Tracking Snowballs

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-11-18

Icy particles in the cloud around Hartley 2, as seen by NASA EPOXI mission spacecraft. A star moving through the background is marked with red and moves in a particular direction, with a particular speed; icy particles move in random directions.

Transport properties of soil particles in Sakiyamawan-Amitoriwan nature conservation area, Iriomote Island, Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimokawa, Shinya; Murakami, Tomokazu; Kohno, Hiroyoshi; Mizutani, Akira

2017-12-01

The actual states of soil particle transport in and exchange between the Sakiyama and Amitori bays, Iriomote Island, Japan, were investigated using atmosphere-ocean-river observations and numerical simulations. The results show that in summer in both bays large particles (≥15 μm) do not move from the vicinity of the river mouths. Small particles, however, do move to the respective east sides of the bays. In winter in both the bays, large particles move towards the center of the bays from the vicinity of the river mouths, whereas small particles move to the respective west sides of the bays. Furthermore, soil particles move mainly from the Sakiyama to the Amitori bay in summer, but this direction is reversed in winter. These features are explainable mainly by seasonal differences in wind speed and direction, but the combination among seasonal differences in wind speed and direction, the wind-driven current and the topography is also important for them. The results are useful for assessing soil particle impact on coastal marine ecosystems, such as those containing reef-building coral and Enhalus acoroides, and their effective conservation in the natural conservation areas of the Sakiyama and Amitori bays.

Beamlets from stochastic acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perri, Silvia; Carbone, Vincenzo

2008-09-01

We investigate the dynamics of a realization of the stochastic Fermi acceleration mechanism. The model consists of test particles moving between two oscillating magnetic clouds and differs from the usual Fermi-Ulam model in two ways. (i) Particles can penetrate inside clouds before being reflected. (ii) Particles can radiate a fraction of their energy during the process. Since the Fermi mechanism is at work, particles are stochastically accelerated, even in the presence of the radiated energy. Furthermore, due to a kind of resonance between particles and oscillating clouds, the probability density function of particles is strongly modified, thus generating beams of accelerated particles rather than a translation of the whole distribution function to higher energy. This simple mechanism could account for the presence of beamlets in some space plasma physics situations.

Real-Time Motion Tracking for Indoor Moving Sphere Objects with a LiDAR Sensor.

PubMed

Huang, Lvwen; Chen, Siyuan; Zhang, Jianfeng; Cheng, Bang; Liu, Mingqing

2017-08-23

Object tracking is a crucial research subfield in computer vision and it has wide applications in navigation, robotics and military applications and so on. In this paper, the real-time visualization of 3D point clouds data based on the VLP-16 3D Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor is achieved, and on the basis of preprocessing, fast ground segmentation, Euclidean clustering segmentation for outliers, View Feature Histogram (VFH) feature extraction, establishing object models and searching matching a moving spherical target, the Kalman filter and adaptive particle filter are used to estimate in real-time the position of a moving spherical target. The experimental results show that the Kalman filter has the advantages of high efficiency while adaptive particle filter has the advantages of high robustness and high precision when tested and validated on three kinds of scenes under the condition of target partial occlusion and interference, different moving speed and different trajectories. The research can be applied in the natural environment of fruit identification and tracking, robot navigation and control and other fields.

Real-Time Motion Tracking for Indoor Moving Sphere Objects with a LiDAR Sensor

PubMed Central

Chen, Siyuan; Zhang, Jianfeng; Cheng, Bang; Liu, Mingqing

2017-01-01

Object tracking is a crucial research subfield in computer vision and it has wide applications in navigation, robotics and military applications and so on. In this paper, the real-time visualization of 3D point clouds data based on the VLP-16 3D Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor is achieved, and on the basis of preprocessing, fast ground segmentation, Euclidean clustering segmentation for outliers, View Feature Histogram (VFH) feature extraction, establishing object models and searching matching a moving spherical target, the Kalman filter and adaptive particle filter are used to estimate in real-time the position of a moving spherical target. The experimental results show that the Kalman filter has the advantages of high efficiency while adaptive particle filter has the advantages of high robustness and high precision when tested and validated on three kinds of scenes under the condition of target partial occlusion and interference, different moving speed and different trajectories. The research can be applied in the natural environment of fruit identification and tracking, robot navigation and control and other fields. PMID:28832520

Cherenkov radiation of superluminal particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohrlich, Daniel; Aharonov, Yakir

2002-10-01

Any charged particle moving faster than light through a medium emits Cherenkov radiation. We show that charged particles moving faster than light through the vacuum emit Cherenkov radiation. How can a particle move faster than light? The weak speed of a charged particle can exceed the speed of light. By definition, the weak velocity w is <Ψfin|v|Ψin>/<Ψfin|Ψin>, where v is the velocity operator and |Ψin> and |Ψfin> are, respectively, the states of a particle before and after a velocity measurement. We discuss the consistency of weak values and show that superluminal weak speed is consistent with relativistic causality.

Improving particle filters in rainfall-runoff models: application of the resample-move step and development of the ensemble Gaussian particle filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plaza Guingla, D. A.; Pauwels, V. R.; De Lannoy, G. J.; Matgen, P.; Giustarini, L.; De Keyser, R.

2012-12-01

The objective of this work is to analyze the improvement in the performance of the particle filter by including a resample-move step or by using a modified Gaussian particle filter. Specifically, the standard particle filter structure is altered by the inclusion of the Markov chain Monte Carlo move step. The second choice adopted in this study uses the moments of an ensemble Kalman filter analysis to define the importance density function within the Gaussian particle filter structure. Both variants of the standard particle filter are used in the assimilation of densely sampled discharge records into a conceptual rainfall-runoff model. In order to quantify the obtained improvement, discharge root mean square errors are compared for different particle filters, as well as for the ensemble Kalman filter. First, a synthetic experiment is carried out. The results indicate that the performance of the standard particle filter can be improved by the inclusion of the resample-move step, but its effectiveness is limited to situations with limited particle impoverishment. The results also show that the modified Gaussian particle filter outperforms the rest of the filters. Second, a real experiment is carried out in order to validate the findings from the synthetic experiment. The addition of the resample-move step does not show a considerable improvement due to performance limitations in the standard particle filter with real data. On the other hand, when an optimal importance density function is used in the Gaussian particle filter, the results show a considerably improved performance of the particle filter.

Methods to Prescribe Particle Motion to Minimize Quadrature Error in Meshfree Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Templeton, Jeremy; Erickson, Lindsay; Morris, Karla; Poliakoff, David

2015-11-01

Meshfree methods are an attractive approach for simulating material systems undergoing large-scale deformation, such as spray break up, free surface flows, and droplets. Particles, which can be easily moved, are used as nodes and/or quadrature points rather than a relying on a fixed mesh. Most methods move particles according to the local fluid velocity that allows for the convection terms in the Navier-Stokes equations to be easily accounted for. However, this is a trade-off against numerical accuracy as the flow can often move particles to configurations with high quadrature error, and artificial compressibility is often required to prevent particles from forming undesirable regions of high and low concentrations. In this work, we consider the other side of the trade-off: moving particles based on reducing numerical error. Methods derived from molecular dynamics show that particles can be moved to minimize a surrogate for the solution error, resulting in substantially more accurate simulations at a fixed cost. Sandia National Laboratories is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Particle-Surface Interaction Model and Method of Determining Particle-Surface Interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, David W. (Inventor)

2012-01-01

A method and model of predicting particle-surface interactions with a surface, such as the surface of a spacecraft. The method includes the steps of: determining a trajectory path of a plurality of moving particles; predicting whether any of the moving particles will intersect a surface; predicting whether any of the particles will be captured by the surface and/or; predicting a reflected trajectory and velocity of particles reflected from the surface.

Instellar Gas Experiment (IGE): Testing interstellar gas particles to provide information on the processes of nucleosynthesis in the big bang stars and supernova

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lind, Don

1985-01-01

The Interstellar Gas Experiment (IGE) is designed to collect particles of the interstellar gas - a wind of interstellar media particles moving in the vicinity of the solar system. These particles will be returned to earth where the isotopic ratios of the noble gases among these particles will be measured. IGE was designed and programmed to expose 7 sets of six copper-beryllium metallic collecting foils to the flux of neutral interstellar gas particles which penetrate the heliosphere to the vicinity of the earth's orbit. These particles are trapped in the collecting foils and will be returned to earth for mass-spectrographic analysis when Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) on which IGE was launched, is recovered.

Levitation of heavy particles against gravity in asymptotically downward flows.

PubMed

Angilella, Jean-Régis; Case, Daniel J; Motter, Adilson E

2017-03-01

In the fluid transport of particles, it is generally expected that heavy particles carried by a laminar fluid flow moving downward will also move downward. We establish a theory to show, however, that particles can be dynamically levitated and lifted by interacting vortices in such flows, thereby moving against gravity and the asymptotic direction of the flow, even when they are orders of magnitude denser than the fluid. The particle levitation is rigorously demonstrated for potential flows and supported by simulations for viscous flows. We suggest that this counterintuitive effect has potential implications for the air-transport of water droplets and the lifting of sediments in water.

Levitation of heavy particles against gravity in asymptotically downward flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angilella, Jean-Régis; Case, Daniel J.; Motter, Adilson E.

2017-03-01

In the fluid transport of particles, it is generally expected that heavy particles carried by a laminar fluid flow moving downward will also move downward. We establish a theory to show, however, that particles can be dynamically levitated and lifted by interacting vortices in such flows, thereby moving against gravity and the asymptotic direction of the flow, even when they are orders of magnitude denser than the fluid. The particle levitation is rigorously demonstrated for potential flows and supported by simulations for viscous flows. We suggest that this counterintuitive effect has potential implications for the air-transport of water droplets and the lifting of sediments in water.

Scalar self-force on eccentric geodesics in Schwarzschild spacetime: A time-domain computation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haas, Roland

2007-06-15

We calculate the self-force acting on a particle with scalar charge moving on a generic geodesic around a Schwarzschild black hole. This calculation requires an accurate computation of the retarded scalar field produced by the moving charge; this is done numerically with the help of a fourth-order convergent finite-difference scheme formulated in the time domain. The calculation also requires a regularization procedure, because the retarded field is singular on the particle's world line; this is handled mode-by-mode via the mode-sum regularization scheme first introduced by Barack and Ori. This paper presents the numerical method, various numerical tests, and a samplemore » of results for mildly eccentric orbits as well as ''zoom-whirl'' orbits.« less

Dynamic analysis of geometrically non-linear three-dimensional beams under moving mass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zupan, E.; Zupan, D.

2018-01-01

In this paper, we present a coupled dynamic analysis of a moving particle on a deformable three-dimensional frame. The presented numerical model is capable of considering arbitrary curved and twisted initial geometry of the beam and takes into account geometric non-linearity of the structure. Coupled with dynamic equations of the structure, the equations of moving particle are solved. The moving particle represents the dynamic load and varies the mass distribution of the structure and at the same time its path is adapting due to deformability of the structure. A coupled geometrically non-linear behaviour of beam and particle is studied. The equation of motion of the particle is added to the system of the beam dynamic equations and an additional unknown representing the coordinate of the curvilinear path of the particle is introduced. The specially designed finite-element formulation of the three-dimensional beam based on the weak form of consistency conditions is employed where only the boundary conditions are affected by the contact forces.

Image pre-processing method for near-wall PIV measurements over moving curved interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, L. C.; Zhu, Y. D.; Jia, Y. X.; Yuan, H. J.; Lee, C. B.

2017-03-01

PIV measurements near a moving interface are always difficult. This paper presents a PIV image pre-processing method that returns high spatial resolution velocity profiles near the interface. Instead of re-shaping or re-orientating the interrogation windows, interface tracking and an image transformation are used to stretch the particle image strips near a curved interface into rectangles. Then the adaptive structured interrogation windows can be arranged at specified distances from the interface. Synthetic particles are also added into the solid region to minimize interfacial effects and to restrict particles on both sides of the interface. Since a high spatial resolution is only required in high velocity gradient region, adaptive meshing and stretching of the image strips in the normal direction is used to improve the cross-correlation signal-to-noise ratio (SN) by reducing the velocity difference and the particle image distortion within the interrogation window. A two dimensional Gaussian fit is used to compensate for the effects of stretching particle images. The working hypothesis is that fluid motion near the interface is ‘quasi-tangential flow’, which is reasonable in most fluid-structure interaction scenarios. The method was validated against the window deformation iterative multi-grid scheme (WIDIM) using synthetic image pairs with different velocity profiles. The method was tested for boundary layer measurements of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate, near a rotating blade and near a flexible flapping flag. This image pre-processing method provides higher spatial resolution than conventional WIDIM and good robustness for measuring velocity profiles near moving interfaces.

CROSS-DISCIPLINARY PHYSICS AND RELATED AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Effect of Rolling Massage on Particle Moving Behaviour in Blood Vessels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Hou-Hui; Fan, Li-Juan; Yang, Xiao-Feng; Chen, Yan-Yan

2008-09-01

The rolling massage manipulation is a classic Chinese massage, which is expected to eliminate many diseases. Here the effect of the rolling massage on the particle moving property in the blood vessels under the rolling massage manipulation is studied by the lattice Boltzmann simulation. The simulation results show that the particle moving behaviour depends on the rolling velocity, the distance between particle position and rolling position. The average values, including particle translational velocity and angular velocity, increase as the rolling velocity increases almost linearly. The result is helpful to understand the mechanism of the massage and develop the rolling techniques.

Massive photothermal trapping and migration of particles by a tapered optical fiber.

PubMed

Xin, Hongbao; Li, Xingmin; Li, Baojun

2011-08-29

A simple but highly efficient method for particles or bacteria trapping and removal from water is of great importance for local water purification, particularly, for sanitation. Here, we report a massive photothermal trapping and migration of dielectric particles (SiO2, 2.08-µm diameter) in water by using a tapered optical fiber (3.1-µm diameter for taper). With a laser beam of 1.55 µm (170 mW) injected into the fiber, particles moved towards the position, which is about 380 µm away from the tip of the fiber, and assembled at a 290 µm × 100 µm spindle-shaped region. The highest assembly speed of particles is 22.1 ind./s and the highest moving velocity is 20.5 µm/s, which were induced by both negative photophoresis and temperature gradient. The number of assembled particles can reach 10,150 in 15 minutes. With a move of the fiber, the assembled particles will also migrate. We found that, when the fiber was moved 172 µm away from its original location, almost all of the assembled 10,150 particles were migrated to a new location in 140 s with a distance of 172 µm from their original location.

Vertical flow chemical detection portal

DOEpatents

Linker, K.L.; Hannum, D.W.; Conrad, F.J.

1999-06-22

A portal apparatus is described for screening objects or persons for the presence of trace amounts of chemical substances such as illicit drugs or explosives. The apparatus has a test space, in which a person may stand, defined by two generally upright sides spanned by a horizontal transom. One or more fans in the transom generate a downward air flow (uni-directional) within the test space. The air flows downwardly from a high pressure upper zone, past the object or person to be screened. Air moving past the object dislodges from the surface thereof both volatile and nonvolatile particles of the target substance. The particles are entrained into the air flow which continues flowing downward to a lower zone of reduced pressure, where the particle-bearing air stream is directed out of the test space and toward preconcentrator and detection components. The sides of the portal are specially configured to partially contain and maintain the air flow. 3 figs.

Vertical flow chemical detection portal

DOEpatents

Linker, Kevin L.; Hannum, David W.; Conrad, Frank James

1999-01-01

A portal apparatus for screening objects or persons for the presence of trace amounts of chemical substances such as illicit drugs or explosives. The apparatus has a test space, in which a person may stand, defined by two generally upright sides spanned by a horizontal transom. One or more fans in the transom generate a downward air flow (uni-directional) within the test space. The air flows downwardly from a high pressure upper zone, past the object or person to be screened. Air moving past the object dislodges from the surface thereof both volatile and nonvolatile particles of the target substance. The particles are entrained into the air flow which continues flowing downward to a lower zone of reduced pressure, where the particle-bearing air stream is directed out of the test space and toward preconcentrator and detection components. The sides of the portal are specially configured to partially contain and maintain the air flow.

Immunoassay of paralytic shellfish toxins by moving magnetic particles in a stationary liquid-phase lab-on-a-chip.

PubMed

Kim, Myoung-Ho; Choi, Suk-Jung

2015-04-15

In this study, we devised a stationary liquid-phase lab-on-a-chip (SLP LOC), which was operated by moving solid-phase magnetic particles in the stationary liquid phase. The SLP LOC consisted of a sample chamber to which a sample and reactants were added, a detection chamber containing enzyme substrate solution, and a narrow channel connecting the two chambers and filled with buffer. As a model system, competitive immunoassays of saxitoxin (STX), a paralytic shellfish toxin, were conducted in the SLP LOC using protein G-coupled magnetic particles (G-MPs) as the solid phase. Anti-STX antibodies, STX-horseradish peroxidase conjugate, G-MPs, and a STX sample were added to the sample chamber and reacted by shaking. While liquids were in the stationary state, G-MPs were transported from the sample chamber to the detection chamber by moving a magnet below the LOC. After incubation to allow the enzymatic reaction to occur, the absorbance of the detection chamber solution was found to be reciprocally related to the STX concentration of the sample. Thus, the SLP LOC may represent a novel, simple format for point-of-care testing applications of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays by eliminating complicated liquid handling steps. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrophoretic ratcheting of spherical particles in a simple microfluidic device: making particles move against the direction of the net electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hanyang; Slater, Gary; Haan, Hendrick

We examine the electrophoresis of spherical particles in microfluidic devices made of alternating wells and narrow channels a type of system previously used to separate DNA molecules. Using computer simulations, we first show why it should be possible to separate particles having the same free-solution mobility using these systems in DC fields. Interestingly, in some of the systems we studied, the mobility shows an inversion as the field intensity is increased: while small particles have higher mobilities at low fields, the situation is reversed at high fields with the larger particles then moving faster. The resulting nonlinearity allows us to use asymmetric AC electric fields to build a ratchet in which particles have a net size-dependent velocity in the presence of an unbiased (zero-mean) AC field. Exploiting the inversion mentioned above, we show how to build pulsed field sequences that make particles move against the net field (an example of negative mobility). Finally, we demonstrate that it is possible to use these pulsed fields to make particles of different sizes move in opposite directions even though their charge have the same sign. Potential uses of these idea are discussed. Gary is my supervisor in my Master program.

A new class of accurate, mesh-free hydrodynamic simulation methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopkins, Philip F.

2015-06-01

We present two new Lagrangian methods for hydrodynamics, in a systematic comparison with moving-mesh, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), and stationary (non-moving) grid methods. The new methods are designed to simultaneously capture advantages of both SPH and grid-based/adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) schemes. They are based on a kernel discretization of the volume coupled to a high-order matrix gradient estimator and a Riemann solver acting over the volume `overlap'. We implement and test a parallel, second-order version of the method with self-gravity and cosmological integration, in the code GIZMO:1 this maintains exact mass, energy and momentum conservation; exhibits superior angular momentum conservation compared to all other methods we study; does not require `artificial diffusion' terms; and allows the fluid elements to move with the flow, so resolution is automatically adaptive. We consider a large suite of test problems, and find that on all problems the new methods appear competitive with moving-mesh schemes, with some advantages (particularly in angular momentum conservation), at the cost of enhanced noise. The new methods have many advantages versus SPH: proper convergence, good capturing of fluid-mixing instabilities, dramatically reduced `particle noise' and numerical viscosity, more accurate sub-sonic flow evolution, and sharp shock-capturing. Advantages versus non-moving meshes include: automatic adaptivity, dramatically reduced advection errors and numerical overmixing, velocity-independent errors, accurate coupling to gravity, good angular momentum conservation and elimination of `grid alignment' effects. We can, for example, follow hundreds of orbits of gaseous discs, while AMR and SPH methods break down in a few orbits. However, fixed meshes minimize `grid noise'. These differences are important for a range of astrophysical problems.

Self-cleaning efficiency of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces.

PubMed

Bhushan, Bharat; Jung, Yong Chae; Koch, Kerstin

2009-03-03

The hierarchical structured surface of the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera, Gaertn.) leaf provides a model for the development of biomimetic self-cleaning surfaces. On these water-repellent surfaces, water droplets move easily at a low inclination of the leaf and collect dirt particles adhering to the leaf surface. Flat hydrophilic and hydrophobic, nanostructured, microstructured, and hierarchical structured superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated, and a systematic study of wettability and adhesion properties was carried out. The influence of contact angle hysteresis on self-cleaning by water droplets was studied at different tilt angles (TA) of the specimen surfaces (3 degrees for Lotus wax, 10 degrees for n-hexatriacontane, as well as 45 degrees for both types of surfaces). At 3 degrees and 10 degrees TA, no surfaces were cleaned by moving water applied onto the surfaces with nearly zero kinetic energy, but most particles were removed from hierarchical structured surfaces, and a certain amount of particles were captured between the asperities of the micro- and hierarchical structured surfaces. After an increase of the TA to 45 degrees (larger than the tilt angles of all structured surfaces), as usually used for industrial self-cleaning tests, all nanostructured surfaces were cleaned by water droplets moving over the surfaces followed by hierarchical and microstructures. Droplets applied onto the surfaces with some pressure removed particles residues and led to self-cleaning by a combination of sliding and rolling droplets. Geometrical scale effects were responsible for superior performance of nanostructured surfaces.

Understanding Subsurface Colloid Behavior: A New Visualization Technique and the Application of Geo-Centrifuge Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, J. S.; Culligan, P. J.; Germaine, J. T.

2003-12-01

Subsurface colloid behavior has recently drawn attention because colloids are suspected of enhancing contaminant transport in groundwater systems. To better understand the processes by which colloids move through the subsurface, and in particular the vadose zone, a new technique that enables real-time visualization of colloid particles as they move through a porous medium has been developed. This visualization technique involves the use of laser induced fluorescent particles and digital image processing to directly observe particles moving through a porous medium consisting of soda-lime glass beads and water in a transparent experimental box of 10.0cm\\x9D27.9cm\\x9D2.38cm. Colloid particles are simulated using commercially available micron sized particles that fluoresce under argon-ion laser light. The fluorescent light given off from the particles is captured through a camera filter, which lets through only the emitted wavelength of the colloid particles. The intensity of the emitted light is proportional to the colloid particle concentration. The images of colloid movement are captured by a MagnaFire digital camera; a cooled CCD digital camera produced by Optronics. This camera enables real-time capture of images to a computer, thereby allowing the images to be processed immediately. The images taken by the camera are analyzed by the ImagePro software from Media Cybernetics, which contains a range of counting, sizing, measuring, and image enhancement tools for image processing. Laboratory experiments using the new technique have demonstrated the existence of both irreversible and reversible sites for colloid entrapment during uniform saturated flow in a homogeneous porous medium. These tests have also shown a dependence of colloid entrapment on velocity. Models for colloid transport currently available in the literature have proven to be inadequate predictors for the experimental observations, despite the simplicity of the system studied. To further extend the work, the visualization technique has been developed for use on the geo-centrifuge. The advantage that the geo-centrifuge has for investigating subsurface colloid behavior, is the ability to simulate unsaturated transport mechanisms under well simulated field moisture profiles and in shortened periods of time. A series of tests to investigate colloid transport during uniform saturated flow is being used to examine basic scaling laws for colloid transport under enhanced gravity. The paper will describe the new visualization technique, its use in geo-centrifuge testing and observations on scaling relationships for colloid transport during geo-centrifuge experiments. Although the visualization technique has been developed for investigating subsurface colloid behavior, it does have application in other areas of investigation, including the investigation of microbial behavior in the subsurface.

Studies of Shock Wave Interaction with a Curtain of Massive Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lingampally, Sumanth Reddy; Wayne, Patrick; Cooper, Sean; Izard, Ricardo Gonzalez; Jacobs, Gustaaf; Vorobieff, Peter

2017-11-01

Interaction of a shock wave with planar and perturbed curtain of massive particles is studied experimentally. To form the curtain, solid soda lime particles (30-50 micron diameter) are dropped from a hopper fitted with mesh sieves and vibrated with a motor. The curtain forms when the particles move through a rectangular slot in the top of the test section of the shock tube used in experiment. The curtain can be either planar or perturbed in the horizontal plane (parallel to the shock direction) based on the shape of the slot. This setup generates a particle curtain with a volume fraction varying between 2 and 8 percent along its vertical height. A laser illuminates the curtain in vertical and horizontal planes. When the diaphragm separating the driver and the driven section is ruptured, shock waves with Mach numbers ranging from 1 to 2, depending on the pressure, propagate down the driven section and into test section. The phenomena following the shock wave impingement on the particle curtain are captured using an Apogee Alta U42 camera. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation Grant 1603915/1603326.

Flux enhancement of slow-moving particles by Sun or Jupiter: Can they be detected on Earth?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patla, Bijunath R.; Nemiroff, Robert J.; Hoffmann, Dieter H. H.

Slow-moving particles capable of interacting solely with gravity might be detected on Earth as a result of the gravitational lensing induced focusing action of the Sun. The deflection experienced by these particles is inversely proportional to the square of their velocities, and as a result their focal lengths will be shorter. We investigate the velocity dispersion of these slow-moving particles, originating from distant point-like sources, for imposing upper and lower bounds on the velocities of such particles in order for them to be focused onto Earth. Stars, distant galaxies, and cluster of galaxies, etc., may all be considered as point-likemore » sources. We find that fluxes of such slow-moving and non-interacting particles must have speeds between ∼0.01 and .14 times the speed of light, c. Particles with speeds less than ∼0.01c will undergo way too much deflection to be focused, although such individual particles could be detected. At the caustics, the magnification factor could be as high as ∼10{sup 6}. We impose lensing constraints on the mass of these particles in order for them to be detected with large flux enhancements that are greater than 10{sup –9} eV. An approximate mass density profile for Jupiter is used to constrain particle velocities for lensing by Jupiter. We show that Jupiter could potentially focus particles with speeds as low as ∼0.001c, which the Sun cannot.« less

Characterization of Nanoparticle Release from Surface Coatings by the Simulation of a Sanding Process

PubMed Central

Göhler, Daniel; Stintz, Michael; Hillemann, Lars; Vorbau, Manuel

2010-01-01

Nanoparticles are used in industrial and domestic applications to control customized product properties. But there are several uncertainties concerning possible hazard to health safety and environment. Hence, it is necessary to search for methods to analyze the particle release from typical application processes. Based on a survey of commercial sanding machines, the relevant sanding process parameters were employed for the design of a miniature sanding test setup in a particle-free environment for the quantification of the nanoparticle release into air from surface coatings. The released particles were moved by a defined airflow to a fast mobility particle sizer and other aerosol measurement equipment to enable the determination of released particle numbers additionally to the particle size distribution. First, results revealed a strong impact of the coating material on the swarf mass and the number of released particles. PMID:20696941

Direct Numerical Simulation of dense particle-laden turbulent flows using immersed boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fan; Desjardins, Olivier

2009-11-01

Dense particle-laden turbulent flows play an important role in many engineering applications, ranging from pharmaceutical coating and chemical synthesis to fluidized bed reactors. Because of the complexity of the physics involved in these flows, current computational models for gas-particle processes, such as drag and heat transfer, rely on empirical correlations and have been shown to lack accuracy. In this work, direct numerical simulations (DNS) of dense particle-laden flows are conducted, using immersed boundaries (IB) to resolve the flow around each particle. First, the accuracy of the proposed approach is tested on a range of 2D and 3D flows at various Reynolds numbers, and resolution requirements are discussed. Then, various particle arrangements and number densities are simulated, the impact on particle wake interaction is assessed, and existing drag models are evaluated in the case of fixed particles. In addition, the impact of the particles on turbulence dissipation is investigated. Finally, a strategy for handling moving and colliding particles is discussed.

Quantum interference of position and momentum: A particle propagation paradox

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofmann, Holger F.

2017-08-01

Optimal simultaneous control of position and momentum can be achieved by maximizing the probabilities of finding their experimentally observed values within two well-defined intervals. The assumption that particles move along straight lines in free space can then be tested by deriving a lower limit for the probability of finding the particle in a corresponding spatial interval at any intermediate time t . Here, it is shown that this lower limit can be violated by quantum superpositions of states confined within the respective position and momentum intervals. These violations of the particle propagation inequality show that quantum mechanics changes the laws of motion at a fundamental level, providing a different perspective on causality relations and time evolution in quantum mechanics.

Active Teaching of Diffusion through History of Science, Computer Animation and Role Playing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krajsek, Simona Strgulc; Vilhar, Barbara

2010-01-01

We developed and tested a lesson plan for active teaching of diffusion in secondary schools (grades 10-13), which stimulates understanding of the thermal (Brownian) motion of particles as the principle underlying diffusion. During the lesson, students actively explore the Brownian motion through microscope observations of irregularly moving small…

Geodesics In A Spinning String Spacetime

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Culetu, Hristu

2006-11-28

The geodesics equations for a rotating observer in a spinning string geometry are investigated using the Euler - Lagrange equations. For test particles with vanishing angular momentum, the radial equation of motion does not depend on the angular velocity {omega} but on the angular momentum of the string. A massless particle moves tachyonic but iteed tends asymptotically to unit velocity after a time of the order of few Planck time b. The spacetime has a horizon at r = 0, irrespective of the value of {omega} but its angular velocity is given by {omega} - 1/b. The Sagnac time delaymore » is computed proving to depend both on {omega} and the radius of the circular orbit. The velocity of an ingoing massive test particle approaches zero very close to the spinning string, as if it were rejected by it.« less

Relative distance between tracers as a measure of diffusivity within moving aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pönisch, Wolfram; Zaburdaev, Vasily

2018-02-01

Tracking of particles, be it a passive tracer or an actively moving bacterium in the growing bacterial colony, is a powerful technique to probe the physical properties of the environment of the particles. One of the most common measures of particle motion driven by fluctuations and random forces is its diffusivity, which is routinely obtained by measuring the mean squared displacement of the particles. However, often the tracer particles may be moving in a domain or an aggregate which itself experiences some regular or random motion and thus masks the diffusivity of tracers. Here we provide a method for assessing the diffusivity of tracer particles within mobile aggregates by measuring the so-called mean squared relative distance (MSRD) between two tracers. We provide analytical expressions for both the ensemble and time averaged MSRD allowing for direct identification of diffusivities from experimental data.

A direct force model for Galilean invariant lattice Boltzmann simulation of fluid-particle flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Shi; He, Qing; Chen, Baiman; Yang, Xiaoping; Huang, Simin

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been widely used in the simulation of particulate flows involving complex moving boundaries. Due to the kinetic background of LBM, the bounce-back (BB) rule and the momentum exchange (ME) method can be easily applied to the solid boundary treatment and the evaluation of fluid-solid interaction force, respectively. However, recently it has been found that both the BB and ME schemes may violate the principle of Galilean invariance (GI). Some modified BB and ME methods have been proposed to reduce the GI error. But these remedies have been recognized subsequently to be inconsistent with Newton’s Third Law. Therefore, contrary to those corrections based on the BB and ME methods, a unified iterative approach is adopted to handle the solid boundary in the present study. Furthermore, a direct force (DF) scheme is proposed to evaluate the fluid-particle interaction force. The methods preserve the efficiency of the BB and ME schemes, and the performance on the accuracy and GI is verified and validated in the test cases of particulate flows with freely moving particles.

CFD Modelling of Particle Mixtures in a 2D CFB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seppälä, M.; Kallio, S.

The capability of Fluent 6.2.16 to simulate particle mixtures in a laboratory scale 2D circulating fluidized bed (CFB) unit has been tested. In the simulations, the solids were described as one or two particle phases. The loading ratio of small to large particles, particle diameters and the gas inflow velocity were varied. The 40 cm wide and 3 m high 2D CFB was modeled using a grid with 31080 cells. The outflow of particles at the top of the CFB was monitored and emanated particles were fed back to the riser through a return duct. The paper presents the segregation patterns of the particle phases obtained from the simulations. When the fraction of large particles was 50% or larger, large particles segregated, as expected, to the wall regions and to the bottom part of the riser. However, when the fraction of large particles was 10%, an excess of large particles was found in the upper half of the riser. The explanation for this unexpected phenomenon was found in the distribution of the large particles between the slow clusters and the faster moving lean suspension.

Motion of charged particles in a NUTty Einstein-Maxwell spacetime and causality violation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clément, Gérard; Guenouche, Mourad

2018-06-01

We investigate the motion of electrically charged test particles in spacetimes with closed timelike curves, a subset of the black hole or wormhole Reissner-Nordström-NUT spacetimes without periodic identification of time. We show that, while in the wormhole case there are closed worldlines inside a potential well, the wordlines of initially distant charged observers moving under the action of the Lorentz force can never close or self-intersect. This means that for these observers causality is preserved, which is an instance of our weak chronology protection criterion.

The erosion of the beaches on the coast of Alicante: Study of the mechanisms of weathering by accelerated laboratory tests.

PubMed

López, I; López, M; Aragonés, L; García-Barba, J; López, M P; Sánchez, I

2016-10-01

One of the main problems that coasts around the world present, is the regression and erosion of beaches. However, the factors involved in these processes are unclear. In this study, the influence of sediment erosion on beach regression has been analysed. In order to do that, a three-step investigation has been carried out. Firstly, coastline variations of four Spanish beaches have been analysed. Secondly, a study on sediment position along the beach profile has been developed. Finally, the process that beach sediments undergo along the surf zone when they are hit by the incident waves has been simulated by an accelerated particle weathering test. Samples of sand and shells were subjected to this accelerated particle weathering test. Results were supplemented with those from carbonate content test, XRD, SEM and granulometric analysis. Results shows a cross-shore classification of sediments along the beach profile in which finer particles move beyond offshore limit. Besides, it was observed that sediment erosion process is divided into three sages: i) particles wear due to crashes ii) dissolution of the carbonate fraction, and iii) breakage and separation of mineral and carbonate parts of particles. All these processes lead to a reduction of particle size. The mechanism responsible of beach erosion would consist of multiples and continuous particle location exchanges along the beach profile as a consequence of grain-size decrease due to erosion. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a real-time internal and external marker tracking system for particle therapy: a phantom study using patient tumor trajectory data

PubMed Central

Cho, Junsang; Cheon, Wonjoong; Ahn, Sanghee; Jung, Hyunuk; Sheen, Heesoon; Park, Hee Chul

2017-01-01

Abstract Target motion–induced uncertainty in particle therapy is more complicated than that in X-ray therapy, requiring more accurate motion management. Therefore, a hybrid motion-tracking system that can track internal tumor motion and as well as an external surrogate of tumor motion was developed. Recently, many correlation tests between internal and external markers in X-ray therapy have been developed; however, the accuracy of such internal/external marker tracking systems, especially in particle therapy, has not yet been sufficiently tested. In this article, the process of installing an in-house hybrid internal/external motion-tracking system is described and the accuracy level of tracking system was acquired. Our results demonstrated that the developed in-house external/internal combined tracking system has submillimeter accuracy, and can be clinically used as a particle therapy system as well as a simulation system for moving tumor treatment. PMID:28201522

Computational techniques for flows with finite-rate condensation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Candler, Graham V.

1993-01-01

A computational method to simulate the inviscid two-dimensional flow of a two-phase fluid was developed. This computational technique treats the gas phase and each of a prescribed number of particle sizes as separate fluids which are allowed to interact with one another. Thus, each particle-size class is allowed to move through the fluid at its own velocity at each point in the flow field. Mass, momentum, and energy are exchanged between each particle class and the gas phase. It is assumed that the particles do not collide with one another, so that there is no inter-particle exchange of momentum and energy. However, the particles are allowed to grow, and therefore, they may change from one size class to another. Appropriate rates of mass, momentum, and energy exchange between the gas and particle phases and between the different particle classes were developed. A numerical method was developed for use with this equation set. Several test cases were computed and show qualitative agreement with previous calculations.

Digital stereo-holographic microscopy for studying three-dimensional particle dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byeon, Hyeokjun; Go, Taesik; Lee, Sang Joon

2018-06-01

A digital stereo-holographic microscopy (DsHM) with two viewing angles is proposed to measure 3D information of microscale particles. This approach includes two volumetric recordings and numerical reconstruction, and it involves the combination of separately reconstructed holograms. The 3D positional information of a particle was determined by searching the center of the overlapped reconstructed volume. After confirming the proposed technique using static spherical particles, the 3D information of moving particles suspended in a Hagen-Poiseiulle flow was successfully obtained. Moreover, the 3D information of nonspherical particles, including ellipsoidal particles and red blood cells, were measured using the proposed technique. In addition to 3D positional information, the orientation and shape of the test samples were obtained from the plane images by slicing the overlapped volume perpendicular to the directions of the image recordings. This DsHM technique will be useful in analyzing the 3D dynamic behavior of various nonspherical particles, which cannot be measured by conventional digital holographic microscopy.

Particle therapy of moving targets—the strategies for tumour motion monitoring and moving targets irradiation

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Particle therapy of moving targets is still a great challenge. The motion of organs situated in the thorax and abdomen strongly affects the precision of proton and carbon ion radiotherapy. The motion is responsible for not only the dislocation of the tumour but also the alterations in the internal density along the beam path, which influence the range of particle beams. Furthermore, in case of pencil beam scanning, there is an interference between the target movement and dynamic beam delivery. This review presents the strategies for tumour motion monitoring and moving target irradiation in the context of hadron therapy. Methods enabling the direct determination of tumour position (fluoroscopic imaging of implanted radio-opaque fiducial markers, electromagnetic detection of inserted transponders and ultrasonic tumour localization systems) are presented. Attention is also drawn to the techniques which use external surrogate motion for an indirect estimation of target displacement during irradiation. The role of respiratory-correlated CT [four-dimensional CT (4DCT)] in the determination of motion pattern prior to the particle treatment is also considered. An essential part of the article is the review of the main approaches to moving target irradiation in hadron therapy: gating, rescanning (repainting), gated rescanning and tumour tracking. The advantages, drawbacks and development trends of these methods are discussed. The new accelerators, called “cyclinacs”, are presented, because their application to particle therapy will allow making a breakthrough in the 4D spot scanning treatment of moving organs. PMID:27376637

A magnetic braking and sensing technique for deceleration and recovery of moving non-magnetic metallic particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, David; Yoshinaka, Akio; Wu, Lawrence

2018-05-01

A magnetic braking and sensing technique developed as a potential alternative to assist with the non-contact deceleration and detection of explosively dispersed non-magnetic metallic particles is discussed. In order to verify the feasibility of such a technique and gain an understanding of how the underlying forces scale with particle size and velocity, a study was conducted whereby an aluminum particle moving along a spatially varying but time-invariant magnetic field was modeled and the corresponding experiment performed.

20007: Quantum particle displacement by a moving localized potential trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granot, E.; Marchewka, A.

2009-04-01

We describe the dynamics of a bound state of an attractive δ-well under displacement of the potential. Exact analytical results are presented for the suddenly moved potential. Since this is a quantum system, only a fraction of the initially confined wave function remains confined to the moving potential. However, it is shown that besides the probability to remain confined to the moving barrier and the probability to remain in the initial position, there is also a certain probability for the particle to move at double speed. A quasi-classical interpretation for this effect is suggested. The temporal and spectral dynamics of each one of the scenarios is investigated.

Particle dispersing system and method for testing semiconductor manufacturing equipment

DOEpatents

Chandrachood, Madhavi; Ghanayem, Steve G.; Cantwell, Nancy; Rader, Daniel J.; Geller, Anthony S.

1998-01-01

The system and method prepare a gas stream comprising particles at a known concentration using a particle disperser for moving particles from a reservoir of particles into a stream of flowing carrier gas. The electrostatic charges on the particles entrained in the carrier gas are then neutralized or otherwise altered, and the resulting particle-laden gas stream is then diluted to provide an acceptable particle concentration. The diluted gas stream is then split into a calibration stream and the desired output stream. The particles in the calibration stream are detected to provide an indication of the actual size distribution and concentration of particles in the output stream that is supplied to a process chamber being analyzed. Particles flowing out of the process chamber within a vacuum pumping system are detected, and the output particle size distribution and concentration are compared with the particle size distribution and concentration of the calibration stream in order to determine the particle transport characteristics of a process chamber, or to determine the number of particles lodged in the process chamber as a function of manufacturing process parameters such as pressure, flowrate, temperature, process chamber geometry, particle size, particle charge, and gas composition.

Null geodesics and red-blue shifts of photons emitted from geodesic particles around a noncommutative black hole space-time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuniyal, Ravi Shankar; Uniyal, Rashmi; Biswas, Anindya; Nandan, Hemwati; Purohit, K. D.

2018-06-01

We investigate the geodesic motion of massless test particles in the background of a noncommutative geometry-inspired Schwarzschild black hole. The behavior of effective potential is analyzed in the equatorial plane and the possible motions of massless particles (i.e. photons) for different values of impact parameter are discussed accordingly. We have also calculated the frequency shift of photons in this space-time. Further, the mass parameter of a noncommutative inspired Schwarzschild black hole is computed in terms of the measurable redshift of photons emitted by massive particles moving along circular geodesics in equatorial plane. The strength of gravitational fields of noncommutative geometry-inspired Schwarzschild black hole and usual Schwarzschild black hole in General Relativity is also compared.

Periastron shift for a spinning test particle around naked singularities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Sajal

2018-06-01

In the present article, we investigate the Periastron precession for a spinning test particle moving in nearly circular orbits around naked singularities. We consider two well-known solutions that can produce a spacetime with naked singularity—(a) first, the Reissner-Nordström metric, which is a static charged solution with spherical symmetry, and (b) second, the stationary, axisymmetric Kerr metric. For simplicity, we only consider the motion confined on the equatorial plane in both these cases and solve exactly the Mathisson-Papapetrou equations. In addition, we analytically compute the Periastron precession within the framework of linear spin approximation. The inclusion of the spin parameter modifies the results with nonspinning particles and also reflects some interesting properties of the naked geometries. Furthermore, we carried out a numerical approach without any assumptions to probe the large order spin values. The implication of the spin-curvature coupling in connection with the naked geometries is also discussed.

Simultaneous acquisition of trajectory and fluorescence lifetime of moving single particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Qianqian; Qi, Jing; Lin, Danying; Yan, Wei; Hu, Rui; Peng, Xiao; Qu, Junle

2017-02-01

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) has been a powerful tool in life science because it can reveal the interactions of an excited fluorescent molecule and its environment. The combination with two-photon excitation (TPE) and timecorrelated single photon counting (TCSPC) provides it the ability of optical sectioning, high time resolution and detection efficiency. In previous work, we have introduced a two-dimensional acousto-optic deflector (AOD) into TCSPC-based FLIM to achieve fast and flexible FLIM. In this work, we combined the AOD-FLIM system with a single particle tracking (SPT) setup and algorithm and developed an SPT-FLIM system. Using the system, we acquired the trajectory and fluorescence lifetime of a moving particle simultaneously and reconstructed a life-time-marked pseudocolored trajectory, which might reflect dynamic interaction between the moving particle and its local environment along its motion trail. The results indicated the potential of the technique for studying the interaction between specific moving biological macromolecules and the ambient micro-environment in live cells.

Application of particle swarm optimization in path planning of mobile robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yong; Cai, Feng; Wang, Ying

2017-08-01

In order to realize the optimal path planning of mobile robot in unknown environment, a particle swarm optimization algorithm based on path length as fitness function is proposed. The location of the global optimal particle is determined by the minimum fitness value, and the robot moves along the points of the optimal particles to the target position. The process of moving to the target point is done with MATLAB R2014a. Compared with the standard particle swarm optimization algorithm, the simulation results show that this method can effectively avoid all obstacles and get the optimal path.

Constant-pressure nested sampling with atomistic dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldock, Robert J. N.; Bernstein, Noam; Salerno, K. Michael; Pártay, Lívia B.; Csányi, Gábor

2017-10-01

The nested sampling algorithm has been shown to be a general method for calculating the pressure-temperature-composition phase diagrams of materials. While the previous implementation used single-particle Monte Carlo moves, these are inefficient for condensed systems with general interactions where single-particle moves cannot be evaluated faster than the energy of the whole system. Here we enhance the method by using all-particle moves: either Galilean Monte Carlo or the total enthalpy Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm, introduced in this paper. We show that these algorithms enable the determination of phase transition temperatures with equivalent accuracy to the previous method at 1 /N of the cost for an N -particle system with general interactions, or at equal cost when single-particle moves can be done in 1 /N of the cost of a full N -particle energy evaluation. We demonstrate this speed-up for the freezing and condensation transitions of the Lennard-Jones system and show the utility of the algorithms by calculating the order-disorder phase transition of a binary Lennard-Jones model alloy, the eutectic of copper-gold, the density anomaly of water, and the condensation and solidification of bead-spring polymers. The nested sampling method with all three algorithms is implemented in the pymatnest software.

Precision sizing of moving large particles using diffraction splitting of Doppler lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kononenko, Vadim L.

1999-02-01

It is shown, that the Doppler line from a single large particle moving with a constant velocity through a finite- width laser beam, undergoes a doublet-type splitting under specific observation conditions. A general requirement is that particle size 2a is not negligibly small, compared with beam diameter 2w$0. Three optical mechanisms of line splitting are considered. The first one is based on nonsymmetric diffraction of a bounded laser beam by a moving particle. The second arises from the transient geometry of diffraction. The third mechanism, of photometric nature, originates from specific time variation of total illuminance of moving particles when 2a>Lambda, the interference fringe spacing in the measuring volume. The diffraction splitting is observed when a detector is placed near one of diffraction minima corresponding to either of probing beams, and 2a equals (n0.5)Lambda for n equals 1,2. The photometric splitting is observed with an image-forming optics, when 2a equals n(Lambda) . That gives the possibility of distant particles sizing based on the Doppler line splitting phenomenon. A general theory of line splitting is developed, and used to explain the experimental observations quantitatively. The influence of the scattering angels and observation angle on the line splitting characteristics is studied analytically and numerically.

The Origin of Gravitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Sheng Ming

2012-10-01

In the natural world, people have discovered four kinds of forces: electromagnetic force, gravitation, weak force, and strong force. Although the gravitation has been discovered more than three hundred years, its mechanism of origin is unclear until today. While investigating the origin of gravitation, I do some experiments discover the moving photons produce gravitation. This discovery shows the origin of gravitation. Meanwhile I do some experiments discover the light interference fringes are produced by the gravitation: my discovery demonstrate light is a particle, but is not a wave-particle duality. Furthermore, applications of this discovery to other moving particles show a similar effect. In a word: the micro particle moving produce gravitation and electromagnetic force. Then I do quantity experiment get a general formula: Reveal the essence of gravitational mass and the essence of electric charge; reveal the origin of gravitation and the essence of matter wave. Along this way, I unify the gravitation and electromagnetic force. Namely I find a natural law that from atomic world to star world play in moving track. See website: https://www.lap-publishing.com/catalog/details/store/gb/book/978-3-8473-2658-8/mechanism-of-interaction-in-moving-matter

Moving Object Localization Based on UHF RFID Phase and Laser Clustering

PubMed Central

Fu, Yulu; Wang, Changlong; Liang, Gaoli; Zhang, Hua; Ur Rehman, Shafiq

2018-01-01

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) offers a way to identify objects without any contact. However, positioning accuracy is limited since RFID neither provides distance nor bearing information about the tag. This paper proposes a new and innovative approach for the localization of moving object using a particle filter by incorporating RFID phase and laser-based clustering from 2d laser range data. First of all, we calculate phase-based velocity of the moving object based on RFID phase difference. Meanwhile, we separate laser range data into different clusters, and compute the distance-based velocity and moving direction of these clusters. We then compute and analyze the similarity between two velocities, and select K clusters having the best similarity score. We predict the particles according to the velocity and moving direction of laser clusters. Finally, we update the weights of the particles based on K clusters and achieve the localization of moving objects. The feasibility of this approach is validated on a Scitos G5 service robot and the results prove that we have successfully achieved a localization accuracy up to 0.25 m. PMID:29522458

A Lagrangian particle method with remeshing for tracer transport on the sphere

DOE PAGES

Bosler, Peter Andrew; Kent, James; Krasny, Robert; ...

