7,150 research outputs found
Evaluation of absorption cycle for space station environmental control system application Interim report
Zero-gravity absorption refrigeration system design and performance testing for space station environmental control applicatio
Many-body effects on the capacitance of multilayers made from strongly correlated materials
Recent work by Kopp and Mannhart on novel electronic systems formed at oxide
interfaces has shown interesting effects on the capacitances of these devices.
We employ inhomogeneous dynamical mean-field theory to calculate the
capacitance of multilayered nanostructures. These multilayered nanostructures
are composed of semi-infinite metallic leads coupled via a strongly correlated
dielectric barrier region. The barrier region can be adjusted from a metallic
regime to a Mott insulator through adjusting the interaction strength. We
examine the effects of varying the barrier width, temperature, potential
difference, screening length, and chemical potential. We find that the
interaction strength has a relatively strong effect on the capacitance, while
the potential and temperature show weaker dependence.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, REVTe
Ultrasonic NDE Techniques and the Effects of Flaws on Mechanical Performance in Multi-Directionally Reinforced Textile Composites
Developmental efforts in composite technology have included a wide variety of secondary and primary structure in industries ranging from sporting goods to high performance aircraft. In addition to potentially significant weight savings, composites offer the potential benefits of increased fatigue life, corrosion resistance, and acquisition or life-cycle cost savings. Conventional two-dimensional composites, however, have poor interlaminar strengths and are susceptible to damage
Evolution of the Pairwise Peculiar Velocity Distribution Function in Lagrangian Perturbation Theory
The statistical distribution of the radial pairwise peculiar velocity of
galaxies is known to have an exponential form as implied by observations and
explicitly shown in N-body simulations. Here we calculate its statistical
distribution function using the Zel'dovich approximation assuming that the
primordial density fluctuations are Gaussian distributed. We show that the
exponential distribution is realized as a transient phenomena on megaparsec
scales in the standard cold-dark-matter model.Comment: 19 pages, 8 Postscript figures, AAS LaTe
Control of unstable steady states by time-delayed feedback methods
We show that time-delayed feedback methods, which have successfully been used
to control unstable periodic ortbits, provide a tool to stabilize unstable
steady states. We present an analytical investigation of the feedback scheme
using the Lambert function and discuss effects of both a low-pass filter
included in the control loop and non-zero latency times associated with the
generation and injection of the feedback signal.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figure
Influence of shock wave propagation on dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator performance
Interest in plasma actuators as active flow control devices is growing rapidly due to their lack of mechanical parts, light weight and high response frequency. Although the flow induced by these actuators has received much attention, the effect that the external flow has on the performance of the actuator itself must also be considered, especially the influence of unsteady high-speed flows which are fast becoming a norm in the operating flight envelopes. The primary objective of this study is to examine the characteristics of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator when exposed to an unsteady flow generated by a shock tube. This type of flow, which is often used in different studies, contains a range of flow regimes from sudden pressure and density changes to relatively uniform high-speed flow regions. A small circular shock tube is employed along with the schlieren photography technique to visualize the flow. The voltage and current traces of the plasma actuator are monitored throughout, and using the well-established shock tube theory the change in the actuator characteristics are related to the physical processes which occur inside the shock tube. The results show that not only is the shear layer outside of the shock tube affected by the plasma but the passage of the shock front and high-speed flow behind it also greatly influences the properties of the plasma
Collective modes in uniaxial incommensurate-commensurate systems with the real order parameter
The basic Landau model for uniaxial systems of the II class is nonintegrable,
and allows for various stable and metastable periodic configurations, beside
that representing the uniform (or dimerized) ordering. In the present paper we
complete the analysis of this model by performing the second order variational
procedure, and formulating the combined Floquet-Bloch approach to the ensuing
nonstandard linear eigenvalue problem. This approach enables an analytic
derivation of some general conclusions on the stability of particular states,
and on the nature of accompanied collective excitations. Furthermore, we
calculate numerically the spectra of collective modes for all states
participating in the phase diagram, and analyze critical properties of
Goldstone modes at all second order and first order transitions between
disordered, uniform and periodic states. In particular it is shown that the
Goldstone mode softens as the underlying soliton lattice becomes more and more
dilute.Comment: 19 pages, 16 figures, REVTeX, to be published in Journal of Physics
A: Mathematical and Genera
Ab Initio Theory of Light-ion Reactions
The exact treatment of nuclei starting from the constituent nucleons and the
fundamental interactions among them has been a long-standing goal in nuclear
physics. Above all nuclear scattering and reactions, which require the solution
of the many-body quantum-mechanical problem in the continuum, represent a
theoretical and computational challenge for ab initio approaches. After a brief
overview of the field, we present a new ab initio many-body approach capable of
describing simultaneously both bound and scattering states in light nuclei. By
combining the resonating-group method with the ab initio no-core shell model,
we complement a microscopic cluster technique with the use of realistic
interactions and a microscopic and consistent description of the clusters. We
show results for neutron and proton scattering on light nuclei, including p-7Be
and n-8He. We also highlight the first results of the d-3He and d-3H fusion
calculations obtained within this approach.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the International Nuclear Physics
Conference INPC 2010, Vancouver, Canada, July 4 - 9, 2010, 10 pages, 5
figure
Evaluation of multiplex tandem PCR (MT-PCR) assays for the detection of bacterial resistance genes among Enterobacteriaceae in clinical urines
Background: Increasing resistance drives empirical use of less potent and previously reserved antibiotics, including for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Molecular profiling, without culture, might better guide early therapy. Objectives: To explore the potential of AusDiagnostics multiplex tandem (MT) PCR UTI assays. Methods: Two MT-PCR assays were developed successively, seeking 8 or 16 resistance genes. Amplification was tracked in real time, with melting temperatures used to confirm product identity. Assays were variously performed on: (i) extracted DNA; (ii) cultured bacteria; (iii) urine spiked with reference strains; and (iv) bacteria harvested from clinical urines. Results were compared with those from sequencing, real-time SybrGreen PCR or phenotypic susceptibility. Results: Performance was similar irrespective of whether DNA, cultures or urines were used, with >90% sensitivity and specificity with respect to common β-lactamases, dfr genes and aminoglycoside resistance determinants except aadA1/A2/A3, for which carriage correlated poorly with streptomycin resistance. Fluoroquinolone-susceptible and -resistant Escherichia coli (but not other species) were distinguished by the melting temperatures of their gyrA PCR products. The time from urine to results was <3 h. Conclusions: The MT-PCR assays rapidly identified resistance genes from Gram-negative bacteria in urines as well as from cultivated bacteria. Used directly on urines, this assay has the potential to guide early therapy
- …