66,261 research outputs found
Determining Microscopic Viscoelasticity in Flexible and Semiflexible Polymer Networks from Thermal Fluctuations
We have developed a new technique to measure viscoelasticity in soft
materials such as polymer solutions, by monitoring thermal fluctuations of
embedded probe particles using laser interferometry in a microscope.
Interferometry allows us to obtain power spectra of fluctuating beads from 0.1
Hz to 20 kHz, and with sub-nanometer spatial resolution. Using linear response
theory, we determined the frequency-dependent loss and storage shear moduli up
to frequencies on the order of a kHz. Our technique measures local values of
the viscoelastic response, without actively straining the system, and is
especially suited to soft biopolymer networks. We studied semiflexible F-actin
solutions and, as a control, flexible polyacrylamide (PAAm) gels, the latter
close to their gelation threshold. With small particles, we could probe the
transition from macroscopic viscoelasticity to more complex microscopic
dynamics. In the macroscopic limit we find shear moduli at 0.1 Hz of G'=0.11
+/- 0.03 Pa and 0.17 +/- 0.07 Pa for 1 and 2 mg/ml actin solutions, close to
the onset of the elastic plateau, and scaling behavior consistent with G(omega)
as omega^(3/4) at higher frequencies. For polyacrylamide we measured plateau
moduli of 2.0, 24, 100 and 280 Pa for crosslinked gels of 2, 2.5, 3 and 5%
concentration (weight/volume) respectively, in agreement to within a factor of
two with values obtained from conventional rheology. We also found evidence for
scaling of G(omega) as \omega^(1/2), consistent with the predictions of the
Rouse model for flexible polymers.Comment: 16 pages, with 15 PostScript figures (to be published in
Macromolecules
Inflatable stretcher to transport patients
Inflatable plastic bag inside strong, inflexible outer bag facilitates emergency transport of seriously burned or disabled patients. When the bag is inflated the patient is completely immobilized and cushioned from external shock. Air for breathing, temperature controls and communications may be provided by appropriate plug-in connections
Differential analysis for the turbulent boundary layer on a compressor blade element (including boundary-layer separation)
A two-dimensional differential analysis is developed to approximate the turbulent boundary layer on a compressor blade element with strong adverse pressure gradients, including the separated region with reverse flow. The predicted turbulent boundary layer thicknesses and velocity profiles are in good agreement with experimental data for a cascade blade, even in the separated region
Topological Phases of Sound and Light
Topological states of matter are particularly robust, since they exploit
global features insensitive to local perturbations. In this work, we describe
how to create a Chern insulator of phonons in the solid state. The proposed
implementation is based on a simple setting, a dielectric slab with a suitable
pattern of holes. Its topological properties can be wholly tuned in-situ by
adjusting the amplitude and frequency of a driving laser that controls the
optomechanical interaction between light and sound. The resulting chiral,
topologically protected phonon transport along the edges can be probed
completely optically. Moreover, we identify a regime of strong mixing between
photon and phonon excitations, which gives rise to a large set of different
topological phases. This would be an example of a Chern insulator produced from
the interaction between two physically very different particle species, photons
and phonons
Metrology of EUV Masks by EUV-Scatterometry and Finite Element Analysis
Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is seen as a main candidate for
production of future generation computer technology. Due to the short
wavelength of EUV light (around 13 nm) novel reflective masks have to be used
in the production process. A prerequisite to meet the high quality requirements
for these EUV masks is a simple and accurate method for absorber pattern
profile characterization. In our previous work we demonstrated that the Finite
Element Method (FEM) is very well suited for the simulation of EUV
scatterometry and can be used to reconstruct EUV mask profiles from
experimental scatterometric data. In this contribution we apply an indirect
metrology method to periodic EUV line masks with different critical dimensions
(140 nm and 540 nm) over a large range of duty cycles (1:2, ..., 1:20). We
quantitatively compare the reconstructed absorber pattern parameters to values
obtained from direct AFM and CD-SEM measurements. We analyze the reliability of
the reconstruction for the given experimental data. For the CD of the absorber
lines, the comparison shows agreement of the order of 1nm. Furthermore we
discuss special numerical techniques like domain decomposition algorithms and
high order finite elements and their importance for fast and accurate solution
of the inverse problem.Comment: Photomask Japan 2008 / Photomask and Next-Generation Lithography Mask
Technology X
The isentropic equation of state of 2-flavor QCD
Using Taylor expansions of the pressure obtained previously in studies of
2-flavor QCD at non-zero chemical potential we calculate expansion coefficients
for the energy and entropy densities up to in the quark
chemical potential. We use these series in to determine lines of
constant entropy per baryon number () that characterize the expansion of
dense matter created in heavy ion collisions. In the high temperature regime
these lines are found to be well approximated by lines of constant .
In the low temperature phase, however, the quark chemical potential is found to
increase with decreasing temperature. This is in accordance with resonance gas
model calculations. Along the lines of constant we calculate the energy
density and pressure. Within the accuracy of our present analysis we find that
the ratio for as well as the softest point of the equation
of state, , show no significant dependence on
.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure
A localised subgrid scale model for fluid dynamical simulations in astrophysics II: Application to type Ia supernovae
The dynamics of the explosive burning process is highly sensitive to the
flame speed model in numerical simulations of type Ia supernovae. Based upon
the hypothesis that the effective flame speed is determined by the unresolved
turbulent velocity fluctuations, we employ a new subgrid scale model which
includes a localised treatment of the energy transfer through the turbulence
cascade in combination with semi-statistical closures for the dissipation and
non-local transport of turbulence energy. In addition, subgrid scale buoyancy
effects are included. In the limit of negligible energy transfer and transport,
the dynamical model reduces to the Sharp-Wheeler relation. According to our
findings, the Sharp-Wheeler relation is insuffcient to account for the
complicated turbulent dynamics of flames in thermonuclear supernovae. The
application of a co-moving grid technique enables us to achieve very high
spatial resolution in the burning region. Turbulence is produced mostly at the
flame surface and in the interior ash regions. Consequently, there is a
pronounced anisotropy in the vicinity of the flame fronts. The localised
subgrid scale model predicts significantly enhanced energy generation and less
unburnt carbon and oxygen at low velocities compared to earlier simulations.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Astron. Astrophys.;
3D visualisations not included; complete PDF version can be downloaded from
http://www.astro.uni-wuerzburg.de/%7Eschmidt/Paper/SGSModel_II_AA.pd
End-wall boundary layer measurements in a two-stage fan
Detailed flow measurements made in the casing boundary layer of a two-stage transonic fan are summarized. These measurements were taken at a station upstream of the fan, between all blade rows, and downstream of the last row. Conventional boundary layer parameters were calculated from the measured data. A classical two dimensional casing boundary layer was measured at the fan inlet and extended inward to approximately 15 percent of span. A highly three dimensional boundary layer was measured at the exit of each blade row and extended inward to approximately 10 percent of span. The steep radial gradient of axial velocity noted at the exit of the rotors was reduced substantially as the flow passed through the stators. This reduced gradient is attributed to flow mixing. The amount of flow mixing was reflected in the radial redistribution of total temperature as the flow passed through the stators. The blockage factors calculated from the measured data show an increase in blockage across the rotors and a decrease across the stators. For this fan the calculated blockages for the second stage were essentially the same as those for the first stage
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