2017-03-30

A Lagrangian particle method (called LPM) based on the flow map is presented for tracer transport on the sphere. The particles carry tracer values and are located at the centers and vertices of triangular Lagrangian panels. Remeshing is applied to control particle disorder and two schemes are compared, one using direct tracer interpolation and another using inverse flow map interpolation with sampling of the initial tracer density. Test cases include a moving-vortices flow and reversing-deformational flow with both zero and nonzero divergence, as well as smooth and discontinuous tracers. We examine the accuracy of the computed tracer density and tracermore » integral, and preservation of nonlinear correlation in a pair of tracers. Here, we compare results obtained using LPM and the Lin–Rood finite-volume scheme. An adaptive particle/panel refinement scheme is demonstrated.« less

A Lagrangian particle method with remeshing for tracer transport on the sphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bosler, Peter Andrew; Kent, James; Krasny, Robert

A Lagrangian particle method (called LPM) based on the flow map is presented for tracer transport on the sphere. The particles carry tracer values and are located at the centers and vertices of triangular Lagrangian panels. Remeshing is applied to control particle disorder and two schemes are compared, one using direct tracer interpolation and another using inverse flow map interpolation with sampling of the initial tracer density. Test cases include a moving-vortices flow and reversing-deformational flow with both zero and nonzero divergence, as well as smooth and discontinuous tracers. We examine the accuracy of the computed tracer density and tracermore » integral, and preservation of nonlinear correlation in a pair of tracers. Here, we compare results obtained using LPM and the Lin–Rood finite-volume scheme. An adaptive particle/panel refinement scheme is demonstrated.« less

RADIO-ACTIVE TRANSDUCER

DOEpatents

Wanetick, S.

1962-03-01

ABS>ure the change in velocity of a moving object. The transducer includes a radioactive source having a collimated beam of radioactive particles, a shield which can block the passage of the radioactive beam, and a scintillation detector to measure the number of radioactive particles in the beam which are not blocked by the shield. The shield is operatively placed across the radioactive beam so that any motion normal to the beam will cause the shield to move in the opposite direction thereby allowing more radioactive particles to reach the detector. The number of particles detected indicates the acceleration. (AEC)

On the frequency response of a Wenglor particle-counting system for aeolian transport measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, Bernard O.; Davidson-Arnott, Robin G. D.; Hilton, Michael J.; Fraser, Douglas

2018-06-01

A commonly deployed particle-counting system for aeolian saltation flux, consisting of a Wenglor fork sensor and an Onset Hobo Pulse Input Adapter linked to an Onset Hobo Energy Logger Pro data logger, was tested for frequency response. The Wenglor fork sensor is an optical gate device that has very fast switching capacity that can accommodate the time of flight of saltating sand particles through the sensing volume with the exception of very fine sand or silt and very quickly moving particles. The Pulse Input Adapter, in contrast, imposes limitations on the frequency response of the system. The manufacturer of the pulse adapter specifies an upper limit of 120 Hz, although bench tests with an electronic pulse generator indicate that the frequency response of the Pulse Input Adapter, in isolation, is excellent up to 3000 Hz, with only small error (less than 1.6%) due to under-counting during data transfer intervals. A mechanical test of the integrated system (fork sensor, pulse input adapter, and data logger) demonstrates excellent performance up to about 700 Hz (less than 2% error), but significant under-counting above 1000 Hz for unknown reasons. This specific particle-counting system therefore has a frequency response that is well suited for investigation of the dynamics of aeolian saltation as typically encountered in most field conditions on coastal beaches with the exception of extreme wind events and very small particle sizes.

Acoustic particle separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barmatz, M. B.; Stoneburner, J. D.; Jacobi, N.; Wang, T. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

A method is described which uses acoustic energy to separate particles of different sizes, densities, or the like. The method includes applying acoustic energy resonant to a chamber containing a liquid of gaseous medium to set up a standing wave pattern that includes a force potential well wherein particles within the well are urged towards the center, or position of minimum force potential. A group of particles to be separated is placed in the chamber, while a non-acoustic force such as gravity is applied, so that the particles separate with the larger or denser particles moving away from the center of the well to a position near its edge and progressively smaller lighter particles moving progressively closer to the center of the well. Particles are removed from different positions within the well, so that particles are separated according to the positions they occupy in the well.

Liquid-Gas-Like Phase Transition in Sand Flow Under Microgravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yu; Zhu, Chongqiang; Xiang, Xiang; Mao, Wuwei

2015-06-01

In previous studies of granular flow, it has been found that gravity plays a compacting role, causing convection and stratification by density. However, there is a lack of research and analysis of the characteristics of different particles' motion under normal gravity contrary to microgravity. In this paper, we conduct model experiments on sand flow using a model test system based on a drop tower under microgravity, within which the characteristics and development processes of granular flow under microgravity are captured by high-speed cameras. The configurations of granular flow are simulated using a modified MPS (moving particle simulation), which is a mesh-free, pure Lagrangian method. Moreover, liquid-gas-like phase transitions in the sand flow under microgravity, including the transitions to "escaped", "jumping", and "scattered" particles are highlighted, and their effects on the weakening of shear resistance, enhancement of fluidization, and changes in particle-wall and particle-particle contact mode are analyzed. This study could help explain the surface geology evolution of small solar bodies and elucidate the nature of granular interaction.

Thermophoretic aggregation of particles in a protoplanetary disc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Francis J.

2018-04-01

Thermophoresis causes particles to move down a temperature gradient to a cooler region of a neutral gas. An example is the temperature gradient in the gas around a large cold object, such as an aggregate of particles, cooled by radiation in a protoplanetary disc. Particles near this aggregate move down the temperature gradient to the aggregate, equivalent to the particles being attracted to it by an inter-particle thermophoretic force. This force is proportional to the temperature difference between gas and aggregate, to the gas density and to the cross-section of the aggregate. The force can be large. For example, calculations based on the equations of motion of the interacting particles show that it can be large enough in an optically thin environment to increase the rate of aggregation by up to six orders of magnitude when an aggregate radius lies between 0.1 μm and 1 mm. From 1 mm to about 10 cm aggregates drift inwards through the gas too quickly for the thermophoretic attraction to increase aggregation significantly; so they grow slowly, causing an observed accumulation of particles at these sizes. Particles above 10 cm move more quickly, causing aggregation due to collisions, but also causing fragmentation. However, calculations show that fragmenting particles and bouncing particles in inelastic collisions often have low enough relative velocities that thermophoresis brings them together again. This allows particles to grow above 1 m, which is otherwise difficult to explain.

A proposed physical analog for a quantum probability amplitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyd, Jeffrey

What is the physical analog of a probability amplitude? All quantum mathematics, including quantum information, is built on amplitudes. Every other science uses probabilities; QM alone uses their square root. Why? This question has been asked for a century, but no one previously has proposed an answer. We will present cylindrical helices moving toward a particle source, which particles follow backwards. Consider Feynman's book QED. He speaks of amplitudes moving through space like the hand of a spinning clock. His hand is a complex vector. It traces a cylindrical helix in Cartesian space. The Theory of Elementary Waves changes direction so Feynman's clock faces move toward the particle source. Particles follow amplitudes (quantum waves) backwards. This contradicts wave particle duality. We will present empirical evidence that wave particle duality is wrong about the direction of particles versus waves. This involves a paradigm shift; which are always controversial. We believe that our model is the ONLY proposal ever made for the physical foundations of probability amplitudes. We will show that our ``probability amplitudes'' in physical nature form a Hilbert vector space with adjoints, an inner product and support both linear algebra and Dirac notation.

Development of a real-time internal and external marker tracking system for particle therapy: a phantom study using patient tumor trajectory data.

PubMed

Cho, Junsang; Cheon, Wonjoong; Ahn, Sanghee; Jung, Hyunuk; Sheen, Heesoon; Park, Hee Chul; Han, Youngyih

2017-09-01

Target motion-induced uncertainty in particle therapy is more complicated than that in X-ray therapy, requiring more accurate motion management. Therefore, a hybrid motion-tracking system that can track internal tumor motion and as well as an external surrogate of tumor motion was developed. Recently, many correlation tests between internal and external markers in X-ray therapy have been developed; however, the accuracy of such internal/external marker tracking systems, especially in particle therapy, has not yet been sufficiently tested. In this article, the process of installing an in-house hybrid internal/external motion-tracking system is described and the accuracy level of tracking system was acquired. Our results demonstrated that the developed in-house external/internal combined tracking system has submillimeter accuracy, and can be clinically used as a particle therapy system as well as a simulation system for moving tumor treatment. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japan Radiation Research Society and Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.

Two-stage preconcentrator for vapor/particle detection

DOEpatents

Linker, Kevin L.; Brusseau, Charles A.

2002-01-01

A device for concentrating particles from a high volume gas stream and delivering the particles for detection in a low volume gas stream includes first and second preconcentrators. The first preconcentrator has a first structure for retaining particles in a first gas flow path through which a first gas flows at a relatively high volume, valves for selectively stopping the first gas flow; and a second gas flow path through which gas flows at an intermediate flow volume for moving particles from the first structure. The second preconcentrator includes a second structure for retaining particles in the second gas flow path; a valve for selectively stopping the second gas flow; and a third gas flow path through which gas flows at a low volume for moving particles from the second structure to a detector. Each of the particle retaining structures is preferably a metal screen that may be resistively heated by application of an electric potential to release the particles.

Random walk of passive tracers among randomly moving obstacles.

PubMed

Gori, Matteo; Donato, Irene; Floriani, Elena; Nardecchia, Ilaria; Pettini, Marco

2016-04-14

This study is mainly motivated by the need of understanding how the diffusion behavior of a biomolecule (or even of a larger object) is affected by other moving macromolecules, organelles, and so on, inside a living cell, whence the possibility of understanding whether or not a randomly walking biomolecule is also subject to a long-range force field driving it to its target. By means of the Continuous Time Random Walk (CTRW) technique the topic of random walk in random environment is here considered in the case of a passively diffusing particle among randomly moving and interacting obstacles. The relevant physical quantity which is worked out is the diffusion coefficient of the passive tracer which is computed as a function of the average inter-obstacles distance. The results reported here suggest that if a biomolecule, let us call it a test molecule, moves towards its target in the presence of other independently interacting molecules, its motion can be considerably slowed down.

Particle flow within a transonic compressor rotor passage with application to laser-Doppler velocimetry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maxwell, B. R.

1975-01-01

A theoretical analysis was conducted of the dynamic behavior of micron size particles moving in the three-dimensional flow field of a rotating transonic axial-flow air compressor rotor. The particle velocity lag and angular deviation relative to the gas were determined as functions of particle diameter, mass density and radial position. Particle size and density were varied over ranges selected to correspond to typical laser-Doppler velocimeter (LDV) flow field mapping applications. It was found that the particles move essentially on gas stream surfaces and that particle tracking is relatively insensitive to the rotor radial coordinate. Velocity lag and angular deviation increased whenever particle size or mass density increased, and particle tracking was more sensitive to a change in particle diameter than to a corresponding change in mass density. Results indicated that velocity and angular deviations generally less than 1 percent and 1 degree could be achieved with 1 gm/cc tracer particles with diameters of 1 micron or less.

Identification of water soluble and particle bound compounds causing sublethal toxic effects. A field study on sediments affected by a chlor-alkali industry.

PubMed

Bosch, Carme; Olivares, Alba; Faria, Melissa; Navas, Jose M; del Olmo, Iván; Grimalt, Joan O; Piña, Benjamín; Barata, Carlos

2009-08-13

A combination of cost effective sublethal Daphnia magna feeding tests, yeast- and cell culture-based bioassays and Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedures was used to characterize toxic compounds within sediments collected in a river area under the influence of the effluents from a chlor-alkali industry (Ebro River, NE Spain). Tests were designed to measure and identify toxic compounds in the particulate and filtered water fractions of sediment elutriates. The combined use of bioassays responding to elutriates and dioxin-like compounds evidenced the existence of three major groups of hazardous contaminants in the most contaminated site: (A) metals such as cadmium and mercury bound to sediment fine particles that could be easily resuspended and moved downstream, (B) soluble compounds (presumably, lye) able to alkalinize water to toxic levels, and (C) organochlorine compounds with high dioxin-like activity. These results provided evidence that elutriate D. magna feeding responses can be used as surrogate assays for more tedious chronic whole sediment tests, and that the incorporation of such tests in sediment TIE procedures may improve the ability to identify the toxicity of particle-bound and water-soluble contaminants in sediments.

Ratchet Transport of Chiral Particles Caused by the Transversal Asymmetry: Current Reversals and Particle Separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jian-li; Lu, Shi-cai; Ai, Bao-quan

2018-06-01

Due to the chirality of active particles, the transversal asymmetry can induce the the longitudinal directed transport. The transport of chiral active particles in a periodic channel is investigated in the presence of two types of the transversal asymmetry, the transverse force and the transverse rigid half-circle obstacles. For all cases, the counterclockwise and clockwise particles move to the opposite directions. For the case of the only transverse force, the chiral active particles can reverse their directions when increasing the transverse force. When the transverse rigid half-circle obstacles are introduced, the transport behavior of particles becomes more complex and multiple current reversals occur. The direction of the transport is determined by the competition between two types of the transversal asymmetry. For a given chirality, by suitably tailoring parameters, particles with different self-propulsion speed can move in different directions and can be separated.

A chip for catching, separating, and transporting bio-particles with dielectrophoresis.

PubMed

Huang, Jung-Tang; Wang, Guo-Chen; Tseng, Kuang-Ming; Fang, Shiuh-Bin

2008-11-01

This study aims at developing a 3D device for catching, separating, and transporting bio-particles based on dielectrophoresis (DEP). Target particles can be simultaneously caught and transported using the negative DEP method. In non-uniform electric fields, the levitation height or complex permittivity of certain particle may be different from that of another and this property can facilitate separation of particles. We have designed and constructed a 3D device consisting of two layers of electrodes separated by a channel formed by 50 microm thick photoresist. The electrodes can operate effectively with 10-15 V and 5-7 MHz to catch all particles in the channel, and can move particles after switching the electric field to 5-15 V and 500-1,000 KHz. Hence, particles experienced coupling force of two different directional twDEP forces, and tallied with our estimation to move along the coupling direction.

Lunar Dust Simulant in Mechanical Component Testing - Paradigm and Practicality

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jett, T.; Street, K.; Abel, P.; Richmond, R.

2008-01-01

Due to the uniquely harsh lunar surface environment, terrestrial test activities may not adequately represent abrasive wear by lunar dust likely to be experienced in mechanical systems used in lunar exploration. Testing to identify potential moving mechanism problems has recently begun within the NASA Engineering and Safety Center Mechanical Systems Lunar Dust Assessment activity in coordination with the Exploration Technology and Development Program Dust Management Project, and these complimentary efforts will be described. Specific concerns about differences between simulant and lunar dust, and procedures for mechanical component testing with lunar simulant will be considered. In preparing for long term operations within a dusty lunar environment, the three fundamental approaches to keeping mechanical equipment functioning are dust avoidance, dust removal, and dust tolerance, with some combination of the three likely to be found in most engineering designs. Methods to exclude dust from contact with mechanical components would constitute mitigation by dust avoidance, so testing seals for dust exclusion efficacy as a function of particle size provides useful information for mechanism design. Dust of particle size less than a micron is not well documented for impact on lunar mechanical components. Therefore, creating a standardized lunar dust simulant in the particulate size range of ca. 0.1 to 1.0 micrometer is useful for testing effects on mechanical components such as bearings, gears, seals, bushings, and other moving mechanical assemblies. Approaching actual wear testing of mechanical components, it is beneficial to first establish relative wear rates caused by dust on commonly used mechanical component materials. The wear mode due to dust within mechanical components, such as abrasion caused by dust in grease(s), needs to be considered, as well as the effects of vacuum, lunar thermal cycle, and electrostatics on wear rate.

MarsSedEx I: feasibility test for sediment settling experiments under Martian gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhn, Nikolaus J.

2013-04-01

Gravity has a non-linear effect on the settling velocity of sediment particles in liquids and gases. However, StokeśLaw, the common way of estimating the terminal velocity of a particle moving in a gas of liquid assumes a linear relationship between terminal velocity and gravity. For terrestrial applications, this "error" is not relevant, but it may strongly influence the terminal velocity achieved by settling particles in the Martian atmosphere or water bodies. In principle, the effect of gravity on settling velocity can also be achieved by reducing the difference in density between particle and gas or liquid. However, the use of analogues simulating the lower gravity on Mars on Earth is difficult because the properties and interaction of the liquids and materials differ from those of water and sediment, .i.e. the viscosity of the liquid or the interaction between charges surfaces and liquid molecules. An alternative for measuring the actual settling velocities of particles under Martian gravity, on Earth, is offered by placing a settling tube on a reduced gravity flight and conduct settling tests within the 20 to 25 seconds of Martian gravity that can be simulated during such a flight. In this presentation we report on the feasibility of such a test based on an experiment conducted during a reduced gravity flight in November 2012.

Enriched reproducing kernel particle method for fractional advection-diffusion equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ying, Yuping; Lian, Yanping; Tang, Shaoqiang; Liu, Wing Kam

2018-06-01

The reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM) has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modeled by a fractional advection-diffusion equation (FADE), which exhibits a boundary layer with low regularity. We formulate this method on a moving least-square approach. Via the enrichment of fractional-order power functions to the traditional integer-order basis for RKPM, leading terms of the solution to the FADE can be exactly reproduced, which guarantees a good approximation to the boundary layer. Numerical tests are performed to verify the proposed approach.

Influence of the black hole spin on the chaotic particle dynamics within a dipolar halo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nag, Sankhasubhra; Sinha, Siddhartha; Ananda, Deepika B.; Das, Tapas K.

2017-04-01

We investigate the role of the spin angular momentum of astrophysical black holes in controlling the special relativistic chaotic dynamics of test particles moving under the influence of a post-Newtonian pseudo-Kerr black hole potential, along with a perturbative potential created by an asymmetrically placed (dipolar) halo. Proposing a Lyapunov-like exponent to be the effective measure of the degree of chaos observed in the system under consideration, it has been found that black hole spin anti-correlates with the degree of chaos for the aforementioned dynamics. Our findings have been explained applying the general principles of dynamical systems analysis.

Inline motion and hydrodynamic interaction of 2D particles in a viscoplastic fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaparian, Emad; Wachs, Anthony; Frigaard, Ian A.

2018-03-01

In Stokes flow of a particle settling within a bath of viscoplastic fluid, a critical resistive force must be overcome in order for the particle to move. This leads to a critical ratio of the buoyancy stress to the yield stress: the critical yield number. This translates geometrically to an envelope around the particle in the limit of zero flow that contains both the particle and encapsulated unyielded fluid. Such unyielded envelopes and critical yield numbers are becoming well understood in our previous studies for single (2D) particles as well as the means of calculating. Here we address the case of having multiple particles, which introduces interesting new phenomena. First, plug regions can appear between the particles and connect them together, depending on the proximity and yield number. This can change the yielding behaviour since the combination forms a larger (and heavier) "particle." Moreover, small particles (that cannot move alone) can be pulled/pushed by larger particles or assembly of particles. Increasing the number of particles leads to interesting chain dynamics, including breaking and reforming.

Fully-resolved prolate spheroids in turbulent channel flows: A lattice Boltzmann study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eshghinejadfard, Amir; Hosseini, Seyed Ali; Thévenin, Dominique

2017-09-01

Particles are present in many natural and industrial multiphase flows. In most practical cases, particle shape is not spherical, leading to additional difficulties for numerical studies. In this paper, DNS of turbulent channel flows with finite-size prolate spheroids is performed. The geometry includes a straight wall-bounded channel at a frictional Reynolds number of 180 seeded with particles. Three different particle shapes are considered, either spheroidal (aspect ratio λ =2 or 4) or spherical (λ =1 ). Solid-phase volume fraction has been varied between 0.75% and 1.5%. Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to model the fluid flow. The influence of the particles on the flow field is simulated by immersed boundary method (IBM). In this Eulerian-Lagrangian framework, the trajectory of each particle is computed individually. All particle-particle and particle-fluid interactions are considered (four-way coupling). Results show that, in the range of examined volume fractions, mean fluid velocity is reduced by addition of particles. However, velocity reduction by spheroids is much lower than that by spheres; 2% and 1.6%, compared to 4.6%. Maximum streamwise velocity fluctuations are reduced by addition of particle. By comparing particle and fluid velocities, it is seen that spheroids move faster than the fluid before reaching the same speed in the channel center. Spheres, on the other hand, move slower than the fluid in the buffer layer. Close to the wall, all particle types move faster than the fluid. Moreover, prolate spheroids show a preferential orientation in the streamwise direction, which is stronger close to the wall. Far from the wall, the orientation of spheroidal particles tends to isotropy.

Transport driven by biharmonic forces: impact of correlated thermal noise.

PubMed

Machura, L; Łuczka, J

2010-09-01

We study an inertial brownian particle moving in a symmetric periodic substrate, driven by a zero-mean biharmonic force and correlated thermal noise. The brownian motion is described in terms of a generalized Langevin equation with an exponentially correlated gaussian noise term, obeying the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We analyze impact of nonzero correlation time of thermal noise on transport properties of the brownian particle. We identify regimes where the increase of the correlation time intensifies long-time transport of the brownian particle. The opposite effect is also found: longer correlation time reduces the stationary velocity of the particle. The correlation time induced multiple current reversal is detected. We reveal that thermal noise of nonzero correlation time can radically enhance long-time velocity of the brownian particle in regimes where in the white noise limit the velocity is extremely small. All transport properties can be tested in the setup consisting of a resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junction device.

Quantifying the motion of magnetic particles in excised tissue: Effect of particle properties and applied magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulkarni, Sandip; Ramaswamy, Bharath; Horton, Emily; Gangapuram, Sruthi; Nacev, Alek; Depireux, Didier; Shimoji, Mika; Shapiro, Benjamin

2015-11-01

This article presents a method to investigate how magnetic particle characteristics affect their motion inside tissues under the influence of an applied magnetic field. Particles are placed on top of freshly excised tissue samples, a calibrated magnetic field is applied by a magnet underneath each tissue sample, and we image and quantify particle penetration depth by quantitative metrics to assess how particle sizes, their surface coatings, and tissue resistance affect particle motion. Using this method, we tested available fluorescent particles from Chemicell of four sizes (100 nm, 300 nm, 500 nm, and 1 μm diameter) with four different coatings (starch, chitosan, lipid, and PEG/P) and quantified their motion through freshly excised rat liver, kidney, and brain tissues. In broad terms, we found that the applied magnetic field moved chitosan particles most effectively through all three tissue types (as compared to starch, lipid, and PEG/P coated particles). However, the relationship between particle properties and their resulting motion was found to be complex. Hence, it will likely require substantial further study to elucidate the nuances of transport mechanisms and to select and engineer optimal particle properties to enable the most effective transport through various tissue types under applied magnetic fields.

Particle Engulfment and Pushing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

As a liquefied metal solidifies, particles dispersed in the liquid are either pushed ahead of or engulfed by the moving solidification front. Similar effects can be seen when the ground freezes and pushes large particles out of the soil. The Particle Engulfment and Pushing (PEP) experiment, conducted aboard the fourth U.S. Microgravity Payload (USMP-4) mission in 1997, used a glass and plastic beads suspended in a transparent liquid. The liquid was then frozen, trapping or pushing the particles as the solidifying front moved. This simulated the formation of advanced alloys and composite materials. Such studies help scientists to understand how to improve the processes for making advanced materials on Earth. The principal investigator is Dr. Doru Stefanescu of the University of Alabama. This image is from a video downlink.

Waste tyre pyrolysis: modelling of a moving bed reactor.

PubMed

Aylón, E; Fernández-Colino, A; Murillo, R; Grasa, G; Navarro, M V; García, T; Mastral, A M

2010-12-01

This paper describes the development of a new model for waste tyre pyrolysis in a moving bed reactor. This model comprises three different sub-models: a kinetic sub-model that predicts solid conversion in terms of reaction time and temperature, a heat transfer sub-model that calculates the temperature profile inside the particle and the energy flux from the surroundings to the tyre particles and, finally, a hydrodynamic model that predicts the solid flow pattern inside the reactor. These three sub-models have been integrated in order to develop a comprehensive reactor model. Experimental results were obtained in a continuous moving bed reactor and used to validate model predictions, with good approximation achieved between the experimental and simulated results. In addition, a parametric study of the model was carried out, which showed that tyre particle heating is clearly faster than average particle residence time inside the reactor. Therefore, this fast particle heating together with fast reaction kinetics enables total solid conversion to be achieved in this system in accordance with the predictive model. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method and apparatus for a combination moving bed thermal treatment reactor and moving bed filter

DOEpatents

Badger, Phillip C.; Dunn, Jr., Kenneth J.

2015-09-01

A moving bed gasification/thermal treatment reactor includes a geometry in which moving bed reactor particles serve as both a moving bed filter and a heat carrier to provide thermal energy for thermal treatment reactions, such that the moving bed filter and the heat carrier are one and the same to remove solid particulates or droplets generated by thermal treatment processes or injected into the moving bed filter from other sources.

Detailed analysis of particle launch velocities, size distributions and gas densities during normal explosions at Stromboli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Andrew J. L.; Ripepe, Maurizio; Hughes, Elizabeth A.

2012-06-01

Using high frame rate (33 Hz) thermal video data we describe and parameterize the emission and ascent dynamics of a mixed plume of gas and particles emitted during a normal explosion at Stromboli (Aeolian Islands, Italy). Analysis of 34 events showed that 31 of them were characterized by a first phase characterized by an initial diffuse spray of relatively small (lapilli-sized) particles moving at high velocities (up to 213 m s- 1; average 66-82 m s- 1). This was followed, typically within 0.1 s, by a burst comprising a mixture of ash and lapilli, but dominated by larger bomb-sized particles, moving at lower exit velocities of up to 129 m s- 1, but typically 46 m s- 1. We interpret these results as revealing initial emission of a previously unrecorded high velocity gas-jet phase, to which the lapilli are coupled. This is followed by emission of slower moving larger particles that are decoupled from the faster moving gas-phase. Diameters for particles carried by the gas phase are typically around 4 cm, but can be up to 9 cm, with the diameter of the particles carried by the gas jet (D) decreasing with increased density and velocity of the erupted gas cloud (ρgas and Ugas). Data for 101 particles identified as moving with the gas jet during 32 eruptions allow us to define a new relation, whereby Ugas = Uparticle + a [ρgas√{D}]b. Here, Uparticle is the velocity of bombs whose motion is decoupled from that of the gas cloud, and a and b are two empirically-derived coefficients. This replaces the old relation, whereby Ugas = Uparticle + k √{D}; a relation that requires a constant gas density for each eruption. This is an assumption that we show to be invalid, with gas density potentially varying between 0.04 kg m- 3 and 9 kg m- 3 for the 32 cases considered, so that k varies between 54 m1/2 s- 1 and 828 m1/2 s- 1, compared with the traditionally used constant of 150 m1/2 s- 1.

Binary particle separation in droplet microfluidics using acoustophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fornell, Anna; Cushing, Kevin; Nilsson, Johan; Tenje, Maria

2018-02-01

We show a method for separation of two particle species with different acoustic contrasts originally encapsulated in the same droplet in a continuous two-phase system. This was realized by using bulk acoustic standing waves in a 380 μm wide silicon-glass microfluidic channel. Polystyrene particles (positive acoustic contrast particles) and in-house synthesized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) particles (negative acoustic contrast particles) were encapsulated inside water-in-oil droplets either individually or in a mixture. At acoustic actuation of the system at the fundamental resonance frequency, the polystyrene particles were moved to the center of the droplet (pressure node), while the PDMS particles were moved to the sides of the droplet (pressure anti-nodes). The acoustic particle manipulation step was combined in series with a trifurcation droplet splitter, and as the original droplet passed through the splitter and was divided into three daughter droplets, the polystyrene particles were directed into the center daughter droplet, while the PDMS particles were directed into the two side daughter droplets. The presented method expands the droplet microfluidics tool-box and offers new possibilities to perform binary particle separation in droplet microfluidic systems.

Suspended Sediment Moves 10 km Before Entering Storage: Re-Interpreting a 20th Century Industrial Mercury Release as a Tracer Experiment, South River, Virginia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pizzuto, J. E.

2014-12-01

Recent analyses suggest that the velocity of downstream transport of suspended sediment (averaged over long timescales that include periods of transport and storage in alluvial deposits) can be represented as the ratio Ls/T, where Ls is a distance particles move before entering storage and T is the waiting time particles spend in storage before being remobilized. Sediment budget analyses suggest that Ls is 1-100 km in the mid-Atlantic region, while T may be ~103 years, such that particles move 3-5 orders of magnitude slower than the water in the channel. Given the well-known inaccuracy of sediment budgets, independent verification from a tracer study would be desirable. Here, an historic industrial release of mercury is interpreted as a decadal sediment tracer experiment, releasing sediment particles "tagged" with mercury that are deposited on floodplains. As expected, floodplain mercury inventories decrease exponentially downstream, with a characteristic decay length of 10 km (95% confidence interval: 5-25 km) that defines the distance suspended particles typically move downstream before entering storage. Floodplain mercury inventories are not significantly different above and below three colonial age mill dams (present at the time of mercury release but now breached), suggesting that these results reflect ongoing processes. Suspended sediment routing models that neglect long-term storage, and the watershed management plans based on them, may need revision.

The theory of transient radiation of a charged particle in a waveguide with an anisotropic magnetodielectric filling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gevorkyan, E. A.

2015-08-01

We have considered transient radiation of a charged particle that moves at a constant velocity perpendicularly to the axis of a regular waveguide filled with an anisotropic magnetodielectric medium. Wave equations and analytical expressions for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) fields in the waveguide have been found. Energies of transient radiation of the particle moving in a rectangular waveguide have been determined. We have obtained conditions of occurrence, the frequency, and the energy of Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation.

Qualitative numerical studies of the modification of the pitch angle distribution of test particles by alfvènic wave activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keilbach, D.; Drews, C.; Berger, L.; Marsch, E.; Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F.

2017-12-01

Using a test particle approach we have investigated, how an oxygen pickup ion torus velocity distribution is modified by continuous and intermittent alfvènic waves on timescales, where the gyro trajectory of each particle can be traced.We have therefore exposed the test particles to mono frequent waves, which expanded through the whole simulation in time and space. The general behavior of the pitch angle distribution is found to be stationary and a nonlinear function of the wave frequency, amplitude and the initial angle between wave elongation and field-perpendicular particle velocity vector. The figure shows the time-averaged pitch angle distributions as a function of the Doppler shifted wave frequency (where the Doppler shift was calculated with respect to the particles initial velocity) for three different wave amplitudes (labeled in each panel). The background field is chosen to be 5 nT and the 500 test particles were initially distributed on a torus with 120° pitch angle at a solar wind velocity of 450 km/s. Each y-slice of the histogram (which has been normalized to it's respective maximum) represents an individual run of the simulation.The frequency-dependent behavior of the test particles is found to be classifiable into the regimes of very low/high frequencies and frequencies close to first order resonance. We have found, that only in the latter regime the particles interact strongly with the wave, where in the time averaged histograms a branch structure is found, which was identified as a trace of particles co-moving with the wave phase. The magnitude of pitch angle change of these particles is as well as the frequency margin, where the branch structure is found, an increasing function with the wave amplitude.We have also investigated the interaction with mono frequent intermittent waves. Exposed to such waves a torus distribution is scattered in pitch angle space, whereas the pitch angle distribution is broadened systematically over time similar to pitch angle diffusion.The framework of our simulations is a first step toward understanding wave particle interactions at the most basic level and is readily expandable to e.g. the inclusion of multiple wave frequencies, intermittent wave activity, gradients in the background magnetic field or collisions with solar wind particles.

Extending self-organizing particle systems to problem solving.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Alejandro; Reggia, James A

2004-01-01

Self-organizing particle systems consist of numerous autonomous, purely reflexive agents ("particles") whose collective movements through space are determined primarily by local influences they exert upon one another. Inspired by biological phenomena (bird flocking, fish schooling, etc.), particle systems have been used not only for biological modeling, but also increasingly for applications requiring the simulation of collective movements such as computer-generated animation. In this research, we take some first steps in extending particle systems so that they not only move collectively, but also solve simple problems. This is done by giving the individual particles (agents) a rudimentary intelligence in the form of a very limited memory and a top-down, goal-directed control mechanism that, triggered by appropriate conditions, switches them between different behavioral states and thus different movement dynamics. Such enhanced particle systems are shown to be able to function effectively in performing simulated search-and-collect tasks. Further, computational experiments show that collectively moving agent teams are more effective than similar but independently moving ones in carrying out such tasks, and that agent teams of either type that split off members of the collective to protect previously acquired resources are most effective. This work shows that the reflexive agents of contemporary particle systems can readily be extended to support goal-directed problem solving while retaining their collective movement behaviors. These results may prove useful not only for future modeling of animal behavior, but also in computer animation, coordinated movement control in robotic teams, particle swarm optimization, and computer games.

Marginal bed load transport in a gravel bed stream, Sagehen Creek, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Andrews, E.D.

1994-01-01

Marginal bed load transport describes the condition when relatively few bed particles are moving at any time. Bed particles resting in the shallowest bed pockets will move when the dimensionless shear stress т* exceeds a value of about 0.020. As т* increases, the number of bed particles moving increases. Significant motion of bed particles, i.e., when a substantial fraction of the bed particles are moving, occurs when т* exceeds a value of about 0.060. Thus marginal bed load transport occurs over the domain 0.020 < т* < 0.060. Marginal bed load transport rates and associated hydraulic characteristics of Sagehen Creek, a small mountain gravel bed stream, were measured on 55 days at discharges ranging from slightly less than one half of the bank-full discharge to more than 4 times the bank-full discharge. Dimensionless shear stress varied from 0.032 to 0.042, and bed particles as large as the 80th percentile of the bed surface were transported. The relation between reference dimensionless shear stress and relative particle protrusion for Sagehen Creek was determined by varying т*ri to obtain the best fit of the Parker bed load function to the measured transport rates. During the period of record (water years 1954–1991), the mean annual quantity of bed load transported past the Sagehen Creek gage was 24.7 tons. Forty-seven percent of all bed load transported during the 38 years of record occurred in just 6 years. During 10 of the 38 years of record, essentially no bed load was transported. The median diameter of bed load was 26 mm, compared to 58 mm in the surface bed material.

Detection and tracking of a moving target using SAR images with the particle filter-based track-before-detect algorithm.

PubMed

Gao, Han; Li, Jingwen

2014-06-19

A novel approach to detecting and tracking a moving target using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is proposed in this paper. Achieved with the particle filter (PF) based track-before-detect (TBD) algorithm, the approach is capable of detecting and tracking the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) moving target with SAR systems, which the traditional track-after-detect (TAD) approach is inadequate for. By incorporating the signal model of the SAR moving target into the algorithm, the ambiguity in target azimuth position and radial velocity is resolved while tracking, which leads directly to the true estimation. With the sub-area substituted for the whole area to calculate the likelihood ratio and a pertinent choice of the number of particles, the computational efficiency is improved with little loss in the detection and tracking performance. The feasibility of the approach is validated and the performance is evaluated with Monte Carlo trials. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach is capable to detect and track a moving target with SNR as low as 7 dB, and outperforms the traditional TAD approach when the SNR is below 14 dB.

Detection and Tracking of a Moving Target Using SAR Images with the Particle Filter-Based Track-Before-Detect Algorithm

PubMed Central

Gao, Han; Li, Jingwen

2014-01-01

A novel approach to detecting and tracking a moving target using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is proposed in this paper. Achieved with the particle filter (PF) based track-before-detect (TBD) algorithm, the approach is capable of detecting and tracking the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) moving target with SAR systems, which the traditional track-after-detect (TAD) approach is inadequate for. By incorporating the signal model of the SAR moving target into the algorithm, the ambiguity in target azimuth position and radial velocity is resolved while tracking, which leads directly to the true estimation. With the sub-area substituted for the whole area to calculate the likelihood ratio and a pertinent choice of the number of particles, the computational efficiency is improved with little loss in the detection and tracking performance. The feasibility of the approach is validated and the performance is evaluated with Monte Carlo trials. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach is capable to detect and track a moving target with SNR as low as 7 dB, and outperforms the traditional TAD approach when the SNR is below 14 dB. PMID:24949640

Single particle nonlocality, geometric phases and time-dependent boundary conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matzkin, A.

2018-03-01

We investigate the issue of single particle nonlocality in a quantum system subjected to time-dependent boundary conditions. We discuss earlier claims according to which the quantum state of a particle remaining localized at the center of an infinite well with moving walls would be specifically modified by the change in boundary conditions due to the wall’s motion. We first prove that the evolution of an initially localized Gaussian state is not affected nonlocally by a linearly moving wall: as long as the quantum state has negligible amplitude near the wall, the boundary motion has no effect. This result is further extended to related confined time-dependent oscillators in which the boundary’s motion is known to give rise to geometric phases: for a Gaussian state remaining localized far from the boundaries, the effect of the geometric phases is washed out and the particle dynamics shows no traces of a nonlocal influence that would be induced by the moving boundaries.

A 2D Micromodel Study of Fines Migration and Clogging Behavior in Porous Media: Implications of Fines on Methane Extraction from Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, S. C.; Jang, J.; Waite, W. F.; Jafari, M.; Jung, J.

2017-12-01

Fine-grained sediment, or "fines," exist nearly ubiquitously in natural sediment, even in the predominantly coarse-grained sediments that host gas hydrates. Fines within these sandy sediments can play a crucial role during gas hydrate production activities. During methane extraction, several processes can alter the mobility and clogging potential of fines: 1) fluid flow as the formation is depressurized to release methane from hydrate; 2) pore-fluid chemistry shifts as pore-fluid brine freshens due to pure water released from dissociating hydrate; 3) the presence of a moving gas/water interface as gas evolves from dissociating hydrate and moves through the reservoir toward the production well. To evaluate fines migration and clogging behavior changes resulting from methane gas production and pore-water freshening during hydrate dissociation, 2D micromodel experiments have been conducted on a selection of pure fines, pore-fluids, and micromodel pore-throat sizes. Additionally, tests have been run with and without an invading gas phase (CO2) to test the significance of a moving meniscus on fines mobility and clogging. The endmember fine particles chosen for this research include silica silt, mica, calcium carbonate, diatoms, kaolinite, illite, and bentonite (primarily made of montmorillonite). The pore fluids include deionized water, sodium chloride brine (2M concentration), and kerosene. The microfluidic pore models, used as porous media analogs, were fabricated with pore-throat widths of 40, 60, and 100 µm. Results from this research show that in addition to the expected dependence of clogging on the ratio of particle-to-pore-throat size, pore-fluid chemistry is also a significant factor because the interaction between a particular type of fine and pore fluid influences that fine's capacity to cluster, clump together and effectively increase its particle "size" relative to the pore-throat width. The presence of a moving gas/fluid meniscus increases the clogging potential regardless of fine type as the advancing meniscus tends to gather and concentrate the fines. Results show the need to identify both the type and concentration of fines prior to evaluating whether a system's clogging potential will increase or decrease as pore waters freshen during methane extraction from hydrate.

Extension of the XGC code for global gyrokinetic simulations in stellarator geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cole, Michael; Moritaka, Toseo; White, Roscoe; Hager, Robert; Ku, Seung-Hoe; Chang, Choong-Seock

2017-10-01

In this work, the total-f, gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code XGC is extended to treat stellarator geometries. Improvements to meshing tools and the code itself have enabled the first physics studies, including single particle tracing and flux surface mapping in the magnetic geometry of the heliotron LHD and quasi-isodynamic stellarator Wendelstein 7-X. These have provided the first successful test cases for our approach. XGC is uniquely placed to model the complex edge physics of stellarators. A roadmap to such a global confinement modeling capability will be presented. Single particle studies will include the physics of energetic particles' global stochastic motions and their effect on confinement. Good confinement of energetic particles is vital for a successful stellarator reactor design. These results can be compared in the core region with those of other codes, such as ORBIT3d. In subsequent work, neoclassical transport and turbulence can then be considered and compared to results from codes such as EUTERPE and GENE. After sufficient verification in the core region, XGC will move into the stellarator edge region including the material wall and neutral particle recycling.

A deterministic Lagrangian particle separation-based method for advective-diffusion problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Ken T. M.; Lee, Joseph H. W.; Choi, K. W.

2008-12-01

A simple and robust Lagrangian particle scheme is proposed to solve the advective-diffusion transport problem. The scheme is based on relative diffusion concepts and simulates diffusion by regulating particle separation. This new approach generates a deterministic result and requires far less number of particles than the random walk method. For the advection process, particles are simply moved according to their velocity. The general scheme is mass conservative and is free from numerical diffusion. It can be applied to a wide variety of advective-diffusion problems, but is particularly suited for ecological and water quality modelling when definition of particle attributes (e.g., cell status for modelling algal blooms or red tides) is a necessity. The basic derivation, numerical stability and practical implementation of the NEighborhood Separation Technique (NEST) are presented. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated through a series of test cases which embrace realistic features of coastal environmental transport problems. Two field application examples on the tidal flushing of a fish farm and the dynamics of vertically migrating marine algae are also presented.

A microfluidic device for continuous manipulation of biological cells using dielectrophoresis.

PubMed

Das, Debanjan; Biswas, Karabi; Das, Soumen

2014-06-01

The present study demonstrates the design, simulation, fabrication and testing of a label-free continuous manipulation and separation micro-device of particles/biological cells suspended on medium based on conventional dielectrophoresis. The current dielectrophoretic device uses three planner electrodes to generate non-uniform electric field and induces both p-DEP and n-DEP force simultaneously depending on the dielectric properties of the particles and thus influencing at least two types of particles at a time. Numerical simulations were performed to predict the distribution of non-uniform electric field, DEP force and particle trajectories. The device is fabricated utilizing the advantage of bonding between PDMS and SU8 polymer. The p-DEP particles move away from the center of the streamline, while the n-DEP particles will follow the central streamline along the channel length. Dielectrophoretic effects were initially tested using polystyrene beads followed by manipulation of HeLa cells. In the experiment, it was observed that polystyrene beads in DI water always response as n-DEP up to 1MHz frequency, whereas HeLa cells in PBS medium response as n-DEP up to 400kHz frequency and then it experiences p-DEP up to 1MHz. Further, the microscopic observations of DEP responses of HeLa cells were verified by performing trapping experiment at static condition. Copyright © 2013 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strong fields and neutral particle magnetic moment dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Formanek, Martin; Evans, Stefan; Rafelski, Johann; Steinmetz, Andrew; Yang, Cheng-Tao

2018-07-01

Interaction of magnetic moment of point particles with external electromagnetic fields experiences unresolved theoretical and experimental discrepancies. In this work we point out several issues within relativistic quantum mechanics and QED and we describe effects related to a new covariant classical model of magnetic moment dynamics. Using this framework we explore the invariant acceleration experienced by neutral particles coupled to an external plane wave field through the magnetic moment: we study the case of ultrarelativistic Dirac neutrinos with magnetic moment in the range of 10‑11 to 10‑20 μ B; and we address the case of slowly moving neutrons. We explore how critical accelerations for neutrinos can be experimentally achieved in laser pulse interactions. The radiation of accelerated neutrinos can serve as an important test distinguishing between Majorana and Dirac nature of neutrinos.

Particle-based solid for nonsmooth multidomain dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nordberg, John; Servin, Martin

2018-04-01

A method for simulation of elastoplastic solids in multibody systems with nonsmooth and multidomain dynamics is developed. The solid is discretised into pseudo-particles using the meshfree moving least squares method for computing the strain tensor. The particle's strain and stress tensor variables are mapped to a compliant deformation constraint. The discretised solid model thus fit a unified framework for nonsmooth multidomain dynamics simulations including rigid multibodies with complex kinematic constraints such as articulation joints, unilateral contacts with dry friction, drivelines, and hydraulics. The nonsmooth formulation allows for impact impulses to propagate instantly between the rigid multibody and the solid. Plasticity is introduced through an associative perfectly plastic modified Drucker-Prager model. The elastic and plastic dynamics are verified for simple test systems, and the capability of simulating tracked terrain vehicles driving on a deformable terrain is demonstrated.

Smoothed particle hydrodynamics method from a large eddy simulation perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Mascio, A.; Antuono, M.; Colagrossi, A.; Marrone, S.

2017-03-01

The Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, often used for the modelling of the Navier-Stokes equations by a meshless Lagrangian approach, is revisited from the point of view of Large Eddy Simulation (LES). To this aim, the LES filtering procedure is recast in a Lagrangian framework by defining a filter that moves with the positions of the fluid particles at the filtered velocity. It is shown that the SPH smoothing procedure can be reinterpreted as a sort of LES Lagrangian filtering, and that, besides the terms coming from the LES convolution, additional contributions (never accounted for in the SPH literature) appear in the equations when formulated in a filtered fashion. Appropriate closure formulas are derived for the additional terms and a preliminary numerical test is provided to show the main features of the proposed LES-SPH model.

Bistable (latching) solenoid actuated propellant isolation valve

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wichmann, H.; Deboi, H. H.

1979-01-01

The design, fabrication, assembly and test of a development configuration bistable (latching) solenoid actuated propellant isolation valve suitable for the control hydrazine and liquid fluorine to an 800 pound thrust rocket engine is described. The valve features a balanced poppet, utilizing metal bellows, a hard poppet/seat interface and a flexure support system for the internal moving components. This support system eliminates sliding surfaces, thereby rendering the valve free of self generated particles.

Free-Flow Open-Chamber Electrophoresis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharnez, Rizwan; Sammons, David W.

1994-01-01

Free-flow open-chamber electrophoresis variant of free-flow electrophoresis performed in chamber with open ends and in which velocity of electro-osmotic flow adjusted equal to and opposite mean electrophoretic velocity of sample. Particles having electrophoretic mobilities greater than mean mobility of sample particles move toward cathode, those with mobilities less move toward anode. Technique applied to separation of components of mixtures of biologically important substances. Sensitivity enhanced by use of tapered chamber.

Caulimoviridae Tubule-Guided Transport Is Dictated by Movement Protein Properties ▿

PubMed Central

Sánchez-Navarro, Jesús; Fajardo, Thor; Zicca, Stefania; Pallás, Vicente; Stavolone, Livia

2010-01-01

Plant viruses move through plasmodesmata (PD) either as nucleoprotein complexes (NPCs) or as tubule-guided encapsidated particles with the help of movement proteins (MPs). To explore how and why MPs specialize in one mechanism or the other, we tested the exchangeability of MPs encoded by DNA and RNA virus genomes by means of an engineered alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) system. We show that Caulimoviridae (DNA genome virus) MPs are competent for RNA virus particle transport but are unable to mediate NPC movement, and we discuss this restriction in terms of the evolution of DNA virus MPs as a means of mediating DNA viral genome entry into the RNA-trafficking PD pathway. PMID:20130061

CLASSICAL AREAS OF PHENOMENOLOGY: Lattice Boltzmann simulation of behaviour of particles moving in blood vessels under the rolling massage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Hou-Hui; Yang, Xiao-Feng; Wang, Cai-Feng; Li, Hua-Bing

2009-07-01

The rolling massage is one of the most important manipulations in Chinese massage, which is expected to eliminate many diseases. Here, the effect of the rolling massage on a pair of particles moving in blood vessels under rolling massage manipulation is studied by the lattice Boltzmann simulation. The simulated results show that the motion of each particle is considerably modified by the rolling massage, and it depends on the relative rolling velocity, the rolling depth, and the distance between particle position and rolling position. Both particles' translational average velocities increase almost linearly as the rolling velocity increases, and obey the same law. The increment of the average relative angular velocity for the leading particle is smaller than that of the trailing one. The result is helpful for understanding the mechanism of the massage and to further develop the rolling techniques.

