Asynchronous free oscillations of linear mechanical systems: A general appraisal and a digression on a column with a follower force

The concept of asynchronous oscillatory response of mechanical systems in free vibrations is addressed as an introduction to a definition of asynchronous modes of vibration. Connection of the asynchronous modes with the localization and other dynamical phenomena is discussed. Then, conditions for the occurrence of asynchronous modes are investigated in depth. It is seen that a non-conservative system, with an asymmetric stiffness matrix – caused, for instance, by circulatory loads, may have an asynchronous mode. Yet, it is also seen that non-conservativeness is not actually mandatory. Two- to four-degree-of-freedom models of a column with a follower force are addressed, allowing for a mathematical modelling and phenomenological discussion.     

Primary Bjerknes force in a three-dimensional nonlinear resonator: Numerical simulations

The effect of the primary Bjerknes force caused by a three-dimensional nonlinear standing ultrasonic wave on a population of nonlinear oscillating bubbles is studied in this paper by analyzing the results obtained from simulations performed with a numerical model at low and moderate pressure amplitudes. Small air bubbles are evenly distributed in a water filled cavity excited at resonance for which axial symmetry is assumed. Both the bubble oscillation variable and the pressure variable are unknown in the nonlinear set of coupled differential equations that describes the interaction of ultrasound and bubbles. Simulation results show that the three-dimensional primary Bjerknes force field is strongly amplitude dependent. We also analyze whether taking the term in the differential system that defines the nonlinear behavior of the pressure field into account is determinant or not on the computation of the force field. The corresponding results corroborate the one-dimensional conclusions on the fundamental importance of considering this nonlinear acoustic term to obtain an accurate approximation of the force in a cavity.     

Dry soil diurnal quasi-periodic oscillations in soil 222Rn concentrations

²²²Rn concentrations have been monitored during the dry season in August 2009 and August 2010, in a reworked alluvial-pyroclastic soil of the Pietramelara Plain, in Southern Italy, with the aim of determining the role of atmospheric factors in producing the quasi-periodic oscillations in soil ²²²Rn concentrations reported in the literature. In this study we present the results of a detailed analysis and matching of soil ²²²Rn concentrations, meteorological and solar parameters where the observed oscillations feature a characteristic behavior with second order build-up and depletion limbs, separated by a daily maximum and minimum. All these features are clearly shown to be tied to sunrise and sunset timings and environmental radiative flux regimes. Furthermore, a significant, and previously unreported, second order correlation (r² = 0.73) between daily maximum hourly global radiation and the daily range of soil ²²²Rn concentrations has been detected, allowing estimates of the amplitude of these oscillations to be made from estimated or measured solar radiation data. The correlation has been found to be valid even in the presence of persistent patchy daytime cloudiness. In this case a daytime prolongation of the night-time build up stage and an attenuation or even suppression of daytime depletion is observed (a previously unreported effect). Neither soil cracking, nor precipitation, both suggested in some studies as causative factors for these oscillations, during the dry season appear to be necessary in explaining their occurrence. We also report the results of an artificial shading experiment, conducted in August 2009, that further support this conclusion. As soil ²²²Rn concentrations during the dry season show a characteristic daily cycle, radon monitoring in soils under these conditions necessarily has to be gauged to the timings of the daily maximum and minimum, as well as to the eventual occurrence of cloudiness and to its related effects, in order to avoid erroneous conclusions.     

THz and above THz electron or hole oscillations in DNA dimers and trimers

A non conventional source or receiver of THz and above THz electromagnetic radiation is proposed. Specifically, electron or hole oscillations in DNA dimers (two interacting DNA base‐pairs or monomers) are predicted, with frequency in the range 0.25–100 THz (period 10–4000 fs) i.e. potentially absorbing or emitting electromagnetic radiation mainly in the mid‐ and far‐infrared with wavelengths ≈ 3–1200 μm. The efficiency of charge transfer between the two monomers which make up the dimer is described with the maximum transfer percentage p  and the pure maximum transfer rate . For dimers made of identical monomers , but for dimers made of different monomers . The investigation is extended to DNA trimers (three interacting DNA base‐pairs or monomers). For trimers made of identical monomers the carrier oscillates periodically with 0.5–33 THz ( 30–2000 fs); for 0 times crosswise purines , for 1 or 2 times crosswise purines . For trimers made of different monomers the carrier movement may be non periodic. Generally, increasing the number of monomers above three, the system becomes more complex and periodicity is lost; even for the simplest tetramer the carrier movement is not periodic.     

Dynamic glottal pressures in an excised hemilarynx model

During phonation, air pressures act upon the vocal folds to help maintain their oscillation. The air pressures vary dynamically along the medial surface of the vocal folds, although no live human or excised studies have shown how those pressure profiles vary in time. The purpose of this study was to examine time-dependent glottal pressure profiles using a canine hemilarynx approach. The larynx tissue was cut in the midsaggital plane from the top to about 5 mm below the vocal folds. The right half was replaced with a Plexiglas pane with imbedded pressure taps. Simultaneous recordings were made of glottal pressure signals, subglottal pressure, particle velocity, and average airflow at various levels of adduction. The data indicate that the pressures in the glottis (on the Plexiglas) vary both vertically and longitudinally throughout the phonatory cycle. Pressures vary most widely near the location of maximum vibratory amplitude, and can include negative pressures during a portion of the cycle. Pressures anterior and posterior to the maximum amplitude location may have less variation and may remain positive throughout the cycle, giving rise to a new concept called dynamic bidirectional pressure gradients in the glottis. This is an important concept that may relate strongly to tissue health as well as basic oscillatory mechanics.     

