Slow relaxation to equipartition in spring-chain systems

In this study, one-dimensional systems of masses connected by springs, i.e., spring-chain systems, are investigated numerically. The average kinetic energy of chain-end particles of these systems is larger than that of other particles, which is similar to the behavior observed for systems made of masses connected by rigid links. The energetic motion of the end particles is, however, transient, and the system relaxes to thermal equilibrium after a while, where the average kinetic energy of each particle is the same, that is, equipartition of energy is achieved. This is in contrast to the case of systems made of masses connected by rigid links, where the energetic motion of the end particles is observed in equilibrium. The timescale of relaxation estimated by simulation increases rapidly with increasing spring constant. The timescale is also estimated using the Boltzmann-Jeans theory and is found to be in quite good agreement with that obtained by the simulation

Understanding the dynamics of segregation bands of simulated granular material in a rotating drum

Axial segregation of a binary mixture of grains in a rotating drum is studied using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. A force scheme leading to a constant restitution coefficient is used and shows that axial segregation is possible between two species of grains made of identical material differing by size. Oscillatory motion of bands is investigated and the influence of the frictional properties elucidated. The mechanism of bands merging is explained using direct imaging of individual grains

Proportion Regulation in Globally Coupled Nonlinear Systems

As a model of proportion regulation in differentiation process of biological system, globally coupled activator-inhibitor systems are studied. Formation and destabilization of one and two cluster state are predicted analytically. Numerical simulations show that the proportion of units of clusters is chosen within a finite range and it is selected depend on the initial condition.Comment: 11 pages (revtex format) and 5 figures (PostScript)

The MSW Effect in Quantum Field Theory

We show in detail the general relationship between the Schr\"{o}dinger equation approach to calculating the MSW effect and the quantum field theoretical S-matrix approach. We show the precise form a generic neutrino propagator must have to allow a physically meaningful ``oscillation probability'' to be decoupled from neutrino production fluxes and detection cross-sections, and explicitly list the conditions---not realized in cases of current experimental interest---in which the field theory approach would be useful.Comment: 20 page REVTeX file, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Effect of toroidal field ripple on plasma rotation in JET

Dedicated experiments on TF ripple effects on the performance of tokamak plasmas have been carried out at JET. The TF ripple was found to have a profound effect on the plasma rotation. The central Mach number, M, defined as the ratio of the rotation velocity and the thermal velocity, was found to drop as a function of TF ripple amplitude (3) from an average value of M = 0.40-0.55 for operations at the standard JET ripple of 6 = 0.08% to M = 0.25-0.40 for 6 = 0.5% and M = 0.1-0.3 for delta = 1%. TF ripple effects should be considered when estimating the plasma rotation in ITER. With standard co-current injection of neutral beam injection (NBI), plasmas were found to rotate in the co-current direction. However, for higher TF ripple amplitudes (delta similar to 1%) an area of counter rotation developed at the edge of the plasma, while the core kept its co-rotation. The edge counter rotation was found to depend, besides on the TF ripple amplitude, on the edge temperature. The observed reduction of toroidal plasma rotation with increasing TF ripple could partly be explained by TF ripple induced losses of energetic ions, injected by NBI. However, the calculated torque due to these losses was insufficient to explain the observed counter rotation and its scaling with edge parameters. It is suggested that additional TF ripple induced losses of thermal ions contribute to this effect

Multi‐instrument Observations of Ion‐Neutral Coupling in the Dayside Cusp

Using data from the Scanning Doppler Imager, the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network, the EISCAT Svalbard Radar and an auroral all‐sky imager, we examine an instance of F‐region neutral winds which have been influenced by the presence of poleward moving auroral forms near the dayside cusp region. We observe a reduction in the time taken for the ion‐drag force to re‐orientate the neutrals into the direction of the convective plasma (on the order of minutes), compared to before the auroral activity began. Additionally, because the ionosphere near the cusp is influenced much more readily by changes in the solar wind via dayside reconnection, we observe the neutrals responding to an interplanetary magnetic field change within minutes of it occurring. This has implications on the rate that energy is deposited into the ionosphere via Joule heating, which we show to become dampened by the neutral winds

Coalescence in the 1D Cahn-Hilliard model

We present an approximate analytical solution of the Cahn-Hilliard equation describing the coalescence during a first order phase transition. We have identified all the intermediate profiles, stationary solutions of the noiseless Cahn-Hilliard equation. Using properties of the soliton lattices, periodic solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equation, we have construct a family of ansatz describing continuously the processus of destabilization and period doubling predicted in Langer's self similar scenario

Dark matter annihilation at the galactic center

If cold dark matter is present at the galactic center, as in current models of the dark halo, it is accreted by the central black hole into a dense spike. Particle dark matter then annihilates strongly inside the spike, making it a compact source of photons, electrons, positrons, protons, antiprotons, and neutrinos. The spike luminosity depends on the density profile of the inner halo: halos with finite cores have unnoticeable spikes, while halos with inner cusps may have spikes so bright that the absence of a detected neutrino signal from the galactic center already places interesting upper limits on the density slope of the inner halo. Future neutrino telescopes observing the galactic center could probe the inner structure of the dark halo, or indirectly find the nature of dark matter.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Size Segregation and Convection of Granular Mixtures Almost Completely Packed in the Rotating Thin Box

Size segregation of granular mixtures which are almost completely packed in a rotating drum is discussed with an effective simulation and a brief analysis. Instead of a 3D drum, we simulate 2D rotating thin box which is almost completely packed with granular mixtures. The phase inversion of radially segregated pattern which was found in a 3D experiment are qualitatively reproduced with this simulation, and a brief analysis is followed. Moreover in our simulation, a global convection appears after radial segregation pattern is formed, and this convection induces axially segregated pattern.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, PACS number(s): 45.70.-n, 45.70.M

Evidence for an oscillatory signature in atmospheric neutrino oscillation

Muon neutrino disappearance probability as a function of neutrino flight length L over neutrino energy E was studied. A dip in the L/E distribution was observed in the data, as predicted from the sinusoidal flavor transition probability of neutrino oscillation. The observed L/E distribution constrained nu_mu nu_tau neutrino oscillation parameters; 1.9x10^-3 < Delta m^2 < 3.0x10^-3 eV^2 and \sin^2(2theta) > 0.90 at 90% confidence level.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR