680 research outputs found
A paradigmatic flow for small-scale magnetohydrodynamics: properties of the ideal case and the collision of current sheets
We propose two sets of initial conditions for magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in
which both the velocity and the magnetic fields have spatial symmetries that
are preserved by the dynamical equations as the system evolves. When
implemented numerically they allow for substantial savings in CPU time and
memory storage requirements for a given resolved scale separation. Basic
properties of these Taylor-Green flows generalized to MHD are given, and the
ideal non-dissipative case is studied up to the equivalent of 2048^3 grid
points for one of these flows. The temporal evolution of the logarithmic
decrements, delta, of the energy spectrum remains exponential at the highest
spatial resolution considered, for which an acceleration is observed briefly
before the grid resolution is reached. Up to the end of the exponential decay
of delta, the behavior is consistent with a regular flow with no appearance of
a singularity. The subsequent short acceleration in the formation of small
magnetic scales can be associated with a near collision of two current sheets
driven together by magnetic pressure. It leads to strong gradients with a fast
rotation of the direction of the magnetic field, a feature also observed in the
solar wind.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Non trivial generalizations of the Schwinger pair production result
We present new, non trivial generalizations of the recent Tomaras, Tsamis and
Woodard extension of the original Schwinger formula for charged pair production
in a constant field.Comment: 11 page
Ideal evolution of MHD turbulence when imposing Taylor-Green symmetries
We investigate the ideal and incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)
equations in three space dimensions for the development of potentially singular
structures. The methodology consists in implementing the four-fold symmetries
of the Taylor-Green vortex generalized to MHD, leading to substantial computer
time and memory savings at a given resolution; we also use a re-gridding method
that allows for lower-resolution runs at early times, with no loss of spectral
accuracy. One magnetic configuration is examined at an equivalent resolution of
points, and three different configurations on grids of
points. At the highest resolution, two different current and vorticity sheet
systems are found to collide, producing two successive accelerations in the
development of small scales. At the latest time, a convergence of magnetic
field lines to the location of maximum current is probably leading locally to a
strong bending and directional variability of such lines. A novel analytical
method, based on sharp analysis inequalities, is used to assess the validity of
the finite-time singularity scenario. This method allows one to rule out
spurious singularities by evaluating the rate at which the logarithmic
decrement of the analyticity-strip method goes to zero. The result is that the
finite-time singularity scenario cannot be ruled out, and the singularity time
could be somewhere between and More robust conclusions will
require higher resolution runs and grid-point interpolation measurements of
maximum current and vorticity.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables; submitted to Physical Review
Vorticity statistics in the two-dimensional enstrophy cascade
We report the first extensive experimental observation of the two-dimensional
enstrophy cascade, along with the determination of the high order vorticity
statistics. The energy spectra we obtain are remarkably close to the Kraichnan
Batchelor expectation. The distributions of the vorticity increments, in the
inertial range, deviate only little from gaussianity and the corresponding
structure functions exponents are indistinguishable from zero. It is thus shown
that there is no sizeable small scale intermittency in the enstrophy cascade,
in agreement with recent theoretical analyses.Comment: 5 pages, 7 Figure
Transformation kinetics of alloys under non-isothermal conditions
The overall solid-to-solid phase transformation kinetics under non-isothermal
conditions has been modeled by means of a differential equation method. The
method requires provisions for expressions of the fraction of the transformed
phase in equilibrium condition and the relaxation time for transition as
functions of temperature. The thermal history is an input to the model. We have
used the method to calculate the time/temperature variation of the volume
fraction of the favored phase in the alpha-to-beta transition in a zirconium
alloy under heating and cooling, in agreement with experimental results. We
also present a formulation that accounts for both additive and non-additive
phase transformation processes. Moreover, a method based on the concept of path
integral, which considers all the possible paths in thermal histories to reach
the final state, is suggested.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures. To appear in Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. En
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