Thermodynamic and spectroscopic measurements of the electron-hole drop binding energy in Ge: An old problem revisited

One can expect to get the electron-hole (EHD) binding energy φ either from spectroscopic or from threshold measurements. While the value obtained by the former is in excellent agreement with theory, the results given by the latter did not seem to lead to φ in a simple way. We present here new optical threshold studies in which we think that the right conditions to obtain a direct thermodynamic measurement of φ have been mastered. Besides, our results present novel features like a sharp jump of the EHD luminescence at threshold above 2.4 K and observation of hysteresis in the whole temperature range of our work.     

Espaces d'écoulements dits « universels », 3

Universal motions with uniform steady vorticity form a corolla of linear spaces derived from rigid body motions. Closely related to potential flows, they satisfy two extensions of Lagrange theorem, are investigated with the help of complex functions, as stand celebrated when be plane. They take place in hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, geophysics, astrophysics, turbulence, physics of plasmas and superfluid helium. In all the cases, arbitrary unsteady span-wise translations permit to generalise as well as to exhibit helical or 3D universal motions. Three misunderstood periodic flows illustrate our purpose, as they approach shear instabilities in numerous fluids. To cite this article: M. Bouthier, C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Relationships between mastication conditions and rheological behavior of a natural rubber

The mastication of natural rubber results in the shortening of the long molecular chains, which affects the viscosity of the material. Mechanical and thermo-oxidative breakdowns are the two major factors that interfere during mastication and processing of natural rubber. In an attempt to characterize the viscous behavior of a such product during processing, rheological properties of unvulcanized rubber are studied with a capillary rheometer and a parallel plate rheometer, in small amplitude oscillatory shear. An investigation is carried out with an internal mixer to determine the effect of mastication and temperature on the rheological properties. The influence of thermomechanical effect is quantified as a function of the specific energy and mastication temperature. Depending on mastication conditions, the variation of viscosity may be important and its decrease is quantified by integrating the specific energy and the mastication temperature in a Carreau-Yasuda model.     

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media III: Laboratory experiments for flow parallel to a stratified system

Two-phase flow in stratified porous media is a problem of central importance in the study of oil recovery processes. In general, these flows are parallel to the stratifications, and it is this type of flow that we have investigated experimentally and theoretically in this study. The experiments were performed with a two-layer model of a stratified porous medium. The individual strata were composed of Aerolith-10, an artificial: sintered porous medium, and Berea sandstone, a natural porous medium reputed to be relatively homogeneous. Waterflooding experiments were performed in which the saturation field was measured by gamma-ray absorption. Data were obtained at 150 points distributed evenly over a flow domain of 0.1 × 0.6 m. The slabs of Aerolith-10 and Berea sandstone were of equal thickness, i.e. 5 centimeters thick. An intensive experimental study was carried out in order to accurately characterize the individual strata; however, this effort was hampered by both local heterogeneities and large-scale heterogeneities.The theoretical analysis of the waterflooding experiments was based on the method of large-scale averaging and the large-scale closure problem. The latter provides a precise method of discussing the crossflow phenomena, and it illustrates exactly how the crossflow influences the theoretical prediction of the large-scale permeability tensor. The theoretical analysis was restricted to the quasi-static theory of Quintard and Whitaker (1988), however, the dynamic effects described in Part I (Quintard and Whitaker 1990a) are discussed in terms of their influence on the crossflow.Roman Letters A interfacial area between the -region and the -region contained within V, m² - a vector that maps onto , m - b vector that maps onto , m - b vector that maps onto , m - B second order tensor that maps onto , m² - C second order tensor that maps onto , m² - E energy of the gamma emitter, keV - f fractional flow of the -phase - g gravitational vector, m/s² - h characteristic length of the large-scale averaging volume, m - H height of the stratified porous medium , m - i unit base vector in the x-direction - K local volume-averaged single-phase permeability, m² - K - {K}, large-scale spatial deviation permeability - { K} large-scale volume-averaged single-phase permeability, m² - K ^* large-scale single-phase permeability, m² - K ^** equivalent large-scale single-phase permeability, m² - K local volume-averaged -phase permeability in the -region, m² - K local volume-averaged -phase permeability in the -region, m² - K - {K } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase permeability, m² - K ^* large-scale permeability for the -phase, m² - l thickness of the porous medium, m - l characteristic length for the -region, m - l characteristic length for the -region, m - L length of the experimental porous medium, m - characteristic length for large-scale averaged quantities, m - n outward unit normal vector for the -region - n outward unit normal vector for the -region - n unit normal vector pointing from the -region toward the -region (n = - n ) - N number of photons - p pressure in the -phase, N/m² - p ₀ reference pressure in the -phase, N/m² - local volume-averaged intrinsic phase average pressure in the -phase, N/m² - large-scale volume-averaged pressure of the -phase, N/m² - large-scale intrinsic phase average pressure in the capillary region of the -phase, N/m² - - , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase pressure, N/m² - p_c , capillary pressure, N/m² - p _c capillary pressure in the -region, N/m² - p capillary pressure in the -region, N/m² - {p _c } ^c large-scale capillary pressure, N/m² - q -phase velocity at the entrance of the porous medium, m/s - q -phase velocity at the entrance of the porous medium, m/s - S_wi irreducible water saturation - S /, local volume-averaged saturation for the -phase - S _i initial saturation for the -phase - S _r residual saturation for the -phase - S ^* { }^*/}^*, large-scale average saturation for the -phase - S saturation for the -phase in the -region - S saturation for the -phase in the -region - t time, s - v -phase velocity vector, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the -phase, m/s - {v } large-scale averaged velocity for the -phase, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the -phase in the -region, m/s - v local volume-averaged phase average velocity for the -phase in the -region, m/s - v -{v } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase velocity, m/s - v -{v } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase velocity in the -region, m/s - v -{v } , large-scale spatial deviation for the -phase velocity in the -region, m/s - V large-scale averaging volume, m³ - y position vector relative to the centroid of the large-scale averaging volume, m - {y}^c large-scale average of y over the capillary region, m Greek Letters local porosity - local porosity in the -region - local porosity in the -region - local volume fraction for the -phase - local volume fraction for the -phase in the -region - local volume fraction for the -phase in the -region - {}^* { }^*+{ }^*, large-scale spatial average volume fraction - { }^* large-scale spatial average volume fraction for the -phase - mass density of the -phase, kg/m³ - mass density of the -phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the -phase, N s/m² - viscosity of the -phase, Ns/m² - V /V , volume fraction of the -region ( + =1) - V /V , volume fraction of the -region ( + =1) - attenuation coefficient to gamma-rays, m^-1 - -      