Optically active biological particle distinguishing apparatus

DOEpatents

Salzman, Gary C.; Kupperman, Robert H.

1989-01-01

The disclosure is directed to organic particle sorting and identification. High frequency pulses of circularly polarized light, alternating between left and right, intersect a fast moving stream of organic particles. Circular intensity differential scattering and linear intensity differential scattering are monitored to uniquely identify a variety of organic particles.

Effect of sorbent attrition on utilization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keener, T.C.; Khang, S.J.; Lee, S.K.

1992-10-01

During this period, the project has focused on two aspects of attrition; (1) mechanical attrition which is responsible for particle fracture whenever particles are moving with respect to a fixed reference frame, and (2) chemical attrition which can be responsible for particle fracture whenever particles undergo reactions. The experiments were conducted with calcium based sorbent materials. Two specific project objectives were identified and studied. The first of these was to determine the effect of temperature, particle velocity, and particle surface area on the extent of attrition in a circulating fluidized reactor. The second was to investigate if attrition could improvemore » sorbent utilization of typical calcium based sorbents of small size (<20 [mu]m). A sample of sulfated calcium hydroxide sorbent was obtained for attrition tests in a circulating fluidized bed reactor. Attempts at attriting this material in the fluidized bed were not successful, and no improvements in sorbent utilization were measured in subsequent TGA tests with the solids. However, an analysis of the other constituents in the particles revealed that a major portion of the hydroxide had been converted to calcium carbonate. This gave rise to the possibility that dolomitic hydroxide may have characteristics which may be beneficial and that improvements in utilization could be realized by means of chemical attrition. This is due to the thermal instability of magnesium carbonate at temperatures above 650[degree]F which means that magnesium oxide will be the major unreacted magnesium species in spent sorbent.« less

Effect of sorbent attrition on utilization. Final report, August 1, 1991--August 31, 1992

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keener, T.C.; Khang, S.J.; Lee, S.K.

1992-10-01

During this period, the project has focused on two aspects of attrition; (1) mechanical attrition which is responsible for particle fracture whenever particles are moving with respect to a fixed reference frame, and (2) chemical attrition which can be responsible for particle fracture whenever particles undergo reactions. The experiments were conducted with calcium based sorbent materials. Two specific project objectives were identified and studied. The first of these was to determine the effect of temperature, particle velocity, and particle surface area on the extent of attrition in a circulating fluidized reactor. The second was to investigate if attrition could improvemore » sorbent utilization of typical calcium based sorbents of small size (<20 {mu}m). A sample of sulfated calcium hydroxide sorbent was obtained for attrition tests in a circulating fluidized bed reactor. Attempts at attriting this material in the fluidized bed were not successful, and no improvements in sorbent utilization were measured in subsequent TGA tests with the solids. However, an analysis of the other constituents in the particles revealed that a major portion of the hydroxide had been converted to calcium carbonate. This gave rise to the possibility that dolomitic hydroxide may have characteristics which may be beneficial and that improvements in utilization could be realized by means of chemical attrition. This is due to the thermal instability of magnesium carbonate at temperatures above 650{degree}F which means that magnesium oxide will be the major unreacted magnesium species in spent sorbent.« less

Kinematic imprints from the bar and spiral structures in the galatic disk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figueras, F.; Antoja, T.; Valenzuela, O.; Romero-Gómez, M.; Pichardo, B.; Moreno, E.

2011-12-01

At 140 years of the discovery of the moving groups, these stellar streams are emerging as powerful tools to constrain the models for the spiral arms and the Galactic bar in the Gaia era. From the kinematic-age-metallicity analysis in the solar neighbourhood it is now well established that some of these kinematic structures have a dynamical origin, different from the classical cluster disruption hypothesis. Test particle simulations allow us to definitively establish that these local structures can be created by the dynamical resonances of material spiral arms and not exclusively by the Galactic bar. First studies to evaluate the capabilities of the future Gaia data to detect and characterize moving groups at 2-6 kpc from the solar neighborhood are discussed.

Forces on stationary particles in near-bed turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmeeckle, Mark W.; Nelson, Jonathan M.; Shreve, Ronald L.

2007-06-01

In natural flows, bed sediment particles are entrained and moved by the fluctuating forces, such as lift and drag, exerted by the overlying flow on the particles. To develop a better understanding of these forces and the relation of the forces to the local flow, the downstream and vertical components of force on near-bed fixed particles and of fluid velocity above or in front of them were measured synchronously at turbulence-resolving frequencies (200 or 500 Hz) in a laboratory flume. Measurements were made for a spherical test particle fixed at various heights above a smooth bed, above a smooth bed downstream of a downstream-facing step, and in a gravel bed of similarly sized particles as well as for a cubical test particle and 7 natural particles above a smooth bed. Horizontal force was well correlated with downstream velocity and not correlated with vertical velocity or vertical momentum flux. The standard drag formula worked well to predict the horizontal force, but the required value of the drag coefficient was significantly higher than generally used to model bed load motion. For the spheres, cubes, and natural particles, average drag coefficients were found to be 0.76, 1.36, and 0.91, respectively. For comparison, the drag coefficient for a sphere settling in still water at similar particle Reynolds numbers is only about 0.4. The variability of the horizontal force relative to its mean was strongly increased by the presence of the step and the gravel bed. Peak deviations were about 30% of the mean force for the sphere over the smooth bed, about twice the mean with the step, and 4 times it for the sphere protruding roughly half its diameter above the gravel bed. Vertical force correlated poorly with downstream velocity, vertical velocity, and vertical momentum flux whether measured over or ahead of the test particle. Typical formulas for shear-induced lift based on Bernoulli's principle poorly predict the vertical forces on near-bed particles. The measurements suggest that particle-scale pressure variations associated with turbulence are significant in the particle momentum balance.

Forces on stationary particles in near-bed turbulent flows

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schmeeckle, M.W.; Nelson, J.M.; Shreve, R.L.

2007-01-01

In natural flows, bed sediment particles are entrained and moved by the fluctuating forces, such as lift and drag, exerted by the overlying flow on the particles. To develop a better understanding of these forces and the relation of the forces to the local flow, the downstream and vertical components of force on near-bed fixed particles and of fluid velocity above or in front of them were measured synchronously at turbulence-resolving frequencies (200 or 500 Hz) in a laboratory flume. Measurements were made for a spherical test particle fixed at various heights above a smooth bed, above a smooth bed downstream of a downstream-facing step, and in a gravel bed of similarly sized particles as well as for a cubical test particle and 7 natural particles above a smooth bed. Horizontal force was well correlated with downstream velocity and not correlated with vertical velocity or vertical momentum flux. The standard drag formula worked well to predict the horizontal force, but the required value of the drag coefficient was significantly higher than generally used to model bed load motion. For the spheres, cubes, and natural particles, average drag coefficients were found to be 0.76, 1.36, and 0.91, respectively. For comparison, the drag coefficient for a sphere settling in still water at similar particle Reynolds numbers is only about 0.4. The variability of the horizontal force relative to its mean was strongly increased by the presence of the step and the gravel bed. Peak deviations were about 30% of the mean force for the sphere over the smooth bed, about twice the mean with the step, and 4 times it for the sphere protruding roughly half its diameter above the gravel bed. Vertical force correlated poorly with downstream velocity, vertical velocity, and vertical momentum flux whether measured over or ahead of the test particle. Typical formulas for shear-induced lift based on Bernoulli's principle poorly predict the vertical forces on near-bed particles. The measurements suggest that particle-scale pressure variations associated with turbulence are significant in the particle momentum balance. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.

A sharp interface Cartesian grid method for viscous simulation of shocked particle-laden flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Pratik; Sen, Oishik; Jacobs, Gustaaf; Udaykumar, H. S.

2017-09-01

A Cartesian grid-based sharp interface method is presented for viscous simulations of shocked particle-laden flows. The moving solid-fluid interfaces are represented using level sets. A moving least-squares reconstruction is developed to apply the no-slip boundary condition at solid-fluid interfaces and to supply viscous stresses to the fluid. The algorithms developed in this paper are benchmarked against similarity solutions for the boundary layer over a fixed flat plate and against numerical solutions for moving interface problems such as shock-induced lift-off of a cylinder in a channel. The framework is extended to 3D and applied to calculate low Reynolds number steady supersonic flow over a sphere. Viscous simulation of the interaction of a particle cloud with an incident planar shock is demonstrated; the average drag on the particles and the vorticity field in the cloud are compared to the inviscid case to elucidate the effects of viscosity on momentum transfer between the particle and fluid phases. The methods developed will be useful for obtaining accurate momentum and heat transfer closure models for macro-scale shocked particulate flow applications such as blast waves and dust explosions.

High-Speed Particle-in-Cell Simulation Parallelized with Graphic Processing Units for Low Temperature Plasmas for Material Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hur, Min Young; Verboncoeur, John; Lee, Hae June

2014-10-01

Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations have high fidelity in the plasma device requiring transient kinetic modeling compared with fluid simulations. It uses less approximation on the plasma kinetics but requires many particles and grids to observe the semantic results. It means that the simulation spends lots of simulation time in proportion to the number of particles. Therefore, PIC simulation needs high performance computing. In this research, a graphic processing unit (GPU) is adopted for high performance computing of PIC simulation for low temperature discharge plasmas. GPUs have many-core processors and high memory bandwidth compared with a central processing unit (CPU). NVIDIA GeForce GPUs were used for the test with hundreds of cores which show cost-effective performance. PIC code algorithm is divided into two modules which are a field solver and a particle mover. The particle mover module is divided into four routines which are named move, boundary, Monte Carlo collision (MCC), and deposit. Overall, the GPU code solves particle motions as well as electrostatic potential in two-dimensional geometry almost 30 times faster than a single CPU code. This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Science Technology Information.

Iterative load-balancing method with multigrid level relaxation for particle simulation with short-range interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furuichi, Mikito; Nishiura, Daisuke

2017-10-01

We developed dynamic load-balancing algorithms for Particle Simulation Methods (PSM) involving short-range interactions, such as Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), Moving Particle Semi-implicit method (MPS), and Discrete Element method (DEM). These are needed to handle billions of particles modeled in large distributed-memory computer systems. Our method utilizes flexible orthogonal domain decomposition, allowing the sub-domain boundaries in the column to be different for each row. The imbalances in the execution time between parallel logical processes are treated as a nonlinear residual. Load-balancing is achieved by minimizing the residual within the framework of an iterative nonlinear solver, combined with a multigrid technique in the local smoother. Our iterative method is suitable for adjusting the sub-domain frequently by monitoring the performance of each computational process because it is computationally cheaper in terms of communication and memory costs than non-iterative methods. Numerical tests demonstrated the ability of our approach to handle workload imbalances arising from a non-uniform particle distribution, differences in particle types, or heterogeneous computer architecture which was difficult with previously proposed methods. We analyzed the parallel efficiency and scalability of our method using Earth simulator and K-computer supercomputer systems.

Image computing techniques to extrapolate data for dust tracking in case of an experimental accident simulation in a nuclear fusion plant.

PubMed

Camplani, M; Malizia, A; Gelfusa, M; Barbato, F; Antonelli, L; Poggi, L A; Ciparisse, J F; Salgado, L; Richetta, M; Gaudio, P

2016-01-01

In this paper, a preliminary shadowgraph-based analysis of dust particles re-suspension due to loss of vacuum accident (LOVA) in ITER-like nuclear fusion reactors has been presented. Dust particles are produced through different mechanisms in nuclear fusion devices, one of the main issues is that dust particles are capable of being re-suspended in case of events such as LOVA. Shadowgraph is based on an expanded collimated beam of light emitted by a laser or a lamp that emits light transversely compared to the flow field direction. In the STARDUST facility, the dust moves in the flow, and it causes variations of refractive index that can be detected by using a CCD camera. The STARDUST fast camera setup allows to detect and to track dust particles moving in the vessel and then to obtain information about the velocity field of dust mobilized. In particular, the acquired images are processed such that per each frame the moving dust particles are detected by applying a background subtraction technique based on the mixture of Gaussian algorithm. The obtained foreground masks are eventually filtered with morphological operations. Finally, a multi-object tracking algorithm is used to track the detected particles along the experiment. For each particle, a Kalman filter-based tracker is applied; the particles dynamic is described by taking into account position, velocity, and acceleration as state variable. The results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain dust particles' velocity field during LOVA by automatically processing the data obtained with the shadowgraph approach.

Image computing techniques to extrapolate data for dust tracking in case of an experimental accident simulation in a nuclear fusion plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camplani, M.; Malizia, A.; Gelfusa, M.; Barbato, F.; Antonelli, L.; Poggi, L. A.; Ciparisse, J. F.; Salgado, L.; Richetta, M.; Gaudio, P.

2016-01-01

In this paper, a preliminary shadowgraph-based analysis of dust particles re-suspension due to loss of vacuum accident (LOVA) in ITER-like nuclear fusion reactors has been presented. Dust particles are produced through different mechanisms in nuclear fusion devices, one of the main issues is that dust particles are capable of being re-suspended in case of events such as LOVA. Shadowgraph is based on an expanded collimated beam of light emitted by a laser or a lamp that emits light transversely compared to the flow field direction. In the STARDUST facility, the dust moves in the flow, and it causes variations of refractive index that can be detected by using a CCD camera. The STARDUST fast camera setup allows to detect and to track dust particles moving in the vessel and then to obtain information about the velocity field of dust mobilized. In particular, the acquired images are processed such that per each frame the moving dust particles are detected by applying a background subtraction technique based on the mixture of Gaussian algorithm. The obtained foreground masks are eventually filtered with morphological operations. Finally, a multi-object tracking algorithm is used to track the detected particles along the experiment. For each particle, a Kalman filter-based tracker is applied; the particles dynamic is described by taking into account position, velocity, and acceleration as state variable. The results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain dust particles' velocity field during LOVA by automatically processing the data obtained with the shadowgraph approach.

Transport of microplastics by two collembolan species.

PubMed

Maaß, Stefanie; Daphi, Daniel; Lehmann, Anika; Rillig, Matthias C

2017-06-01

Plastics, despite their great benefits, have become a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, with microplastic particles having come into focus most recently. Microplastic effects have been intensely studied in aquatic, especially marine systems; however, there is lack of studies focusing on effects on soil and its biota. A basic question is if and how surface-deposited microplastic particles are transported into the soil. We here wished to test if soil microarthropods, using Collembola, can transport these particles over distances of centimeters within days in a highly controlled experimental set-up. We conducted a fully factorial experiment with two collembolan species of differing body size, Folsomia candida and Proisotoma minuta, in combination with urea-formaldehyde particles of two different particle sizes. We observed significant differences between the species concerning the distance the particles were transported. F. candida was able to transport larger particles further and faster than P. minuta. Using video, we observed F. candida interacting with urea-formaldehyde particles and polyethylene terephthalate fibers, showing translocation of both material types. Our data clearly show that microplastic particles can be moved and distributed by soil microarthropods. Although we did not observe feeding, it is possible that microarthropods contribute to the accumulation of microplastics in the soil food web. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ball Rolling on a Turntable: Analog for Charged Particle Dynamics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burns, Joseph A.

1981-01-01

Describes how a ball's motion duplicates that of a charged particle moving through a magnetic field and thereby allows students to visualize directly many aspects of charged particle dynamics otherwise not accessible to them. (Author/JN)

The Relativistic Wave Vector

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houlrik, Jens Madsen

2009-01-01

The Lorentz transformation applies directly to the kinematics of moving particles viewed as geometric points. Wave propagation, on the other hand, involves moving planes which are extended objects defined by simultaneity. By treating a plane wave as a geometric object moving at the phase velocity, novel results are obtained that illustrate the…

Particle simulation of plasmas on the massively parallel processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gledhill, I. M. A.; Storey, L. R. O.

1987-01-01

Particle simulations, in which collective phenomena in plasmas are studied by following the self consistent motions of many discrete particles, involve several highly repetitive sets of calculations that are readily adaptable to SIMD parallel processing. A fully electromagnetic, relativistic plasma simulation for the massively parallel processor is described. The particle motions are followed in 2 1/2 dimensions on a 128 x 128 grid, with periodic boundary conditions. The two dimensional simulation space is mapped directly onto the processor network; a Fast Fourier Transform is used to solve the field equations. Particle data are stored according to an Eulerian scheme, i.e., the information associated with each particle is moved from one local memory to another as the particle moves across the spatial grid. The method is applied to the study of the nonlinear development of the whistler instability in a magnetospheric plasma model, with an anisotropic electron temperature. The wave distribution function is included as a new diagnostic to allow simulation results to be compared with satellite observations.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-01-24

As a liquefied metal solidifies, particles dispersed in the liquid are either pushed ahead of or engulfed by the moving solidification front. Similar effects can be seen when the ground freezes and pushes large particles out of the soil. The Particle Engulfment and Pushing (PEP) experiment, conducted aboard the fourth U.S. Microgravity Payload (USMP-4) mission in 1997, used a glass and plastic beads suspended in a transparent liquid. The liquid was then frozen, trapping or pushing the particles as the solidifying front moved. This simulated the formation of advanced alloys and composite materials. Such studies help scientists to understand how to improve the processes for making advanced materials on Earth. The principal investigator is Dr. Doru Stefanescu of the University of Alabama. This image is from a video downlink.

Simulation of moving flat plate with unsteady translational motion using vortex method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widodo, A. F.; Zuhal, L. R.

2013-10-01

This paper presents simulation of moving flate plate with unsteady translational motion using Lagrangianmeshless numerical simulation named vortex method. The method solves Navier-Stokes equations in term of vorticity. The solving strategy is splitting the equation into diffusion and convection term to be solved separately. The diffusion term is modeled by particles strength exchange(PSE) which is the most accurate of diffusion modeling in vortex method. The convection term that represents transport of particles is calculated by time step integration of velocity. Velocity of particles is natively calculated using Biot-Savart relation but for acceleration, fastmultiple method(FMM) is employed. The simulation is validated experimentally using digital particle image velocimetry(DPIV) and the results give good agreement.

Effects of particle mixing and scattering in the dusty gas flow through moving and stationary cascades of airfoils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsirkunov, Yu. M.; Romanyuk, D. A.; Panfilov, S. V.

2011-10-01

Time-dependent two-dimensional (2D) flow of dusty gas through a set of two cascades of airfoils (blades) has been studied numerically. The first cascade was assumed to move (rotor) and the second one to be immovable (stator). Such a flow can be considered, in some sense, as a flow in the inlet stage of a turbomachine, for example, in the inlet compressor of an aircraft turbojet engine. Dust particle concentration was assumed to be very low, so that the interparticle collisions and the effect of the dispersed phase on the carrier gas were negligible. Flow of the carrier gas was described by full Navier-Stokes equations. In calculations of particle motion, the particles were considered as solid spheres. The particle drag force, transverse Magnus force, and damping torque were taken into account in the model of gas-particle interaction. The impact interaction of particles with blades was considered as frictional and partly elastic. The effects of particle size distribution and particle scattering in the course of particle-blade collisions were investigated. Flow fields of the carrier gas and flow patterns of the particle phase were obtained and discussed.

Following fluctuating signs: Anomalous active superdiffusion of swimmers in anisotropic media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toner, John; Löwen, Hartmut; Wensink, Henricus H.

2016-06-01

Active (i.e., self-propelled or swimming) particles moving through an isotropic fluid exhibit conventional diffusive behavior. We report anomalous diffusion of an active particle moving in an anisotropic nematic background. While the translational motion parallel to the nematic director shows ballistic behavior, the long-time transverse motion is superdiffusive, with an anomalous scaling proportional to t lnt of the mean-square displacement with time t . This behavior is predicted by an analytical theory that we present here and is corroborated by numerical simulation of active particle diffusion in a simple lattice model for a nematic liquid crystal. It is universal for any collection of self-propelled elements (e.g., bacteria or active rods) moving in a nematic background, provided only that the swimmers are sufficiently dilute that their interactions with each other can be neglected and that they do not perform hairpin turns.

Liquid-liquid transition in the ST2 model of water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debenedetti, Pablo

2013-03-01

We present clear evidence of the existence of a metastable liquid-liquid phase transition in the ST2 model of water. Using four different techniques (the weighted histogram analysis method with single-particle moves, well-tempered metadynamics with single-particle moves, weighted histograms with parallel tempering and collective particle moves, and conventional molecular dynamics), we calculate the free energy surface over a range of thermodynamic conditions, we perform a finite size scaling analysis for the free energy barrier between the coexisting liquid phases, we demonstrate the attainment of diffusive behavior, and we perform stringent thermodynamic consistency checks. The results provide conclusive evidence of a first-order liquid-liquid transition. We also show that structural equilibration in the sluggish low-density phase is attained over the time scale of our simulations, and that crystallization times are significantly longer than structural equilibration, even under deeply supercooled conditions. We place our results in the context of the theory of metastability.

Radiation Testing Electronics with Heavy Ions-The Best Way to Hit a Target Moving Ever Exponentially Faster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ladbury, Ray

2018-01-01

In 1972, when engineers at Hughes Aircraft Corporation discovered that errors in their satellite avionics were being caused by cosmic rays (so-called single-event effects, or SEE), Moore's Law was only 7 years old. Now, more than 45 years on, the scaling that drove Moore's Law for its first 35 years has reached its limits. However, electronics technology continues to evolve exponentially and SEE remain a formidable issue for use of electronics in space. SEE occur when a single ionizing particle passes through a sensitive volume in an active semiconductor device and generates sufficient charge to cause anomalous behavior or failure in the device. Because SEE can occur at any time during the mission, the emphasis of SEE risk management methodologies is ensuring that all SEE modes in a device under test are detected by the test. Because a particle's probability of causing an SEE generally increases as the particle becomes more ionizing, heavy-ion beams have been and remain the preferred tools for elucidating SEE vulnerabilities. In this talk we briefly discuss space radiation environments and SEE mechanisms, describe SEE test methodologies and discuss current and future challenges for use of heavy-ion beams for SEE testing in an era when the continued validity of Moore's law depends on innovation rather than CMOS scaling.

Estimating the change of porosity in the saturated zone during air sparging.

PubMed

Tsai, Yih-jin; Kuo, Yu-chia; Chen, Tsu-chi; Chou, Feng-chih

2006-01-01

Air sparging is a remedial method for groundwater. The remedial region is similar to the air flow region in the saturated zone. If soil particles are transported during air sparging, the porosity distributions in the saturated zone change, which may alter the flow path of the air. To understand better the particle movement, this study performed a sandbox test to estimate the soil porosity change during air sparging. A clear fracture was formed and the phenomenon of particle movement was observed when the air injection was started. The moved sand filled the porous around the fracture and the reparked sand filled the fracture, reducing the porosity around the fracture. The results obtained from the photographs of the sandbox, the current measurements and the direct sand sample measurements were close to each other and are credible. Therefore, air injection during air sparging causes sand particle movement of sand, altering the characteristic of the sand matrix and the air distribution.

Trophic predator-prey relationships promote transport of microplastics compared with the single Hypoaspis aculeifer and Folsomia candida.

PubMed

Zhu, Dong; Bi, Qing-Fang; Xiang, Qian; Chen, Qing-Lin; Christie, Peter; Ke, Xin; Wu, Long-Hua; Zhu, Yong-Guan

2018-04-01

Although the roles of earthworms and soil collembolans in the transport of microplastics have been studied previously, the effects of the soil biota at different trophic levels and interspecific relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we examine three soil microarthropod species to explore their effects on the transport of microplastics. The selected Folsomia candida and Hypoaspis aculeifer are extensively used model organisms, and Damaeus exspinosus is a common and abundant indigenous species in China. A model food chain (prey-collembolan and predator-mite) was structured to test the role of the predator-prey relationship in the transport of microplastics. Commercial Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles (Diameter: 80-250 μm) were selected as the test microplastics, because large amounts of PVC have persisted and accumulated in the environment. Synchronized soil microarthropods were held in plates for seven days to determine the movement of microplastics. The 5000 microplastic particles were carefully placed in the center of each plate prior to the introduction of the animals. Our results clearly show that all three microarthropod species moved and dispersed the microplastics in the plates. The 0.54%, 1.8% and 4.6% of the added microplastic particles were moved by collembolan, predatory mite and oribatid mite, respectively. Soil microarthropods (<0.2 cm) transported microplastic particles up to 9 cm. The avoidance behavior was observed in the collembolans in respect of the microplastics. The predatory -prey relationship did promote the transport of microplastics in the plates, increasing transport by 40% compared with the effects of adding single species (P < .05). Soil microarthropods commonly occur in surface soils (0-5 cm) and, due to their small body size, they can enter soil pores. Our results therefore suggest that the movement of microplastics by soil microarthropods may influence the exposure of other soil biota to microplastics and change the physical properties of soils. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Erosion

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Erosion is the detachment of soil particles and transportation to another location. Wind erosion occurs when wind speed exceeds a critical threshold level, and loose soil particles or soil particles removed by abrasion then move in one of three ways: creep, saltation, and suspension. Erosion by wate...

Magnetic multicore nanoparticles for hyperthermia--influence of particle immobilization in tumour tissue on magnetic properties.

PubMed

Dutz, Silvio; Kettering, Melanie; Hilger, Ingrid; Müller, Robert; Zeisberger, Matthias

2011-07-01

When using magnetic nanoparticles as a heating source for magnetic particle hyperthermia it is of particular interest to know if the particles are free to move in the interstitial fluid or are fixed to the tumour tissue. The immobilization state determines the relaxation behaviour of the administered particles and thus their specific heating power. To investigate this behaviour, magnetic multicore nanoparticles were injected into experimentally grown tumours in mice and magnetic heating treatment was carried out in an alternating magnetic field (H = 25 kA m(-1), f = 400 kHz). The tested particles were well suited for magnetic heating treatment as they heated a tumour of about 100 mg by about 22 K within the first 60 s. Upon sacrifice, histological tumour examination showed that the particles form spots in the tissue with a mainly homogeneous particle distribution in these spots. The magnetic ex vivo characterization of the removed tumour tissue gave clear evidence for the immobilization of the particles in the tumour tissue because the particles in the tumour showed the same magnetic behaviour as immobilized particles. Therefore, the particles are not able to rotate and a temperature increase due to Brown relaxation can be neglected. To accurately estimate the heating potential of magnetic materials, the respective environments influencing the nanoparticle mobility status have to be taken into account.

Formation of Bidisperse Particle Clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Er, Jenn Wei; Zhao, Bing; Law, Adrian W. K.; Adams, E. Eric

2014-11-01

When a group of dense particles is released instantaneously into water, their motion has been conceptualized as a circulating particle thermal (Ruggerber 2000). However, Wen and Nacamuli (1996) observed the formation of particle clumps characterized by a narrow, fast moving core shedding particles into wakes. They observed the clump formation even for particles in the non-cohesive range as long as the source Rayleigh number was large (Ra > 1E3) or equivalently the source cloud number (Nc) was small (Nc < 3.2E2). This physical phenomenon has been investigated by Zhao et al. (2014) through physical experiments. They proposed the theoretical support for Nc dependence and categorized the formation processes into cloud formation, transitional regime and clump formation. Previous works focused mainly on the behavior of monodisperse particles. The present study further extends the experimental investigation to the formation process of bidisperse particles. Experiments are conducted in a glass tank with a water depth of 90 cm. Finite amounts of sediments with various weight proportions between coarser and finer particles are released from a cylindrical tube. The Nc being tested ranges from 6E-3 to 9.9E-2, which covers all the three formation regimes. The experimental results showed that the introduction of coarse particles promotes cloud formation and reduce the losses of finer particles into the wake. More quantitative descriptions of the effects of source conditions on the formation processes will be presented during the conference.

Long term effects of low doses of Fe-56 ions on the brain and retina of the mouse - Ultrastructural and behavioral studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Philpott, Delbert E.; Miquel, Jaime

1986-01-01

Eight-month-old male C57BL6 mice were exposed without anesthesia to whole-body irradiation in circular holders. The mice were tested for behavioral decrements after 0.5 and 50 rads of Fe particle irradiation at 6 and 12 months postirradiation to obtain long-term results. A standard maze was used, and the animals were timed for completion thereof. A string test also was administered to the mice, testing their ability to grasp and move along a string to safety. The results from animals exposed to 50 rads were significantly different from control results to p = less than 0.001 in both systems of testing. The hippocampus (believed to be the location of environmental interaction in the brain) and the retina were examined for ultrastructural changes. The ultrastructural changes were similar to those found in the Cosmos 782, 936, and Argon experiments. The mouse data indicate that iron particles were able to induce long-term changes in the central nervous system which led to behavioral impairment.

Long term effects of low doses of 56Fe ions on the brain and retina of the mouse: ultrastructural and behavioral studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Philpott, D. E.; Miquel, J.

1986-01-01

Eight month old male C57BL6 mice were exposed without anesthesia to whole-body irradiation in circular holders. The mice were tested for behavioral decrements after 0.5 and 50 rads of Fe particle irradiation at 6 and 12 months post irradiation to obtain long term results. A standard maze was used and the animals were timed for completion thereof. A string test also was administered to the mice, testing their ability to grasp and move along a string to safety. The results from animals exposed to 50 rads were significantly different from [correction of fron] control results to p = < .001 in both systems of testing. The hippocampus (believed to be the location of environmental interaction in the brain) and the retina were examined for ultrastructural changes. The ultrastructural changes were similar to those we found in our Cosmos 782, 936 and in our Argon experiments. The mouse data indicate that iron particles were able to induce long term changes in the central nervous system which lead to behavioral impairment.

Preferential particle concentration in wall-bounded turbulence with zero skin friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Kun; Zhao, Lihao; Andersson, Helge I.

2017-11-01

Inertial particles dispersed in turbulence distribute themselves unevenly. Besides their tendency to segregate near walls, they also concentrate preferentially in wall-parallel planes. We explore the latter phenomenon in a tailor-made flow with the view to examine the homogeneity and anisotropy of particle clustering in the absence of mean shear as compared with conventional, i.e., sheared, wall turbulence. Inertial particles with some different Stokes numbers are suspended in a turbulent Couette-Poiseuille flow, in which one of the walls moves such that the shear rate vanishes at that wall. The anisotropies of the velocity and vorticity fluctuations are therefore qualitatively different from those at the opposite non-moving wall, along which quasi-coherent streaky structures prevail, similarly as in turbulent pipe and channel flows. Preferential particle concentration is observed near both walls. The inhomogeneity of the concentration is caused by the strain-vorticity selection mechanism, whereas the anisotropy originates from coherent flow structures. In order to analyse anisotropic clustering, a two-dimensional Shannon entropy method is developed. Streaky particle structures are observed near the stationary wall where the flow field resembles typical wall-turbulence, whereas particle clusters near the moving friction-free wall are similar to randomly oriented clusters in homogeneous isotropic turbulence, albeit with a modest streamwise inclination. In the absence of mean-shear and near-wall streaks, the observed anisotropy is ascribed to the imprint of large-scale flow structures which reside in the bulk flow and are global in nature.

Advanced Accelerators: Particle, Photon and Plasma Wave Interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williams, Ronald L.

2017-06-29

The overall objective of this project was to study the acceleration of electrons to very high energies over very short distances based on trapping slowly moving electrons in the fast moving potential wells of large amplitude plasma waves, which have relativistic phase velocities. These relativistic plasma waves, or wakefields, are the basis of table-top accelerators that have been shown to accelerate electrons to the same high energies as kilometer-length linear particle colliders operating using traditional decades-old acceleration techniques. The accelerating electrostatic fields of the relativistic plasma wave accelerators can be as large as GigaVolts/meter, and our goal was to studymore » techniques for remotely measuring these large fields by injecting low energy probe electron beams across the plasma wave and measuring the beam’s deflection. Our method of study was via computer simulations, and these results suggested that the deflection of the probe electron beam was directly proportional to the amplitude of the plasma wave. This is the basis of a proposed diagnostic technique, and numerous studies were performed to determine the effects of changing the electron beam, plasma wave and laser beam parameters. Further simulation studies included copropagating laser beams with the relativistic plasma waves. New interesting results came out of these studies including the prediction that very small scale electron beam bunching occurs, and an anomalous line focusing of the electron beam occurs under certain conditions. These studies were summarized in the dissertation of a graduate student who obtained the Ph.D. in physics. This past research program has motivated ideas for further research to corroborate these results using particle-in-cell simulation tools which will help design a test-of-concept experiment in our laboratory and a scaled up version for testing at a major wakefield accelerator facility.« less

Extending Wheeler’s delayed-choice experiment to space

PubMed Central

Vedovato, Francesco; Agnesi, Costantino; Schiavon, Matteo; Dequal, Daniele; Calderaro, Luca; Tomasin, Marco; Marangon, Davide G.; Stanco, Andrea; Luceri, Vincenza; Bianco, Giuseppe; Vallone, Giuseppe; Villoresi, Paolo

2017-01-01

Gedankenexperiments have consistently played a major role in the development of quantum theory. A paradigmatic example is Wheeler’s delayed-choice experiment, a wave-particle duality test that cannot be fully understood using only classical concepts. We implement Wheeler’s idea along a satellite-ground interferometer that extends for thousands of kilometers in space. We exploit temporal and polarization degrees of freedom of photons reflected by a fast-moving satellite equipped with retroreflecting mirrors. We observe the complementary wave- or particle-like behaviors at the ground station by choosing the measurement apparatus while the photons are propagating from the satellite to the ground. Our results confirm quantum mechanical predictions, demonstrating the need of the dual wave-particle interpretation at this unprecedented scale. Our work paves the way for novel applications of quantum mechanics in space links involving multiple photon degrees of freedom. PMID:29075668

Fictitious domain method for fully resolved reacting gas-solid flow simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Longhui; Liu, Kai; You, Changfu

2015-10-01

Fully resolved simulation (FRS) for gas-solid multiphase flow considers solid objects as finite sized regions in flow fields and their behaviours are predicted by solving equations in both fluid and solid regions directly. Fixed mesh numerical methods, such as fictitious domain method, are preferred in solving FRS problems and have been widely researched. However, for reacting gas-solid flows no suitable fictitious domain numerical method has been developed. This work presents a new fictitious domain finite element method for FRS of reacting particulate flows. Low Mach number reacting flow governing equations are solved sequentially on a regular background mesh. Particles are immersed in the mesh and driven by their surface forces and torques integrated on immersed interfaces. Additional treatments on energy and surface reactions are developed. Several numerical test cases validated the method and a burning carbon particles array falling simulation proved the capability for solving moving reacting particle cluster problems.

Fluorescence imaging of single-molecule retention trajectories in reversed-phase chromatographic particles.

PubMed

Cooper, Justin T; Peterson, Eric M; Harris, Joel M

2013-10-01

Due to its high specific surface area and chemical stability, porous silica is used as a support structure in numerous applications, including heterogeneous catalysis, biomolecule immobilization, sensors, and liquid chromatography. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), which uses porous silica support particles, has become an indispensable separations tool in quality control, pharmaceutics, and environmental analysis requiring identification of compounds in mixtures. For complex samples, the need for higher resolution separations requires an understanding of the time scale of processes responsible for analyte retention in the stationary phase. In the present work, single-molecule fluorescence imaging is used to observe transport of individual molecules within RPLC porous silica particles. This technique allows direct measurement of intraparticle molecular residence times, intraparticle diffusion rates, and the spatial distribution of molecules within the particle. On the basis of the localization uncertainty and characteristic measured diffusion rates, statistical criteria were developed to resolve the frame-to-frame behavior of molecules into moving and stuck events. The measured diffusion coefficient of moving molecules was used in a Monte Carlo simulation of a random-walk model within the cylindrical geometry of the particle diameter and microscope depth-of-field. The simulated molecular transport is in good agreement with the experimental data, indicating transport of moving molecules in the porous particle is described by a random-walk. Histograms of stuck-molecule event times, locations, and their contributions to intraparticle residence times were also characterized.

Moving charged particles in lattice Boltzmann-based electrokinetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuron, Michael; Rempfer, Georg; Schornbaum, Florian; Bauer, Martin; Godenschwager, Christian; Holm, Christian; de Graaf, Joost

2016-12-01

The motion of ionic solutes and charged particles under the influence of an electric field and the ensuing hydrodynamic flow of the underlying solvent is ubiquitous in aqueous colloidal suspensions. The physics of such systems is described by a coupled set of differential equations, along with boundary conditions, collectively referred to as the electrokinetic equations. Capuani et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 121, 973 (2004)] introduced a lattice-based method for solving this system of equations, which builds upon the lattice Boltzmann algorithm for the simulation of hydrodynamic flow and exploits computational locality. However, thus far, a description of how to incorporate moving boundary conditions into the Capuani scheme has been lacking. Moving boundary conditions are needed to simulate multiple arbitrarily moving colloids. In this paper, we detail how to introduce such a particle coupling scheme, based on an analogue to the moving boundary method for the pure lattice Boltzmann solver. The key ingredients in our method are mass and charge conservation for the solute species and a partial-volume smoothing of the solute fluxes to minimize discretization artifacts. We demonstrate our algorithm's effectiveness by simulating the electrophoresis of charged spheres in an external field; for a single sphere we compare to the equivalent electro-osmotic (co-moving) problem. Our method's efficiency and ease of implementation should prove beneficial to future simulations of the dynamics in a wide range of complex nanoscopic and colloidal systems that were previously inaccessible to lattice-based continuum algorithms.

Modelling particles moving in a potential field with pairwise interactions and an application

Treesearch

D. R. Brillinger; Haiganoush Preisler; M. J. Wisdom

2011-01-01

Motions of particles in fields characterized by real-valued potential functions, are considered. Three particular expressions for potential functions are studied. One, U, depends on the ith particle’s location, ri(t) at times t

Maintenance of order in a moving strong condensate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitehouse, Justin; Costa, André; Blythe, Richard A.; Evans, Martin R.

2014-11-01

We investigate the conditions under which a moving condensate may exist in a driven mass transport system. Our paradigm is a minimal mass transport model in which n - 1 particles move simultaneously from a site containing n > 1 particles to the neighbouring site in a preferred direction. In the spirit of a zero-range process the rate u(n) of this move depends only on the occupation of the departure site. We study a hopping rate u(n) = 1 + b/nα numerically and find a moving strong condensate phase for b > bc(α) for all α > 0. This phase is characterised by a condensate that moves through the system and comprises a fraction of the system's mass that tends to unity. The mass lost by the condensate as it moves is constantly replenished from the trailing tail of low occupancy sites that collectively comprise a vanishing fraction of the mass. We formulate an approximate analytical treatment of the model that allows a reasonable estimate of bc(α) to be obtained. We show numerically (for α = 1) that the transition is of mixed order, exhibiting a discontinuity in the order parameter as well as a diverging length scale as b\\searrow bc .

Local synaptic signaling enhances the stochastic transport of motor-driven cargo in neurons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newby, Jay; Bressloff, Paul C.

2010-09-01

The tug-of-war model of motor-driven cargo transport is formulated as an intermittent trapping process. An immobile trap, representing the cellular machinery that sequesters a motor-driven cargo for eventual use, is located somewhere within a microtubule track. A particle representing a motor-driven cargo that moves randomly with a forward bias is introduced at the beginning of the track. The particle switches randomly between a fast moving phase and a slow moving phase. When in the slow moving phase, the particle can be captured by the trap. To account for the possibility that the particle avoids the trap, an absorbing boundary is placed at the end of the track. Two local signaling mechanisms—intended to improve the chances of capturing the target—are considered by allowing the trap to affect the tug-of-war parameters within a small region around itself. The first is based on a localized adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration gradient surrounding a synapse, and the second is based on a concentration of tau—a microtubule-associated protein involved in Alzheimer's disease—coating the microtubule near the synapse. It is shown that both mechanisms can lead to dramatic improvements in the capture probability, with a minimal increase in the mean capture time. The analysis also shows that tau can cause a cargo to undergo random oscillations, which could explain some experimental observations.

Modeling of Particle Agglomeration in Nanofluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanagala, Hari Krishna

Nanofluids are colloidal dispersions of nano sized particles (<100nm in diameter) in dispersion mediums. They are of great interest in industrial applications as heat transfer fluids owing to their enhanced thermal conductivities. Stability of nanofluids is a major problem hindering their industrial application. Agglomeration and then sedimentation are some reasons, which drastically decrease the shelf life of these nanofluids. Current research addresses the agglomeration effect and how it can affect the shelf life of a nanofluid. The reasons for agglomeration in nanofluids are attributable to the interparticle interactions which are quantified by the various theories. By altering the governing properties like volume fraction, pH and electrolyte concentration different nanofluids with instant agglomeration, slow agglomeration and no agglomeration can be produced. A numerical model is created based on the discretized population balance equations which analyses the particle size distribution at different times. Agglomeration effects have been analyzed for alumina nanoparticles with average particle size of 150nm dispersed in de-ionized water. As the pH was moved towards the isoelectric point of alumina nanofluids, the particle size distribution became broader and moved to bigger sizes rapidly with time. Particle size distributions became broader and moved to bigger sizes more quickly with time with increase in the electrolyte concentration. The two effects together can be used to create different temporal trends in the particle size distributions. Faster agglomeration is attributed to the decrease in the electrostatic double layer repulsion forces which is due to decrease in the induced charge and the double layer thickness around the particle. Bigger particle clusters show lesser agglomeration due to reaching the equilibrium size. The procedures and processes described in this work can be used to generate more stable nanofluids.

Estimation of inhaled airborne particle number concentration by subway users in Seoul, Korea.

PubMed

Kim, Minhae; Park, Sechan; Namgung, Hyeong-Gyu; Kwon, Soon-Bark

2017-12-01

Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) causes several diseases in the human body. The smaller particles, which have relatively large surface areas, are actually more harmful to the human body since they can penetrate deeper parts of the lungs or become secondary pollutants by bonding with other atmospheric pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides. The purpose of this study is to present the number of PM inhaled by subway users as a possible reference material for any analysis of the hazards to the human body arising from the inhalation of such PM. Two transfer stations in Seoul, Korea, which have the greatest number of users, were selected for this study. For 0.3-0.422 μm PM, particle number concentration (PNC) was highest outdoors but decreased as the tester moved deeper underground. On the other hand, the PNC between 1 and 10 μm increased as the tester moved deeper underground and showed a high number concentration inside the subway train as well. An analysis of the particles to which subway users are actually exposed to (inhaled particle number), using particle concentration at each measurement location, the average inhalation rate of an adult, and the average stay time at each location, all showed that particles sized 0.01-0.422 μm are mostly inhaled from the outdoor air whereas particles sized 1-10 μm are inhaled as the passengers move deeper underground. Based on these findings, we expect that the inhaled particle number of subway users can be used as reference data for an evaluation of the hazards to health caused by PM inhalation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid acceleration of protons upstream of earthward propagating dipolarization fronts

PubMed Central

Ukhorskiy, AY; Sitnov, MI; Merkin, VG; Artemyev, AV

2013-01-01

[1] Transport and acceleration of ions in the magnetotail largely occurs in the form of discrete impulsive events associated with a steep increase of the tail magnetic field normal to the neutral plane (Bz), which are referred to as dipolarization fronts. The goal of this paper is to investigate how protons initially located upstream of earthward moving fronts are accelerated at their encounter. According to our analytical analysis and simplified two-dimensional test-particle simulations of equatorially mirroring particles, there are two regimes of proton acceleration: trapping and quasi-trapping, which are realized depending on whether the front is preceded by a negative depletion in Bz. We then use three-dimensional test-particle simulations to investigate how these acceleration processes operate in a realistic magnetotail geometry. For this purpose we construct an analytical model of the front which is superimposed onto the ambient field of the magnetotail. According to our numerical simulations, both trapping and quasi-trapping can produce rapid acceleration of protons by more than an order of magnitude. In the case of trapping, the acceleration levels depend on the amount of time particles stay in phase with the front which is controlled by the magnetic field curvature ahead of the front and the front width. Quasi-trapping does not cause particle scattering out of the equatorial plane. Energization levels in this case are limited by the number of encounters particles have with the front before they get magnetized behind it. PMID:26167430

Maximum efficiency of the collisional Penrose process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaslavskii, O. B.

2016-09-01

We consider the collision of two particles that move in the equatorial plane near a general stationary rotating axially symmetric extremal black hole. One of the particles is critical (with fine-tuned parameters) and moves in the outward direction. The second particle (usual, not fine-tuned) comes from infinity. We examine the efficiency η of the collisional Penrose process. There are two relevant cases here: a particle falling into a black hole after collision (i) is heavy or (ii) has a finite mass. We show that the maximum of η in case (ii) is less than or equal to that in case (i). It is argued that for superheavy particles, the bound applies to nonequatorial motion as well. As an example, we analyze collision in the Kerr-Newman background. When the bound is the same for processes (i) and (ii), η =3 for this metric. For the Kerr black hole, recent results in the literature are reproduced.

Microscopic motion of particles flowing through a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jysoo; Koplik, Joel

1999-01-01

Stokesian dynamics simulations are used to study the microscopic motion of particles suspended in fluids passing through porous media. Model porous media with fixed spherical particles are constructed, and mobile ones move through this fixed bed under the action of an ambient velocity field. The pore scale motion of individual suspended particles at pore junctions are first considered. The relative particle flux into different possible directions exiting from a single pore, for two- and three-dimensional model porous media is found to approximately equal the corresponding fractional channel width or area. Next the waiting time distribution for particles which are delayed in a junction due to a stagnation point caused by a flow bifurcation is considered. The waiting times are found to be controlled by two-particle interactions, and the distributions take the same form in model porous media as in two-particle systems. A simple theoretical estimate of the waiting time is consistent with the simulations. It is found that perturbing such a slow-moving particle by another nearby one leads to rather complicated behavior. Finally, the stability of geometrically trapped particles is studied. For simple model traps, it is found that particles passing nearby can "relaunch" the trapped particle through its hydrodynamic interaction, although the conditions for relaunching depend sensitively on the details of the trap and its surroundings.

A stop-restart solid propellant study with salt quench

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, R. N.

1976-01-01

Experiments were conducted to gain insight into the unsatisfactory performance of the salt quench system of solid propellants in earlier studies. Nine open-air salt spray tests were conducted and high-speed cinematographic coverage was obtained of the events. It is shown that the salt spray by the detonator is generally a two-step process yielding two different fractions. The first fraction consists of finely powdered salt and moves practically unidirectionally at a high velocity (thousand of feet per second) while the second fraction consists of coarse particles and moves randomly at a low velocity (a few feet per second). Further investigation is required to verify the speculation that a lower quench charge ratio (weight of salt/propellant burning area) than previously employed may lead to an efficient quench

Turning Passive Brownian Motion Into Active Motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevilla, Francisco J.; VáSquez-Arzola, Alejandro; Puga-Cital, Enrique

We consider out-of-equilibrium phenomena, specifically, the pattern of motion of active particles. These particles absorb energy from the environment and transform it into self-locomotion, generally, through complex mechanisms. Though the out-of-equilibrium nature of on the motion of these systems is well recognized, is generally difficult to pinpoint how far from equilibrium these systems are. In this work we elucidate the out-of-equilibrium nature of non-interacting, trapped, active particles, whose pattern of motion is described by a run-and-tumble dynamics. We show that the stationary distributions of these run-and-tumble particles, moving under the effects of an external potential, is equivalent to the stationary distribution of non-interacting, passive Brownian particles moving in the same potential but in an inhomogeneous source of heat. The interest in this topic has recently regrown due to the experimental possibility to design man-made active particles that emulate the ones that exist in the biological realm. F.J.S kindly acknowledges support from Grant UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT-IN113114.

