646 research outputs found
Local dynamics and gravitational collapse of a self-gravitating magnetized Fermi gas
We use the Bianchi-I spacetime to study the local dynamics of a magnetized
self-gravitating Fermi gas. The set of Einstein-Maxwell field equations for
this gas becomes a dynamical system in a 4-dimensional phase space. We consider
a qualitative study and examine numeric solutions for the degenerate zero
temperature case. All dynamic quantities exhibit similar qualitative behavior
in the 3-dimensional sections of the phase space, with all trajectories
reaching a stable attractor whenever the initial expansion scalar H_{0} is
negative. If H_{0} is positive, and depending on initial conditions, the
trajectories end up in a curvature singularity that could be isotropic(singular
"point") or anisotropic (singular "line"). In particular, for a sufficiently
large initial value of the magnetic field it is always possible to obtain an
anisotropic type of singularity in which the "line" points in the same
direction of the field.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures (accepted in General Relativity and Gravitation
Cooling of pulsars
Cooling rates are calculated for superfluid neutron stars of about one solar mass and 10 km radius, with magnetic fields from zero to about 10 to the 14th power Gauss, when possible internal friction effects are neglected. The results show that most old pulsars are so cold that thermal ionization of surface atoms would be negligible. At an age of a million years and with canonical magnetic fields of 10 to the 12th power Gauss, the estimated stellar surface temperature is several thousand to a hundred thousand degrees. However, if we neglect magnetic fields and superfluid states of nucleons, the same surfaces would be about a million degrees
Mixed Layer Sub-Mesoscale Parameterization - Part 1: Derivation and Assessment
Several studies have shown that sub-mesoscales (SM 1km horizontal scale) play an important role in mixed layer dynamics. In particular, high resolution simulations have shown that in the case of strong down-front wind, the re-stratification induced by the SM is of the same order of the de-stratification induced by small scale turbulence, as well as of that induced by the Ekman velocity. These studies have further concluded that it has become necessary to include SM in ocean global circulation models (OGCMs), especially those used in climate studies. The goal of our work is to derive and assess an analytic parameterization of the vertical tracer flux under baroclinic instabilities and wind of arbitrary directions and strength. To achieve this goal, we have divided the problem into two parts: first, in this work we derive and assess a parameterization of the SM vertical flux of an arbitrary tracer for ocean codes that resolve mesoscales, M, but not sub-mesoscales, SM. In Part 2, presented elsewhere, we have used the results of this work to derive a parameterization of SM fluxes for ocean codes that do not resolve either M or SM. To carry out the first part of our work, we solve the SM dynamic equations including the non-linear terms for which we employ a closure developed and assessed in previous work. We present a detailed analysis for down-front and up-front winds with the following results: (a) down-front wind (blowing in the direction of the surface geostrophic velocity) is the most favorable condition for generating vigorous SM eddies; the de-stratifying effect of the mean flow and re-stratifying effect of SM almost cancel each other out
Comparison of Four Mixed Layer Mesoscale Parameterizations and the Equation for an Arbitrary Tracer
In this paper we discuss two issues, the inter-comparison of four mixed layer mesoscale parameterizations and the search for the eddy induced velocity for an arbitrary tracer. It must be stressed that our analysis is limited to mixed layer mesoscales since we do not treat sub-mesoscales and small turbulent mixing. As for the first item, since three of the four parameterizations are expressed in terms of a stream function and a residual flux of the RMT formalism (residual mean theory), while the fourth is expressed in terms of vertical and horizontal fluxes, we needed a formalism to connect the two formulations. The standard RMT representation developed for the deep ocean cannot be extended to the mixed layer since its stream function does not vanish at the ocean's surface. We develop a new RMT representation that satisfies the surface boundary condition. As for the general form of the eddy induced velocity for an arbitrary tracer, thus far, it has been assumed that there is only the one that originates from the curl of the stream function. This is because it was assumed that the tracer residual flux is purely diffusive. On the other hand, we show that in the case of an arbitrary tracer, the residual flux has also a skew component that gives rise to an additional bolus velocity. Therefore, instead of only one bolus velocity, there are now two, one coming from the curl of the stream function and other from the skew part of the residual flux. In the buoyancy case, only one bolus velocity contributes to the mean buoyancy equation since the residual flux is indeed only diffusive
Vertical Diffusivities of Active and Passive Tracers
The climate models that include a carbon-cycle need the vertical diffusivity of a passive tracer. Since an expression for the latter is not available, it has been common practice to identify it with that of salt. The identification is questionable since T, S are active, not passive tracers. We present the first derivation of the diffusivity of a passive tracer in terms of Ri (Richardson number) and Rq (density ratio, ratio of salinity over temperature z-gradients). The following results have emerged: (a) The passive tracer diffusivity is an algebraic function of Ri, Rq. (b) In doubly stable regimes (DS, partial derivative of T with respect to z > 0, partial derivative of S with respect to z 0. (c) In DC regimes (diffusive convection, partial derivative of T with respect to z 1), the passive scalar diffusivity is larger than that of salt. At Ri = O(1), it can be more than twice as large. (d) In SF regimes (salt fingers, partial derivative of T with respect to z > 0, partial derivative of S with respect to z > 0, Rq < 1), the passive scalar diffusivity is smaller than that of salt. At Ri = O(1), it can be less than half of it. (e) The passive tracer diffusivity predicted at the location of NATRE (North Atlantic Tracer Release Experiment) is discussed. (f) Perhaps the most relevant conclusion is that the common identification of the tracer diffusivity with that of salt is valid only in DS regimes. In the Southern Ocean, where there is the largest CO2 absorption, the dominant regime is diffusive convection discussed in (c) above
