Some Propagation Properties of the Iwatsuka Model

In this paper we study a two dimensional magnetic field Schr?dinger Hamiltonian introduced in [7]. This model has some interesting propagation properties, as conjectured in [2] and at the same time is a special case of the class of analytically decomposable Hamiltonians [5]. Our aim is to start from a conjugate operator, intimately related to the band structure of the Hamiltonian and to prove existence of an asymptotic velocity in one spatial direction and a theorem giving minimal and maximal velocity bounds for the propagation associated to the Hamiltonian. A simple example of this model, with a very simple conjugate operator, has been given in [9]. At the same time, by using the Virial Theorem, we obtain a generalisation of the hypothesis in [7]. Received: 12 February 1997 / Accepted: 26 February 1997     

Equipartition of rotational and translational energy in a dense granular gas

Experiments quantifying the rotational and translational motion of particles in a dense, driven, 2D granular gas floating on an air table reveal that kinetic energy is divided equally between the two translational and one rotational degrees of freedom. This equipartition persists when the particle properties, confining pressure, packing density, or spatial ordering are changed. While the translational velocity distributions are the same for both large and small particles, the angular velocity distributions scale with the particle radius. The probability distributions of all particle velocities have approximately exponential tails. Additionally, we find that the system can be described with a granular Boyle's law with a van?der?Waals-like equation of state. These results demonstrate ways in which conventional statistical mechanics can unexpectedly apply to nonequilibrium systems.     

Scale-invariant correlations in dynamic bacterial clusters

In Bacillus subtilis colonies, motile bacteria move collectively, spontaneously forming dynamic clusters. These bacterial clusters share similarities with other systems exhibiting polarized collective motion, such as bird flocks or fish schools. Here we study experimentally how velocity and orientation fluctuations within clusters are spatially correlated. For a range of cell density and cluster size, the correlation length is shown to be 30% of the spatial size of clusters, and the correlation functions collapse onto a master curve after rescaling the separation with correlation length. Our results demonstrate that correlations of velocity and orientation fluctuations are scale invariant in dynamic bacterial clusters.     

成像型任意反射面速度干涉仪测速精度检测

基于神光Ⅲ原型装置,提出了一种对成像型任意反射面速度干涉仪(VISAR)测量冲击波速度的精度进行实验检验的方法。针对一般双灵敏度VISAR存在的多值问题,该方法利用厚度已知的样品获得了准确的冲击波速度历史曲线图,并给出其测速精度。同时在理论上对这套测速系统进行了不确定度评估,预估结果与实验结果相吻合,验证了这种方法的正确性。此外,该方法还可用于单灵敏度VISAR确定条纹丢失的数目,仅凭一台条纹相机就可确定速度历史曲线。     

Collective motion of active Brownian particles in one dimension

We analyze a model of active Brownian particles with non-linear friction and velocity coupling in one spatial dimension. The model exhibits two modes of motion observed in biological swarms: A disordered phase with vanishing mean velocity and an ordered phase with finite mean velocity. Starting from the microscopic Langevin equations, we derive mean-field equations of the collective dynamics. We identify the fixed points of the mean-field equations corresponding to the two modes and analyze their stability with respect to the model parameters. Finally, we compare our analytical findings with numerical simulations of the microscopic model.     

由于表面粗糙引起的激光声表面波色散的实验和理论研究

表面粗糙是材料制造过程中必有的副产物, 粗糙表面会引起其中传播的声表面波的速度发生变化. 在利用激光声表面波对材料性质进行评估时, 常用宽带的激光声表面波速度频散特性对材料性质进行反演. 为了研究表面粗糙度是否能作为反演的特征参数之一, 本文建立了激光在表面粗糙样品中激发声表面波、聚偏氟乙烯换能器宽带接收声表面波的实验装置来研究不同粗糙度表面对声表面波速度的影响; 理论上建立了激光在粗糙表面中激发声表面波的计算模型, 利用有限元法得到声表面波的时域特征, 并进一步得到声表面波的速度色散曲线, 理论结果和实验结果能很好地拟合. 这为利用激光声表面波对表面粗糙的评估提供理论和实验依据. 关键词： 表面粗糙 激光声表面波 速度色散 聚偏氟乙烯传感器 有限元法     

Proton energy loss in multilayer graphene and carbon nanotubes

Results of a study of electronic energy loss of low keV protons interacting with multilayer graphene targets are presented. Proton energy loss shows an unexpectedly high value as compared with measurements in amorphous carbon and carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, we observe a classical linear behavior of the energy loss with the ion velocity but with an apparent velocity threshold around 0.1?a.u., which is not observed in other carbon allotropes. This suggests low dimensionality effects which can be due to the extraordinary graphene properties.     