Hybrid dynamic radioactive particle tracking (RPT) calibration technique for multiphase flow systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khane, Vaibhav; Al-Dahhan, Muthanna H.

2017-04-01

The radioactive particle tracking (RPT) technique has been utilized to measure three-dimensional hydrodynamic parameters for multiphase flow systems. An analytical solution to the inverse problem of the RPT technique, i.e. finding the instantaneous tracer positions based upon instantaneous counts received in the detectors, is not possible. Therefore, a calibration to obtain a counts-distance map is needed. There are major shortcomings in the conventional RPT calibration method due to which it has limited applicability in practical applications. In this work, the design and development of a novel dynamic RPT calibration technique are carried out to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional RPT calibration method. The dynamic RPT calibration technique has been implemented around a test reactor with 1foot in diameter and 1 foot in height using Cobalt-60 as an isotopes tracer particle. Two sets of experiments have been carried out to test the capability of novel dynamic RPT calibration. In the first set of experiments, a manual calibration apparatus has been used to hold a tracer particle at known static locations. In the second set of experiments, the tracer particle was moved vertically downwards along a straight line path in a controlled manner. The obtained reconstruction results about the tracer particle position were compared with the actual known position and the reconstruction errors were estimated. The obtained results revealed that the dynamic RPT calibration technique is capable of identifying tracer particle positions with a reconstruction error between 1 to 5.9 mm for the conditions studied which could be improved depending on various factors outlined here.

Direct numerical simulation of particulate flows with an overset grid method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koblitz, A. R.; Lovett, S.; Nikiforakis, N.; Henshaw, W. D.

2017-08-01

We evaluate an efficient overset grid method for two-dimensional and three-dimensional particulate flows for small numbers of particles at finite Reynolds number. The rigid particles are discretised using moving overset grids overlaid on a Cartesian background grid. This allows for strongly-enforced boundary conditions and local grid refinement at particle surfaces, thereby accurately capturing the viscous boundary layer at modest computational cost. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a fractional-step scheme which is second-order-accurate in space and time, while the fluid-solid coupling is achieved with a partitioned approach including multiple sub-iterations to increase stability for light, rigid bodies. Through a series of benchmark studies we demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of this approach compared to other boundary conformal and static grid methods in the literature. In particular, we find that fully resolving boundary layers at particle surfaces is crucial to obtain accurate solutions to many common test cases. With our approach we are able to compute accurate solutions using as little as one third the number of grid points as uniform grid computations in the literature. A detailed convergence study shows a 13-fold decrease in CPU time over a uniform grid test case whilst maintaining comparable solution accuracy.

Particle-Laden Liquid Jet Impingement on a Moving Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahmani, Hatef; Green, Sheldon

2017-11-01

The impingement of high-speed jets on a moving substrate is salient to a number of industrial processes such as surface coating in the railroad industry. The particular jet fluids studied were dilute suspensions of neutrally buoyant particles in water-glycerin solutions. At these low particle concentrations, the suspensions have Newtonian fluid viscosity. A variety of jet and surface velocities, solution properties, nozzle diameters, mean particle sizes, and volume fractions were studied. It was observed that for jets with very small particles, addition of solids to the jet enhances deposition and postpones splash relative to a particle-free water-glycerin solution with the same viscosity. In contrast, jets with larger particles in suspension were more prone to splash than single phase jets of the same viscosity. It is speculated that the particle diameter, relative to the lamella thickness, is the key parameter to determine whether splash is suppressed or enhanced. An existing splash model for single phase liquid jets was found to be in good agreement with the experimental results, provided that the single fitting parameter in that model is a function of the particle size, volume fraction, and surface roughness.

Magnetic field drift shell splitting - Cause of unusual dayside particle pitch angle distributions during storms and substorms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sibeck, D. G.; Mcentire, R. W.; Lui, A. T. Y.; Lopez, R. E.; Krimigis, S. M.

1987-01-01

This paper presents a magnetic field drift shell-splitting model for the unusual butterfly and head-and-shoulder energetic (E greater than 25 keV) particle pitch angle distributions (PADs) which appear deep within the dayside magnetosphere during the course of storms and substorms. Drift shell splitting separates the high and low pitch angle particles in nightside injections as they move to the dayside magnetosphere, so that the higher pitch angle particles move radially away from earth. Consequently, butterfly PADs with a surplus of low pitch angle particles form on the inner edge of the injection, but head-and-shoulder PADs with a surplus of high pitch angle particles form on the outer edge. A similar process removes high pitch angle particles from the inner dayside magnetosphere during storms, leaving the remaining lower pitch angle particles to form butterfly PADs on the inner edge of the ring current. A detailed case and statistical study of Charge Composition Explorer/Medium-energy Particle Analyzer observations, as well as a review of previous work, shows most examples of unusual PADs to be consistent with the model.

Effects of solar radiation on the orbits of small particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lyttleton, R. A.

1976-01-01

A modification of the Robertson (1937) equations of particle motion in the presence of solar radiation is developed which allows for partial reflection of sunlight as a result of rapid and varying particle rotations caused by interaction with the solar wind. The coefficients and forces in earlier forms of the equations are compared with those in the present equations, and secular rates of change of particle orbital elements are determined. Orbital dimensions are calculated in terms of time, probable sizes and densities of meteoric and cometary particles are estimated, and times of infall to the sun are computed for a particle moving in an almost circular orbit and a particle moving in an elliptical orbit of high eccentricity. Changes in orbital elements are also determined for particles from a long-period sun-grazing comet. The results show that the time of infall to the sun from a highly eccentric orbit is substantially shorter than from a circular orbit with a radius equal to the mean distance in the eccentric orbit. The possibility is considered that the free orbital kinetic energy of particles drawn into the sun may be the energy source for the solar corona.

A Meshless Method for Magnetohydrodynamics and Applications to Protoplanetary Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNally, Colin P.

2012-08-01

This thesis presents an algorithm for simulating the equations of ideal magnetohydrodynamics and other systems of differential equations on an unstructured set of points represented by sample particles. Local, third-order, least-squares, polynomial interpolations (Moving Least Squares interpolations) are calculated from the field values of neighboring particles to obtain field values and spatial derivatives at the particle position. Field values and particle positions are advanced in time with a second order predictor-corrector scheme. The particles move with the fluid, so the time step is not limited by the Eulerian Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy condition. Full spatial adaptivity is implemented to ensure the particles fill the computational volume, which gives the algorithm substantial flexibility and power. A target resolution is specified for each point in space, with particles being added and deleted as needed to meet this target. Particle addition and deletion is based on a local void and clump detection algorithm. Dynamic artificial viscosity fields provide stability to the integration. The resulting algorithm provides a robust solution for modeling flows that require Lagrangian or adaptive discretizations to resolve. The code has been parallelized by adapting the framework provided by Gadget-2. A set of standard test problems, including one part in a million amplitude linear MHD waves, magnetized shock tubes, and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities are presented. Finally we demonstrate good agreement with analytic predictions of linear growth rates for magnetorotational instability in a cylindrical geometry. We provide a rigorous methodology for verifying a numerical method on two dimensional Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The test problem was run in the Pencil Code, Athena, Enzo, NDSPHMHD, and Phurbas. A strict comparison, judgment, or ranking, between codes is beyond the scope of this work, although this work provides the mathematical framewor! k needed for such a study. Nonetheless, how the test is posed circumvents the issues raised by tests starting from a sharp contact discontinuity yet it still shows the poor performance of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. We then comment on the connection between this behavior and the underlying lack of zeroth-order consistency in Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics interpolation. In astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and electrodynamics simulations, numerically enforcing the divergence free constraint on the magnetic field has been difficult. We observe that for point-based discretization, as used in finite-difference type and pseudo-spectral methods, the divergence free constraint can be satisfied entirely by a choice of interpolation used to define the derivatives of the magnetic field. As an example we demonstrate a new class of finite-difference type derivative operators on a regular grid which has the divergence free property. This principle clarifies the nature of magnetic monopole errors. The principles and techniques demonstrated in this chapter are particularly useful for the magnetic field, but can be applied to any vector field. Finally, we examine global zoom-in simulations of turbulent magnetorotationally unstable flow. We extract and analyze the high-current regions produced in the turbulent flow. Basic parameters of these regions are abstracted, and we build one dimensional models including non-ideal MHD, and radiative transfer. For sufficiently high temperatures, an instability resulting from the temperature dependence of the Ohmic resistivity is found. This instability concentrates current sheets, resulting in the possibility of rapid heating from temperatures on the order of 600 Kelvin to 2000 Kelvin in magnetorotationally turbulent regions of protoplanetary disks. This is a possible local mechanism for the melting of chondrules and the formation of other high-temperature materials in protoplanetary disks.

Einstein’s Clocks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lincoln, Don

One of the most non-intuitive physics theories ever devised is Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity, which claim such crazy-sounding things as two people disagreeing on such familiar concepts as length and time. In this video, Fermilab’s Dr. Don Lincoln shows that every single day particle physicists prove that moving clocks tick more slowly than stationary ones. He uses an easy to understand example of particles that move for far longer distances than you would expect from combining their velocity and stationary lifetime.

Berry phase for spin-1/2 particles moving in a space-time with torsion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alimohammadi, M.; Shariati, A.

Berry phase for a spin-1/2 particle moving in a flat space-time with torsion is investigated in the context of the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac model. It is shown that if the torsion is due to a dense polarized background, then there is a Berry phase only if the fermion is massless and its momentum is perpendicular to the direction of the background polarization. The order of magnitude of this Berry phase is discussed in other theoretical frameworks.

Theater of Operations Construction in the Desert. A Handbook of Lessons Learned in the Middle East. Phase I.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-01

moves great amounts of hot, dry air, it severely dehydrates the desert environment. In addition, the wind always carries fine soil particles which abrade...membrane hydrolysis . Manufacturers recommend that feed stream flows not be lower than three-fourths of the nominal design flow. Possible solutions: 1...undergo accelerated decomposition /aging when stored in high desert heat. This is complicated by the fa~t that many of the tests were designed to be

Chaos in pseudo-Newtonian black holes with halos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guéron, E.; Letelier, P. S.

2001-03-01

Newtonian as well as special relativistic dynamics are used to study the stability of orbits of a test particle moving around a black hole with a dipolar halo. The black hole is modeled by either the usual monopole potential or the Paczyńki-Wiita pseudo-Newtonian potential. The full general relativistic similar case is also considered. The Poincaré section method and the Lyapunov characteristic exponents show that the orbits for the pseudo-Newtonian potential models are more unstable than the corresponding general relativistic geodesics.

Moving core beam energy absorber and converter

DOEpatents

Degtiarenko, Pavel V.

2012-12-18

A method and apparatus for the prevention of overheating of laser or particle beam impact zones through the use of a moving-in-the-coolant-flow arrangement for the energy absorbing core of the device. Moving of the core spreads the energy deposition in it in 1, 2, or 3 dimensions, thus increasing the effective cooling area of the device.

Lagrangian and Eulerian description of bed-load particle kinematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballio, Francesco; Sadabadi, Seyed Abbas Hosseini; Pokrajac, Dubravka; Radice, Alessio

2016-04-01

The motion of bed-load sediment particles transported by a flow can be analyzed within a Lagrangian or an Eulerian framework. In the former case, we consider the particles as individual objects in motion and we study their kinematic properties. The latter approach is instead referred to suitably chosen control volumes. Quantities describing sediment motion in the two frameworks are different, and the relationships among the two approaches are not straightforward. In this work, we intend to discuss the kinematic properties of sediment transport: first, a set of quantities is univocally defined; then, relationships among different representations are explored. Proof-of-concept results presented in the study are from a recent experiment involving weak bed-load sediment transport, where the moving particles were released over a fixed rough bed. The bulk flow velocity was 1.4 times the critical value for incipient particle motion, and particles were mostly moving by rolling and sliding, with limited saltation. The particle motion was filmed from the top and the measurements were conducted by image-based methods, obtaining extensive samples of virtually-instantaneous quantities.

Aharonov–Anandan quantum phases and Landau quantization associated with a magnetic quadrupole moment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fonseca, I.C.; Bakke, K., E-mail: kbakke@fisica.ufpb.br

The arising of geometric quantum phases in the wave function of a moving particle possessing a magnetic quadrupole moment is investigated. It is shown that an Aharonov–Anandan quantum phase (Aharonov and Anandan, 1987) can be obtained in the quantum dynamics of a moving particle with a magnetic quadrupole moment. In particular, it is obtained as an analogue of the scalar Aharonov–Bohm effect for a neutral particle (Anandan, 1989). Besides, by confining the quantum particle to a hard-wall confining potential, the dependence of the energy levels on the geometric quantum phase is discussed and, as a consequence, persistent currents can arisemore » from this dependence. Finally, an analogue of the Landau quantization is discussed. -- Highlights: •Scalar Aharonov–Bohm effect for a particle possessing a magnetic quadrupole moment. •Aharonov–Anandan quantum phase for a particle with a magnetic quadrupole moment. •Dependence of the energy levels on the Aharonov–Anandan quantum phase. •Landau quantization associated with a particle possessing a magnetic quadrupole moment.« less

Separation of red blood cells in deep deterministic lateral displacement devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabacaoglu, Gokberk; Biros, George

2017-11-01

Microfluidic cell separation techniques are of great interest since they help rapid medical diagnoses and tests. Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) is one of them. A DLD device consists of arrays of pillars. Main flow and alignment of the pillars define two different directions. Size-based separation of rigid spherical particles is possible as they follow one of these directions depending on their sizes. However, the separation of non-spherical deformable particles such as red blood cells (RBCs) is more complicated than that due to their intricate dynamics. We study the separation of RBCs in DLD using an in-house integral equation solver. We systematically investigate the effects of the interior fluid viscosity and the membrane elasticity of an RBC on its behavior. These mechanical properties of a cell determine its deformability, which can be altered by several diseases. We particularly consider deep devices in which an RBC can show rich dynamics such as tank-treading and tumbling. It turns out that strong hydrodynamic lift force moves the tank-treading cells along the pillars and downward force leads the tumbling ones to move with the flow. Thereby, deformability-based separation of RBCs is possible.

Dynamic finite element analysis and moving particle simulation of human enamel on a microscale.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Satoshi; Coelho, Paulo G; Thompson, Van P; Tovar, Nick; Yamauchi, Junpei; Imazato, Satoshi

2014-12-01

The study of biomechanics of deformation and fracture of hard biological tissues involving organic matrix remains a challenge as variations in mechanical properties and fracture mode may have time-dependency. Finite element analysis (FEA) has been widely used but the shortcomings of FEA such as the long computation time owing to re-meshing in simulating fracture mechanics have warranted the development of alternative computational methods with higher throughput. The aim of this study was to compare dynamic two-dimensional FEA and moving particle simulation (MPS) when assuming a plane strain condition in the modeling of human enamel on a reduced scale. Two-dimensional models with the same geometry were developed for MPS and FEA and tested in tension generated with a single step of displacement. The displacement, velocity, pressure, and stress levels were compared and Spearman׳s rank-correlation coefficients R were calculated (p<0.001). The MPS and FEA were significantly correlated for displacement, velocity, pressure, and Y-stress. The MPS may be further developed as an alternative approach without mesh generation to simulate deformation and fracture phenomena of dental and potentially other hard tissues with complex microstructure. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PDEs on moving surfaces via the closest point method and a modified grid based particle method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petras, A.; Ruuth, S. J.

2016-05-01

Partial differential equations (PDEs) on surfaces arise in a wide range of applications. The closest point method (Ruuth and Merriman (2008) [20]) is a recent embedding method that has been used to solve a variety of PDEs on smooth surfaces using a closest point representation of the surface and standard Cartesian grid methods in the embedding space. The original closest point method (CPM) was designed for problems posed on static surfaces, however the solution of PDEs on moving surfaces is of considerable interest as well. Here we propose solving PDEs on moving surfaces using a combination of the CPM and a modification of the grid based particle method (Leung and Zhao (2009) [12]). The grid based particle method (GBPM) represents and tracks surfaces using meshless particles and an Eulerian reference grid. Our modification of the GBPM introduces a reconstruction step into the original method to ensure that all the grid points within a computational tube surrounding the surface are active. We present a number of examples to illustrate the numerical convergence properties of our combined method. Experiments for advection-diffusion equations that are strongly coupled to the velocity of the surface are also presented.

Influence of barrier on partial discharge activity by a conducting particle in liquid nitrogen under AC voltages adopting UHF technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarathi, R.; Giridhar, A. V.; Sethupathi, K.

2011-02-01

The UHF signals are generated due to PD formed by particle movement in liquid nitrogen under AC voltages. The levitation voltage of a particle in liquid nitrogen measured through UHF technique and by conventional PD measurement technique is the same, confirming the sensitivity of UHF technique for identification of PD activity. The frequency content of UHF signal generated due to particle movement in liquid nitrogen, under AC voltages, lies in the range 0.5-1.5 GHz. The characteristics of UHF signal generated due to particle movement between the barrier and high voltage/ground electrode is much similar to the signal generated by particle movement in clean electrode gap. Pseudo resonance phenomena can occur in liquid nitrogen due to particle movement. It is also observed that the partial discharge magnitude, in general, be high when the particle moves between the barrier and high voltage electrode when compared to the barrier and the ground electrode. Percentage of clay in epoxy nanocomposites has not altered the levitation voltage of the particle in the electrode gap. Zero span analysis clearly indicates that pseudo resonance occurs when particle moves (in a short gap) between the barrier and high voltage/ground electrode.

Simulation of Molecular Transport in Systems Containing Mobile Obstacles.

PubMed

Polanowski, Piotr; Sikorski, Andrzej

2016-08-04

In this paper, we investigate the movement of molecules in crowded environments with obstacles undergoing Brownian motion by means of extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Our investigations were performed using the dynamic lattice liquid model, which was based on the cooperative movement concept and allowed to mimic systems at high densities where the motion of all elements (obstacles as well as moving particles) were highly correlated. The crowded environments are modeled on a two-dimensional triangular lattice containing obstacles (particles whose mobility was significantly reduced) moving by a Brownian motion. The subdiffusive motion of both elements in the system was analyzed. It was shown that the percolation transition does not exist in such systems in spite of the cooperative character of the particles' motion. The reduction of the obstacle mobility leads to the longer caging of liquid particles by mobile obstacles.

Geochemically structural characteristics of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash particles and mineralogical surface conversions by chelate treatment.

PubMed

Kitamura, Hiroki; Sawada, Takaya; Shimaoka, Takayuki; Takahashi, Fumitake

2016-01-01

Leaching behaviors of heavy metals contained in municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash have been studied well. However, micro-characteristics of MSWI fly ash particles are still uncertain and might be non-negligible to describe their leaching behaviors. Therefore, this study investigated micro-characteristics of MSWI fly ash particles, especially their structural properties and impacts of chelate treatment on surface characteristics. According to SEM observations, raw fly ash particles could be categorized into four types based on their shapes. Because chelate treatment changed the surface of fly ash particles dramatically owing to secondary mineral formations like ettringite, two more types could be categorized for chelate-treated fly ash particles. Acid extraction experiments suggest that fly ash particles, tested in this study, consist of Si-base insoluble core structure, Al/Ca/Si-base semi-soluble matrices inside the body, and KCl/NaCl-base soluble aggregates on the surface. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of the same fly ash particles during twice moistening treatments showed that KCl/NaCl moved under wet condition and concentrated at different places on the particle surface. However, element mobility depended on secondary mineral formations. When insoluble mineral like gypsum was generated and covered the particle surface, it inhibited element transfer under wet condition. Surface characteristics including secondary mineral formation of MSWI fly ash particles are likely non-negligible to describe trace element leaching behaviors.

Air-to-Air Missile Vector Scoring

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-22

SIR sampling-importance resampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 EPF extended particle filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 UPF unscented...particle filter ( EPF ) or a unscented particle fil- ter (UPF) [20]. The basic concept is to apply a bank of N EKF or UKF filters to move particles from...Merwe, Doucet, Freitas and Wan provide a comprehensive discussion on the EPF and UPF, including algorithms for implementation [20]. 2Result based on

Movement of particles using sequentially activated dielectrophoretic particle trapping

DOEpatents

Miles, Robin R.

2004-02-03

Manipulation of DNA and cells/spores using dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces to perform sample preparation protocols for polymerized chain reaction (PCR) based assays for various applications. This is accomplished by movement of particles using sequentially activated dielectrophoretic particle trapping. DEP forces induce a dipole in particles, and these particles can be trapped in non-uniform fields. The particles can be trapped in the high field strength region of one set of electrodes. By switching off this field and switching on an adjacent electrodes, particles can be moved down a channel with little or no flow.

The sample handling system for the Mars Icebreaker Life mission: from dirt to data.

PubMed

Davé, Arwen; Thompson, Sarah J; McKay, Christopher P; Stoker, Carol R; Zacny, Kris; Paulsen, Gale; Mellerowicz, Bolek; Glass, Brian J; Willson, David; Bonaccorsi, Rosalba; Rask, Jon

2013-04-01

The Mars Icebreaker Life mission will search for subsurface life on Mars. It consists of three payload elements: a drill to retrieve soil samples from approximately 1 m below the surface, a robotic sample handling system to deliver the sample from the drill to the instruments, and the instruments themselves. This paper will discuss the robotic sample handling system. Collecting samples from ice-rich soils on Mars in search of life presents two challenges: protection of that icy soil--considered a "special region" with respect to planetary protection--from contamination from Earth, and delivery of the icy, sticky soil to spacecraft instruments. We present a sampling device that meets these challenges. We built a prototype system and tested it at martian pressure, drilling into ice-cemented soil, collecting cuttings, and transferring them to the inlet port of the SOLID2 life-detection instrument. The tests successfully demonstrated that the Icebreaker drill, sample handling system, and life-detection instrument can collectively operate in these conditions and produce science data that can be delivered via telemetry--from dirt to data. Our results also demonstrate the feasibility of using an air gap to prevent forward contamination. We define a set of six analog soils for testing over a range of soil cohesion, from loose sand to basalt soil, with angles of repose of 27° and 39°, respectively. Particle size is a key determinant of jamming of mechanical parts by soil particles. Jamming occurs when the clearance between moving parts is equal in size to the most common particle size or equal to three of these particles together. Three particles acting together tend to form bridges and lead to clogging. Our experiments show that rotary-hammer action of the Icebreaker drill influences the particle size, typically reducing particle size by ≈ 100 μm.

Nonspherical particles in a pseudo-2D fluidized bed: Experimental study.

PubMed

Mahajan, Vinay V; Padding, Johan T; Nijssen, Tim M J; Buist, Kay A; Kuipers, J A M

2018-05-01

Fluidization is widely used in industries and has been extensively studied, both experimentally and theoretically, in the past. However, most of these studies focus on spherical particles while in practice granules are rarely spherical. Particle shape can have a significant effect on fluidization characteristics. It is therefore important to study the effect of particle shape on fluidization behavior in detail. In this study, experiments in pseudo-2D fluidized beds are used to characterize the fluidization of spherocylindrical (rod-like) Geldart D particles of aspect ratio 4. Pressure drop and optical measurement methods (Digital Image Analysis, Particle Image Velocimetry, Particle Tracking Velocimetry) are employed to measure bed height, particle orientation, particle circulation, stacking, and coordination number. The commonly used correlations to determine the pressure drop across a bed of nonspherical particles are compared to experiments. Experimental observations and measurements have shown that rod-like particles are prone to interlocking and channeling behavior. Well above the minimum fluidization velocity, vigorous bubbling fluidization is observed, with groups of interlocked particles moving upwards, breaking up, being thrown high in the freeboard region and slowly raining down as dispersed phase. At high flowrates, a circulation pattern develops with particles moving up through the center and down at the walls. Particles tend to orient themselves along the flow direction. © 2018 The Authors AIChE Journal published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers , 64: 1573-1590, 2018.

Nonspherical particles in a pseudo‐2D fluidized bed: Experimental study

PubMed Central

Mahajan, Vinay V.; Nijssen, Tim M. J.; Buist, Kay A.; Kuipers, J. A. M.

2018-01-01

Fluidization is widely used in industries and has been extensively studied, both experimentally and theoretically, in the past. However, most of these studies focus on spherical particles while in practice granules are rarely spherical. Particle shape can have a significant effect on fluidization characteristics. It is therefore important to study the effect of particle shape on fluidization behavior in detail. In this study, experiments in pseudo‐2D fluidized beds are used to characterize the fluidization of spherocylindrical (rod‐like) Geldart D particles of aspect ratio 4. Pressure drop and optical measurement methods (Digital Image Analysis, Particle Image Velocimetry, Particle Tracking Velocimetry) are employed to measure bed height, particle orientation, particle circulation, stacking, and coordination number. The commonly used correlations to determine the pressure drop across a bed of nonspherical particles are compared to experiments. Experimental observations and measurements have shown that rod‐like particles are prone to interlocking and channeling behavior. Well above the minimum fluidization velocity, vigorous bubbling fluidization is observed, with groups of interlocked particles moving upwards, breaking up, being thrown high in the freeboard region and slowly raining down as dispersed phase. At high flowrates, a circulation pattern develops with particles moving up through the center and down at the walls. Particles tend to orient themselves along the flow direction. © 2018 The Authors AIChE Journal published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 1573–1590, 2018 PMID:29706659

3D magnetospheric parallel hybrid multi-grid method applied to planet–plasma interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leclercq, L., E-mail: ludivine.leclercq@latmos.ipsl.fr; Modolo, R., E-mail: ronan.modolo@latmos.ipsl.fr; Leblanc, F.

2016-03-15

We present a new method to exploit multiple refinement levels within a 3D parallel hybrid model, developed to study planet–plasma interactions. This model is based on the hybrid formalism: ions are kinetically treated whereas electrons are considered as a inertia-less fluid. Generally, ions are represented by numerical particles whose size equals the volume of the cells. Particles that leave a coarse grid subsequently entering a refined region are split into particles whose volume corresponds to the volume of the refined cells. The number of refined particles created from a coarse particle depends on the grid refinement rate. In order tomore » conserve velocity distribution functions and to avoid calculations of average velocities, particles are not coalesced. Moreover, to ensure the constancy of particles' shape function sizes, the hybrid method is adapted to allow refined particles to move within a coarse region. Another innovation of this approach is the method developed to compute grid moments at interfaces between two refinement levels. Indeed, the hybrid method is adapted to accurately account for the special grid structure at the interfaces, avoiding any overlapping grid considerations. Some fundamental test runs were performed to validate our approach (e.g. quiet plasma flow, Alfven wave propagation). Lastly, we also show a planetary application of the model, simulating the interaction between Jupiter's moon Ganymede and the Jovian plasma.« less

Dedicated vertical wind tunnel for the study of sedimentation of non-spherical particles.

PubMed

Bagheri, G H; Bonadonna, C; Manzella, I; Pontelandolfo, P; Haas, P

2013-05-01

A dedicated 4-m-high vertical wind tunnel has been designed and constructed at the University of Geneva in collaboration with the Groupe de compétence en mécanique des fluides et procédés énergétiques. With its diverging test section, the tunnel is designed to study the aero-dynamical behavior of non-spherical particles with terminal velocities between 5 and 27 ms(-1). A particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) code is developed to calculate drag coefficient of particles in standard conditions based on the real projected area of the particles. Results of our wind tunnel and PTV code are validated by comparing drag coefficient of smooth spherical particles and cylindrical particles to existing literature. Experiments are repeatable with average relative standard deviation of 1.7%. Our preliminary experiments on the effect of particle to fluid density ratio on drag coefficient of cylindrical particles show that the drag coefficient of freely suspended particles in air is lower than those measured in water or in horizontal wind tunnels. It is found that increasing aspect ratio of cylindrical particles reduces their secondary motions and they tend to be suspended with their maximum area normal to the airflow. The use of the vertical wind tunnel in combination with the PTV code provides a reliable and precise instrument for measuring drag coefficient of freely moving particles of various shapes. Our ultimate goal is the study of sedimentation and aggregation of volcanic particles (density between 500 and 2700 kgm(-3)) but the wind tunnel can be used in a wide range of applications.

An ultrasensitive bio-surrogate for nanoporous filter membrane performance metrology directed towards contamination control in microlithography applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Farhan; Mish, Barbara; Qiu, Jian; Singh, Amarnauth; Varanasi, Rao; Bedford, Eilidh; Smith, Martin

2016-03-01

Contamination tolerances in semiconductor manufacturing processes have changed dramatically in the past two decades, reaching below 20 nm according to the guidelines of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. The move to narrower line widths drives the need for innovative filtration technologies that can achieve higher particle/contaminant removal performance resulting in cleaner process fluids. Nanoporous filter membrane metrology tools that have been the workhorse over the past decade are also now reaching limits. For example, nanoparticle (NP) challenge testing is commonly applied for assessing particle retention performance of filter membranes. Factors such as high NP size dispersity, low NP detection sensitivity, and high NP particle-filter affinity impose challenges in characterizing the next generation of nanoporous filter membranes. We report a novel bio-surrogate, 5 nm DNA-dendrimer conjugate for evaluating particle retention performance of nanoporous filter membranes. A technique capable of single molecule detection is employed to detect sparse concentration of conjugate in filter permeate, providing >1000- fold higher detection sensitivity than any existing 5 nm-sized particle enumeration technique. This bio-surrogate also offers narrow size distribution, high stability and chemical tunability. This bio-surrogate can discriminate various sub-15 nm pore-rated nanoporous filter membranes based on their particle retention performance. Due to high bio-surrogate detection sensitivity, a lower challenge concentration of bio-surrogate (as compared to other NPs of this size) can be used for filter testing, providing a better representation of customer applications. This new method should provide better understanding of the next generation filter membranes for removing defect-causing contaminants from lithography processes.

Aeolian processes aboard a space station: Saltation and particle trajectory analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, B. R.; Greeley, R.; Iversen, J. D.; Leach, R. N.

1986-01-01

The Carousel wind tunnel (CWT) proposed to study aeolian processes aboard a space station consists of two concentric rotating drums. The space between the two drums comprises the wind tunnel test section. Differential rates of rotation of the two drums would provide a wind velocity with respect to either drum surface. Preliminary results of measured velocity profiles made in a CWT prototype indicate that the wall bounded boundary layer profiles are suitable to simulate flat plate turbulent boundary layer flow. The two dimensional flat plate Cartesian coordinate equations of motion of a particle moving through the air are explained. In order to assess the suitability of CWT in the analysis of the trajectories of windblown particles, a series of calculations were conducted comparing cases for gravity with those of zero gravity. Results from the calculations demonstrate that a wind tunnel of the carousel design could be fabricted to operate in a space station environment and that experiments could be conducted which would yield significant results contributing to the understanding of the physics of particle dynamics.

Study of Ion Beam Forming Process in Electric Thruster Using 3D FEM Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Tao; Jin, Xiaolin; Hu, Quan; Li, Bin; Yang, Zhonghai

2015-11-01

There are two algorithms to simulate the process of ion beam forming in electric thruster. The one is electrostatic steady state algorithm. Firstly, an assumptive surface, which is enough far from the accelerator grids, launches the ion beam. Then the current density is calculated by theory formula. Secondly these particles are advanced one by one according to the equations of the motions of ions until they are out of the computational region. Thirdly, the electrostatic potential is recalculated and updated by solving Poisson Equation. At the end, the convergence is tested to determine whether the calculation should continue. The entire process will be repeated until the convergence is reached. Another one is time-depended PIC algorithm. In a global time step, we assumed that some new particles would be produced in the simulation domain and its distribution of position and velocity were certain. All of the particles that are still in the system will be advanced every local time steps. Typically, we set the local time step low enough so that the particle needs to be advanced about five times to move the distance of the edge of the element in which the particle is located.

Transparent Conveyor of Dielectric Liquids or Particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calle, Carlos I.; Mantovani, James G.

2009-01-01

The concept of a transparent conveyor of small loose dielectric parti cles or small amounts of dielectric liquids has emerged as an outgro wth of an effort to develop efficient, reliable means of automated re moval of dust from solar cells and from windows of optical instrumen ts. This concept is based on the previously reported concept of an e lectrodynamic screen, according to which a grid-like electric field is established on and near a surface and is moved along the surface p erpendicularly to the grid lines. The resulting electrodynamic force s on loose dielectric particles or dielectric liquid drops in the vic inity would move the particles or drops along the surface. In the or iginal dust-removal application, dust particles would thus be swept out of the affected window area. Other potential applications may occ ur in nanotechnology -- for example, involving mixing of two or more fluids and/or nanoscale particles under optical illumination and/or optical observation.

Counting polymers moving through a single ion channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bezrukov, Sergey M.; Vodyanoy, Igor; Parsegian, V. Adrian

1994-07-01

THE change in conductance of a small electrolyte-filled capillary owing to the passage of sub-micrometre-sized particles has long been used for particle counting and sizing. A commercial device for such measurements, the Coulter counter, is able to detect particles of sizes down to several tenths of a micrometre1-3. Nuclepore technology (in which pores are etched particle tracks) has extended the lower limit of size detection to 60-nm particles by using a capillary of diameter 0.45 μm (ref. 4). Here we show that natural channel-forming peptides incorporated into a bilayer lipid membrane can be used to detect the passage of single molecules with gyration radii as small as 5-15 Å. From our experiments with alamethicin pores we infer both the average number and the diffusion coefficients of poly(ethylene glycol) molecules in the pore. Our approach provides a means of observing the statistics and mechanics of flexible polymers moving within the confines of precisely defined single-molecule structures.

DECOMPOSITION OF THE PARTICLE AND CONNECTION OF PARTICLES IN THE TERMINI OF THE MOMENTUM SPACE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chernikov, N.A.

1958-01-01

>Geometric and algebraic notions and ideas are used to obtain a geometric interpretation of the kinematics of nuclear reactions. Thus, extended analytic calculations combined with the transition from one reference system to another, are replaced by simple formulas of the hyperbolic trigonometry. Let a particle move with the velocity a in a reference system which moves with the velocity o. Then the modulus of the three-dimensional impulse of the particle is p/sub 0a/ = m c sh oa-bar/c, where m is the resting miss, c is the velocity of the light, oa-bar is the distance of the points o andmore » a in the momentum space. The kinetic energy epsilon /sub oa/ of the particle in the system o is epsilon / sub oa/=m c/sup 2/STAoa-bar/c-1!. Then the ratio epsilon /sub oa/m is the area divided by 2 pi of a circle of radius oa in the momentum space. (TCO)« less

Effect of magnetic helicity upon rectilinear propagation of charged particles in random magnetic fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Earl, James A.

1992-01-01

When charged particles spiral along a large constant magnetic field, their trajectories are scattered by any random field components that are superposed on the guiding field. If the random field configuration embodies helicity, the scattering is asymmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the guiding field, for particles moving into the forward hemisphere are scattered at different rates from those moving into the backward hemisphere. This asymmetry gives rise to new terms in the transport equations that describe propagation of charged particles. Helicity has virtually no impact on qualitative features of the diffusive mode of propagation. However, characteristic velocities of the coherent modes that appear after a highly anisotropic injection exhibit an asymmetry related to helicity. Explicit formulas, which embody the effects of helicity, are given for the anisotropies, the coefficient diffusion, and the coherent velocities. Predictions derived from these expressions are in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations of particle transport, but the simulations reveal certain phenomena whose explanation calls for further analytical work.

Gas stripping and mixing in galaxy clusters: a numerical comparison study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heß, Steffen; Springel, Volker

2012-11-01

The ambient hot intrahalo gas in clusters of galaxies is constantly fed and stirred by infalling galaxies, a process that can be studied in detail with cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. However, different numerical methods yield discrepant predictions for crucial hydrodynamical processes, leading for example to different entropy profiles in clusters of galaxies. In particular, the widely used Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) scheme is suspected to strongly damp fluid instabilities and turbulence, which are both crucial to establish the thermodynamic structure of clusters. In this study, we test to which extent our recently developed Voronoi particle hydrodynamics (VPH) scheme yields different results for the stripping of gas out of infalling galaxies and for the bulk gas properties of cluster. We consider both the evolution of isolated galaxy models that are exposed to a stream of intracluster medium or are dropped into cluster models, as well as non-radiative cosmological simulations of cluster formation. We also compare our particle-based method with results obtained with a fundamentally different discretization approach as implemented in the moving-mesh code AREPO. We find that VPH leads to noticeably faster stripping of gas out of galaxies than SPH, in better agreement with the mesh-code than with SPH. We show that despite the fact that VPH in its present form is not as accurate as the moving mesh code in our investigated cases, its improved accuracy of gradient estimates makes VPH an attractive alternative to SPH.

The moving-least-squares-particle hydrodynamics method (MLSPH)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dilts, G.

1997-12-31

An enhancement of the smooth-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method has been developed using the moving-least-squares (MLS) interpolants of Lancaster and Salkauskas which simultaneously relieves the method of several well-known undesirable behaviors, including spurious boundary effects, inaccurate strain and rotation rates, pressure spikes at impact boundaries, and the infamous tension instability. The classical SPH method is derived in a novel manner by means of a Galerkin approximation applied to the Lagrangian equations of motion for continua using as basis functions the SPH kernel function multiplied by the particle volume. This derivation is then modified by simply substituting the MLS interpolants for themore » SPH Galerkin basis, taking care to redefine the particle volume and mass appropriately. The familiar SPH kernel approximation is now equivalent to a colocation-Galerkin method. Both classical conservative and recent non-conservative formulations of SPH can be derived and emulated. The non-conservative forms can be made conservative by adding terms that are zero within the approximation at the expense of boundary-value considerations. The familiar Monaghan viscosity is used. Test calculations of uniformly expanding fluids, the Swegle example, spinning solid disks, impacting bars, and spherically symmetric flow illustrate the superiority of the technique over SPH. In all cases it is seen that the marvelous ability of the MLS interpolants to add up correctly everywhere civilizes the noisy, unpredictable nature of SPH. Being a relatively minor perturbation of the SPH method, it is easily retrofitted into existing SPH codes. On the down side, computational expense at this point is significant, the Monaghan viscosity undoes the contribution of the MLS interpolants, and one-point quadrature (colocation) is not accurate enough. Solutions to these difficulties are being pursued vigorously.« less

Muon g-2

Science.gov Websites

Related Links A Key Contribution from Brookhaven Laboratory The Big Move Muon Department Facebook g-2 on is filled with an invisible sea of virtual particles that -in accordance with the laws of quantum presence and nature of these virtual particles with particle beams traveling in a magnetic field. The Muon

Einstein’s Clocks

ScienceCinema

Lincoln, Don

2018-01-16

One of the most non-intuitive physics theories ever devised is Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity, which claim such crazy-sounding things as two people disagreeing on such familiar concepts as length and time. In this video, Fermilab’s Dr. Don Lincoln shows that every single day particle physicists prove that moving clocks tick more slowly than stationary ones. He uses an easy to understand example of particles that move for far longer distances than you would expect from combining their velocity and stationary lifetime.

Janus Colloids Actively Rotating on the Surface of Water.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaolu; In, Martin; Blanc, Christophe; Würger, Alois; Nobili, Maurizio; Stocco, Antonio

2017-12-05

Biological or artificial microswimmers move performing trajectories of different kinds such as rectilinear, circular, or spiral ones. Here, we report on circular trajectories observed for active Janus colloids trapped at the air-water interface. Circular motion is due to asymmetric and nonuniform surface properties of the particles caused by fabrication. Motion persistence is enhanced by the partial wetted state of the Janus particles actively moving in two dimensions at the air-water interface. The slowing down of in-plane and out-of-plane rotational diffusions is described and discussed.

Effect of gravity on terminal particle settling velocity on Moon, Mars and Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhn, Nikolaus J.

2013-04-01

Gravity has a non-linear effect on the settling velocity of sediment particles in liquids and gases due to the interdependence of settling velocity, drag and friction. However, StokeśLaw, the common way of estimating the terminal velocity of a particle moving in a gas of liquid assumes a linear relationship between terminal velocity and gravity. For terrestrial applications, this "error" is not relevant, but it may strongly influence the terminal velocity achieved by settling particles on Mars. False estimates of these settling velocities will, in turn, affect the interpretation of particle sizes observed in sedimentary rocks on Mars. Wrong interpretations may occur, for example, when the texture of sedimentary rocks is linked to the amount and hydraulics of runoff and thus ultimately the environmental conditions on Mars at the time of their formation. A good understanding of particle behaviour in liquids on Mars is therefore essential. In principle, the effect of lower gravity on settling velocity can also be achieved by reducing the difference in density between particle and gas or liquid. However, the use of such analogues simulating the lower gravity on Mars on Earth is creates other problems because the properties (i.e. viscosity) and interaction of the liquids and sediment (i.e. flow around the boundary layer between liquid and particle) differ from those of water and mineral particles. An alternative for measuring the actual settling velocities of particles under Martian gravity, on Earth, is offered by placing a settling tube on a reduced gravity flight and conduct settling tests within the 20 to 25 seconds of Martian gravity that can be simulated during such a flight. In this presentation we report the results of such a test conducted during a reduced gravity flight in November 2012. The results explore the strength of the non-linearity in the gravity-settling velocity relationship for terrestrial, lunar and Martian gravity.

Transient radiation in an anisotropic magnetodielectric plate in a waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gevorkyan, E. A.

2017-02-01

We have considered transient radiation of a charged particle in an anisotropic magnetodielectric plate placed into a regular waveguide. It is assumed that the charged particle passes through the plate moving at a constant velocity perpendicularly to the waveguide axis. Wave equations and analytical expressions for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) fields in different regions of the waveguide have been obtained. Energies of transient radiation of the moving particle have been calculated. The properties of transient radiation and Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation have been analyzed for the case of a rectangular waveguide. Energies of transient radiation have been calculated for the case of a "thin" plate in the waveguide, when the wavelength in the plate is much greater than the length of the plate.

Relativistic effects in the energy loss of a fast charged particle moving parallel to a two-dimensional electron gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mišković, Zoran L.; Akbari, Kamran; Segui, Silvina; Gervasoni, Juana L.; Arista, Néstor R.

2018-05-01

We present a fully relativistic formulation for the energy loss rate of a charged particle moving parallel to a sheet containing two-dimensional electron gas, allowing that its in-plane polarization may be described by different longitudinal and transverse conductivities. We apply our formulation to the case of a doped graphene layer in the terahertz range of frequencies, where excitation of the Dirac plasmon polariton (DPP) in graphene plays a major role. By using the Drude model with zero damping we evaluate the energy loss rate due to excitation of the DPP, and show that the retardation effects are important when the incident particle speed and its distance from graphene both increase. Interestingly, the retarded energy loss rate obtained in this manner may be both larger and smaller than its non-retarded counterpart for different combinations of the particle speed and distance.

Hydrodynamic simulations with the Godunov smoothed particle hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murante, G.; Borgani, S.; Brunino, R.; Cha, S.-H.

2011-10-01

We present results based on an implementation of the Godunov smoothed particle hydrodynamics (GSPH), originally developed by Inutsuka, in the GADGET-3 hydrodynamic code. We first review the derivation of the GSPH discretization of the equations of moment and energy conservation, starting from the convolution of these equations with the interpolating kernel. The two most important aspects of the numerical implementation of these equations are (a) the appearance of fluid velocity and pressure obtained from the solution of the Riemann problem between each pair of particles, and (b) the absence of an artificial viscosity term. We carry out three different controlled hydrodynamical three-dimensional tests, namely the Sod shock tube, the development of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in a shear-flow test and the 'blob' test describing the evolution of a cold cloud moving against a hot wind. The results of our tests confirm and extend in a number of aspects those recently obtained by Cha, Inutsuka & Nayakshin: (i) GSPH provides a much improved description of contact discontinuities, with respect to smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), thus avoiding the appearance of spurious pressure forces; (ii) GSPH is able to follow the development of gas-dynamical instabilities, such as the Kevin-Helmholtz and the Rayleigh-Taylor ones; (iii) as a result, GSPH describes the development of curl structures in the shear-flow test and the dissolution of the cold cloud in the 'blob' test. Besides comparing the results of GSPH with those from standard SPH implementations, we also discuss in detail the effect on the performances of GSPH of changing different aspects of its implementation: choice of the number of neighbours, accuracy of the interpolation procedure to locate the interface between two fluid elements (particles) for the solution of the Riemann problem, order of the reconstruction for the assignment of variables at the interface, choice of the limiter to prevent oscillations of interpolated quantities in the solution of the Riemann Problem. The results of our tests demonstrate that GSPH is in fact a highly promising hydrodynamic scheme, also to be coupled to an N-body solver, for astrophysical and cosmological applications.

Temporal properties of coherent synchrotron radiation produced by an electron bunch moving along an arc of a circle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geloni, G.; Saldin, E. L.; Schneidmiller, E. A.; Yurkov, M. V.

2004-08-01

In the limit for a large distance between bunch and detector and under the assumption that the entire process, i.e. radiation and detection, happens in vacuum, one can use the well-known Schwinger formulas in order to describe the single-particle radiation in the case of circular motion. Nevertheless, these formulas cannot be applied for particles moving in an arc of a circle. In this paper, we present a characterization of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) pulses in the time-domain as they are emitted by an electron bunch moving in an arc of a circle. This can be used in order to give a quantitative estimation of the effects of a finite bending magnet extension on the characteristics of the CSR pulse.

Brownian motion on random dynamical landscapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suñé Simon, Marc; Sancho, José María; Lindenberg, Katja

2016-03-01

We present a study of overdamped Brownian particles moving on a random landscape of dynamic and deformable obstacles (spatio-temporal disorder). The obstacles move randomly, assemble, and dissociate following their own dynamics. This landscape may account for a soft matter or liquid environment in which large obstacles, such as macromolecules and organelles in the cytoplasm of a living cell, or colloids or polymers in a liquid, move slowly leading to crowding effects. This representation also constitutes a novel approach to the macroscopic dynamics exhibited by active matter media. We present numerical results on the transport and diffusion properties of Brownian particles under this disorder biased by a constant external force. The landscape dynamics are characterized by a Gaussian spatio-temporal correlation, with fixed time and spatial scales, and controlled obstacle concentrations.

A Level-set based framework for viscous simulation of particle-laden supersonic flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Pratik; Sen, Oishik; Jacobs, Gustaaf; Udaykumar, H. S.

2017-06-01

Particle-laden supersonic flows are important in natural and industrial processes, such as, volcanic eruptions, explosions, pneumatic conveyance of particle in material processing etc. Numerical study of such high-speed particle laden flows at the mesoscale calls for a numerical framework which allows simulation of supersonic flow around multiple moving solid objects. Only a few efforts have been made toward development of numerical frameworks for viscous simulation of particle-fluid interaction in supersonic flow regime. The current work presents a Cartesian grid based sharp-interface method for viscous simulations of interaction between supersonic flow with moving rigid particles. The no-slip boundary condition is imposed at the solid-fluid interfaces using a modified ghost fluid method (GFM). The current method is validated against the similarity solution of compressible boundary layer over flat-plate and benchmark numerical solution for steady supersonic flow over cylinder. Further validation is carried out against benchmark numerical results for shock induced lift-off of a cylinder in a shock tube. 3D simulation of steady supersonic flow over sphere is performed to compare the numerically obtained drag co-efficient with experimental results. A particle-resolved viscous simulation of shock interaction with a cloud of particles is performed to demonstrate that the current method is suitable for large-scale particle resolved simulations of particle-laden supersonic flows.

