784 research outputs found
Airborne particulate contamination effect on high voltage breakdowns during tube conditioning
In this research we examine high voltage breakdowns (HVBs) during neutron tube conditioning which has been a problem for decades. In the recent past there has been much debate on whether or not to procure a real-time airborne monitoring system for the commercial production of neutron tubes in order to determine the effect and calculate the impact of airborne particles. The main problem is, such monitoring system is costly, and with the exact causes of HVBs not being fully known, the expense must be justified. The goal of this thesis was to analyze the instrumentation used in airborne particle monitoring in order to assert that the instruments were reliable in obtaining the data needed to make improvements. General reliability studies on the instruments were conducted followed by a quasi-experiment which led to the finding that airborne particulates have a measureable effect on external HVBs. This finding led to an observational study on the production floor which examines internal HVBs. An exploratory analysis of the data obtained was conducted and preliminary results showed that the particles may influence the occurrence of internal HVBs in the tubes. As a result of this research the data justified the need to have a real-time airborne monitoring system in order to conduct further research and funding for the system was granted
Quantifying fusion born ion populations in magnetically confined plasmas using ion cyclotron emission
Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) offers unique promise as a diagnostic of the
fusion born alpha-particle population in magnetically confined plasmas.
Pioneering observations from JET and TFTR found that ICE intensity
scales approximately linearly with the measured neutron flux from fusion
reactions, and with the inferred concentration, , of fusion-born
alpha-particles confined within the plasma. We present fully nonlinear
self-consistent kinetic simulations that reproduce this scaling for the first
time. This resolves a longstanding question in the physics of fusion
alpha-particle confinement and stability in MCF plasmas. It confirms the
magnetoacoustic cyclotron instability (MCI) as the likely emission mechanism
and greatly strengthens the basis for diagnostic exploitation of ICE in future
burning plasmas
La Traza Oculta de la Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de CaballerÃa de Sevilla. Sobre la GeometrÃa de su Planta
Perhaps one of the most showy characteristics of the Bullring of the Real Maestranza de Caballeria of Seville is the singularity of its geometric layout, the irregularity of its arena. An unusual form to which no convincing justification has been found. There are no documents that explain it in the archives of the Corporation and there is no doubt about the solvency and dexterity of the major teachers, military engineers and architects who built it over a hundred and twenty years. Now, we think we have found an explanation for this irregular geometry. A reasoning based on the history of it construction, also in the observation of the historical and new planimetry, and especially in the knowledge that has provided us with the building of the works of reform and conservation carried out In it during these last years.Quizás una de las caracterÃsticas más llamativas de la Plaza de la Real Maestranza de CaballerÃa de Sevilla sea la singularidad de su traza, la irregularidad de su ruedo. Una forma insólita a la que no se ha encontrado justificación convincente. No existen documentos que la expliquen en los archivos de la Corporación y tampoco puede dudarse de la solvencia y destreza de los maestros mayores, ingenieros militares y arquitectos que a lo largo de ciento veinte años la levantaron. Ahora, creemos haber encontrado una explicación a esa geometrÃa irregular. Un razonamiento basado en la historia de su construcción, también en la observación tanto de la planimetrÃa histórica conservada como de los nuevos levantamientos, y sobre todo en el conocimiento que nos han proporcionado del edificio las obras de reforma y conservación llevadas a cabo en ella durante estos últimos años
Caracterizacion sintomatologica y molecular del virus de la mancha anillada del papayo (PRSV) que infecta Carica papaya L. en el norte del Peru
The objective of present study was symptomatic and molecular characterization of the virus that infects Carica papaya L. in areas of northern Peru. To do this, of different fields were collected leaves of C. papaya with mosaic symptoms, chlorosis and distortion the leaf. Sap of these leaves was inoculated mechanically onto virus-free plants of C. papaya, Chenopodium murale, Ch. amaranticolor, Ch. quinoa, Cucumis melo, C. sativus and Cucurbita pepo; which they were kept at room temperature for 45 days, after which young leaves in of C. papaya, mosaic, distortion and reduction of the leaf blade was observed; in the species C. melo, C. sativus and Cucurbita pepo systemic chlorosis. Ch. murale, Ch. amaranticolor and Ch. quinoa they no showed symptoms evident. The plants infected were analyzed by serological technique NCM-ELISA and RT-PCR proving that the virus that is infecting the plantations assessed in the north of Peru, it is the papaya ringspot virus (RSVP).El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo la caracterización sintomatológica y molecular del virus que infecta Carica papaya L. en zonas del norte peruano. Para ello, de diferentes campos en producción se colectaron hojas tiernas de C. papaya con sÃntomas de mosaico, clorosis, aclareo