Some remarks on coherent structures out of chaos in planetary atmospheres and oceans

In the context of planetary atmospheres and oceans, it is natural to define "coherent structures" as "long-lived," or "solitary," Rossby vortices. These can be described by the generalized Charney-Obukhov equation (in fluid dynamics) or the analogous generalized Hasegawa-Mima equation (in plasma physics). These two equations contain KdV-type nonlinearities which (together with the compensating dispersive spreading) determine the formation of the coherent structures and explain the clear-cut cyclonic/anticyclonic asymmetry observed experimentally in long-lived planetary Rossby vortices. Examples are given of natural vortices which are (and which are not) coherent structures.     

Vortex sublattice melting in a two-component superconductor

We consider the vortices in a superconductor with two individually conserved condensates in a finite magnetic field. The ground state is a lattice of cocentered vortices in both order parameters. We find two phase transitions: (i) a "vortex sublattice melting" transition where vortices in the field with lowest phase stiffness ("light vortices") lose cocentricity with the vortices with large phase stiffness ("heavy vortices"), entering a liquid state (the structure factor of the light vortices vanishes continuously; this transition is in the 3Dxy universality class); (ii) a first-order melting transition of the lattice of heavy vortices, in a liquid of light vortices.     

Melting of discrete vortices via quantum fluctuations

We consider nonlinear boson states with a nontrivial phase structure in the three-site Bose-Hubbard ring, quantum discrete vortices (or q vortices), and study their "melting" under the action of quantum fluctuations. We calculate the spatial correlations in the ground states to show the superfluid-insulator crossover and analyze the fidelity between the exact and variational ground states to explore the validity of the classical analysis. We examine the phase coherence and the effect of quantum fluctuations on q vortices and reveal that the breakdown of these coherent structures through quantum fluctuations accompanies the superfluid-insulator crossover.     

Velocity field vortices and Mermin-Ho vortices in two-component spinor BEC

In light of the φ-mapping topological current theory, two important vortex structures in two-component spinor BEC—the velocity field vortices and the Mermin-Ho vortices are discussed. It is revealed that these two different kinds of vortices are created respectively from the zero points of two different order parameter configurations in the condensates, and both their topological charges, locations and motions can be determined by the φ-mapping theory.     

Spatial line nodes and fractional vortex pairs in the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov vortex state of spin-singlet superconductors

A Zeeman magnetic field can induce a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase in spin-singlet superconductors. Here we argue that there is a nontrivial solution for the FFLO vortex phase that exists near the upper critical field in which the wave function has only spatial line nodes that form intricate and unusual three-dimensional structures. These structures include a crisscrossing lattice of two sets of nonparallel line nodes. We show that these solutions arise from the decay of conventional Abrikosov vortices into pairs of fractional vortices. We propose that neutron scattering studies can observe these fractional vortex pairs through the observation of a lattice of 1/2 flux quanta vortices. We also consider related phases in noncentrosymmetric superconductors.     

What Laboratory-Produced Plasma Structures Can Contribute to the Understanding of Cosmic Structures Both Large and Small

The tradition of the classical 1901 work by Birkeland [1] on aurora phenomena by laboratory terrella experiments was resumed by Alfvén [2], Cowling [3], Ferraro et al. [4], and by Bennett [5] in his terrella experiments. In 1954 [6] when experimenters accidentally produced in the laboratory structures later identified as diamagnetic vortex filaments, and in 1961 [7] when filaments, later identified as current-carrying paramagnetic plasma vortex structures (which are both electric motors and dynamos), were observed in the Z and theta-pinch experiments, this tradition was being further reestablished. It has been successfully argued [6], [8], [11], [20] that both of these types of vortices are force-free minimum-free-energy structures that spontaneously spring to life as readily as do thousands of spherical bubbles and water droplets during the splash of a breaking water wave. The Birkeland aurora filaments are a hybrid combination of these two basic types (paramagnetic and diamagnetic) of plasma vortices. It is to be expected that such structures on a cosmic scale play an important role in the cosmos, and indeed they do in the formation of galaxies, stars, binary stars, solar systems, solar prominences, solar flares, solar wind, comet tails, cosmic "strings" in the Crab nebula, string-like galactic clusters, expansion of the Universe, giant galactic jets, cosmic rays, sunspots, vortex rolls in sunspot penumbra, twinkling of radio stars by the density fluctuations in the ionosphere, turbulence at the interface between the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere, etc.     

