8,625 research outputs found
Two techniques enable sampling of filtered and unfiltered molten metals
Filtered samples of molten metals are obtained by filtering through a plug of porous material fitted in the end of a sample tube, and unfiltered samples are obtained by using a capillary-tube extension rod with a perforated bucket. With these methods there are no sampling errors or loss of liquid
Quasirandom Load Balancing
We propose a simple distributed algorithm for balancing indivisible tokens on
graphs. The algorithm is completely deterministic, though it tries to imitate
(and enhance) a random algorithm by keeping the accumulated rounding errors as
small as possible.
Our new algorithm surprisingly closely approximates the idealized process
(where the tokens are divisible) on important network topologies. On
d-dimensional torus graphs with n nodes it deviates from the idealized process
only by an additive constant. In contrast to that, the randomized rounding
approach of Friedrich and Sauerwald (2009) can deviate up to Omega(polylog(n))
and the deterministic algorithm of Rabani, Sinclair and Wanka (1998) has a
deviation of Omega(n^{1/d}). This makes our quasirandom algorithm the first
known algorithm for this setting which is optimal both in time and achieved
smoothness. We further show that also on the hypercube our algorithm has a
smaller deviation from the idealized process than the previous algorithms.Comment: 25 page
On Predicting the Solar Cycle using Mean-Field Models
We discuss the difficulties of predicting the solar cycle using mean-field
models. Here we argue that these difficulties arise owing to the significant
modulation of the solar activity cycle, and that this modulation arises owing
to either stochastic or deterministic processes. We analyse the implications
for predictability in both of these situations by considering two separate
solar dynamo models. The first model represents a stochastically-perturbed flux
transport dynamo. Here even very weak stochastic perturbations can give rise to
significant modulation in the activity cycle. This modulation leads to a loss
of predictability. In the second model, we neglect stochastic effects and
assume that generation of magnetic field in the Sun can be described by a fully
deterministic nonlinear mean-field model -- this is a best case scenario for
prediction. We designate the output from this deterministic model (with
parameters chosen to produce chaotically modulated cycles) as a target
timeseries that subsequent deterministic mean-field models are required to
predict. Long-term prediction is impossible even if a model that is correct in
all details is utilised in the prediction. Furthermore, we show that even
short-term prediction is impossible if there is a small discrepancy in the
input parameters from the fiducial model. This is the case even if the
predicting model has been tuned to reproduce the output of previous cycles.
Given the inherent uncertainties in determining the transport coefficients and
nonlinear responses for mean-field models, we argue that this makes predicting
the solar cycle using the output from such models impossible.Comment: 22 Pages, 5 Figures, Preprint accepted for publication in Ap
The Interaction Of Multiple Convection Zones In A-type Stars
A-type stars have a complex internal structure with the possibility of
multiple convection zones. If not sufficiently separated, such zones will
interact through the convectively stable regions that lie between them. It is
therefore of interest to ask whether the typical conditions that exist within
such stars are such that these convections zones can ever be considered as
disjoint.
In this paper we present results from numerical simulations that help in
understanding how increasing the distance between the convectively unstable
regions are likely to interact through the stable region that separates them.
This has profound implications for mixing and transport within these stars.Comment: 9 pages, 15 figures, Preprint accepted for publication in MNRA
Electrothermal linear actuator
Converting electric power into powerful linear thrust without generation of magnetic fields is accomplished with an electrothermal linear actuator. When treated by an energized filament, a stack of bimetallic washers expands and drives the end of the shaft upward
In--out intermittency in PDE and ODE models
We find concrete evidence for a recently discovered form of intermittency,
referred to as in--out intermittency, in both PDE and ODE models of mean field
dynamos. This type of intermittency (introduced in Ashwin et al 1999) occurs in
systems with invariant submanifolds and, as opposed to on--off intermittency
which can also occur in skew product systems, it requires an absence of skew
product structure. By this we mean that the dynamics on the attractor
intermittent to the invariant manifold cannot be expressed simply as the
dynamics on the invariant subspace forcing the transverse dynamics; the
transverse dynamics will alter that tangential to the invariant subspace when
one is far enough away from the invariant manifold.
Since general systems with invariant submanifolds are not likely to have skew
product structure, this type of behaviour may be of physical relevance in a
variety of dynamical settings.
The models employed here to demonstrate in--out intermittency are
axisymmetric mean--field dynamo models which are often used to study the
observed large scale magnetic variability in the Sun and solar-type stars. The
occurrence of this type of intermittency in such models may be of interest in
understanding some aspects of such variabilities.Comment: To be published in Chaos, June 2001, also available at
http://www.eurico.web.co
Flux-transport dynamos with Lorentz force feedback on differential rotation and meridional flow: Saturation mechanism and torsional oscillations
In this paper we discuss a dynamic flux-transport dynamo model that includes
the feedback of the induced magnetic field on differential rotation and
meridional flow. We consider two different approaches for the feedback:
meanfield Lorentz force and quenching of transport coefficients such as
turbulent viscosity and heat conductivity. We find that even strong feedback on
the meridional flow does not change the character of the flux-transport dynamo
significantly; however it leads to a significant reduction of differential
rotation. To a large degree independent from the dynamo parameters, the
saturation takes place when the toroidal field at the base of the convection
zone reaches between 1.2 an 1.5 T, the energy converted intomagnetic energy
corresponds to about 0.1 to 0.2% of the solar luminosity. The torsional
oscillations produced through Lorentz force feedback on differential rotation
show a dominant poleward propagating branch with the correct phase relation to
the magnetic cycle. We show that incorporating enhanced surface cooling of the
active region belt (as proposed by Spruit) leads to an equatorward propagating
branch in good agreement with observations.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ August 10
issue; corrected typos, corrected referenc
Deformation of Silica Aerogel During Fluid Adsorption
Aerogels are very compliant materials - even small stresses can lead to large
deformations. In this paper we present measurements of the linear deformation
of high porosity aerogels during adsorption of low surface tension fluids,
performed using a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). We show that
the degree of deformation of the aerogel during capillary condensation scales
with the surface tension, and extract the bulk modulus of the gel from the
data. Furthermore we suggest limits on safe temperatures for filling and
emptying low density aerogels with helium.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Nitrogen-Vacancy Ensemble Magnetometry Based on Pump Absorption
We demonstrate magnetic field sensing using an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy
centers by recording the variation in the pump-light absorption due to the
spin-polarization dependence of the total ground state population. Using a 532
nm pump laser, we measure the absorption of native nitrogen-vacancy centers in
a chemical vapor deposited diamond placed in a resonant optical cavity. For a
laser pump power of 0.4 W and a cavity finesse of 45, we obtain a noise floor
of 100 nT/ spanning a bandwidth up to 125 Hz. We
project a photon shot-noise-limited sensitivity of 1
pT/ by optimizing the nitrogen-vacancy concentration and
the detection method.Comment: 7 pages and 5 figure
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