GEOFLOW: simulation of convection in a spherical shell under central force field

Time-dependent dynamical simulations related to convective motion in a spherical gap under a central force field due to the dielectrophoretic effect are discussed. This work is part of the preparation of the GEOFLOW-experiment which is planned to run in a microgravity environment. The goal of this experiment is the simulation of large-scale convective motion in a geophysical or astrophysical framework. This problem is new because of, on the one hand, the nature of the force field (dielectrophoretic effect) and, on another hand, the high degree of symmetries of the system, e.g. the top-bottom reflection. Thus, the validation of this simulation with well-known results is not possible. The questions concerning the influence of the dielectrophoretic force and the possibility to reproduce the theoretically expected motions in the astrophysical framework, are open. In the first part, we study the system in terrestrial conditions: the unidirectional Earth's force is superimposed on the central dielectrophoretic force field to compare with the laboratory experiments during the development of the equipment. In the second part, the GEOFLOW-experiment simulations in weightless conditions are compared with theoretical studies in the astrophysical framework's, in the first instance a fluid under a self-gravitating force field. We present complex time-dependent dynamics, where the dielectrophoretic force field causes significant differences in the flow compared to the case that does not involve this force field

Sensitivity model study of regional mercury dispersion in the atmosphere

Atmospheric deposition is the most important pathway by which Hg reaches marine ecosystems, where it can be methylated and enter the base of food chain. The deposition, transport and chemical interactions of atmospheric Hg have been simulated over Europe for the year 2013 in the framework of the Global Mercury Observation System (GMOS) project, performing 14 different model sensitivity tests using two high-resolution three-dimensional chemical transport models (CTMs), varying the anthropogenic emission datasets, atmospheric Br input fields, Hg oxidation schemes and modelling domain boundary condition input. Sensitivity simulation results were compared with observations from 28 monitoring sites in Europe to assess model performance and particularly to analyse the influence of anthropogenic emission speciation and the Hg0(g) atmospheric oxidation mechanism. The contribution of anthropogenic Hg emissions, their speciation and vertical distribution are crucial to the simulated concentration and deposition fields, as is also the choice of Hg0(g) oxidation pathway. The areas most sensitive to changes in Hg emission speciation and the emission vertical distribution are those near major sources, but also the Aegean and the Black seas, the English Channel, the Skagerrak Strait and the northern German coast. Considerable influence was found also evident over the Mediterranean, the North Sea and Baltic Sea and some influence is seen over continental Europe, while this difference is least over the north-western part of the modelling domain, which includes the Norwegian Sea and Iceland. The Br oxidation pathway produces more HgII(g) in the lower model levels, but overall wet deposition is lower in comparison to the simulations which employ an O3 ∕ OH oxidation mechanism. The necessity to perform continuous measurements of speciated Hg and to investigate the local impacts of Hg emissions and deposition, as well as interactions dependent on land use and vegetation, forests, peat bogs, etc., is highlighted in this study

Microscopic origins of the surface exciton photoluminescence peak in ZnO nanostructures

We report photoluminescence (PL) studies of the surface exciton peak in ZnO nanostructures at ∼3.367 eV aimed at elucidation of the nature and origin of the emission and its relationship to the nanostructure morphology. PL spectra in conjunction with localized voltage application in high vacuum and different gas atmospheres show a consistent variation (and recovery), allowing an association of the PL to a bound excitonic transition at the ZnO surface, which is modified by an adsorbate. PL studies of samples treated by plasma and of samples exposed to UV light under high vacuum conditions, both well-known processes for desorption of surface adsorbed oxygen, show no consistent effects on the surface exciton peak indicating the lack of involvement of oxygen species. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data strongly suggest involvement of adsorbed OH species. X-ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electronmicroscopy data are presented also, and the relationship of the surface exciton peak to the nanostructure morphology is discussed

Numerical investigation of the heat transfer in cylindrical annulus with a dielectric fluid under microgravity

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