Two-dimensional hydrodynamic lattice-gas simulations of binary immiscible and ternary amphiphilic fluid flow through porous media

The behaviour of two dimensional binary and ternary amphiphilic fluids under flow conditions is investigated using a hydrodynamic lattice gas model. After the validation of the model in simple cases (Poiseuille flow, Darcy's law for single component fluids), attention is focussed on the properties of binary immiscible fluids in porous media. An extension of Darcy's law which explicitly admits a viscous coupling between the fluids is verified, and evidence of capillary effects are described. The influence of a third component, namely surfactant, is studied in the same context. Invasion simulations have also been performed. The effect of the applied force on the invasion process is reported. As the forcing level increases, the invasion process becomes faster and the residual oil saturation decreases. The introduction of surfactant in the invading phase during imbibition produces new phenomena, including emulsification and micellisation. At very low fluid forcing levels, this leads to the production of a low-resistance gel, which then slows down the progress of the invading fluid. At long times (beyond the water percolation threshold), the concentration of remaining oil within the porous medium is lowered by the action of surfactant, thus enhancing oil recovery. On the other hand, the introduction of surfactant in the invading phase during drainage simulations slows down the invasion process -- the invading fluid takes a more tortuous path to invade the porous medium -- and reduces the oil recovery (the residual oil saturation increases).Comment: 48 pages, 26 figures. Phys. Rev. E (in press

Mapping wildland-urban interfaces at large scales integrating housing density and vegetation aggregation for fire prevention in the South of France

Every year, more than 50,000 wildland fires affect about 500,000 ha of vegetation in southern European countries, particularly in wildland-urban interfaces (WUI). This paper presents a method to characterize and map WUIs at large scales and over large areas for wildland fire prevention in the South of France. Based on the combination of four types of building configuration and three classes of vegetation structure, 12 interface types were classified. Through spatial analysis, fire ignition density and burned area ratio were linked with the different types of WUI. Among WUI types, isolated WUIs with the lowest housing density represent the highest level of fire risk

Measuring frequency fluctuations in nonlinear nanomechanical resonators

Advances in nanomechanics within recent years have demonstrated an always expanding range of devices, from top-down structures to appealing bottom-up MoS$_2$ and graphene membranes, used for both sensing and component-oriented applications. One of the main concerns in all of these devices is frequency noise, which ultimately limits their applicability. This issue has attracted a lot of attention recently, and the origin of this noise remains elusive up to date. In this Letter we present a very simple technique to measure frequency noise in nonlinear mechanical devices, based on the presence of bistability. It is illustrated on silicon-nitride high-stress doubly-clamped beams, in a cryogenic environment. We report on the same $T/f$ dependence of the frequency noise power spectra as reported in the literature. But we also find unexpected {\it damping fluctuations}, amplified in the vicinity of the bifurcation points; this effect is clearly distinct from already reported nonlinear dephasing, and poses a fundamental limit on the measurement of bifurcation frequencies. The technique is further applied to the measurement of frequency noise as a function of mode number, within the same device. The relative frequency noise for the fundamental flexure $\delta f/f_0$ lies in the range $0.5 - 0.01~$ppm (consistent with literature for cryogenic MHz devices), and decreases with mode number in the range studied. The technique can be applied to {\it any types} of nano-mechanical structures, enabling progresses towards the understanding of intrinsic sources of noise in these devices.Comment: Published 7 may 201

Resolution of the Nested Hierarchy for Rational sl(n) Models

We construct Drinfel'd twists for the rational sl(n) XXX-model giving rise to a completely symmetric representation of the monodromy matrix. We obtain a polarization free representation of the pseudoparticle creation operators figuring in the construction of the Bethe vectors within the framework of the quantum inverse scattering method. This representation enables us to resolve the hierarchy of the nested Bethe ansatz for the sl(n) invariant rational Heisenberg model. Our results generalize the findings of Maillet and Sanchez de Santos for sl(2) models.Comment: 25 pages, no figure

Computation of dynamical correlation functions of Heisenberg chains in a field

We compute the momentum- and frequency-dependent longitudinal spin structure factor for the one-dimensional spin-1/2 $XXZ$ Heisenberg spin chain in a magnetic field, using exact determinant representations for form factors on the lattice. Multiparticle contributions are computed numerically throughout the Brillouin zone, yielding saturation of the sum rule to high precision.Comment: 4 pages, 14 figure

On factorizing FF-matrices in Y(sln)Y(sl_n) and Uq(sln^)U_q(\hat{sl_n}) spin chains

