538 research outputs found
Numerical Simulation of Upwelling Flow in Pipe Generated by Perpetual Salt Fountain
Upwelling of deep seawater to the region, where sunlight reaches, can produce the ocean farm since deep seawater contains high concentration of nutrient. The numerical simulation for upwelling of deep seawater with the perpetual salt fountain proposed by Stommel et al. was conducted in this study. The temperature and salinity distributions measured in Mariana area where the upwelling experiment was conducted by Maruyama et al. was used. As a result, the velocity profile of the upwelling experiment was predicted as M-shape flow and the flow rate was estimated as 43t/day in the pipe. Additionally the possibility of reverse flow in the pipe was indicated. Furthermore the possibility of upwelling in other ocean areas using the results was discussed. As a result, it became clear that the unified representation of ocean conditions was achieved by the new dimensionless number RaR, which was modified Rayleigh number, and flow rate in the pipe could be evaluated by RaR
Large amplitude oscillatory motion along a solar filament
Large amplitude oscillations of solar filaments is a phenomenon known for
more than half a century. Recently, a new mode of oscillations, characterized
by periodical plasma motions along the filament axis, was discovered. We
analyze such an event, recorded on 23 January 2002 in Big Bear Solar
Observatory H filtergrams, in order to infer the triggering mechanism
and the nature of the restoring force. Motion along the filament axis of a
distinct buldge-like feature was traced, to quantify the kinematics of the
oscillatory motion. The data were fitted by a damped sine function, to estimate
the basic parameters of the oscillations. In order to identify the triggering
mechanism, morphological changes in the vicinity of the filament were analyzed.
The observed oscillations of the plasma along the filament was characterized by
an initial displacement of 24 Mm, initial velocity amplitude of 51 km/s, period
of 50 min, and damping time of 115 min. We interpret the trigger in terms of
poloidal magnetic flux injection by magnetic reconnection at one of the
filament legs. The restoring force is caused by the magnetic pressure gradient
along the filament axis. The period of oscillations, derived from the
linearized equation of motion (harmonic oscillator) can be expressed as
, where represents the Alfv\'en speed based on the
equilibrium poloidal field . Combination of our measurements with
some previous observations of the same kind of oscillations shows a good
agreement with the proposed interpretation.Comment: Astron. Astrophys., 2007, in pres
Formation of aggregated nanoparticle spheres through femtosecond laser surface processing
A detailed structural and chemical analysis of a class of self-organized surface structures, termed aggregated nanoparticle spheres (AN-spheres), created using femtosecond laser surface processing (FLSP) on silicon, silicon carbide, and aluminum is reported in this paper. AN-spheres are spherical microstructures that are 20–100 μm in diameter and are composed entirely of nanoparticles produced during femtosecond laser ablation of material. AN-spheres have an onion-like layered morphology resulting from the build-up of nanoparticle layers over multiple passes of the laser beam. The material properties and chemical composition of the AN-spheres are presented in this paper based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB) milling, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. There is a distinct difference in the density of nanoparticles between concentric rings of the onion-like morphology of the AN-sphere. Layers of high-density form when the laser sinters nanoparticles together and low-density layers form when nanoparticles redeposit while the laser ablates areas surrounding the AN-sphere. The dynamic nature of femtosecond laser ablation creates a variety of nanoparticles that make-up the AN-spheres including Si/C core-shell, nanoparticles that directly fragmented from the base material, nanoparticles with carbon shells that retarded oxidation, and amorphous, fully oxidized nanoparticles
Micro/nanostructures formation by femtosecond laser surface processing on amorphous and polycrystalline Ni60Nb40
Femtosecond laser surface processing is a technology that can be used to functionalize many surfaces, imparting specialized properties such as increased broadband optical absorption or superhydrophilicity/superhydrophobicity. In this study, two unique classes of surface structures, below surface growth (BSG) and above surface growth (ASG) mounds, were formed by femtosecond laser surface processing on amorphous and polycrystalline Ni60Nb40 with two different grain sizes. Cross sectional imaging of these mounds revealed thermal evidence of the unique formation processes for each class of surface structure. BSG mounds formed on all three substrates using the same laser parameters had similar surface morphology. The microstructures in the mounds were unaltered compared with the substrate before laser processing, suggesting their formation was dominated by preferential valley ablation. ASG mounds had similar morphology when formed on the polycrystalline Ni60Nb40 substrates with 100 nm and 2 [H9262]m grain size. However, the ASG mounds had significantly wider diameter and higher peak-to-valley heights when the substrate was amorphous Ni60Nb40. Hydrodynamic melting was primarily responsible for ASG mound formation. On amorphous Ni60Nb40 substrates, the ASG mounds are most likely larger due to lower thermal diffusivity. There was clear difference in growth mechanism of femtosecond laser processed BSG and ASG mounds, and grain size does not appear to be a factor
Magnetohydrodynamic kink waves in two-dimensional non-uniform prominence threads
We analyse the oscillatory properties of resonantly damped transverse kink
oscillations in two-dimensional prominence threads. The fine structures are
modelled as cylindrically symmetric magnetic flux tubes with a dense central
part with prominence plasma properties and an evacuated part, both surrounded
by coronal plasma. The equilibrium density is allowed to vary non-uniformly in
both the transverse and the longitudinal directions.We examine the influence of
longitudinal density structuring on periods, damping times, and damping rates
for transverse kink modes computed by numerically solving the linear resistive
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. The relevant parameters are the length of
the thread and the density in the evacuated part of the tube, two quantities
that are difficult to directly estimate from observations. We find that both of
them strongly influence the oscillatory periods and damping times, and to a
lesser extent the damping ratios. The analysis of the spatial distribution of
perturbations and of the energy flux into the resonances allows us to explain
the obtained damping times. Implications for prominence seismology, the physics
of resonantly damped kink modes in two-dimensional magnetic flux tubes, and the
heating of prominence plasmas are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, A&A accepte
Dihydrolipoic acid reduces cytochrome b561 proteins.
Cytochrome b561 (Cyt-b561) proteins constitute a family of trans-membrane proteins that are present in a wide variety of organisms. Two of their characteristic properties are the reducibility by ascorbate (ASC) and the presence of two distinct b-type hemes localized on two opposite sides of the membrane. Here we show that the tonoplast-localized and the putative tumor suppressor Cyt-b561 proteins can be reduced by other reductants than ASC and dithionite. A detailed spectral analysis of the ASC-dependent and dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA)-dependent reduction of these two Cyt-b561 proteins is also presented. Our results are discussed in relation to the known antioxidant capability of DHLA as well as its role in the regeneration of other antioxidant compounds of cells. These results allow us to speculate on new biological functions for the trans-membrane Cyt-b561 proteins
Physics of Solar Prominences: II - Magnetic Structure and Dynamics
Observations and models of solar prominences are reviewed. We focus on
non-eruptive prominences, and describe recent progress in four areas of
prominence research: (1) magnetic structure deduced from observations and
models, (2) the dynamics of prominence plasmas (formation and flows), (3)
Magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) waves in prominences and (4) the formation and
large-scale patterns of the filament channels in which prominences are located.
Finally, several outstanding issues in prominence research are discussed, along
with observations and models required to resolve them.Comment: 75 pages, 31 pictures, review pape
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