Dynamos at extreme magnetic Prandtl numbers: insights from shell models

We present a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shell model suitable for computation of various energy fluxes of MHD turbulence for very small and very large magnetic Prandtl numbers Pm; such computations are inaccessible to direct numerical simulations. For small Pm, we observe that both kinetic and magnetic energy spectra scale as k^?5/3 in the inertial range, but the dissipative magnetic energy scales as k^?11/3exp?(? k/k_η). Here the kinetic energy at large length scale feeds the large-scale magnetic field that cascades to small-scale magnetic field, which gets dissipated by Joule heating. The large-Pm dynamo has a similar behaviour except that the dissipative kinetic energy scales as k^?13/3. For this case, the large-scale velocity field transfers energy to the large-scale magnetic field, which gets transferred to small-scale velocity and magnetic fields; the energy of the small-scale magnetic field also gets transferred to the small-scale velocity field, and the energy thus accumulated is dissipated by the viscous force.     

Turbulent pipe flow at extreme Reynolds numbers

Both the inherent intractability and complex beauty of turbulence reside in its large range of physical and temporal scales. This range of scales is captured by the Reynolds number, which in nature and in many engineering applications can be as large as 10(5)-10(6). Here, we report turbulence measurements over an unprecedented range of Reynolds numbers using a unique combination of a high-pressure air facility and a new nanoscale anemometry probe. The results reveal previously unknown universal scaling behavior for the turbulent velocity fluctuations, which is remarkably similar to the well-known scaling behavior of the mean velocity distribution.     

Numerical study of dynamo action at low magnetic Prandtl numbers

We present a three-pronged numerical approach to the dynamo problem at low magnetic Prandtl numbers P(M). The difficulty of resolving a large range of scales is circumvented by combining direct numerical simulations, a Lagrangian-averaged model and large-eddy simulations. The flow is generated by the Taylor-Green forcing; it combines a well defined structure at large scales and turbulent fluctuations at small scales. Our main findings are (i) dynamos are observed from P(M)=1 down to P(M)=10(-2), (ii) the critical magnetic Reynolds number increases sharply with P(M)(-1) as turbulence sets in and then it saturates, and (iii) in the linear growth phase, unstable magnetic modes move to smaller scales as P(M) is decreased. Then the dynamo grows at large scales and modifies the turbulent velocity fluctuations.     

Numerical demonstration of fluctuation dynamo at low magnetic Prandtl numbers

Direct numerical simulations of incompressible nonhelical randomly forced MHD turbulence are used to demonstrate for the first time that the fluctuation dynamo exists in the limit of large magnetic Reynolds number Rm>1 and small magnetic Prandtl number Pm<1. The dependence of the critical Rmc for dynamo on the hydrodynamic Reynolds number Re is obtained for 1 less than or similar Re less than or similar 6700. In the limit Pm<1, Rmc is about 3 times larger than for the previously well-established dynamo at large and moderate Prandtl numbers: Rmc less than or similar 200 for Re greater than or similar 6000 compared to Rmc approximately 60 for Pm>or=1. It is not yet possible to determine numerically whether the growth rate of the magnetic energy is proportional, Rm1/2 in the limit Rm-->infinity, as it should be if the dynamo is driven by the inertial-range motions at the resistive scale.     

Influence of the Prandtl and Knudsen numbers on heat-transfer process in the problem of planar Poiseuille flow

The analytic solution (in the form of the Neumann series) has been derived for the problem of computing the heat flux in a planar channel in the presence of a pressure gradient parallel with the walls (in the problem of planar Poiseuille flow) within the framework of the kinetic approach for arbitrary values of the Prandtl number. The ellipsoidal-statistical model of the Boltzmann kinetic equation is used as the governing equation, and the model of diffuse reflection is used as the boundary condition. The conducted numerical analysis of final expressions obtained in the present work showed a substantial dependence of the heat flux on the value of the Prandtl number of gas for channels whose thickness is comparable with the mean free path of gas molecules.     

Upper bounds on the convective heat transport in a rotating fluid layer of infinite Prandtl number: case of large Taylor numbers

