Density and velocity statistics in variable density turbulent mixing

We experimentally study variable–density mixing of miscible gases in an open-circuit wind tunnel using simultaneous particle image velocimetry and planar laser-induced fluorescence. Experiments of a high Atwood number (0.6) and low Atwood number (0.1) are performed to compare non-Boussinesq cases with the Boussinesq limit. The higher density gas is injected into the wind tunnel co-flow using a round jet configuration, and near-field and far-field measurements are performed to examine mixing in both momentum and buoyancy-dominated regimes. The effects of buoyancy are measurable and important in both large-scale mixing features and in turbulence quantities. The low Atwood number PDFs (probability density functions) show fast and uniform mixing. The high Atwood number PDFs of density have skewness towards the larger densities, indicating less mixing of the heavy fluid due to its inertia. The skewness in the density gradient PDFs at high Atwood number displays strong density local variations that can enhance mixing at molecular scales. Turbulent kinetic energy decreases with streamwise distance from the jet for low Atwood number but increases for high Atwood number due to larger buoyancy and density-driven shear. Over 3000 experimental realisations are used to calculate statistical characteristics of the mixing, including valuable and rarely given data such as Favre-averaged turbulent quantities: mass flux velocity, Reynolds stress, turbulent kinetic energy, and density-specific volume correlation. Buoyancy effects are observed in these quantities and the trends are compared qualitatively with direct numerical simulations.     

On estimating of the number of constituents of a finite mixture of continuous distributions

Summary Suppose thatH is a mixture of distributions for a given familyF A necessary and sufficient condition is obtained under whichH is, in fact, a finite mixture. An estimator of the number of distributions constituting the mixture is proposed assuming that the mixture is finite and its asymptotic properties are investigated.     

Error analysis for finite element methods for steady natural convection problems

We analyze the error in finite element methods in approximating, so-called, free or natural convection problems. We also include the effects of conducting solid walls in our analysis. Under a uniqueness condition on the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers (which we derive), we give direct, quasioptimal error estimates for “div-stable” finite element spaces for the fluid variables and general conforming finite element spaces for the temperature. At larger Rayleigh numbers, we give analogous, asymptotic error estimates, basing this analysis upon local uniqueness properties of the true solution (u p T), which we also establish.     

Long-term behaviour of a cyclic catalytic branching system

We investigate the long-term behaviour of a system of SDEs for d≥2 types, involving catalytic branching and mutation between types. In particular, we show that the overall sum of masses converges to zero but does not hit zero in finite time a.s. We shall then focus on the relative behaviour of types in the limit. We prove weak convergence to a unique stationary distribution that does not put mass on the set where at least one of the coordinates is zero. Finally, we provide a complete analysis of the case d=2.     

Exit time and invariant measure asymptotics for small noise constrained diffusions

Constrained diffusions, with diffusion matrix scaled by small ?>0, in a convex polyhedral cone G⊂R^k, are considered. Under suitable stability assumptions small noise asymptotic properties of invariant measures and exit times from domains are studied. Let B⊂G be a bounded domain. Under conditions, an “exponential leveling” property that says that, as ?→0, the moments of functionals of exit location from B, corresponding to distinct initial conditions, coalesce asymptotically at an exponential rate, is established. It is shown that, with appropriate conditions, difference of moments of a typical exit time functional with a sub-logarithmic growth, for distinct initial conditions in suitable compact subsets of B, is asymptotically bounded. Furthermore, as initial conditions approach 0 at a rate ?² these moments are shown to asymptotically coalesce at an exponential rate.     

Concerning some variants of C-embedding in pointfree topology

We study three types of quotient maps of frames which are closely related to C- and C^?-quotient maps. We call them C₁-, strong C₁-, and uplifting quotient maps. C₁-quotient maps are precisely those whose induced ring homomorphisms contract maximal ideals to maximal ideals. We show that every homomorphism onto a frame is a C₁-, a strong C₁-, or an uplifting quotient map iff the frame is pseudocompact, compact, or almost compact and normal, respectively. These quotient maps are used to characterize normality and also certain weaker forms of normality in a manner akin to the characterization of normal frames as those for which every closed quotient map is a C-quotient map. Under certain conditions, we show that the Stone extension of a quotient map is C₁-, strongly C₁- or uplifting if the map has the corresponding property.     

A dichotomy for the convex spaces of probability measures

We show that every nonempty compact and convex space M of probability Radon measures either contains a measure which has ‘small’ local character in M or else M contains a measure of ‘large’ Maharam type. Such a dichotomy is related to several results on Radon measures on compact spaces and to some properties of Banach spaces of continuous functions.     

Four-wave mixing in semiconductor laser amplifiers: Applications for optical communication systems

Four-wave mixing in semiconductor laser amplifiers enables various applications in photonic switching including wavelength conversion, space and time switching, optical phase conjugation, and demultiplexing. Switching times faster than 1 ps are possible.