Boltzmann equation and hydrodynamic fluctuations

We apply the method of invariant manifolds to derive equations of generalized hydrodynamics from the linearized Boltzmann equation and determine exact transport coefficients, obeying Green-Kubo formulas. Numerical calculations are performed in the special case of Maxwell molecules. We investigate, through the comparison with experimental data and former approaches, the spectrum of density fluctuations and address the regime of finite Knudsen numbers and finite frequencies hydrodynamics.Comment: This is a more detailed version of a related paper: I.V. Karlin, M. Colangeli, M. Kroger, PRL 100 (2008) 214503, arXiv:0801.2932. It contains comparison between predictions and experiment, in particular. 11 pages, 6 figures, 2 table

Kinetic Theory of a Dilute Gas System under Steady Heat Conduction

The velocity distribution function of the steady-state Boltzmann equation for hard-core molecules in the presence of a temperature gradient has been obtained explicitly to second order in density and the temperature gradient. Some thermodynamical quantities are calculated from the velocity distribution function for hard-core molecules and compared with those for Maxwell molecules and the steady-state Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook(BGK) equation. We have found qualitative differences between hard-core molecules and Maxwell molecules in the thermodynamical quantities, and also confirmed that the steady-state BGK equation belongs to the same universality class as Maxwell molecules.Comment: 36 pages, 4 figures, 5 table

AVIATR - Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance A Titan Airplane Mission Concept

We describe a mission concept for a stand-alone Titan airplane mission: Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance (AVIATR). With independent delivery and direct-to-Earth communications, AVIATR could contribute to Titan science either alone or as part of a sustained Titan Exploration Program. As a focused mission, AVIATR as we have envisioned it would concentrate on the science that an airplane can do best: exploration of Titan's global diversity. We focus on surface geology/hydrology and lower-atmospheric structure and dynamics. With a carefully chosen set of seven instruments-2 near-IR cameras, 1 near-IR spectrometer, a RADAR altimeter, an atmospheric structure suite, a haze sensor, and a raindrop detector-AVIATR could accomplish a significant subset of the scientific objectives of the aerial element of flagship studies. The AVIATR spacecraft stack is composed of a Space Vehicle (SV) for cruise, an Entry Vehicle (EV) for entry and descent, and the Air Vehicle (AV) to fly in Titan's atmosphere. Using an Earth-Jupiter gravity assist trajectory delivers the spacecraft to Titan in 7.5 years, after which the AVIATR AV would operate for a 1-Earth-year nominal mission. We propose a novel 'gravity battery' climb-then-glide strategy to store energy for optimal use during telecommunications sessions. We would optimize our science by using the flexibility of the airplane platform, generating context data and stereo pairs by flying and banking the AV instead of using gimbaled cameras. AVIATR would climb up to 14 km altitude and descend down to 3.5 km altitude once per Earth day, allowing for repeated atmospheric structure and wind measurements all over the globe. An initial Team-X run at JPL priced the AVIATR mission at FY10 $715M based on the rules stipulated in the recent Discovery announcement of opportunity. Hence we find that a standalone Titan airplane mission can achieve important science building on Cassini's discoveries and can likely do so within a New Frontiers budget

Nearly Perfect Fluidity: From Cold Atomic Gases to Hot Quark Gluon Plasmas

Shear viscosity is a measure of the amount of dissipation in a simple fluid. In kinetic theory shear viscosity is related to the rate of momentum transport by quasi-particles, and the uncertainty relation suggests that the ratio of shear viscosity eta to entropy density s in units of hbar/k_B is bounded by a constant. Here, hbar is Planck's constant and k_B is Boltzmann's constant. A specific bound has been proposed on the basis of string theory where, for a large class of theories, one can show that eta/s is greater or equal to hbar/(4 pi k_B). We will refer to a fluid that saturates the string theory bound as a perfect fluid. In this review we summarize theoretical and experimental information on the properties of the three main classes of quantum fluids that are known to have values of eta/s that are smaller than hbar/k_B. These fluids are strongly coupled Bose fluids, in particular liquid helium, strongly correlated ultracold Fermi gases, and the quark gluon plasma. We discuss the main theoretical approaches to transport properties of these fluids: kinetic theory, numerical simulations based on linear response theory, and holographic dualities. We also summarize the experimental situation, in particular with regard to the observation of hydrodynamic behavior in ultracold Fermi gases and the quark gluon plasma.Comment: 76 pages, 11 figures, review article, extensive revision

Model of the homogeneous electrical discharge

This paper is aimed at the modelling of an electrical discharge controlled by mean of a dielectric barrier, at atmospheric pressure; we focus our study on the homogeneous “regime”. This model is based on the use of equivalent electrical circuits and is taking into account the main phenomena of the discharge. We also offer a method for the determination of the parameters of the model; the comparison of the experimental waveforms with the simulated ones is validating the accuracy of the proposed model in the case of discharges in nitrogen or helium. Our model is exploited to point out the drastic importance of the electrical characteristics of the power supply with respect to the main waveforms of the discharge. (including computer-aided circuit design and analysis

Système expert pour la conception en électronique de puissance

The study that we propose concerns the automatic design of static converters and especially of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). The aim is the development of a tool bringing an assistance in the analysis of the specifications, the choice and design of the structure that best match the application. To realize the design of these UPS, a new approach is presented. Specifications are described in terms of input and output performances (voltage, current, ...). These data are analyzed by using design rules and methods which allows designing the input filter, the output filter, the inverter, the rectifier, etc. In practice, these rules and methods are implemented on a micro computer by use of an “expert system generator” SMECI. We present and justify the modular structure that has been installed, as well as its functioning.L'étude que nous proposons concerne la conception automatique des convertisseurs statiques et en particulier des Alimentations Sans Interruption (ASI). Le but recherché est la mise au point d'un outil apportant une aide à l'analyse du cahier des charges, au choix et au dimensionnement des structures les mieux adaptées. Pour réaliser la conception de ces ASI, une nouvelle approche est présentée. Les spécifications sont décrites par les performances recherchées au niveau des courants et des tensions à l'entrée et à la sortie. Ces données sont analysées par l'emploi de méthodes et de règles de conception permettant ainsi de dimensionner le filtre d'entrée, le filtre de sortie, l'onduleur, le redresseur, etc. Au plan pratique, ces règles et méthodes sont implantées à l'aide du “générateur de système expert” SMECI. Nous présentons et justifions la structure modulaire qui a été mise en place, ainsi que son fonctionnement