Ultrafast dynamic compression technique to study the kinetics of phase transformations in bismuth

Preheated Bi (296-532 K) was ramp compressed with 15-35 ns rise times to a peak stress of approximately 11 GPa to explore structural phase-transformation kinetics under dynamic loading conditions. At high strain rates, epsilon[over ]>5 x 10;{6} s;{-1}, deviation from equilibrium phase boundaries suggests that compression time scales are comparable to the new phase incubation period. The dependence of DeltaP/kT on epsilon[over ] is consistent with a thermally activated transformation.     

Branch decomposition heuristics for linear matroids

This paper presents three new heuristics which utilize classification, max-flow, and matroid intersection algorithms respectively to derive near-optimal branch decompositions for linear matroids. In the literature, there are already excellent heuristics for graphs, however, no practical branch decomposition methods for general linear matroids have been addressed yet. Introducing a “measure” which compares the “similarity” of elements of a linear matroid, this work reforms the linear matroid into a similarity graph. Then, the classification method, the max-flow method, and the mat-flow method, all based on the similarity graph, are utilized on the similarity graph to derive separations for a near-optimal branch decomposition. Computational results using the methods on linear matroid instances are shown respectively.     

Planning logistics operations in the oil industry

In this paper we apply stochastic programming modelling and solution techniques to planning problems for a consortium of oil companies. A multiperiod supply, transformation and distribution scheduling problem—the Depot and Refinery Optimization Problem (DROP)—is formulated for strategic or tactical level planning of the consortium's activities. This deterministic model is used as a basis for implementing a stochastic programming formulation with uncertainty in the product demands and spot supply costs (DROPS), whose solution process utilizes the deterministic equivalent linear programming problem. We employ our STOCHGEN general purpose stochastic problem generator to ‘recreate’ the decision (scenario) tree for the unfolding future as this deterministic equivalent. To project random demands for oil products at different spatial locations into the future and to generate random fluctuations in their future prices/costs a stochastic input data simulator is developed and calibrated to historical industry data. The models are written in the modelling language XPRESS-MP and solved by the XPRESS suite of linear programming solvers. From the viewpoint of implementation of large-scale stochastic programming models this study involves decisions in both space and time and careful revision of the original deterministic formulation. The first part of the paper treats the specification, generation and solution of the deterministic DROP model. The stochastic version of the model (DROPS) and its implementation are studied in detail in the second part and a number of related research questions and implications discussed.     

Restricted b‐factors in bipartite graphs and t‐designs

We present a new equivalence result between restricted b‐factors in bipartite graphs and combinatorial t‐designs. This result is useful in the construction of t‐designs by polyhedral methods. We propose a novel linear integer programming formulation, which we call GDP, for the problem of finding t‐designs that has a noteworthy advantage compared to the traditional set‐covering formulation. We analyze some polyhedral properties of GPD, implement a branch‐and‐cut algorithm using it and solve several instances of small designs to compare with another point‐block formulation found in the literature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 14: 169–182, 2006     

Velocity and timing of multiple spherically converging shock waves in liquid deuterium

The fuel entropy and required drive energy for an inertial confinement fusion implosion are set by a sequence of shocks that must be precisely timed to achieve ignition. This Letter reports measurements of multiple spherical shock waves in liquid deuterium that facilitate timing inertial confinement fusion shocks to the required precision. These experiments produced the highest shock velocity observed in liquid deuterium (U(s) = 135 km/s at ～2500 GPa) and also the first observation of convergence effects on the shock velocity. Simulations model the shock-timing results well when a nonlocal transport model is used in the coronal plasma.     

Measurements of the generalized electric and magnetic polarizabilities of the proton at low Q2 using the virtual-compton-scattering reaction

The mean square polarizability radii of the proton have been measured for the first time in a virtual-Compton-scattering experiment performed at the MIT-Bates out-of-plane scattering facility. Response functions and polarizabilities obtained from a dispersion analysis of the data at Q2 = 0.057 GeV2/c2 are in agreement with O(p3) heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. The data support the dominance of mesonic effects in the polarizabilities.     

Observation of an exotic S = +1 baryon in exclusive photoproduction from the deuteron

In an exclusive measurement of the reaction gammad-->K(+)K(-)pn, a narrow peak that can be attributed to an exotic baryon with strangeness S=+1 is seen in the K(+)n invariant mass spectrum. The peak is at 1.542+/-0.005 GeV/c(2) with a measured width of 0.021 GeV/c(2) FWHM, which is largely determined by experimental mass resolution. The statistical significance of the peak is (5.2+/-0.6)sigma. The mass and width of the observed peak are consistent with recent reports of a narrow S=+1 baryon by other experimental groups.