By means of the Howard-Busse method of the optimum theory of turbulence we obtain upper bounds on the convective heat transport in a horizontal fluid layer heated from below and rotating about a vertical axis. We consider the interval of large Taylor numbers where the intermediate layers of the optimum fields expand in the direction of the corresponding internal layers. We consider the 1 - α-solution of the arising variational problem for the cases of rigid-stress-free, stress-free, and rigid boundary conditions. For each kind of boundary condition we discuss four cases: two cases where the boundary layers are thinner than the Ekman layers of the optimum field and two cases where the boundary layers are thicker than the Ekman layers. In most cases we use an improved solution of the Euler-Lagrange equations of the variational problem for the intermediate layers of the optimum fields. This solution leads to corrections of the thicknesses of the boundary layers of the optimum fields and to lower upper bounds on the convective heat transport in comparison to the bounds obtained by Chan [J. Fluid Mech. 64, 477 (1974)] and Hunter and Riahi [J. Fluid Mech. 72, 433 (1975)]. Compared to the existing experimental data for the case of a fluid layer with rigid boundaries the corresponding upper bounds on the convective heat transport is less than two times larger than the experimental results, the corresponding upper bound on the convective heat transport, obtained by Hunter and Riahi is about 10% higher than the bound obtained in this article. When Rayleigh number and Taylor number are high enough the upper bound on the convective heat transport ceases to depend on the boundary conditions. Received 30 January 2001 and Received in final form 28 May 2001     

Magnetic stabilization,transition and energy analysis in the Marangoni driven Full-Zone at low Prandtl numbers

The linear stability of the Marangoni-driven Full-Zone is investigated for low Prandtl number fluids. A constant and uniform magnetic field is applied along the axial axis of the liquid bridge to stabilize the axisymmetric base state. Dramatic contraction of the flow circulation in both radial and azimuthal directions is observed with moderate magnetic fields. The numerical solution utilizes a vorticity transport formulation and high resolution spectral collocation scheme with Chebyshev polynomial basis functions. Critical transitions to three-dimensional, stationary flows are observed up to Ha = 300 for Pr = 0.02 and Ha = 500 for Pr = 0.001. A hydrodynamically driven instability is suggested by the perturbation flows and confirmed through an energy analysis.     

On long-range order in low-dimensional lattice-gas models of nematic liquid crystals

The problem of the orientational ordering transition for lattice-gas models of liquid crystals is discussed in the low-dimensional case d = 1, 2. For isotropic short-range interactions, orientational long-range order at finite temperature is excluded for any packing of molecules on the lattice Z^d; on the other hand, for reflection-positive long-range isotropic interactions, we prove the existence of an orientational ordering transition for high packing (μ > μ₀) and low temperatures (β > β_c(μ)).     

Microfluidic valves for flow control at low Reynolds numbers

Fluidics is a technology of generating and controlling fluid flows &#x2014; preferably without the action of mechanical moving components. Microfluidics perform these tasks in small, typically micronsized structures. Essential part of almost all microfluidic systems are flow control valves. The basic problem is the low Reynolds numberRe: inertial effects used in large-scale fluidics are too small relative to viscous dissipation. New approaches, such as pressure or electrokinetic driving are required. In the subdynamic, viscosity dominated flow regime, Re ceases to be of importance and for pressure-driven valves a new characterisation number was to be introduced. An example of a diverter valve, developed by the author, is described and the meaning of the new dimensionless parameter is demonstrated.     

Resistance law for taylor-couette turbulent flow at very high reynolds numbers

New expressions for the resistance law and dimensionless moment of force are derived for a Taylor-Couette turbulent flow starting from the generalized model of local balance for the turbulent energy. In the case of extremely high Reynolds numbers, the formulas derived involve a single empirical (Karman) constant.     

An interferometric technique for measuring gas flow velocity at large peclet numbers

A technique for determining the gas flow velocity at large Peclet numbers using an interferometric approach has been developed. It is shown that if a heat source is introduced in a uniform gas flow, areas under curves describing shifts of interference maxima are approximately equal to each other and tend to a certain limiting value. The limiting area is inversely proportional to the gas flow velocity and does not depend on the heat conduction and the type of flow. A theoretical expression has been derived that gives the relative error of velocity determinations by the method developed.     

The two-level element free Galerkin method for MHD flow at high Hartmann numbers

In this Letter, a new element free Galerkin method, namely the two-level element free Galerkin method, is presented for solving the governing equations of steady magnetohydrodynamic duct flow. Because this element free Galerkin method makes use of the nodal point configurations which do not require a mesh, therefore it differs from FEM-like approaches by avoiding the need of meshing, a very demanding task for complicated geometry problems. Another distinguished feature of the proposed method is the resolving capability of high gradients near the layer regions without local or adaptive refinements. Numerical results indicate that no matter how large the Hartmann number is, this method has the ability to produce the satisfactory results for the velocity and the magnetic field simultaneously. That is to say, the presented method has some excellent properties, such as better stability and accuracy.     

Liquid methane at extreme temperature and pressure: Implications for models of Uranus and Neptune

We present large scale electronic structure based molecular dynamics simulations of liquid methane at planetary conditions. In particular, we address the controversy of whether or not the interior of Uranus and Neptune consists of diamond. In our simulations we find no evidence for the formation of diamond, but rather sp ²-bonded polymeric carbon. Furthermore, we predict that at high temperature hydrogen may exist in its monoatomic and metallic state. The implications of our finding for the planetary models of Uranus and Neptune are in detail discussed.     

