Analysis and computer programs to calculate acoustic wave properties of baffled chambers

Analytical methods and four computer programs have been developed for calculating wave motion in closed, baffled chambers with rigid and non-rigid boundaries. Application of these methods to design of injector-face baffles in liquid propellant engines will provide significant insight into effects of baffles on combustion stability

Spin-Seebeck effect in a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We study the spin-Seebeck effect in a strongly interacting, two-component Fermi gas and propose an experiment to measure this effect by relatively displacing spin up and spin down atomic clouds in a trap using spin-dependent temperature gradients. We compute the spin-Seebeck coefficient and related spin-heat transport coefficients as functions of temperature and interaction strength. We find that when the inter-spin scattering length becomes larger than the Fermi wavelength, the spin-Seebeck coefficient changes sign as a function of temperature, and hence so does the direction of the spin-separation. We compute this zero-crossing temperature as a function of interaction strength and in particular in the unitary limit for the inter-spin scattering

Matrix Transfer Function Design for Flexible Structures: An Application

The application of matrix transfer function design techniques to the problem of disturbance rejection on a flexible space structure is demonstrated. The design approach is based on parameterizing a class of stabilizing compensators for the plant and formulating the design specifications as a constrained minimization problem in terms of these parameters. The solution yields a matrix transfer function representation of the compensator. A state space realization of the compensator is constructed to investigate performance and stability on the nominal and perturbed models. The application is made to the ACOSSA (Active Control of Space Structures) optical structure

Derivation of linearized transfer functions for switching-mode regulations. Phase A: Current step-up and voltage step-up converters

Small-signal models are derived for the power stage of the voltage step-up (boost) and the current step-up (buck) converters. The modeling covers operation in both the continuous-mmf mode and the discontinuous-mmf mode. The power stage in the regulated current step-up converter on board the Dynamics Explorer Satellite is used as an example to illustrate the procedures in obtaining the small-signal functions characterizing a regulated converter

Interference effects in f-deformed fields

We show how the introduction of an algeabric field deformation affects the interference phenomena. We also give a physical interpretation of the developed theory.Comment: 6 pages, Latex file, no figures, accepted by Physica Script

How to Find More Supernovae with Less Work: Object Classification Techniques for Difference Imaging

We present the results of applying new object classification techniques to difference images in the context of the Nearby Supernova Factory supernova search. Most current supernova searches subtract reference images from new images, identify objects in these difference images, and apply simple threshold cuts on parameters such as statistical significance, shape, and motion to reject objects such as cosmic rays, asteroids, and subtraction artifacts. Although most static objects subtract cleanly, even a very low false positive detection rate can lead to hundreds of non-supernova candidates which must be vetted by human inspection before triggering additional followup. In comparison to simple threshold cuts, more sophisticated methods such as Boosted Decision Trees, Random Forests, and Support Vector Machines provide dramatically better object discrimination. At the Nearby Supernova Factory, we reduced the number of non-supernova candidates by a factor of 10 while increasing our supernova identification efficiency. Methods such as these will be crucial for maintaining a reasonable false positive rate in the automated transient alert pipelines of upcoming projects such as PanSTARRS and LSST.Comment: 25 pages; 6 figures; submitted to Ap

Cluster Variation Approach to the Random-Anisotropy Blume-Emery-Griffiths Model

The random--anisotropy Blume--Emery--Griffiths model, which has been proposed to describe the critical behavior of $^3$He--$^4$He mixtures in a porous medium, is studied in the pair approximation of the cluster variation method extended to disordered systems. Several new features, with respect to mean field theory, are found, including a rich ground state, a nonzero percolation threshold, a reentrant coexistence curve and a miscibility gap on the high $^3$He concentration side down to zero temperature. Furthermore, nearest neighbor correlations are introduced in the random distribution of the anisotropy, which are shown to be responsible for the raising of the critical temperature with respect to the pure and uncorrelated random cases and contribute to the detachment of the coexistence curve from the $\lambda$ line.Comment: 14 pages (plain TeX) + 12 figures (PostScript, appended), Preprint POLFIS-TH.02/9

In situ real-time analysis of alloy film composition and segregation dynamics with parallel detection reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy

Real-time measurements of GexSi1 – x/Si(001) composition and segregation dynamics in Sn/Si(001) in molecular beam epitaxy are demonstrated using parallel detection reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy. Parallel detection enables quantitative acquisition of low-loss spectra in a time of < 500 µs and surface composition determination in GexSi1 – x/Si(001) via Ge L2,3 core loss analysis to a precision of approximately 2% in time of order 1 s. Segregation and trapping kinetics of monolayer thickness Sn films during Si epitaxy on Sn-covered Si(100) has also been studied using the Sn M4.5 core loss