7,936 research outputs found
Crystal-to-crystal transition of ultrasoft colloids under shear
Ultrasoft colloids typically do not spontaneously crystallize, but rather
vitrify, at high concentrations. Combining in-situ rheo-SANS experiments and
numerical simulations we show that shear facilitates crystallization of
colloidal star polymers in the vicinity of their glass transition. With
increasing shear rate well beyond rheological yielding, a transition is found
from an initial bcc-dominated structure to an fcc-dominated one. This
crystal-to-crystal transition is not accompanied by intermediate melting but
occurs via a sudden reorganization of the crystal structure. Our results
provide a new avenue to tailor colloidal crystallization and crystal-to-crystal
transition at molecular level by coupling softness and shear
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
Controlling extended systems with spatially filtered, time-delayed feedback
We investigate a control technique for spatially extended systems combining
spatial filtering with a previously studied form of time-delay feedback. The
scheme is naturally suited to real-time control of optical systems. We apply
the control scheme to a model of a transversely extended semiconductor laser in
which a desirable, coherent traveling wave state exists, but is a member of a
nowhere stable family. Our scheme stabilizes this state, and directs the system
towards it from realistic, distant and noisy initial conditions. As confirmed
by numerical simulation, a linear stability analysis about the controlled state
accurately predicts when the scheme is successful, and illustrates some key
features of the control including the individual merit of, and interplay
between, the spatial and temporal degrees of freedom in the control.Comment: 9 pages REVTeX including 7 PostScript figures. To appear in Physical
Review
Restricted feedback control of one-dimensional maps
Dynamical control of biological systems is often restricted by the practical
constraint of unidirectional parameter perturbations. We show that such a
restriction introduces surprising complexity to the stability of
one-dimensional map systems and can actually improve controllability. We
present experimental cardiac control results that support these analyses.
Finally, we develop new control algorithms that exploit the structure of the
restricted-control stability zones to automatically adapt the control feedback
parameter and thereby achieve improved robustness to noise and drifting system
parameters.Comment: 29 pages, 9 embedded figure
Laser driven launch vehicles for continuous access to space
The availability of megawatt laser systems in the next century will make laser launch systems from ground to orbit feasible and useful. Systems studies indicate launch capabilities of 1 ton payload per gigawatt laser power. Recent research in ground to orbit laser propulsion has emphasized laser supported detonation wave thrusters driven by repetitively pulsed infrared lasers. In this propulsion concept each laser repetition cycle consists of two pulses. A lower energy first pulse is used to vaporize a small amount of solid propellant and then after a brief expansion period, a second and higher energy laser pulse is used to drive a detonation wave through the expanded vapor. The results are reported of numerical studies comparing the detonation wave properties of various candidate propellants, and the simulation of thruster performance under realistic conditions. Experimental measurements designed to test the theoretical predictions are also presented. Measurements are discussed of radiance and opacity in absorption waves, and mass loss and momentum transfer. These data are interpreted in terms of specific impulse and energy conversion efficiency
Heat transport by turbulent Rayleigh-B\'enard convection for $\Pra\ \simeq 0.83\times 10^{12} \alt \Ra\ \alt 10^{15}\Gamma = 0.50$
We report experimental results for heat-transport measurements, in the form
of the Nusselt number \Nu, by turbulent Rayleigh-B\'enard convection in a
cylindrical sample of aspect ratio ( m is
the diameter and m the height). The measurements were made using
sulfur hexafluoride at pressures up to 19 bars as the fluid. They are for the
Rayleigh-number range 3\times 10^{12} \alt \Ra \alt 10^{15} and for Prandtl
numbers \Pra\ between 0.79 and 0.86. For \Ra < \Ra^*_1 \simeq 1.4\times
10^{13} we find \Nu = N_0 \Ra^{\gamma_{eff}} with , consistent with classical turbulent Rayleigh-B\'enard convection in a
system with laminar boundary layers below the top and above the bottom plate.
For \Ra^*_1 < \Ra < \Ra^*_2 (with \Ra^*_2 \simeq 5\times 10^{14})
gradually increases up to . We argue that above
\Ra^*_2 the system is in the ultimate state of convection where the boundary
layers, both thermal and kinetic, are also turbulent. Several previous
measurements for are re-examined and compared with the present
results.Comment: 44 pages, 18 figures, submitted to NJ
Boolean Chaos
We observe deterministic chaos in a simple network of electronic logic gates
that are not regulated by a clocking signal. The resulting power spectrum is
ultra-wide-band, extending from dc to beyond 2 GHz. The observed behavior is
reproduced qualitatively using an autonomously updating Boolean model with
signal propagation times that depend on the recent history of the gates and
filtering of pulses of short duration, whose presence is confirmed
experimentally. Electronic Boolean chaos may find application as an
ultra-wide-band source of radio wavesComment: 10 pages and 4 figur
OH 1720 MHz Masers in Supernova Remnants --- C-Shock Indicators
Recent observations show that the OH 1720 MHz maser is a powerful probe of
the shocked region where a supernova remnant strikes a molecular cloud. We
perform a thorough study of the pumping of this maser and find tight
constraints on the physical conditions needed for its production. The presence
of the maser implies moderate temperatures (50 -- 125 K) and densities (), and OH column densities of order . We show
that these conditions can exist only if the shocks are of C-type. J-shocks fail
by such a wide margin that the presence of this maser could become the most
powerful indicator of C-shocks. These conditions also mean that the 1720 MHz
maser will be inherently weak compared to the other ground state OH masers. All
the model predictions are in good agreement with the observations.Comment: 16 pages, 5 Postscript figures (included), uses aaspp4.sty. To appear
in the Astrophysical Journa
Threshold and linewidth of a mirrorless parametric oscillator
We analyze the above-threshold behavior of a mirrorless parametric oscillator
based on resonantly enhanced four wave mixing in a coherently driven dense
atomic vapor. It is shown that, in the ideal limit, an arbitrary small flux of
pump photons is sufficient to reach the oscillator threshold. We demonstrate
that due to the large group-velocity delays associated with coherent media, an
extremely narrow oscillator linewidth is possible, making a narrow-band source
of non-classical radiation feasible.Comment: revised version to appear in Phys.Rev.Lett., contains discussion on
threshold conditions and operation on few-photon leve
Assessment of the potential in vivo ecotoxicity of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (DWNTs) in water, using the amphibian Ambystoma mexicanum
Because of their specific properties (mechanical, electrical, etc), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being assessed for inclusion in many manufactured products. Due to their massive production and number of potential applications, the impact of CNTs on the environment must be taken into consideration. The present investigation evaluates the ecotoxic potential of CNTs in the amphibian larvae (Ambystoma mexicanum). Acute toxicity and genotoxicity were analysed after 12 days of exposure in laboratory conditions. The genotoxic effects were analysed by scoring the micronucleated erythrocytes in the
circulating blood of the larvae according to the French standard micronucleus assay. The results obtained in the present study demonstrated that CNTs are neither acutely toxic nor genotoxic to larvae whatever the CNTs concentration in the water, although black masses of CNTs were observed inside the gut. In the increasing economical context of CNTs, complementary studies must be undertaken, especially including mechanistic and environmental investigations
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