Fluctuation theorems for harmonic oscillators

We study experimentally the thermal fluctuations of energy input and dissipation in a harmonic oscillator driven out of equilibrium, and search for Fluctuation Relations. We study transient evolution from the equilibrium state, together with non equilibrium steady states. Fluctuations Relations are obtained experimentally for both the work and the heat, for the stationary and transient evolutions. A Stationary State Fluctuation Theorem is verified for the two time prescriptions of the torque. But a Transient Fluctuation Theorem is satisfied for the work given to the system but not for the heat dissipated by the system in the case of linear forcing. Experimental observations on the statistical and dynamical properties of the fluctuation of the angle, we derive analytical expressions for the probability density function of the work and the heat. We obtain for the first time an analytic expression of the probability density function of the heat. Agreement between experiments and our modeling is excellent

Influence of Internode Length on Degradability of Lucerne Stems

Lignification of plant tissues restricts degradation of forages by ruminants. The undegradable lignified middle lamella/primary cell wall prevents rumen microbes from accessing undamaged adjacent plant cells. In contrast, walls of non-lignified tissues are completely degradable. Preliminary observations of how deeply rumen microbes could degrade different tissues within 20- to 30-mm long lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem pieces indicated a two-fold range in depth of degradation among stem samples. Studies were undertaken to determine if extent of cell wall degradation in lucerne was influenced by length of stem internodes

On some geometric features of the Kramer interior solution for a rotating perfect fluid

Geometric features (including convexity properties) of an exact interior gravitational field due to a self-gravitating axisymmetric body of perfect fluid in stationary, rigid rotation are studied. In spite of the seemingly non-Newtonian features of the bounding surface for some rotation rates, we show, by means of a detailed analysis of the three-dimensional spatial geodesics, that the standard Newtonian convexity properties do hold. A central role is played by a family of geodesics that are introduced here, and provide a generalization of the Newtonian straight lines parallel to the axis of rotation.Comment: LaTeX, 15 pages with 4 Poscript figures. To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

The role of inertia for the rotation of a nearly spherical particle in a general linear flow

We analyse the angular dynamics of a neutrally buoyant nearly spherical particle immersed in a steady general linear flow. The hydrodynamic torque acting on the particle is obtained by means of a reciprocal theorem, regular perturbation theory exploiting the small eccentricity of the nearly spherical particle, and assuming that inertial effects are small, but finite.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Cross-sections of Andreev scattering by quantized vortex rings in 3He-B

We studied numerically the Andreev scattering cross-sections of three-dimensional isolated quantized vortex rings in superfluid 3He-B at ultra-low temperatures. We calculated the dependence of the cross-section on the ring's size and on the angle between the beam of incident thermal quasiparticle excitations and the direction of the ring's motion. We also introduced, and investigated numerically, the cross-section averaged over all possible orientations of the vortex ring; such a cross-section may be particularly relevant for the analysis of experimental data. We also analyzed the role of screening effects for Andreev reflection of quasiparticles by systems of vortex rings. Using the results obtained for isolated rings we found that the screening factor for a system of unlinked rings depends strongly on the average radius of the vortex ring, and that the screening effects increase with decreasing the rings' size.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures ; submitted to Physical Review

Evaluation of Crested Wheatgrass Introductions for Forage Yield and Quality

Crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum and A. desertorum, are among the most important cool-season forage grasses in the United States and Canada, particularly for reseeding arid range sites. Further improvement in this grass by breeding depends on identifying sources of genetic variability for forage yield and quality. Foreign introductions are an obvious source of genetic variation since crested wheatgrasses are introduced species. In this study 38 accessions (PI lines) and 8 Nebraska experimental lines were evaluated for forage quality as measured by in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and protein content and for forage yield. The cultivars \u27Ruff\u27 and \u27Nordan\u27 and two clonal lines were included as checks. The strains were evaluated at Lincoln and Alliance, NE., which differ markedly in climate. There were large differences among strains evaluated for all traits including first- and second-cut forage yield, IVDMD, protein content, heading date, height and first year basal spread. Utilization of PI 369167, PI 369170, Ruff, and Nordan in a breeding program could result in crested wheatgrasses with improved forage yield and quality

