Low-lying dipole response: isospin character and collectivity in 68{}^{68}Ni, 132{}^{132}Sn and 208{}^{208}Pb

The isospin character, the collective or single-particle nature, and the sensitivity to the slope of the nuclear symmetry energy of the low-energy isovector dipole response (known as pygmy dipole resonance) are nowadays under debate. In the present work we study, within the fully self-consistent non-relativistic mean field (MF) approach based on Skyrme Hartree-Fock plus Random Phase Approximation (RPA), the measured even-even nuclei ${}^{68}$Ni, ${}^{132}$Sn and ${}^{208}$Pb. To analyze the model dependence in the predictions of the pygmy dipole strength, we employ three different Skyrme parameter sets. We find that both the isoscalar and the isovector dipole responses of all three nuclei show a low-energy peak that increases in magnitude, and is shifted to larger excitation energies, with increasing values of the slope of the symmetry energy at saturation. We highlight the fact that the collectivity associated with the RPA state(s) contributing to this peak is different in the isoscalar and isovector case, or in other words it depends on the external probe. While the response of these RPA states to an isovector operator does not show a clear collective nature, the response to an isoscalar operator is recognizably collective, for {\it all} analyzed nuclei and {\it all} studied interactions.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

The pygmy dipole strength, the neutron radius of 208{}^{208}Pb and the symmetry energy

The accurate characterization of the nuclear symmetry energy and its density dependence is one of the outstanding open problems in nuclear physics. A promising nuclear observable in order to constrain the density dependence of the symmetry energy at saturation is the neutron skin thickness of medium and heavy nuclei. Recently, a low-energy peak in the isovector dipole response of neutron-rich nuclei has been discovered that may be correlated with the neutron skin thickness. The existence of this correlation is currently under debate due to our limited experimental knowledge on the microscopic structure of such a peak. We present a detailed analysis of Skyrme Hartree-Fock (HF) plus random phase approximation (RPA) predictions for the dipole response in several neutron-rich nuclei and try to elucidate whether models of common use in nuclear physics confirm or dismiss its possible connection with the neutron skin thickness. Finally, we briefly present theoretical results for parity violating electron scattering on ${}^{208}$Pb at the conditions of the PREx experiment and discuss the implications for the neutron skin thickness of ${}^{208}$Pb and the slope of the symmetry energy.Comment: Contribution to the 2nd Iberian Nuclear Astrophysics Meeting on Compact Stars proceeding

Aplicação de redes neurais artificiais como preditor de rugosidade em processo de torneamento

The machine tools are found in various metal and mechanical industries as well as garages. They are operated by three phase induction motors, which are subject to problems related to the applied load on their rotors and disturbances concerning to the quality of electrical supply network. Within the machining process the parameters related to the machine tool, the properties of the workpiece material, geometry and material tool and the process itself, may affect the surface completion of the machined parts. The roughness is considered one of the main indexes of the final product quality in machining processes which may produce changes in the electromagnetic torque on the motor shaft. The purpose of this work is to present a predictor of superficial roughness of parts based on the dynamics of the effective current that feeds the induction motor in the turning process using artificial neural networks to analyze the roughness actions according to the machining conditions employed (speed cutting feed and range of the tool tip). Simulation results are presented and show the performance of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) proposed several operating situations with imbalances of tensions (between +10% to -10%) and load torque steps (25 steps in 1 1 Nm) with mean relative error (MRE) of 0.0120%. Experimental results depending on the method of (RNA) proposed for various situations power grid: balanced, phase loss and voltage imbalances (overvoltage and undervoltage), show high ability to approximate the behavior of the output variable (roughness Ra) with respect to input values (RMS currents of phases a, B and C). The greatest mean relative error of 0.001754% was observed.Fundação Araucária; CNPQAs máquinas-ferramentas são encontradas em diversas indústrias do setor metal mecânico e oficinas. Estas são acionadas por motores de indução trifásicos, os quais estão sujeitos a problemas relacionados à carga aplicada em seus eixos bem como aos distúrbios da alimentação de energia elétrica na rede. No processo de usinagem os parâmetros relacionados à máquina ferramenta, às propriedades do material da peça, à geometria e ao material da ferramenta e ao próprio processo em si, podem interferir no acabamento superficial das peças usinadas. A rugosidade é considerada um dos principais índices de qualidade do produto final nos processos de usinagem, podendo apresentar variações com as alterações do conjugado eletromagnético no eixo do motor. A proposta deste trabalho é apresentar um preditor de rugosidade superficial de peças baseado exclusivamente na corrente eficaz que alimenta o motor de indução trifásico num processo de torneamento, utilizando redes neurais artificiais para analisar o comportamento da rugosidade em função das condições de usinagem empregadas. Resultados de simulação são apresentados e mostram o desempenho da Rede Neural Artificial (RNA) proposta para diversas situações de operação com desequilíbrios de tensões (entre +10% à -10%) e degraus de torque de carga (25 degraus de 1 em 1 Nm) com erro relativo médio (ERM) de 0,0120%. Os resultados experimentais conforme o método da (RNA) proposta para diversas situações de alimentação da rede elétrica: equilibrado, falta de fase e desequilíbrios de tensões (sobretensão e subtensão), mostram elevada capacidade em aproximar o comportamento da variável de saída (rugosidade Ra) com relação aos valores de entrada (correntes RMS das fases A, B e C). O maior erro relativo médio verificado foi de 0,001754%

Evaluation of incipient cavitation erosion for pipe wall at downstream of an orifice

Cavitation induced vibration and the consequent erosion of pipes are the potential damaging factors in the piping systems. In order to prevent such trouble, it is preferable to develop a detection method for cavitation occurrence. Especially, in power plants, it is necessary to detect cavitation from the outside of the piping during operation. In this paper, in order to evaluate incipience of cavitation erosion, we carried out cavitation erosion experiments using aluminium specimens and we measured impulsive force induced by cavitation bubbles collapse using impact force detectors. In the cavitation erosion experiments, the incipient cavitation numbers, where cavitation erosion pits occured, were 0.8 at 50mm and 75mm downstream from the orifice and 0.7 at 100mm downstream. At those cavitation numbers, the states of cavitation was in a developed state or nearly so. In the measurements of impulsive force, the cavitation number, where impulsive force began to increase, was almost with the same as cavitation numbers at the occurrence of erosion pits.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/84261/1/CAV2009-final64.pd

Effects of Selective Logging Methods on Runoff Characteristics in Paired Small Headwater Catchment

AbstractReduction of vegetative cover by forest harvesting generally increases the average surface runoff volume and peak discharge for a given area of land. Forest harvesting in tropical Indonesian rainforest is managed using a selective logging system. The purpose of this study is to find the effect of controlled selective logging technique to reduce the hydrological effect on runoff. This study was conducted in three paired small headwater catchments in natural tropical rainforest area of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Catchment A was an undisturbed catchment for control. Catchment B and C were treated with reduce impact logging technique in selective logging activities. Controlled selective logging activities in the catchment B and C reduced canopy cover to 30% of natural cover. Discharging hydrograph response in the logged catchment produced higher peak discharge as consequences of high surface runoff. The runoff hydrograph parameter in the three catchments showed similar response to rainfall event, and the highest response of peak discharge was in the catchment B which had largest opened area. The average of direct runoff ratio in the catchment A, B and C were 31.35%; 46.12% and 44.83%, respectively. Implementation of reduce impact logging technique was effective to control the impact of logging on the runoff responses