14,315 research outputs found
Scattering of second sound waves by quantum vorticity
A new method of detection and measurement of quantum vorticity by scattering
second sound off quantized vortices in superfluid Helium is suggested.
Theoretical calculations of the relative amplitude of the scattered second
sound waves from a single quantum vortex, a vortex ring, and bulk vorticity are
presented. The relevant estimates show that an experimental verification of the
method is feasible. Moreover, it can even be used for the detection of a single
quantum vortex.Comment: Latex file, 9 page
Experimental determination of the degree of quantum polarisation of continuous variable states
We demonstrate excitation-manifold resolved polarisation characterisation of
continuous-variable (CV) quantum states. In contrast to traditional
characterisation of polarisation that is based on the Stokes parameters, we
experimentally determine the Stokes vector of each excitation manifold
separately. Only for states with a given photon number does the methods
coincide. For states with an indeterminate photon number, for example Gaussian
states, the employed method gives a richer and more accurate description. We
apply the method both in theory and in experiment to some common states to
demonstrate its advantages.Comment: 5 page
Star-Like Micelles with Star-Like Interactions: A quantitative Evaluation of Structure Factor and Phase Diagram
PEP-PEO block copolymer micelles offer the possibility to investigate phase
behaviour and interactions of star polymers (ultra-soft colloids). A star-like
architecture is achieved by an extremely asymmetric block ratio (1:20).
Micellar functionality f can be smoothly varied by changing solvent composition
(interfacial tension). Structure factors obtained by SANS can be quantitatively
described in terms of an effective potential developed for star polymers. The
experimental phase diagram reproduces to a high level of accuracy the predicted
liquid/solid transition. Whereas for intermediate f a bcc phase is observed,
for high f the formation of a fcc phase is preempted by glass formation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, PRL in pres
Signatures of magnetic activity in the seismic data of solar-type stars observed by Kepler
In the Sun, the frequencies of the acoustic modes are observed to vary in
phase with the magnetic activity level. These frequency variations are expected
to be common in solar-type stars and contain information about the
activity-related changes that take place in their interiors. The unprecedented
duration of Kepler photometric time-series provides a unique opportunity to
detect and characterize stellar magnetic cycles through asteroseismology. In
this work, we analyze a sample of 87 solar-type stars, measuring their temporal
frequency shifts over segments of length 90 days. For each segment, the
individual frequencies are obtained through a Bayesian peak-bagging tool. The
mean frequency shifts are then computed and compared with: 1) those obtained
from a cross-correlation method; 2) the variation in the mode heights; 3) a
photometric activity proxy; and 4) the characteristic timescale of the
granulation. For each star and 90-d sub-series, we provide mean frequency
shifts, mode heights, and characteristic timescales of the granulation.
Interestingly, more than 60% of the stars show evidence for (quasi-)periodic
variations in the frequency shifts. In the majority of the cases, these
variations are accompanied by variations in other activity proxies. About 20%
of the stars show mode frequencies and heights varying approximately in phase,
in opposition to what is observed for the Sun.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJS, 19(+86) pages, 11(+89) figures,
2(+87) table
Seismic signatures of magnetic activity in solar-type stars observed by Kepler
The properties of the acoustic modes are sensitive to magnetic activity. The
unprecedented long-term Kepler photometry, thus, allows stellar magnetic cycles
to be studied through asteroseismology. We search for signatures of magnetic
cycles in the seismic data of Kepler solar-type stars. We find evidence for
periodic variations in the acoustic properties of about half of the 87 analysed
stars. In these proceedings, we highlight the results obtained for two such
stars, namely KIC 8006161 and KIC 5184732.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the IAUS34
Seeding Effectiveness for Eight Mojave Desert Perennials After a 2005 Wildfire
To assess BLM seeding effectiveness in a mid-elevation burn where pre-burn plant communities were dominated by blackbrush, Joshua trees, and creosote
Scattering of first and second sound waves by quantum vorticity in superfluid Helium
We study the scattering of first and second sound waves by quantum vorticity
in superfluid Helium using two-fluid hydrodynamics. The vorticity of the
superfluid component and the sound interact because of the nonlinear character
of these equations. Explicit expressions for the scattered pressure and
temperature are worked out in a first Born approximation, and care is exercised
in delimiting the range of validity of the assumptions needed for this
approximation to hold. An incident second sound wave will partly convert into
first sound, and an incident first sound wave will partly convert into second
sound. General considerations show that most incident first sound converts into
second sound, but not the other way around. These considerations are validated
using a vortex dipole as an explicitely worked out example.Comment: 24 pages, Latex, to appear in Journal of Low Temperature Physic
Topological Landau-Ginzburg Theory for Vortices in Superfluid He
We propose a new Landau-Ginzburg theory for arbitrarily shaped vortex strings
in superfluid He. The theory contains a topological term and directly
describes vortex dynamics. We introduce gauge fields in order to remove
singularities from the Landau-Ginzburg order parameter of the superfluid, so
that two kinds of gauge symmetries appear, making the continuity equation and
conservation of the total vorticity manifest. The topological term gives rise
to the Berry phase term in the vortex mechanical actions.Comment: LATEX, 9 page
Stellar granulation as seen in disk-integrated intensity. II. Theoretical scaling relations compared with observations
A large set of stars observed by CoRoT and Kepler shows clear evidence for
the presence of a stellar background, which is interpreted to arise from
surface convection, i.e., granulation. These observations show that the
characteristic time-scale (tau_eff) and the root-mean-square (rms) brightness
fluctuations (sigma) associated with the granulation scale as a function of the
peak frequency (nu_max) of the solar-like oscillations. We aim at providing a
theoretical background to the observed scaling relations based on a model
developed in the companion paper. We computed for each 3D model the theoretical
power density spectrum (PDS) associated with the granulation as seen in
disk-integrated intensity on the basis of the theoretical model. For each PDS
we derived tau_eff and sigma and compared these theoretical values with the
theoretical scaling relations derived from the theoretical model and the Kepler
measurements. We derive theoretical scaling relations for tau_eff and sigma,
which show the same dependence on nu_max as the observed scaling relations. In
addition, we show that these quantities also scale as a function of the
turbulent Mach number (Ma) estimated at the photosphere. The theoretical
scaling relations for tau_eff and sigma match the observations well on a global
scale. Our modelling provides additional theoretical support for the observed
variations of sigma and tau_eff with nu_m max. It also highlights the important
role of Ma in controlling the properties of the stellar granulation. However,
the observations made with Kepler on a wide variety of stars cannot confirm the
dependence of our scaling relations on Ma. Measurements of the granulation
background and detections of solar-like oscillations in a statistically
sufficient number of cool dwarf stars will be required for confirming the
dependence of the theoretical scaling relations with Ma.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures,accepted for publication in A&
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