The Arctic Curve of the Domain-Wall Six-Vertex Model

The problem of the form of the ‘arctic’ curve of the six-vertex model with domain wall boundary conditions in its disordered regime is addressed. It is well-known that in the scaling limit the model exhibits phase-separation, with regions of order and disorder sharply separated by a smooth curve, called the arctic curve. To find this curve, we study a multiple integral representation for the emptiness formation probability, a correlation function devised to detect spatial transition from order to disorder. We conjecture that the arctic curve, for arbitrary choice of the vertex weights, can be characterized by the condition of condensation of almost all roots of the corresponding saddle-point equations at the same, known, value. In explicit calculations we restrict to the disordered regime for which we have been able to compute the scaling limit of certain generating function entering the saddle-point equations. The arctic curve is obtained in parametric form and appears to be a non-algebraic curve in general; it turns into an algebraic one in the so-called root-of-unity cases. The arctic curve is also discussed in application to the limit shape of q-enumerated (with 0<q ≤4) large alternating sign matrices. In particular, as q→0 the limit shape tends to a nontrivial limiting curve, given by a relatively simple equation.     

A space-time approach in digital image correlation: Movie-DIC

A new method is proposed to estimate arbitrary velocity fields from a time series of images acquired by a single camera. This approach, here focused on a single spatial plus a time dimension, is specialized to the decomposition of the velocity field over rectangular shaped (finite-element) bilinear shape functions. It is therefore assumed that the velocity field is essentially aligned along one direction. The use of a time sequence over which the velocity is assumed to have a smooth temporal change allows one to use elements whose spatial extension is much smaller than in traditional digital image correlation based on successive image pairs. This method is first qualified by using synthetic numerical test cases, and then applied to a dynamic tensile test performed on a tantalum specimen. Improvements with respect to classical digital image correlation techniques are observed in terms of spatial resolution.     

Diffusion and clustering of sedimenting tracers in random hydrodynamic flows

The analysis presented in [1, 2] is extended to sedimenting low-inertia tracers advected by random divergence-free hydrodynamic flows. The key feature of the process is the clustering of the tracers due to the divergence of tracer-velocity field. This phenomenon has probability one; i.e., it takes place in almost every realization of the process. Both spatial diffusivity and diffusivity in the density space (responsible for clustering) are calculated. The low inertia of the tracers does not affect the spatial diffusivity. The indispensable use of a finite velocity correlation time leads to an anisotropic spatial diffusivity. The calculations performed in the study are based on a diffusion approximation.     

Nonequilibrium forces between dragged ultrasoft colloids

The dynamical deformation of ultrasoft colloids as well as their dynamic frictional forces are numerically investigated, when one colloid is dragged past another at constant velocity. Hydrodynamic interactions are captured by a particle-based mesoscopic simulation method. At vanishing relative velocity, the equilibrium repulsive force-distance curve is obtained. At large drag velocities, in contrast, we find an apparent attractive force for departing colloids along the dragging direction. The deformation, in the close encounter of colloids, and the energy dissipation are examined as a function of the drag velocity and their separation.     

Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel state wetting transition: Scaling of the front velocity

We experimentally study the dynamics of water in the Cassie-Baxter state to Wenzel state transition on surfaces decorated with assemblies of micrometer-size square pillars arranged on a square lattice. The transition on the micro-patterned superhydrophobic polymer surfaces is followed with a high-speed camera. Detailed analysis of the movement of the liquid during this transition reveals the wetting front velocity dependence on the geometry and material properties. We show that a decrease in gap size as well as an increase in pillar height and intrinsic material hydrophobicity result in a lower front velocity. Scaling arguments based on balancing surface forces and viscous dissipation allow us to derive a relation with which we can rescale all experimentally measured front velocities, obtained for various pattern geometries and materials, on one single curve.     

Modulation transfer function measurement method for fiber optic imaging bundles

In this study a method is presented for measuring the modulation transfer function of line-array fiber optic image bundles. The measurements are performed using a designed experimental setup containing a tunable V-shape spatial filter, using three frequencies at one third of Nyquist frequency, two thirds of Nyquist frequency, and Nyquist frequency, respectively. Comparing the measured MTF curve of the fiber optic image bundles with the theoretically computed MTF curve, we have obtained good agreement.     

Light Clocks and the Clock Hypothesis

The clock hypothesis of relativity theory equates the proper time experienced by a point particle along a timelike curve with the length of that curve as determined by the metric. Is it possible to prove that particular types of clocks satisfy the clock hypothesis, thus genuinely measure proper time, at least approximately? Because most real clocks would be enormously complicated to study in this connection, focusing attention on an idealized light clock is attractive. The present paper extends and generalized partial results along these lines with a theorem showing that, for any timelike curve in any spacetime, there is a light clock that measures the curve’s length as accurately and regularly as one wishes.     

