Scalar Potentials

The cosmology of the string effective action, including one loop string threshold corrections, is analyzed for static compactifications. The stability of the minima of a general supersymmetry breaking potential is studied in the presence of radiation. In particular, it is shown that the radiation bath makes the minima with negative cosmological constant unstable.Comment: 10 pages + 7 figures (not included but available upon request

Linear Stability of Equilibrium Points in the Generalized Photogravitational Chermnykh's Problem

The equilibrium points and their linear stability has been discussed in the generalized photogravitational Chermnykh's problem. The bigger primary is being considered as a source of radiation and small primary as an oblate spheroid. The effect of radiation pressure has been discussed numerically. The collinear points are linearly unstable and triangular points are stable in the sense of Lyapunov stability provided $\mu< \mu_{Routh}=0.0385201$. The effect of gravitational potential from the belt is also examined. The mathematical properties of this system are different from the classical restricted three body problem

Polymer film exhibits thermal and radiation stability

Aromatic/heterocyclic polymers /Pyrrones/ have the ability to absorb large quantities of photolytic, thermal and radiolytic energies while retaining their useful properties. They are prepared from the room temperature reaction of tetraamines and tetraacids

Evolution of Primordial Black Hole Mass Spectrum in Brans-Dicke Theory

We investigate the evolution of primordial black hole mass spectrum by including both accretion of radiation and Hawking evaporation within Brans-Dicke cosmology in radiation, matter and vacuum-dominated eras. We also consider the effect of evaporation of primordial black holes on the expansion dynamics of the universe. The analytic solutions describing the energy density of the black holes in equilibrium with radiation are presented. We demonstrate that these solutions act as attractors for the system ensuring stability for both linear and nonlinear situations. We show, however, that inclusion of accretion of radiation delays the onset of this equilibrium in all radiation, matter and vacuum-dominated eras.Comment: 18 pages, one figur

Effects of high energy simulated space radiation on polymeric second-surface mirrors

A radiation effects experimental program was performed, in which second surface mirror type thermal control coatings were exposed to ultraviolet radiation, electrons, and protons simultaneously. Stability was assessed by making periodic spectral reflectance measurements in situ (and in air after testing for comparison). Solar absorption coefficients were derived by computer. Many of the exposed materials showed large amounts of degradation in reflectance absorptance, principally due to the electron exposure. A series of tests was conducted, leading to the identification of a modified second surface mirror that shows considerable improvement and promise for stability during thermal control applications in a charged particle space radiation environment