Plasma-based Control of Supersonic Nozzle Flow

The flow structure obtained when Localized Arc Filament Plasma Actuators (LAFPA) are employed to control the flow issuing from a perfectly expanded Mach 1.3 nozzle is elucidated by visualizing coherent structures obtained from Implicit Large-Eddy Simulations. The computations reproduce recent experimental observations at the Ohio State University to influence the acoustic and mixing properties of the jet. Eight actuators were placed on a collar around the periphery of the nozzle exit and selectively excited to generate various modes, including first and second mixed (m = +/- 1 and m = +/- 2) and axisymmetric (m = 0). In this fluid dynamics video http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/13723/2/Alljoinedtotalwithmodetextlong2-Datta%20MPEG-1.m1v, http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/13723/3/Alljoinedtotalwithmodetextlong2-Datta%20MPEG-2.m2v}, unsteady and phase-averaged quantities are displayed to aid understanding of the vortex dynamics associated with the m = +/- 1 and m = 0 modes excited at the preferred column-mode frequency (Strouhal number 0.3). The unsteady flow in both contains a broad spectrum of coherent features. For m = +/- 1, the phase-averaged flow reveals the generation of successive distorted elliptic vortex rings with axes in the flapping plane, but alternating on either side of the jet axis. This generates a chain of structures where each interacts with its predecessor on one side and its successor on the other. Through self and mutual interaction, the leading segment of each loop is pinched and passes through the previous ring before rapidly breaking up, and the mean jet flow takes on an elliptic shape. The m = 0 mode exhibits relatively stable roll-up events, with vortex ribs in the braid regions connecting successive large coherent structures.Comment: 3 pages. Video submission to Gallery of Fluid Motion, American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics, 62nd Annual Meeting, November 22-24, 2009, Minneapolis, MN. Replacement deletes TeX commands to correct web link

On a Centrality Maximization Game

The Bonacich centrality is a well-known measure of the relative importance of nodes in a network. This notion is, for example, at the core of Google's PageRank algorithm. In this paper we study a network formation game where each player corresponds to a node in the network to be formed and can decide how to rewire his m out-links aiming at maximizing his own Bonacich centrality, which is his utility function. We study the Nash equilibria (NE) and the best response dynamics of this game and we provide a complete classification of the set of NE when m=1 and a fairly complete classification of the NE when m=2. Our analysis shows that the centrality maximization performed by each node tends to create undirected and disconnected or loosely connected networks, namely 2-cliques for m=1 and rings or a special "Butterfly"-shaped graph when m=2. Our results build on locality property of the best response function in such game that we formalize and prove in the paper.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Conformational Dynamics of Supramolecular Protein Assemblies in the EMDB

The Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB) is a rapidly growing repository for the dissemination of structural data from single-particle reconstructions of supramolecular protein assemblies including motors, chaperones, cytoskeletal assemblies, and viral capsids. While the static structure of these assemblies provides essential insight into their biological function, their conformational dynamics and mechanics provide additional important information regarding the mechanism of their biological function. Here, we present an unsupervised computational framework to analyze and store for public access the conformational dynamics of supramolecular protein assemblies deposited in the EMDB. Conformational dynamics are analyzed using normal mode analysis in the finite element framework, which is used to compute equilibrium thermal fluctuations, cross-correlations in molecular motions, and strain energy distributions for 452 of the 681 entries stored in the EMDB at present. Results for the viral capsid of hepatitis B, ribosome-bound termination factor RF2, and GroEL are presented in detail and validated with all-atom based models. The conformational dynamics of protein assemblies in the EMDB may be useful in the interpretation of their biological function, as well as in the classification and refinement of EM-based structures.Comment: Associated online data bank available at: http://lcbb.mit.edu/~em-nmdb

Corrections for a constant radial magnetic field in the g-2 and electric-dipole-moment experiments with muons in storage rings

We calculate the corrections for constant radial magnetic field in muon g--2 and electric-dipole-moment experiments in storage rings. While the correction is negligible for the current generation of g--2 experiments, it affects the upcoming muon electric-dipole-moment experiment at Fermilab.Comment: 8 page

Chaos, Metastability and Ergodicity in Bose-Hubbard Superfluid Circuits

The hallmark of superfluidity is the appearance of metastable flow-states that carry a persistent circulating current. Considering Bose-Hubbard superfluid rings, we clarify the role of "quantum chaos" in this context. We show that the standard Landau and Bogoliubov superfluidity criteria fail for such low-dimensional circuits. We also discuss the feasibility for a coherent operation of a SQUID-like setup. Finally, we address the manifestation of the strong many-body dynamical localization effect.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figs, review several results that concern Bose-Hubbard superfluid circuit

Yard-Sale exchange on networks: Wealth sharing and wealth appropriation

Yard-Sale (YS) is a stochastic multiplicative wealth-exchange model with two phases: a stable one where wealth is shared, and an unstable one where wealth condenses onto one agent. YS is here studied numerically on 1d rings, 2d square lattices, and random graphs with variable average coordination, comparing its properties with those in mean field (MF). Equilibrium properties in the stable phase are almost unaffected by the introduction of a network. Measurement of decorrelation times in the stable phase allow us to determine the critical interface with very good precision, and it turns out to be the same, for all networks analyzed, as the one that can be analytically derived in MF. In the unstable phase, on the other hand, dynamical as well as asymptotic properties are strongly network-dependent. Wealth no longer condenses on a single agent, as in MF, but onto an extensive set of agents, the properties of which depend on the network. Connections with previous studies of coalescence of immobile reactants are discussed, and their analytic predictions are successfully compared with our numerical results.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to JSTA

STS-26 solid rocket booster post flight structural assessment

A post flight assessment of the Space Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters was conducted at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the launch of STS-26. The two boosters were inspected for structural damage and the results of this inspection are presented. Overall, the boosters were in good condition. However, there was some minor damage attributed to splash down. Some of this damage is a recurring problem. Explanations of these problems are provided