Caustics in Dark Matter Haloes

Caustics are formally singular structures, with infinite density, that form in collisionless media. The non-negligible velocity dispersion of dark matter particles renders their density finite. We evaluate the maximum density of the caustics within the framework of secondary infall model of formation of dark matter haloes. The result is then used to demonstrate that caustics can be probed by properly stacking the weak-lensing signal of about 600 haloes. CFHTLS accompanied by X-ray observations and the space-based experiments like SNAP or DUNE can provide us with the required statistics and hence a way of distinguishing between the viable dark matter particle candidates. The extension of our results to more realistic models including the effects of mergers of haloes is briefly outlined.Comment: Minor changes, two references added, 6 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Proc. 21st IAP Colloquium "Mass Profiles and Shapes of Cosmological Structures", Paris 4-9 July 2005, [EAS Publications Series, eds: G. Mamon, F. Combes, C. Deffayet, B. Fort

OMA analysis of a launcher under operational conditions with time-varying properties

The objective of the paper is the investigation of the capability of Operational Modal Analysis approaches to deal with time-varying system in the low-frequency domain. Specifically, the problem of the identification of the dynamic properties of a launch-vehicle, working under actual operative conditions, is studied. Two OMA methods are considered: the Frequency Domain Decomposition and the Hilbert Transform Method. It is demonstrated that both OMA approaches allow the time-tracking of modal parameters, namely, natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes, from the response accelerations only recorded during actual flight tests of a launcher characterized by a large mass variation due to fuel burning typical of the first phase of the flight

Constructing IGA-suitable planar parameterization from complex CAD boundary by domain partition and global/local optimization

In this paper, we propose a general framework for constructing IGA-suitable planar B-spline parameterizations from given complex CAD boundaries consisting of a set of B-spline curves. Instead of forming the computational domain by a simple boundary, planar domains with high genus and more complex boundary curves are considered. Firstly, some pre-processing operations including B\'ezier extraction and subdivision are performed on each boundary curve in order to generate a high-quality planar parameterization; then a robust planar domain partition framework is proposed to construct high-quality patch-meshing results with few singularities from the discrete boundary formed by connecting the end points of the resulting boundary segments. After the topology information generation of quadrilateral decomposition, the optimal placement of interior B\'ezier curves corresponding to the interior edges of the quadrangulation is constructed by a global optimization method to achieve a patch-partition with high quality. Finally, after the imposition of C1=G1-continuity constraints on the interface of neighboring B\'ezier patches with respect to each quad in the quadrangulation, the high-quality B\'ezier patch parameterization is obtained by a C1-constrained local optimization method to achieve uniform and orthogonal iso-parametric structures while keeping the continuity conditions between patches. The efficiency and robustness of the proposed method are demonstrated by several examples which are compared to results obtained by the skeleton-based parameterization approach

Strong convergence for urn models with reducible replacement policy

International audienceA multitype urn scheme with random replacements is considered. Each time a ball is picked, another ball is added, and its type is chosen according to the transition probabilities of a reducible Markov chain. The vector of frequencies is shown to converge almost surely to a random element of the set of stationary measures of the Markov chain. Its probability distribution is characterized as the solution to a fixed point problem. It is proved to be Dirichlet in the particular case of a single transient state to which no return is possible. This is no more the case as soon as returns to transient states are allowed

Upwind stabilization of Navier-Stokes solvers

We present a study of the effect of upwinding on stabilisation of both advective and pressure terms in a family of primitive-variable Navier-Stokes solvers. We consider two MUSCL schemes, the first one applies to compressible flow, the second one to incompressible flow. We illustrate the fact that both numerical models suffer oscillations if a minimal (but not large) amount of upwinding is not associated with acoustics, while advection can be stabilized by the physical diffusion terms when the mesh Reynolds number is small enough

Fingerprinting localization based on neural networks and ultra-wideband signals

International audienceFingerprinting techniques have been proved as an effective techniques for determining the position of a mobile user in an indoor environment and in challenging environments such as mines, canyons, and tunnels where common localization techniques based on time of arrival (TOA) or received signal strength (RSS) are subject to big positioning errors. In this paper, a fingerprinting based localization technique using neural networks and ultra-wideband signals (UWB) is presented as an alternative. The fingerprinting database is built with signatures extracted from channel impulse responses (CIR) obtained by processing an IR-UWB indoor propagation measurement campaign. The construction of the neural networks and the adopted approach are described. Positioning performances are evaluated with different selected signatures and different sizes of the fingerprinting database

Statistical method for the determination of the ignition energy of dust cloud-experimental validation

