578 research outputs found
Dispersion of imbibition fronts
We have studied the dispersive behaviour of imbibition fronts in a porous
medium by X-ray tomography. Injection velocities were varied and the porous
medium was initially prewetted or not. At low velocity in the prewetted medium,
the imbibition profiles are found to be distinctly hyperdispersive. The
profiles are anomalously extended when compared to tracer fronts exhibiting
conventional (Gaussian) dispersion. We observe a strong velocity dependence of
the exponent characterizing the divergence of the dispersion coefficient for
low wetting-fluid saturation. Hyperdispersion is absent at high imbibition
velocities or when the medium is not prewetted.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; submitted to Europhysics Letter
Capillary-gravity wave resistance in ordinary and magnetic fluids
Wave resistance is the drag force associated to the emission of waves by a
moving disturbance at a fluid free surface. In the case of capillary-gravity
waves it undergoes a transition from zero to a finite value as the speed of the
disturbance is increased. For the first time an experiment is designed in order
to obtain the wave resistance as a function of speed. The effect of viscosity
is explored, and a magnetic fluid is used to extend the available range of
critical speeds. The threshold values are in good agreement with the proposed
theory. Contrary to the theoretical model, however, the measured wave
resistance reveals a non monotonic speed dependence after the threshold.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, submitted to Physical Review Letter
Elongation of confined ferrofluid droplets under applied fields
Ferrofluids are strongly paramagnetic liquids. We study the behavior of
ferrofluid droplets confined between two parallel plates with a weak applied
field parallel to the plates. The droplets elongate under the applied field to
reduce their demagnetizing energy and reach an equilibrium shape where the
magnetic forces balance against the surface tension. This elongation varies
logarithmically with aspect ratio of droplet thickness to its original radius,
in contrast to the behavior of unconfined droplets. Experimental studies of a
ferrofluid/water/surfactant emulsion confirm this prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Capillary-gravity waves: The effect of viscosity on the wave resistance
The effect of viscosity on the wave resistance experienced by a 2d
perturbation moving at uniform velocity over the free surface of a fluid is
investigated. The analysis is based on Rayleigh's linearized theory of
capillary-gravity waves. It is shown in particular that the wave resistance
remains bounded as the velocity of the perturbation approches the minimun phase
speed, unlike what is predicted by the inviscid theory.Comment: Europhysics Letters, in pres
Wave Number of Maximal Growth in Viscous Magnetic Fluids of Arbitrary Depth
An analytical method within the frame of linear stability theory is presented
for the normal field instability in magnetic fluids. It allows to calculate the
maximal growth rate and the corresponding wave number for any combination of
thickness and viscosity of the fluid. Applying this method to magnetic fluids
of finite depth, these results are quantitatively compared to the wave number
of the transient pattern observed experimentally after a jump--like increase of
the field. The wave number grows linearly with increasing induction where the
theoretical and the experimental data agree well. Thereby a long-standing
controversy about the behaviour of the wave number above the critical magnetic
field is tackled.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, RevTex; revised version with a new figure and
references added. submitted to Phys Rev
Threshold Resonant Structure of the 232Th Neutron-Induced Fission Cross Section
The structures observed in the sub-threshold neutron-induced fission of
^{232}Th were investigated employing a recent developed model. Theoretical
single-particle excitations of a phenomenological two-humped barrier are
determined by solving a system of coupled differential equations for the motion
along the optimal fission path. A rather good agreement with experimental data
was obtained using a small number of independent parameters. It is predicted
that the structure at 1.4 and 1.6 MeV is mainly dominated by spin 3/2 partial
cross-section with small admixture of spin 1/2, while the structure at 1.7 MeV
is given by a large partial cross section of spin 5/2.Comment: 17 pages 11 figure
Axisymmetric solitary waves on the surface of a ferrofluid
We report the first observation of axisymmetric solitary waves on the surface
of a cylindrical magnetic fluid layer surrounding a current-carrying metallic
tube. According to the ratio between the magnetic and capillary forces, both
elevation and depression solitary waves are observed with profiles in good
agreement with theoretical predictions based on the magnetic analogue of the
Korteweg-deVries equation. We also report the first measurements of the
velocity and the dispersion relation of axisymmetric linear waves propagating
on the cylindrical ferrofluid layer that are found in good agreement with
theoretical predictions.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev. Let
High frequency poroelastic waves in hydrogels
In this work a continuum model for high frequency poroelastic longitudinal
waves in hydrogels is presented. A viscoelastic force describing the
interaction between the polymer network and the bounded water present in such
materials is introduced. The model is tested by means of ultrasound wave speed
and attenuation measurements in polyvinylalcohol hydrogel samples. The theory
and experiments show that ultrasound attenuation decreases linearly with the
increase of the water volume fraction "{\beta}" of the hydrogel. The
introduction of the viscoelastic force between the bounded water and the
polymer network leads to a bi-phasic theory showing an ultrasonic fast wave
attenuation that can vary as a function of the frequency with a non-integer
exponent in agreement with the experimental data in literature. When {\beta}
tends to 1 (100% of interstitial water) due to the presence of bounded water in
the hydrogel, the ultrasound phase velocity acquires higher value than that of
pure water. The ultrasound speed gap at {\beta} = 1 is confirmed by the
experimental results that show that it increases in less cross-linked gel
samples that own a higher concentration of bounded water
Nucleation and Collapse of the Superconducting Phase in Type-I Superconducting Films
The phase transition between the intermediate and normal states in type-I
superconducting films is investigated using magneto-optical imaging. Magnetic
hysteresis with different transition fields for collapse and nucleation of
superconducting domains is found. This is accompanied by topological hysteresis
characterized by the collapse of circular domains and the appearance of
lamellar domains. Magnetic hysteresis is shown to arise from supercooled and
superheated states. Domain-shape instability resulting from long-range magnetic
interaction accounts well for topological hysteresis. Connection with similar
effects in systems with long-range magnetic interactions is emphasized
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