Calibration of the Pseudo-Reaction-Zone model for detonation wave propagation

An approach for the calibration of an advanced programmed burn (PB) model for detonation performance calculations in high explosive systems is detailed. Programmed burn methods split the detonation performance calculation into two components: timing and energy release. For the timing, the PB model uses a Detonation Shock Dynamics (DSD) surface propagation model, where the normal surface speed is a function of local surface curvature. For the energy release calculation and subsequent hydrodynamic flow evolution, a Pseudo-Reaction-Zone (PRZ) model is used. The PRZ model is similar to a reactive burn model in that it converts reactants into products at a finite rate, but it has a reaction rate dependent on the normal surface speed derived from the DSD calculation. The PRZ reaction rate parameters must be calibrated in such a way that the rate of energy release due to reaction in multi-dimensional geometries is consistent with the timing calculation provided by the DSD model. Our strategy for achieving this is to run the PRZ model in a detonation shock-attached frame in a compliant 2D planar slab geometry in an equivalent way to a reactive burn model, from which we can generate detonation front shapes and detonation phase speed variations with slab thickness. In this case, the D _n field used by the PRZ model is then simply the normal detonation shock speed rather than the DSD surface normal speed. The PRZ rate parameters are then iterated on to match the equivalent surface front shapes and surface phase speed variations with slab thickness derived from the target DSD model. For the purposes of this paper, the target DSD model is fitted to the performance properties of an idealised condensed-phase reactive burn model, which allows us to compare the detonation structure of the calibrated PRZ model to that of the originating idealised-condensed phase model.     

Refinements of the Weyl Pure Geometrical Thick Branes From Information‐Entropic Measure

This work aims to analyse the so‐called configurational entropy in the Weyl pure geometrical thick brane model. The Weyl structure plays a prominent role in the brane thickness of this model. We find a set of parameters associated to the brane width where the configurational entropy exhibits critical points. The information‐theoretical measure sets bounds into parameter of Weyl pure geometrical brane model. In addition, we also argue that a similar approach can be useful to analyze the corrections to Newtonian and Coulombian potentials in Weyl scenarios.     

Anisotropic electron mobility in fluorene-PPV and fluorene-MEH-PPV

Polyfluorene copolymers are attractive semiconductor materials, in particular for applications in the organic electronics field. They are versatile to be chemically modified and allow a tuning of the emission to cover the entire visible spectrum. A better understanding of the fundamental aspects of the nature of electronic structure and charge transport properties contribute to the improvement of optoelectronic properties of polymeric materials. Here, we provide a structure–property relationship for models of fluorene-PPV and fluorene-MEH-PPV copolymers, using molecular quantum mechanics modelling. The anisotropy is discussed revisiting Mulliken's transition moment theory. Accordingly, our results show that electron mobility occurs preferentially intrachain for both copolymers. Moreover, the interchain electron mobility has the most propensity to occur via π-stacking interactions.     

Quantum field theory in curved space-time as thermo field dynamics

The strong analogy between states defined in the context of quantum field theory in curved space-time (QFT-CST) and the ones defined in the thermo field dynamics (TFD) of Takahashi and Umezawa [1] is shown. This analogy is useful in order to introduce the entropy operator in CST in the same way as in TFD. When the extremum condition in the thermodynamical potential is imposed, a family of Bogoliubov transformations that give us a planckian spectrum is found, even in pathological cases such as the minimally coupled scalar field.     

Effect of the chemistry and structure of the native oxide surface film on the corrosion properties of commercial AZ31 and AZ61 alloys

The purpose of this study has been to advance in knowledge of the chemical composition, structure and thickness of the thin native oxide film formed spontaneously in contact with the laboratory atmosphere on the surface of freshly polished commercial AZ31 and AZ61 alloys with a view to furthering the understanding of protection mechanisms. For comparative purposes, and to more fully describe the behaviour of the native oxide film, the external oxide films formed as a result of the manufacturing process (as-received condition) have been characterised. The technique applied in this research to study the thin oxide films (thickness of just a few nanometres) present on the surface of the alloys has basically been XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) in combination with ion sputtering. Corrosion properties of the alloys were studied in 0.6 M NaCl by measuring charge transfer resistance values, which are deduced from EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) measurements after 1 h of exposure. Alloy AZ61 generally showed better corrosion resistance than AZ31, and the freshly polished alloys showed better corrosion resistance than the alloys in as-received condition. This is attributed to a combination of (1) higher thickness of the native oxide film on the AZ61 alloy and (2) greater uniformity of the oxide film in the polished condition. The formation of an additional oxide layer composed by a mixture of spinel (MgAl₂O₄) and MgO seems to diminish the protective properties of the passive layer on the surface of the alloys in as-received condition.     

