Experimental and computational visualization of the flow field in a thermoacoustic stackVisualisation expérimentale et numérique du champ de vitesse dans un réfrigérateur thermoacoustique

The oscillating flow field in a thermoacoustic stack is visualized experimentally using PIV measurements, and computationally using results of low-Mach-number simulations. The experiments and computations are performed under similar conditions. Results are obtained for two distinct configurations, involving thin and thick stack plates. In the first case, the flow field around the edge of the stack exhibits elongated vorticity layers, while in the latter it is dominated by the shedding and impingement of concentrated vortices. A close agreement between experimental and computational results is found, thus providing strong support for both approaches and further predictions. To cite this article: P. Blanc-Benon et al., C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Stress-based upper-bound method and convex optimization: case of the Gurson materialMéthode cinématique par les contraintes et optimisation convexe : cas du matériau de Gurson

A nonlinear interior point method associated with the kinematic theorem of limit analysis is proposed. Associating these two tools enables one to determine an upper bound of the limit loading of a Gurson material structure from the knowledge of the sole yield criterion. We present the main features of the interior point algorithm and an original method providing a rigorous kinematic bound from a stress formulation of the problem. This method is tested by solving in plane strain the problem of a Gurson infinite bar compressed between rough rigid plates. To cite this article: F. Pastor et al., C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Convergence analysis for Lasserre’s measure-based hierarchy of upper bounds for polynomial optimization

We consider the problem of minimizing a continuous function f over a compact set \({\mathbf {K}}\). We analyze a hierarchy of upper bounds proposed by Lasserre (SIAM J Optim 21(3):864–885, 2011), obtained by searching for an optimal probability density function h on \({\mathbf {K}}\) which is a sum of squares of polynomials, so that the expectation \(\int _{{\mathbf {K}}} f(x)h(x)dx\) is minimized. We show that the rate of convergence is no worse than \(O(1/\sqrt{r})\), where 2r is the degree bound on the density function. This analysis applies to the case when f is Lipschitz continuous and \({\mathbf {K}}\) is a full-dimensional compact set satisfying some boundary condition (which is satisfied, e.g., for convex bodies). The rth upper bound in the hierarchy may be computed using semidefinite programming if f is a polynomial of degree d, and if all moments of order up to \(2r+d\) of the Lebesgue measure on \({\mathbf {K}}\) are known, which holds, for example, if \({\mathbf {K}}\) is a simplex, hypercube, or a Euclidean ball.     

Design and elaboration of colloidal molecules: an overview

The concept of colloidal molecules was first evoked by van Blaaderen in 2003 for describing small non-spherical colloids made of the aggregation of a small number of particles. He predicted original properties to the complex assemblies of such colloids, in particular in optics. This critical review deals with the different strategies reported for creating robust clusters of spherical particles which could mimic the space-filling models of simple conventional molecules. These routes concern either the controlled clustering of preformed colloids directed by coalescence, physical routes, chemical routes, or 2-D/3-D geometrical confinement, or strategies starting from a single colloid which is decorated by satellite colloids by taking advantage of controlled phase separation or nucleation and growth phenomena. These routes are compared from the viewpoint of the accessible shapes, their tunability and scalability (146 references).     

Stoichiometry effects on surface properties of GaAs{100} grown in situ by MBE

In this paper, we report results dealing with the effects of stoichiometry on surface properties of GaAs(001) layers grown by MBE. Three aspects of surface properties were investigated: crystallography, electronic properties and chemical reactivity. Surface crystallography was studied mainly by LEED. The reconstruction of the surface was found to be drastically dependent on the composition of the uppermost atomic layer, i.e. the surface stoichiometry. According to the arsenic surface coverage, many structures from the c(8 × 2) Ga rich to the (1 × 1) arsenic saturated surface have been observed. The influence of stoichiometry on surface electronic properties has been studied by electron loss spectroscopy (ELS) and contact potential difference (CPD) measurements. In the electron loss spectra, two peaks, at about 10.3 and 20.2 eV are very sensitive to the surface composition: they gradually disappear when the arsenic coverage increases, and consequently are associated with surface states on gallium atoms. On the other hand, the CPD measurements have shown that the variation of the work function with the arsenic surface coverage is not monotonic: in particular, an abrupt change of work function of about 300 meV occurs between the (1 × 6) and c(2 × 8) structures which are very similar as far as the arsenic surface coverage (about 0,5 and 0,6 respectively) is concerned. Therefore, it seems that the work function is strongly dependent on the atomic reconstruction occurring at the surface, and not only on its stoichiometry. The connection between stoichiometry and chemical reactivity of the surface is illustrated by the study of H₂S adsorption: a large difference (factor of 10³) in sticking coefficient has been found between surfaces with different arsenic coverages.     

Zone–edge optical transitions in GaAs/AlAs lateral superlattices grown on vicinal surfaces by molecular beam epitaxy

We report on new features in the photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra and PLE linear polarization spectra of GaAs/AlAs lateral superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). These lines appear systematically as the tilt angle of the lateral superlattice is varied. They are identified as zone–edge excitonic transitions by comparison between experimental data and detailed numerical calculations of optical transitions including valence-band mixing and tilt effects.