International audiencePowdery materials such as metallic or polymer powders play a considerable role in many industrial processes. Their use requires the introduction of preventive safeguard to control the plants safety. The mitigation of an explosion hazard, according to the ATEX 137 Directive (1999/92/EU), requires, among other things, the assessment of the dust ignition sensitivity. PRISME laboratory (University of Orléans) has developed an experimental set-up and methodology, using the Langlie test, for the quick determination of the explosion sensitivity of dusts. This method requires only 20 shots and ignition sensitivity is evaluated through the E50 (energy with an ignition probability of 0.5). A Hartmann tube, with a volume of 1.3 l, was designed and built. Many results on the energy ignition thresholds of partially oxidised previous termaluminiumnext term were obtained using this experimental device (Baudry, 2007) and compared to literature. E50 evolution is the same as previous MIE but their respective values are different and previous MIE is lower than E50 however the link between E50 and previous MIE has not been elucidated. In this paper, the Langlie method is explained in detail for the determination of the parameters (mean value E50 and standard deviation σ) of the associated statistic law. The ignition probability versus applied energy is firstly measured for Lycopodium in order to validate the method. A comparison between the normal and the lognormal law was achieved and the best fit was obtained with the lognormal law. In a second part, the Langlie test was performed on different dusts such as previous aluminium, cornstarch, lycopodium, coal, and PA12 in order to determine E50 and σ for each dust. The energies E05 and E10 corresponding respectively to an ignition probability of 0.05 and 0.1 are determined with the lognormal law and compared to previous MIE find in literature. E05 and E10 values of ignition energy were found to be very close and were in good agreement with previous MIE in the literature

Investigation of metallic/oxide interfaces in Pt/Co/AlOx trilayers by hard x-ray reflectivity

International audienceX-ray reflectivity (XRR) is used to determine the oxidation front at the nanometer scale in sputtered perpendicular semi tunnel junctions, as the form Pt/Co/AlOx, by varying the oxidation time tOx of the capping layer. From XRR simulations, we show that the nature of the stack is gradually defined according to the value of tOx. For low tOx values (<40 s), a simple Pt/Co/Al/AlOx multilayer is appearing whereas a Pt/Co/CoO/AlOx architecture takes place for higher tOx. The oxygen-induced magnetic properties obtained by extraordinary Hall effects measurements are explained by the structural results. The increase of Co-O bondings with tOx is at the origin of the appearing of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA)

The contribution of x-ray specular reflectometry to the oxygen-induced magnetic properties in Pt/Co/AlOx

3 pagesInternational audienceTwo key parameters were analyzed in Si/SiO/Pt/Co/AlOx: the oxidation time of the Al layer resulting in AlOx, and the ex situ annealing temperatures varied in the 15 and 55 s and 20, 300, and 450 °C ranges, respectively. For intermediate annealing temperatures (∼300 °C), the quantitative analysis of specular reflectometry data shows that the progressive oxidation of layers by increasing the oxidation time goes along with an improvement of the homogeneity of the alumina layer. This outcome casts new light on the temperature dependence of magnetic properties of the samples. The remarkable temperature variation of the coercive field, extracted from extraordinary Hall effects in the 5-300 K range, is associated with structural change due to Co-oxygen bondings, which leads to strong pinning of Co spins in the low temperature regime

Simulation and analysis of solute transport in 2D fracture/pipe networks: The SOLFRAC program

International audienceThe Time Domain Random Walk (TDRW) method has been recently developed by Delay and Bodin (2001) and Bodin et al. (2003c) for simulating solute transport in discrete fracture networks. It is assumed that the fracture network can reasonably be represented by a network of interconnected one-dimensional pipes (i.e. flow channels). Processes accounted for are: (1) advection and hydrodynamic dispersion in the channels, (2) matrix diffusion, (3) diffusion into stagnant zones within the fracture planes, (4) sorption reactions onto the fracture walls and in the matrix, (5) linear decay, and (6) mass sharing at fracture intersections. The TDRW method is handy and very efficient in terms of computation costs since it allows for the one-step calculation of the particle residence time in each bond of the network. This method has been programmed in C++, and efforts have been made to develop an efficient and user-friendly software, called SOLFRAC. This program is freely downloadable at the URL http://labo.univ-poitiers.fr/hydrasa/intranet/telechargement.htm. It calculates solute transport into 2D pipe networks, while considering different types of injections and different concepts of local dispersion within each flow channel. Post-simulation analyses are also available, such as the mean velocity or the macroscopic dispersion at the scale of the entire network. The program may be used to evaluate how a given transport mechanism influences the macroscopic transport behaviour of fracture networks. It may also be used, as is the case, e.g., with analytical solutions, to interpret laboratory or field tracer test experiments performed in single fractures