Polarised hydrogen line shapes in a magnetised plasma

The general profiles entering the polarised radiation transfer matrix for the hydrogen Ly line in dense magnetised plasmas are studied. The Stark effect due to plasma electrons is treated by the Unified Theory. The contribution of fine structure is discussed. Ion dynamics effects are studied, by application of the Model Microfield Method (MMM). The validity of a simpler approach, based on the Simplified Unified Theory (SUT) is assessed, by comparison with the MMM.     

Large-eddy simulation of a turbulent boundary layer with blowing

The modifications of a turbulent boundary layer induced by blowing through a porous plate were investigated using large-eddy simulation. The Reynolds number (based on the length of the plate) of the main flow was about 850000. Large-eddy simulations of such a boundary layer needs a turbulent inflow condition. After a review of available turbulent inflow, we describe in details the condition we developed, which consisted of recycling the velocity fluctuations. Then we show the necessity for this inflow to be non-stationary and to be three dimensional with respect to the mass conservation equation. If these properties are not achieved, we found that the velocity fluctuations do not grow as expected along the domain. Finally, the results of simulations of the boundary layer submitted to blowing are compared with experimental measurements. The good agreement obtained validate our turbulent inflow conditions and also the blowing model used. PACS 47.27.Eq, 47.27.Te, 44.20.+b     

Correlation effects and energetics of point defects in uranium dioxide: a first principle investigation

Density functional (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate the stability of point defects in uranium dioxide. Correlation effects are taken into account within the DFT?+?U approach as implemented in the Vienna ab initio simulation package (VASP). More particularly, the formation energies of both intrinsic and extrinsic point defects, i.e. vacancies, interstitials, Frenkel pairs and Schottky trio defects, are calculated. Our results are compared with available experimental data and are also discussed in relation to previous calculations based on conventional functionals, such as the local spin-density approximation and generalized gradient approximations.     

Transmission of sound through a single vortex

We investigate experimentally the deformation of acoustic wavefronts after crossing of a single, isolated vortex in free space. The incident sound wavelength can be varied in a large domain. We study the wavefronts at variable distance after transmission through the vortex, when the wavelength and the vortex strength are varied. For small wavelength ( , the vortex core size) our results are in very good agreement with predictions and simulations based on geometrical acoustics principles. However, as the sound wavelength increases to value comparable with the vortex diameter, the deformation of the wavefronts show the development of scattering contributions, with characteristics in agreement with recent theoretical and numerical studies.Received: 17 November 2003, Published online: 15 March 2004PACS: 43.28. + h Aeroacoustics and atmospheric sound - 47.32.-y Rotational flow and vorticity     

Sound and vorticity interactions: transmission and scattering

We review several aspects of the propagation of sound in vortical flows. We restrict ourselves to isothermal, humidity-free flows at low Mach number M. Since vorticity plays a major role in vortex-flow interactions we focus on vortical flows. We consider two main canonical situations. The first concerns the transmission of sound. We analyze the evolution of acoustic wavefronts as they propagate across a single vortex. The second situation addresses the scattering of sound waves by nonstationary vortices. We study the evolution of the acoustic pressure emitted in the far field, at an angle with the initial direction of propagation. In this geometry one performs direct spectroscopy of the flow vorticity field. In each case, we review theoretical results and compare with experimental measurements and numerical simulations when available. We also briefly report how the following new acoustic techniques have recently been used to study complex or turbulent flows: time-resolved acoustic spectroscopy, speckle interferometry and Lagrangian particle tracking. PACS 43.25, 43.28, 47.32, 67.40     

Transmission of sound through a single vortex

Within a new class of anthracene-like molecules, namely tetrafluoro-acridines, a systematic study of the structural and optical properties of single crystals of a prototypical member, 1,2,3,4-tetrafluoro-7(N,N)dimethyl-amino-acridine, is illustrated. Single crystals were grown by physical vapour transport using an inert gas flow as carrier, starting from a microcrystalline powder of the pure material. The crystal structure, determined by X ray diffraction, points out that the crystals are monoclinic with molecules stacked along the c axis. The results of atomic force microscopy on the ac face of a single crystal, at both low and molecular resolution, are consistent with the X-ray diffraction data. Preliminary results of the optical properties of the single crystal, in the unique configuration accessible due to the peculiar habit of the samples, are discussed.Received: 16 January 2004, Published online: 29 June 2004PACS: 61.66.-f Structure of specific crystalline solids - 68.37.Ps Atomic force microscopy (AFM) - 71.35.Cc Intrinsic properties of excitons; optical absorption spectra