What initial perturbations may be generated in inflationary cosmological models

Isothermal (isoinflaton) perturbations generated in cosmological models at the inflationary stage are discussed. The spectrum of such perturbations has been calculated for the example of a cosmological model with axion-type matter. The possibility of the cut-off of the spectrum at long wavelengths has been shown. This leads to the suppression of large-scale fluctuations of the temperature of the background radiation.     

Self-preservation of large-scale structures in a nonlinear viscous medium described by the Burgers equation

We use the asymptotic solution of the one-dimensional Burgers equation to study the self-preservation of large-scale random structures. We show that in the process of their evolution, large-scale structures remain stable against small-scale perturbations for the case of a continuous initial spectrum with a spectral index smaller than unity. We study both analytically and numerically the correlation coefficient of a large-scale structure and of the same structure with a high-frequency perturbation and show that with the passage of time the coefficient tends to unity. Using the asymptotic formulas of the theory of random excursion of stochastic processes, we study the statistical properties of the perturbing field and find that the effect of high-frequency perturbations is equivalent to the introduction of effective viscosity. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 564–583 (February 1999)     

Small-scale-velocity-induced linear instability of large-scale turbulent flows

Analysis of a simplified equation derived previously for small-scale velocity components shows that any turbulent flow of an incompressible liquid becomes unstable against infinitesimal perturbations of small-scale velocity components if the strain rate tensor for the large-scale velocity is high. Such a statement comes into conflict with the classical stability theory, which specifically asserts that the Poiseuille flow in a circular tube is linearly stable against infinitesimal perturbations.     

Gauge-invariant temperature anisotropies and primordial non-Gaussianity

We provide the gauge-invariant expression for large-scale cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations at second-order perturbation theory. This enables us to define unambiguously the nonlinearity parameter f(NL), which is used by experimental collaborations to pin down the level of non-Gaussianity in the temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, it contains a primordial term encoding all the information about the non-Gaussianity generated at primordial epochs and about the mechanism which gave rise to cosmological perturbations, thus neatly disentangling the primordial contribution to non-Gaussianity from the one caused by the postinflationary evolution.     

Steady large-scale modulation of a moderately turbulent co-flow jet

The effects of a spatial modulation acting at the inflow of a moderately turbulent planar jet surrounded by a faster co-flow are investigated using direct numerical simulation of the Navier–Stokes equations. We adopt a superposition of spatially filtered small-scale random perturbations and a structured large-scale flow modulation. The large-scale modulation is characterised in terms of a Beltrami flow, specified by a wavenumber K. These large-scale modulations are steady and spatially periodic, while the random small-scale perturbations fluctuate in time and in space. The flow configuration studied in this paper is agitated by this combined large- and small-scale agitation at the inflow plane of a rectangular domain of size L × L × 2L in the x-, y- and streamwise z-directions. The inflow perturbation is focused on a strip of size L × D in the x- and y-directions. A parametric variation is carried out considering different choices for the wavenumber of the large-scale modulation. We focus on effects that the inflow modulation has on global characteristics of the flow, e.g. the width of the mixing region formed between the two streams and the dissipation rate, ?. Results show that the width of the mixing region increases faster compared to the case without the large-scale perturbation, when the flow is agitated by structures of size comparable to the integral scales of the flow. For the dissipation rate, results show the presence of a maximum response at a certain wavenumber K in case we apply a large-scale modulation. This maximum is attained at modulation scales that vary locally with respect to the distance from the inflow plane. Close to the inflow, the maximum response occurs at small modulation scales, while further into the domain a maximum response is present at comparably large modulation scales.     

The effect of the modulation of Bragg scattering in small-slope approximation

Small-slope approximation (SSA) belongs to a class of 'unifying' scattering theories which reproduce small perturbations and semiclassic (Kirchhoff) results within appropriate limits. However, the most stringent test for such theories involves a two-scale situation when a small-scale roughness is located on a tilted plane. A 'unifying' theory should properly account for the effects of modulation of the scattering cross section associated with a large-scale tilt. This paper shows that SSA does properly take into account these modulation effects.     

Scale-invariant streamline equations and strings of singular vorticity for perturbed anisotropic solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation

A linear combination of a pair of dual anisotropic decaying Beltrami flows with spatially constant amplitudes (the Trkal solutions) with the same eigenvalue of the curl operator and of a constant velocity orthogonal vector to the Beltrami pair yields a triplet solution of the force-free Navier-Stokes equation. The amplitudes slightly variable in space (large scale perturbations) yield the emergence of a time-dependent phase between the dual Beltrami flows and of the upward velocity, which are unstable at large values of the Reynolds number. They also lead to the formation of large-scale curved prisms of streamlines with edges being the strings of singular vorticity.     