Large-eddy simulations and vortex structures of turbulent jets in crossflow

Using the method of large-eddy simulation, the 3-dimensional turbulent jets in crossflow with stream-wise and transverse arrangements of nozzle are simulated, emphasizing on the dynamical process of generation and evolution of vortex structures in these flows. The results show that the basic vortex structures in literatures, such as the counter-rotating vortex pair, leading-edge vortices, lee-side vortices, hanging vortices, kidney vortices and anti-kidney vortices, are not independent physical substances, but local structures of the basic vortex structure of turbulent jets in crossflow-the 3-D stretching vortex rings originating from the orifice of the nozzle, which is discovered in this study. Therefore, the most important large-scale structures of turbulent jets in crossflow are unified to the 3-D vortex rings which stretch and twist in stream-wise and swing in transverse directions. We also found that the shedding frequencies of vortex rings are much lower than the one corresponding to the appearance of leading-edge and lee-side vortices in the turbulent jets.     

Post-solitons and electron vortices generated by femtosecond intense laser interacting with uniform near-critical-density plasmas

Generation of nonlinear structures, such as stimulated Raman side scattering waves, post-solitons and electron vortices, during ultra-short intense laser pulse transportation in near-critical-density (NCD) plasmas is studied by using multi-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. In two-dimensional geometries, both P- and S-polarized laser pulses are used to drive these nonlinear structures and to check the polarization effects on them. In the S-polarized case, the scattered waves can be captured by surrounding plasmas leading to the generation of post-solitons, while the main pulse excites convective electric currents leading to the formation of electron vortices through Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). In the P-polarized case, the scattered waves dissipate their energy by heating surrounding plasmas. Electron vortices are excited due to the hosing instability of the drive laser. These polarization dependent physical processes are reproduced in two different planes perpendicular to the laser propagation direction in three-dimensional simulation with linearly polarized laser driver. The current work provides inspiration for future experiments of laser-NCD plasma interactions.     

Vortex-induced diffusivity in reversed field pinch plasmas

Coherent structures identified in two reversed field pinch experiments are interpreted as a dynamic balance of dipolar and monopolar vortices growing and evolving under the effect of the ExB flow shear. For the first time their contribution to the anomalous transport has been estimated in fusion related plasmas, showing that they can account for up to 50% of the total plasma diffusivity. The experimental findings indicate that the diffusion coefficient associated with the coherent structures depends on the relative population of the two types of vortices and is minimum when the two populations are equal. An interpretative model is proposed to explain this feature.     

Non-integrability of the 4-vortex system: Analytical proof

An analytical proof is given that the motion ofn point vortices in the plane is non-integrable forn>3. The basic geometric configuration, which models a situation often found experimentally, consists of two opposite strong vortices and two advected weak vortices. We use Melnikov's method, as presented by Holmes and Marsden [Commun. Math. Phys.82, 523–544 (1982)]. The Melnikov integral is explicitly evaluated, by residues, in the limiting situation where one of the weak vortices is very close to one of the primaries.Visitor at the Department of Mathematics, Yale University, 1986–1987, under a CAPES/Brazil fellowship     

Vortex breaking and cutting in type II superconductors

In technological superconductors, the Lorentz force on the flux vortices is opposed by inhomogeneous pinning and so the critical current may be controlled by a combination of vortex entanglement, cutting, and cross-joining. To understand the roles of these processes we report measurements of structures in which a weak pinning layer is sandwiched between two strongly pinning leads. Quantitative modeling of the results demonstrates that in such systems the critical current is limited by the deformation of individual vortices and not by subsequent cross-joining processes.     

Visualizing Görtler vortices

The development of Görtler vortices with pre-set wavelength of 15 mm has been visualized in the boundary-layer on a concave surface of 2.0 m radius of curvature at a free-stream velocity of 3.0 m/s. The wavelength of vortices was pre-set by vertical wires of 0.2 mm diameter located 10 mm upstream of the concave surface leading edge. The velocity contours in the cross-sectional planes at several streamwise locations show the growth and breakdown of the vortices. Three different regions can be identified based on different growth rate of the vortices. The occurrence of a secondary instability mode is indicated by the formation of a small horseshoe eddies generated between the two neighboring vortices traveling streamwise, to form mushroom-like structures as a consequence of the non-linear growth of the Görtler vortices.     

