The formation of freckles in binary alloys

This paper presents a synopsis of some recent work, still in progress, aimed at elucidating a quantitative explanation of the processes by which flow chimneys form when certain types of alloys are directionally solidified. If (for example) light fluid is released at the liquid-solid "mushy " (dendrite) zone, and cooling is from below, then the intermediate fluid flow undergoes convection through the porous dendrite mass. This can lead to an "instability " of the form of the mushy zone, such that upwelling light fluid flows preferentially in channels within the dendrite mass. What we seek to develop here, is a mathematical basis by which this phenomenon may be properly understood. Accordingly, a mathematical model is developed, simplified, and partially analysed, and as a result we are able to make one specific prediction concerning a criterion for the onset of convection and freckling. This prediction is equivalent to the classical Rayleigh number condition for convective instability. 1

Looking for Shelter

Narrative essay on a camping expedition to the top of Blood Mountain that was one to remember

Bounded homotopy theory and the KK-theory of weighted complexes

Given a bounding class $B$, we construct a bounded refinement $BK(-)$ of Quillen's $K$-theory functor from rings to spaces. $BK(-)$ is a functor from weighted rings to spaces, and is equipped with a comparison map $BK \to K$ induced by "forgetting control". In contrast to the situation with $B$-bounded cohomology, there is a functorial splitting $BK(-) \simeq K(-) \times BK^{rel}(-)$ where $BK^{rel}(-)$ is the homotopy fiber of the comparison map.Comment: 25 pages, 13 diagrams; comments welcom

Linear and nonlinear stability of heat exchangers

The hydrodynamical problem of one-dimensional flow with a uniform heat input resulting in a change of phase is considered. Equations of mass, momentum, energy and state representing the dynamic behaviour of such a system are reduced to two coupled equations for the density p{x, t) and the inlet velocity 1/(0 on the assumption that the pressure drop applied between the inlet and the outlet is "small". A linear stability analysis is carried out which leads to the problem of computing the zeros of a complicated analytic function. A non-linear analysis is applied to the case of weak instability to find the evolution of the slowly varying amplitude of a small oscillation: in certain circumstances, a "burst " occurs, and in such cases no such small oscillation can exist. 1

Precise Predictions for Higgs Production in Neutralino Decays

Complete one-loop results, supplemented by two-loop Higgs propagator-type corrections, are obtained for the class of processes chi^0_i->chi^0_j h_a in the MSSM with CP-violating phases for parameters entering the process beyond lowest order. The parameter region of the CPX benchmark scenario where a very light Higgs boson is unexcluded by present data is analysed in detail. We find that the decay chi^0_2->chi^0_1 h_1 may offer good prospects to detect such a light Higgs boson.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; to appear in the proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Supersymmetry and the Unification of Fundamental Interactions (SUSY09), Boston, USA, 5-10 Jun 200

Electrostatic Analyzer for 1.5-Mev Protons

A system for analyzing the ion beam of an electrostatic generator is described. A weak magnetic field separates protons from heavier components and a 90° electrostatic deflection gives the required energy resolution. With the analyzer controlling the generator voltage, a proton beam of one microampere with an energy spread of the order of 300 volts in one million is obtained