13,216 research outputs found
Defect Dynamics for Spiral Chaos in Rayleigh-Benard Convection
A theory of the novel spiral chaos state recently observed in Rayleigh-Benard
convection is proposed in terms of the importance of invasive defects i.e
defects that through their intrinsic dynamics expand to take over the system.
The motion of the spiral defects is shown to be dominated by wave vector
frustration, rather than a rotational motion driven by a vertical vorticity
field. This leads to a continuum of spiral frequencies, and a spiral may rotate
in either sense depending on the wave vector of its local environment. Results
of extensive numerical work on equations modelling the convection system
provide some confirmation of these ideas.Comment: Revtex (15 pages) with 4 encoded Postscript figures appende
Designing novel applications for emerging multimedia technology
Current R&D in media technologies such as Multimedia, Semantic Web and Sensor Web technologies are advancing in a fierce rate and will sure to become part of our important regular items in a 'conventional' technology inventory in near future. While the R&D nature of these technologies means their accuracy, reliability and robustness are not sufficient enough to be used in real world yet, we want to envision now the near-future where these technologies will have matured and used in real applications in order to explore and start shaping many possible new ways these novel technologies could be utilised.
In this talk, some of this effort in designing novel applications that incorporate various media technologies as their backend will be presented. Examples include novel scenarios of LifeLogging application that incorporate automatic structuring of millions of photos passively captured from a SenseCam (wearable digital camera that automatically takes photos triggered by environmental sensors) and an interactive TV application incorporating a number of multimedia tools yet extremely simple and easy to use with a remote control in a lean-back position. The talk will conclude with remarks on how the design of novel applications that have no precedence or existing user base should require somewhat different approach from those suggested and practiced in conventional usability engineering methodology
Domain Coarsening in Systems Far from Equilibrium
The growth of domains of stripes evolving from random initial conditions is
studied in numerical simulations of models of systems far from equilibrium such
as Rayleigh-Benard convection. The scaling of the size of the domains deduced
from the inverse width of the Fourier spectrum is studied for both potential
and nonpotential models. The morphology of the domains and the defect
structures are however quite different in the two cases, and evidence is
presented for a second length scale in the nonpotential case.Comment: 11 pages, RevTeX; 3 uufiles encoded postscript figures appende
Weakly Nonlinear Analysis of Electroconvection in a Suspended Fluid Film
It has been experimentally observed that weakly conducting suspended films of
smectic liquid crystals undergo electroconvection when subjected to a large
enough potential difference. The resulting counter-rotating vortices form a
very simple convection pattern and exhibit a variety of interesting nonlinear
effects. The linear stability problem for this system has recently been solved.
The convection mechanism, which involves charge separation at the free surfaces
of the film, is applicable to any sufficiently two-dimensional fluid. In this
paper, we derive an amplitude equation which describes the weakly nonlinear
regime, by starting from the basic electrohydrodynamic equations. This regime
has been the subject of several recent experimental studies. The lowest order
amplitude equation we derive is of the Ginzburg-Landau form, and describes a
forward bifurcation as is observed experimentally. The coefficients of the
amplitude equation are calculated and compared with the values independently
deduced from the linear stability calculation.Comment: 26 pages, 2 included eps figures, submitted to Phys Rev E. For more
information, see http://mobydick.physics.utoronto.c
Count three for wear able computers
This paper is a postprint of a paper submitted to and accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the IEE Eurowearable 2003 Conference, and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is available at the IET Digital Library.
A revised version of this paper was also published in Electronics Systems and Software, also subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is also available at the IET Digital Library.A description of 'ubiquitous computer' is presented. Ubiquitous computers imply portable computers embedded into everyday objects, which would replace personal computers. Ubiquitous computers can be mapped into a three-tier scheme, differentiated by processor performance and flexibility of function. The power consumption of mobile devices is one of the most important design considerations. The size of a wearable system is often a design limitation
Power-Law Behavior of Power Spectra in Low Prandtl Number Rayleigh-Benard Convection
The origin of the power-law decay measured in the power spectra of low
Prandtl number Rayleigh-Benard convection near the onset of chaos is addressed
using long time numerical simulations of the three-dimensional Boussinesq
equations in cylindrical domains. The power-law is found to arise from
quasi-discontinuous changes in the slope of the time series of the heat
transport associated with the nucleation of dislocation pairs and roll
pinch-off events. For larger frequencies, the power spectra decay exponentially
as expected for time continuous deterministic dynamics.Comment: (10 pages, 6 figures
Hydrazine monitoring in spacecraft
Hydrazine (HZ) and monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) are highly toxic compounds used as fuels in the Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Engines and in its maneuvering and reaction control system. Satellite refueling during a mission may also result in release of hydrazines. During extravehicular activities, the potential exists for hydrazines to contaminate the suit and to be brought into the internal atmosphere inadvertantly. Because of the high toxicity of hydrazines, a very sensitive, reliable, interference-free, and real-time method of measurement is required. A portable ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) has exhibited a low ppb detection limit for hydrazines suggesting a promising technology for the detection of hydrazines in spacecraft air. The Hydrazine Monitor is a modified airborne vapor monitor (AVM) with a custom-built datalogger. This off-the-shelf IMS was developed for the detection of chemical warfare agents on the battlefield. After early evaluations of the AVM for hydrazine measurements showed a serious interference from ammonia, the AVM was modified to measure HZ and MMH in the ppb concentration range without interference from ammonia in the low ppm range. A description of the Hydrazine Monitor and how it functions is presented
Dynamical Properties of Multi-Armed Global Spirals in Rayleigh-Benard Convection
Explicit formulas for the rotation frequency and the long-wavenumber
diffusion coefficients of global spirals with arms in Rayleigh-Benard
convection are obtained. Global spirals and parallel rolls share exactly the
same Eckhaus, zigzag and skewed-varicose instability boundaries. Global spirals
seem not to have a characteristic frequency or a typical size ,
but their product is a constant under given experimental
conditions. The ratio of the radii of any two dislocations (,
) inside a multi-armed spiral is also predicted to be constant. Some of
these results have been tested by our numerical work.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. E as Rapid Communication
A comparison of ground-based and space flight data: Atomic oxygen reactions with boron nitride and silicon nitride
The effects of atomic oxygen on boron nitride (BN) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) have been studied in low Earth orbit (LEO) flight experiments and in a ground-based simulation facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Both the in-flight and ground-based experiments employed the materials coated over thin (approx 250 Angstrom) silver films whose electrical resistance was measured in situ to detect penetration of atomic oxygen through the BN and Si3N4 materials. In the presence of atomic oxygen, silver oxidizes to form silver oxide, which has a much higher electrical resistance than pure silver. Permeation of atomic oxygen through BN, as indicated by an increase in the electrical resistance of the silver underneath, was observed in both the in-flight and ground-based experiments. In contrast, no permeation of atomic oxygen through Si3N4 was observed in either the in-flight or ground-based experiments. The ground-based results show good qualitative correlation with the LEO flight results, thus validating the simulation fidelity of the ground-based facility in terms of reproducing LEO flight results
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