36,709 research outputs found
Aerosol particle molecular spectroscopy
The molecular spectroscopy of a solution particle by structure resonance modulation spectroscopy is discussed [S. Arnold and A. B. Pluchino, "Infrared Spectrum of a Single Aerosol Particle by Photothermal Modulation of Structure Resonances," Appl. Opt. 21, 4194 (1982); S. Arnold et al., "Molecular Spectroscopy of a Single Aerosol Particle," Opt. Lett. 9, 4 (1984)]. Analytical equations are derived for time dependence of the particle radius as it interacts with a low intensity IR source (<20 mW/cm^2). This formalism is found to be in good agreement with pulsed experiments. Working equations for the spectroscopy are derived for both constant and periodic IR excitation
Effect of microstructure and temperature on the erosion rates and mechanisms of modified EB PVD TBCs
Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) have now been used in gas turbine engines for a
number of decades and are now considered to be an accepted technology. As there
is a constant drive to increase the turbine entry temperature, in order to
increase engine efficiency, the coatings operate in increasingly hostile
environments. Thus there is a constant drive to both increase the temperature
capabilities of TBCs while at the same time reducing their thermal
conductivities. The thermal conductivity of standard 7 wt% yttria stabilized
zirconia (7YSZ) electron beam (EB) physical vapour deposited (PVD) TBCs can be
reduced in two ways: the first by modification of the microstructure of the TBC
and the second by addition of ternary oxides. By modifying the microstructure of
the TBC such that there are more fine pores, more photon scattering centres are
introduced into the coatings, which reduce the heat transfer by radiation. While
ternary oxides will introduce lattice defects into the coating, which increases
the phonon scattering, thus reducing the thermal conductivity via lattice
vibrations. Unfortunately, both of these methods can have a negative effect on
the erosion resistance of EB PVD TBCs. This paper compares the relative erosion
rates of ten different EB PVD TBCs tested at 90à ° impact at room temperature and
at high temperature and discusses the results in term of microstructural and
temperature effects. It was found that by modifying the coating deposition, such
that a low density coating with a highly â  featheredâ  microstructure formed,
generally resulted in an increase in the erosion rate at room temperature. When
there was a significant change between the room temperature and the high
temperature erosion mechanism it was accompanied by a significant decrease in
the erosion rate, while additions of dopents was found to significantly increase
the erosion rate at room and high temperature. However, all the modified
coatings still had a lower erosion rate than a plasma sprayed coatings. So,
although, relative to a standard 7YSZ coating, the modified coatings have a
lower erosion resistance, they still perform better than PS TBCs and their lower
thermal conductivities could make them viable alternatives to 7YSZ for use in
gas turbine en
Recommended from our members
The importance of strategic financial leadership in the UK public sector in a time of financial austerity
Given the severity of financial pressures on public authorities, this report is concerned with how finance managers in public services are coping with the demands placed on them and how they can demonstrate improved value by providing more effective strategic financial leadership. It considers how they are applying managerial approaches and solutions to the challenges of austerity and the role that the public sector finance function can play in this process
Suppression of Subsynchronous Vibration in the SSME HPFTP
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) High Pressure Fuel Turbopump (HPFTP) hot-fire dynamic data evaluation and rotordynamic analysis both confirm that two of the most significant turbopump attributes in determining susceptibility to subsynchronous vibration are impeller interstage seal configuration and rotor sideload resulting from turbine turnaround duct configuration and hot gas manifold. Recent hot-fire testing has provided promising indications that the incorporation of roughened damping seals at the impeller interstages may further increase the stability margin of this machine. A summary of the analysis which led to the conclusion that roughened seals would enhance the stability margin is presented along with a correlation of the analysis with recent test data
Self-assembly of iron nanoclusters on the Fe3O4(111) superstructured surface
We report on the self-organized growth of a regular array of Fe nanoclusters
on a nanopatterned magnetite surface. Under oxidizing preparation conditions
the (111) surface of magnetite exhibits a regular superstructure with
three-fold symmetry and a 42 A periodicity. This superstructure represents an
oxygen terminated (111) surface, which is reconstructed to form a periodically
strained surface. This strain patterned surface has been used as a template for
the growth of an ultrathin metal film. A Fe film of 0.5 A thickness was
deposited on the substrate at room temperature. Fe nanoclusters are formed on
top of the surface superstructure creating a regular array with the period of