de nervaduras y distorsión de la lámina foliar. Savia de estas hojas fue inoculada en forma mecánica sobre plantas libres de virus de C. papaya, Chenopodium murale, Ch. amaranticolor, Ch. quinoa, Cucumis melo, C. sativus y Cucurbita pepo; las que fueron mantenidas a temperatura ambiente durante 45 dÃas al cabo de los cuales en las hojas jóvenes de C. papaya se observó aclareo de nervaduras, mosaico, distorsión y reducción de la lámina foliar; en las especies C. melo, C. sativus y Cucurbita pepo clorosis sistémica, en Ch. murale, Ch. amaranticolor y Ch. quinoa no se evidenciaron sintomas. Las plantas de C. papaya, C. melo, C. sativus y Cucurbita pepo infectadas, fueron analizadas por la técnica serológica de NCM-ELISA y RT-PCR comprobándose que el virus que se encuentra infectando las plantaciones de las zonas evaluadas en el norte del Perú, es el virus de la mancha anillada del papayo (PRSV)
cloud property retrieval using synergistic AATSR and MERIS observations
A newly developed daytime cloud property retrieval algorithm FAME-C (Freie
Universität Berlin AATSR MERIS Cloud) is presented. Synergistic observations
from AATSR and MERIS, both mounted on the polar orbiting satellite ENVISAT,
are used for cloud screening. For cloudy pixels two main steps are carried out
in a sequential form. First, a micro-physical cloud property retrieval is
performed using an AATSR near-infrared and visible channel. Cloud phase, cloud
optical thickness, and effective radius are retrieved, and subsequently cloud
water path is computed. Second, two independent cloud top height products are
retrieved. For cloud top temperature AATSR brightness temperatures are used,
while for cloud top pressure the MERIS oxygen-A absorption channel is used.
Results from the micro-physical retrieval serve as input for the two cloud top
height retrievals. Introduced are the AATSR and MERIS forward models and
auxiliary data needed in FAME-C. Also, the optimal estimation method with
uncertainty estimates, which also provides for uncertainty estimated of the
retrieved property on a pixel-basis, is presented. Within the frame of the ESA
Climate Change Initiative project first global cloud property retrievals have
been conducted for the years 2007–2009. For this time period verification
efforts are presented comparing FAME-C cloud micro-physical properties to
MODIS-TERRA derived cloud micro-physical properties for four selected regions
on the globe. The results show reasonable accuracies between the cloud micro-
physical retrievals. Biases are generally smallest for marine stratocumulus
clouds; −0.28, 0.41μm and −0.18 g m−2 for cloud optical thickness, effective
radius and cloud water path, respectively. This is also true for the root mean
square error. Also, both cloud top height products are compared to cloud top
heights derived from ground-based cloud radars located at several ARM sites.
FAME-C mostly shows an underestimation of cloud top heights when compared to
radar observations, which is partly attributed to the difficulty of accurate
cloud property retrievals for optically thin clouds and multi-layer clouds.
The bias is smallest, −0.9 km, for AATSR derived cloud top heights for single-
layer clouds
Structure of Polyelectrolytes in Poor Solvent
We present simulations on charged polymers in poor solvent. First we
investigate in detail the dilute concentration range with and without imposed
extension constraints. The resulting necklace polymer conformations are
analyzed in detail. We find strong fluctuations in the number of pearls and
their sizes leading only to small signatures in the form factor and the
force-extension relation. The scaling of the peak in the structure factor with
the monomer density shows a pertinent different behavior from good solvent
chains.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. submitted to EP
Exploiting the sensitivity of two satellite cloud height retrievals to cloud vertical distribution
This work presents a study on the sensitivity of two satellite cloud height
retrievals to cloud vertical distribution. The difference in sensitivity is
exploited by relating the difference in the retrieved cloud heights to cloud
vertical extent. The two cloud height retrievals, performed within the Freie
Universität Berlin AATSR MERIS Cloud (FAME-C) algorithm, are based on
independent measurements and different retrieval techniques. First, cloud top
temperature (CTT) is retrieved from Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer
(AATSR) measurements in the thermal infrared. Second, cloud top pressure (CTP)
is retrieved from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) measurements
in the oxygen-A absorption band. Both CTT and CTP are converted to cloud top
height (CTH) using atmospheric profiles from a numerical weather prediction
model. A sensitivity study using radiative transfer simulations in the near-
infrared and thermal infrared were performed to demonstrate the larger impact
of the assumed cloud vertical extinction profile on MERIS than on AATSR top-
of-atmosphere measurements. The difference in retrieved CTH (ΔCTH) from AATSR
and MERIS are related to cloud vertical extent (CVE) as observed by ground-
based lidar and radar at three ARM sites. To increase the impact of the cloud
vertical extinction profile on the MERIS-CTP retrievals, single-layer and
geometrically thin clouds are assumed in the forward model. The results of the
comparison to the ground-based observations were separated into single-layer
and multi-layer cloud cases. Analogous to previous findings, the MERIS-CTP
retrievals appear to be close to pressure levels in the middle of the cloud.
