Prediction of strong shock structure using the bimodal distribution function

A modified Mott-Smith method for predicting the one-dimensional shock wave solution at very high Mach numbers is constructed by developing a system of fluid dynamic equations. The predicted shock solutions in a gas of Maxwell molecules, a hard sphere gas and in argon using the newly proposed formalism are compared with the experimental data, direct-simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) solution and other solutions computed from some existing theories for Mach numbers M<50. In the limit of an infinitely large Mach number, the predicted shock profiles are also compared with the DSMC solution. The density, temperature and heat flux profiles calculated at different Mach numbers have been shown to have good agreement with the experimental and DSMC solutionsComment: 22 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Fundamentals of microcrack nucleation mechanics

A foundation for ultrasonic evaluation of microcrack nucleation mechanics is identified in order to establish a basis for correlations between plane strain fracture toughness and ultrasonic factors through the interaction of elastic waves with material microstructures. Since microcracking is the origin of (brittle) fracture, it is appropriate to consider the role of stress waves in the dynamics of microcracking. Therefore, the following topics are discussed: (1) microstress distributions with typical microstructural defects located in the stress field; (2) elastic wave scattering from various idealized defects; and (3) dynamic effective-properties of media with randomly distributed inhomogeneities

Ballistic Annihilation Kinetics: The Case of Discrete Velocity Distributions

The kinetics of the annihilation process, $A+A\to 0$, with ballistic particle motion is investigated when the distribution of particle velocities is {\it discrete}. This discreteness is the source of many intriguing phenomena. In the mean field limit, the densities of different velocity species decay in time with different power law rates for many initial conditions. For a one-dimensional symmetric system containing particles with velocity 0 and $\pm 1$, there is a particular initial state for which the concentrations of all three species as decay as $t^{-2/3}$. For the case of a fast ``impurity'' in a symmetric background of $+$ and $-$ particles, the impurity survival probability decays as $\exp(-{\rm const.}\times \ln^2t)$. In a symmetric 4-velocity system in which there are particles with velocities $\pm v_1$ and $\pm v_2$, there again is a special initial condition where the two species decay at the same rate, t^{-\a}, with \a\cong 0.72. Efficient algorithms are introduced to perform the large-scale simulations necessary to observe these unusual phenomena clearly.Comment: 18 text pages, macro file included, hardcopy of 9 figures available by email request to S

The first products made in space: Monodisperse latex particles

The preparation of large particle size 3 to 30 micrometer monodisperse latexes in space confirmed that original rationale unequivocally. The flight polymerizations formed negligible amounts of coagulum as compared to increasing amounts for the ground-based polymerizations. The number of offsize large particles in the flight latexes was smaller than in the ground-based latexes. The particle size distribution broadened and more larger offsize particles were formed when the polymerizations of the partially converted STS-4 latexes were completed on Earth. Polymerization in space also showed other unanticipated advantages. The flight latexes had narrower particle size distributions than the ground-based latexes. The particles of the flight latexes were more perfect spheres than those of the ground-based latexes. The superior uniformity of the flight latexes was confirmed by the National Bureau of Standards acceptance of the 10 micrometer STS-6 latex and the 30 micrometer STS-11 latexes as Standard Reference Materials, the first products made in space for sale on Earth. The polymerization rates in space were the same as those on Earth within experimental error. Further development of the ground-based polymerization recipes gave monodisperse particles as large as 100 micrometer with tolerable levels of coagulum, but their uniformity was significantly poorer than the flight latexes. Careful control of the polymerization parameters gave uniform nonspherical particles: symmetrical and asymmetrical doublets, ellipsoids, egg-shaped, ice cream cone-shaped, and popcorn-shaped particles

Flux through a hole from a shaken granular medium

We have measured the flux of grains from a hole in the bottom of a shaken container of grains. We find that the peak velocity of the vibration, vmax, controls the flux, i.e., the flux is nearly independent of the frequency and acceleration amplitude for a given value of vmax. The flux decreases with increasing peak velocity and then becomes almost constant for the largest values of vmax. The data at low peak velocity can be quantitatively described by a simple model, but the crossover to nearly constant flux at larger peak velocity suggests a regime in which the granular density near the container bottom is independent of the energy input to the system.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. to appear in Physical Review

Sodium vacancy ordering and the co-existence of localized spins and itinerant charges in NaxCoO2

The sodium cobaltate family (NaxCoO2) is unique among transition metal oxides because the Co sits on a triangular lattice and its valence can be tuned over a wide range by varying the Na concentration x. Up to now detailed modeling of the rich phenomenology (which ranges from unconventional superconductivity to enhanced thermopower) has been hampered by the difficulty of controlling pure phases. We discovered that certain Na concentrations are specially stable and are associated with superlattice ordering of the Na clusters. This leads naturally to a picture of co-existence of localized spins and itinerant charge carriers. For x = 0.84 we found a remarkably small Fermi energy of 87 K. Our picture brings coherence to a variety of measurements ranging from NMR to optical to thermal transport. Our results also allow us to take the first step towards modeling the mysterious ``Curie-Weiss'' metal state at x = 0.71. We suggest the local moments may form a quantum spin liquid state and we propose experimental test of our hypothesis.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure