15,603 research outputs found
Sidebranching induced by external noise in solutal dendritic growth
We have studied sidebranching induced by fluctuations in dendritic growth.
The amplitude of sidebranching induced by internal (equilibrium) concentration
fluctuations in the case of solidification with solutal diffusion is computed.
This amplitude turns out to be significantly smaller than values reported in
previous experiments.The effects of other possible sources of fluctuations (of
an external origin)are examined by introducing non-conserved noise in a
phase-field model. This reproduces the characteristics of sidebranching found
in experiments. Results also show that sidebranching induced by external noise
is qualitatively similar to that of internal noise, and it is only
distinguished by its amplitude.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure
Periodic forcing in viscous fingering of a nematic liquid crystal
We study viscous fingering of an air-nematic interface in a radial Hele-Shaw
cell when periodically switching on and off an electric field, which reorients
the nematic and thus changes its viscosity, as well as the surface tension and
its anisotropy (mainly enforced by a single groove in the cell). We observe
undulations at the sides of the fingers which correlate with the switching
frequency and with tip oscillations which give maximal velocity to smallest
curvatures. These lateral undulations appear to be decoupled from spontaneous
(noise-induced) side branching. We conclude that the lateral undulations are
generated by successive relaxations between two limiting finger widths. The
change between these two selected pattern scales is mainly due to the change in
the anisotropy. This scenario is confirmed by numerical simulations in the
channel geometry, using a phase-field model for anisotropic viscous fingering.Comment: completely rewritten version, more clear exposition of results (14
pages in Revtex + 7 eps figures
Anomalous Roughening of Viscous Fluid Fronts in Spontaneous Imbibition
We report experiments on spontaneous imbibition of a viscous fluid by a model
porous medium in the absence of gravity. The average position of the interface
satisfies Washburn's law. Scaling of the interface fluctuations provides a
dynamic exponent z \simeq 3, indicative of global dynamics driven by capillary
forces. The complete set of exponents clearly shows that interfaces are not
self-affine, exhibiting distinct local and global scaling, both for time
(b=0.64\pm 0.02, b* =0.33 \pm 0.03) and space (a=1.94 \pm 0.20, a_loc=0.94 \pm
0.10). These values are compatible with an intrinsic anomalous scaling
scenario.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
CCD Photometry of Delta Scuti stars 7 Aql and 8 Aql
As a continuation of the study of the Delta Scuti stars 7 Aql and 8 Aql; new
CCD photometric data were acquired in 2007. We present a period analysis on
these data that confirm the dominant modes detected in each star in the
framework of the STEPHI XII campaign in 2003.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables; Accepted for publication in
Communications in Asteroseismology, Vol 153, 200
Invariant classification and the generalised invariant formalism: conformally flat pure radiation metrics, with zero cosmological constant
Metrics obtained by integrating within the generalised invariant formalism
are structured around their intrinsic coordinates, and this considerably
simplifies their invariant classification and symmetry analysis. We illustrate
this by presenting a simple and transparent complete invariant classification
of the conformally flat pure radiation metrics (except plane waves) in such
intrinsic coordinates; in particular we confirm that the three apparently
non-redundant functions of one variable are genuinely non-redundant, and easily
identify the subclasses which admit a Killing and/or a homothetic Killing
vector. Most of our results agree with the earlier classification carried out
by Skea in the different Koutras-McIntosh coordinates, which required much more
involved calculations; but there are some subtle differences. Therefore, we
also rework the classification in the Koutras-McIntosh coordinates, and by
paying attention to some of the subtleties involving arbitrary functions, we
are able to obtain complete agreement with the results obtained in intrinsic
coordinates. In particular, we have corrected and completed statements and
results by Edgar and Vickers, and by Skea, about the orders of Cartan
invariants at which particular information becomes available.Comment: Extended version of GRG publication, with some typos etc correcte
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