Genotype and Genotype X Environment Interaction Effects on Forage Yield and Quality of Crested Wheatgrasses

Genotype, environment, and genotype X environment interaction effects for forage yield and quality of the crested wheatgrasses (Agropyron cristatum) and (A. desertorum) were studied using an array of 42 crested wheatgrass introductions, experimental lines, and released cultivars that were selected to be representative of the mix of germplasm available to a breeder. They were grown in two environments, Lincoln and Alliance, Nebr., that differ markedly in climate. Forage yield and forage quality as measured by in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and percent protein were determined in both locations in 1980 and 1981. In the combined analyses over years and locations, there were significant differences among strains or genotypes and locations for first-harvest forage yield, IVDMD, and protein. Strain X location interaction effects were significant only for first-harvest forage yield and for this trait its variance component was only 0.3 as large as the variance component for strains. Strain X year interaction effects were not significant. Spearmen correlations, used to show relative ranking of the strains at the two locations, were moderate and positive for all first-cut traits. The results indicate that existing genetic variability in forage yield and quality should permit the development of improved crested wheatgrasses and that at least in the initial stages of a breeding program, selection for these traits could be done in a single location and year

Genotype and Genotype X Environment Interaction Effects on Forage Yield and Quality of Crested Wheatgrasses

Genotype, environment, and genotype X environment interaction effects for forage yield and quality of the crested wheatgrasses (Agropyron cristatum) and (A. desertorum) were studied using an array of 42 crested wheatgrass introductions, experimental lines, and released cultivars that were selected to be representative of the mix of germplasm available to a breeder. They were grown in two environments, Lincoln and Alliance, Nebr., that differ markedly in climate. Forage yield and forage quality as measured by in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and percent protein were determined in both locations in 1980 and 1981. In the combined analyses over years and locations, there were significant differences among strains or genotypes and locations for first-harvest forage yield, IVDMD, and protein. Strain X location interaction effects were significant only for first-harvest forage yield and for this trait its variance component was only 0.3 as large as the variance component for strains. Strain X year interaction effects were not significant. Spearmen correlations, used to show relative ranking of the strains at the two locations, were moderate and positive for all first-cut traits. The results indicate that existing genetic variability in forage yield and quality should permit the development of improved crested wheatgrasses and that at least in the initial stages of a breeding program, selection for these traits could be done in a single location and year

Collimated Jet or Expanding Outflow: Possible Origins of GRBs and X-Ray Flashes

We investigate the dynamics of an injected outflow propagating in a progenitor in the context of the collapsar model for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) through two dimensional axisymmetric relativistic hydrodynamic simulations. Initially, we locally inject an outflow near the center of a progenitor. We calculate 25 models, in total, by fixing its total input energy to be 10^{51} ergs s^{-1} and radius of the injected outflow to be $7\times 10^7$ cm while varying its bulk Lorentz factor, $\Gamma_{0} = 1.05\sim 5$, and its specific internal energy, $\epsilon_0/c^2 = 0.1\sim 30$. The injected outflow propagates in the progenitor and drives a large-scale outflow or jet. We find a smooth but dramatic transition from a collimated jet to an expanding outflow among calculated models. The maximum Lorentz factor is, on the other hand, sensitive to both of $\Gamma_0$ and $\epsilon_0$; roughly $\Gamma_{\rm max} \sim \Gamma_0 (1+\epsilon_0/c^2)$. Our finding will explain a smooth transition between the GRBs, X-ray rich GRBs (XRRs) and X-ray Flashes (XRFs) by the same model but with different $\epsilon_0$ values.Comment: Comments 51 pages, 21 figures. accepted for publication in ApJ high resolution version is available at http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~mizuta/COLLAPSAR/collapsar.htm