524 research outputs found
Self-sustained oscillations in variable-density round jets
International audienceThe stability properties of round variable-density low-Mach-number jets are studied by means of direct numerical simulation (DNS) and linear stability analysis. Fully three-dimensional DNS of variable-density jets, with and without gravity, demonstrate that the presence of buoyancy causes a more abrupt transition to turbulence. This effect helps to explain differences between normal gravity and microgravity jet diffusion flames observed in the laboratory. The complete spectrum of spatial eigenmodes of the linearized low-Mach-number equations is calculated using a global matrix method. Also, an analytic form for the continuous portion of this spectrum is derived, and used to verify the numerical method. The absolute instability of variable-density jets is confirmed using Brigg's method, and a comprehensive parametric study of the strength and frequency of this instability is performed. Effects of Reynolds number, the density ratio of ambient-to-jet fluid (S1), shear-layer thickness and Froude number are considered. Finally, a region of local absolute instability is shown to exist in the near field of the jet by applying linear stability analysis to mean profiles measured from DNS. © Cambridge University Press 2007
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Buoyancy-generated variable-density turbulence
Both a one-point (engineering) and a two-point (spectral) model are tested against numerical data. Deficiencies in these variable-density models are disucssed and modifications are suggested. Attention is restricted to turbulent interactions of two miscible, incompressible Newtonian fluids of different densities. Departures from the limits of validity of the Boussinesq approximation are examined. Results of the buoyancy-generated turbulence are compared with variable-density model predictions. 3 figs, 6 refs
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Buoyancy-generated variable-density turbulence
Because of the importance of turbulence mixing in many applications, a number of turbulence mixing models have been proposed for variable- density flows. These engineering models (one- point statistical models) typically include the transport of the turbulent kinetic energy and the turbulent energy dissipation rate (i.e., k - {epsilon} models). The model presented by Besnard, Harlow, Rauenzahn and Zemach (1992) (herein referred to as BHRZ) is a one-point model intended to describe variable-density turbulent flows. Transport equations for the Reynolds stress tensor, R{sub ij}, and the turbulent energy dissipation rate, the density-velocity correlation, a{sub i}, and the density-specific volume correlation, b are derived. This model employs- techniques and concepts from incompressible, constant- density turbulence modeling and incorporates ideas from two-phase flow models. Clark and Spitz (1994) present a two-point model for variable-density turbulence. Their derivation is based on transport equations that, are based 0481 on two-point- generalizations of R{sub ij}, a{sub ij}, and b. These equations are Fourier transformed with respect to the separation distance between the two points. Transport equations are derived for R{sub ij}, a{sub i}, b. As in the one-point model, this model contains many ad-hoc assumptions and unknown model coefficients that must be determined by comparison with experimental and numerical data. However, the two-point formalism requires fewer equilibrium assumptions then does a single-point model. Our primary concern in this paper lies in the nonlinear processes of turbulence and the influence of large density variations (not within the Boussinesq limit) on these processes. To. isolate the effects of variable-density on the turbulence we restrict our flow to be incompressible, statistically homogeneous buoyancy-generated. turbulence. To our knowledge there have not been any simulations reported for this problem
Nonlinear force-free reconstruction of the global solar magnetic field: methodology
We present a novel numerical method that allows the calculation of nonlinear
force-free magnetostatic solutions above a boundary surface on which only the
distribution of the normal magnetic field component is given. The method relies
on the theory of force-free electrodynamics and applies directly to the
reconstruction of the solar coronal magnetic field for a given distribution of
the photospheric radial field component. The method works as follows: we start
with any initial magnetostatic global field configuration (e.g. zero, dipole),
and along the boundary surface we create an evolving distribution of tangential
(horizontal) electric fields that, via Faraday's equation, give rise to a
respective normal field distribution approaching asymptotically the target
distribution. At the same time, these electric fields are used as boundary
condition to numerically evolve the resulting electromagnetic field above the
boundary surface, modelled as a thin ideal plasma with non-reflecting,
perfectly absorbing outer boundaries. The simulation relaxes to a nonlinear
force-free configuration that satisfies the given normal field distribution on
the boundary. This is different from existing methods relying on a fixed
boundary condition - the boundary evolves toward the a priori given one, at the
same time evolving the three-dimensional field solution above it. Moreover,
this is the first time a nonlinear force-free solution is reached by using only
the normal field component on the boundary. This solution is not unique, but
depends on the initial magnetic field configuration and on the evolutionary
course along the boundary surface. To our knowledge, this is the first time
that the formalism of force-free electrodynamics, used very successfully in
other astrophysical contexts, is applied to the global solar magnetic field.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, Solar Physic
Forced Stratified Turbulence: Successive Transitions with Reynolds Number
Numerical simulations are made for forced turbulence at a sequence of
increasing values of Reynolds number, R, keeping fixed a strongly stable,
volume-mean density stratification. At smaller values of R, the turbulent
