Vibration absorbers for a rotating flexible structure with cyclic symmetry: nonlinear path design

This paper analytically investigates the nonlinear dynamics of order-tuned vibration absorbers applied to cyclic rotating flexible structures under traveling wave (TW) engine-order excitation. The primary cyclic structure is assumed to be governed by linear vibrations and the nonlinear absorber response arises from large amplitude kinematic effects. These dynamics are captured by a lumped-parameter model that consists of N blades with one blade mode and one absorber per blade, which are arranged with cyclic symmetry on a rotating disk. The governing equations of motion are formulated for arbitrary absorber paths to allow investigation of the absorber path design for nonlinear response. This paper extends previous work by the authors, which considered the linearized blade and absorber dynamics of a similar system. Several intriguing features of the dynamics were uncovered, most notably the existence of an absorber tuning range that avoids resonance at any rotation speed. Of particular interest is the existence and stability of the steady-state TW response to TW excitation, as experienced in turbomachinery, and how these are affected by selection of the absorber paths, which fix the linear and nonlinear tuning characteristics. It is shown that the TW response, which is unique for the linearized system, also exists for the weakly nonlinear model and can be captured by an equivalent two degree of freedom model obtained using the symmetry of the excitation and system response. The forced response exhibits the usual characteristics of a weakly nonlinear system, specifically, bistability and the attendant hysteresis near resonance. More significantly, it does not experience any additional instabilities associated with the symmetry. That is, the desired TW response is robust to nonlinear effects in the absorber, which allows use of the simple equivalent model for selection of absorber tuning parameters. For good performance and robustness, the linear absorber tuning should be in the “no-resonance zone” described by the linear theory and the absorber paths should have a slightly softening nonlinear characteristic.     

Continuous nondemolition measurement of the Cs clock transition pseudospin

We demonstrate a weak continuous measurement of the pseudospin associated with the clock transition in a sample of Cs atoms. Our scheme uses an optical probe tuned near the D1 transition to measure the sample birefringence, which depends on the component of the collective pseudospin. At certain probe frequencies the differential light shift of the clock states vanishes, and the measurement is nonperturbing. In dense samples the measurement can be used to squeeze the collective clock pseudospin and has the potential to improve the performance of atomic clocks and interferometers.     

Topological mixing and Hypercyclicity Criterion for sequences of operators

For a sequence of continuous linear operators on a separable Fréchet space , we discuss necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for to be topologically mixing, and the relations between topological mixing and the Hypercyclicity Criterion. Among them are: 1) topological mixing is equivalent to being hereditarily densely hypercyclic; 2) the Hypercyclicity Criterion with respect to the full sequence implies topological mixing; 3) topological mixing implies the Hypercyclicity Criterion with respect to some sequence that cannot be syndetic in general, and also implies condition (b) of the Hypercyclicity Criterion with respect to the full sequence. Applications to two examples of operators on the Fréchet space of entire functions are also discussed.

     

Strongly coupled chameleon fields: new horizons in scalar field theory

We show that, as a result of nonlinear self-interactions, scalar field theories that couple to matter much more strongly than gravity are not only viable but could well be detected by a number of future experiments provided that they are properly designed to do so.     

WASAN: The development of a facilitated methodology for structuring a waste minimisation problem

This paper contributes a new methodology called Waste And Source-matter ANalyses (WASAN) which supports a group in building agreeable actions for safely minimising avoidable waste. WASAN integrates influences from the Operational Research (OR) methodologies/philosophies of Problem Structuring Methods, Systems Thinking, simulation modelling and sensitivity analysis as well as industry approaches of Waste Management Hierarchy, Hazard Operability (HAZOP) Studies and As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The paper shows how these influences are compiled into facilitative structures that support managers in developing recommendations on how to reduce avoidable waste production. WASAN is being designed as Health and Safety Executive Guidance on what constitutes good decision making practice for the companies that manage nuclear sites. In this paper we report and reflect on its use in two soft OR/problem structuring workshops conducted on radioactive waste in the nuclear industry.     

Defluorosilylation of Industrially Relevant Fluoroolefins Using Nucleophilic Silicon Reagents

A number of new magnesium and lithium silyl reagents were prepared and shown to be outstanding nucleophiles in reactions with industrially relevant fluoroolefins. These reactions result in a net transformation of either sp² or sp³ C?F bonds into C?Si bonds by two modes of nucleophilic attack (S_NV or S_N2′). The methods are mild, proceeding with high chemo‐ and regioselectivity. Mechanistic pathways are described that lead to new substitution patterns from HFO‐1234yf, HFO‐1234ze, and HFO‐1336mzz, previously inaccessible by transition metal catalyzed difluorosilylation routes.     

Topological reactions of optical correlation vortices

It is now well-appreciated that the correlation functions of partially coherent optical wavefields may possess phase singularities with properties similar to those that appear in monochromatic wavefields. Though much work has been done to investigate the generic properties of such correlation vortices, little effort has gone towards studying topological reactions associated with these vortices. In this paper we investigate three such reactions: (1) The break-up of a second-order optical vortex into first-order correlation vortices. (2) Creation and annihilation of correlation vortices. (3) The behavior of correlation vortices on propagation. These results clearly demonstrate the relationship between optical vortices and correlation vortices, and suggest the possible use of correlation vortices as a probe of the statistical properties of a field or a medium.     

Why optical data communications and why now?

Our focus here is on data communications within IT equipment and in IT data centers. Optical communications is not new. Thus the obvious question is likely; why a paper entitled, “Why optical data communications and why now?”. The reasons are twofold. First, optical data communications is more necessary now than it has ever been in the past. It is not excessive to even consider that it will be required in the not too distant future. Second, the advances in the broad field of photonics and optics have brought optical communications nearly to the point that it can finally cross over the threshold to be less expensive than electronic signaling. In this paper we make the case why we must aggressively pursue optics for data communications at all length scales within the data center. The summarization of this paper is that optical communications is inevitable, and we offer reasons why we believe this is true.     

Mucosal Wave: A Normophonic Study Across Visualization Techniques

Visualization of vocal fold vibration is essential for accurate diagnoses and optimal treatment of persons with voice disorders. Recently, scientific and anecdotal reports have evidenced an increased amount of variation in the diagnostically relevant features of extent and symmetry of mucosal wave magnitude in normophonic speakers. The objectives of this study were to preliminarily ascertain the variation in mucosal wave magnitude and symmetry for normophonic speakers as assessed via standard and novel techniques, and compare findings across modal and pressed phonations. A correlational design with a multiple baseline across visualization methods approach was used. Mucosal wave presence, magnitude, and symmetry from 52 normophonic speakers were judged via stroboscopy, high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) playback, mucosal wave playback, and mucosal wave kymography playback. Results demonstrate a prevalence of atypical magnitude and symmetry of mucosal wave during modal and pressed phonations by normophonic persons, differences across techniques, and a relationship between judgments and habitual fundamental frequency. Given the prevalence of mucosal wave magnitude and symmetry variations in the normophonic population, overdiagnosis may be possible without caution. The various visualization techniques provided unique information suggesting that it may be beneficial to use both full view and kymographic visualization techniques in combination. A major restriction of the current commercial HSV systems is the frame rate, typically limited to 2000 frames per second, which appears insufficient for most female habitual phonations.