Generation of microfluidic flow using an optically assembled and magnetically driven microrotor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Köhler, J.; Ghadiri, R.; Ksouri, S. I.; Guo, Q.; Gurevich, E. L.; Ostendorf, A.

2014-12-01

The key components in microfluidic systems are micropumps, valves and mixers. Depending on the chosen technology, the realization of these microsystems often requires rotational and translational control of subcomponents. The manufacturing of such active components as well as the driving principle are still challenging tasks. A promising all-optical approach could be the combination of laser direct writing and actuation based on optical forces. However, when higher actuation velocities are required, optical driving might be too slow. Hence, a novel approach based on optical assembling of microfluidic structures and subsequent magnetic actuation is proposed. By applying the optical assembly of microspherical building blocks as the manufacturing method and magnetic actuation, a microrotor was successfully fabricated and tested within a microfluidic channel. The resulting fluid flow was characterized by introducing an optically levitated measuring probe particle. Finally, a freely moving tracer particle visualizes the generated flow. The tracer particle analysis shows average velocities of 0.4-0.5 µm s-1 achieved with the presented technology.

A Simple Introduction to Moving Least Squares and Local Regression Estimation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garimella, Rao Veerabhadra

In this brief note, a highly simpli ed introduction to esimating functions over a set of particles is presented. The note starts from Global Least Squares tting, going on to Moving Least Squares estimation (MLS) and nally, Local Regression Estimation (LRE).

Coupled large eddy simulation and discrete element model of bedload motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furbish, D.; Schmeeckle, M. W.

2011-12-01

We combine a three-dimensional large eddy simulation of turbulence to a three-dimensional discrete element model of turbulence. The large eddy simulation of the turbulent fluid is extended into the bed composed of non-moving particles by adding resistance terms to the Navier-Stokes equations in accordance with the Darcy-Forchheimer law. This allows the turbulent velocity and pressure fluctuations to penetrate the bed of discrete particles, and this addition of a porous zone results in turbulence structures above the bed that are similar to previous experimental and numerical results for hydraulically-rough beds. For example, we reproduce low-speed streaks that are less coherent than those over smooth-beds due to the episodic outflow of fluid from the bed. Local resistance terms are also added to the Navier-Stokes equations to account for the drag of individual moving particles. The interaction of the spherical particles utilizes a standard DEM soft-sphere Hertz model. We use only a simple drag model to calculate the fluid forces on the particles. The model reproduces an exponential distribution of bedload particle velocities that we have found experimentally using high-speed video of a flat bed of moving sand in a recirculating water flume. The exponential distribution of velocity results from the motion of many particles that are nearly constantly in contact with other bed particles and come to rest after short distances, in combination with a relatively few particles that are entrained further above the bed and have velocities approaching that of the fluid. Entrainment and motion "hot spots" are evident that are not perfectly correlated with the local, instantaneous fluid velocity. Zones of the bed that have recently experienced motion are more susceptible to motion because of the local configuration of particle contacts. The paradigm of a characteristic saltation hop length in riverine bedload transport has infused many aspects of geomorphic thought, including even bedrock erosion. In light of our theoretical, experimental, and numerical findings supporting the exponential distribution of bedload particle motion, the idea of a characteristic saltation hop should be scrapped or substantially modified.

Brownian self-driven particles on the surface of a sphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apaza, Leonardo; Sandoval, Mario

2017-08-01

We present the dynamics of overdamped Brownian self-propelled particles moving on the surface of a sphere. The effect of self-propulsion on the diffusion of these particles is elucidated by determining their angular (azimuthal and polar) mean-square displacement. Short- and long-times analytical expressions for their angular mean-square displacement are offered. Finally, the particles' steady marginal angular probability density functions are also elucidated.

Staged fluidized bed

DOEpatents

Mallon, Richard G.

1984-01-01

Method and apparatus for narrowing the distribution of residence times of any size particle and equalizing the residence times of large and small particles in fluidized beds. Particles are moved up one fluidized column and down a second fluidized column with the relative heights selected to equalize residence times of large and small particles. Additional pairs of columns are staged to narrow the distribution of residence times and provide complete processing of the material.

Microparticle sampling by electrowetting-actuated droplet sweeping.

PubMed

Zhao, Yuejun; Cho, Sung Kwon

2006-01-01

This paper describes a new microparticle sampler where particles can be efficiently swept from a solid surface and sampled into a liquid medium using moving droplets actuated by the electrowetting principle. We successfully demonstrate that super hydrophilic (2 microm and 7.9 microm diameter glass beads of about 14 degrees contact angle), intermediate hydrophilic (7.5 microm diameter polystyrene beads of about 70 degrees contact angle), and super hydrophobic (7.9 microm diameter Teflon-coated glass beads and 3 microm size PTFE particles of over 110 degrees contact angles) particles on a solid surface are picked up by electrowetting-actuated moving droplets. For the glass beads as well as the polystyrene beads, the sampling efficiencies are over 93%, in particular over 98% for the 7.9 microm glass beads. For the PTFE particles, however, the sampling efficiency is measured at around 70%, relatively lower than that of the glass and polystyrene beads. This is due mainly to the non-uniformity in particle size and the particle hydrophobicity. In this case, the collected particles staying (adsorbing) on the air-to-water interface hinder the droplet from advancing. This particle sampler requires an extremely small amount of liquid volume (about 500 nanoliters) and will thus be highly compatible and easily integrated with lab-on-a-chip systems for follow-up biological/chemical analyses.

Thermal diffusion behavior of hard-sphere suspensions.

PubMed

Ning, Hui; Buitenhuis, Johan; Dhont, Jan K G; Wiegand, Simone

2006-11-28

We studied the thermal diffusion behavior of octadecyl coated silica particles (R(h)=27 nm) in toluene between 15.0 and 50.0 degrees C in a volume fraction range of 1%-30% by means of thermal diffusion forced Rayleigh scattering. The colloidal particles behave like hard spheres at high temperatures and as sticky spheres at low temperatures. With increasing temperature, the obtained Soret coefficient S(T) of the silica particles changed sign from negative to positive, which implies that the colloidal particles move to the warm side at low temperatures, whereas they move to the cold side at high temperatures. Additionally, we observed also a sign change of the Soret coefficient from positive to negative with increasing volume fraction. This is the first colloidal system for which a sign change with temperature and volume fraction has been observed. The concentration dependence of the thermal diffusion coefficient of the colloidal spheres is related to the colloid-colloid interactions, and will be compared with an existing theoretical description for interacting spherical particles. To characterize the particle-particle interaction parameters, we performed static and dynamic light scattering experiments. The temperature dependence of the thermal diffusion coefficient is predominantly determined by single colloidal particle properties, which are related to colloid-solvent molecule interactions.

Predator-prey Encounter Rates in Turbulent Environments: Consequences of Inertia Effects and Finite Sizes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pecseli, H. L.; Trulsen, J.

2009-10-08

Experimental as well as theoretical studies have demonstrated that turbulence can play an important role for the biosphere in marine environments, in particular also by affecting prey-predator encounter rates. Reference models for the encounter rates rely on simplifying assumptions of predators and prey being described as point particles moving passively with the local flow velocity. Based on simple arguments that can be tested experimentally we propose corrections for the standard expression for the encounter rates, where now finite sizes and Stokes drag effects are included.

Electrokinetic motion of a spherical micro particle at an oil-water interface in microchannel.

PubMed

Wang, Chengfa; Li, Mengqi; Song, Yongxin; Pan, Xinxiang; Li, Dongqing

2018-03-01

The electrokinetic motion of a negatively charged spherical particle at an oil-water interface in a microchannel is numerically investigated and analyzed in this paper. A three-dimensional (3D) transient numerical model is developed to simulate the particle electrokinetic motion. The channel wall, the surface of the particle and the oil-water interface are all considered negatively charged. The effects of the direct current (DC) electric field, the zeta potentials of the particle-water interface and the oil-water interface, and the dynamic viscosity ratio of oil to water on the velocity of the particle are studied in this paper. In addition, the influences of the particle size are also discussed. The simulation results show that the micro-particle with a small value of negative zeta potential moves in the same direction of the external electric field. However, if the zeta potential value of the particle-water interface is large enough, the moving direction of the particle is opposite to that of the electric field. The velocity of the particle at the interface increases with the increase in the electric field strength and the particle size, but decreases with the increase in the dynamic viscosity ratio of oil to water, and the absolute value of the negative zeta potentials of both the particle-water interface and the oil-water interface. This work is the first numerical study of the electrokinetic motion of a charged particle at an oil-water interface in a microchannel. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Laser-driven particle acceleration for radiobiology and radiotherapy: where we are and where we are going

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giulietti, Antonio

2017-05-01

Radiation therapy of tumors progresses continuously and so do devices, sharing a global market of about $ 4 billions, growing at an annual rate exceeding 5%. Most of the progress involves tumor targeting, multi-beam irradiation, reduction of damage on healthy tissues and critical organs, dose fractioning. This fast-evolving scenario is the moving benchmark for the progress of the laser-based accelerators towards clinical uses. As for electrons, both energy and dose requested by radiotherapy are available with plasma accelerators driven by lasers in the power range of tens of TW but several issues have still to be faced before getting a prototype device for clinical tests. They include capability of varying electron energy, stability of the process, reliability for medical users. On the other side hadron therapy, presently applied to a small fraction of cases but within an exponential growth, is a primary option for the future. With such a strong motivation, research on laser-based proton/ion acceleration has been supported in the last decade in order to get performances suitable to clinical standards. None of these performances has been achieved so far with laser techniques. In the meantime a rich crop of data have been obtained in radiobiological experiments performed with beams of particles produced with laser techniques. It is quite significant however that most of the experiments have been performed moving bio samples to laser labs, rather moving laser equipment to bio labs or clinical contexts. This give us the measure that laser community cannot so far provide practical devices usable by non-laser people.

Automated 3D trajectory measuring of large numbers of moving particles.

PubMed

Wu, Hai Shan; Zhao, Qi; Zou, Danping; Chen, Yan Qiu

2011-04-11

Complex dynamics of natural particle systems, such as insect swarms, bird flocks, fish schools, has attracted great attention of scientists for years. Measuring 3D trajectory of each individual in a group is vital for quantitative study of their dynamic properties, yet such empirical data is rare mainly due to the challenges of maintaining the identities of large numbers of individuals with similar visual features and frequent occlusions. We here present an automatic and efficient algorithm to track 3D motion trajectories of large numbers of moving particles using two video cameras. Our method solves this problem by formulating it as three linear assignment problems (LAP). For each video sequence, the first LAP obtains 2D tracks of moving targets and is able to maintain target identities in the presence of occlusions; the second one matches the visually similar targets across two views via a novel technique named maximum epipolar co-motion length (MECL), which is not only able to effectively reduce matching ambiguity but also further diminish the influence of frequent occlusions; the last one links 3D track segments into complete trajectories via computing a globally optimal assignment based on temporal and kinematic cues. Experiment results on simulated particle swarms with various particle densities validated the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method. As real-world case, our method successfully acquired 3D flight paths of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) group comprising hundreds of freely flying individuals. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Meteorological modeling of arrival and deposition of fallout at intermediate distances downwind of the Nevada Test Site.

PubMed

Cederwall, R T; Peterson, K R

1990-11-01

A three-dimensional atmospheric transport and diffusion model is used to calculate the arrival and deposition of fallout from 13 selected nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) in the 1950s. Results are used to extend NTS fallout patterns to intermediate downwind distances (300 to 1200 km). The radioactive cloud is represented in the model by a population of Lagrangian marker particles, with concentrations calculated on an Eulerian grid. Use of marker particles, with fall velocities dependent on particle size, provides a realistic simulation of fallout as the debris cloud travels downwind. The three-dimensional wind field is derived from observed data, adjusted for mass consistency. Terrain is represented in the grid, which extends up to 1200 km downwind of NTS and has 32-km horizontal resolution and 1-km vertical resolution. Ground deposition is calculated by a deposition-velocity approach. Source terms and relationships between deposition and exposure rate are based on work by Hicks. Uncertainty in particle size and vertical distributions within the debris cloud (and stem) allow for some model "tuning" to better match measured ground-deposition values. Particle trajectories representing different sizes and starting heights above ground zero are used to guide source specification. An hourly time history of the modeled fallout pattern as the debris cloud moves downwind provides estimates of fallout arrival times. Results for event HARRY illustrate the methodology. The composite deposition pattern for all 13 tests is characterized by two lobes extending out to the north-northeast and east-northeast, respectively, at intermediate distances from NTS. Arrival estimates, along with modeled deposition values, augment measured deposition data in the development of data bases at the county level; these data bases are used for estimating radiation exposure at intermediate distances downwind of NTS. Results from a study of event TRINITY are also presented.

Formation mechanism of shock-induced particle jetting.

PubMed

Xue, K; Sun, L; Bai, C

2016-08-01

The shock dissemination of granular rings or shells is characterized by the formation of coherent particle jets that have different dimensions from those associated with the constituent grains. In order to identify the mechanisms governing the formation of particle jets, we carry out the simulations of the shock dispersal of quasi-two-dimensional particle rings based on the discrete-element method. The evolution of the particle velocities and contact forces on the time scales ranging from microseconds to milliseconds reveals a two-stage development of particle jets before they are expelled from the outer surface. Much effort is made to understand the particle agglomeration around the inner surface that initiates the jet formation. The shock interaction with the innermost particle layers generates a heterogeneous network of force chains with clusters of strong contacts regularly spaced around the inner surface. Momentum alongside the stresses is primarily transmitted along the strong force chains. Therefore, the clustering of strong force chains renders the agglomeration of fast-moving particles connected by strong force chains. The fast-moving particle clusters subsequently evolve into the incipient particle jets. The following competition among the incipient jets that undergo unbalanced growth leads to substantial elimination of the minor jets and the significant multiplication of the major jets, the number of jets thus varying with time. Moreover, the number of jets is found to increase with the strength of the shock loading due to an increased number of jets surviving the retarding effect of major jets.

The complete set of Cassini's UVIS occultation observations of Enceladus plume: model fits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Portyankina, G.; Esposito, L. W.; Hansen, C. J.

2017-12-01

Since the discovery in 2005, plume of Enceladus was observed by most of the instruments onboard Cassini spacecraft. Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) have observed Enceladus plume and collimated jets embedded in it in occultational geometry on 6 different occasions. We have constructed a 3D direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model for Enceladus jets and apply it to the analysis of the full set of UVIS occultation observations conducted during Cassini's mission from 2005 to 2017. The Monte Carlo model tracks test particles from their source at the surface into space. The initial positions of all test particles for a single jet are fixed to one of 100 jets sources identified by Porco et al. (2014). The initial three-dimensional velocity of each particle contains two components: a velocity Vz which is perpendicular to the surface, and a thermal velocity which is isotropic in the upward hemisphere. The direction and speed of the thermal velocity of each particle is chosen randomly but the ensemble moves isotropically at a speed which satisfies a Boltzmann distribution for a given temperature Tth. A range for reasonable Vz is then determined by requiring that modeled jet widths match the observed ones. Each model run results in a set of coordinates and velocities of a given set of test particles. These are converted to the test particle number densities and then integrated along LoS for each time step of the occultation observation. The geometry of the observation is calculated using SPICE. The overarching result of the simulation run is a test particle number density along LoS for each time point during the occultation observation for each of the jets separately. To fit the model to the data, we integrate all jets that are crossed by the LoS at each point during an observation. The relative strength of the jets must be determined to fit the observed UVIS curves. The results of the fits are sets of active jets for each occultation. Each UVIS occultation observation was done under a unique observational geometry. Consequently, the model fits produce different sets of active jets and different minimum Vz. We discuss and compare the results of fitting all UVIS occultation observations.

Hydrodynamic metamaterials: Microfabricated arrays to steer, refract, and focus streams of biomaterials

PubMed Central

Morton, Keith J.; Loutherback, Kevin; Inglis, David W.; Tsui, Ophelia K.; Sturm, James C.; Chou, Stephen Y.; Austin, Robert H.

2008-01-01

We show that it is possible to direct particles entrained in a fluid along trajectories much like rays of light in classical optics. A microstructured, asymmetric post array forms the core hydrodynamic element and is used as a building block to construct microfluidic metamaterials and to demonstrate refractive, focusing, and dispersive pathways for flowing beads and cells. The core element is based on the concept of deterministic lateral displacement where particles choose different paths through the asymmetric array based on their size: Particles larger than a critical size are displaced laterally at each row by a post and move along the asymmetric axis at an angle to the flow, while smaller particles move along streamline paths. We create compound elements with complex particle handling modes by tiling this core element using multiple transformation operations; we show that particle trajectories can be bent at an interface between two elements and that particles can be focused into hydrodynamic jets by using a single inlet port. Although particles propagate through these elements in a way that strongly resembles light rays propagating through optical elements, there are unique differences in the paths of our particles as compared with photons. The unusual aspects of these modular, microfluidic metamaterials form a rich design toolkit for mixing, separating, and analyzing cells and functional beads on-chip. PMID:18495920

Investigation of the Influence of Microgravity on Transport Mechanism in a Virtual Spaceflight Chamber: A Flight Definition Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trolinger, James D.; Rangel, Roger; Witherow, William; Rogers, Jan; Lal, Ravindra B.

1999-01-01

A need exists for understanding precisely how particles move and interact in a fluid in the absence of gravity. Such understanding is required, for example, for modeling and predicting crystal growth in space where crystals grow from solution around nucleation sites as well as for any study of particles or bubbles in liquids or in experiments where particles are used as tracers for mapping microconvection. We have produced an exact solution to the general equation of motion of particles at extremely low Reynolds number in microgravity that covers a wide range of interesting conditions. We have also developed diagnostic tools and experimental techniques to test the validity of the general equation . This program, which started in May, 1998, will produce the flight definition for an experiment in a microgravity environment of space to validate the theoretical model. We will design an experiment with the help of the theoretical model that is optimized for testing the model, measuring g, g-jitter, and other microgravity phenomena. This paper describes the goals, rational, and approach for the flight definition program. The first objective of this research is to understand the physics of particle interactions with fluids and other particles in low Reynolds number flows in microgravity. Secondary objectives are to (1) observe and quantify g-jitter effects and microconvection on particles in fluids, (2) validate an exact solution to the general equation of motion of a particle in a fluid, and (3) to characterize the ability of isolation tables to isolate experiments containing particle in liquids. The objectives will be achieved by recording a large number of holograms of particle fields in microgravity under controlled conditions, extracting the precise three-dimensional position of all of the particles as a function of time and examining the effects of all parameters on the motion of the particles. The feasibility for achieving these results has already been established in the ongoing ground-based NRA, which led to the "virtual spaceflight chamber" concept.

Macroscopic traveling packet and soliton states of quasi-one-dimensional flocks.

PubMed

Guttenberg, Nicholas; Toner, John; Tu, Yuhai

2014-05-01

Using a continuum model for inhomogeneous flocks, we show that a finite but arbitrarily large moving "packet" of active particles (e.g., moving creatures) can form in a background of a lower density disordered phase of these particles, like a liquid drop surrounded by vapor. The "vapor density" of the disordered background can be made arbitrarily low. We find three basic types of quasi-one-dimensional states: "longitudinal", "transverse", and "oblique" states, with their internal velocity fields, respectively, parallel, perpendicular, and oblique to the interface. The transitions between these states are also studied.

Application of time-resolved shadowgraph imaging and computer analysis to study micrometer-scale response of superfluid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sajjadi, Seyed; Buelna, Xavier; Eloranta, Jussi

2018-01-01

Application of inexpensive light emitting diodes as backlight sources for time-resolved shadowgraph imaging is demonstrated. The two light sources tested are able to produce light pulse sequences in the nanosecond and microsecond time regimes. After determining their time response characteristics, the diodes were applied to study the gas bubble formation around laser-heated copper nanoparticles in superfluid helium at 1.7 K and to determine the local cavitation bubble dynamics around fast moving metal micro-particles in the liquid. A convolutional neural network algorithm for analyzing the shadowgraph images by a computer is presented and the method is validated against the results from manual image analysis. The second application employed the red-green-blue light emitting diode source that produces light pulse sequences of the individual colors such that three separate shadowgraph frames can be recorded onto the color pixels of a charge-coupled device camera. Such an image sequence can be used to determine the moving object geometry, local velocity, and acceleration/deceleration. These data can be used to calculate, for example, the instantaneous Reynolds number for the liquid flow around the particle. Although specifically demonstrated for superfluid helium, the technique can be used to study the dynamic response of any medium that exhibits spatial variations in the index of refraction.

ALFVÉN WAVES IN SIMULATIONS OF SOLAR PHOTOSPHERIC VORTICES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shelyag, S.; Cally, P. S.; Reid, A.

Using advanced numerical magneto-hydrodynamic simulations of the magnetized solar photosphere, including non-gray radiative transport and a non-ideal equation of state, we analyze plasma motions in photospheric magnetic vortices. We demonstrate that apparent vortex-like motions in photospheric magnetic field concentrations do not exhibit 'tornado'-like behavior or a 'bath-tub' effect. While at each time instance the velocity field lines in the upper layers of the solar photosphere show swirls, the test particles moving with the time-dependent velocity field do not demonstrate such structures. Instead, they move in a wave-like fashion with rapidly changing and oscillating velocity field, determined mainly by magnetic tensionmore » in the magnetized intergranular downflows. Using time-distance diagrams, we identify horizontal motions in the magnetic flux tubes as torsional Alfvén perturbations propagating along the nearly vertical magnetic field lines with local Alfvén speed.« less

KSC-2011-7802

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-11-16

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a water truck leads the way spraying water on the dry crawlerway to reduce dust particles in the air, as the mobile launcher (ML) begins its move aboard a crawler-transporter. The ML is moving from next to Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B, a distance of 4.2 miles. Data on the ML will be collected from structural and functional engineering tests and used for the next phases of construction. The 355-foot-tall ML structure, which took about two years to construct, is being modified to support NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the heavy-lift rocket that will launch astronauts farther into space than ever before. SLS will also create high-quality jobs here at home, and provide the cornerstone for America's future human space exploration efforts. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

Optical levitation measurements with intensity-modulated light beams.

PubMed

Cai, W; Li, F; Sun, S; Wang, Y

1997-10-20

Illumination of an optically levitated particle with an intensity-modulated transverse beam induces a transverse vibration of a particle in an optical trap. Based on this, the trapping force of a trap can be measured. Using an intensity-modulated longitudinal levitating beam causes a particle to move vertically, allowing for the determination of some aerodynamic parameters of a particle in air. The principles and the experimental phenomena are described and the initial results are given.

Separation of variables in the special diagonal Hamilton-Jacobi equation: Application to the dynamical problem of a particle constrained on a moving surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blanchard, D. L.; Chan, F. K.

1973-01-01

For a time-dependent, n-dimensional, special diagonal Hamilton-Jacobi equation a necessary and sufficient condition for the separation of variables to yield a complete integral of the form was established by specifying the admissible forms in terms of arbitrary functions. A complete integral was then expressed in terms of these arbitrary functions and also the n irreducible constants. As an application of the results obtained for the two-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi equation, analysis was made for a comparatively wide class of dynamical problems involving a particle moving in Euclidean three-dimensional space under the action of external forces but constrained on a moving surface. All the possible cases in which this equation had a complete integral of the form were obtained and these are tubulated for reference.

Long-range attraction of an ultrarelativistic electron beam by a column of neutral plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adli, E.; Lindstrøm, C. A.; Allen, J.; Clarke, C. I.; Frederico, J.; Gessner, S. J.; Green, S. Z.; Hogan, M. J.; Litos, M. D.; O'Shea, B.; Yakimenko, V.; An, W.; Clayton, C. E.; Marsh, K. A.; Mori, W. B.; Joshi, C.; Vafaei-Najafabadi, N.; Corde, S.; Lu, W.

2016-10-01

We report on the experimental observation of the attraction of a beam of ultrarelativistic electrons towards a column of neutral plasma. In experiments performed at the FACET test facility at SLAC we observe that an electron beam moving parallel to a neutral plasma column, at an initial distance of many plasma column radii, is attracted into the column. Once the beam enters the plasma it drives a plasma wake similar to that of an electron beam entering the plasma column head-on. A simple analytical model is developed in order to capture the essential physics of the attractive force. The attraction is further studied by 3D particle-in-cell numerical simulations. The results are an important step towards better understanding of particle beam-plasma interactions in general and plasma wakefield accelerator technology in particular.

Particle-based membrane model for mesoscopic simulation of cellular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghi, Mohsen; Weikl, Thomas R.; Noé, Frank

2018-01-01

We present a simple and computationally efficient coarse-grained and solvent-free model for simulating lipid bilayer membranes. In order to be used in concert with particle-based reaction-diffusion simulations, the model is purely based on interacting and reacting particles, each representing a coarse patch of a lipid monolayer. Particle interactions include nearest-neighbor bond-stretching and angle-bending and are parameterized so as to reproduce the local membrane mechanics given by the Helfrich energy density over a range of relevant curvatures. In-plane fluidity is implemented with Monte Carlo bond-flipping moves. The physical accuracy of the model is verified by five tests: (i) Power spectrum analysis of equilibrium thermal undulations is used to verify that the particle-based representation correctly captures the dynamics predicted by the continuum model of fluid membranes. (ii) It is verified that the input bending stiffness, against which the potential parameters are optimized, is accurately recovered. (iii) Isothermal area compressibility modulus of the membrane is calculated and is shown to be tunable to reproduce available values for different lipid bilayers, independent of the bending rigidity. (iv) Simulation of two-dimensional shear flow under a gravity force is employed to measure the effective in-plane viscosity of the membrane model and show the possibility of modeling membranes with specified viscosities. (v) Interaction of the bilayer membrane with a spherical nanoparticle is modeled as a test case for large membrane deformations and budding involved in cellular processes such as endocytosis. The results are shown to coincide well with the predicted behavior of continuum models, and the membrane model successfully mimics the expected budding behavior. We expect our model to be of high practical usability for ultra coarse-grained molecular dynamics or particle-based reaction-diffusion simulations of biological systems.

Inventions Utilizing Microfluidics and Colloidal Particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marr, David W.; Gong, Tieying; Oakey, John; Terray, Alexander V.; Wu, David T.

2009-01-01

Several related inventions pertain to families of devices that utilize microfluidics and/or colloidal particles to obtain useful physical effects. The families of devices can be summarized as follows: (1) Microfluidic pumps and/or valves wherein colloidal-size particles driven by electrical, magnetic, or optical fields serve as the principal moving parts that propel and/or direct the affected flows. (2) Devices that are similar to the aforementioned pumps and/or valves except that they are used to manipulate light instead of fluids. The colloidal particles in these devices are substantially constrained to move in a plane and are driven to spatially order them into arrays that function, variously, as waveguides, filters, or switches for optical signals. (3) Devices wherein the ultra-laminar nature of microfluidic flows is exploited to effect separation, sorting, or filtering of colloidal particles or biological cells in suspension. (4) Devices wherein a combination of confinement and applied electrical and/or optical fields forces the colloidal particles to become arranged into three-dimensional crystal lattices. Control of the colloidal crystalline structures could be exploited to control diffraction of light. (5) Microfluidic devices, incorporating fluid waveguides, wherein switching of flows among different paths would be accompanied by switching of optical signals.

Highly-resolved numerical simulations of bed-load transport in a turbulent open-channel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vowinckel, Bernhard; Kempe, Tobias; Nikora, Vladimir; Jain, Ramandeep; Fröhlich, Jochen

2015-11-01

The study presents the analysis of phase-resolving Direct Numerical Simulations of a horizontal turbulent open-channel flow laden with a large number of spherical particles. These particles have a mobility close to their threshold of incipient motion andare transported in bed-load mode. The coupling of the fluid phase with the particlesis realized by an Immersed Boundary Method. The Double-Averaging Methodology is applied for the first time convolutingthe data into a handy set of quantities averaged in time and space to describe the most prominent flow features.In addition, a systematic study elucidatesthe impact of mobility and sediment supply on the pattern formation of particle clusters ina very large computational domain. A detailed description of fluid quantities links the developed particle patterns to the enhancement of turbulence and to a modified hydraulic resistance. Conditional averaging isapplied toerosion events providingthe processes involved inincipient particle motion. Furthermore, the detection of moving particle clusters as well as their surrounding flow field is addressedby a a moving frameanalysis. Funded by German Research Foundation (DFG), project FR 1593/5-2, computational time provided by ZIH Dresden, Germany, and JSC Juelich, Germany.

The Effect of Surface Induced Flows on Bubble and Particle Aggregation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guelcher, Scott A.; Solomentsev, Yuri E.; Anderson, John L.; Boehmer, Marcel; Sides, Paul J.

1999-01-01

Almost 20 years have elapsed since a phenomenon called "radial specific coalescence" was identified. During studies of electrolytic oxygen evolution from the back side of a vertically oriented, transparent tin oxide electrode in alkaline electrolyte, one of the authors (Sides) observed that large "collector" bubbles appeared to attract smaller bubbles. The bubbles moved parallel to the surface of the electrode, while the electric field was normal to the electrode surface. The phenomenon was reported but not explained. More recently self ordering of latex particles was observed during electrophoretic deposition at low DC voltages likewise on a transparent tin oxide electrode. As in the bubble work, the field was normal to the electrode while the particles moved parallel to it. Fluid convection caused by surface induced flows (SIF) can explain these two apparently different experimental observations: the aggregation of particles on an electrode during electrophoretic deposition, and a radial bubble coalescence pattern on an electrode during electrolytic gas evolution. An externally imposed driving force (the gradient of electrical potential or temperature), interacting with the surface of particles or bubbles very near a planar conducting surface, drives the convection of fluid that causes particles and bubbles to approach each other on the electrode.

Particle-Image Velocimeter Having Large Depth of Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bos, Brent

2009-01-01

An instrument that functions mainly as a particle-image velocimeter provides data on the sizes and velocities of flying opaque particles. The instrument is being developed as a means of characterizing fluxes of wind-borne dust particles in the Martian atmosphere. The instrument could also adapted to terrestrial use in measuring sizes and velocities of opaque particles carried by natural winds and industrial gases. Examples of potential terrestrial applications include monitoring of airborne industrial pollutants and airborne particles in mine shafts. The design of this instrument reflects an observation, made in field research, that airborne dust particles derived from soil and rock are opaque enough to be observable by use of bright field illumination with high contrast for highly accurate measurements of sizes and shapes. The instrument includes a source of collimated light coupled to an afocal beam expander and an imaging array of photodetectors. When dust particles travel through the collimated beam, they cast shadows. The shadows are magnified by the beam expander and relayed to the array of photodetectors. Inasmuch as the images captured by the array are of dust-particle shadows rather of the particles themselves, the depth of field of the instrument can be large: the instrument has a depth of field of about 11 mm, which is larger than the depths of field of prior particle-image velocimeters. The instrument can resolve, and measure the sizes and velocities of, particles having sizes in the approximate range of 1 to 300 m. For slowly moving particles, data from two image frames are used to calculate velocities. For rapidly moving particles, image smear lengths from a single frame are used in conjunction with particle- size measurement data to determine velocities.

Quantifying colloidal particle bands and their formation in combined electroosmotic and Poiseuille flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yee, Andrew; Cevheri, Necmettin; Yoda, Minami

2015-11-01

Recently, we have shown that suspended radii a = 245 nm particles flowing through a microchannel driven by the combination of a dc electric field and pressure gradient (where the resulting electroosmotic and shear flows are in opposite directions) are attracted to the wall at low electric field magnitude | E | , then assemble into concentrated bands that only exist within a few μm of the wall above a threshold value of | E | , | Ecr | . The ~ 6 μ m wide bands are aligned with the flow direction and are roughly periodic along the cross-stream direction. This talk focuses on quantitative characterization of these bands, for example how | Ecr | , the time required for bands to form after applying the electric field To, and the number of bands depend upon parameters such as particle volume fraction φ, shear rate γ˙ , | E | , and a. The dynamics of the particles within the bands are visualized by imaging a mixture of particles with different fluorescent labels. The visualizations show that the particles are in a liquid state within these bands, and suggest that the particles nearest the wall move in the direction of the electroosmotic flow, while those farther from the wall move in the direction of the shear flow. Supported by NSF.

Studies of Fundamental Particle Dynamics in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rangel, Roger; Trolinger, James D.; Coimbra, Carlos F. M.; Witherow, William; Rogers, Jan; Rose, M. Franklin (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This work summarizes theoretical and experimental concepts used to design the flight experiment mission for SHIVA - Spaceflight Holography Investigation in a Virtual Apparatus. SHIVA is a NASA project that exploits a unique, holography-based, diagnostics tool to understand the behavior of small particles subjected to transient accelerations. The flight experiments are designed for testing model equations, measuring g, g-jitter, and other microgravity phenomena. Data collection will also include experiments lying outside of the realm of existing theory. The regime under scrutiny is the low Reynolds number, Stokes regime or creeping flow, which covers particles and bubbles moving at very low velocity. The equations describing this important regime have been under development and investigation for over 100 years and yet a complete analytical solution of the general equation had remained elusive yielding only approximations and numerical solutions. In the course of the ongoing NASA NRA, the first analytical solution of the general equation was produced by members of the investigator team using the mathematics of fractional derivatives. This opened the way to an even more insightful and important investigation of the phenomena in microgravity. Recent results include interacting particles, particle-wall interactions, bubbles, and Reynolds numbers larger than unity. The Space Station provides an ideal environment for SHIVA. Limited ground experiments have already confirmed some aspects of the theory. In general the space environment is required for the overall experiment, especially for cases containing very heavy particles, very light particles, bubbles, collections of particles and for characterization of the space environment and its effect on particle experiments. Lightweight particles and bubbles typically rise too fast in a gravitational field and heavy particles sink too fast. In a microgravity environment, heavy and light particles can be studied side-by-side for long periods of time.

Hydrodynamics of interaction of particles (including cells) with surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duszyk, Marek; Doroszewski, Jan

The study of the phenomena related to the motion of particles flowing in the proximity of the wall is pursued for purely cognitive reason as well as for some important practical purposes in various fields of technology, biology and medicine. When small spherical rigid particles move in the direction parallel to the surface their velocity is smaller than that of the fluid and depends on the ratio of the distance from the wall to the particle radius. The velocity of a particle falling down in a vertical cylinder is maximal in an eccentric position. A sphere in contact with the wall remains stationary. Translational velocity of spherical rigid particles the dimension of which are comparable to that of the tube is only slightly dependent of their lateral position. The differences in the flow parameters of deformable particles in comparison with rigid ones depend on the particle and fluid viscosity coefficient. When the particles move perpendicularly toward the wall, their velocity decreases as the particle approaches the surface. The change of particle velocity is inversely proportional to the gap. There are several theories explaining the influence of the channel diameter on the suspension viscosity (sigma phenomenon); a modern approach is based on the analysis of rheological properties of suspensions. The explanations of the Fahraeus effect (i.e. the fact that the concentration of particles flowing in a tube linking two containers are smaller than that in the containers) are based on non-uniform particle distribution in a transverse cross section and on the differences of velocities of particles and medium. The deviation of the velocity profile of a suspension of rigid particles flowing through a tube from the parabolic shape (blunting) does not depend on the flow velocity; as concerns deformable particles, however, this effect is the smaller the greater is the flow velocity. When the Reynolds number for particles is greater than 10 -3, there appears a component of particle velocity perpendicular to the streamline direction. This phenomenon is the cause of the lateral migration of particles. Neutrally buoyant rigid particles migrate to a certain concentrical region situated between the tube axis and the wall (tubular pinch region). Deformable neutrally buoyant particles migrate towards the tube axis, and deformable non-neutrally buoyant particles may move either toward the tube axis or toward the wall. In the research on the influence of the flow delimiting surface on the motion of particles in suspension a considerable progress has recently been made. However, the phenomena in this field are extremely complex. At present, two main types of approach may be distinguished. On a microscopic level direct interactions between particles and surfaces are analyzed. A macroscopic approach consists in treating particle suspension as fluid, and overall influence of the surface on its properties are studied. A comprehensive theory linking these two levels has not yet emerged.

Vertical motion of a charged colloidal particle near an AC polarized electrode with a nonuniform potential distribution: theory and experimental evidence.

PubMed

Fagan, Jeffrey A; Sides, Paul J; Prieve, Dennis C

2004-06-08

Electroosmotic flow in the vicinity of a colloidal particle suspended over an electrode accounts for observed changes in the average height of the particle when the electrode passes alternating current at 100 Hz. The main findings are (1) electroosmotic flow provides sufficient force to move the particle and (2) a phase shift between the purely electrical force on the particle and the particle's motion provides evidence of an E2 force acting on the particle. The electroosmotic force in this case arises from the boundary condition applied when faradaic reactions occur on the electrode. The presence of a potential-dependent electrode reaction moves the likely distribution of electrical current at the electrode surface toward uniform current density around the particle. In the presence of a particle the uniform current density is associated with a nonuniform potential; thus, the electric field around the particle has a nonzero radial component along the electrode surface, which interacts with unbalanced charge in the diffuse double layer on the electrode to create a flow pattern and impose an electroosmotic-flow-based force on the particle. Numerical solutions are presented for these additional height-dependent forces on the particle as a function of the current distribution on the electrode and for the time-dependent probability density of a charged colloidal particle near a planar electrode with a nonuniform electrical potential boundary condition. The electrical potential distribution on the electrode, combined with a phase difference between the electric field in solution and the electrode potential, can account for the experimentally observed motion of particles in ac electric fields in the frequency range from approximately 10 to 200 Hz.

Manipulation of small particles at solid liquid interface: light driven diffusioosmosis.

PubMed

Feldmann, David; Maduar, Salim R; Santer, Mark; Lomadze, Nino; Vinogradova, Olga I; Santer, Svetlana

2016-11-03

The strong adhesion of sub-micron sized particles to surfaces is a nuisance, both for removing contaminating colloids from surfaces and for conscious manipulation of particles to create and test novel micro/nano-scale assemblies. The obvious idea of using detergents to ease these processes suffers from a lack of control: the action of any conventional surface-modifying agent is immediate and global. With photosensitive azobenzene containing surfactants we overcome these limitations. Such photo-soaps contain optical switches (azobenzene molecules), which upon illumination with light of appropriate wavelength undergo reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization resulting in a subsequent change of the physico-chemical molecular properties. In this work we show that when a spatial gradient in the composition of trans- and cis- isomers is created near a solid-liquid interface, a substantial hydrodynamic flow can be initiated, the spatial extent of which can be set, e.g., by the shape of a laser spot. We propose the concept of light induced diffusioosmosis driving the flow, which can remove, gather or pattern a particle assembly at a solid-liquid interface. In other words, in addition to providing a soap we implement selectivity: particles are mobilized and moved at the time of illumination, and only across the illuminated area.

Manipulation of small particles at solid liquid interface: light driven diffusioosmosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feldmann, David; Maduar, Salim R.; Santer, Mark; Lomadze, Nino; Vinogradova, Olga I.; Santer, Svetlana

2016-11-01

The strong adhesion of sub-micron sized particles to surfaces is a nuisance, both for removing contaminating colloids from surfaces and for conscious manipulation of particles to create and test novel micro/nano-scale assemblies. The obvious idea of using detergents to ease these processes suffers from a lack of control: the action of any conventional surface-modifying agent is immediate and global. With photosensitive azobenzene containing surfactants we overcome these limitations. Such photo-soaps contain optical switches (azobenzene molecules), which upon illumination with light of appropriate wavelength undergo reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization resulting in a subsequent change of the physico-chemical molecular properties. In this work we show that when a spatial gradient in the composition of trans- and cis- isomers is created near a solid-liquid interface, a substantial hydrodynamic flow can be initiated, the spatial extent of which can be set, e.g., by the shape of a laser spot. We propose the concept of light induced diffusioosmosis driving the flow, which can remove, gather or pattern a particle assembly at a solid-liquid interface. In other words, in addition to providing a soap we implement selectivity: particles are mobilized and moved at the time of illumination, and only across the illuminated area.

Vortex with fourfold defect lines in a simple model of self-propelled particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seyed-Allaei, Hamid; Ejtehadi, Mohammad Reza

2016-03-01

We study the formation of a vortex with fourfold symmetry in a minimal model of self-propelled particles, confined inside a squared box, using computer simulations and also theoretical analysis. In addition to the vortex pattern, we observe five other regimes in the system: a homogeneous gaseous phase, band structures, moving clumps, moving clusters, and vibrating rings. All six regimes emerge from controlling the strength of noise and from the contribution of repulsion and alignment interactions. We study the shape of the vortex and its symmetry in detail. The pattern shows exponential defect lines where incoming and outgoing flows of particles collide. We show that alignment and repulsion interactions between particles are necessary to form such patterns. We derive hydrodynamical equations with an introduction of the "small deviation" technique to describe the vortex phase. The method is applicable to other systems as well. Finally, we compare the theory with the results of both computer simulations and an experiment using Quincke rotors. A good agreement between the three is observed.

Theory of diffusion of active particles that move at constant speed in two dimensions.

PubMed

Sevilla, Francisco J; Gómez Nava, Luis A

2014-08-01

Starting from a Langevin description of active particles that move with constant speed in infinite two-dimensional space and its corresponding Fokker-Planck equation, we develop a systematic method that allows us to obtain the coarse-grained probability density of finding a particle at a given location and at a given time in arbitrary short-time regimes. By going beyond the diffusive limit, we derive a generalization of the telegrapher equation. Such generalization preserves the hyperbolic structure of the equation and incorporates memory effects in the diffusive term. While no difference is observed for the mean-square displacement computed from the two-dimensional telegrapher equation and from our generalization, the kurtosis results in a sensible parameter that discriminates between both approximations. We carry out a comparative analysis in Fourier space that sheds light on why the standard telegrapher equation is not an appropriate model to describe the propagation of particles with constant speed in dispersive media.

Vapor-Liquid-Solid Etch of Semiconductor Surface Channels by Running Gold Nanodroplets.

PubMed

Nikoobakht, Babak; Herzing, Andrew; Muramoto, Shin; Tersoff, Jerry

2015-12-09

We show that Au nanoparticles spontaneously move across the (001) surface of InP, InAs, and GaP when heated in the presence of water vapor. As they move, the particles etch crystallographically aligned grooves into the surface. We show that this process is a negative analogue of the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of semiconductor nanowires: the semiconductor dissolves into the catalyst and reacts with water vapor at the catalyst surface to create volatile oxides, depleting the dissolved cations and anions and thus sustaining the dissolution process. This VLS etching process provides a new tool for directed assembly of structures with sublithographic dimensions, as small as a few nanometers in diameter. Au particles above 100 nm in size do not exhibit this process but remain stationary, with oxide accumulating around the particles.

Traffic Flow of Interacting Self-Driven Particles: Rails and Trails, Vehicles and Vesicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chowdhury, Debashish

One common feature of a vehicle, an ant and a kinesin motor is that they all convert chemical energy, derived from fuel or food, into mechanical energy required for their forward movement; such objects have been modelled in recent years as self-driven particles. Cytoskeletal filaments, e.g., microtubules, form a rail network for intra-cellular transport of vesicular cargo by molecular motors like, for example, kinesins. Similarly, ants move along trails while vehicles move along lanes. Therefore, the traffic of vehicles and organisms as well as that of molecular motors can be modelled as systems of interacting self-driven particles; these are of current interest in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. In this paper we point out the common features of these model systems and emphasize the crucial differences in their physical properties.

All about Solids, Liquids & Gases. Physical Science for Children[TM]. Schlessinger Science Library. [Videotape].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2000

In All About Solids, Liquids and Gases, young students will be introduced to the three common forms of matter. They'll learn that all things are made up of tiny particles called atoms and that the movement of these particles determines the form that matter takes. In solids, the particles are packed tightly together and move very little. The…

Numerical simulation of the dielectrophoretic concentration of DNA particles and the effect of AC electroosmosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loucaides, N. G.; Georghiou, G. E.; Charalambous, C. D.

2007-04-01

The dielectrophoretic concentration of DNA particles suspended in a solution is investigated in a system of parallel electrodes, where the particles are attracted to the edges of the electrodes by positive dielectrophoresis. The AC electroosmotic motion of the fluid is also considered, as well as the diffusion of the particles, using the solution of the Smoluchowski equation. The results examine the effect of AC electroosmosis in steady state dielectrophoretic concentration of particles, by demonstrating that AC electroosmosis significantly reduces the dielectrophoretic concentration at the edges and moves the particles towards the electrode centres.

Magnetization Reversal Process of Single Crystal α-Fe Containing a Nonmagnetic Particle

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yi; Xu, Ben; Hu, Shenyang Y.

2015-09-25

The magnetization reversal process and hysteresis loops in a single crystal α-iron with nonmagnetic particles are simulated in this work based on the Landau-Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. The evolutions of the magnetic domain morphology are studied, and our analyses show that the magnetization reversal process is affected by the interaction between the moving domain wall and the existing nonmagnetic particles. This interaction strongly depends on the size of the particles, and it is found that particles with a particular size contribute the most to magnetic hardening.

Convective polymer assembly for the deposition of nanostructures and polymer thin films on immobilized particles.

PubMed

Richardson, Joseph J; Björnmalm, Mattias; Gunawan, Sylvia T; Guo, Junling; Liang, Kang; Tardy, Blaise; Sekiguchi, Shota; Noi, Ka Fung; Cui, Jiwei; Ejima, Hirotaka; Caruso, Frank

2014-11-21

We report the preparation of polymer particles via convective polymer assembly (CPA). Convection is used to move polymer solutions and cargo through an agarose gel that contains immobilized template particles. This method both coats and washes the particles in a process that is amenable to automation, and does not depend on passive diffusion or electrical currents, thus facilitating incorporation of fragile and nanoscale objects, such as liposomes and gold nanoparticles, into the thin polymer films. Template dissolution leads to the formation of stable polymer particles and capsules.

EXTRACTOR FOR HIGH ENERGY CHARGED PARTICLES

DOEpatents

Lambertson, G.R.

1964-04-01

A particle-extracting apparatus for use with a beam of high-energy charged particles such as travel in an evacuated chamber along a circular equilibrium axis is described. A magnetized target is impacted relatively against the beam whereby the beam particles are deflected from the beam by the magnetic induction in the target. To this end the target may be moved into the beam or the beam may coast into the target and achieve high angular particle deflection and slow extraction. A deflecting septum magnet may additionally be used for deflection at even sharper angles. (AEC)

Acoustic bed velocity and bed load dynamics in a large sand bed river

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gaeuman, D.; Jacobson, R.B.

