Superfluid Optomechanics: Coupling of a Superfluid to a Superconducting Condensate

We investigate the low loss acoustic motion of superfluid $^4$He parametrically coupled to a very low loss, superconducting Nb, TE$_{011}$ microwave resonator, forming a gram-scale, sideband resolved, optomechanical system. We demonstrate the detection of a series of acoustic modes with quality factors as high as $7\cdot 10^6$. At higher temperatures, the lowest dissipation modes are limited by an intrinsic three phonon process. Acoustic quality factors approaching $10^{11}$ may be possible in isotopically purified samples at temperatures below 10 mK. A system of this type may be utilized to study macroscopic quantized motion and as an ultra-sensitive sensor of extremely weak displacements and forces, such as continuous gravity wave sources

Putting mechanics into quantum mechanics

Nanoelectromechanical structures are starting to approach the ultimate quantum mechanical limits for detecting and exciting motion at the nanoscale. Nonclassical states of a mechanical resonator are also on the horizon

Ultra-high Q Acoustic Resonance in Superfluid 4He

We report the measurement of the acoustic quality factor of a gram-scale, kilo-hertz frequency superfluid resonator, detected through the parametric coupling to a superconducting niobium microwave cavity. For temperature between 400mK and 50mK, we observe a $T^{-4}$ temperature dependence of the quality factor, consistent with a 3-phonon dissipation mechanism. We observe Q factors up to $1.4\cdot10^8$, consistent with the dissipation due to dilute $^3$He impurities, and expect that significant further improvements are possible. These experiments are relevant to exploring quantum behavior and decoherence of massive macroscopic objects, the laboratory detection of continuous wave gravitational waves from pulsars, and the probing of possible limits to physical length scales.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Results from new fungus-tolerant grapevine varieties for Organic Viticulture

Two red and three white new fungus-tolerant grape varieties were tested within a period of five years. REGENT, RONDO, JOHANNITER and Gf 48-12 show a better wine quality than PINOT NOIR or SILVANER and can be recommended for Organic Viticulture as well as for the conventional viticulture to reduce copper and fungicide applications

Comparison of secondary flows predicted by a viscous code and an inviscid code with experimental data for a turning duct

A comparison of the secondary flows computed by the viscous Kreskovsky-Briley-McDonald code and the inviscid Denton code with benchmark experimental data for turning duct is presented. The viscous code is a fully parabolized space-marching Navier-Stokes solver while the inviscid code is a time-marching Euler solver. The experimental data were collected by Taylor, Whitelaw, and Yianneskis with a laser Doppler velocimeter system in a 90 deg turning duct of square cross-section. The agreement between the viscous and inviscid computations was generally very good for the streamwise primary velocity and the radial secondary velocity, except at the walls, where slip conditions were specified for the inviscid code. The agreement between both the computations and the experimental data was not as close, especially at the 60.0 deg and 77.5 deg angular positions within the duct. This disagreement was attributed to incomplete modelling of the vortex development near the suction surface

(WP 2017-02) The Great Recession and Public Education

We examine the impact of the Great Recession on K-12 education finance and employment and generate five key results. First, nearly 300,000 school employees lost their jobs. Second, schools that were heavily dependent financially on state governments were particularly vulnerable to the recession. Third local revenues from the property tax actually increased during the recession, primarily because millage rates rose in response to declining property values. Fourth, inequality in school spending rose sharply during the Great Recession. Fifth, the federal government’s efforts to shield education from some of the worst effects of the recession achieved their major goal

Closed loop spray cooling apparatus

A closed loop apparatus for spraying coolant against the back of a radiation target is described. The coolant was circulated through a closed loop with a bubble of inert gas being maintained around the spray. Mesh material was disposed between the bubble and the surface of the liquid coolant which was below the bubble at a predetermined level. In a second embodiment, no inert gas was used, the bubble consisting of a vapor produced when the coolant was sprayed against the target

CONTRACT FINISHING FOR NEW ENTRANTS IN PORK PRODUCTION

The pork production industry is a far different industry today than it was fifty, twenty, or even five years ago. On diversified Midwestern farms during the mid-to-late 20th century, the swine enterprise was labeled "the mortgage lifter". The hogs added value to home-produced feedstuffs such as corn and increased the income from a given acreage base. As farm mechanization and technology rapidly developed, farms became larger and less diversified as livestock disappeared from many farmsteads. In this paper, we address the question whether swine units can be introduced to non-livestock farms via a coordinated agreement for the grower-finisher phase and make these farms more profitable. To do this, we first describe some of the changes that have taken place in the pork industry. Second, production contracts and grower payments are introduced. Next, we move on to issues of manure management and the value of manure to non-livestock farms. Finally, in the Appendix, financial analyses for sample contract finishing contracts are laid out to help farmers determine if contract finishing could benefit their farming operations.Livestock Production/Industries,