First Principles Investigation of Magnetic Properties of Fe-Ni-Mn-Al Heusler Alloys

AbstractThe composition dependences of crystal lattice parameters, magnetic moments and magnetic exchange parameters in FexNi2−xMn1+y Al1−y (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0; 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.6) Heusler alloys are investigated with the help of first principles calculations. Our simulations have shown that crystal lattice parameter is decreased with Fe content (x) increasing. Our calculations show that increase of Fe content (x) leads increasing of magnetic exchange interactions between Mn atoms at regular positions and Mn atoms at Al positions and change of interaction sign from antiferromagnetic type to ferromagnetic one for Fe content x ≥ 1.4. Competitive behavior between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions shows that these alloys have a complex magnetic structure. Calculated data for crystal lattice parameter, magnetic moment and magnetic exchange parameters for pure compounds (x = 0.0 and x = 2.0) are in an agreement with theoretical and experimental data

Investigation of Optical Properties and Radiation Stability of TiO2 Powders before and after Modification by Nanopowders of Various Oxides

The titanium dioxide powders are widely used as a pigment for coatings and paints, the important characteristics of which are reflectivity and stability to irradiation. The results of investigations of the optical properties and radiation stability of titanium dioxide powders before and after high-temperature modification with nanopowders are presented in this chapter. The diffuse reflection spectra of various titanium dioxide powders in the UV, visible, and near-IR ranges, and their change during irradiation by electrons with 30 keV energy and a different fluence in vacuum in situ were investigated: (1) TiO2 powders with particle size in the range 60–240 nm; (2) Microsized TiO2 powder (240 nm) modified by Al2O3, ZrO2, SiO2, TiO2, ZnO, MgO nanoparticles with grain size from 30 up to 60 nm; (3) Microsized TiO2 powder (260 nm) modified by SiO2 with the grain size of 12–14 nm at the temperature of 150, 400, and 800°C. The reduction in reflectivity in entire spectrum with decrease in grain sizes of TiO2 nanopowders was established. Nanopowder with the grain size of 80 nm possesses the highest stability to irradiation. It was shown that the average grain size and specific surface of introduced nanoparticles effect noticeably on the radiation stability increase of titanium dioxide powders modified with nanoparticles of various oxides. The micro-sized TiO2 powder heating at temperature of 800оС is the factor which positively influences on the radiation stability

Vortex merger near a topographic slope in a homogeneous rotating fluid

This work is a contribution to the PHYSINDIEN research program. It was supported by CNRS-RFBR contract PRC 1069/16-55-150001.The effect of a bottom slope on the merger of two identical Rankine vortices is investigated in a two dimensional, quasi-geostrophic, incompressible fluid. When two cyclones initially lie parallel to the slope, and more than two vortex diameters away from the slope, the critical merger distance is unchanged. When the cyclones are closer to the slope, they can merge at larger distances, but they lose more mass into filaments, thus weakening the efficiency of merger. Several effects account for this: the topographic Rossby wave advects the cyclones, reduces their mutual distance and deforms them. This along shelf wave breaks into filaments and into secondary vortices which shear out the initial cyclones. The global motion of fluid towards the shallow domain and the erosion of the two cyclones are confirmed by the evolution of particles seeded both in the cyclone sand near the topographic slope. The addition of tracer to the flow indicates that diffusion is ballistic at early times. For two anticyclones, merger is also facilitated because one vortex is ejected offshore towards the other, via coupling with a topographic cyclone. Again two anticyclones can merge at large distance but they are eroded in the process. Finally, for taller topographies, the critical merger distance is again increased and the topographic influence can scatter or completely erode one of the two initial cyclones. Conclusions are drawn on possible improvements of the model configuration for an application to the ocean.PostprintPeer reviewe

Altimetry for the future: Building on 25 years of progress

In 2018 we celebrated 25 years of development of radar altimetry, and the progress achieved by this methodology in the fields of global and coastal oceanography, hydrology, geodesy and cryospheric sciences. Many symbolic major events have celebrated these developments, e.g., in Venice, Italy, the 15th (2006) and 20th (2012) years of progress and more recently, in 2018, in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 25 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry. On this latter occasion it was decided to collect contributions of scientists, engineers and managers involved in the worldwide altimetry community to depict the state of altimetry and propose recommendations for the altimetry of the future. This paper summarizes contributions and recommendations that were collected and provides guidance for future mission design, research activities, and sustainable operational radar altimetry data exploitation. Recommendations provided are fundamental for optimizing further scientific and operational advances of oceanographic observations by altimetry, including requirements for spatial and temporal resolution of altimetric measurements, their accuracy and continuity. There are also new challenges and new openings mentioned in the paper that are particularly crucial for observations at higher latitudes, for coastal oceanography, for cryospheric studies and for hydrology. The paper starts with a general introduction followed by a section on Earth System Science including Ocean Dynamics, Sea Level, the Coastal Ocean, Hydrology, the Cryosphere and Polar Oceans and the ‘‘Green” Ocean, extending the frontier from biogeochemistry to marine ecology. Applications are described in a subsequent section, which covers Operational Oceanography, Weather, Hurricane Wave and Wind Forecasting, Climate projection. Instruments’ development and satellite missions’ evolutions are described in a fourth section. A fifth section covers the key observations that altimeters provide and their potential complements, from other Earth observation measurements to in situ data. Section 6 identifies the data and methods and provides some accuracy and resolution requirements for the wet tropospheric correction, the orbit and other geodetic requirements, the Mean Sea Surface, Geoid and Mean Dynamic Topography, Calibration and Validation, data accuracy, data access and handling (including the DUACS system). Section 7 brings a transversal view on scales, integration, artificial intelligence, and capacity building (education and training). Section 8 reviews the programmatic issues followed by a conclusion