Visualization of turbulent flow around a sphere at subcritical reynolds numbers

The shear layer evolution and turbulent structure of near-wake behind a sphere atRe= 11,000 and 5,300 were investigated using a smoke-wire visualization method. A laminar flow separation was found to occur near the equator. The smooth laminar shear layers appeared to be axisymmetrically stable to the downstream location of aboutx/d=1.0 atRe=11,000 andx/d= 1.7∼1.8 atRe=5,300, respectively. At Re=11,000, the vortex ring-shaped protrusions were observed with the onset of shear layer instability. Moreover, the transition from laminar to turbulence in the separated flow region occurred earlier at the hiher Reynolds number ofRe=11,000 than atRe=5,300. The PIV measurements in the streamwise and cross-sectional planes atRe=11,000 clearly revealed the turbulent structures of the sphere wake such as recirculating flow, shear layer instability, vortex roll-up, and small-scale turbulent eddies.     

On the existence of condensed phases in low-dimensional systems

It is shown that the threshold interaction constant (TIC) α_D for the existence of a condensed phase increases with the dimension D of a Bose system (α₃ < α₂ < α₁). TICs are evaluated exactly for a wide class of two-parameter potentials (the latter may approximate real physical interactions). The results are applied to spin-polarized systems. The possibility of an electric field induced liquid-gas transition is discussed. The TIC for N-particle clusters diminishes with N.     

On the low-dimensional modelling of Stratonovich stochastic differential equations

We develop further ideas on how to construct low-dimensional models of stochastic dynamical systems. The aim is to derive a consistent and accurate model from the originally high-dimensional system. This is done with the support of centre manifold theory and techniques. Aspects of several previous approaches are combined and extended: adiabatic elimination has previously been used, but centre manifold techniques simplify the noise by removing memory effects, and with less algebraic effort than normal forms; analysis of associated Fokker-Plank equations replace nonlinearly generated noise processes by their long-term equivalent white noise. The ideas are developed by examining a simple dynamical system which serves as a prototype of more interesting physical situations.     

Experimental investigation of the resistance laws for gas flow in a low-porosity medium at high Reynolds numbers

The interphase interaction force at low porosity was studied experimentally. Two methods are proposed for calculating the specific surface area of pores and for obtaining approximation relations for the resistance force and the Cozeni-Carman constant which are valid in a wide range of values of the parameters of the flow and porous layer.Scientific-Research Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics at Tomsk State University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 101–109, April, 1993.     

On the modeling of synchronized flow in cellular automaton models

In this paper,we further analyze our cellular automaton(CA)traffic flow model.By changing some parameters,the characteristics of our model can be significantly varied,ranging from the features of phase transitions to the number of traffic phases.We also review the other CA models based on Kerner’s three-phase traffic theory.By comparisons,we find that the core concepts for modeling the synchronized flow in these models are similar.Our model can be a good candidate for modeling the synchronized flow,since there is enough flexibility in our framework.     

Chern numbers for spin models of transition metal nanomagnets

We argue that ferromagnetic transition metal nanoparticles with fewer than approximately 100 atoms can be described by an effective Hamiltonian with a single giant spin degree of freedom. The total spin S of the effective Hamiltonian is specified by a Berry curvature Chern number that characterizes the topologically nontrivial dependence of a nanoparticle's many-electron wave function on magnetization orientation. The Berry curvatures and associated Chern numbers have a complex dependence on spin-orbit coupling in the nanoparticle and influence the semiclassical Landau-Liftshitz equations that describe magnetization-orientation dynamics.     

Three-dimensional treatment of convective flow in the earth's mantle

A three-dimensional finite-element method is used to investigate thermal convection in the earth's mantle. The equations of motion are solved implicitly by means of a fast multigrid technique. The computational mesh for the spherical problem is derived from the regular icosahedron. The calculations described use a mesh with 43,554 nodes and 81,920 elements and were run on a Cray X. The earth's mantly is modeled as a thick spherical shell with isothermal, free-slip boundaries. The infinite Prandtl number problem is formulated in terms of pressure, density, absolute temperature, and velocity and assumes an isotropic Newtonian rheology. Solutions are obtained for Rayleigh numbers up to approximately 10⁶ for a variety of modes of heating. Cases initialized with a temperature distribution with warmer temperatures beneath spreading ridges and cooler temperatures beneath present subduction zones yield whole-mantle convection solutions with surface velocities that correlate well with currently observed plate velocities.