Elliptic instability in the Lagrangian-averaged Euler-Boussinesq-alpha equations

We examine the effects of turbulence on elliptic instability of rotating stratified incompressible flows, in the context of the Lagragian-averaged Euler-Boussinesq-alpha, or \laeba, model of turbulence. We find that the \laeba model alters the instability in a variety of ways for fixed Rossby number and Brunt-V\"ais\"al\"a frequency. First, it alters the location of the instability domains in the $(\gamma,\cos\theta)-$parameter plane, where $\theta$ is the angle of incidence the Kelvin wave makes with the axis of rotation and $\gamma$ is the eccentricity of the elliptic flow, as well as the size of the associated Lyapunov exponent. Second, the model shrinks the width of one instability band while simultaneously increasing another. Third, the model introduces bands of unstable eccentric flows when the Kelvin wave is two-dimensional. We introduce two similarity variables--one is a ratio of the Brunt-V\"ais\"al\"a frequency to the model parameter $\Upsilon_0 = 1+\alpha^2\beta^2$, and the other is the ratio of the adjusted inverse Rossby number to the same model parameter. Here, $\alpha$ is the turbulence correlation length, and $\beta$ is the Kelvin wave number. We show that by adjusting the Rossby number and Brunt-V\"ais\"al\"a frequency so that the similarity variables remain constant for a given value of $\Upsilon_0$, turbulence has little effect on elliptic instability for small eccentricities $(\gamma \ll 1)$. For moderate and large eccentricities, however, we see drastic changes of the unstable Arnold tongues due to the \laeba model.Comment: 23 pages (sigle spaced w/figure at the end), 9 figures--coarse quality, accepted by Phys. Fluid

Formation and Evolution of Singularities in Anisotropic Geometric Continua

Evolutionary PDEs for geometric order parameters that admit propagating singular solutions are introduced and discussed. These singular solutions arise as a result of the competition between nonlinear and nonlocal processes in various familiar vector spaces. Several examples are given. The motivating example is the directed self assembly of a large number of particles for technological purposes such as nano-science processes, in which the particle interactions are anisotropic. This application leads to the derivation and analysis of gradient flow equations on Lie algebras. The Riemann structure of these gradient flow equations is also discussed.Comment: 38 pages, 4 figures. Physica D, submitte

Complete integrability versus symmetry

The purpose of this article is to show that on an open and dense set, complete integrability implies the existence of symmetry

Helical states of nonlocally interacting molecules and their linear stability: geometric approach

The equations for strands of rigid charge configurations interacting nonlocally are formulated on the special Euclidean group, SE(3), which naturally generates helical conformations. Helical stationary shapes are found by minimizing the energy for rigid charge configurations positioned along an infinitely long molecule with charges that are off-axis. The classical energy landscape for such a molecule is complex with a large number of energy minima, even when limited to helical shapes. The question of linear stability and selection of stationary shapes is studied using an SE(3) method that naturally accounts for the helical geometry. We investigate the linear stability of a general helical polymer that possesses torque-inducing non-local self-interactions and find the exact dispersion relation for the stability of the helical shapes with an arbitrary interaction potential. We explicitly determine the linearization operators and compute the numerical stability for the particular example of a linear polymer comprising a flexible rod with a repeated configuration of two equal and opposite off-axis charges, thereby showing that even in this simple case the non-local terms can induce instability that leads to the rod assuming helical shapes.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figure

Current-induced phase transition in ballistic Ni nanocontacts

Local phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic state in the region of the ballistic Ni nanocontacts (NCs) has been experimentally observed. We found that contact size reduction leads to an increase in the bias voltage at which the local phase transition occurs. Presented theoretical interpretation of this phenomena takes into the account the specificity of the local heating of the ballistic NC and describes the electron's energy relaxation dependences on the applied voltage. The experimental data are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the theory proposed.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Ground state of two unlike charged colloids: An analogy with ionic bonding

In this letter, we study the ground state of two spherical macroions of identical radius, but asymmetric bare charge ((Q_{A}>Q_{B})). Electroneutrality of the system is insured by the presence of the surrounding divalent counterions. Using Molecular Dynamics simulations within the framework of the primitive model, we show that the ground state of such a system consists of an overcharged and an undercharged colloid. For a given macroion separation the stability of these ionized-like states is a function of the difference ((\sqrt{N_{A}}-\sqrt{N_{B}})) of neutralizing counterions (N_{A}) and (N_{B}). Furthermore the degree of ionization, or equivalently, the degree of overcharging, is also governed by the distance separation of the macroions. The natural analogy with ionic bonding is briefly discussed.Comment: published versio

The optimal P3M algorithm for computing electrostatic energies in periodic systems

We optimize Hockney and Eastwood's Particle-Particle Particle-Mesh (P3M) algorithm to achieve maximal accuracy in the electrostatic energies (instead of forces) in 3D periodic charged systems. To this end we construct an optimal influence function that minimizes the RMS errors in the energies. As a by-product we derive a new real-space cut-off correction term, give a transparent derivation of the systematic errors in terms of Madelung energies, and provide an accurate analytical estimate for the RMS error of the energies. This error estimate is a useful indicator of the accuracy of the computed energies, and allows an easy and precise determination of the optimal values of the various parameters in the algorithm (Ewald splitting parameter, mesh size and charge assignment order).Comment: 31 pages, 3 figure

Ultraviolet light curves of U Geminorum and VW Hydri

Ultraviolet light curves were obtained for the quiescent dwarf novae U Gem and VW Hyi. The amplitude of the hump associated with the accretion hot spot is much smaller in the UV than in the visible. This implies that the bright spot temperature is roughly 12000 K if it is optically thick. The flux distribution of U Gem in quiescence cannot be fitted by model spectra of steady state, viscous accretion disks. The absolute luminosity, the flux distribution, and the far UV spectrum suggest that the primary star is visible in the far UV. The optical UV flux distribution of VW Hyi can be matched roughly by the model accretion disks

Superembeddings, Non-Linear Supersymmetry and 5-branes

We examine general properties of superembeddings, i.e., embeddings of supermanifolds into supermanifolds. The connection between an embedding procedure and the method of non-linearly realised supersymmetry is clarified, and we demonstrate how the latter arises as a special case of the former. As an illustration, the super-5-brane in 7 dimensions, containing a self-dual 3-form world-volume field strength, is formulated in both languages, and provides an example of a model where the embedding condition does not suffice to put the theory on-shell.Comment: plain tex, 28 p

A Lagrangian kinetic model for collisionless magnetic reconnection

A new fully kinetic system is proposed for modeling collisionless magnetic reconnection. The formulation relies on fundamental principles in Lagrangian dynamics, in which the inertia of the electron mean flow is neglected in the expression of the Lagrangian, rather then enforcing a zero electron mass in the equations of motion. This is done upon splitting the electron velocity into its mean and fluctuating parts, so that the latter naturally produce the corresponding pressure tensor. The model exhibits a new Coriolis force term, which emerges from a change of frame in the electron dynamics. Then, if the electron heat flux is neglected, the strong electron magnetization limit yields a hybrid model, in which the electron pressure tensor is frozen into the electron mean velocity.Comment: 15 pages, no figures. To Appear in Plasma Phys. Control. Fusio