Instantaneous and time-averaged flow structures around a blunt double-cone with or without supersonic film cooling visualized via nano-tracer planar laser scattering

In a Mach 3.8 wind tunnel, both instantaneous and time-averaged flow structures of different scales around a blunt double-cone with or without supersonic film cooling were visualized via nano-tracer planar laser scattering (NPLS), which has a high spatiotemporal resolution. Three experimental cases with different injection mass flux rates were carried out. Many typical flow structures were clearly shown, such as shock waves, expansion fans, shear layers, mixing layers, and turbulent boundary layers. The analysis of two NPLS images with an interval of 5 μs revealed the temporal evolution characteristics of flow structures. With matched pressures, the laminar length of the mixing layer was longer than that in the case with a larger mass flux rate, but the full covered region was shorter. Structures like K-H (Kelvin-Helmholtz) vortices were clearly seen in both flows. Without injection, the flow was similar to the supersonic flow over a backward-facing step, and the structures were relatively simpler, and there was a longer laminar region. Large scale structures such as hairpin vortices were visualized. In addition, the results were compared in part with the schlieren images captured by others under similar conditions.     

基于三角波瓣混合器的超声速流场精细结构和掺混特性

在超声速吸气式混合层风洞中,采用基于纳米粒子的平面激光散射(NPLS)技术对平板混合层和三角波瓣混合器诱导的混合层流场精细结构进行了对比实验研究.上下两层来流的实测马赫数分别为1.98和2.84,对流马赫数为0.2.NPLS图像清晰地展示了Kelvin-Helmholtz涡、流向涡、波系结构以及大尺度涡结构的配对合并过程.通过对比分析时间相关的NPLS流场图像,发现了大尺度拟序结构随时间发展演化的非定常特性.基于流动显示结果,采用分形维数和间歇因子指标对流场结构和混合特性进行了定量分析.实验研究表明,三角波瓣混合器诱导的流向涡结构显著提高了上下两层来流的掺混效率,其流动远场的分形维数突破了平板混合层中完全湍流区的分形维数值,达到了1.88,流场结构表现出明显的破碎性,有利于流动在标量层面的扩散和掺混.流动间歇性分析表明,流向涡与展向涡的相互剪切作用主导着混合层的掺混特性,同时由于流向涡的卷吸作用,三角波瓣混合器诱导的混合层混合区域更大,更多的流质被卷入混合区完成混合.     

SU(2)Chern-Simons涡旋解的拓扑结构

运用规范势分解理论研究了 Dunne Jackiw Pi Trugenberger 模型中的自对偶方程, 得到一个静态的自对偶Chern Simons多涡旋解, 每个涡旋由5个参数描述。 发现了自对偶解与拓扑数之间的关系, 而拓扑数由Brouwer度与Hopf指标确定。 同时, 也研究了该涡旋解的磁通量的拓扑量子化。The self dual equation and its solution in SU(2) Dunne Jackiw Pi Trugenberger model has Been discussed with special ansatz for the Lie algebraic structures of su(2) and gauge potential decomposition. We obtainer a new concrete self dual equation and found the relationship between SU(2) Chern Simons vortices and topological number which is determined by Hopf indices and Brouwer degrees of  mapping. (two positions, one scale, one phase per vortex and one charge of each vortex) m vortices solutions are discribed by using 5m parameters. The quantization of flux is also studied in this case.     

Ultrasound scattering and the study of vortex correlations in disordered flows

In an idealized way, some turbulent flows can be pictured by assemblies of many vortices characterized by a set of particle distribution functions. Ultrasound provides a useful, nonintrusive, tool to study the spatial structure of vorticity in flows. This is analogous to the use of elastic neutron scattering to determine liquid structure. We express the dispersion relation, as well as the scattering cross section, of sound waves propagating in a "liquid" of identical vortices as a function of vortex pair correlation functions. In two dimensions, formal analogies with ionic liquids are pointed out.     

Magnetism in structures with ferromagnetic and superconducting layers

The influence of superconductivity on ferromagnetism in the layered Ta/V/Fe_1–x V _x /V/Fe_1–x V _x /Nb/Si structures consisting of ferromagnetic and superconducting layers is studied using polarized neutron reflection and scattering. It is experimentally shown that magnetic structures with linear sizes from 5 nm to 30 μm are formed in these layered structures at low temperatures. The magnetization of the magnetic structures is suppressed by superconductivity at temperatures below the superconducting transition temperatures in the V and Nb layers. The magnetic states of the structures are shown to undergo relaxation over a wide magnetic-field range, which is caused by changes in the states of clusters, domains, and Abrikosov vortices.     

Periodic oscillations of Josephson-vortex flow resistance in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+y)

To study the Josephson-vortex system, we have measured the vortex-flow resistance as a function of magnetic field parallel to the ab plane in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+y) single crystals. Novel periodic oscillations of the vortex-flow resistance have been observed in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. The period of the oscillations corresponds to the field needed to add "one" vortex quantum per "two" intrinsic Josephson junctions. The flow velocity is related to a matching effect between the lattice spacing of Josephson vortices along the layers and the width of the sample. These results suggest that Josephson vortices form a triangular lattice in the ground state where the oscillations occur.