Epitaxy of Binary Compounds and Alloys

The present work aims at constructing a theoretical framework within which to address the issues of morphological instabilities (one-dimensional step bunching and two-dimensional step meandering), alloying, and phase segregation in binary systems in the context of (physical or chemical) vapor deposition. The length scale of interest, although nanoscopic, is sufficiently large that the steps on a vicinal surface can be viewed as smooth curves and, correspondingly, the theory is a continuum one. In a departure from theories inaugurated by Burton, Cabrera, and Frank [The growth of crystals and the equilibrium structure of their surfaces. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A 243 (1951) 299–358] the steps are endowed with a thermodynamic structure whose main ingredients are a step free-energy density and edge species chemical potentials. Moreover, crystal anisotropy, with its altering of the dynamics of steps and the associated morphological instabilities, is accounted for – in a manner consistent with the second law – both in the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of terraces and, more importantly, of steps. Additionally, in contrast with most of the literature on the subject (cf. [J. Krug, Introduction to step dynamics and step instabilities. In: A. Voigt (ed.) Multiscale Modeling in Epitaxial Growth. Birkhäusser, Berlin (2005)]), adsorption–desorption along the steps, bulk atomic diffusion, and chemical reactions (both on the terraces and along the step edges) are incorporated and coupled to the other mechanisms, e.g., terrace adatom diffusion and step attachment–detachment kinetics, whose interplay governs the evolution of steps on vicinal surfaces. Importantly, aided by the concept of configurational forces for which a separate balance law is postulated Configurational Forces as Basic Concepts of Continuum Physics. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York (2000)]), the proposed theory allows the steps to evolve away from local equilibrium thus contributing to a general treatment of the dynamics of steps. Finally, a specialization to the epitaxy of binary compounds and alloys is afforded, yielding a generalization of the classical Gibbs–Thomson relation in the former and novel evolution equations for an individual step in the latter.     

Analysis of Unsteady Motion with Respect to Noise Sources in a Gas Turbine Combustor: Isothermal Flow Case

In order to evaluate the direct and indirect contributions to the total combustion noise emission, a combustion chamber consisting of a swirl burner and an exit nozzle of Laval-shape, representing a gas turbine combustor, is investigated by means of experiments and large eddy simulation. Focused on the isothermal flow case first and encouraged by a good overall agreement between the LES and the experimental data for the flow field, a first characterisation of the flow with respect to noise sources is performed. To analyse acoustic properties of the flow, time and length scales are evaluated inside the combustor. Furthermore, the evidence for the existence of a precessing vortex core (PVC), typical for configurations with swirl, is revealed. Finally, the effect of the PVC on the flow inside the Laval nozzle is discussed.     

A unified model for adhesive interfaces with damage,viscosity, and friction

A general framework for models describing adhesive contact between rigid bodies is proposed. The intensity of adhesion is supposed to decrease under the action of prescribed tangential and normal relative displacements. The reduction is attributed to progressive damage, and comes with energy dissipation. Additional dissipation due to viscosity and friction is also taken into account. The response of the interface is described by a single state variable. It is determined by general laws expressing a mechanical version of the first two laws of thermodynamics, combined with a set of phenomenological assumptions.     

Confined viscoplastic flows with heterogeneous wall slip

The steady, pressure-driven flow of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid in a microchannel is considered, assuming that different power-law slip equations apply at the two walls due to slip heterogeneities, allowing the velocity profile to be asymmetric. Three different flow regimes are observed as the pressure gradient is increased. Below a first critical pressure gradient G ₁, the fluid moves unyielded with a uniform velocity, and thus, the two slip velocities are equal. In an intermediate regime between G ₁ and a second critical pressure gradient G ₂, the fluid yields in a zone near the weak-slip wall and flows with uniform velocity near the stronger-slip wall. Beyond this regime, the fluid yields near both walls and the velocity are uniform only in the central unyielded core. It is demonstrated that the central unyielded region tends towards the midplane only if the power-law exponent is less than unity; otherwise, this region rends towards the weak-slip wall and asymmetry is enhanced. The extension of the different flow regimes depends on the channel gap; in particular, the intermediate asymmetric flow regime dominates when the gap becomes smaller than a characteristic length which incorporates the wall slip coefficients and the fluid properties. The theoretical results compare well with available experimental data on soft glassy suspensions. These results open new routes in manipulating the flow of viscoplastic materials in applications where the flow behavior depends not only on the bulk rheology of the material but also on the wall properties.