Altimetry for the future: building on 25 years of progress

In 2018 we celebrated 25 years of development of radar altimetry, and the progress achieved by this methodology in the fields of global and coastal oceanography, hydrology, geodesy and cryospheric sciences. Many symbolic major events have celebrated these developments, e.g., in Venice, Italy, the 15th (2006) and 20th (2012) years of progress and more recently, in 2018, in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 25 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry. On this latter occasion it was decided to collect contributions of scientists, engineers and managers involved in the worldwide altimetry community to depict the state of altimetry and propose recommendations for the altimetry of the future. This paper summarizes contributions and recommendations that were collected and provides guidance for future mission design, research activities, and sustainable operational radar altimetry data exploitation. Recommendations provided are fundamental for optimizing further scientific and operational advances of oceanographic observations by altimetry, including requirements for spatial and temporal resolution of altimetric measurements, their accuracy and continuity. There are also new challenges and new openings mentioned in the paper that are particularly crucial for observations at higher latitudes, for coastal oceanography, for cryospheric studies and for hydrology. The paper starts with a general introduction followed by a section on Earth System Science including Ocean Dynamics, Sea Level, the Coastal Ocean, Hydrology, the Cryosphere and Polar Oceans and the “Green” Ocean, extending the frontier from biogeochemistry to marine ecology. Applications are described in a subsequent section, which covers Operational Oceanography, Weather, Hurricane Wave and Wind Forecasting, Climate projection. Instruments’ development and satellite missions’ evolutions are described in a fourth section. A fifth section covers the key observations that altimeters provide and their potential complements, from other Earth observation measurements to in situ data. Section 6 identifies the data and methods and provides some accuracy and resolution requirements for the wet tropospheric correction, the orbit and other geodetic requirements, the Mean Sea Surface, Geoid and Mean Dynamic Topography, Calibration and Validation, data accuracy, data access and handling (including the DUACS system). Section 7 brings a transversal view on scales, integration, artificial intelligence, and capacity building (education and training). Section 8 reviews the programmatic issues followed by a conclusion

Mathematical Modeling of Vortex Interaction Using a Three-Layer Quasigeostrophic Model. Part 2: Finite-Core-Vortex Approach and Oceanographic Application

The three-layer version of the contour dynamics/surgery method is used to study the interaction mechanisms of a large-scale surface vortex with a smaller vortex/vortices of the middle layer (prototypes of intrathermocline vortices in the ocean) belonging to the middle layer of a three-layer rotating fluid. The lower layer is assumed to be dynamically passive. The piecewise constant vertical density distribution approximates the average long-term profile for the North Atlantic, where intrathermocline eddies are observed most often at depths of 300–1600 m. Numerical experiments were carried out with different initial configurations of vortices, to evaluate several effects. Firstly, the stability of the vortex compound was evaluated. Most often, it remains compact, but when unstable, it can break as vertically coupled vortex dipoles (called hetons). Secondly, we studied the interaction between a vertically tilted cyclone and lenses. Then, the lenses first undergo anticlockwise rotation determined by the surface cyclone. The lenses can induce alignment or coupling with cyclonic vorticity above them. Only very weak lenses are destroyed by the shear stress exerted by the surface cyclone. Thirdly, under the influence of lens dipoles, the surface cyclone can be torn apart. In particular, the shedding of rapidly moving vortex pairs at the surface reflects the presence of lens dipoles below. More slowly moving small eddies can also be torn away from the main surface cyclone. In this case, they do not appear to be coupled with middle layer vortices. They are the result of large shear-induced deformation. Common and differing features of the vortex interaction, modeled in the framework of the theory of point and finite-core vortices, are noted

Dynamics of vortex structures in a stratified rotating fluid

This book presents an extensive analysis of the dynamics of discrete and distributed baroclinic vortices in a multi-layer fluid that characterizes the main features of the large and mesoscales dynamics of the atmosphere and the ocean

Baroclinic multipole formation from heton interaction

International audienceIn a two-layer quasi-geostrophic model, the interaction between two opposite-signed hetons (baroclinic vortex pairs) is studied analytically and numerically, for singular and finite-area vortices. For point vortices, using trilinear coordinates, it is shown that the possible evolutions depend on the deformation radius Rd: for large Rd, the layers decouple, vortices pair in each layer and their trajectories are open; for medium Rd, the exchange of opposite-sign partners between layers becomes possible; for small Rd, two other regimes appear: one where hetons remain unaltered during their evolution but follow open trajectories, and one where hetons occupy only a bounded subdomain of space at all times. Conditions for invariant co-rotation of the heton pair are derived and analyzed. Then, the nonlinear evolutions of finite-area heton pairs, with piecewise-constant vorticity, are computed with contour dynamics. When the central cyclonic vortex is initially aligned vertically, a transition occurs between three nonlinear regimes as layer coupling increases: for weak coupling, the vortices pair horizontally and drift away in opposite directions; for moderate layer coupling, the core vortex splits into two parts, one of which remains as a tilted columnar vortex at the center; for stronger layer coupling, each anticyclone pairs with part of the cyclone in each layer, thus forming an L-shaped dipole, a new coherent structure of two-layer flows. When the initial distance between the central and satellite vortices is increased, the velocity shear at the center decreases and the central vortex remains vertically aligned, thus forming a Z-shaped tripole, also a newly observed vortex compound. Such tripoles also compete with oscillating states, in which the core vortex periodically aligns and tilts, a regime observed when layer coupling is moderate and as vortices become closer in each layer. This Z-shaped tripole forms for various values of stratification and of initial distances between vortices, and is therefore a robust vortex compound in two-layer quasi-geostrophic flows