Slow rotation in the bimetric theory of gravitation

The equations describing the moment of inertia and the dragging of inertial frames of slowly rotating neutron stars are derived according to Rosen's bimetric theory of gravitation. Numerical calculations of the properties of neutron stars according to the bimetric theory and general relativity were made using several equations of state. The general trend found is that in the bimetric theory neutron stars with a given mass induce a smaller dragging of inertial frames than in general relativity. The moment of inertia of low-mass stars also is smaller in the bimetric theory. For high-mass stars, however, the moment of inertia is found to be larger in the bimetric theory.In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the D.Sc. degree.     

On the role of transport in the combustion kinetics of a steady-state premixed laminar CO + H2 + O2 flame

The role of mechanistic steps, diffusion, and their interrelation is explored in a steady-state premixed laminar CO + H₂ + O₂ flame using a numerical model. Sensitivity coefficients and Green's functions calculated for this system offer systematic characterization of the role of diffusion and exothermicity in carbon monoxide oxidation kinetics. The results reveal that the uncertainties in transport parameters are as important to the model predictions as those in the kinetic steps. The rate controlling steps of the CO + H₂ + O₂ reaction are found to be different for adiabatic and nonadiabatic premixed flames, and also for systems with and without transport. In particular, the reactions of the hydroperoxyl radical with hydrogen, oxygen, and hydroxyl radicals are found to be important at all temperatures in the fuel lean (40 torr) adiabatic flame studied here. The diffusive mixing of chemical species from the low and the high temperature portions of the flame and the larger heats of reaction associated with the hydroperoxyl radicals are found to be responsible for the increased importance of these reactions. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Random-phase solitons in nonlinear periodic lattices

We predict the existence of random phase solitons in nonlinear periodic lattices. These solitons exist when the nonlinear response time is much longer than the characteristic time of random phase fluctuations. The intensity profiles, power spectra, and statistical (coherence) properties of these stationary waves conform to the periodicity of the lattice. The general phenomenon of such solitons is analyzed in the context of nonlinear photonic lattices.     

Observation of vortex-ring "discrete" solitons in 2D photonic lattices

We present the experimental observation of both on-site and off-site vortex-ring solitons of unity topological charge in a nonlinear photonic lattice, along with a theoretical study of their propagation dynamics and stability.     

Hidden neuronal correlations in cultured networks

Utilization of a clustering algorithm on neuronal spatiotemporal correlation matrices recorded during a spontaneous activity of in vitro networks revealed the existence of hidden correlations: the sequence of synchronized bursting events (SBEs) is composed of statistically distinguishable subgroups each with its own distinct pattern of interneuron spatiotemporal correlations. These findings hint that each of the SBE subgroups can serve as a template for coding, storage, and retrieval of a specific information.     

Observation of elliptic incoherent spatial solitons

We present the first experimental observation of spatially incoherent elliptic solitons. We use partially spatially incoherent light with anisotropic correlation statistics and observe elliptic solitons supported by the photorefractive screening nonlinearity.     

White matter changes in multiple sclerosis: correlation of q-space diffusion MRI and 1H MRS

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic usefulness of high b-value diffusion magnetic resonance brain imaging ("q-space" imaging) in multiple sclerosis (MS). More specifically, we aimed at evaluating the ability of this methodology to identify tissue damage in the so-called normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). DESIGN: In this study we examined the correlation between q-space diffusion imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-based two-dimensional 1H chemical shift imaging. Eight MS patients with different degree of disease severity and seven healthy subjects were scanned in a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The MRI protocol included diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (with bmax of 1000 s/mm2), high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (with bmax of 14,000 s/mm2) and 2D chemical shift imaging. The high b-value data set was analyzed using the q-space methodology to produce apparent displacement and probability maps. RESULTS: We found that the q-space diffusion displacement and probability image intensities correlated well with N-acetylaspartate levels (r=.61 and .54, respectively). Furthermore, NAWM that was abnormal on MRS was also found to be abnormal using q-space diffusion imaging. In these areas, the q-space displacement values increased from 3.8+/-0.2 to 4.6+/-0.6 microm (P<.02), the q-space probability values decreased from 7.4+/-0.3 to 6.8+/-0.3 (P<.002), while DTI revealed only a small, but still significant, reduction in fractional anisotropy values from 0.40+/-0.02 to 0.37+/-0.02 (P<.05). CONCLUSION: High b-value diffusion imaging can detect tissue damage in the NAWM of MS patients. Despite the theoretical limitation of this method, in practice it provides additional information which is clinically relevant for detection of tissue damage not seen in conventional imaging techniques.     

Energy transfer between coronene and rhodamine 6G in PMMA matrices

The fluorescence lifetime of coronene and the rate of dipole-dipole energy transfer from coronene to rhodamine 6G in PMMA matrices were found to be temperature dependent. For both these photophysical processes an activation energy of about 500 cm^?1 is obtained. The energy transfer results can be analyzed in terms of a model involving thermally activated energy transfer from excited states of coronene.     

On finite sets of points inP 3

Given a finite set of points Γ₀ which span a projective spaceP ³, we show here that a plane spanned by points of Γ₀ can be a neighbour of at most eight points of Γ₀, these being the vertices of a projective cube; the common neighbour plane is then elementary with the three only points of Γ₀ in it being diagonal points of the cube. This extends toP ³ some results of L. M. Kelly and W. O. J. Moser in the planeP ².