2006-01-01

Development of a practical technology for rapid quantification of bed load transport in large rivers would represent a revolutionary advance for sediment monitoring and the investigation of fluvial dynamics. Measurement of bed load motion with acoustic Doppler current profiles (ADCPs) has emerged as a promising approach for evaluating bed load transport. However, a better understanding of how ADCP data relate to conditions near the stream bed is necessary to make the method practical for quantitative applications. In this paper, we discuss the response of ADCP bed velocity measurements, defined as the near-bed sediment velocity detected by the instrument's bottom-tracking feature, to changing sediment-transporting conditions in the lower Missouri River. Bed velocity represents a weighted average of backscatter from moving bed load particles and spectral reflections from the immobile bed. The ratio of bed velocity to mean bed load particle velocity depends on the concentration of the particles moving in the bed load layer, the bed load layer thickness, and the backscatter strength from a unit area of moving particles relative to the echo strength from a unit area of unobstructed bed. A model based on existing bed load transport theory predicted measured bed velocities from hydraulic and grain size measurements with reasonable success. Bed velocities become more variable and increase more rapidly with shear stress when the transport stage, defined as the ratio of skin friction to the critical shear stress for particle entrainment, exceeds a threshold of about 17. This transition in bed velocity response appears to be associated with the appearance of longer, flatter bed forms at high transport stages.

Lattice Boltzmann method simulations of Stokes number effects on particle motion in a channel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lenan; Jebakumar, Anand Samuel; Abraham, John

2016-06-01

In a recent experimental study by Lau and Nathan ["Influence of Stokes number on the velocity and concentration distributions in particle-laden jets," J. Fluid Mech. 757, 432 (2014)], it was found that particles in a turbulent pipe flow tend to migrate preferentially toward the wall or the axis depending on their Stokes number (St). Particles with a higher St (>10) are concentrated near the axis while those with lower St (<1) move toward the walls. Jebakumar et al. ["Lattice Boltzmann method simulations of Stokes number effects on particle trajectories in a wall-bounded flow," Comput. Fluids 124, 208 (2016)] have carried out simulations of a particle in a laminar channel flow to investigate this behavior. In their work, they report a similar behavior where particles with low St migrate toward the wall and oscillate about a mean position near the wall while those with high St oscillate about the channel center plane. They have explained this behavior in terms of the Saffman lift, Magnus lift, and wall repulsion forces acting on the particle. The present work extends the previous work done by Jebakumar et al. and aims to study the behavior of particles at intermediate St ranging from 10 to 20. It is in this range where the equilibrium position of the particle changes from near the wall to the axis and the particle starts oscillating about the axis. The Lattice Boltzmann method is employed to carry out this study. It is shown that the change in mean equilibrium position is related to increasing oscillations of the particle with mean position near the wall which results in the particle moving past the center plane to the opposite side. The responsible mechanisms are explained in detail.

Compressional and Shear Wakes in a 2D Dusty Plasma Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nosenko, V.; Goree, J.; Ma, Z. W.; Dubin, D. H. E.

2001-10-01

A 2D crystalline lattice can vibrate with two kinds of sound waves, compressional and shear (transverse), where the latter has a much slower sound speed. When these waves are excited by a moving supersonic disturbance, the superposition of the waves creates a Mach cone, i.e., a V-shaped wake. In our experiments, the supersonic disturbance was a moving spot of argon laser light, and this laser light applied a force, due to radiation pressure, on the particles. The beam was swept across the lattice in a controlled and repeatable manner. The particles were levitated in an argon rf discharge. By moving the laser spot faster than the shear sound speed c_t, but slower than the compressional sound speed c_l, we excited a shear wave Mach cone. Alternatively, by moving the laser spot faster than c_l, we excited both cones. In addition to Mach cones, we also observed a wake structure that arises from the compressional wave’s dispersion. We compare our results to Dubin’s theory (Phys. Plasmas 2000) and to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

Three-Dimensional Simulations of Electron Beams Focused by Periodic Permanent Magnets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kory, Carol L.

1999-01-01

A fully three-dimensional (3D) model of an electron beam focused by a periodic permanent magnet (PPM) stack has been developed. First, the simulation code MAFIA was used to model a PPM stack using the magnetostatic solver. The exact geometry of the magnetic focusing structure was modeled; thus, no approximations were made regarding the off-axis fields. The fields from the static solver were loaded into the 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) solver of MAFIA where fully 3D behavior of the beam was simulated in the magnetic focusing field. The PIC solver computes the time-integration of electromagnetic fields simultaneously with the time integration of the equations of motion of charged particles that move under the influence of those fields. Fields caused by those moving charges are also taken into account; thus, effects like space charge and magnetic forces between particles are fully simulated. The electron beam is simulated by a number of macro-particles. These macro-particles represent a given charge Q amounting to that of several million electrons in order to conserve computational time and memory. Particle motion is unrestricted, so particle trajectories can cross paths and move in three dimensions under the influence of 3D electric and magnetic fields. Correspondingly, there is no limit on the initial current density distribution of the electron beam, nor its density distribution at any time during the simulation. Simulation results including beam current density, percent ripple and percent transmission will be presented, and the effects current, magnetic focusing strength and thermal velocities have on beam behavior will be demonstrated using 3D movies showing the evolution of beam characteristics in time and space. Unlike typical beam optics models, this 3D model allows simulation of asymmetric designs such as non- circularly symmetric electrostatic or magnetic focusing as well as the inclusion of input/output couplers.

Analysis of an ultrasonically rotating droplet by moving particle semi-implicit and distributed point source method in a rotational coordinate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wada, Yuji; Yuge, Kohei; Tanaka, Hiroki; Nakamura, Kentaro

2017-07-01

Numerical analysis on the rotation of an ultrasonically levitated droplet in centrifugal coordinate is discussed. A droplet levitated in an acoustic chamber is simulated using the distributed point source method and the moving particle semi-implicit method. Centrifugal coordinate is adopted to avoid the Laplacian differential error, which causes numerical divergence or inaccuracy in the global coordinate calculation. Consequently, the duration of calculation stability has increased 30 times longer than that in a the previous paper. Moreover, the droplet radius versus rotational acceleration characteristics show a similar trend to the theoretical and experimental values in the literature.

A Huygens immersed-finite-element particle-in-cell method for modeling plasma-surface interactions with moving interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Huijun; Cao, Yong; Chu, Yuchuan; He, Xiaoming; Lin, Tao

2018-06-01

Surface evolution is an unavoidable issue in engineering plasma applications. In this article an iterative method for modeling plasma-surface interactions with moving interface is proposed and validated. In this method, the plasma dynamics is simulated by an immersed finite element particle-in-cell (IFE-PIC) method, and the surface evolution is modeled by the Huygens wavelet method which is coupled with the iteration of the IFE-PIC method. Numerical experiments, including prototypical engineering applications, such as the erosion of Hall thruster channel wall, are presented to demonstrate features of this Huygens IFE-PIC method for simulating the dynamic plasma-surface interactions.

Exploration of thermal counterflow in He II using particle tracking velocimetry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mastracci, Brian; Guo, Wei

Flow visualization using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particularly particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) has been applied to thermal counterflow in He II for nearly two decades now, but the results remain difficult to interpret because tracer particle motion can be influenced by both the normal fluid and superfluid components of He II as well as the quantized vortex tangle. For instance, in one early experiment it was observed (using PTV) that tracer particles move at the normal fluid velocity v n, while in another it was observed (using PIV) that particles move at v n/2. Besides the different visualization methods,more » the range of applied heat flux investigated by these experiments differed by an order of magnitude. To resolve this apparent discrepancy and explore the statistics of particle motion in thermal counterflow, we apply the PTV method to a wide range of heat flux at a number of different fluid temperatures. In our analysis, we introduce a scheme for analyzing the velocity of particles presumably moving with the normal fluid separately from those presumably influenced by the quantized vortex tangle. Our results show that for lower heat flux there are two distinct peaks in the streamwise particle velocity probability density function (PDF), with one centered at the normal fluid velocity v n (named G2 for convenience) while the other is centered near v n/2 (G1). For higher heat flux there is a single peak centered near v n/2 (G3). Using our separation scheme, we show quantitatively that there is no size difference between the particles contributing to G1 and G2. We also show that nonclassical features of the transverse particle velocity PDF arise entirely from G1, while the corresponding PDF for G2 exhibits the classical Gaussian form. The G2 transverse velocity fluctuation, backed up by second sound attenuation in decaying counterflow, suggests that large-scale turbulence in the normal fluid is absent from the two-peak region. We offer a brief discussion of the physical mechanisms that may be responsible for our observations, revealing that G1 velocity fluctuations may be linked to fluctuations of quantized vortex line velocity, and suggest a number of numerical simulations that may reveal the underlying physics in detail.« less

Exploration of thermal counterflow in He II using particle tracking velocimetry

DOE PAGES

Mastracci, Brian; Guo, Wei

2018-06-22

Flow visualization using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particularly particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) has been applied to thermal counterflow in He II for nearly two decades now, but the results remain difficult to interpret because tracer particle motion can be influenced by both the normal fluid and superfluid components of He II as well as the quantized vortex tangle. For instance, in one early experiment it was observed (using PTV) that tracer particles move at the normal fluid velocity v n, while in another it was observed (using PIV) that particles move at v n/2. Besides the different visualization methods,more » the range of applied heat flux investigated by these experiments differed by an order of magnitude. To resolve this apparent discrepancy and explore the statistics of particle motion in thermal counterflow, we apply the PTV method to a wide range of heat flux at a number of different fluid temperatures. In our analysis, we introduce a scheme for analyzing the velocity of particles presumably moving with the normal fluid separately from those presumably influenced by the quantized vortex tangle. Our results show that for lower heat flux there are two distinct peaks in the streamwise particle velocity probability density function (PDF), with one centered at the normal fluid velocity v n (named G2 for convenience) while the other is centered near v n/2 (G1). For higher heat flux there is a single peak centered near v n/2 (G3). Using our separation scheme, we show quantitatively that there is no size difference between the particles contributing to G1 and G2. We also show that nonclassical features of the transverse particle velocity PDF arise entirely from G1, while the corresponding PDF for G2 exhibits the classical Gaussian form. The G2 transverse velocity fluctuation, backed up by second sound attenuation in decaying counterflow, suggests that large-scale turbulence in the normal fluid is absent from the two-peak region. We offer a brief discussion of the physical mechanisms that may be responsible for our observations, revealing that G1 velocity fluctuations may be linked to fluctuations of quantized vortex line velocity, and suggest a number of numerical simulations that may reveal the underlying physics in detail.« less

The Weak Nuclear Force: Quantum Chameleon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lincoln, Don

Radioactive decay is the transmutation of one subatomic particle into another. In most instances, what happens is that existing particles move to new configurations. However in radioactive decays using the weak force, a particular kind of particle disappears and is replaced by a completely different particle. In this video, Fermilab’s Dr. Don Lincoln talks about how it all works and even describes a type of decay that has never been observed and, if it were observed, it would require the textbooks be rewritten.

Transport of underdamped self-propelled particles in active density waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Wei-jing; Huang, Xiao-qun; Ai, Bao-quan

2018-03-01

Transport of underdamped self-propelled particles is numerically investigated in active density waves. From numerical simulations, it is found that the inertia can strongly affect the transport of self-propelled particles. By changing the wave speed or the friction coefficient, the average velocity can change its direction. The direction of the transport is also determined by the competition between the inertia effect and the traveling waves. Therefore, underdamped active particles can move in different directions and can be separated by suitably tailoring the parameters.

A Monte Carlo simulation study of associated liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berardi, R.; Fehervari, M.; Zannoni, C.

We have performed a Monte Carlo simulation study of a system of ellipsoidal particles with donor-acceptor sites modelling complementary hydrogen-bonding groups in real molecules. We have considered elongated Gay-Berne particles with terminal interaction sites allowing particles to associate and form dimers. The changes in the phase transitions and in the molecular organization and the interplay between orientational ordering and dimer formation are discussed. Particle flip and dimer moves have been used to increase the convergency rate of the Monte Carlo (MC) Markov chain.

Quantum walks of two interacting particles on percolation graphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siloi, Ilaria; Benedetti, Claudia; Piccinini, Enrico; Paris, Matteo G. A.; Bordone, Paolo

2017-10-01

We address the dynamics of two indistinguishable interacting particles moving on a dynamical percolation graph, i.e., a graph where the edges are independent random telegraph processes whose values jump between 0 and 1, thus mimicking percolation. The interplay between the particle interaction strength, initial state and the percolation rate determine different dynamical regimes for the walkers. We show that, whenever the walkers are initially localised within the interaction range, fast noise enhances the particle spread compared to the noiseless case.

Diagnostic evaluations of a beam-shielded 8-cm mercury ion thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nakanishi, S.

1978-01-01

An engineering model thruster fitted with a remotely actuated graphite fiber polyimide composite beam shield was tested in a 3- by 6.5-meter vacuum facility for in-situ assessment of beam shield effects on thruster performance. Accelerator drain current neutralizer floating potential and ion beam floating potential increased slightly when the shield was moved into position. A target exposed to the low density regions of the ion beam was used to map the boundaries of energetic fringe ions capable of sputtering. The particle efflux was evaluated by measurement of film deposits on cold, heated, bare, and enclosed glass slides.

Adhesive particle shielding

DOEpatents

Klebanoff, Leonard Elliott [Dublin, CA; Rader, Daniel John [Albuquerque, NM; Walton, Christopher [Berkeley, CA; Folta, James [Livermore, CA

2009-01-06

An efficient device for capturing fast moving particles has an adhesive particle shield that includes (i) a mounting panel and (ii) a film that is attached to the mounting panel wherein the outer surface of the film has an adhesive coating disposed thereon to capture particles contacting the outer surface. The shield can be employed to maintain a substantially particle free environment such as in photolithographic systems having critical surfaces, such as wafers, masks, and optics and in the tools used to make these components, that are sensitive to particle contamination. The shield can be portable to be positioned in hard-to-reach areas of a photolithography machine. The adhesive particle shield can incorporate cooling means to attract particles via the thermophoresis effect.

Self assembly, mobilization, and flotation of crude oil contaminated sand particles as granular shells on gas bubbles in water.

PubMed

Tansel, Berrin; Boglaienko, Daria

2017-01-01

Contaminant fate and transport studies and models include transport mechanisms for colloidal particles and dissolved ions which can be easily moved with water currents. However, mobilization of much larger contaminated granular particles (i.e., sand) in sediments have not been considered as a possible mechanism due to the relatively larger size of sand particles and their high bulk density. We conducted experiments to demonstrate that oil contaminated granular particles (which exhibit hydrophobic characteristics) can attach on gas bubbles to form granular shells and transfer from the sediment phase to the water column. The interactions and conditions necessary for the oil contaminated granular particles to self assemble as tightly packed granular shells on the gas bubbles which transfer from sediment phase to the water column were evaluated both experimentally and theoretically for South Louisiana crude oil and quartz sand particles. Analyses showed that buoyancy forces can be adequate to move the granular shell forming around the air bubbles if the bubble radius is above 0.001mm for the sand particles with 0.28mm diameter. Relatively high magnitude of the Hamaker constant for the oil film between sand and air (5.81×10 -20 J for air-oil-sand) indicates that air bubbles have high affinity to attach on the oil film that is on the sand particles in comparison to attaching to the sand particles without the oil film in water (1.60×10 -20 J for air-water-sand). The mobilization mechanism of the contaminated granular particles with gas bubbles can occur in natural environments resulting in transfer of granular particles from sediments to the water column. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Independent motion detection with a rival penalized adaptive particle filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Stefan; Hübner, Wolfgang; Arens, Michael

2014-10-01

Aggregation of pixel based motion detection into regions of interest, which include views of single moving objects in a scene is an essential pre-processing step in many vision systems. Motion events of this type provide significant information about the object type or build the basis for action recognition. Further, motion is an essential saliency measure, which is able to effectively support high level image analysis. When applied to static cameras, background subtraction methods achieve good results. On the other hand, motion aggregation on freely moving cameras is still a widely unsolved problem. The image flow, measured on a freely moving camera is the result from two major motion types. First the ego-motion of the camera and second object motion, that is independent from the camera motion. When capturing a scene with a camera these two motion types are adverse blended together. In this paper, we propose an approach to detect multiple moving objects from a mobile monocular camera system in an outdoor environment. The overall processing pipeline consists of a fast ego-motion compensation algorithm in the preprocessing stage. Real-time performance is achieved by using a sparse optical flow algorithm as an initial processing stage and a densely applied probabilistic filter in the post-processing stage. Thereby, we follow the idea proposed by Jung and Sukhatme. Normalized intensity differences originating from a sequence of ego-motion compensated difference images represent the probability of moving objects. Noise and registration artefacts are filtered out, using a Bayesian formulation. The resulting a posteriori distribution is located on image regions, showing strong amplitudes in the difference image which are in accordance with the motion prediction. In order to effectively estimate the a posteriori distribution, a particle filter is used. In addition to the fast ego-motion compensation, the main contribution of this paper is the design of the probabilistic filter for real-time detection and tracking of independently moving objects. The proposed approach introduces a competition scheme between particles in order to ensure an improved multi-modality. Further, the filter design helps to generate a particle distribution which is homogenous even in the presence of multiple targets showing non-rigid motion patterns. The effectiveness of the method is shown on exemplary outdoor sequences.

Long-range attraction of an ultrarelativistic electron beam by a column of neutral plasma

DOE PAGES

Adli, Erik; Lindstrom, C. A.; Allen, J.; ...

2016-10-12

Here, we report on the experimental observation of the attraction of a beam of ultrarelativistic electrons towards a column of neutral plasma. In experiments performed at the FACET test facility at SLAC we observe that an electron beam moving parallel to a neutral plasma column, at an initial distance of many plasma column radii, is attracted into the column. Once the beam enters the plasma it drives a plasma wake similar to that of an electron beam entering the plasma column head-on. A simple analytical model is developed in order to capture the essential physics of the attractive force. Themore » attraction is further studied by 3D particle-in-cell numerical simulations. The results are an important step towards better understanding of particle beam–plasma interactions in general and plasma wakefield accelerator technology in particular.« less

Long-range attraction of an ultrarelativistic electron beam by a column of neutral plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adli, Erik; Lindstrom, C. A.; Allen, J.

Here, we report on the experimental observation of the attraction of a beam of ultrarelativistic electrons towards a column of neutral plasma. In experiments performed at the FACET test facility at SLAC we observe that an electron beam moving parallel to a neutral plasma column, at an initial distance of many plasma column radii, is attracted into the column. Once the beam enters the plasma it drives a plasma wake similar to that of an electron beam entering the plasma column head-on. A simple analytical model is developed in order to capture the essential physics of the attractive force. Themore » attraction is further studied by 3D particle-in-cell numerical simulations. The results are an important step towards better understanding of particle beam–plasma interactions in general and plasma wakefield accelerator technology in particular.« less

Onset of nanoscale dissipation in superfluid 4He at zero temperature: Role of vortex shedding and cavitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ancilotto, Francesco; Barranco, Manuel; Eloranta, Jussi; Pi, Martí

2017-08-01

Two-dimensional flow past an infinitely long cylinder of nanoscopic radius in superfluid 4He at zero temperature is studied using time-dependent density-functional theory. The calculations reveal two distinct critical phenomena for the onset of dissipation: (i) vortex-antivortex pair shedding from the periphery of the moving cylinder, and (ii) the appearance of cavitation in the wake, which possesses similar geometry to that observed experimentally for fast-moving micrometer-scale particles in superfluid 4He. The formation of cavitation bubbles behind the cylinder is accompanied by a sudden jump in the drag exerted on the moving cylinder by the fluid. Vortex pairs with the same circulation are occasionally emitted in the form of dimers, which constitute the building blocks for the Benard-von Karman vortex street structure observed in classical turbulent fluids and Bose-Einstein condensates. The cavitation-induced dissipation mechanism should be common to all superfluids that are self-bound and have a finite surface tension, which include the recently discovered self-bound droplets in ultracold Bose gases. These systems would provide an ideal testing ground for further exploration of this mechanism experimentally.

A New Method for Tracking Individual Particles During Bed Load Transport in a Gravel-Bed River

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremblay, M.; Marquis, G. A.; Roy, A. G.; Chaire de Recherche Du Canada En Dynamique Fluviale

2010-12-01

Many particle tracers (passive or active) have been developed to study gravel movement in rivers. It remains difficult, however, to document resting and moving periods and to know how particles travel from one deposition site to another. Our new tracking method uses the Hobo Pendant G acceleration Data Logger to quantitatively describe the motion of individual particles from the initiation of movement, through the displacement and to the rest, in a natural gravel river. The Hobo measures the acceleration in three dimensions at a chosen temporal frequency. The Hobo was inserted into 11 artificial rocks. The rocks were seeded in Ruisseau Béard, a small gravel-bed river in the Yamaska drainage basin (Québec) where the hydraulics, particle sizes and bed characteristics are well known. The signals recorded during eight floods (Summer and Fall 2008-2009) allowed us to develop an algorithm which classifies the periods of rest and motion. We can differentiate two types of motion: sliding and rolling. The particles can also vibrate while remaining in the same position. The examination of the movement and vibration periods with respect to the hydraulic conditions (discharge, shear stress, stream power) showed that vibration occurred mostly before the rise of hydrograph and allowed us to establish movement threshold and response times. In all cases, particle movements occurred during floods but not always in direct response to increased bed shear stress and stream power. This method offers great potential to track individual particles and to establish a spatiotemporal sequence of the intermittent transport of the particle during a flood and to test theories concerning the resting periods of particles on a gravel bed.

Plasmon excitations with a semi-integer angular momentum.

PubMed

Mendonça, J T; Serbeto, A; Vieira, J

2018-05-18

We provide an explicit model for a spin-1/2 quasi-particle, based on the superposition of plasmon excitations in a quantum plasmas with intrinsic orbital angular momentum. Such quasi-particle solutions can show remarkable similarities with single electrons moving in vacuum: they have spin-1/2, a finite rest mass, and a quantum dispersion. We also show that these quasi-particle solutions satisfy a criterium of energy minimum.

The LHC Experiments

ScienceCinema

Lincoln, Don

2018-01-16

The Large Hadron Collider or LHC is the world’s biggest particle accelerator, but it can only get particles moving very quickly. To make measurements, scientists must employ particle detectors. There are four big detectors at the LHC: ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb. In this video, Fermilab’s Dr. Don Lincoln introduces us to these detectors and gives us an idea of each one’s capabilities.

Surface particle sizes on armoured gravel streambeds: Effects of supply and hydraulics

Treesearch

Peter J. Whiting; John G. King

2003-01-01

Most gravel-bed streams exhibit a surface armour in which the median grain size of the surface particles is coarser than that of the subsurface particles. This armour has been interpreted to result when the supply of sediment is less than the ability of the stream to move sediment. While there may be certain sizes in the bed for which the supply is less than the...

Ejecta Particle Size Distributions for Shock Loaded Sn And Al Targets

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-06-01

respectively. For the first time, particle distributions that results from microjet production will be presented. Results from these experiments will...performed. For the first time, particle size distributions that result from microjet production will be presented. The energy in the microjets will...the metal to break up as a shock wave moves through the material. The figure also shows that if there are surface finish variations, microjets will

Hopping Diffusion of Nanoparticles Subjected to Topological Constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Li-Heng; Panyukov, Sergey; Rubinstein, Michael

2013-03-01

We describe a novel hopping mechanism for diffusion of large non-sticky nanoparticles subjected to topological constraints in polymer solids (networks and gels) and entangled polymer liquids (melts and solutions). Probe particles with size larger than the mesh size of unentangled polymer networks (tube diameter of entangled polymer liquids) are trapped by the network (entanglement) cages at time scales longer than the relaxation time of the network (entanglement) strand. At long time scales, however, these particles can move further by hopping between neighboring confinement cages. This hopping is controlled by fluctuations of surrounding confinement cages, which could be large enough to allow particles to slip through. The terminal particle diffusion coefficient dominated by this hopping diffusion is appreciable for particles with size slightly larger than the network mesh size (tube diameter). Very large particles in polymer solids will be permanently trapped by local network cages, whereas they can still move in polymer liquids by waiting for entanglement cages to rearrange on the relaxation time scale of the liquids. We would like to acknowledge the financial support of NSF CHE-0911588, DMR-0907515, DMR-1121107, DMR-1122483, and CBET-0609087, NIH R01HL077546 and P50HL107168, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation under grant RUBIN09XX0.

Effect of the fuel bias distribution in the primary air nozzle on the slagging near a swirl coal burner throat

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lingyan Zeng; Zhengqi Li; Hong Cui

2009-09-15

Three-dimensional numerical simulations of slagging characteristics near the burner throat region were carried out for swirl coal combustion burners used in a 1025 tons/h boiler. The gas/particle two-phase numerical simulation results and the data measured by a particle-dynamics anemometer (PDA) show that the numeration model was reasonable. For the centrally fuel-rich swirl coal combustion burner, the coal particles move in the following way. The particles first flow into furnace with the primary air from the burner throat. After traversing a certain distance, they move back to the burner throat and then toward the furnace again. Thus, particle trajectories are extended.more » For the case with equal air mass fluxes in the inner and outer primary air/coal mixtures, as the ratio of the coal mass flux in the inner primary air/coal mixture to the total coal mass flux increased from 40 (the reference condition) to 50%, 50 to 70%, and 70 to 100%, the maximum number density declined by 22, 11, and 4%, respectively, relative to the reference condition. In addition, the sticking particle ratio declined by 13, 14, and 8%, respectively, compared to the reference condition. 22 refs., 12 figs., 3 tabs.« less

Charge interaction between particle-laden fluid interfaces.

PubMed

Xu, Hui; Kirkwood, John; Lask, Mauricio; Fuller, Gerald

2010-03-02

Experiments are described where two oil/water interfaces laden with charged particles move at close proximity relative to one another. The particles on one of the interfaces were observed to be attracted toward the point of closest approach, forming a denser particle monolayer, while the particles on the opposite interface were repelled away from this point, forming a particle depletion zone. Such particle attraction/repulsion was observed even if one of the interfaces was free of particles. This phenomenon can be explained by the electrostatic interaction between the two interfaces, which causes surface charges (charged particles and ions) to redistribute in order to satisfy surface electric equipotential at each interface. In a forced particle oscillation experiment, we demonstrated the control of charged particle positions on the interface by manipulating charge interaction between interfaces.

Using distributed partial memories to improve self-organizing collective movements.

PubMed

Winder, Ransom; Reggia, James A

2004-08-01

Past self-organizing models of collectively moving "particles" (simulated bird flocks, fish schools, etc.) have typically been based on purely reflexive agents that have no significant memory of past movements. We hypothesized that giving such individual particles a limited distributed memory of past obstacles they encountered could lead to significantly faster travel between goal destinations. Systematic computational experiments using six terrains that had different arrangements of obstacles demonstrated that, at least in some domains, this conjecture is true. Furthermore, these experiments demonstrated that improved performance over time came not only from the avoidance of previously seen obstacles, but also (surprisingly) immediately after first encountering obstacles due to decreased delays in circumventing those obstacles. Simulations also showed that, of the four strategies we tested for removal of remembered obstacles when memory was full and a new obstacle was to be saved, none was better than random selection. These results may be useful in interpreting future experimental research on group movements in biological populations, and in improving existing methodologies for control of collective movements in computer graphics, robotic teams, particle swarm optimization, and computer games.

A new fundamental model of moving particle for reinterpreting Schroedinger equation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Umar, Muhamad Darwis

2012-06-20

The study of Schroedinger equation based on a hypothesis that every particle must move randomly in a quantum-sized volume has been done. In addition to random motion, every particle can do relative motion through the movement of its quantum-sized volume. On the other way these motions can coincide. In this proposed model, the random motion is one kind of intrinsic properties of the particle. The every change of both speed of randomly intrinsic motion and or the velocity of translational motion of a quantum-sized volume will represent a transition between two states, and the change of speed of randomly intrinsicmore » motion will generate diffusion process or Brownian motion perspectives. Diffusion process can take place in backward and forward processes and will represent a dissipative system. To derive Schroedinger equation from our hypothesis we use time operator introduced by Nelson. From a fundamental analysis, we find out that, naturally, we should view the means of Newton's Law F(vector sign) = ma(vector sign) as no an external force, but it is just to describe both the presence of intrinsic random motion and the change of the particle energy.« less

Detweiler's redshift invariant for spinning particles along circular orbits on a Schwarzschild background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bini, Donato; Damour, Thibault; Geralico, Andrea; Kavanagh, Chris

2018-05-01

We study the metric perturbations induced by a classical spinning particle moving along a circular orbit on a Schwarzschild background, limiting the analysis to effects which are first order in spin. The particle is assumed to move on the equatorial plane and has its spin aligned with the z axis. The metric perturbations are obtained by using two different approaches, i.e., by working in two different gauges: the Regge-Wheeler gauge (using the Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli formalism) and a radiation gauge (using the Teukolsky formalism). We then compute the linear-in-spin contribution to the first-order self-force contribution to Detweiler's redshift invariant up to the 8.5 post-Newtonian order. We check that our result is the same in both gauges, as appropriate for a gauge-invariant quantity, and agrees with the currently known 3.5 post-Newtonian results.

Friction phenomena and phase transition in the underdamped two-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yang; Duan, Wen-Shan; Chen, Jian-Min; Yang, Lei; Tekić, Jasmina; Shao, Zhi-Gang; Wang, Cang-Long

2010-11-01

Locked-to-sliding phase transition has been studied in the driven two-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova model with the square symmetric substrate potential. It is found that as the driving force increases, the system transfers from the locked state to the sliding state where the motion of particles is in the direction different from that of driving force. With the further increase in driving force, at some critical value, the particles start to move in the direction of driving force. These two critical forces, the static friction or depinning force, and the kinetic friction force for which particles move in the direction of driving force have been analyzed for different system parameters. Different scenarios of phase transitions have been examined and dynamical phases are classified. In the case of zero misfit angle, the analytical expressions for static and kinetic friction force have been obtained.

Reaction-diffusion theory in the presence of an attractive harmonic potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spendier, K.; Sugaya, S.; Kenkre, V. M.

2013-12-01

Problems involving the capture of a moving entity by a trap occur in a variety of physical situations, the moving entity being an electron, an excitation, an atom, a molecule, a biological object such as a receptor cluster, a cell, or even an animal such as a mouse carrying an epidemic. Theoretical considerations have almost always assumed that the particle motion is translationally invariant. We study here the case when that assumption is relaxed, in that the particle is additionally subjected to a harmonic potential. This tethering to a center modifies the reaction-diffusion phenomenon. Using a Smoluchowski equation to describe the system, we carry out a study which is explicit in one dimension but can be easily extended for arbitrary dimensions. Interesting features emerge depending on the relative location of the trap, the attractive center, and the initial placement of the diffusing particle.

Infinite charge mobility in muscovite at 300 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russell, F. Michael; Archilla, Juan F. R.; Frutos, Fabian; Medina-Carrasco, Santiago

2017-11-01

Evidence is presented for infinite charge mobility in natural crystals of muscovite mica at room temperature. Muscovite has a basic layered structure containing a flat monatomic sheet of potassium sandwiched between mirror silicate layers. It is an excellent electrical insulator. Studies of defects in muscovite crystals indicated that positive charge could propagate over great distances along atomic chains in the potassium sheets in the absence of an applied electric potential. The charge moved in association with anharmonic lattice excitations that moved at about sonic speed and created by nuclear recoil of the radioactive isotope 40K. This was verified by measuring currents passing through crystals when irradiated with energetic alpha particles at room temperature. The charge propagated more than 1000 times the range of the alpha particles of average energy and 250 times the range of channelling particles of maximum energy. The range is limited only by size of the crystal.

Quantum field between moving mirrors: A three dimensional example

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hacyan, S.; Jauregui, Roco; Villarreal, Carlos

1995-01-01

The scalar quantum field uniformly moving plates in three dimensional space is studied. Field equations for Dirichlet boundary conditions are solved exactly. Comparison of the resulting wavefunctions with their instantaneous static counterpart is performed via Bogolubov coefficients. Unlike the one dimensional problem, 'particle' creation as well as squeezing may occur. The time dependent Casimir energy is also evaluated.

Molecular simulation investigation of the nanorheology of an entangled polymer melt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karim, Mir; Khare, Rajesh; Indei, Tsutomu; Schieber, Jay

2014-03-01

Knowledge of the ``local rheology'' is important for viscoelastic systems that contain significant structural and dynamic heterogeneities, such as cellular and extra-cellular crowded environments. For homogeneous viscoelastic media, a study of probe particle motion provides information on the microstructural evolution of the medium in response to the probe particle motion. Over the last two decades, probe particle rheology has emerged as a leading experimental technique for capturing local rheology of complex fluids. In recent work [M. Karim, S. C. Kohale, T. Indei, J. D. Schieber, and R. Khare, Phys. Rev. E86, 051501 (2012)], we showed that this approach can be used in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the nanoscale viscoelastic properties of an unentangled polymer melt; an important conclusion of that work was that medium and particle inertia play a crucial role in analysis of the particle rheology simulation data. MD simulations have a natural advantage that they enable study of deformation and dynamics over a small length scale around the moving probe particle. In this work, the approach is extended to compare the motion of a nanoscale probe in melts of entangled and unentangled chains. The simulations will be used to elucidate the differences between the local responses of these media to the probe particle motion. In particular, results will be presented for the differences in the resultant velocity and stress fields as well as any possible structural asymmetry developed around the moving probe particle in the entangled and unentangled cases.

Micromechanical Characterization of Polysilicon Films through On-Chip Tests

PubMed Central

Mirzazadeh, Ramin; Eftekhar Azam, Saeed; Mariani, Stefano

2016-01-01

When the dimensions of polycrystalline structures become comparable to the average grain size, some reliability issues can be reported for the moving parts of inertial microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Not only the overall behavior of the device turns out to be affected by a large scattering, but also the sensitivity to imperfections gets enhanced. In this work, through on-chip tests, we experimentally investigate the behavior of thin polysilicon samples using standard electrostatic actuation/sensing. The discrepancy between the target and actual responses of each sample has then been exploited to identify: (i) the overall stiffness of the film and, according to standard continuum elasticity, a morphology-based value of its Young’s modulus; (ii) the relevant over-etch induced by the fabrication process. To properly account for the aforementioned stochastic features at the micro-scale, the identification procedure has been based on particle filtering. A simple analytical reduced-order model of the moving structure has been also developed to account for the nonlinearities in the electrical field, up to pull-in. Results are reported for a set of ten film samples of constant slenderness, and the effects of different actuation mechanisms on the identified micromechanical features are thoroughly discussed. PMID:27483268

Micromechanical Characterization of Polysilicon Films through On-Chip Tests.

PubMed

Mirzazadeh, Ramin; Eftekhar Azam, Saeed; Mariani, Stefano

2016-07-28

When the dimensions of polycrystalline structures become comparable to the average grain size, some reliability issues can be reported for the moving parts of inertial microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Not only the overall behavior of the device turns out to be affected by a large scattering, but also the sensitivity to imperfections gets enhanced. In this work, through on-chip tests, we experimentally investigate the behavior of thin polysilicon samples using standard electrostatic actuation/sensing. The discrepancy between the target and actual responses of each sample has then been exploited to identify: (i) the overall stiffness of the film and, according to standard continuum elasticity, a morphology-based value of its Young's modulus; (ii) the relevant over-etch induced by the fabrication process. To properly account for the aforementioned stochastic features at the micro-scale, the identification procedure has been based on particle filtering. A simple analytical reduced-order model of the moving structure has been also developed to account for the nonlinearities in the electrical field, up to pull-in. Results are reported for a set of ten film samples of constant slenderness, and the effects of different actuation mechanisms on the identified micromechanical features are thoroughly discussed.

Impact of fine mesh sieve primary treatment on nitrogen removal in moving bed biofilm reactors.

PubMed

Rusten, B; Razafimanantsoa, V A; Andriamiarinjaka, M A; Otis, C L; Sahu, A K; Bilstad, T

2016-01-01

The purpose of this project was to investigate the effect of selective particle removal during primary treatment on nitrogen removal in moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs). Two small MBBR pilot plants were operated in parallel, where one train treated 2 mm screened municipal wastewater and the other train treated wastewater that had passed through a Salsnes Filter SF1000 rotating belt sieve (RBS) with a 33 µs sieve cloth. The SF1000 was operated without a filter mat on the belt. The tests confirmed that, for the wastewater characteristics at the test plant, Salsnes Filter primary treatment with a 33 µs RBS and no filter mat produced a primary effluent that was close to optimum. Removal of organic matter with the 33 µs sieve had no negative effect on the denitrification process. Nitrification rates improved by 10-15% in the train with 33 µs RBS primary treatment. Mass balance calculations showed that without RBS primary treatment, the oxygen demand in the biological system was 36% higher. Other studies have shown that the sludge produced by RBS primary treatment is beneficial for biogas production and will also significantly improve sludge dewatering of the combined primary and biological sludge.

Simulating galactic dust grain evolution on a moving mesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKinnon, Ryan; Vogelsberger, Mark; Torrey, Paul; Marinacci, Federico; Kannan, Rahul

2018-05-01

Interstellar dust is an important component of the galactic ecosystem, playing a key role in multiple galaxy formation processes. We present a novel numerical framework for the dynamics and size evolution of dust grains implemented in the moving-mesh hydrodynamics code AREPO suited for cosmological galaxy formation simulations. We employ a particle-based method for dust subject to dynamical forces including drag and gravity. The drag force is implemented using a second-order semi-implicit integrator and validated using several dust-hydrodynamical test problems. Each dust particle has a grain size distribution, describing the local abundance of grains of different sizes. The grain size distribution is discretised with a second-order piecewise linear method and evolves in time according to various dust physical processes, including accretion, sputtering, shattering, and coagulation. We present a novel scheme for stochastically forming dust during stellar evolution and new methods for sub-cycling of dust physics time-steps. Using this model, we simulate an isolated disc galaxy to study the impact of dust physical processes that shape the interstellar grain size distribution. We demonstrate, for example, how dust shattering shifts the grain size distribution to smaller sizes resulting in a significant rise of radiation extinction from optical to near-ultraviolet wavelengths. Our framework for simulating dust and gas mixtures can readily be extended to account for other dynamical processes relevant in galaxy formation, like magnetohydrodynamics, radiation pressure, and thermo-chemical processes.

Statistical Physics Experiments Using Dusty Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goree, John

2016-10-01

Compared to other areas of physics research, Statistical Physics is heavily dominated by theory, with comparatively little experiment. One reason for the lack of experiments is the impracticality of tracking of individual atoms and molecules within a substance. Thus, there is a need for a different kind of experimental system, one where individual particles not only move stochastically as they collide with one another, but also are large enough to allow tracking. A dusty plasma can meet this need. A dusty plasma is a partially ionized gas containing small particles of solid matter. These micron-size particles gain thousands of electronic charges by collecting more electrons than ions. Their motions are dominated by Coulomb collisions with neighboring particles. In this so-called strongly coupled plasma, the dust particles self-organize in much the same way as atoms in a liquid or solid. Unlike atoms, however, these particles are large and slow, so that they can be tracked easily by video microscopy. Advantages of dusty plasma for experimental statistical physics research include particle tracking, lack of frictional contact with solid surfaces, and avoidance of overdamped motion. Moreover, the motion of a collection of dust particles can mimic an equilibrium system with a Maxwellian velocity distribution, even though the dust particles themselves are not truly in thermal equilibrium. Nonequilibrium statistical physics can be studied by applying gradients, for example by imposing a shear flow. In this talk I will review some of our recent experiments with shear flow. First, we performed the first experimental test to verify the Fluctuation Theorem for a shear flow, showing that brief violations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics occur with the predicted probabilities, for a small system. Second, we discovered a skewness of a shear-stress distribution in a shear flow. This skewness is a phenomenon that likely has wide applicability in nonequilibrium steady states. Third, we performed the first experimental test of a statistical physics theory (the Green-Kubo model) that is widely used by physical chemists to compute viscosity coefficients, and we found that it fails. Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, NSF, and NASA.

LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE DYNAMICS AND PARTICLE ACCELERATION OF KNOTS IN THE JET OF CENTAURUS A

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goodger, J. L.; Hardcastle, M. J.; Croston, J. H., E-mail: j.l.goodger@herts.ac.u, E-mail: m.j.hardcastle@herts.ac.u, E-mail: J.Croston@soton.ac.u

2010-01-01

We present new and archival multi-frequency radio and X-ray data for Centaurus A obtained over almost 20 years at the Very Large Array and with Chandra, with which we measure the X-ray and radio spectral indices of jet knots, flux density variations in the jet knots, polarization variations, and proper motions. We compare the observed properties with current knot formation models and particle acceleration mechanisms. We rule out impulsive particle acceleration as a formation mechanism for all of the knots as we detect the same population of knots in all of the observations, and we find no evidence of extrememore » variability in the X-ray knots. We find that the most likely mechanism for all the stationary knots is a collision resulting in a local shock followed by a steady state of prolonged, stable particle acceleration, and X-ray synchrotron emission. In this scenario, the X-ray-only knots have radio counterparts that are too faint to be detected, while the radio-only knots are due to weak shocks where no particles are accelerated to X-ray emitting energies. Although the base knots are prime candidates for reconfinement shocks, the presence of a moving knot in this vicinity and the fact that there are two base knots are hard to explain in this model. We detect apparent motion in three knots; however, their velocities and locations provide no conclusive evidence for or against a faster moving 'spine' within the jet. The radio-only knots, both stationary and moving, may be due to compression of the fluid.« less

Surface folding-induced attraction and motion of particles in a soft elastic gel: cooperative effects of surface tension, elasticity, and gravity.

PubMed

Chakrabarti, Aditi; Chaudhury, Manoj K

2013-12-17

We report some experimental observations regarding a new type of long-range interaction between rigid particles that prevails when they are suspended in an ultrasoft elastic gel. A denser particle submerges itself to a considerable depth inside the gel and becomes elasto-buoyant by balancing its weight against the elastic force exerted by the surrounding medium. By virtue of a large elasto-capillary length, the surface of the gel wraps around the particle and closes to create a line singularity connecting the particle to the free surface of the gel. A substantial amount of tensile strain is thus developed in the gel network parallel to the free surface that penetrates to a significant depth inside the gel. The field of this tensile strain is rather long-range because of a large gravito-elastic correlation length and sufficiently strong to pull two submerged particles into contact. The particles move toward each other with an effective force following an inverse linear distance law. When more monomers or dimers of the particles are released inside the gel, they orient rather freely inside the capsules where they are located and attract each other to form closely packed clusters. Eventually, these clusters themselves interact and coalesce. This is an emergent phenomenon in which gravity, capillarity, and elasticity work in tandem to create a long-range interaction. We also present the results of a related experiment, in which a particle suspended inside a thickness-graded gel moves accompanied by the continuous folding and the relaxation of the gel's surface.

Statistics, distillation, and ordering emergence in a two-dimensional stochastic model of particles in counterflowing streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stock, Eduardo Velasco; da Silva, Roberto; Fernandes, H. A.

2017-07-01

In this paper, we propose a stochastic model which describes two species of particles moving in counterflow. The model generalizes the theoretical framework that describes the transport in random systems by taking into account two different scenarios: particles can work as mobile obstacles, whereas particles of one species move in the opposite direction to the particles of the other species, or particles of a given species work as fixed obstacles remaining in their places during the time evolution. We conduct a detailed study about the statistics concerning the crossing time of particles, as well as the effects of the lateral transitions on the time required to the system reaches a state of complete geographic separation of species. The spatial effects of jamming are also studied by looking into the deformation of the concentration of particles in the two-dimensional corridor. Finally, we observe in our study the formation of patterns of lanes which reach the steady state regardless of the initial conditions used for the evolution. A similar result is also observed in real experiments involving charged colloids motion and simulations of pedestrian dynamics based on Langevin equations, when periodic boundary conditions are considered (particles counterflow in a ring symmetry). The results obtained through Monte Carlo simulations and numerical integrations are in good agreement with each other. However, differently from previous studies, the dynamics considered in this work is not Newton-based, and therefore, even artificial situations of self-propelled objects should be studied in this first-principles modeling.

Microtubule self-organisation by reaction-diffusion processes causes collective transport and organisation of cellular particles

PubMed Central

Glade, Nicolas; Demongeot, Jacques; Tabony, James

2004-01-01

Background The transport of intra-cellular particles by microtubules is a major biological function. Under appropriate in vitro conditions, microtubule preparations behave as a 'complex' system and show 'emergent' phenomena. In particular, they form dissipative structures that self-organise over macroscopic distances by a combination of reaction and diffusion. Results Here, we show that self-organisation also gives rise to a collective transport of colloidal particles along a specific direction. Particles, such as polystyrene beads, chromosomes, nuclei, and vesicles are carried at speeds of several microns per minute. The process also results in the macroscopic self-organisation of these particles. After self-organisation is completed, they show the same pattern of organisation as the microtubules. Numerical simulations of a population of growing and shrinking microtubules, incorporating experimentally realistic reaction dynamics, predict self-organisation. They forecast that during self-organisation, macroscopic parallel arrays of oriented microtubules form which cross the reaction space in successive waves. Such travelling waves are capable of transporting colloidal particles. The fact that in the simulations, the aligned arrays move along the same direction and at the same speed as the particles move, suggest that this process forms the underlying mechanism for the observed transport properties. Conclusions This process constitutes a novel physical chemical mechanism by which chemical energy is converted into collective transport of colloidal particles along a given direction. Self-organisation of this type provides a new mechanism by which intra cellular particles such as chromosomes and vesicles can be displaced and simultaneously organised by microtubules. It is plausible that processes of this type occur in vivo. PMID:15176973

Optical coherence tomography angiography-based capillary velocimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ruikang K.; Zhang, Qinqin; Li, Yuandong; Song, Shaozhen

2017-06-01

Challenge persists in the field of optical coherence tomography (OCT) when it is required to quantify capillary blood flow within tissue beds in vivo. We propose a useful approach to statistically estimate the mean capillary flow velocity using a model-based statistical method of eigendecomposition (ED) analysis of the complex OCT signals obtained with the OCT angiography (OCTA) scanning protocol. ED-based analysis is achieved by the covariance matrix of the ensemble complex OCT signals, upon which the eigenvalues and eigenvectors that represent the subsets of the signal makeup are calculated. From this analysis, the signals due to moving particles can be isolated by employing an adaptive regression filter to remove the eigencomponents that represent static tissue signals. The mean frequency (MF) of moving particles can be estimated by the first lag-one autocorrelation of the corresponding eigenvectors. Three important parameters are introduced, including the blood flow signal power representing the presence of blood flow (i.e., OCTA signals), the MF indicating the mean velocity of blood flow, and the frequency bandwidth describing the temporal flow heterogeneity within a scanned tissue volume. The proposed approach is tested using scattering phantoms, in which microfluidic channels are used to simulate the functional capillary vessels that are perfused with the scattering intralipid solution. The results indicate a linear relationship between the MF and mean flow velocity. In vivo animal experiments are also conducted by imaging mouse brain with distal middle cerebral artery ligation to test the capability of the method to image the changes in capillary flows in response to an ischemic insult, demonstrating the practical usefulness of the proposed method for providing important quantifiable information about capillary tissue beds in the investigations of neurological conditions in vivo.

Simulating Blade-Strike on Fish passing through Marine Hydrokinetic Turbines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Romero Gomez, Pedro DJ; Richmond, Marshall C.