Hot Vertical-Displacement-Event Process due to Internal Energy Perturbations for HL-2M Tokamak Plasma

During the tokamak operation,variation of the stored energy can cause internal perturbations of the plasma.These perturbations may develop into large-scale vertical movement of the whole column for the vertically elongated tokamak,eventually generating the hot vertical displacement event(VDE).It will cause considerable damage to the machine.In this work,the hot VDE process due to stored energy perturbations is investigated by a mature non-linear time-evolution code DINA.The influence on the vertical instability,the displacement direction and the electromagnetic loads on in-vessel components during the hot VDE are analyzed.It is shown that a larger perturbation leads to faster development of the vertical instability.Meanwhile the variation of the Shafranov shift,due to the energy change,is related to the VDE direction.The vertical electromagnetic force on the vacuum vessel and the halo current flowing in the divertor baffle become larger in the case of VDE moving towards the X point.     

The large-scale vortex structures in plasma-like media and the electric explosion of conductors

Formation of large-scale hydrodynamic convective patterns in plasma-like current-carrying media is considered. This process is shown to be described by the same equations, as Benard rolls, except that a temperature field must be replaced by a magnetic field. A simple low-mode model of spatial pattern formation for a case of cylindrical liquid-metal conductor with current is proposed and investigated. Nonlinear interaction of perturbations of the magnetic field and the velocity field results in an increase of effective conductor resistance even when transport coefficients are constant. In our opinion, it is this instability, that is of first importance at the initial stages of the electric explosion of conductors. In particular, it leads to conductor stratification and electric current interruption. (c) 1996 American Institute of Physics.     

The effect of the modulation of Bragg scattering in small-slope approximation

Abstract

Small-slope approximation (SSA) belongs to a class of ‘unifying’ scattering theories which reproduce small perturbations and semiclassic (Kirchhoff) results within appropriate limits. However, the most stringent test for such theories involves a two-scale situation when a small-scale roughness is located on a tilted plane. A ‘unifying’ theory should properly account for the effects of modulation of the scattering cross section associated with a large-scale tilt. This paper shows that SSA does properly take into account these modulation effects.     

Cosmology with inhomogeneous magnetic fields

We review spacetime dynamics in the presence of large-scale electromagnetic fields and then consider the effects of the magnetic component on perturbations to a spatially homogeneous and isotropic universe. Using covariant techniques, we refine and extend earlier work and provide the magnetohydrodynamic equations that describe inhomogeneous magnetic cosmologies in full general relativity. Specialising this system to perturbed Friedmann–Robertson–Walker models, we examine the effects of the field on the expansion dynamics and on the growth of density inhomogeneities, including non-adiabatic modes. We look at scalar perturbations and obtain analytic solutions for their linear evolution in the radiation, dust and inflationary eras. In the dust case we also calculate the magnetic analogue of the Jeans length. We then consider the evolution of vector perturbations and find that the magnetic presence generally reduces the decay rate of these distortions. Finally, we examine the implications of magnetic fields for the evolution of cosmological gravitational waves.     

Assessment of ForeFire/Meso-NH for wildland fire/atmosphere coupled simulation of the FireFlux experiment

Numerical simulations using a coupled approach between Meso-NH (Non-Hydrostatic) LES (Large Eddy Simulation) mesoscale atmospheric model and ForeFire wildland fire area simulator are compared to experimental data to assess the performance of the proposed coupled approach in predicting fine-scale properties of the dynamics of wildland fires. Meso-NH is a non-hydrostatic, large eddy simulation capable, atmospheric research model. ForeFire insures a front tracking of the fire front by means of Lagrangian markers evolving on the earth’s surface according to a physical rate-of-spread model. The atmospheric model forces the fire behavior through the surface wind field, whereas the fire forces the atmosphere simulation through surface boundary conditions of heat and vapor fluxes. The FireFlux experiment, an experimental 32 Ha burn of tall grass instrumented with wind profilers and thermocouples, was designed specifically to estimate the atmospheric perturbation introduced by wildland fire. Comparisons of the simulations at different resolutions with the large-scale experiment validate the chosen coupling methodology and the choice of a coupled approach with a meso-scale atmospheric model for the prediction of wildland fire propagation. Distinct fire propagation behavior is simulated between coupled and non-coupled simulation. While the simulations did not reproduce high frequency perturbations, it is shown that the atmospheric model captures well atmospheric perturbations induced by combustion at the ground level in terms of behavior and amplitude.     