Generation of locked-on flow tones: Effect of damping

The overall objective of this investigation is to determine the effect of variable damping on the pressure response of a deep cavity. The pressure fluctuations arise from coupling between the unsteady shear layer along the cavity opening and a resonant mode of the cavity. The damping of the cavity is tuned to desired values without changes of geometry or other parameters.The amplitude of the cavity pressure fluctuation as a function of flow velocity is characterized for the first, second and third acoustic modes of the cavity. For each mode, variation of the value of damping over a relatively wide range yields corresponding attenuation of the pressure amplitude. For higher acoustic modes and sufficiently large damping, abrupt decreases of the pressure amplitude occur at threshold values of flow velocity.The variable damping of the deep cavity does not significantly alter the eigenfrequencies of the system. The peak response amplitude of the pressure fluctuation, however, occurs at a value of Strouhal number that increases with increasing values of damping. Moreover, this peak response amplitude, when normalized by the free stream dynamic head, generally shows a linear variation with the value of damping, for three acoustic modes of the cavity.The strength of lock-on of the pressure oscillation, as a function of the degree of damping, is evaluated in terms of the coherent and broadband pressure amplitudes. Both amplitudes are attenuated for increased damping; the difference between them, however, remains relatively large (40 dB minimum), thereby indicating well-defined lock-on, even when the amplitude of the spectral peak of the coherent component is substantially attenuated.     

Periodic and chaotic oscillations in mutual-coupled mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

Dynamic states in mutual-coupled mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) were numerically investigated in the parameter space of injection strength and detuning frequency based on the Lang—Kobayashi equations model. Three types of period-one states were found, with different periods of injection time delay τ_inj, 2τ_inj, and reciprocal of the detuning frequency. Besides, square-wave, quasi-period, pulse-burst and chaotic oscillations were also observed. It is concluded that external-cavity periodic dynamics and optical modes beating are the mainly periodic dynamics. The interaction of the two periodic dynamics and the high-frequency dynamics stimulated by strong injection induces the dynamic states evolution. This work helps to understand the dynamic behaviors in QCLs and shows a new way to mid-infrared wide-band chaotic laser.     

Quantum oscillations in a hexagonal boron nitride-supported single crystalline InSb nanosheet

A gated Hall-bar device is made from an epitaxially grown, free-standing InSb nanosheet on a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) dielectric/graphite gate structure and the electron transport properties in the InSb nanosheet are studied by gate-transfer characteristic and magnetotransport measurements at low temperatures. The measurements show that the carriers in the InSb nanosheet are of electrons and the carrier density in the nanosheet can be highly efficiently tuned by the graphite gate. The mobility of the electrons in the InSb nanosheet is extracted from low-field magneotransport measurements and a value of the mobility exceeding $\sim 1.8\times10^4$ cm$^{2}\cdot$V$^{-1}\cdot$s$^{-1}$ is found. High-field magentotransport measurements show well-defined Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations in the longitudinal resistance of the InSb nanosheet. Temperature-dependent measurements of the SdH oscillations are carried out and key transport parameters, including the electron effective mass $m^{\ast }\sim 0.028 m_{0}$ and the quantum lifetime $\tau \sim 0.046 $ ps, in the InSb nanosheet are extracted. It is for the first time that such experimental measurements have been reported for a free-standing InSb nanosheet and the results obtained indicate that InSb nanosheet/hBN/graphite gate structures can be used to develop advanced quantum devices for novel physics studies and for quantum technology applications.     

Computational aeroelastic investigation of a transonic limit-cycle-oscillation experiment at a transport aircraft wing model

Aeroelastic measurements of a three-dimensional wing model, the so-called Aerostabil wing, were conducted in the Transonic Windtunnel Göttingen. This clean, backward-swept wing allowed the experimental investigation of limit cycle oscillations in a certain transonic parameter range. In this paper, a detailed insight into the observed physical phenomena, especially the measured limit cycle oscillations, is presented by means of CFD–CSM coupled simulations. These simulations on the basis of a detailed structural finite element model reveal the specific properties of the Aerostabil wing and furthermore allow investigating the unstable behavior of this windtunnel model for transonic flow settings. The aerodynamic characteristics include a two-shock system and large flow separation areas, further increasing the complexity of the aeroelastic problem. A structural single degree-of-freedom system is used for the prediction of the experimental stability range and the limit cycle oscillation investigations. Due to the good agreement of simulation and experiment the limit cycle oscillations can be explained by means of nonlinear aerodynamic effects.     

Chemical oscillations in the metal ion-catalyzed bromate-4-aminophenol reaction

Temporal oscillations of the bromate-4-aminophenol system have been studied in the presence of four different catalysts:tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) sulfate(ferroin),Ce(III),Mn(II),and Fe(II).Transient temporal oscillations were observed in the four catalyzed systems when the reactions were conducted in a stirred batch reactor.The induction time was prolonged by the presence of ferroin,but it was shortened in the Ce(III)-and Mn(II)-catalyzed systems.On the other hand,the number of peaks was significantly decreased in the presence of ferroin.The development of oscillatory behaviour was found to be more sensitive to the ratio of bromate and 4-aminophenol concentration than to their absolute concentrations.The reaction rates of 4-aminophenol with Ce(IV) and 4-aminophenol with ferritin were measured directly by spectroscopic methods in a sulfuric acid medium.