velocity is mainly horizontal, and the momentum balance is approximately
cyclostrophic and hydrostatic. This is a regime dominated by so-called pancake
vortices, with only a weak excitation of internal gravity waves and large
values of the local Richardson number, Ri, everywhere. At higher values of R
there are successive transitions to (a) overturning motions with local
reversals in the density stratification and small or negative values of Ri; (b)
growth of a horizontally uniform vertical shear flow component; and (c) growth
of a large-scale vertical flow component. Throughout these transitions, pancake
vortices continue to dominate the large-scale part of the turbulence, and the
gravity wave component remains weak except at small scales.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures (submitted to Phys. Rev. E
Effects of electrical stimulation of dorsal raphe nucleus on neuronal response properties of barrel cortex layer IV neurons following long-term sensory deprivation
Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) on response properties of layer IV barrel cortex neurons following long-term sensory deprivation. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into sensory-deprived (SD) and control (unplucked) groups. In SD group, all vibrissae except the D2 vibrissa were plucked on postnatal day one, and kept plucked for a period of 60 d. After that, whisker regrowth was allowed for 8-10 d. The D2 principal whisker (PW) and the D1 adjacent whisker (AW) were either deflected singly or both deflected in a serial order that the AW was deflected 20 ms before PW deflection for assessing lateral inhibition, and neuronal responses were recorded from layer IV of the D2 barrel cortex. DRN was electrically stimulated at inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) ranging from 0 to 800 ms before whisker deflection. Results: PW-evoked responses increased in the SD group with DRN electrical stimulation at ISIs of 50 ms and 100 ms, whereas AW-evoked responses increased at ISI of 800 ms in both groups. Whisker plucking before DRN stimulation could enhance the responsiveness of barrel cortex neurons to PW deflection and decrease the responsiveness to AW deflection. DRN electrical stimulation significantly reduced this difference only in PW-evoked responses between groups. Besides, no DRN stimulation-related changes in response latency were observed following PW or AW deflection in either group. Moreover, condition test (CT) ratio increased in SD rats, while DRN stimulation did not affect the CT ratio in either group. There was no obvious change in 5-HT2A receptor protein density in barrel cortex between SD and control groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that DRN electrical stimulation can modulate information processing in the SD barrel cortex
Carotid intima-media thickness and coronary atherosclerosis : weak or strong relations?
Aims Measurement of change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has been proposed as an alternative for the occurrence of cardiovascular (CV) events in the assessment of therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, criticism has been voiced based on observations indicating a weak relation between CIMT and coronary atherosclerosis as well as on the virtual absence of data showing that progression of CIMT indeed predicts coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. Methods and results We set out to review the evidence on these issues by performing a literature search on these topics. Of the 34 studies on the relation of CIMT with coronary atherosclerosis, as assessed by angiography (n \ubc 33) or intravascular ultrasound (n \ubc 1), 30 showed a modest positive relationship; the magnitude of which was similar to that found in autopsy studies. Of all studies on CIMT and future CV events (n \ubc 18), 17 showed graded positive relationships. At present, only one study has provided evidence on the relation of change in CIMT and future CV events, showing an increased risk with CIMT progression. The paucity of data on progression and future CV risk is partly attributable to time windows required to complete these studies. Conclusion The modest relation between CIMT and coronary atherosclerosis most likely reflects variability in atherosclerosis development between the vascular beds rather than limitations of CIMT measurements. Additional data on the relation between change in CIMT and future CV events is required and currently is in progres
Origins of the Ambient Solar Wind: Implications for Space Weather
The Sun's outer atmosphere is heated to temperatures of millions of degrees,
and solar plasma flows out into interplanetary space at supersonic speeds. This
paper reviews our current understanding of these interrelated problems: coronal
heating and the acceleration of the ambient solar wind. We also discuss where
the community stands in its ability to forecast how variations in the solar
wind (i.e., fast and slow wind streams) impact the Earth. Although the last few
decades have seen significant progress in observations and modeling, we still
do not have a complete understanding of the relevant physical processes, nor do
we have a quantitatively precise census of which coronal structures contribute
to specific types of solar wind. Fast streams are known to be connected to the
central regions of large coronal holes. Slow streams, however, appear to come
from a wide range of sources, including streamers, pseudostreamers, coronal
loops, active regions, and coronal hole boundaries. Complicating our
understanding even more is the fact that processes such as turbulence,
stream-stream interactions, and Coulomb collisions can make it difficult to
unambiguously map a parcel measured at 1 AU back down to its coronal source. We
also review recent progress -- in theoretical modeling, observational data
analysis, and forecasting techniques that sit at the interface between data and
theory -- that gives us hope that the above problems are indeed solvable.Comment: Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews. Special issue
connected with a 2016 ISSI workshop on "The Scientific Foundations of Space
Weather." 44 pages, 9 figure
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