2014-06-16

The study reported here evaluated the occurrence, frequency, and intensity of blade strike of fish on an axial-flow marine hydrokinetic turbine by using two modeling approaches: a conventional kinematic formulation and a proposed Lagrangian particle- based scheme. The kinematic model included simplifying assumptions of fish trajectories such as distribution and velocity. The proposed method overcame the need for such simplifications by integrating the following components into a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model: (i) advanced eddy-resolving flow simulation, (ii) generation of ambient turbulence based on field data, (iii) moving turbine blades in highly transient flows, and (iv) Lagrangian particles to mimicmore » the potential fish pathways. The test conditions to evaluate the blade-strike probability and fish survival rate were: (i) the turbulent environment, (ii) the fish size, and (iii) the approaching flow velocity. The proposed method offered the ability to produce potential fish trajectories and their interaction with the rotating turbine. Depending upon the scenario, the percentile of particles that registered a collision event ranged from 6% to 19% of the released sample size. Next, by using a set of experimental correlations of the exposure-response of living fish colliding with moving blades, the simulated collision data were used as input variables to estimate the survival rate of fish passing through the operating turbine. The resulting survival rates were greater than 96% in all scenarios, which is comparable to or better than known survival rates for conventional hydropower turbines. The figures of strike probability and mortality rate were amplified by the kinematic model. The proposed method offered the advantage of expanding the evaluation of other mechanisms of stress and injury on fish derived from hydrokinetic turbines and related devices.« less

Giant Electromagnet Move at Brookhaven Lab, June 22, 2013

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2013-06-22

On Saturday, June 22, 2013, a 50-foot-wide, circular electromagnet began its 3,200-mile land and sea voyage from Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York to a new home at Fermilab in Illinois. There, scientists will use it to study the properties of muons, subatomic particles that live only 2.2 millionths of a second, and the results could open the door to new realms of particle physics. In the first part of the move, Emmert International and a team of Fermilab and Brookhaven Lab scientists and engineers transported the electromagnet across the Brookhaven Lab site to a staging area by its mainmore » gate.« less

Reactions and Transport: Diffusion, Inertia, and Subdiffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Méndez, Vicenç; Fedotov, Sergei; Horsthemke, Werner

Particles, such as molecules, atoms, or ions, and individuals, such as cells or animals, move in space driven by various forces or cues. In particular, particles or individuals can move randomly, undergo velocity jump processes or spatial jump processes [333]. The steps of the random walk can be independent or correlated, unbiased or biased. The probability density function (PDF) for the jump length can decay rapidly or exhibit a heavy tail. Similarly, the PDF for the waiting time between successive jumps can decay rapidly or exhibit a heavy tail. We will discuss these various possibilities in detail in Chap. 3. Below we provide an introduction to three transport processes: standard diffusion, transport with inertia, and anomalous diffusion.

Ultrafine particle and fiber production in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webb, George W. (Inventor)

1988-01-01

In a system and method for producing ultrafine particles and ultrafine fibers of a given source material by evaporating and condensing the material in a gas atmosphere that includes inert gas. A smaller, more narrow size distribution is accomplished by producing the particles and fibers in a microgravity environment in order to reduce particle coalescence caused by convection currents. Particle coalescence also is reduced in an Earth gravity environment by controlling the convection currents. Condensed particles are collected either by providing an electrostatic field or a spatially varying magnetic field or by causing the gas to move through a filter which collects the particles. Nonferromagnetic material fibers are produced and collected by electrodes which produce an electro- static field. Ferromagnetic particles are collected by spatially varying magnetic fields.

Motion of Colloidal Particles near Plateau Border in Freely Suspended Soap Film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pak, Hyuk Kyu; Sur, Jeanman

2000-03-01

We study the motion of colloidal particle near Plateau border in free-standing soap film which is placed perpendicularly to the gravitational direction. When the thickness of soap film is a micron order, two air/water interfacial surfaces of the film can be deformed by the presence of the colloidal particle. When the colloidal particles are in the central area of soap film, they move in random directions. But, as the particles approach near Plateau border, they are accelerated to the border of the film. The travelling distance, before the accelerated particle stops, depends on particle size. We propose a simple model to explain the motion of particle near Plateau border using a surface energy argument and compare the results with experimental measurements.

Dynamics and structure of an aging binary colloidal glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lynch, Jennifer M.; Cianci, Gianguido C.; Weeks, Eric R.

2008-09-01

We study aging in a colloidal suspension consisting of micron-sized particles in a liquid. This system is made glassy by increasing the particle concentration. We observe samples composed of particles of two sizes, with a size ratio of 1:2.1 and a volume fraction ratio 1:6, using fast laser scanning confocal microscopy. This technique yields real-time, three-dimensional movies deep inside the colloidal glass. Specifically, we look at how the size, motion, and structural organization of the particles relate to the overall aging of the glass. Particles move in spatially heterogeneous cooperative groups. These mobile regions tend to be richer in small particles, and these small particles facilitate the motion of nearby particles of both sizes.

On a quantum particle in laser channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dik, A. V.; Frolov, E. N.; Dabagov, S. B.

2018-02-01

In this paper the effective potential describing interaction of a scalar quantum particle with arbitrary nonuniform laser field is derived for a wide spectrum of the particle energies. The presented method allows to take into account all the features of the effective potential for a scalar particle. The derived expression for effective potential for quantum particle has the same form as the one presented earlier for a classical particle. A special case for channeling of a quantum particle as well as accompanying channeling radiation in a field formed by two crossed plane laser waves is considered. It is shown that relativistic particles moving near the laser channel bottom should be examined as quantum ones at both arbitrarily large longitudinal energies and laser fields of accessible intensities.

Optically controlled electrophoresis with a photoconductive substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inami, Wataru; Nagashima, Taiki; Kawata, Yoshimasa

2018-05-01

A photoconductive substrate is used to perform electrophoresis. Light-induced micro-particle flow manipulation is demonstrated without using a fabricated flow channel. The path along which the particles were moved was formed by an illuminated light pattern on the substrate. Because the substrate conductivity and electric field distribution can be modified by light illumination, the forces acting on the particles can be controlled. This technique has potential applications as a high functionality analytical device.

Saturated Particle Transport in Porous Media: An Investigation into the Influence of Flow Direction and Particle Size Distribution

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-28

also as a sorbed phase on moving particulate matter such as humic substances, clay particles, colloidal silica and metal oxides [Šimůnek et al., 2006a...dynamic viscosity , µ 9.98·10-6 kg/m/sec Cation valance, zce 2 Separation distance, h 1·10-6 m Molar concentration of cations, C0 1·10-5 moles Hamaker

Optical holography applications for the zero-g Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kurtz, R. L.

1974-01-01

A complete description of holography is provided, both for the time-dependent case of moving scene holography and for the time-independent case of stationary holography. Further, a specific holographic arrangement for application to the detection of particle size distribution in an atmospheric simulation cloud chamber. In this chamber particle growth rate is investigated; therefore, the proposed holographic system must capture continuous particle motion in real time. Such a system is described.

A simple derivation of Lorentz self-force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haque, Asrarul

2014-09-01

We derive the Lorentz self-force for a charged particle in arbitrary non-relativistic motion by averaging the retarded fields. The derivation is simple and at the same time pedagogically accessible. We obtain the radiation reaction for a charged particle moving in a circle. We pin down the underlying concept of mass renormalization.

Staged fluidized bed

DOEpatents

Mallon, R.G.

1983-05-13

The invention relates to oil shale retorting and more particularly to staged fluidized bed oil shale retorting. Method and apparatus are disclosed for narrowing the distribution of residence times of any size particle and equalizing the residence times of large and small particles in fluidized beds. Particles are moved up one fluidized column and down a second fluidized column with the relative heights selected to equalize residence times of large and small particles. Additional pairs of columns are staged to narrow the distribution of residence times and provide complete processing of the material.

Observations of transport of bacterial-like microspheres through beach sand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gast, Rebecca J.; Elgar, Steve; Raubenheimer, Britt

2015-04-01

Often, there is an order of magnitude more fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci) in beach sand than in nearby water. Consequently, sand is considered a reservoir for these bacteria, potentially contributing to poor water quality, and raising questions regarding the human health risks associated with sand exposure. An integral aspect of the distribution and persistence of sand-associated enterococci is the transport of bacteria introduced into the beach environment. Here, plastic microspheres are used as a proxy to examine the wave-induced movement of bacterial-like particles through sand on an ocean beach. Laboratory tests suggest microspheres and bacteria move similarly through sand columns, and have qualitatively similar short-term adsorption-to-sand behavior. Microspheres buried ~0.05 m below the sand surface on an ocean beach moved rapidly [O(10-3) m/s] away from their initial location, both vertically into the ground water below the sand and horizontally seaward within the sediment matrix in response to waves running up the beach face and percolating through the sand.

On Rosen's theory of gravity and cosmology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnes, R. C.

1980-01-01

Formal similarities between general relativity and Rosen's bimetric theory of gravity were used to analyze various bimetric cosmologies. The following results were found: (1) physically plausible model universes which have a flat static background metric, have a Robertson-Walker fundamental metric, and which allow co-moving coordinates do not exist in bimetric cosmology. (2) it is difficult to use the Robertson-Walker metric for both the background metric (gamma mu nu) and the fundamental metric tensor of Riemannian geometry( g mu nu) and require that g mu nu and gamma mu nu have different time dependences. (3) A consistency relation for using co-moving coordinates in bimetric cosmology was derived. (4) Certain spatially flat bimetric cosmologies of Babala were tested for the presence of particle horizons. (5) An analytic solution for Rosen's k = +1 model was found. (6) Rosen's singularity free k = +1 model arises from what appears to be an arbitary choice for the time dependent part of gamma mu nu.

High-Speed Transport of Fluid Drops and Solid Particles via Surface Acoustic Waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Bao, Xiaoqi; Sherrit, Stewart; Badescu, Mircea; Lih, Shyh-shiuh

2012-01-01

A compact sampling tool mechanism that can operate at various temperatures, and transport and sieve particle sizes of powdered cuttings and soil grains with no moving parts, has been created using traveling surface acoustic waves (SAWs) that are emitted by an inter-digital transducer (IDT). The generated waves are driven at about 10 MHz, and it causes powder to move towards the IDT at high speed with different speeds for different sizes of particles, which enables these particles to be sieved. This design is based on the use of SAWs and their propelling effect on powder particles and fluids along the path of the waves. Generally, SAWs are elastic waves propagating in a shallow layer of about one wavelength beneath the surface of a solid substrate. To generate SAWs, a piezoelectric plate is used that is made of LiNbO3 crystal cut along the x-axis with rotation of 127.8 along the y-axis. On this plate are printed pairs of fingerlike electrodes in the form of a grating that are activated by subjecting the gap between the electrodes to electric field. This configuration of a surface wave transmitter is called IDT. The IDT that was used consists of 20 pairs of fingers with 0.4-mm spacing, a total length of 12.5 mm. The surface wave is produced by the nature of piezoelectric material to contract or expand when subjected to an electric field. Driving the IDT to generate wave at high amplitudes provides an actuation mechanism where the surface particles move elliptically, pulling powder particles on the surface toward the wavesource and pushing liquids in the opposite direction. This behavior allows the innovation to separate large particles and fluids that are mixed. Fluids are removed at speed (7.5 to 15 cm/s), enabling this innovation of acting as a bladeless wiper for raindrops. For the windshield design, the electrodes could be made transparent so that they do not disturb the driver or pilot. Multiple IDTs can be synchronized to transport water or powder over larger distances. To demonstrate the transporting action, a video camera was used to record the movement. The speed of particles was measured from the video images.

Dynamic analysis of ultrasonically levitated droplet with moving particle semi-implicit and distributed point source method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wada, Yuji; Yuge, Kohei; Nakamura, Ryohei; Tanaka, Hiroki; Nakamura, Kentaro

2015-07-01

Numerical analysis of an ultrasonically levitated droplet with a free surface boundary is discussed. The droplet is known to change its shape from sphere to spheroid when it is suspended in a standing wave owing to the acoustic radiation force. However, few studies on numerical simulation have been reported in association with this phenomenon including fluid dynamics inside the droplet. In this paper, coupled analysis using the distributed point source method (DPSM) and the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method, both of which do not require grids or meshes to handle the moving boundary with ease, is suggested. A droplet levitated in a plane standing wave field between a piston-vibrating ultrasonic transducer and a reflector is simulated with the DPSM-MPS coupled method. The dynamic change in the spheroidal shape of the droplet is successfully reproduced numerically, and the gravitational center and the change in the spheroidal aspect ratio are discussed and compared with the previous literature.

Size-Selective Modes of Aeolian Transport on Earth and Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swann, C.; Ewing, R. C.; Sherman, D. J.; McLean, C. J.

2016-12-01

Aeolian sand transport is a dominant driver of surface change and dust emission on Mars. Estimates of aeolian sand transport on Earth and Mars rely on terrestrial transport models that do not differentiate between transport modes (e.g., creep vs. saltation), which limits estimates of the critical threshold for transport and the total sand flux during a transport event. A gap remains in understanding how the different modes contribute to the total sand flux. Experiments conducted at the MARtian Surface WInd Tunnel separated modes of transport for uniform and mixed grain size surfaces at Earth and Martian atmospheric pressures. Crushed walnut shells with a density of 1.0 gm/cm3 were used. Experiments resolved grain size distributions for creeping and saltating grains over 3 uniform surfaces, U1, U2, and U3, with median grain sizes of 308 µm, 721 µm, and 1294 µm, and a mixed grain size surface, M1, with median grain sizes of 519 µm. A mesh trap located 5 cm above the test bed and a surface creep trap were deployed to capture particles moving as saltation and creep. Grains that entered the creep trap at angles ≥ 75° were categorized as moving in creep mode only. Only U1 and M1 surfaces captured enough surface creep at both Earth and Mars pressure for statistically significant grain size analysis. Our experiments show that size selective transport differs between Earth and Mars conditions. The median grain size of particles moving in creep for both uniform and mixed surfaces are larger under Earth conditions. (U1Earth = 385 µm vs. U1Mars = 355 µm; M1Earth = 762 vs. M1Mars = 697 µm ). However, particles moving in saltation were larger under Mars conditions (U1Earth = 282 µm; U1Mars = 309 µm; M1Earth = 347 µm; M1Mars = 454 µm ). Similar to terrestrial experiments, the median size of surface creep is larger than the median grain size of saltation. Median sizes of U1, U2, U3 at Mars conditions for creep was 355 µm, 774 µm and 1574 µm. Saltation at Mars conditions over the same surfaces was 309 µm, 695 µm and 1398 µm. For the mixed surfaces under Earth and Mars conditions, the size selection process resulted the formation of incipient ripples that migrated over a finer substrate. Determining the modes of transport under Martian conditions refines our understanding of the development of deflationary surfaces and bed forms.

Structurally coloured secondary particles composed of black and white colloidal particles.

PubMed

Takeoka, Yukikazu; Yoshioka, Shinya; Teshima, Midori; Takano, Atsushi; Harun-Ur-Rashid, Mohammad; Seki, Takahiro

2013-01-01

This study investigated the colourful secondary particles formed by controlling the aggregation states of colloidal silica particles and the enhancement of the structural colouration of the secondary particles caused by adding black particles. We obtained glossy, partially structurally coloured secondary particles in the absence of NaCl, but matte, whitish secondary particles were obtained in the presence of NaCl. When a small amount of carbon black was incorporated into both types of secondary particles, the incoherent multiple scattering of light from the amorphous region was considerably reduced. However, the peak intensities in the reflection spectra, caused by Bragg reflection and by coherent single wavelength scattering, were only slightly decreased. Consequently, a brighter structural colour of these secondary particles was observed with the naked eye. Furthermore, when magnetite was added as a black particle, the coloured secondary particles could be moved and collected by applying an external magnetic field.

Structurally Coloured Secondary Particles Composed of Black and White Colloidal Particles

PubMed Central

Takeoka, Yukikazu; Yoshioka, Shinya; Teshima, Midori; Takano, Atsushi; Harun-Ur-Rashid, Mohammad; Seki, Takahiro

2013-01-01

This study investigated the colourful secondary particles formed by controlling the aggregation states of colloidal silica particles and the enhancement of the structural colouration of the secondary particles caused by adding black particles. We obtained glossy, partially structurally coloured secondary particles in the absence of NaCl, but matte, whitish secondary particles were obtained in the presence of NaCl. When a small amount of carbon black was incorporated into both types of secondary particles, the incoherent multiple scattering of light from the amorphous region was considerably reduced. However, the peak intensities in the reflection spectra, caused by Bragg reflection and by coherent single wavelength scattering, were only slightly decreased. Consequently, a brighter structural colour of these secondary particles was observed with the naked eye. Furthermore, when magnetite was added as a black particle, the coloured secondary particles could be moved and collected by applying an external magnetic field. PMID:23917891

Transport Powder and Liquid Samples by Surface Acoustic Waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bao, Xiaoqi; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Sherrit, Stewart; Badescu, Mircea; Louyeh, Sahar

2009-01-01

Sample transport is an important requirement for In-situ analysis of samples in NASA planetary exploration missions. Tests have shown that powders or liquid drops on a surface can be transported by surface acoustic waves (SAW) that are generated on the surface using interdigital transducers. The phenomena were investigated experimentally and to generate SAWs interdigital electrodes were deposited on wafers of 128 deg rotated Y-cut LiNbO?. Transporting capability of the SAW device was tested using particles of various sizes and drops of various viscosities liquids. Because of different interaction mechanisms with the SAWs, the powders and the liquid drops were observed to move in opposite directions. In the preliminary tests, a speed of 180 mm/s was achieved for powder transportation. The detailed experimental setup and results are presented in this paper. The transporting mechanism can potentially be applied to miniaturize sample analysis system or " lab-on-chip" devices.

Numerical simulation of droplet impact onto a solid sphere in mid-air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banitabaei, Sayed Abdolhossein; Amirfazli, Alidad

2017-11-01

Collision of a droplet and a particle in mid-air has applications in chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. As a result of a head-on collision between a droplet and a hydrophobic particle with a relative diameter of a thin liquid film is created in the form of a hallow truncated cone (i.e. lamella). In this work, a numerical simulation was developed based on VOF method for head-on collision of a falling droplet and a moving particle. Impact outcomes predicted by the model shows a fair agreement with the experimental images of lamellas (Vp = 6.8 and Vd = 0.68 m/s). Using the simulation model, the effect of liquid viscosity and surface tension on impact outcomes were studied. As viscosity increases, the lamella thickness increases accordingly. This happens as more energy transfer is required to move the liquid layers against each other to create a longer, and therefore thinner, lamella. However, a small decrease in viscosity halts the lamella formation as the boundary layer thickness in the spreading liquid gets so small that a crown cannot be developed. Moreover, investigation of the effect of particle wettability on the impact outcomes indicates that a lamella only forms due to impact of a droplet onto a hydrophobic particle. The lamella geometry is not affected by the particle wettability after contact angle reaches a certain threshold. These results show a good agreement with the literature of drop impact on a stationary particle.

A Physical Based Formula for Calculating the Critical Stress of Snow Movement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, S.; Ohara, N.

2016-12-01

In snow redistribution modeling, one of the most important parameters is the critical stress of snow movement, which is difficult to estimate from field data because it is influenced by various factors. In this study, a new formula for calculating critical stress of snow movement was derived based on the ice particle sintering process modeling and the moment balance of a snow particle. Through this formula, the influences of snow particle size, air temperature, and deposited time on the critical stress were explicitly taken into consideration. It was found that some of the model parameters were sensitive to the critical stress estimation through the sensitivity analysis using Sobol's method. The two sensitive parameters of the sintering process modeling were determined by a calibration-validation procedure using the observed snow flux data via FlowCapt. Based on the snow flux and metrological data observed at the ISAW stations (http://www.iav.ch), it was shown that the results of this formula were able to describe very well the evolution of the minimum friction wind speed required for the snow motion. This new formula suggested that when the snow just reaches the surface, the smaller snowflake can move easier than the larger particles. However, smaller snow particles require more force to move as the sintering between the snowflakes progresses. This implied that compact snow with small snow particles may be harder to erode by wind although smaller particles may have a higher chance to be suspended once they take off.

Volume-weighted particle-tracking method for solute-transport modeling; Implementation in MODFLOW–GWT

USGS Publications Warehouse

Winston, Richard B.; Konikow, Leonard F.; Hornberger, George Z.

2018-02-16

In the traditional method of characteristics for groundwater solute-transport models, advective transport is represented by moving particles that track concentration. This approach can lead to global mass-balance problems because in models of aquifers having complex boundary conditions and heterogeneous properties, particles can originate in cells having different pore volumes and (or) be introduced (or removed) at cells representing fluid sources (or sinks) of varying strengths. Use of volume-weighted particles means that each particle tracks solute mass. In source or sink cells, the changes in particle weights will match the volume of water added or removed through external fluxes. This enables the new method to conserve mass in source or sink cells as well as globally. This approach also leads to potential efficiencies by allowing the number of particles per cell to vary spatially—using more particles where concentration gradients are high and fewer where gradients are low. The approach also eliminates the need for the model user to have to distinguish between “weak” and “strong” fluid source (or sink) cells. The new model determines whether solute mass added by fluid sources in a cell should be represented by (1) new particles having weights representing appropriate fractions of the volume of water added by the source, or (2) distributing the solute mass added over all particles already in the source cell. The first option is more appropriate for the condition of a strong source; the latter option is more appropriate for a weak source. At sinks, decisions whether or not to remove a particle are replaced by a reduction in particle weight in proportion to the volume of water removed. A number of test cases demonstrate that the new method works well and conserves mass. The method is incorporated into a new version of the U.S. Geological Survey’s MODFLOW–GWT solute-transport model.

Fluid and particle transport of a hairy structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hongki; Lahooti, Mohsen; Kim, Daegyoum; Jung, Seyeong

2017-11-01

Hairy appendages of animals are used to capture particles, sense surrounding flow, and generate propulsive force. Due to the small size of the hairy structures, their hydrodynamics have been studied mostly in very low Reynolds number. In this work, in a broad range of Reynolds number, O(1) - O(100), flow structure and inertial particle dynamics around an array of two-dimensional cylinders are investigated numerically by using an immersed boundary method. Given flow fields, Maxey-Riley equation is adopted to examine particle dynamics. Here, we discuss the effects of Reynolds number, density ratio of inertial particles and fluid, and distance between cylinders on particle behaviors around a moving structure. In addition, drift volume of inertial particles is correlated with the model parameters.

Results from the XENON10 and the Race to Detect Dark Matter with Noble Liquids

ScienceCinema

Shutt, Tom [Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, United States

2017-12-09

Detectors based on liquid noble gases have the potential to revolutionize the direct search for WIMP dark matter. The XENON10 experiment, of which I am a member, has recently announced the results from it's first data run and is now the leading WIMP search experiment. This and other experiments using xenon, argon and neon have the potential to rapidly move from the current kg-scale target mass to the ton scale and well beyond. This should allow a (nearly) definitive test or discovery of dark matter if it is in the form of weakly interacting massive particles.

KSC-99pc47

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-01-11

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers raise the Stardust spacecraft from its workstand to move it to another area for lighting tests on the solar panels. Stardust is scheduled to be launched aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket from Launch Pad 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, on Feb. 6, 1999, for a rendezvous with the comet Wild 2 in January 2004. Stardust will use a substance called aerogel to capture comet particles flying off the nucleus of the comet, plus collect interstellar dust for later analysis. The collected samples will return to Earth in a sample return capsule to be jettisoned as it swings by Earth in January 2006

A Versatile Applet to Explore the Wave Behaviour of Particles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernandez Palop, J. I.

2009-01-01

A pedagogical tool that consists of a Java applet has been developed so that undergraduate students in physics can explore the wave behaviour of particles. The applet executes a simulation in which a two-dimensional wave packet moves towards a slit and an obstacle with variable widths. By changing three parameters, slit width, obstacle width and…

Numerical study of A+A-->0 and A+B-->0 reactions with inertia.

PubMed

Romero, A H; Lacasta, A M; Sancho, J M; Lindenberg, Katja

2007-11-07

Using numerical methods the authors study the annihilation reactions A+A-->0 and A+B-->0 in one and two dimensions in the presence of inertial contributions to the motion of the particles. The particles move freely following Langevin dynamics at a fixed temperature. The authors focus on the role of friction.

Fluvial sediments a summary of source, transportation, deposition, and measurement of sediment discharge

USGS Publications Warehouse

Colby, B.R.

1963-01-01

This paper presents a broad but undetailed picture of fluvial sediments in streams, reservoirs, and lakes and includes a discussion of the processes involved in the movement of sediment by flowing water. Sediment is fragmental material that originates from the chemical or physical disintegration of rocks. The disintegration products may have many different shapes and may range in size from large boulders to colloidal particles. In general, they retain about the same mineral composition as the parent rocks. Rock fragments become fluvial sediment when they are entrained in a stream of water. The entrainment may occur as sheet erosion from land surfaces, particularly for the fine particles, or as channel erosion after the surface runoff has accumulated in streams. Fluvial sediments move in streams as bedload (particles moving within a few particle diameters of the streambed) or as suspended sediment in the turbulent flow. The discharge of bedload varies with several factors, which may include particle size and a type of effective shear on the surface of the streambed. The discharge of suspended sediment depends partly on concentration of moving sediment near the streambed and hence on discharge of bedload. However, the concentration of fine sediment near the streambed varies widely, even for equal flows, and, therefore, the discharge of fine sediment normally cannot be computed theoretically. The discharge of suspended sediment also depends on velocity, turbulence, depth of flow, and fall velocity of the particles. In general, the coarse sediment transported by a stream moves intermittently and is discharged at a rate that depends on properties of the flow and of the sediment. If an ample supply of coarse sediment is available at the surface of the streambed, the discharge of the coarse sediment, such as sand, can be roughly computed from properties of the available sediment and of the flow. On the other hand, much of the fine sediment in a stream usually moves nearly continuously at about the velocity of the flow, and even low flows can transport large amounts of fine sediment. Hence, the discharge of fine sediments, being largely dependent on the availability of fine sediment upstream rather than on the properties of the sediment and of the flow at a cross section, can seldom be computed from properties, other than concentrations based directly on samples, that can be observed at the cross section. Sediment particles continually change their positions in the flow; some fall to the streambed, and others are removed from the bed. Sediment deposits form locally or over large areas if the volume rate at which particles settle to the bed exceeds the volume rate at which particles are removed from the bed. In general, large particles are deposited more readily than small particles, whether the point of deposition is behind a rock, on a flood plain, within a stream channel, or at the entrance to a reservoir, a lake, or the ocean. Most samplers used for sediment observations collect a water-sediment mixture from the water surface to within a few tenths of a foot of the streambed. They thus sample most of the suspended sediment, especially if the flow is deep or if the sediment is mostly fine; but they exclude the bedload and some of the suspended sediment in a layer near the streambed where the suspended-sediment concentrations are highest. Measured sediment discharges are usually based on concentrations that are averages of several individual sediment samples for a cross section. If enough average concentrations for a cross section have been determined, the measured sediment discharge can be computed by interpolating sediment concentrations between sampling times. If only occasional samples were collected, an average relation between sediment discharge and flow can be used with a flow-duration curve to compute roughly the average or the total sediment discharges for any periods of time for which the flow-duration c

Rotating reactor studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, Glyn O.

1991-01-01

Undesired gravitational effects such as convection or sedimentation in a fluid can sometimes be avoided or decreased by the use of a closed chamber uniformly rotated about a horizontal axis. In a previous study, the spiral orbits of a heavy or buoyant particle in a uniformly rotating fluid were determined. The particles move in circles, and spiral in or out under the combined effects of the centrifugal force and centrifugal buoyancy. A optimization problem for the rotation rate of a cylindrical reactor rotated about its axis and containing distributed particles was formulated and solved. Related studies in several areas are addressed. A computer program based on the analysis was upgraded by correcting some minor errors, adding a sophisticated screen-and-printer graphics capability and other output options, and by improving the automation. The design, performance, and analysis of a series of experiments with monodisperse polystyrene latex microspheres in water were supported to test the theory and its limitations. The theory was amply confirmed at high rotation rates. However, at low rotation rates (1 rpm or less) the assumption of uniform solid-body rotation of the fluid became invalid, and there were increasingly strong secondary motions driven by variations in the mean fluid density due to variations in the particle concentration. In these tests the increase in the mean fluid density due to the particles was of order 0.015 percent. To a first approximation, these flows are driven by the buoyancy in a thin crescent-shaped depleted layer on the descending side of the rotating reactor. This buoyancy distribution is balanced by viscosity near the walls, and by the Coriolis force in the interior. A full analysis is beyond the scope of this study. Secondary flows are likely to be stronger for buoyant particles, which spiral in towards the neutral point near the rotation axis under the influence of their centrifugal buoyancy. This is because the depleted layer is thicker and extends all the way around the reactor.

Brownian self-propelled particles on a sphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apaza-Pilco, Leonardo Felix; Sandoval, Mario

We present the dynamics of a Brownian self-propelled particle at low Reynolds number moving on the surface of a sphere. The effects of curvature and self-propulsion on the diffusion of the particle are elucidated by determining (numerically) the mean-square displacement of the particle's angular (azimuthal and polar) coordinates. The results show that the long time behavior of its angular mean-square displacement is linear in time. We also see that the slope of the angular MSD is proportional to the propulsion velocity and inverse to the curvature of the sphere. The angular probability distribution function (PDF) of the particle is also obtained by numerically solving its respective Smoluchowski equation.

Personal exposure to airborne ultrafine particles in the urban area of Milan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cattaneo, A.; Garramone, G.; Taronna, M.; Peruzzo, C.; Cavallo, D. M.

2009-02-01

The relevance of health effects related to ultrafine particles (UFPs; aerodynamic diameter < 100 nm) can be better evaluated using high-resolution strategies for measuring particle number concentrations. In this study, two different portable Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) were used to measure personal exposure to UFPs in the central area of Milan for one week period during spring, with three sampling sessions per day. Experimental data were continuously collected along an established urban pathway, moving afoot or by different private and public means of transport. Correlation analysis between data measured by two CPCs was performed and general results showed a good agreement, especially at concentrations lower than 2×105 particles /cm3. UFPs measures were divided on the basis of crossed environments or micro-environments, days of the week and day time (hours). The highest measured mean concentrations and data variability were observed during walking time and moving on motorized vehicles (bus and car), indicating that the highest exposure to UFPs can be reached near motorized traffic. The lowest exposures were observed in green areas and in office microenvironments. An appreciable difference between working and non-working days was observed. Concentration patterns and variation by days of the week and time periods appears related to time trends in traffic intensity.

Are They Telltale Ripples?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

This false-color image from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's panoramic camera shows peak-like formations on the martian terrain at Gusev Crater. Scientists have been analyzing these formations, which have coarse particles accumulating on their tops, or crests. This characteristic classifies them as ripples instead of dunes, which have a more uniform distribution of particle sizes. Scientists are looking further into such formations, which can give insight to the wind direction and velocity on Mars, as well as the material that is being moved by the wind. This image was taken on the 40th martian day, or sol, of Spirit's mission.

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Click on image for larger view [Image credit: NASA/JPL/ASU]

This diagram illustrates how windblown sediments travel. There are three basic types of particles that undergo different motions depending on their size. These particles are dust, sand and coarse sand, and their sizes approximate flour, sugar, and ball bearings, respectively. Sand particles move along the 'saltation' path, hitting the surface downwind. When the sand hits the surface, it sends dust into the atmosphere and gives coarse sand a little shove. Mars Exploration Rover scientists are studying the distribution of material on the surface of Mars to better understand how winds shaped the landscape.

Quantum phases for a charged particle and electric/magnetic dipole in an electromagnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kholmetskii, Alexander; Yarman, Tolga

2017-11-01

We point out that the known quantum phases for an electric/magnetic dipole moving in an electromagnetic field must be composed from more fundamental quantum phases emerging for moving elementary charges. Using this idea, we have found two new fundamental quantum phases, next to the known magnetic and electric Aharonov-Bohm phases, and discuss their general properties and physical meaning.

Modeling sediment transport as a spatio-temporal Markov process.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyman, Joris; Ancey, Christophe

2014-05-01

Despite a century of research about sediment transport by bedload occuring in rivers, its constitutive laws remain largely unknown. The proof being that our ability to predict mid-to-long term transported volumes within reasonable confidence interval is almost null. The intrinsic fluctuating nature of bedload transport may be one of the most important reasons why classical approaches fail. Microscopic probabilistic framework has the advantage of taking into account these fluctuations at the particle scale, to understand their effect on the macroscopic variables such as sediment flux. In this framework, bedload transport is seen as the random motion of particles (sand, gravel, pebbles...) over a two-dimensional surface (the river bed). The number of particles in motion, as well as their velocities, are random variables. In this talk, we show how a simple birth-death Markov model governing particle motion on a regular lattice accurately reproduces the spatio-temporal correlations observed at the macroscopic level. Entrainment, deposition and transport of particles by the turbulent fluid (air or water) are supposed to be independent and memoryless processes that modify the number of particles in motion. By means of the Poisson representation, we obtained a Fokker-Planck equation that is exactly equivalent to the master equation and thus valid for all cell sizes. The analysis shows that the number of moving particles evolves locally far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Several analytical results are presented and compared to experimental data. The index of dispersion (or variance over mean ratio) is proved to grow from unity at small scales to larger values at larger scales confirming the non Poisonnian behavior of bedload transport. Also, we study the one and two dimensional K-function, which gives the average number of moving particles located in a ball centered at a particle centroid function of the ball's radius.

Analysis of solid particles falling down and interacting in a channel with sedimentation using fictitious boundary method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Usman, K.; Walayat, K.; Mahmood, R.; Kousar, N.

2018-06-01

We have examined the behavior of solid particles in particulate flows. The interaction of particles with each other and with the fluid is analyzed. Solid particles can move freely through a fixed computational mesh using an Eulerian approach. Fictitious boundary method (FBM) is used for treating the interaction between particles and the fluid. Hydrodynamic forces acting on the particle's surface are calculated using an explicit volume integral approach. A collision model proposed by Glowinski, Singh, Joseph and coauthors is used to handle particle-wall and particle-particle interactions. The particulate flow is computed using multigrid finite element solver FEATFLOW. Numerical experiments are performed considering two particles falling and colliding and sedimentation of many particles while interacting with each other. Results for these experiments are presented and compared with the reference values. Effects of the particle-particle interaction on the motion of the particles and on the physical behavior of the fluid-particle system has been analyzed.

An LES-PBE-PDF approach for modeling particle formation in turbulent reacting flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sewerin, Fabian; Rigopoulos, Stelios

2017-10-01

Many chemical and environmental processes involve the formation of a polydispersed particulate phase in a turbulent carrier flow. Frequently, the immersed particles are characterized by an intrinsic property such as the particle size, and the distribution of this property across a sample population is taken as an indicator for the quality of the particulate product or its environmental impact. In the present article, we propose a comprehensive model and an efficient numerical solution scheme for predicting the evolution of the property distribution associated with a polydispersed particulate phase forming in a turbulent reacting flow. Here, the particulate phase is described in terms of the particle number density whose evolution in both physical and particle property space is governed by the population balance equation (PBE). Based on the concept of large eddy simulation (LES), we augment the existing LES-transported probability density function (PDF) approach for fluid phase scalars by the particle number density and obtain a modeled evolution equation for the filtered PDF associated with the instantaneous fluid composition and particle property distribution. This LES-PBE-PDF approach allows us to predict the LES-filtered fluid composition and particle property distribution at each spatial location and point in time without any restriction on the chemical or particle formation kinetics. In view of a numerical solution, we apply the method of Eulerian stochastic fields, invoking an explicit adaptive grid technique in order to discretize the stochastic field equation for the number density in particle property space. In this way, sharp moving features of the particle property distribution can be accurately resolved at a significantly reduced computational cost. As a test case, we consider the condensation of an aerosol in a developed turbulent mixing layer. Our investigation not only demonstrates the predictive capabilities of the LES-PBE-PDF model but also indicates the computational efficiency of the numerical solution scheme.

Multi-scale sensitivity analysis of pile installation using DEM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esposito, Ricardo Gurevitz; Velloso, Raquel Quadros; , Eurípedes do Amaral Vargas, Jr.; Danziger, Bernadete Ragoni

2017-12-01

The disturbances experienced by the soil due to the pile installation and dynamic soil-structure interaction still present major challenges to foundation engineers. These phenomena exhibit complex behaviors, difficult to measure in physical tests and to reproduce in numerical models. Due to the simplified approach used by the discrete element method (DEM) to simulate large deformations and nonlinear stress-dilatancy behavior of granular soils, the DEM consists of an excellent tool to investigate these processes. This study presents a sensitivity analysis of the effects of introducing a single pile using the PFC2D software developed by Itasca Co. The different scales investigated in these simulations include point and shaft resistance, alterations in porosity and stress fields and particles displacement. Several simulations were conducted in order to investigate the effects of different numerical approaches showing indications that the method of installation and particle rotation could influence greatly in the conditions around the numerical pile. Minor effects were also noted due to change in penetration velocity and pile-soil friction. The difference in behavior of a moving and a stationary pile shows good qualitative agreement with previous experimental results indicating the necessity of realizing a force equilibrium process prior to any load-test to be simulated.

Fuzzy neural network technique for system state forecasting.

PubMed

Li, Dezhi; Wang, Wilson; Ismail, Fathy

2013-10-01

In many system state forecasting applications, the prediction is performed based on multiple datasets, each corresponding to a distinct system condition. The traditional methods dealing with multiple datasets (e.g., vector autoregressive moving average models and neural networks) have some shortcomings, such as limited modeling capability and opaque reasoning operations. To tackle these problems, a novel fuzzy neural network (FNN) is proposed in this paper to effectively extract information from multiple datasets, so as to improve forecasting accuracy. The proposed predictor consists of both autoregressive (AR) nodes modeling and nonlinear nodes modeling; AR models/nodes are used to capture the linear correlation of the datasets, and the nonlinear correlation of the datasets are modeled with nonlinear neuron nodes. A novel particle swarm technique [i.e., Laplace particle swarm (LPS) method] is proposed to facilitate parameters estimation of the predictor and improve modeling accuracy. The effectiveness of the developed FNN predictor and the associated LPS method is verified by a series of tests related to Mackey-Glass data forecast, exchange rate data prediction, and gear system prognosis. Test results show that the developed FNN predictor and the LPS method can capture the dynamics of multiple datasets effectively and track system characteristics accurately.

Post-Newtonian direct and mixed orbital effects due to the oblateness of the central body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iorio, L.

2015-06-01

The orbital dynamics of a test particle moving in the nonspherically symmetric field of a rotating oblate primary is impacted also by certain indirect, mixed effects arising from the interplay of the different Newtonian and post-Newtonian accelerations which induce known direct perturbations. We systematically calculate the indirect gravitoelectromagnetic shifts per orbit of the Keplerian orbital elements of the test particle arising from the crossing among the first even zonal harmonic J2 of the central body and the post-Newtonian static and stationary components of its gravitational field. We also work out the Newtonian shifts per orbit of order J22, and the direct post-Newtonian gravitoelectric effects of order J2c-2 arising from the equations of motion. In the case of both the indirect and direct gravitoelectric J2c-2 shifts, our calculation holds for an arbitrary orientation of the symmetry axis of the central body. We yield numerical estimates of their relative magnitudes for systems ranging from Earth's artificial satellites to stars orbiting supermassive black holes. As far as their measurability is concerned, highly elliptical orbital configuration are desirable.

Multi-scale sensitivity analysis of pile installation using DEM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esposito, Ricardo Gurevitz; Velloso, Raquel Quadros; , Eurípedes do Amaral Vargas, Jr.; Danziger, Bernadete Ragoni

2018-07-01

The disturbances experienced by the soil due to the pile installation and dynamic soil-structure interaction still present major challenges to foundation engineers. These phenomena exhibit complex behaviors, difficult to measure in physical tests and to reproduce in numerical models. Due to the simplified approach used by the discrete element method (DEM) to simulate large deformations and nonlinear stress-dilatancy behavior of granular soils, the DEM consists of an excellent tool to investigate these processes. This study presents a sensitivity analysis of the effects of introducing a single pile using the PFC2D software developed by Itasca Co. The different scales investigated in these simulations include point and shaft resistance, alterations in porosity and stress fields and particles displacement. Several simulations were conducted in order to investigate the effects of different numerical approaches showing indications that the method of installation and particle rotation could influence greatly in the conditions around the numerical pile. Minor effects were also noted due to change in penetration velocity and pile-soil friction. The difference in behavior of a moving and a stationary pile shows good qualitative agreement with previous experimental results indicating the necessity of realizing a force equilibrium process prior to any load-test to be simulated.

Investigating the Impacts of Particle Size and Wind Speed on Brownout

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

mixture of sand, silt, clay , and organic material, classified based on its size and texture. Sand is the largest of the particle materials, with...smallest soil component is clay , with particle sizes less than 0.002 mm. Ultra-fine in texture, clay feels sticky when wet, is extremely cohesive, and does...not allow air to move through it easily. Clay makes a soil dense and is hard as concrete when dry. Loam is a nearly even mixture of sand and silt

Upper limit on magnetic monopole flux from Baksan experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexeyev, E. N.; Boliev, M. M.; Chudakov, A. E.; Mikheyev, S. P.

1985-01-01

No indication of slowly moving penetrating particles in cosmic radiation underground was found during two years observation. Particle velocity and pulse shape are main criteria for search. Probability of the imitation of slow particles (Beta 0.1) by atmospheric muons is negligible. Our upper limit on superheavy magnetic monopole flux is now 1.86 x 10 to the minus 15th power cm(-2) sr(-1) s(-1) (90% c.l.) for velocity range 2 x 0.0001 beta 0.1.

An Exactly Soluble Model for Hopping Particles Moving with Correlations Between States due to Exchange Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xian-Geng; Jia, Sue-Tang

1992-09-01

The motion of hopping particles on an infinite chain is investigated. The model is characterized by the correlations between states due to exchange sites. The analytic solutions for this system are discussed in general case. For some special cases, exact results are obtained with the help of explicit calculations of propagators and mean square displacement deviation. Both probability propagators for the creation and annihilation of two particles or for the deformation and formation of Frenkel excitons are indicated.

Dynamical stability of slip-stacking particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eldred, Jeffrey; Zwaska, Robert

2014-09-01

We study the stability of particles in slip-stacking configuration, used to nearly double proton beam intensity at Fermilab. We introduce universal area factors to calculate the available phase space area for any set of beam parameters without individual simulation. We find perturbative solutions for stable particle trajectories. We establish Booster beam quality requirements to achieve 97% slip-stacking efficiency. We show that slip-stacking dynamics directly correspond to the driven pendulum and to the system of two standing-wave traps moving with respect to each other.

Numerical Validation of a Near-Field Fugitive Dust Model for Vehicles Moving on Unpaved Surfaces

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-25

turbulent dissipation rate 1 Introduction Particles suspended in air by vehicular movement on paved and unpaved roads are a major contributor to fugitive...own “ Brownian Motion” type of trajectory, but a group of particles in the same region of space do not follow the same “eddy” and the overall effects...fugitive dust caused by vehicle movement , especially when traveling on unpaved surfaces. Given the needs for particle emission models, there are very

Transition from normal to ballistic diffusion in a one-dimensional impact system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livorati, André L. P.; Kroetz, Tiago; Dettmann, Carl P.; Caldas, Iberê L.; Leonel, Edson D.

2018-03-01

We characterize a transition from normal to ballistic diffusion in a bouncing ball dynamics. The system is composed of a particle, or an ensemble of noninteracting particles, experiencing elastic collisions with a heavy and periodically moving wall under the influence of a constant gravitational field. The dynamics lead to a mixed phase space where chaotic orbits have a free path to move along the velocity axis, presenting a normal diffusion behavior. Depending on the control parameter, one can observe the presence of featured resonances, known as accelerator modes, that lead to a ballistic growth of velocity. Through statistical and numerical analysis of the velocity of the particle, we are able to characterize a transition between the two regimes, where transport properties were used to characterize the scenario of the ballistic regime. Also, in an analysis of the probability of an orbit to reach an accelerator mode as a function of the velocity, we observe a competition between the normal and ballistic transport in the midrange velocity.

Transition from normal to ballistic diffusion in a one-dimensional impact system.

PubMed

Livorati, André L P; Kroetz, Tiago; Dettmann, Carl P; Caldas, Iberê L; Leonel, Edson D

2018-03-01

We characterize a transition from normal to ballistic diffusion in a bouncing ball dynamics. The system is composed of a particle, or an ensemble of noninteracting particles, experiencing elastic collisions with a heavy and periodically moving wall under the influence of a constant gravitational field. The dynamics lead to a mixed phase space where chaotic orbits have a free path to move along the velocity axis, presenting a normal diffusion behavior. Depending on the control parameter, one can observe the presence of featured resonances, known as accelerator modes, that lead to a ballistic growth of velocity. Through statistical and numerical analysis of the velocity of the particle, we are able to characterize a transition between the two regimes, where transport properties were used to characterize the scenario of the ballistic regime. Also, in an analysis of the probability of an orbit to reach an accelerator mode as a function of the velocity, we observe a competition between the normal and ballistic transport in the midrange velocity.

From conformal blocks to path integrals in the Vaidya geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anous, Tarek; Hartman, Thomas; Rovai, Antonin; Sonner, Julian

2017-09-01

Correlators in conformal field theory are naturally organized as a sum over conformal blocks. In holographic theories, this sum must reorganize into a path integral over bulk fields and geometries. We explore how these two sums are related in the case of a point particle moving in the background of a 3d collapsing black hole. The conformal block expansion is recast as a sum over paths of the first-quantized particle moving in the bulk geometry. Off-shell worldlines of the particle correspond to subdominant contributions in the Euclidean conformal block expansion, but these same operators must be included in order to correctly reproduce complex saddles in the Lorentzian theory. During thermalization, a complex saddle dominates under certain circumstances; in this case, the CFT correlator is not given by the Virasoro identity block in any channel, but can be recovered by summing heavy operators. This effectively converts the conformal block expansion in CFT from a sum over intermediate states to a sum over channels that mimics the bulk path integral.

Featured Image: Mixing Chemicals in Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2017-10-01

How do stars mix chemicals in their interiors, leading to the abundances we measure at their surfaces? Two scientists from the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona, Tamara Rogers (Newcastle University, UK) and Jim McElwaine (Durham University, UK), have investigated the role that internal gravity waves have in chemical mixing in stellar interiors. Internal gravity waves not to be confused with the currently topical gravitational waves are waves that oscillate within a fluid that has a density gradient. Rogers and McElwaine used simulations to explore how these waves can cause particles in a stars interior to move around, gradually mixing the different chemical elements. Snapshots from four different times in their simulation can be seen below, with the white dots marking tracer particles and the colors indicating vorticity. You can see how the particles move in response to wave motion after the first panel. For more information, check out the paper below!CitationT. M. Rogers and J. N. McElwaine 2017 ApJL 848 L1. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa8d13

"CORKSCREW"-A DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE MAGNETIC MOMENT OF CHARGED PARTICLES IN A MAGNETIC FIELD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wingerson, R.C.

1961-05-01

A helical, current-carrying magnetic field source (the "corkscrew") is described; it perturbs an axial uniform magnetic field B/sub 0/ such that the transverse energy components (ET) of selected particles moving along the sxis are increased or decreased monotonically. It is noted that, since the corkscrew has no over-all effect on B/sub 0/, the change in ET must result from a change in the particle's magnetic moment. The use of pairs of these devices in magnetic mirror machines to trap particles is suggested. (T.F.H.)

Spatio-temporal patterns of sediment particle movement on 2D and 3D bedforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsubaki, Ryota; Baranya, Sándor; Muste, Marian; Toda, Yuji

2018-06-01

An experimental study was conducted to explore sediment particle motion in an open channel and its relationship to bedform characteristics. High-definition submersed video cameras were utilized to record images of particle motion over a dune's length scale. Image processing was conducted to account for illumination heterogeneity due to bedform geometric irregularity and light reflection at the water's surface. Identification of moving particles using a customized algorithm was subsequently conducted and then the instantaneous velocity distribution of sediment particles was evaluated using particle image velocimetry. Obtained experimental results indicate that the motion of sediment particles atop dunes differs depending on dune geometry (i.e., two-dimensional or three-dimensional, respectively). Sediment motion and its relationship to dune shape and dynamics are also discussed.

