Droplet cluster

A new phenomenon consisting of the formation of an ordered layer of condensate microdroplets at the water free surface was observed upon the irradiation of an open horizontal water layer (and layers of some organic fluids) by a light beam that causes local heating and evaporation of the fluid.     

Stokes singularity relations

Polarization singularities in paraxial vector optical fields are analyzed in terms of the phase singularities of complex Stokes scalar fields. Six independent relationships are obtained that connect the topological charges of these singularities on special closed contours with the charges of singularities that are enclosed by these contours. These relationships, which have been confirmed by experimental data and computer simulations, imply topological polarization correlations of an infinite range.     

Generic singularity studies revisited

We comment on a reply by Belinskii, Khalatnikov and Lifshitz to our analysis of their conclusions regarding the general structure of space-time singularities. We support our contention that it is impossible to provide a reliable analysis of the evolution of a general (or stable) solution with local techniques in a synchronous coordinate system having a simultaneous physical singularity.     

Generic singularity studies revisited

Intermittency and chaos are shown to occur in a single-mode laser driven on resonance by an external constant amplitude electric field and a periodically modulated inversion. Numerically the strange attractor of the system is found to be approximately a two-dimensional manifold in an appropriate three-dimensional phase space.     

Fermi-edge singularity of spin-polarized electrons

We study the absorption spectrum of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in a magnetic field. We find that at low temperatures, when the 2DEG is spin polarized, the absorption spectra, which correspond to the creation of spin up or spin down electrons, differ in magnitude, linewidth, and filling factor dependence. We show that these differences can be explained as resulting from the creation of a Mahan exciton in one case, and of a power law Fermi-edge singularity in the other.     

TheA 4 glass transition singularity

Formulae for the -relaxation process as obtained within the mode coupling theory for the dynamics of supercooled liquids are derived for states near anA ₄ glass transition singularity. A discussion of the expected anomalies of susceptibility spectra is presented. In particular the parameter regions for (1/f)-noise, for spectra exhibiting two minima and regions of linear variations in ln(1/f) are identified. The results are used to interprete quantitatively dielectric data for the following polymeric systems: polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyhexamethylene sebacamide (nylon 610), polyoxymethylene (delrin) and polyparaethylene oxybenzoate (PEOB).     

Friedmann-like cosmological models without singularity

The Einstein-Cartan theory of gravitation (general relativity with spin) provides a specific spin-spin contact interaction of matter, in addition to the usual long-range gravity. This new interaction enables us to prevent singularities in Cosmological models. It is shown how this mechanism works in the case when the standard Einstein-Cartan equations are valid at a microphysical level, and some spin-spin terms remain from the averaging procedure for randomly distributed spins. In contrast with the case of aligned spin distributions, it is possible to take over the isotropic and spatially homogeneous (i.e., Friedmannian) models into the Einstein-Cartan theory. These models can be made free from singularity, thanks to the self-interaction of spinning fluid.     

Polarization singularity democracy: WYSIWYG

The canonical point singularity of elliptically polarized light is a C point, an isolated point of circular polarization surrounded by a field of polarization ellipses. The defining singular property of a C point is that the surrounding ellipses rotate about the point. It is shown that this rotation is seen only for a particular line of sight (LOS) and, conversely, that there exists a unique LOS for every ellipse along which the ellipse is seen as a singularity. It is also shown that changes in LOS can turn singularities into stationary points and vice versa. The democratic behavior of polarization singularities and stationary points is a consequence of the fundamental "what you see is what you get" property of ellipse fields. Simple experiments are proposed for observing this unusual property of elliptically polarized light.     

Droplet mass formula fit

A mass fit of the droplet model is presented ¹). To gain more confidence in the values of the thirteen coefficients used, we fitted in addition the best-known isobar parabolae. By this procedure the position and the width of the β-valley are fitted and the symmetry J and the surface stiffness Q proved to be the only relevant parameters. Finally the binding energy at the bottom of the β-valley is refitted by altering the other parameters. The thus obtained nuclear masses are compared with experimental data as well as with the TCH model presented earlier.     

Quantitative Measurement of Planar Droplet Sauter Mean Diameter in Sprays using Planar Droplet Sizing

The purpose of this investigation is to assess and improve the accuracy of Sauter Mean Diameter measurements in dense sprays using a Planar Droplet Sizing (PDS) technique, based on the intensity ratio of scattered and fluorescence light. A novel data processing method of the PDS technique is suggested, which was derived from a theoretical light scattering investigation, and reduced possible sizing errors larger than 30% to below 10%. The novel approach for droplet sizing was applied to measure in a spray generated by a pressure swirl atomiser in a liquid‐fuelled burner operated with water at isothermal conditions, in order to avoid the effect of liquid evaporation on the accuracy of PDS technique. The Sauter Mean diameter results from the PDS technique were compared to Phase Doppler Anemometer (PDA) sizing measurements. Good agreement was obtained between the two techniques in dense regions of the spray. Discrepancies remained in dilute spray regions due to systematic statistical uncertainties of the PDS technique and the dynamic range of the intensity of the CCD cameras, which did not allow detection of large single droplets in the dilute spray region.     

General relativity and the schwarzschild singularity

The discrepancy in General Relativity between its general statements and the vacuum singular solutions of Einstein’s equations is analyzed.     

Shearograms of an optical phase singularity

Shearograms are known to represent phase gradients but when vortices are present in the optical field, these do not represent true phase gradients. Phase gradients of an optical phase singularity are presented. A lateral shear interferometer is used for obtaining shearograms of optical fields with vortices. A diffractive phase element is used to generate vortices. It is shown that shearograms can be used in the detection of optical vortices. Shearogram of speckle field is also presented.     

Droplet suction on porous media

We study the forced aspiration of small ( mm) and large ( cm) liquid drops, deposited on prewetted porous membranes, and pumped mechanically with a constant current J. Two kinds of membranes are used where the pores are i) disconnected, cylindrical and calibrated or ii) interconnected “sponge-like”. Whatever the size of the drops and the intensity J of the current, two suction regimes are observed versus time: 1) a “locked” regime, when the drop is pinned, with a dynamic contact angle decreasing from advancing () to finite receding () contact angle; 2) an “unlocked” regime, where the contour line recedes with a constant contact angle closed to . In both regimes, the shape of the drop remains quasistatic, during the suction process, i.e. a spherical cap for small drops and a flat “gravity pancake” for large ones. Received 19 January 2000     

Spacetime averaging of exotic singularity universes

Taking a spacetime average as a measure of the strength of singularities we show that big-rips (type I) are stronger than big-bangs. The former have infinite spacetime averages while the latter have them equal to zero. The sudden future singularities (type II) and w-singularities (type V) have finite spacetime averages. The finite scale factor (type III) singularities for some values of the parameters may have an infinite average and in that sense they may be considered stronger than big-bangs.