Self Similar Spherical Collapse Revisited: a Comparison between Gas and Dark Matter Dynamics

We reconsider the collapse of cosmic structures in an Einstein-de Sitter Universe, using the self similar initial conditions of Fillmore & Goldreich (1984). We first derive a new approximation to describe the dark matter dynamics in spherical geometry, that we refer to the "fluid approach". This method enables us to recover the self-similarity solutions of Fillmore & Goldreich for dark matter. We derive also new self-similarity solutions for the gas. We thus compare directly gas and dark matter dynamics, focusing on the differences due to their different dimensionalities in velocity space. This work may have interesting consequences for gas and dark matter distributions in large galaxy clusters, allowing to explain why the total mass profile is always steeper than the X-ray gas profile. We discuss also the shape of the dark matter density profile found in N-body simulations in terms of a change of dimensionality in the dark matter velocity space. The stable clustering hypothesis has been finally considered in the light of this analytical approach.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

A Generalization of Haldane state-counting procedure and π\pi-deformations of statistics

We consider the generalization of Haldane's state-counting procedure to describe all possible types of exclusion statistics which are linear in the deformation parameter $g$. The statistics are parametrized by elements of the symmetric group of the particles in question. For several specific cases we determine the form of the distribution functions which generalizes results obtained by Wu. Using them we analyze the low-temperature behavior and thermodynamic properties of these systems and compare our results with previous studies of the thermodynamics of a gas of $g$-ons. Various possible physical applications of these constructions are discussed.Comment: 17 pages, latex, 6 figures small corrections were made, reference and acknowledgments are adde

Alkali-activated cements for ground improvement

The paper studies alkali-activated (AA) slag cements for soil stabilisation, as alternatives to traditional binders such as Portland cement or lime. A number of alkali activators were considered, containing also a range of salts and a material retrieved from waste (Paper Sludge Ash, PSA). The results are discussed in terms of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at two different curing times. In general alkali-activated cements based on the use of alkali salts only had a modest performance in terms of strength improvement; a material that showed promise however as slag activator was the PSA. Further analysis is recommended in order to gain a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved towards engineering uses for soil stabilisation