the superstructure. We also demonstrate that at least the initial stage of Fe
growth occurs in two-dimensional mode. In the areas of the surface where the
strain pattern is not formed, random nucleation of Fe was observed.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
The Gravitomagnetic Influence on Gyroscopes and on the Lunar Orbit
Gravitomagnetism--a motional coupling of matter analogous to the Lorentz
force in electromagnetism--has observable consequences for any scenario
involving differing mass currents. Examples include gyroscopes located near a
rotating massive body, and the interaction of two orbiting bodies. In the
former case, the resulting precession of the gyroscope is often called ``frame
dragging,'' and is the principal measurement sought by the Gravity Probe-B
experiment. The latter case is realized in the earth-moon system, and the
effect has in fact been confirmed via lunar laser ranging (LLR) to
approximately 0.1% accuracy--better than the anticipated accuracy of the
Gravity-Probe-B result. This paper shows the connnection between these
seemingly disparate phenomena by employing the same gravitomagnetic term in the
equation of motion to obtain both gyroscopic precession and modification of the
lunar orbit. Since lunar ranging currently provides a part in a thousand fit to
the gravitomagnetic contributions to the lunar orbit, this feature of
post-Newtonian gravity is not adjustable to fit any anomalous result beyond the
0.1% level from Gravity Probe-B without disturbing the existing fit of theory
to the 36 years of LLR data.Comment: 4 pages; accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter
Murphy et al. Reply to the Comment by Kopeikin on "Gravitomagnetic Influence on Gyroscopes and on the Lunar Orbit"
Lunar laser ranging analysis, as regularly performed in the solar system
barycentric frame, requires the presence of the gravitomagnetic term in the
equation of motion at the strength predicted by general relativity. The same
term is responsible for the Lense Thirring effect. Any attempt to modify the
strength of the gravitomagnetic interaction would have to do so in a way that
does not destroy the fit to lunar ranging data and other observations.Comment: 1 page; accepted for publication in Physcal Review Letters; refers to
gr-qc/070202
It Isn\u27t Always Sexy When Both are Bright and Shiny: Considering Alternatives to Sexual Selection in Elaborate Monomorphic Species
Since the dawn of abstract thinking, humans have wondered about the seemingly unnecessary elaborate ornamentations of birds. Gaudy colours, cumbersome tails, complex vocalizations and bizarre displays are found in bird species from all corners of the globe. Darwin (1871) provided an elegant explanation for the existence of these non-utilitarian traits: they increase mating success, and although they may impair survival, the costs of producing and bearing elaborate ornaments can be repaid in the currency of additional offspring. Darwin’s model still serves as the foundation for our concept of sexual selection but great strides have been made in our understanding of sexual selection processes since his time (e.g. Zahavi 1975, 1977, Lande 1980, Hamilton & Zuk 1982, Kirkpatrick 1982, Grafen 1990, Andersson 1994). The great majority of work to date has focused on species in which males alone are elaborately ornamented. Far less has been published on the function of ornaments that are expressed in both sexes (Kraaijeveld et al. 2007), a condition sometimes termed ‘elaborate monomorphism.’ As such, the question remains whether the strong generalizations that we make regarding male ornamentation also apply to species in which both sexes are ornamented
Improving LLR Tests of Gravitational Theory
Accurate analysis of precision ranges to the Moon has provided several tests
of gravitational theory including the Equivalence Principle, geodetic
precession, parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) parameters and ,
and the constancy of the gravitational constant {\it G}. Since the beginning of
the experiment in 1969, the uncertainties of these tests have decreased
considerably as data accuracies have improved and data time span has
lengthened. We are exploring the modeling improvements necessary to proceed
from cm to mm range accuracies enabled by the new Apache Point Observatory
Lunar Laser-ranging Operation (APOLLO) currently under development in New
Mexico. This facility will be able to make a significant contribution to the
solar system tests of fundamental and gravitational physics. In particular, the
Weak and Strong Equivalence Principle tests would have a sensitivity
approaching 10, yielding sensitivity for the SEP violation parameter
of , general relativistic effects would
be tested to better than 0.1%, and measurements of the relative change in the
gravitational constant, , would be % the inverse age of the
universe. Having this expected accuracy in mind, we discusses the current
techniques, methods and existing physical models used to process the LLR data.
We also identify the challenges for modeling and data analysis that the LLR
community faces today in order to take full advantage of the new APOLLO ranging
station.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, talk presented at 2003 NASA/JPL Workshop on
Fundamental Physics in Space, April 14-16, 2003, Oxnard, C
- …