We consider quantum spin chains arising from $N$-fold tensor products of the fundamental evaluation representations of $Y(sl_n)$ and $U_q(\hat{sl_n})$. Using the partial $F$-matrix formalism from the seminal work of Maillet and Sanchez de Santos, we derive a completely factorized expression for the $F$-matrix of such models and prove its equivalence to the expression obtained by Albert, Boos, Flume and Ruhlig. A new relation between the $F$-matrices and the Bethe eigenvectors of these spin chains is given.Comment: 30 page

Constant entropy sampling and release waves of shock compressions

We present several equilibrium methods that allow to compute isentropic processes, either during the compression or the release of the material. These methods are applied to compute the isentropic release of a shocked monoatomic liquid at high pressure and temperature. Moreover, equilibrium results of isentropic release are compared to the direct nonequilibrium simulation of the same process. We show that due to the viscosity of the liquid but also to nonequilibrium effects, the release of the system is not strictly isentropic

Computation of dynamical correlation functions of Heisenberg chains: the gapless anisotropic regime

We compute all dynamical spin-spin correlation functions for the spin-1/2 $XXZ$ anisotropic Heisenberg model in the gapless antiferromagnetic regime, using numerical sums of exact determinant representations for form factors of spin operators on the lattice. Contributions from intermediate states containing many particles and string (bound) states are included. We present modified determinant representations for the form factors valid in the general case with string solutions to the Bethe equations. Our results are such that the available sum rules are saturated to high precision. We Fourier transform our results back to real space, allowing us in particular to make a comparison with known exact formulas for equal-time correlation functions for small separations in zero field, and with predictions for the zero-field asymptotics from conformal field theory.Comment: 14 page

On correlation functions of integrable models associated to the six-vertex R-matrix

We derive an analog of the master equation obtained recently for correlation functions of the XXZ chain for a wide class of quantum integrable systems described by the R-matrix of the six-vertex model, including in particular continuum models. This generalized master equation allows us to obtain multiple integral representations for the correlation functions of these models. We apply this method to derive the density-density correlation functions of the quantum non-linear Schrodinger model.Comment: 21 page

Mid- to late-Holocene environmental evolution of the Loire estuary as observed from sedimentary and microfaunal characteristics

We used sedimentological and foraminiferal characteristics of four sedimentary cores, supported by paleogeographical and historical data, to reconstruct the depositional history of the inner Loire estuary (Near Saint-Nazaire, France) and the response of benthic foraminifera to the mid- to late-Holocene marine flooding of the incised valley. These were further used to evaluate the consequent changes in estuarine morphological and hydro-sedimentary patterns during this time period. Our results described significant changes in hydro-sedimentary dynamics over the past ~ 6 kyrs BP. At our location, these changes expressed the combined influence of marine (e.g., tide, storm waves) and fluvial dynamics (e.g., floods), which are linked, on a broader scale, to sea-level variations and the regional climate regime. Three main periods stand out: (1) from ~ 6.0 to ~ 2.5 kyrs BP, when the sea-level rise slowed down, a large brackish bay extended over and around the study area. The fine-grained tidal rythmites recorded north of the Bilho bank (the main tidal bar located in our study area) indicated a calm depositional environment, protected from the main riverine influence. The presence of thick flood deposits from ~ 5.4 to ~ 4.0 kyrs BP near the Bilho bank indicates further the dominance of humid conditions. (2) From ~ 2.5 kyrs BP to ~ 1850 CE (pre-industrial state), sea-level stabilized at its present value, and the pre-existing bay was progressively infilled. North of the Bilho bank, near a major mudflat (Méan), the generally homogenous sedimentation composed of silty muds rich in organic matter indicated a sheltered environment; the main water flow channel being located south of the Bilho bank. Within this overall homogenous sedimentation, foraminiferal assemblages described rather accurately the progressive infilling of the valley (indicated by a decrease in the proportions of outer estuarine species), accompanied with the channelization of the main entering marine currents (tide, storm waves) (indicated by an increase in the proportions of transported species from the adjacent upper continental shelf), and finally the buildup of the Méan mudflat and the stabilization of the environment to its present day configuration (indicated by the dominance of autochthonous inner estuarine species). (3) Since 1850 CE, the human impact progressively modified the general landscape of our study area with the construction of the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, the digging of the northern navigation channel and the polderization of the northern Bay. The southern channel was progressively abandoned by the main water flow in favor of the newly dug northern channel, causing the southern migration of the Bilho sandbank and the progressive filling of the southern channel