Crystal plasticity modeling of irradiation growth in Zircaloy-2

Abstract

A physically based reaction-diffusion model is implemented in the visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) crystal plasticity framework to simulate irradiation growth in hcp Zr and its alloys. The reaction-diffusion model accounts for the defects produced by the cascade of displaced atoms, their diffusion to lattice sinks and the contribution to crystallographic strain at the level of single crystals. The VPSC framework accounts for intergranular interactions and irradiation creep, and calculates the strain in the polycrystalline ensemble. A novel scheme is proposed to model the simultaneous evolution of both, number density and radius, of irradiation-induced dislocation loops directly from experimental data of dislocation density evolution during irradiation. This framework is used to predict the irradiation growth behaviour of cold-worked Zircaloy-2 and trends compared to available experimental data. The role of internal stresses in inducing irradiation creep is discussed. Effects of grain size, texture and external stress on the coupled irradiation growth and creep behaviour are also studied and compared with available experimental data.     

Annealing effects on the magnetization of Co–Ni–B amorphous nanoparticles

Chemically prepared (Co_xNi_1−x)_1−yB_y (x=0.5, 0.75, 1; y≈0.4) amorphous fine particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, DTA and TGA, and in situ magnetic measurement as a function of annealing temperature in an inert atmosphere. Magnetic measurement performed in as-prepared and 150°C annealed samples shows an increase of the saturation magnetization and magnetic moment after thermal treatment. Room temperature magnetization increases by factors of 3.5, 1.8, and 1.5, for x=0.5, 0.75, and 1, respectively. These measurements may indicate a local re-ordering of the amorphous phase at temperatures much lower than the full crystallization temperature.     

Analogue Models of and for Gravity

Condensed matter systems, such as acoustics in flowing fluids, light in moving dielectrics, or quasiparticles in a moving superfluid, can be used to mimic aspects of general relativity. More precisely these systems (and others) provide experimentally accessible models of curved-space quantum field theory. As such they mimic kinematic aspects of general relativity, though typically they do not mimic the dynamics. Although these analogue models are thereby limited in their ability to duplicate all the effects of Einstein gravity they nevertheless are extremely important—they provide black hole analogues (some of which have already been seen experimentally) and lead to tests of basic principles of curved-space quantum field theory. Currently these tests are still in the realm of gedanken-experiments, but there are plausible candidate models that should lead to laboratory experiments in the not too distant future.     

Two-dimensional high-resolution NMR spectra in matched B(0) and B(1) field gradients

In a recent publication we presented a method to obtain highly resolved NMR spectra in the presence of an inhomogeneous B(0) field with the help of a matched RF gradient. If RF gradient pulses are combined with "ideal" 90 degrees pulses to form inhomogeneous z rotation pulses, the line broadening caused by the B(0) gradient can be refocused, while the full chemical shift information is maintained. This approach is of potential use for NMR spectroscopy in an inhomogeneous magnetic field produced by an "ex-situ" surface spectrometer. In this contribution, we extend this method toward two-dimensional spectroscopy with high resolution in one or both dimensions. Line narrowing in the indirect dimension can be achieved by two types of nutation echoes, thus leading to depth-sensitive NMR spectra with full chemical shift information. If the nutation echo in the indirect dimension is combined with a stroboscopic acquisition using inhomogeneous z-rotation pulses, highly resolved two-dimensional correlation spectra can be obtained in matched field gradients. Finally, we demonstrate that an INEPT coherence transfer from proton to carbon spins is possible in inhomogeneous B(0) fields. Thus, it is possible to obtain one-dimensional (13)C NMR spectra with increased sensitivity and two-dimensional HETCOR spectra in the presence of B(0) gradients of 0.4 mT/cm. These schemes may be of some value for ex-situ NMR analysis of materials and biological systems.