Robust tori-like Lagrangian coherent structures

In general the term “Lagrangian coherent structure” (LCS) is used to make reference about structures whose properties are similar to a time-dependent analog of stable and unstable manifolds from a hyperbolic fixed point in Hamiltonian systems. Recently, the term LCS was used to describe a different type of structure, whose properties are similar to those of invariant tori in certain classes of two-dimensional incompressible flows. A new kind of LCS was obtained. It consists of barriers, called robust tori that block the trajectories in certain regions of the phase space. We used the Double-Gyre Flow system as the model. In this system, the robust tori play the role of a skeleton for the dynamics and block, horizontally, vortices that come from different parts of the phase space.     

LC–UV Method with Pre-Column Derivatization for the Determination of Ciclopirox Olamine in Raw Material and Topical Solution

A rapid, simple and sensitive liquid chromatographic method has been developed to assay ciclopirox olamine in raw material and topical solution. The analysis used a reversed-phase C₁₈ end-capped column, with UV detection at 305 nm and pre-column derivatization with dimethyl sulphate. A linear response (r ² > 0.999) was observed in the range of 0.4–200 μg mL⁻¹. The method showed good recoveries for the raw material and topical solution and the relative standard deviation intra and inter-day were ≤2.00%. Validation parameters such as specificity and robustness were also determined. The proposed method provided an accurate and precise analysis of ciclopirox olamine in raw material and topical solution.

     

Easy-to-implement method to target nonlinear systems

In this work we present a method to rapidly direct a chaotic system, to an aimed state or target, through a sequence of control perturbations, with few different amplitudes chosen according to the allowed control-parameter changes. We applied this procedure to the one-dimensional Logistic map, to the two-dimensional Henon map, and to the Double Scroll circuit described by a three-dimensional system of differential equations. Furthermore, for the Logistic map, we show numerically that the resulting trajectory (from the starting point to the target) goes along a stable manifold of the target. Moreover, using the Henon map, we create and stabilize unstable periodic orbits, and also verify the procedure robustness in the presence of noise. We apply our method to the Double Scroll circuit, without using any low-dimensional mapping to represent its dynamics, an improvement with respect to previous targeting methods only applied for experimental systems that are mapping-modeled. (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics.     

Noise-induced basin hopping in a gearbox model

We investigate some dynamical effects of adding a certain amount of noise in a theoretical model for rattling in single-stage gearbox systems with a backlash, consisting of two wheels with a sinusoidal driving. The parameter intervals we are dealing with show an extremely involved attraction basin structure in phase space. One of the observable effects of noise is basin hopping, or the switching between basins of different attractors. We characterize this effect and its relation to the presence of chaotic transients.     

Suppressing grazing chaos in impacting system by structural nonlinearity

In this note we investigate the influence of structural nonlinearity of a simple cantilever beam impacting system on its dynamic responses close to grazing incidence by a means of numerical simulation. To obtain a clear picture of this effect we considered two systems exhibiting impacting motion, where the primary stiffness is either linear (piecewise linear system) or nonlinear (piecewise nonlinear system). Two systems were studied by constructing bifurcation diagrams, basins of attractions, Lyapunov exponents and parameter plots. In our analysis we focused on the grazing transitions from no impact to impact motion. We observed that the dynamic responses of these two similar systems are qualitatively different around the grazing transitions. For the piecewise linear system, we identified on the parameter space a considerable region with chaotic behaviour, while for the piecewise nonlinear system we found just periodic attractors. We postulate that the structural nonlinearity of the cantilever impacting beam suppresses chaos near grazing.     

The effect of turbulence-radiation interaction on radiative entropy generation and heat transfer

The analysis under the second law of thermodynamics is the gateway for optimisation in thermal equipments and systems. Through entropy minimisation techniques it is possible to increase the efficiency and overall performance of all kinds of thermal systems. Radiation, being the dominant mechanism of heat transfer in high-temperature systems, plays a determinant role in entropy generation within such equipments. Turbulence is also known to be a major player in the phenomenon of entropy generation. Therefore, turbulence-radiation interaction is expected to have a determinant effect on entropy generation. However, this is a subject that has not been dealt with so far, at least to the extent of the authors’ knowledge. The present work attempts to fill that void, by studying the effect of turbulence-radiation interaction on entropy generation. All calculations are approached in such a way as to make them totally compatible with standard engineering methods for radiative heat transfer, namely the discrete ordinates method. It was found that turbulence-radiation interaction does not significantly change the spatial pattern of entropy generation, or heat transfer, but does change significantly their magnitude, in a way approximately proportional to the square of the intensity of turbulence.     

Phase separation in asymmetrical fermion superfluids

Motivated by recent developments on cold atom traps and high density QCD we consider fermionic systems composed of two particle species with different densities. We argue that a mixed phase composed of normal and superfluid components is the energetically favored ground state. We suggest how this phase separation can be used as a probe of fermion superfluidity in atomic traps.     

Scrape-off layer turbulence modulated by Mirnov oscillations

We investigate plasma turbulence at the scrape-off layer of TCABR tokamak. We apply a power spectral analysis to the magnetic Mirnov oscillations and electrostatic fluctuations, to quantify statistical properties and to estimate the turbulence-driven radial-particle flux. A distinctive peculiarity is the modulation of electrostatic turbulence by the Mirnov oscillations shown by the partial superposition of the frequency power spectra of these two oscillations. This characteristic allows us to investigate any possible influence of the Mirnov oscillations on particle transport. In fact, a significant part of this transport occurs at the Mirnov frequencies. The effect of this modulation is also analyzed for discharges modified by external perturbations, a DC biased electrode or an ergodic magnetic limiter.Presented at the Workshop Electric Fields Structures and Relaxation in Edge Plasmas, Nice, France, October 26–27, 2004.