Effect of the number of vortices on the torque scaling in Taylor-Couette flow

Torque measurements in Taylor-Couette flow, with large radius ratio and large aspect ratio, over a range of velocities up to a Reynolds number of 24 000 are presented. Following a specific procedure, nine states with distinct number of vortices along the axis were found and the aspect ratio of the vortices were measured. The relationship between the speed and the torque for a given number of vortices is reported. In the turbulent Taylor vortex flow regime, at relatively high Reynolds number, a change in behaviour is observed corresponding to intersections of the torque-speed curves for different states. Before each intersection, the torque for a state with larger number of vortices is higher. After each intersection, the torque for a state with larger number of vortices is lower. The exponent, from the scaling laws of the torque, always depends on the aspect ratio of the vortices. When the Reynolds number is rescaled using the mean aspect ratio of the vortices, only a partial collapse of the exponent data is found.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

The young stellar population of NGC 4214 as observed with HST. I. Data and methods

We present the data and methods that we have used to perform a detailed UV-optical study of the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4214 using multifilter HST/WFPC2+STIS photometry. We explain the process followed to obtain high-quality photometry and astrometry of the stellar and cluster populations of this galaxy. We describe the procedure used to transform magnitudes and colors into physical parameters using spectral energy distributions. The data show the existence of both young and old stellar populations that can be resolved at the distance of NGC 4214 (2.94 Mpc) and we perform a general description of those populations.Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, and 8 table

A Symmetry Adapted Approach to Molecular Spectroscopy: The Anharmonic Oscillator Symmetry Model

We apply the Anharmonic Oscillator Symmetry Model to the description of vibrational excitations in ${\cal D}_{3h}$ and ${\cal T}_d$ molecules. A systematic procedure can be used to establish the relation between the algebraic and configuration space formulations, by means of which new interactions are found in the algebraic model, leading to reliable spectroscopic predictions. We illustrate the method for the case of ${\cal D}_{3h}$-triatomic molecules and the ${\cal T}_d$ Be-cluster.Comment: 12 pages, invited talk at XIX Oaxtepec Symposium on Nuclear Physics, January 199

Bose-Einstein condensation of the magnetized ideal Bose gas

We study the charged non-relativistic Bose gas interacting with a constant magnetic field but which is otherwise free. The notion of Bose-Einstein condensation for the three dimensional case is clarified, and we show that although there is no condensation in the sense of a phase transition, there is still a maximum in the specific heat which can be used to define a critical temperature. Although the absence of a phase transition persists for all values of the magnetic field, we show how as the magnetic field is reduced the curves for the specific heat approach the free field curve. For large values of the magnetic field we show that the gas undergoes a "dimensional reduction" and behaves effectively as a one-dimensional gas except at very high temperatures. These general features persist for other spatial dimensions D and we show results for D=5. Finally we examine the magnetization and the Meissner-Ochsenfeld effect.Comment: 4 pages RevTex 2 column format with 4 eps figures, uses epsf. Replaced version has missing acknowledgements and a discussion of two references is corrected thanks to discussions with J. Daicic and N. Franke

Dynamic stability of crack fronts: Out-of-plane corrugations

The dynamics and stability of brittle cracks are not yet fully understood. Here we use the Willis-Movchan 3D linear perturbation formalism [J. Mech. Phys. Solids {\bf 45}, 591 (1997)] to study the out-of-plane stability of planar crack fronts in the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics. We discuss a minimal scenario in which linearly unstable crack front corrugations might emerge above a critical front propagation speed. We calculate this speed as a function of Poisson's ratio and show that corrugations propagate along the crack front at nearly the Rayleigh wave-speed. Finally, we hypothesize about a possible relation between such corrugations and the long-standing problem of crack branching.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures + supplementary informatio

SU(2) Kinetic Mixing Terms and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

The non-abelian generalization of the Holdom model --{\it i.e.} a theory with two gauge fields coupled to the kinetic mixing term $g {tr}(F_{\mu \nu} (A) F_{\mu \nu} (B))$-- is considered. Contrarily to the abelian case, the group structure $G\times G$ is explicitly broken to $G$. For SU(2) this fact implies that the residual gauge symmetry as well as the Lorentz symmetry is spontaneusly broken. We show that this mechanism provides of masses for the involved particles. Also, the model presents instanton solutions with a redefined coupling constant.Comment: 9pp. typos and clarifications are adde

Influence of MWCNT/surfactant dispersions on the mechanical properties of Portland cement pastes

This work studies the reinforcing effect of Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) on cement pastes. A 0.35% solid concentration of MWCNT in powder was dispersed in deionized water with sodium dodecyl sulfate (cationic surfactant), cetylpyridinium chloride (anionic surfactant) and triton X-100 (amphoteric surfactant) using an ultrasonic tip processor. Three concentrations of each surfactant (1mM, 10mM and 100mM) were tested, and all samples were sonicated until an adequate dispersion degree was obtained. Cement pastes with additions of carbon nanotubes of 0.15% by mass of cement were produced in two steps; first the dispersions of MWCNT were combined with the mixing water using an ultrasonic tip processor to guarantee homogeneity, and then cement was added and mixed until a homogeneous paste was obtained. Direct tensile strength, apparent density and open porosity of the pastes were measured after 7 days of curing. It was found that the MWCNT/surfactants dispersions decrease the mechanical properties of the cement based matrix due to an increased porosity caused by the presence of surfactants. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Phase transitions in the Interacting Boson Fermion Model: the gamma-unstable case

The phase transition around the critical point in the evolution from spherical to deformed gamma-unstable shapes is investigated in odd nuclei within the Interacting Boson Fermion Model. We consider the particular case of an odd j=3/2 particle coupled to an even-even boson core that undergoes a transition from spherical U(5) to gamma-unstable O(6) situation. The particular choice of the j=3/2 orbital preserves in the odd case the condition of gamma-instability of the system. As a consequence, energy spectrum and electromagnetic transitions, in correspondence of the critical point, display behaviours qualitatively similar to those of the even core. The results are also in qualitative agreement with the recently proposed E(5/4) model, although few differences are present, due to the different nature of the two schemes.Comment: In press in PRC as rapid communication. 7 pages, 4 figure