Assuming a linear relationship, the ΔCTH multiplied by 2.5 gives an estimate
on the CVE for single-layer clouds. The relationship is weaker for multi-layer
clouds. Due to large variations of cloud vertical extinction profiles
occurring in nature, a quantitative estimate of the cloud vertical extent is
accompanied with large uncertainties. Yet, estimates of the CVE can contribute
to the characterization of a cloudy scene. To demonstrate the plausibility of
the approach, an estimate of the CVE was applied to a case study. In light of
the follow-up mission Sentinel-3 with AATSR and MERIS like instruments, Sea
and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) and (Ocean and Land Colour
Instrument) OLCI, respectively, for which the FAME-C algorithm can be easily
adapted, a more accurate estimate of the CVE can be expected. OLCI will have
three channels in the oxygen-A absorption band, thus providing more pieces of
information on the cloud vertical extinction profile
Modelado numérico para estudiar interfases fluido-sólidas ante excitaciones dinámicas
ResumenEste trabajo trata sobre la propagación de ondas en interfases fluido-sólidas debidas a excitaciones dinámicas, que son conocidas como ondas de Scholte. Se ha estudiado una amplia gama de materiales sólidos elásticos empleados en la ingenierÃa. La interfase une un medio acústico (fluido) y otro sólido. Se ha demostrado que por medio de un análisis de ondas difractadas en un fluido es posible deducir las caracterÃsticas mecánicas del medio sólido, especÃficamente sus velocidades de propagación. Para este propósito, el campo difractado de onda de presión y desplazamientos, debido a una onda inicial de presión en el fluido, se expresa mediante las representaciones integrales de frontera, las cuales satisfacen la ecuación de movimiento. La presión inicial en el fluido es representada mediante una función de Hankel de segunda especie y orden cero. La solución a este problema de propagación de ondas se obtiene por medio del método indirecto de elementos frontera, que es equivalente al bien conocido teorema de representación de Somigliana. La validación de los resultados se realiza por medio del método del número de onda discreto. En primer lugar, se muestran espectros de presiones que ilustran el comportamiento del fluido para cada material sólido considerado, y después se aplica la transformada rápida de Fourier para mostrar los resultados en el dominio del tiempo, donde se ejemplifica la aparición de las ondas de Scholte y la cantidad de energÃa que transportan.AbstractThis work shows the wave propagation in fluid-solid interfaces due to dynamic excitations, such interface waves are known as Scholte's waves. We studied a wide range of elastic solid materials used in engineering. The interface connects an acoustic medium (fluid) and another solid. It has been shown that by means of an analysis of diffracted waves in a fluid, it is possible to deduce the mechanical characteristics of the solid medium, specifically, its propagation velocities. For this purpose, the diffracted field of pressures and displacements, due to an initial pressure in the fluid, are expressed using boundary integral representations, which satisfy the equation of motion. The initial pressure in the fluid is represented by a Hankel's function of second kind and zero order. The solution to this problem of wave propagation is obtained by means of the Indirect Boundary Element Method, which is equivalent to the well-known Somigliana's representation theorem. The validation of the results was performed by means of the Discrete Wave Number Method. Firstly, spectra of pressures to illustrate the behavior of the fluid for each solid material considered are included, then, the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm to display the results in the time domain is applied, where the emergence of Scholte's waves and the amount of energy that they carry are highlighted
- …