A Comparison of Measured Crab and Vela Glitch Healing Parameters with Predictions of Neutron Star Models
There are currently two well-accepted models that explain how pulsars exhibit
glitches, sudden changes in their regular rotational spin-down. According to
the starquake model, the glitch healing parameter, Q, which is measurable in
some cases from pulsar timing, should be equal to the ratio of the moment of
inertia of the superfluid core of a neutron star (NS) to its total moment of
inertia. Measured values of the healing parameter from pulsar glitches can
therefore be used in combination with realistic NS structure models as one test
of the feasibility of the starquake model as a glitch mechanism. We have
constructed NS models using seven representative equations of state of
superdense matter to test whether starquakes can account for glitches observed
in the Crab and Vela pulsars, for which the most extensive and accurate glitch
data are available. We also present a compilation of all measured values of Q
for Crab and Vela glitches to date which have been separately published in the
literature. We have computed the fractional core moment of inertia for stellar
models covering a range of NS masses and find that for stable NSs in the
realistic mass range 1.4 +/- 0.2 solar masses, the fraction is greater than
0.55 in all cases. This range is not consistent with the observational
restriction Q < 0.2 for Vela if starquakes are the cause of its glitches. This
confirms results of previous studies of the Vela pulsar which have suggested
that starquakes are not a feasible mechanism for Vela glitches. The much larger
values of Q observed for Crab glitches (Q > 0.7) are consistent with the
starquake model predictions and support previous conclusions that starquakes
can be the cause of Crab glitches.Comment: 8 pages, including 3 figures and 1 table. Accepted for publication in
Ap
Theoretical study of turbulent channel flow: Bulk properties, pressure fluctuations, and propagation of electromagnetic waves
In this paper, we apply two theoretical turbulence models, DIA and the recent GISS model, to study properties of a turbulent channel flow. Both models provide a turbulent kinetic energy spectral function E(k) as the solution of a non-linear equation; the two models employ the same source function but different closures. The source function is characterized by a rate n sub s (k) which is derived from the complex eigenvalues of the Orr--Sommerfeld (OS) equation in which the basic flow is taken to be of a Poiseuille type. The O--S equation is solved for a variety of Reynolds numbers corresponding to available experimental data. A physical argument is presented whereby the central line velocity characterizing the basic flow, U0 sup L, is not to be identified with the U0 appearing in the experimental Reynolds number. The theoretical results are compared with two types of experimental data: (1) turbulence bulk properties, and (2) properties that depend stongly on the structure of the turbulence spectrun at low wave numbers. The only existing analytical expression for Pi (k) cannot be used in the present case because it applies to the case of a flat plate, not a finite channel
Uncertainties of Synthetic Integrated Colors as Age Indicators
We investigate the uncertainties in the synthetic integrated colors of simple
stellar populations. Three types of uncertainties are from the stellar models,
the population synthesis techniques, and from the spectral libraries. Despite
some skepticism, synthetic colors appear to be reliable age indicators when
used for select age ranges. Rest-frame optical colors are good age indicators
at ages 2 -- 7Gyr. At ages sufficiently large to produce hot HB stars, the
UV-to-optical colors provide an alternative means for measuring ages. This UV
technique may break the age-metallicity degeneracy because it separates old
populations from young ones even in the lack of metallicity information. One
can use such techniques on extragalactic globular clusters and perhaps even for
high redshift galaxies that are passively evolving to study galaxy evolution
history.Comment: 38 pages, 21 figures, LaTex, 2003, ApJ, 582 (Jan 1), in pres
Three-Dimensional, Space-Dependent Mesoscale Diffusivity: Derivation and Implications
Recently, we presented a parameterization of an arbitrary tracer 3D mesoscale flux that describes both diabatic and adiabatic regimes without using arbitrary tapering functions. However, we did not parameterize the mesoscale diffusivity, which is the subject of this work. A key difference between the present and previous diffusivity parameterizations is that in the latter, the two main ingredients, mesoscale drift velocity and eddy kinetic energy, were not parameterized but determined using present data, which deprives the models of predictive power. Since winds, stratification, etc., are predicted to change in the future, use of these parameterizations to study future climate scenarios becomes questionable. In this work, we parameterize drift velocity and eddy kinetic energy (verticalhorizontal components), which we first assess with data [WOCE, TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P), and North Atlantic Tracer Release Experiment (NATRE)] and then use in a coarse-resolution stand-alone ocean code under Coordinated Ocean-Ice Reference Experiment I (CORE-I) forcing. We present results for the global ocean temperature and salinity, Atlantic overturning circulation, meridional heat transport, and Drake Passage transport, which we compare with several previous studies. The temperature drift is less than that of five of seven previous OGCMs, and the salinity drift is among the smallest in those studies. The predicted winter Antarctic Circumpolar Current mixed layer depths (MLDs) are in good agreement with the data. Predicting the correct MLD is important in climate studies since models that predict very deep mixed layers transfer more of the radiative perturbation to the deep ocean, reducing surface warming (and vice versa)
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