Numerical simulations of a filament in a flowing soap film

Experiments concerning the properties of soap films have recently been carried out and these systems have been proposed as experimental versions of theoretical two‐dimensional liquids. A silk filament introduced into a flowing soap film, was seen to demonstrate various stable modes, and these were, namely, a mode in which the filament oscillates and one in which the filament is stationary and aligns with the flow of the liquid. The system could be forced from the oscillatory mode into the non‐ oscillatory mode by varying the length of the filament. In this article we use numerical and computational techniques in order to simulate the strongly coupled behaviour of the filament and the fluid. Preliminary results are presented for the specific case in which the filament is seen to oscillate continuously for the duration of our simulation. We also find that the filament oscillations are strongly suppressed when we reduce the effective length of the filament. We believe that these results are reminiscent of the different oscillatory and non‐oscillatory modes observed in experiment. The numerical solutions show that, in contrast to experiment, vortices are created at the leading edge of the filament and are preferentially grown in the curvature of the filament and are eventually released from the trailing edge of the filament. In a similar manner to oscillating hydrofoils, it seems that the oscillating filaments are in a minimal energy state, extracting sufficient energy from the fluid to oscillate. In comparing numerical and experimental results it is possible that the soap film does have an effect on the fluid flow especially in the boundary layer where surface tension forces are large. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electron spin lifetimes in Hg0.78Cd0.22 Te and InSb

We have made direct pump–probe measurements of spin lifetimes in long wavelength narrow-gap semiconductors at wavelengths between 4 and 10 μm and from 4 to 300 K. In particular, we measure remarkably long spin lifetimes, τ_s300 ps, even at 300 K for epilayers of degenerate n-type InSb. In this material the mobility is approximately constant between 77 and 300 K, and we find that τ_s is approximately constant in this temperature range. In order to determine the dominant spin relaxation mechanism we have investigated the temperature dependence of τ_s in non-degenerate lightly n-type Hg_0.78Cd_0.22Te of approximately the same band gap as InSb, and find that τ_s varies from 356 ps at 150 K to 24 ps at 300 K. Our results, both in magnitude and temperature dependence of τ_s, imply that the Elliott–Yafet model dominates in these materials.     

Threshold character of the magnetoplastic effect in twinning of bismuth crystals

It is found that, when a bismuth crystal is subjected simultaneously to concentrated loading and a dc magnetic field, the magnetoplastic effect manifests itself as an abrupt decrease in the average length of wedge twins on the (111) cleavage plane (and, hence, as a decrease in the total twinned volume of the crystal) as a threshold value of the magnetic field is reached. However, the magnetic field stimulates glide deformation, which is indicated by an increase in the size of dislocation rosettes. The microhardness of a crystal varies smoothly and tends to increase with increasing magnetic field. The last phenomenon is accounted for by hardening of the crystal under the indenter in the presence of a magnetic field, because several slip systems become operative.     

Exact value of conjugate ion current in an electrolyte in the Gurevich-Kharkats diffusion-migration model

The exact solution of the problem of ion transport current in an electrolyte in the presence of a conjugate flow of solvent is obtained in the framework of the one-dimensional Gurevich-Kharkats diffusion-migration model; the conditions for the existence of the solution are analyzed.     

Stimulated raman scattering in fiber-optic communication lines

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a long-distance fiber-optic communication line with wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is studied theoretically at a high power of the signal transmitted. A new criterion for determining the SRS threshold is used to calculate the critical input power versus the number of optical channels and frequency separation between them. The theoretical model is verified experimentally. SRS interaction between two channels in a communication line with an SRS amplifier for which the optical waveguide of the line serves as a nonlinear medium is measured.