Decaying turbulence in the presence of a shearless uniform kinetic energy gradient

The decay of turbulent kinetic energy in nearly isotropic grid turbulence has been studied extensively as a fundamental point of reference for turbulence theories and numerical simulations. Most studies have focused on nearly homogeneous turbulence characterised by power-law decay. Other studies have focused on so-called shearless mixing layers, in which two regions with the same mean velocity but distinctly different kinetic energy levels slowly diffuse into each other downstream thus providing information about spatial transport of turbulence. Here, we introduce and study another type of shearless turbulent flow. It has initially a nearly uniform spatial gradient of kinetic energy of the form k ～ β(y ? y₀), where y is the spanwise position. In the experiments, this gradient is generated with the use of an active grid and screens mounted upstream of the wind-tunnel’s test section, iteratively designed to produce a uniform gradient of turbulent kinetic energy without mean velocity shear. Data are acquired using X-wire thermal anemometry at different spanwise and downstream locations. Profile measurements are used to quantify the constancy of the mean velocity and the linearity of the initial profile of kinetic energy. Measurements show that at all spanwise locations, the decay in the streamwise direction follows a power-law but with exponents n(y) that depend upon the spanwise location. The results are consistent with a decay of the form k/?u?² = β(x/x_ref)^?n(y)(y ? y₀)/M. Results for the development of integral length scale, and for velocity skewness and flatness factors are also presented. Significant deviations from Gaussianity are observed especially for the spanwise velocity component in the lower kinetic energy region. Future experiments will be needed including measurements of the dissipation rate ? at sufficient accuracy, in order to unambiguously partition the energy decay into dissipation and spatial diffusion.     

Viscous to inertial crossover in liquid drop coalescence

Using an electrical method and high-speed imaging, we probe drop coalescence down to 10?ns after the drops touch. By varying the liquid viscosity over two decades, we conclude that, at a sufficiently low approach velocity where deformation is not present, the drops coalesce with an unexpectedly late crossover time between a regime dominated by viscous and one dominated by inertial effects. We argue that the late crossover, not accounted for in the theory, can be explained by an appropriate choice of length scales present in the flow geometry.     

Phase-resolved optical coherence tomography and optical Doppler tomography for imaging blood flow in human skin with fast scanning speed and high velocity sensitivity

We have developed a novel phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical Doppler tomography (ODT) system that uses phase information derived from a Hilbert transformation to image blood flow in human skin with fast scanning speed and high velocity sensitivity. Using the phase change between sequential scans to construct flow-velocity imaging, this technique decouples spatial resolution and velocity sensitivity in flow images and increases imaging speed by more than 2 orders of magnitude without compromising spatial resolution or velocity sensitivity. The minimum flow velocity that can be detected with an axial-line scanning speed of 400 Hz and an average phase change over eight sequential scans is as low as 10 microm/s, while a spatial resolution of 10 microm is maintained. Using this technique, we present what are to our knowledge the first phase-resolved OCT/ODT images of blood flow in human skin.     

The spatial form of an adiabatic jet

By considering the boundary of a jet as a discontinuity, the ratio of the boundary shock velocity and the axial flow velocity may be regarded as the spatial derivative of the boundary curve. The obtained equation can be solved asymptotically.     

Mistaken Identity and Mirror Images: Albert and Carl Einstein, Leiden and Berlin, Relativity and Revolution

Albert Einstein accepted a ??special?? visiting professorship at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands in February 1920. Although his appointment should have been a mere formality, it took until October of that year before Einstein could occupy his special chair. Why the delay? The explanation involves a case of mistaken identity with Carl Einstein, Dadaist art, and a particular Dutch fear of revolutions. But what revolutions was one afraid of? The story of Einstein??s Leiden chair throws new light on the reception of relativity and its creator in the Netherlands and in Germany.     

周期性应变调控斯格明子在纳米条带中的运动

斯格明子是一种拓扑稳定的手性自旋结构,凭借其在磁性赛道存储器和自旋电子器件方面的巨大应用潜力而受到研究人员的广泛关注.为了使斯格明子能够更好地应用于磁性赛道存储器,研究斯格明子在纳米条带中的运动行为就变得非常重要.本文主要研究了存在周期性应变的纳米条带中铁磁斯格明子和反铁磁斯格明子在电流驱动下的运动行为.研究结果表明:周期性应变使得驱动电流存在一个临界电流密度,只有当电流密度大于临界电流密度时斯格明子才能够在纳米条带中连续移动.临界电流密度随应变振幅的增加而增加,随应变周期的增加而减小.铁磁斯格明子在周期性应变的调制下会产生周期性运动,轨迹为波浪式,其横向速度受到边界的影响,而纵向速度则与应变梯度成正比.反铁磁斯格明子在周期性应变调控下运动方向不变,但其移动速度则剧烈变化.