Newtonian versus relativistic nonlinear cosmology

Both for the background world model and its linear perturbations Newtonian cosmology coincides with the zero-pressure limits of relativistic cosmology. However, such successes in Newtonian cosmology are not purely based on Newton's gravity, but are rather guided ones by previously known results in Einstein's theory. The action-at-a-distance nature of Newton's gravity requires further verification from Einstein's theory for its use in the large-scale nonlinear regimes. We study the domain of validity of the Newtonian cosmology by investigating weakly nonlinear regimes in relativistic cosmology assuming a zero-pressure and irrotational fluid. We show that, first, if we ignore the coupling with gravitational waves the Newtonian cosmology is exactly valid even to the second order in perturbation. Second, the pure relativistic correction terms start appearing from the third order. Third, the correction terms are independent of the horizon scale and are quite small in the large-scale near the horizon. These conclusions are based on our special (and proper) choice of variables and gauge conditions. In a complementary situation where the system is weakly relativistic but fully nonlinear (thus, far inside the horizon) we can employ the post-Newtonian approximation. We also show that in the large-scale structures the post-Newtonian effects are quite small. As a consequence, now we can rely on the Newtonian gravity in analyzing the evolution of nonlinear large-scale structures even near the horizon volume.     

Global response of laminar flow separation to local flow perturbations (review)

In the present paper, we summarize our experimental data on flow separation control on wings at low subsonic velocities. The focus is on the reduction of the separation region by stationary and nonstationary controlled flow perturbations. Wind-tunnel data obtained for test models of different aspect ratios prove that the entire separated flow can be modified by forcing its narrow parts much smaller in size than the transverse extent of the separation region. Such an approach to flow control at laminar separation comes from non-local interaction of the large-scale flow structure with spatially concentrated disturbances.     

Experimental investigation of high-mach-number 3D hydrodynamic jets at the national ignition facility

The first hydrodynamic experiments were performed on the National Ignition Facility. A supersonic jet was formed via the interaction of a laser driven shock ( approximately 40 Mbar) with 2D and 3D density perturbations. The temporal evolution of the jet's spatial scales and ejected mass were measured with point-projection x-ray radiography. Measurements of the large-scale features and mass are in good agreement with 2D and 3D numerical simulations. These experiments provide quantitative data on the evolution of 3D supersonic jets and provide insight into their 3D behavior.     

Transition radiation of sound under uniform motion of momentum and mass sources in inhomogeneous media

Theoretical investigations of transition radiation of sound under the uniform motion of small momentum and mass (heat) sources in a gas with chaotic inhomogeneities of density and temperature are briefly discussed. We analyze two basic methods for calculating the source losses by the radiation of acoustic waves. The first method is based on the calculation of the energy flux in the Born approximation over small perturbations of the parameters of the medium, and allows us, in particular, to clarify the problem of the angular distribution of the radiation. The second method is based on the use of the effective permittivity tensor, which links together the spatiotemporal Fourier transforms of the average momentum of a unit volume of the medium and the average (over the ensemble) velocity of the wave perturbations. The dependence of the radiation reaction force on the velocity of the motion of source is analyzed for the case of small-scale and large-scale inhomogeneities of the medium.Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 38, Nos. 1–2, pp. 44–55, January–February, 1995.     

Sufficient conditions for linear long-wave instability of steady-state axisymmetric flows of an ideal liquid with a free boundary in an azimuthal magnetic field

The problem of linear stability of steady-state axisymmetric shear jet flows of an inviscid ideally conducting incompressible liquid with a free surface and “frozen-in” azimuthal magnetic field is analyzed. The sufficient conditions for theoretical (on semi-infinite time intervals) and practical (on finite time intervals) instability of these flows relative to small axisymmetric long-wave perturbations are obtained by the direct Lyapunov method. An a priori lower estimate indicating (at least) an exponential increase with time of small perturbations under investigation is constructed in the case when these conditions are valid for theoretical as well as practical instability. In addition, an illustrative analytic example of steady-state flows under investigation and small axisymmetric long-wave perturbations superimposed on them is constructed (according to our estimate, these perturbations increase with time).     

Enhanced spatiotemporal laser-beam smoothing in gas-jet plasmas

Spatiotemporal smoothing of large-scale laser intensity fluctuations is observed for a laser beam focused into underdense helium plasmas. This smoothing is found to be severely enhanced when focusing the laser beam into a helium gas jet. In contrast to other experiments with preformed plasmas, the average and the peak laser intensities are well below the threshold for ponderomotive self-focusing. The coherence characteristics of the transmitted light are measured for various electron densities, and the smoothing effect is explained by multiple scattering of laser light on self-induced density perturbations.     

On the reflection of a radiowave beam from a plasma layer with large-scale inhomogeneities

Using the method of parabolic equation (MPE), we obtain transfer equations for the mean field, the space-coherence function, and the ray intensity of a radiowave beam as it is reflected from a plasma layer with random inhomogeneities. The general solutions of these equations are found. Special attention is given to the case of radiowave beam reflection from a linear plasma layer with large-scale electron-density inhomogeneities. If a weakly directed transceiving SW antenna is used, the shortwave scattering can lead to a pronounced (of the order of 3 dB) decrease in the intensity of a vertical-sounding signal reflected from the ionospheric F2 layer only under the conditions of abnormally strong ionospheric electron-density perturbations. Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41, No. 8, pp. 955–965, August, 1998.