3,330 research outputs found
Thermal Energy Generation in the Earth
We show that a recently introduced class of electromagnetic composite
particles can explain some discrepancies in observations involving heat and
helium released from the earth. Energy release during the formation of the
composites and subsequent nuclear reactions involving the composites are
described that can quantitatively account for the discrepancies and are
expected to have implications in other areas of geophysics, for example, a new
picture of heat production and volcanism in the earth is presented.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
Translations and dynamics
We analyze the role played by local translational symmetry in the context of
gauge theories of fundamental interactions. Translational connections and
fields are introduced, with special attention being paid to their universal
coupling to other variables, as well as to their contributions to field
equations and to conserved quantities.Comment: 22 Revtex pages, no figures. Published version with minor correction
Electromagnetic wave scattering by a superconductor
The interaction between radiation and superconductors is explored in this
paper. In particular, the calculation of a plane standing wave scattered by an
infinite cylindrical superconductor is performed by solving the Helmholtz
equation in cylindrical coordinates. Numerical results computed up to
of Bessel functions are presented for different wavelengths
showing the appearance of a diffraction pattern.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Experimental Alluvial Fan Evolution: Channel Dynamics, Slope Controls, and Shoreline Growth
River deltas and alluvial fans have channelization and deposition dynamics that are not entirely understood, but which dictate the evolution of landscapes of great social, economic, and ecologic value. Our lack of a process-based understanding of fan dynamics hampers our ability to construct accurate prediction and hazard models, leaving these regions vulnerable. Here we describe the growth of a series of experimental alluvial fans composed of a noncohesive grain mixture bimodal in size and density. We impose conditions that simulate a gravel/sand fan prograding into a static basin with constant water and sediment influx, and the resulting fans display realistic channelization and avulsion dynamics. We find that we can describe the dynamics of our fans in terms of a few processes: (1) an avulsion sequence with a timescale dictated by mass conservation between incoming flux and deposit volume; (2) a tendency for flow to reoccupy former channel paths; and (3) bistable slopes corresponding to separate entrainment and deposition conditions for grains. Several important observations related to these processes are: an avulsion timescale that increases with time and decreases with sediment feed rate; fan lobes that grow in a self-similar, quasi-radial pattern; and channel geometry that is adjusted to the threshold entrainment stress. We propose that the formation of well-defined channels in noncohesive fans is a transient phenomenon resulting from incision following avulsion, and can be directly described with dual transport thresholds. We present a fairly complete, process-based description of the mechanics of avulsion and its resulting timescale on our fans. Because the relevant dynamics depend only on threshold transport conditions and conservation of mass, we show how results may be directly applied to field-scale systems
Indigenous American Fishing Traditions at the First Spanish Capital of La Florida: Santa Elena (1566–1587 CE), South Carolina, USA
Abstract
Few studies of post-Columbian animal economies in the Americas elaborate on the influence of traditional Indigenous knowledge on colonial economies. A vertebrate collection from Santa Elena (1566–87 CE, South Carolina, USA), the original Spanish capital of La Florida, offers the opportunity to examine that influence at the first European-sponsored capital north of Mexico. Santa Elena’s animal economy was the product of dynamic interactions among multiple actors, merging preexisting traditional Indigenous practices, particularly traditional fishing practices, with Eurasian animal husbandry to produce a new cultural form. A suite of wild vertebrates long used by Indigenous Americans living on the southeastern North Atlantic coast contributes 87% of Santa Elena’s noncommensal individuals and 63% of the noncommensal biomass. Examples of this strategy are found in vertebrate collections from subsequent Spanish and British settlements. This suggests the extent to which colonists at the Spanish-sponsored colony adopted some Indigenous animal-use practices, especially those related to fishing, and the speed with which this occurred. The new cultural form persisted into the nineteenth century and continues to characterize local cuisines
Poynting's theorem for planes waves at an interface: a scattering matrix approach
We apply the Poynting theorem to the scattering of monochromatic
electromagnetic planes waves with normal incidence to the interface of two
different media. We write this energy conservation theorem to introduce a
natural definition of the scattering matrix S. For the dielectric-dielectric
interface the balance equation lead us to the energy flux conservation which
express one of the properties of S: it is a unitary matrix. For the
dielectric-conductor interface the scattering matrix is no longer unitary due
to the presence of losses at the conductor. However, the dissipative term
appearing in the Poynting theorem can be interpreted as a single absorbing mode
at the conductor such that a whole S, satisfying flux conservation and
containing this absorbing mode, can be defined. This is a simplest version of a
model introduced in the current literature to describe losses in more complex
systems.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Am. J. Phy
Optical interface created by laser-cooled atoms trapped in the evanescent field surrounding an optical nanofiber
Trapping and optically interfacing laser-cooled neutral atoms is an essential
requirement for their use in advanced quantum technologies. Here we
simultaneously realize both of these tasks with cesium atoms interacting with a
multi-color evanescent field surrounding an optical nanofiber. The atoms are
localized in a one-dimensional optical lattice about 200 nm above the nanofiber
surface and can be efficiently interrogated with a resonant light field sent
through the nanofiber. Our technique opens the route towards the direct
integration of laser-cooled atomic ensembles within fiber networks, an
important prerequisite for large scale quantum communication schemes. Moreover,
it is ideally suited to the realization of hybrid quantum systems that combine
atoms with, e.g., solid state quantum devices
Three-dimensional modeling of diesel engine intake flow, combustion and emissions-2
A three-dimensional computer code, KIVA, is being modified to include state-of-the-art submodels for diesel engine flow and combustion. Improved and/or new submodels which have already been implemented and previously reported are: wall heat transfer with unsteadiness and compressibility, laminar-turbulent characteristic time combustion with unburned HC and Zeldo'vich NO(x), and spray/wall impingement with rebounding and sliding drops. Progress on the implementation of improved spray drop drag and drop breakup models, the formulation and testing of a multistep kinetics ignition model, and preliminary soot modeling results are described. In addition, the use of a block structured version of KIVA to model the intake flow process is described. A grid generation scheme was developed for modeling realistic (complex) engine geometries, and computations were made of intake flow in the ports and combustion chamber of a two-intake-value engine. The research also involves the use of the code to assess the effects of subprocesses on diesel engine performance. The accuracy of the predictions is being tested by comparisons with engine experiments. To date, comparisons were made with measured engine cylinder pressure, temperature and heat flux data, and the model results are in good agreement with the experiments. Work is in progress that will allow validation of in-cylinder flow and soot formation predictions. An engine test facility is described that is being used to provide the needed validation data. Test results were obtained showing the effect of injection rate and split injections on engine performance and emissions
- …