A numerical method for solving the Vlasov–Poisson equation based on the conservative IDO scheme

We have applied the conservative form of the Interpolated Differential Operator (IDO-CF) scheme in order to solve the Vlasov–Poisson equation, which is one of the multi-moment schemes. Through numerical tests of the nonlinear Landau damping and two-stream instability, we compared the present scheme with other schemes such as the Spline and CIP ones. We mainly investigated the conservation property of the L1-norm, energy, entropy and phase space area for each scheme, and demonstrated that the IDO-CF scheme is capable of performing stable long time scale simulation while maintaining high accuracy. The scheme is based on an Eulerian approach, and it can thus be directly used for Fokker–Planck, high dimensional Vlasov–Poisson and also guiding-center drift simulations, aiming at particular problems of plasma physics. The benchmark tests for such simulations have shown that the IDO-CF scheme is superior in keeping the conservation properties without causing serious phase error.     

Dynamic nuclear polarization system for the SANS-J-II spectrometer at JAEA

We have developed a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) system for the SANS-J-II spectrometer at the JRR-3 atomic research reactor of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The DNP system is composed of a split-type horizontal superconducting magnet (3.3 T), a Gunn oscillator as a microwave source (94 GHz), and a cryostat (1.2 K). In particular, a sample cell with 40 in inner diameter and the magnet with a field homogeneity of 5×10⁻⁵ in a volume of 25 mm×8 mm were employed to polarize samples with a diameter of 20 mm for the ultra small-angle scattering experiment using the magnetic lens installed at the SANS-J-II spectrometer [S. Koizumi, H. Iwase, J. Suzuki, T. Oku, R. Motokawa, H. Sasao, H. Tanaka, D. Yamaguchi, H.M. Shimizu, T. Hashimoto, J. Appl. Crystallogr. 40 (2007) s474]. We obtained the proton polarization |P|=32% in the polyethylene doped with 2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO).     

Conservative form of interpolated differential operator scheme for compressible and incompressible fluid dynamics

The proposed scheme, which is a conservative form of the interpolated differential operator scheme (IDO-CF), can provide high accurate solutions for both compressible and incompressible fluid equations. Spatial discretizations with fourth-order accuracy are derived from interpolation functions locally constructed by both cell-integrated values and point values. These values are coupled and time-integrated by solving fluid equations in the flux forms for the cell-integrated values and in the derivative forms for the point values. The IDO-CF scheme exactly conserves mass, momentum, and energy, retaining the high resolution more than the non-conservative form of the IDO scheme. A direct numerical simulation of turbulence is carried out with comparable accuracy to that of spectral methods. Benchmark tests of Riemann problems and lid-driven cavity flows show that the IDO-CF scheme is immensely promising in compressible and incompressible fluid dynamics studies.     

Localized Yielding Around Crack Tips of Double‐Network Gels

Double‐network (DN) gels, a type of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) consisting of rigid and flexible polymer components, exhibit two outstanding mechanical behaviors: yielding deformation of the entire specimen in tensile tests and quite high fracture energy in tearing tests. In this study, atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements were conducted on DN gels to determine the local Young's moduli immediately below the fracture surfaces E_f and below the usual molded surfaces E_m, and compare the local modulus with bulk Young's moduli measured before and after the yielding deformation, denoted as E_h and E_s, respectively. E_m and E_h are around 0.1 MPa; E_f and E_s, around 0.01 MPa, one order lower than the former two moduli. The order relation indicates that yielding deformation occurred locally around the crack tip of the DN gel during fracture. This supports the basic assumption of phenomenological models recently proposed to explain high fracture energy of DN gels. (H. R. Brown, Macromolecules 2007 , 40, 3815–3818; Y. Tanaka, Europhys. Lett. 2007 , 78, 56005).

     

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy of molecules in large precessional motion: a case of H6(+) and H4D2(+) in solid parahydrogen

We have measured electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of H6+ and H4D2(+) ions produced in gamma-ray irradiated solid parahydrogen. Anisotropic hyperfine-coupling constants for H6(+) and H4D2(+) determined by the analysis of ESR lines at 4.2K were -0.06 and -0.12 mT, respectively, which were opposite in sign to and much smaller than theoretical results of 1.17-1.25 mT. Although no change was observed in H6(+), the constant for H4D2(+) increased to be 1.17 mT at 1.7 K, which is very close to the theoretical value. We concluded that H6+ both at 4.2 and 1.7 K and H4D2(+) at 4.2K should be in a large precessional motion with the angle of 57-59 degrees, but the precession of H4D2(+) is stopped at 1.7 K.     

Molecular characterization of the brain secretory peptides,prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) and bombyxin,of the silkmoth Bombyx mori

Molecular characterization of the brain secretory peptides, PTTH and bombyxin, of Bombyx mori is reviewed. PTTH is a 30-kDa homodimeric glycoprotein, the monomer of which consists of 109 amino acids. Two monomers are held together by a disulfide bond. cDNA and gene coding for PTTH were cloned and the precursor protein for PTTH monomer was deduced. A novel 5-kD brain secretory peptide named bombyxin has been discovered from Bombyx brain. Bombyxin is highly homologous to vertebrate insulin-family peptides and possesses the prothoracicotropic activity when injected into brain-removed pupae of a heterologous moth, Samia cynthia ricini, though inactive to Bombyx from which it was derived. cDNA and gene coding for bombyxin were cloned, preprobombyxin protein was deduced, and posttranslational processing to generate mature bombyxin was suggested. The Bombyx genome contains highly multiple copies of the gene coding for bombyxins. Immunohistochemically, PTTH- and bombyxin-producing brain neurosecretory cells were identified.