Thermally induced birefringence in Nd:YAG ceramics

Analytical expressions for eigenpolarizations and phase delays in grains of thermally loaded Nd:YAG ceramic rods have been derived. It is shown that the depolarization of radiation in polycrystalline ceramics results in beam modulation with a characteristic size of the order of the ceramic grain size. It is reasonable to increase the ratio of rod length to grain length both to diminish this modulation depth and to compensate for birefringence by use of known techniques.     

Critical points of essential norms of singular integral operators in weighted spaces

We show that for any simple piecewise Ljapunov contour there exists a power weight such that the essential norm |S | in the spaceL ₂(, ) does not depend on the angles of the contour and it is given by formula (2). All such weights are described. For the union =₁₂ of two simple piecewise Lyapunov curves we prove that the essential norm |S | inL ₂() is minimal if both ₁ and ₂ are smooth in some neighborhoods of the common points. It is the case when the norm |S | in the spaceL ₂() as well as inL ₂(, ) does not depend on the values of the angles and it can be calculated by formula (5).     

Jordan Superalgebras Defined by Brackets

Jordan superalgebras defined by brackets on associative commutativesuperalgebras are studied. It is proved that any such superalgebrais imbedded into a superalgebra defined by Poisson brackets.In particular, all Jordan superalgebras of brackets are i-special.The speciality of these superalgebras is also examined, andit is proved, in particular, that the Cheng–Kac superalgebrais special.     

The measurement and analysis of normal incidence solar UVB radiation and its application to the photoclimatherapy protocol for psoriasis at the Dead Sea, Israel

The broad-band normal incidence UVB beam radiation has been measured at Neve Zohar, Dead Sea basin, using a prototype tracking instrument composed of a Model 501A UV-Biometer mounted on an Eppley Solar Tracker Model St-1. The diffuse and beam fraction of the solar global UVB radiation have been determined using the concurrently measured solar global UVB radiation. The diffuse fraction was observed to exceed 80% throughout the year. The application of the results of these measurements to the possible revision of the photoclimatherapy protocol for psoriasis patients at the Dead Sea medical spas is now under investigation. The suggested revision would enable the sun-exposure treatment protocol to take advantage of the very high diffuse fraction by allowing the patient to receive the daily dose of UVB radiation without direct exposure to the sun, viz. receive the diffuse UVB radiation under a sunshade. This would require an increase in sun-exposure time intervals, as the UVB radiation intensity beneath a sunshade is less than that on an exposed surface.     

Interfacial long traveling waves in a two‐layer fluid with variable depth

Long wave propagation in a two‐layer fluid with variable depth is studied for specific bottom configurations, which allow waves to propagate over large distances. Such configurations are found within the linear shallow‐water theory and determined by a family of solutions of the second‐order ordinary differential equation (ODE) with three arbitrary constants. These solutions can be used to approximate the true bottom bathymetry. All such solutions represent smooth bottom profiles between two different singular points. The first singular point corresponds to the point where the two‐layer flow transforms into a uniform one. In the vicinity of this point nonlinear shallow‐water theory is used and the wave breaking criterion, which corresponds to the gradient catastrophe is found. The second bifurcation point corresponds to an infinite increase in water depth, which contradicts the shallow‐water assumption. This point is eliminated by matching the “nonreflecting” bottom profile with a flat bottom. The wave transformation at the matching point is described by the second‐order Fredholm equation and its approximated solution is then obtained. The results extend the theory of internal waves in inhomogeneous stratified fluids actively developed by Prof. Roger Grimshaw, to the new solutions types.     

Solitary Wave Transformation Due to a Change in Polarity

Solitary wave transformation in a zone with sign-variable coefficient for the quadratic nonlinear term is studied for the variable-coefficient Korteweg–de Vries equation. Such a change of sign implies a change in polarity for the solitary wave solutions of this equation. This situation can be realized for internal waves in a stratified ocean, when the pycnocline lies halfway between the seabed and the sea surface. The width of the transition zone of the variable nonlinear coefficient is allowed to vary over a wide range. In the case of a short transition zone it is shown using asymptotic theory that there is no solitary wave generation after passage through the turning point, where the coefficient of the quadratic nonlinear term goes to zero. In the case of a very wide transition zone it is shown that one or more solitary waves of the opposite polarity are generated after passage through the turning point. Here, asymptotic methods are effective only for the first (adiabatic) stage when the solitary wave is approaching the turning point. The results from the asymptotic theories are confirmed by direct numerical simulation. The hypothesis that the pedestal behind the solitary wave approaching the turning point has a significant role on the generation of the terminal solitary wave after the transition zone is examined. It is shown that the pedestal is not the sole contributor to the amplitude of the terminal solitary wave. A negative disturbance at the turning point due to the transformation in the zone of the variable nonlinear coefficient contributes as much to the process of the generation of the terminal solitary waves.     

Singular Perturbation Theory for a Class of Fredholm Integral Equations Arising in Random Fields Estimation Theory

A basic integral equation of random fields estimation theory by the criterion of minimum of variance of the estimation error is of the form Rh = f, where and R(x, y) is a covariance function.The singular perturbation problem we study consists of finding the asymptotic behavior of the solution to the equation as 0.$$" align="middle" border="0"> The domain D can be an interval or a domain in Rⁿ, n > 1. The class of operators R is defined by the class of their kernels R(x,y) which solve the equation Q(x, D_x)R(x, y) = P(x, D_x)δ(x − y), where Q(x, D_x) and Px, D_x) are elliptic differential operators.     

Unital bimodules over the simple Jordan superalgebra

We classify indecomposable finite dimensional bimodules over Jordan superalgebras , .

     

Phase field modeling of fast crack propagation

We present a continuum theory which predicts the steady state propagation of cracks. The theory overcomes the usual problem of a finite time cusp singularity of the Grinfeld instability by the inclusion of elastodynamic effects which restore selection of the steady state tip radius and velocity. We developed a phase-field model for elastically induced phase transitions; in the limit of small or vanishing elastic coefficients in the new phase, fracture can be studied. The simulations confirm analytical predictions for fast crack propagation.     

The cubic algorithm

A nongradient algorithm for nonlinear nonconvex Lipschitzian optimization problems is proposed.