Moving bed reactor for solar thermochemical fuel production

DOEpatents

Ermanoski, Ivan

2013-04-16

Reactors and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. Embodiments of reactors include at least two distinct reactor chambers between which there is at least a pressure differential. In embodiments, reactive particles are exchanged between chambers during a reaction cycle to thermally reduce the particles at first conditions and oxidize the particles at second conditions to produce chemical work from heat. In embodiments, chambers of a reactor are coupled to a heat exchanger to pre-heat the reactive particles prior to direct exposure to thermal energy with heat transferred from reduced reactive particles as the particles are oppositely conveyed between the thermal reduction chamber and the fuel production chamber. In an embodiment, particle conveyance is in part provided by an elevator which may further function as a heat exchanger.

Squiggle Ball Capture: A Simple, Visual Kinetic Theory Experiment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gfroerer, Tim; Rathbun, Ken

2007-01-01

When particles move about randomly in the presence of traps, how long does it take for them to be captured? Well, it depends on the average speed of the particles and the dimensions and distribution of the traps. For example, when neutrons are generated in nuclear fission reactions, they must be captured by other fissionable nuclei in order to…

Compact 3D Camera for Shake-the-Box Particle Tracking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hesseling, Christina; Michaelis, Dirk; Schneiders, Jan

2017-11-01

Time-resolved 3D-particle tracking usually requires the time-consuming optical setup and calibration of 3 to 4 cameras. Here, a compact four-camera housing has been developed. The performance of the system using Shake-the-Box processing (Schanz et al. 2016) is characterized. It is shown that the stereo-base is large enough for sensible 3D velocity measurements. Results from successful experiments in water flows using LED illumination are presented. For large-scale wind tunnel measurements, an even more compact version of the system is mounted on a robotic arm. Once calibrated for a specific measurement volume, the necessity for recalibration is eliminated even when the system moves around. Co-axial illumination is provided through an optical fiber in the middle of the housing, illuminating the full measurement volume from one viewing direction. Helium-filled soap bubbles are used to ensure sufficient particle image intensity. This way, the measurement probe can be moved around complex 3D-objects. By automatic scanning and stitching of recorded particle tracks, the detailed time-averaged flow field of a full volume of cubic meters in size is recorded and processed. Results from an experiment at TU-Delft of the flow field around a cyclist are shown.

Negative mobility of a Brownian particle: Strong damping regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Słapik, A.; Łuczka, J.; Spiechowicz, J.

2018-02-01

We study impact of inertia on directed transport of a Brownian particle under non-equilibrium conditions: the particle moves in a one-dimensional periodic and symmetric potential, is driven by both an unbiased time-periodic force and a constant force, and is coupled to a thermostat of temperature T. Within selected parameter regimes this system exhibits negative mobility, which means that the particle moves in the direction opposite to the direction of the constant force. It is known that in such a setup the inertial term is essential for the emergence of negative mobility and it cannot be detected in the limiting case of overdamped dynamics. We analyse inertial effects and show that negative mobility can be observed even in the strong damping regime. We determine the optimal dimensionless mass for the presence of negative mobility and reveal three mechanisms standing behind this anomaly: deterministic chaotic, thermal noise induced and deterministic non-chaotic. The last origin has never been reported. It may provide guidance to the possibility of observation of negative mobility for strongly damped dynamics which is of fundamental importance from the point of view of biological systems, all of which in situ operate in fluctuating environments.

Non-iterative volumetric particle reconstruction near moving bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendelson, Leah; Techet, Alexandra

2017-11-01

When multi-camera 3D PIV experiments are performed around a moving body, the body often obscures visibility of regions of interest in the flow field in a subset of cameras. We evaluate the performance of non-iterative particle reconstruction algorithms used for synthetic aperture PIV (SAPIV) in these partially-occluded regions. We show that when partial occlusions are present, the quality and availability of 3D tracer particle information depends on the number of cameras and reconstruction procedure used. Based on these findings, we introduce an improved non-iterative reconstruction routine for SAPIV around bodies. The reconstruction procedure combines binary masks, already required for reconstruction of the body's 3D visual hull, and a minimum line-of-sight algorithm. This approach accounts for partial occlusions without performing separate processing for each possible subset of cameras. We combine this reconstruction procedure with three-dimensional imaging on both sides of the free surface to reveal multi-fin wake interactions generated by a jumping archer fish. Sufficient particle reconstruction in near-body regions is crucial to resolving the wake structures of upstream fins (i.e., dorsal and anal fins) before and during interactions with the caudal tail.

Cytoskeleton-dependent transport of cytoplasmic particles in previtellogenic to mid-vitellogenic ovarian follicles of Drosophila: time-lapse analysis using video-enhanced contrast microscopy.

PubMed

Bohrmann, J; Biber, K

1994-04-01

In Drosophila oogenesis, several morphogenetic determinants and other developmental factors synthesized in the nurse cells have been shown to accumulate in the oocyte during pre- to mid-vitellogenic stages. However, the mechanisms of the involved intercellular transport processes that seem to be rather selective have not been revealed so far. We have investigated in vitro, by means of video-enhanced contrast time-lapse microscopy, the transport of cytoplasmic particles from the nurse cells through ring canals into the oocyte during oogenesis stages 6-10A. At stage 7, we first observed single particles moving into the previtellogenic oocyte. The particle transfer was strictly unidirectional and seemed to be selective, since only some individual particles moved whereas other particles lying in the vicinity of the ring canals were not transported. The observed transport processes were inhibitable with 2,4-dinitrophenol, cytochalasin B or N-ethylmaleimide, but not with microtubule inhibitors. At the beginning of vitellogenesis (stage 8), the selective translocation of particles through the ring canals became faster (up to 130 nm/second) and more frequent (about 1 particle/minute), whereas during mid-vitellogenesis (stages 9-10A) the velocity and the frequency of particle transport decreased again. Following their more or less rectilinear passage through the ring canals, the particles joined a circular stream of cytoplasmic particles in the oocyte. This ooplasmic particle streaming started at stage 6/7 with velocities of about 80 nm/second and some reversals of direction at the beginning. The particle stream in the oocyte was sensitive to colchicine and vinblastine, but not to cytochalasin B, and we presume that it reflects the rearrangement of ooplasmic microtubules described recently by other authors. We propose that during stages 7-10A, a selective transport of particles into the oocyte occurs through the ring canal along a polarized scaffold of cytoskeletal elements in which microfilaments are involved. This transport might be driven by a myosin-like motor molecule. Either attached to, or organized into, such larger particles or organelles, specific mRNAs and proteins might become selectively transported into the oocyte.

Interest rate next-day variation prediction based on hybrid feedforward neural network, particle swarm optimization, and multiresolution techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lahmiri, Salim

2016-02-01

Multiresolution analysis techniques including continuous wavelet transform, empirical mode decomposition, and variational mode decomposition are tested in the context of interest rate next-day variation prediction. In particular, multiresolution analysis techniques are used to decompose interest rate actual variation and feedforward neural network for training and prediction. Particle swarm optimization technique is adopted to optimize its initial weights. For comparison purpose, autoregressive moving average model, random walk process and the naive model are used as main reference models. In order to show the feasibility of the presented hybrid models that combine multiresolution analysis techniques and feedforward neural network optimized by particle swarm optimization, we used a set of six illustrative interest rates; including Moody's seasoned Aaa corporate bond yield, Moody's seasoned Baa corporate bond yield, 3-Month, 6-Month and 1-Year treasury bills, and effective federal fund rate. The forecasting results show that all multiresolution-based prediction systems outperform the conventional reference models on the criteria of mean absolute error, mean absolute deviation, and root mean-squared error. Therefore, it is advantageous to adopt hybrid multiresolution techniques and soft computing models to forecast interest rate daily variations as they provide good forecasting performance.

Dosimetry of heavy ions by use of CCD detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schott, J. U.

1994-01-01

The design and the atomic composition of Charge Coupled Devices (CCD's) make them unique for investigations of single energetic particle events. As detector system for ionizing particles they detect single particles with local resolution and near real time particle tracking. In combination with its properties as optical sensor, particle transversals of single particles are to be correlated to any objects attached to the light sensitive surface of the sensor by simple imaging of their shadow and subsequent image analysis of both, optical image and particle effects, observed in affected pixels. With biological objects it is possible for the first time to investigate effects of single heavy ions in tissue or extinguished organs of metabolizing (i.e. moving) systems with a local resolution better than 15 microns. Calibration data for particle detection in CCD's are presented for low energetic protons and heavy ions.

Small swimmers and sinkers structure the microenvironment by deforming ambient chemical gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inman, B.; Franks, P. J. S.; Torres, C.

2016-02-01

Chemical gradients in the microscale environment determine the rates of fundamental planktonic processes such as signaling and sensing, grazing, predation, mating, infection, nutrient uptake, and primary production. We show that bodies swimming or sinking at low Reynolds number can deform and intensify ambient scalar gradients on the order of 10-1000 times. Over time, this restructuring of the microenvironment in the wake of a moving particle results in elevated diffusive fluxes of ecologically relevant tracers. We use diffusive Stokes flow to model the time evolution of planes of tracer particles that represent a gradient being deformed by a sinking sphere. Ultimately, the degree of gradient intensification and the corresponding diffusive flux enhancement depend on how far a moving body deforms a plane of tracer before it punches through. We derive a scaling for this distance, Ldef, as a function of the Péclet number and describe its importance in the microscale planktonic environment. We then test the modeled gradient deformation, diffusive flux enhancement, and Ldef using an experimental tank apparatus in which the marine copepod, Calanus pacificus, is induced to swim through a layer of tracer dye. We show that the gradient deformation due to the copepod swimming can enhance the apparent tracer diffusivity by 500% over 10 minutes, drawing the tracer out into centimeters-long tendrils. These swimming-induced gradient deformations may be an important source of structure in the microscale environment of the plankton.

Wavelet Monte Carlo dynamics: A new algorithm for simulating the hydrodynamics of interacting Brownian particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dyer, Oliver T.; Ball, Robin C.

2017-03-01

We develop a new algorithm for the Brownian dynamics of soft matter systems that evolves time by spatially correlated Monte Carlo moves. The algorithm uses vector wavelets as its basic moves and produces hydrodynamics in the low Reynolds number regime propagated according to the Oseen tensor. When small moves are removed, the correlations closely approximate the Rotne-Prager tensor, itself widely used to correct for deficiencies in Oseen. We also include plane wave moves to provide the longest range correlations, which we detail for both infinite and periodic systems. The computational cost of the algorithm scales competitively with the number of particles simulated, N, scaling as N In N in homogeneous systems and as N in dilute systems. In comparisons to established lattice Boltzmann and Brownian dynamics algorithms, the wavelet method was found to be only a factor of order 1 times more expensive than the cheaper lattice Boltzmann algorithm in marginally semi-dilute simulations, while it is significantly faster than both algorithms at large N in dilute simulations. We also validate the algorithm by checking that it reproduces the correct dynamics and equilibrium properties of simple single polymer systems, as well as verifying the effect of periodicity on the mobility tensor.

Maximum Mass-Particle Velocities in Kantor's Information Mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sverdlik, Daniel I.

1989-02-01

Kantor's information mechanics links phenomena previously regarded as not treatable by a single theory. It is used here to calculate the maximum velocities ν m of single particles. For the electron, ν m/c≈1-1.253 814×10-77. The maximum ν m corresponds to ν m/c≈1-1.097864×10-122 for a single mass particle with a rest mass of 3.078 496×10-5g. This is the fastest that matter can move. Either information mechanics or classical mechanics can be used to show that ν m is less for heavier particles. That ν m is less for lighter particles can be deduced from an information mechanics argument alone.

Fine particles on mars: Observations with the viking 1 lander cameras

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mutch, T.A.; Arvidson, R. E.; Binder, A.B.; Huck, F.O.; Levinthal, E.C.; Liebes, S.; Morris, E.C.; Nummedal, D.; Pollack, James B.; Sagan, C.

1976-01-01

Drifts of fine-grained sediment are present in the vicinity of the Viking 1 lander. Many drifts occur in the lees of large boulders. Morphologic analysis indicates that the last dynamic event was one of general deflation for at least some drifts. Particle cohesion implies that there is a distinct small-particle upturn in the threshold velocity-particle size curve; the apparent absence of the most easily moved particles (150 micrometers in diameter) may be due to their preferential transport to other regions or their preferential collisional destruction. A twilight rescan with lander cameras indicates a substantial amount of red dust with mean radius on the order of 1 micrometer in the atmosphere.

Fine particles on Mars: observations with the viking 1 lander cameras.

PubMed

Mutch, T A; Arvidson, R E; Binder, A B; Huck, F O; Levinthal, E C; Liebes, S; Morris, E C; Nummedal, D; Pollack, J B; Sagan, C

1976-10-01

Drifts of fine-grained sediment are present in the vicinity of the Viking 1 lander. Many drifts occur in the lees of large boulders. Morphologic analysis indicates that the last dynamic event was one of general deflation for at least some drifts. Particle cohesion implies that there is a distinct small-particle upturn in the threshold velocity-particle size curve; the apparent absence of the most easily moved particles (150 micrometers in diameter) may be due to their preferential transport to other regions or their preferential collisional destruction. A twilight rescan with lander cameras indicates a substantial amount of red dust with mean radius on the order of 1 micrometer in the atmosphere.

Characterization of Moving Dust Particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bos, Brent J.; Antonille, Scott R.; Memarsadeghi, Nargess

2010-01-01

A large depth-of-field Particle Image Velocimeter (PIV) has been developed at NASA GSFC to characterize dynamic dust environments on planetary surfaces. This instrument detects and senses lofted dust particles. We have been developing an autonomous image analysis algorithm architecture for the PIV instrument to greatly reduce the amount of data that it has to store and downlink. The algorithm analyzes PIV images and reduces the image information down to only the particle measurement data we are interested in receiving on the ground - typically reducing the amount of data to be handled by more than two orders of magnitude. We give a general description of PIV algorithms and describe only the algorithm for estimating the velocity of the traveling particles.

Optical trapping and rotation of airborne absorbing particles with a single focused laser beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jinda; Li, Yong-qing

2014-03-01

We measure the periodic circular motion of single absorbing aerosol particles that are optically trapped with a single focused Gaussian beam and rotate around the laser propagation direction. The scattered light from the trapped particle is observed to be directional and change periodically at 0.4-20 kHz. The instantaneous positions of the moving particle within a rotation period are measured by a high-speed imaging technique using a charge coupled device camera and a repetitively pulsed light-emitting diode illumination. The centripetal acceleration of the trapped particle as high as ˜20 times the gravitational acceleration is observed and is attributed to the photophoretic forces.

Clustering of vertically constrained passive particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence.

PubMed

De Pietro, Massimo; van Hinsberg, Michel A T; Biferale, Luca; Clercx, Herman J H; Perlekar, Prasad; Toschi, Federico

2015-05-01

We analyze the dynamics of small particles vertically confined, by means of a linear restoring force, to move within a horizontal fluid slab in a three-dimensional (3D) homogeneous isotropic turbulent velocity field. The model that we introduce and study is possibly the simplest description for the dynamics of small aquatic organisms that, due to swimming, active regulation of their buoyancy, or any other mechanism, maintain themselves in a shallow horizontal layer below the free surface of oceans or lakes. By varying the strength of the restoring force, we are able to control the thickness of the fluid slab in which the particles can move. This allows us to analyze the statistical features of the system over a wide range of conditions going from a fully 3D incompressible flow (corresponding to the case of no confinement) to the extremely confined case corresponding to a two-dimensional slice. The background 3D turbulent velocity field is evolved by means of fully resolved direct numerical simulations. Whenever some level of vertical confinement is present, the particle trajectories deviate from that of fluid tracers and the particles experience an effectively compressible velocity field. Here, we have quantified the compressibility, the preferential concentration of the particles, and the correlation dimension by changing the strength of the restoring force. The main result is that there exists a particular value of the force constant, corresponding to a mean slab depth approximately equal to a few times the Kolmogorov length scale η, that maximizes the clustering of the particles.

Experimental study on inter-particle acoustic forces.

PubMed

Garcia-Sabaté, Anna; Castro, Angélica; Hoyos, Mauricio; González-Cinca, Ricard

2014-03-01

A method for the experimental measurement of inter-particle forces (secondary Bjerknes force) generated by the action of an acoustic field in a resonator micro-channel is presented. The acoustic radiation force created by an ultrasonic standing wave moves suspended particles towards the pressure nodes and the acoustic pressure induces particle volume oscillations. Once particles are in the levitation plane, transverse and secondary Bjerknes forces become important. Experiments were carried out in a resonator filled with a suspension composed of water and latex particles of different size (5-15 μm) at different concentrations. Ultrasound was generated by means of a 2.5 MHz nominal frequency transducer. For the first time the acoustic force generated by oscillating particles acting on other particles has been measured, and the critical interaction distance in various cases has been determined. Inter-particle forces on the order of 10(-14) N have been measured by using this method.

Capillary trapping of particles in thin-film flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dressaire, Emilie; Gomez, Michael; Colnet, Benedicte; Sauret, Alban

2017-11-01

When a thin layer of suspension flows over a substrate, some particles remain trapped on the solid surface. When the thickness of the liquid layer is comparable to the particle size, the particles deform the liquid interface, which leads to local interactions. These effects modify the transport of particles and the dynamics of the liquid films. Here, we characterize how capillary interactions affect the transport and deposition of non-Brownian particles moving in thin liquid films and the resulting loss of transported material. We focus on gravitational drainage flows, in which the film thickness becomes comparable to the particle size. Depending on the concentration of particles, we find that the drainage dynamics exhibits behavior that cannot be captured with a continuum model, due to the deposition of particles on the substrate. ANR-16-CE30-0009 & CNRS-PICS-07242 & ACS-PRF 55845-ND9.

Capillary trapping in thin-film flows of particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sauret, Alban; Gomez, Michael; Dressaire, Emilie

Flows of suspensions have been modeled on a continuum level by using constitutive relations to capture how the viscosity varies with the particle concentration. However, in thin liquid films, where the thickness of the liquid layer is comparable to the particle size, the particles deform the liquid interface, which leads to local interactions. These effects modify the transport of particles and could result in the contamination of the surface and the loss of transported material. Here, we characterize how capillary interactions affect the transport and deposition of non-Brownian particles moving in thin liquid films. We focus on gravitational drainage flows, in which the film thickness becomes comparable to the particle size. Depending on the concentration of particles, we find that the dynamics of the drainage exhibits behavior that cannot be captured with a Newtonian model, due to the deposition of particles on the substrate. ANR-16-CE30-0009 and CNRS-PICS-07242.

Testing the Rotation Stage in the ARIADNE Axion Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dargert, Jordan; Lohmeyer, Chloe; Harkness, Mindy; Cunningham, Mark; Fosbinder-Elkins, Harry; Geraci, Andrew; Ariadne Collaboration

2017-04-01

The Axion Resonant InterAction Detection Experiment (ARIADNE) will search for the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) axion, a hypothetical particle that is a dark matter candidate. Using a new technique based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, this new method can probe well into the allowed PQ axion mass range. Additionally, it does not rely on cosmological assumptions, meaning that the PQ Axion would be sourced locally. Our project relies on the stability of a rotating segmented source mass and superconducting magnetic shielding. Superconducting shielding is essential for limiting magnetic noise, thus allowing a feasible level of sensitivity required for PQ Axion detection. Progress on testing the stability of the rotary mechanism will be reported, and the design for the superconducting shielding in the experiment will be discussed, along with plans for moving the experiment forward. NSF Grant PHY-1509176.

Aiding Design of Wave Energy Converters via Computational Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jebeli Aqdam, Hejar; Ahmadi, Babak; Raessi, Mehdi; Tootkaboni, Mazdak

2015-11-01

With the increasing interest in renewable energy sources, wave energy converters will continue to gain attention as a viable alternative to current electricity production methods. It is therefore crucial to develop computational tools for the design and analysis of wave energy converters. A successful design requires balance between the design performance and cost. Here an analytical solution is used for the approximate analysis of interactions between a flap-type wave energy converter (WEC) and waves. The method is verified using other flow solvers and experimental test cases. Then the model is used in conjunction with a powerful heuristic optimization engine, Charged System Search (CSS) to explore the WEC design space. CSS is inspired by charged particles behavior. It searches the design space by considering candidate answers as charged particles and moving them based on the Coulomb's laws of electrostatics and Newton's laws of motion to find the global optimum. Finally the impacts of changes in different design parameters on the power takeout of the superior WEC designs are investigated. National Science Foundation, CBET-1236462.

Tracking control of colloidal particles through non-homogeneous stationary flows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Híjar, Humberto, E-mail: humberto.hijar@lasallistas.org.mx

2013-12-21

We consider the problem of controlling the trajectory of a single colloidal particle in a fluid with steady non-homogeneous flow. We use a Langevin equation to describe the dynamics of this particle, where the friction term is assumed to be given by the Faxén's Theorem for the force on a sphere immersed in a stationary flow. We use this description to propose an explicit control force field to be applied on the particle such that it will follow asymptotically any given desired trajectory, starting from an arbitrary initial condition. We show that the dynamics of the controlled particle can bemore » mapped into a set of stochastic harmonic oscillators and that the velocity gradient of the solvent induces an asymmetric coupling between them. We study the particular case of a Brownian particle controlled through a plane Couette flow and show explicitly that the velocity gradient of the solvent renders the dynamics non-stationary and non-reversible in time. We quantify this effect in terms of the correlation functions for the position of the controlled particle, which turn out to exhibit contributions depending exclusively on the non-equilibrium character of the state of the solvent. In order to test the validity of our model, we perform simulations of the controlled particle moving in a simple shear flow, using a hybrid method combining molecular dynamics and multi-particle collision dynamics. We confirm numerically that the proposed guiding force allows for controlling the trajectory of the micro-sized particle by obligating it to follow diverse specific trajectories in fluids with homogeneous shear rates of different strengths. In addition, we find that the non-equilibrium correlation functions in simulations exhibit the same qualitative behavior predicted by the model, thus revealing the presence of the asymmetric non-equilibrium coupling mechanism induced by the velocity gradient.« less

Distribution of pesticides in dust particles in urban environments.

PubMed

Richards, Jaben; Reif, Ruben; Luo, Yuzhuo; Gan, Jay

2016-07-01

In regions with a mild climate, pesticides are often used around homes for pest control. Recent monitoring studies have linked pesticide use in residential areas to aquatic toxicity in urban surface water ecosystems, and suggested dust particles on paved surfaces as an important source of pesticides. To test the hypothesis that dust on hard surfaces is a significant source of pesticides, we evaluated spatial and temporal patterns of current-use insecticides in Southern California, and further explored their distribution as a function of particle sizes. Pyrethroid insecticides were detected in dust from the driveway, curb gutter and street at 53.5-94.8%, with median concentrations of 1-46 ng g(-1). Pyrethroid residues were uniformly distributed in areas adjacent to a house, suggesting significant redistribution. The total levels of pyrethroids in dust significantly (p < 0.01) decreased from October to February, suggesting rainfalls as a major mechanism to move pesticide residues offsite. Fipronil as well as its degradation products, were detected at 50.6-75.5%, and spatial and temporal patterns of fipronil residues suggested rapid transformations of fipronil to its biologically active intermediates. Moreover, pyrethroids were found to be enriched in fine particles that have a higher mobility in runoff than coarse particles. Results from this study highlight the widespread occurrence of pesticides in outdoor dust around homes and the potential contribution to downstream surface water contamination via rain-induced runoff. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

EFFECTS OF LASER RADIATION ON MATTER. LASER PLASMA: Emission of charged particles from the surface of a moving target acted on by cw CO2 laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuznetsov, S. I.; Petrov, A. L.; Shadrin, A. N.

1990-06-01

An experimental investigation was made of the emission of charged particles due to the irradiation of moving steel and graphite targets with cw CO2 laser radiation. The characteristics of the emission current signals were determined for different laser irradiation regimes. The maximum emission current density from the surface of a melt pool ( ~ 1.1 × 10 - 2 A/cm2) and the average temperature of the liquid metal (~ 2040 K) were measured for an incident radiation power density of 550 W and for horizontal and vertical target velocities of respectively ~ 1.5 mm/s and ~ 0.17 mm/s. The authors propose to utilize this phenomenon for monitoring the laser processing of materials.

Signal enhancement using a switchable magnetic trap

DOEpatents

Beer, Neil Reginald [Pleasanton, CA

2012-05-29

A system for analyzing a sample including providing a microchannel flow channel; associating the sample with magnetic nanoparticles or magnetic polystyrene-coated beads; moving the sample with said magnetic nanoparticles or magnetic polystyrene-coated beads in the microchannel flow channel; holding the sample with the magnetic nanoparticles or magnetic polystyrene-coated beads in a magnetic trap in the microchannel flow channel; and analyzing the sample obtaining an enhanced analysis signal. An apparatus for analysis of a sample includes magnetic particles connected to the sample, a microchip, a flow channel in the microchip, a source of carrier fluid connected to the flow channel for moving the sample in the flow channel, an electromagnet trap connected to the flow line for selectively magnetically trapping the sample and the magnetic particles, and an analyzer for analyzing the sample.

Experimental investigation of gravity effects on sediment sorting on Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhn, Nikolaus J.; Kuhn, Brigitte; Gartmann, Andres

2014-05-01

Sorting of sedimentary rocks is a proxy for the environmental conditions at the time of deposition, in particular the runoff that moved and deposited the material forming the rocks. Settling of sediment is strongly influenced by the gravity of a planetary body. As a consequence, sorting of a sedimentary rock varies with gravity for a given depth and velocity of surface runoff. Theoretical considerations for spheres indicate that sorting is more uniform on Mars than on Earth for runoff of identical depth. In reality, such considerations have to be applied with great caution because the shape of a particle strongly influences drag. Drag itself can only be calculated directly for an irregularly shaped particle with great computational effort, if at all. Therefore, even for terrestrial applications, sediment settling velocities are often determined directly, e.g. by measurements using settling tubes. In this study the results of settling tube tests conducted under reduced gravity during three experimental flights conducted in November 2012 and 2013 are presented. Nine types of sediment, ranging in size, shape and density were tested in custom-designed settling tubes during parabolas of Martian gravity lasting 20 to 25 seconds. Based on the observed settling velocities, the applicability of empirical relationships developed on Earth to assess particle settling on Mars are discussed. In addition, the potential effects of reduced gravity on the sorting of sedimentary rocks and their use as a proxy for runoff and thus environmental conditions on Mars are examined.

Simulating Sand Behavior through Terrain Subdivision and Particle Refinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clothier, M.

2013-12-01

Advances in computer graphics, GPUs, and parallel processing hardware have provided researchers with new methods to visualize scientific data. In fact, these advances have spurred new research opportunities between computer graphics and other disciplines, such as Earth sciences. Through collaboration, Earth and planetary scientists have benefited by using these advances in hardware technology to process large amounts of data for visualization and analysis. At Oregon State University, we are collaborating with the Oregon Space Grant and IGERT Ecosystem Informatics programs to investigate techniques for simulating the behavior of sand. In addition, we have also been collaborating with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's DARTS Lab to exchange ideas on our research. The DARTS Lab specializes in the simulation of planetary vehicles, such as the Mars rovers. One aspect of their work is testing these vehicles in a virtual "sand box" to test their performance in different environments. Our research builds upon this idea to create a sand simulation framework to allow for more complex and diverse environments. As a basis for our framework, we have focused on planetary environments, such as the harsh, sandy regions on Mars. To evaluate our framework, we have used simulated planetary vehicles, such as a rover, to gain insight into the performance and interaction between the surface sand and the vehicle. Unfortunately, simulating the vast number of individual sand particles and their interaction with each other has been a computationally complex problem in the past. However, through the use of high-performance computing, we have developed a technique to subdivide physically active terrain regions across a large landscape. To achieve this, we only subdivide terrain regions where sand particles are actively participating with another object or force, such as a rover wheel. This is similar to a Level of Detail (LOD) technique, except that the density of subdivisions are determined by their proximity to the interacting object or force with the sand. To illustrate an example, as a rover wheel moves forward and approaches a particular sand region, that region will continue to subdivide until individual sand particles are represented. Conversely, if the rover wheel moves away, previously subdivided sand regions will recombine. Thus, individual sand particles are available when an interacting force is present but stored away if there is not. As such, this technique allows for many particles to be represented without the computational complexity. We have also further generalized these subdivision regions in our sand framework into any volumetric area suitable for use in the simulation. This allows for more compact subdivision regions and has fine-tuned our framework so that more emphasis can be placed on regions of actively participating sand. We feel that this increases the framework's usefulness across scientific applications and can provide for other research opportunities within the earth and planetary sciences. Through continued collaboration with our academic partners, we continue to build upon our sand simulation framework and look for other opportunities to utilize this research.

Anisotropic diffusion in mesh-free numerical magnetohydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopkins, Philip F.

2017-04-01

We extend recently developed mesh-free Lagrangian methods for numerical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) to arbitrary anisotropic diffusion equations, including: passive scalar diffusion, Spitzer-Braginskii conduction and viscosity, cosmic ray diffusion/streaming, anisotropic radiation transport, non-ideal MHD (Ohmic resistivity, ambipolar diffusion, the Hall effect) and turbulent 'eddy diffusion'. We study these as implemented in the code GIZMO for both new meshless finite-volume Godunov schemes (MFM/MFV). We show that the MFM/MFV methods are accurate and stable even with noisy fields and irregular particle arrangements, and recover the correct behaviour even in arbitrarily anisotropic cases. They are competitive with state-of-the-art AMR/moving-mesh methods, and can correctly treat anisotropic diffusion-driven instabilities (e.g. the MTI and HBI, Hall MRI). We also develop a new scheme for stabilizing anisotropic tensor-valued fluxes with high-order gradient estimators and non-linear flux limiters, which is trivially generalized to AMR/moving-mesh codes. We also present applications of some of these improvements for SPH, in the form of a new integral-Godunov SPH formulation that adopts a moving-least squares gradient estimator and introduces a flux-limited Riemann problem between particles.

Two-particle problem in comblike structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agliari, Elena; Cassi, Davide; Cattivelli, Luca; Sartori, Fabio

2016-05-01

Encounters between walkers performing a random motion on an appropriate structure can describe a wide variety of natural phenomena ranging from pharmacokinetics to foraging. On homogeneous structures the asymptotic encounter probability between two walkers is (qualitatively) independent of whether both walkers are moving or one is kept fixed. On infinite comblike structures this is no longer the case and here we deepen the mechanisms underlying the emergence of a finite probability that two random walkers will never meet, while one single random walker is certain to visit any site. In particular, we introduce an analytical approach to address this problem and even more general problems such as the case of two walkers with different diffusivity, particles walking on a finite comb and on arbitrary bundled structures, possibly in the presence of loops. Our investigations are both analytical and numerical and highlight that, in general, the outcome of a reaction involving two reactants on a comblike architecture can strongly differ according to whether both reactants are moving (no matter their relative diffusivities) or only one is moving and according to the density of shortcuts among the branches.

Permanent magnet edge-field quadrupole

DOEpatents

Tatchyn, R.O.

1997-01-21

Planar permanent magnet edge-field quadrupoles for use in particle accelerating machines and in insertion devices designed to generate spontaneous or coherent radiation from moving charged particles are disclosed. The invention comprises four magnetized rectangular pieces of permanent magnet material with substantially similar dimensions arranged into two planar arrays situated to generate a field with a substantially dominant quadrupole component in regions close to the device axis. 10 figs.

Permanent magnet edge-field quadrupole

DOEpatents

Tatchyn, Roman O.

1997-01-01

Planar permanent magnet edge-field quadrupoles for use in particle accelerating machines and in insertion devices designed to generate spontaneous or coherent radiation from moving charged particles are disclosed. The invention comprises four magnetized rectangular pieces of permanent magnet material with substantially similar dimensions arranged into two planar arrays situated to generate a field with a substantially dominant quadrupole component in regions close to the device axis.

Long-range multiplicity correlations in proton-proton collisions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bzdak, Adam

The forward-backward long-range multiplicity correlations in proton-proton collisions are investigated in the model with two independent sources of particles: one left- and one right-moving wounded nucleon. A good agreement with the UA5 Collaboration proton-antiproton data at the c.m. energy of 200 GeV is observed. For comparison the model with only one source of particles is also discussed.

Sample positioning apparatus

DOEpatents

Bell, Thomas H.; Johnson, Jr., Charles H.; Lane, Robert L.; Martin, Bradley E.; Tyree, William H.

1976-01-06

Apparatus for use in alpha particle counting with such as photomultiplier tubes, comprising a platform and linkage mechanism whereby samples are moved in linear manner toward and away from ends of the photomultiplier tubes.

PARTICLE SEPARATION METHOD

DOEpatents

Anderson, N.G.

1963-01-29

An improved method of sedimentation is described. A series of spaced surfaces of powdered material positioned normal to the centrifugal field concentrates the larger, slower moving molecules of a liquid and hastens sedimentation. (AEC)

Turbulence- and particle-resolved modeling of self-formed channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmeeckle, M. W.

2016-12-01

A numerical model is presented that combines a large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent water motion and a discrete element method (DEM) simulation of all sediment particles forming a small alluvial river. All simulations are begun with a relatively narrow and deep channel and a constant body force is applied to the fluid. At very small applied force at the critical shear stress for sediment motion the channel becomes wider and shallower. Transport on the banks becomes very small with larger transport at the center of the channel. However, even the very small bank transport resulted in continued net downslope motion and channel widening; bedload diffusion from higher transport areas of the channel is not sufficient to counteract downslope transport. This simulation will be extended over much longer times to determine whether an equilibrium straight channel with transport is possible without varying the water discharge. Simulations at slightly higher fluid forcing results in the development of alternate bars. Particle size segregation occurs in all simulations at multiple scales. At the smallest scale, turbulent structures induce small scale depressions; larger particles preferentially move to lower elevations of the depressions. Sloping beds at banks and bars also increase size segregation. However, bar translation mixes segregated sediments. Granular modeling of river channels appears to be a fruitful method for testing and developing continuum ideas of channel pattern formation and size segregation.

Turbulence-and particle-resolved modeling of self-formed channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmeeckle, M. W.

2017-12-01

A numerical model is presented that combines a large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent water motion and a discrete element method (DEM) simulation of all sediment particles forming a small alluvial river. All simulations are begun with a relatively narrow and deep channel and a constant body force is applied to the fluid. At very small applied force at the critical shear stress for sediment motion the channel becomes wider and shallower. Transport on the banks becomes very small with larger transport at the center of the channel. However, even the very small bank transport resulted in continued net downslope motion and channel widening; bedload diffusion from higher transport areas of the channel is not sufficient to counteract downslope transport. This simulation will be extended over much longer times to determine whether an equilibrium straight channel with transport is possible without varying the water discharge. Simulations at slightly higher fluid forcing results in the development of alternate bars. Particle size segregation occurs in all simulations at multiple scales. At the smallest scale, turbulent structures induce small scale depressions; larger particles preferentially move to lower elevations of the depressions. Sloping beds at banks and bars also increase size segregation. However, bar translation mixes segregated sediments. Granular modeling of river channels appears to be a fruitful method for testing and developing continuum ideas of channel pattern formation and size segregation.

Escape probability of the super-Penrose process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogasawara, Kota; Harada, Tomohiro; Miyamoto, Umpei; Igata, Takahisa

2017-06-01

We consider a head-on collision of two massive particles that move in the equatorial plane of an extremal Kerr black hole, which results in the production of two massless particles. Focusing on a typical case, where both of the colliding particles have zero angular momenta, we show that a massless particle produced in such a collision can escape to infinity with arbitrarily large energy in the near-horizon limit of the collision point. Furthermore, if we assume that the emission of the produced massless particles is isotropic in the center-of-mass frame but confined to the equatorial plane, the escape probability of the produced massless particle approaches 5 /12 , and almost all escaping massless particles have arbitrarily large energy at infinity and an impact parameter approaching 2 G M /c2, where M is the mass of the black hole.

Elliptically polarizing adjustable phase insertion device

DOEpatents

Carr, Roger

1995-01-01

An insertion device for extracting polarized electromagnetic energy from a beam of particles is disclosed. The insertion device includes four linear arrays of magnets which are aligned with the particle beam. The magnetic field strength to which the particles are subjected is adjusted by altering the relative alignment of the arrays in a direction parallel to that of the particle beam. Both the energy and polarization of the extracted energy may be varied by moving the relevant arrays parallel to the beam direction. The present invention requires a substantially simpler and more economical superstructure than insertion devices in which the magnetic field strength is altered by changing the gap between arrays of magnets.

Development of a semiclassical method to compute mobility and diffusion coefficient of a Brownian particle in a nonequilibrium environment.

PubMed

Shit, Anindita; Ghosh, Pradipta; Chattopadhyay, Sudip; Chaudhuri, Jyotipratim Ray

2011-03-01

We explore the issue of a quantum-noise-induced directed transport of an overdamped Brownian particle that is allowed to move in a spatially periodic potential. The established system-reservoir model has been employed here to study the quantum-noise-induced transport of a Brownian particle in a periodic potential, where the reservoir is being modulated externally by a Gaussian-colored noise. The mobility of the Brownian particle in the linear response regime has been calculated. Then, using Einstein's relation, the analytical expression for the diffusion rate is evaluated for any arbitrary periodic potential for the high-temperature quantum regime.

Theoretical princi les of constructing the equations of motion for a spin color-charged particle in gauge and fermion fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markov, Yu. A.; Shishmarev, A. A.

2010-11-01

Based on the most general principles of materiality, gauge, and re-parameterized invariance, the problem of constructing an action describing the dynamics of a classical color-charged particle moving in external non-Abelian gauge and fermion fields is considered. The case of a linear Lagrangian dependence on the external fermion fields is discussed. Within the framework of the description of the color degree of freedom of the particle with half-integer spin by the Grassmann color charges, a new concept of the Grassmann color source of the particle being a fermion analog of the conventional color current is introduced.

Electro-hydrodynamic propulsion of counter-rotating Pickering drops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dommersnes, P.; Mikkelsen, A.; Fossum, J. O.

2016-07-01

Insulating particles or drops suspended in carrier liquids may start to rotate with a constant frequency when subjected to a uniform DC electric field. This is known as the Quincke rotation electro-hydrodynamic instability. A single isolated rotating particle exhibit no translational motion at low Reynolds number, however interacting rotating particles may move relative to one another. Here we present a simple system consisting of two interacting and deformable Quincke rotating particle covered drops, i.e. deformable Pickering drops. The drops attract one another and spontaneously form a counter-rotating pair that exhibits electro-hydrodynamic driven propulsion at low Reynolds number flow.

Charged particle accelerator grating

DOEpatents

Palmer, Robert B.

1986-01-01

A readily disposable and replaceable accelerator grating for a relativistic particle accelerator. The grating is formed for a plurality of liquid droplets that are directed in precisely positioned jet streams to periodically dispose rows of droplets along the borders of a predetermined particle beam path. A plurality of lasers are used to direct laser beams into the droplets, at predetermined angles, thereby to excite the droplets to support electromagnetic accelerating resonances on their surfaces. Those resonances operate to accelerate and focus particles moving along the beam path. As the droplets are distorted or destroyed by the incoming radiation, they are replaced at a predetermined frequency by other droplets supplied through the jet streams.

Charged particle accelerator grating

DOEpatents

Palmer, R.B.

1985-09-09

A readily disposable and replaceable accelerator grating for a relativistic particle accelerator is described. The grating is formed for a plurality of liquid droplets that are directed in precisely positioned jet streams to periodically dispose rows of droplets along the borders of a predetermined particle beam path. A plurality of lasers are used to direct laser beams onto the droplets, at predetermined angles, thereby to excite the droplets to support electromagnetic accelerating resonances on their surfaces. Those resonances operate to accelerate and focus particles moving along the beam path. As the droplets are distorted or destroyed by the incoming radiation, they are replaced at a predetermined frequency by other droplets supplied through the jet streams.

Charged particle accelerator grating

DOEpatents

Palmer, Robert B.

1986-09-02

A readily disposable and replaceable accelerator grating for a relativistic particle accelerator. The grating is formed for a plurality of liquid droplets that are directed in precisely positioned jet streams to periodically dispose rows of droplets along the borders of a predetermined particle beam path. A plurality of lasers are used to direct laser beams into the droplets, at predetermined angles, thereby to excite the droplets to support electromagnetic accelerating resonances on their surfaces. Those resonances operate to accelerate and focus particles moving along the beam path. As the droplets are distorted or destroyed by the incoming radiation, they are replaced at a predetermined frequency by other droplets supplied through the jet streams.

Boundary effects in a quasi-two-dimensional driven granular fluid.

PubMed

Smith, N D; Smith, M I

2017-12-01

The effect of a confining boundary on the spatial variations in granular temperature of a driven quasi-two-dimensional layer of particles is investigated experimentally. The radial drop in the relative granular temperature ΔT/T exhibits a maximum at intermediate particle numbers which coincides with a crossover from kinetic to collisional transport of energy. It is also found that at low particle numbers, the distributions of radial velocities are increasingly asymmetric as one approaches the boundary. The radial and tangential granular temperatures split, and in the tails of the radial velocity distribution there is a higher population of fast moving particles traveling away rather than towards the boundary.

Anomalous dielectrophoretic behaviour of barium titanate microparticles in concentrated solutions of ampholytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores-Rodriguez, N.; Markx, G. H.

2006-08-01

The dielectrophoretic behaviour of barium titanate (BaTiO3) particles with a mean grain size of 3 µm was studied. Suspensions of the powdered ceramic in the concentration range 0.01-1.60% (w/v) were prepared in dilute aqueous solutions of NaCl and concentrated aqueous solutions of the amphoteric molecules HEPES (N-[2-hydroxyethyl] piperazine-N'4-[2-ethanesulfonic acid] and EACA (ɛ -aminocaproic acid). When suspended in water without ampholytes, the particles showed positive dielectrophoresis (DEP) over the whole frequency range (1 kHz-20 MHz), independent of the medium conductivity or applied voltage. When amphoteric molecules were added at a final concentration of up to 0.57 M, the particles showed positive DEP at all frequencies. When the concentration of ampholytes was increased to 0.71 M, the particles showed positive DEP at frequencies up to 100 kHz and voltages lower than 12 Vpk-pk at all electrode sizes. However, at 100 kHz, when the amplitude was increased to over 12 Vpk-pk, the particles started to display negative DEP at the smallest electrode size (20 µm) and moved away from the microelectrodes, accumulating in the gap between the electrodes. At the highest voltages used (16-20 Vpk-pk), the particles were seen moving upwards and remained stably levitated above the array. For frequencies larger than 100 kHz, the particles showed positive DEP only. It is shown that such behaviour cannot be expected on the basis of the dielectric properties of barium titanate and the suspending medium, and it is suggested that this behaviour may be caused by the fact that at high amphotere concentration and voltages the electric field across the particles surpasses the dielectric strength of the BaTiO3 particles, resulting in a sudden drop in the particle's permittivity. The fact that not all particles showed negative DEP suggests a spread in the dielectric properties of barium titanate particles. Physical separation of barium titanate particles with presumably different dielectric properties was shown to be possible using a flow-through device.

Radar for tracer particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ott, Felix; Herminghaus, Stephan; Huang, Kai

2017-05-01

We introduce a radar system capable of tracking a 5 mm spherical target continuously in three dimensions. The 10 GHz (X-band) radar system has a transmission power of 1 W and operates in the near field of the horn antennae. By comparing the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave traveling through the free space with an IQ-mixer, we obtain the relative movement of the target with respect to the antennae. From the azimuth and inclination angles of the receiving antennae obtained in the calibration, we reconstruct the target trajectory in a three-dimensional Cartesian system. Finally, we test the tracking algorithm with target moving in circular as well as in pendulum motions and discuss the capability of the radar system.

Determination of physical and dynamic properties of suspended particles in water column with ultrasonic scanning in between the water surface and stable sediment layer.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acar, Dursun; Alpar, Bedri; Ozeren, Sinan; Cagatay, Namık; Sari, Erol; Vardar, Denizhan; Eris, Kadir

2015-04-01

The behavior of seafloor sediment with its water column should be known against any occurrences of anoxic or oxic conditions. The most important ones of these conditions are possible leakage of natural gas or escape of liquids from sediment. On the basis of combined solid/liquid flow dynamics in sedimentation, such kind of events can change, even in an effective manner, the dynamic movements of molecules and their cumulative mass of particules, i.e. the suspended materials. The deployment of suitable sediment traps or ultrasonic transducers somewhere in the water column are not easy attempts in order to obtain useful information about the state of suspended materials during sedimentation. These are usually bulky instruments; therefore they may behave like an anti-move suppresser on the particles moving in the float direction, in oxic and anoxic manner. These instruments, on the other hand, may cover the effects of diffusive flow or bubble formed gas and fluid escape from the sediment surface into the water column. Ultrasonic scanners, however, are able to make observations in a remote manner, without affecting such artificial events. Our field trials were successfully completed at the historical estuary called Halic of Marmara sea . The physical properties; such as the velocity of particles, their travel directions, their dimensions and the ability to observe anti-compositor crushes of shock waves of the bubbles are only a few of these observations in natural ambience. The most important problem solved about water pressure during 3 atmosphere . The sensor has been tested successfully few times. We used the ''High voltage electric isolator oil filling'' to the inside of the scanner for pressure equalization between outer side and inner body of probe at a depth of (20 meters) beneath the sea surface . The transmitted signals by the planar crystal of the transducer become weaker under the pressure of overlying water column in depths. Our efforts are now focused on the improved performance of transducer at higher than over 3 atm pressure. Keywords: ultrasonic , flow , particle , Sediment , Cumulative mass

Method and apparatus for improving heat transfer in a fluidized bed

DOEpatents

Lessor, Delbert L.; Robertus, Robert J.

1990-01-01

An apparatus contains a fluidized bed that includes particles of different triboelectrical types, each particle type acquiring an opposite polarity upon contact. The contact may occur between particles of the two types or between particles of etiher type and structure or fluid present in the apparatus. A fluidizing gas flow is passed through the particles to produce the fluidized bed. Immersed within the bed are electrodes. An alternating EMF source connected to the electrodes applies an alternating electric field across the fluidized bed to cause particles of the first type to move relative to particles of the second type and relative to the gas flow. In a heat exchanger incorporating the apparatus, the electrodes are conduits conveying a fluid to be heated. The two particle types alternately contact each conduit to transfer heat from a hot gas flow to the second fluid within the conduit.

Mass independent kinetic energy reducing inlet system for vacuum environment

DOEpatents

Reilly, Peter T.A.

2014-05-13

A particle inlet system comprises a first chamber having a limiting orifice for an incoming gas stream and a micrometer controlled expansion slit. Lateral components of the momentum of the particles are substantially cancelled due to symmetry of the configuration once the laminar flow converges at the expansion slit. The particles and flow into a second chamber, which is maintained at a lower pressure than the first chamber, and then moves into a third chamber including multipole guides for electromagnetically confining the particle. The vertical momentum of the particles descending through the center of the third chamber is minimized as an upward stream of gases reduces the downward momentum of the particles. The translational kinetic energy of the particles is near-zero irrespective of the mass of the particles at an exit opening of the third chamber, which may be advantageously employed to provide enhanced mass resolution in mass spectrometry.

Mass independent kinetic energy reducing inlet system for vacuum environment

DOEpatents

Reilly, Peter T. A. [Knoxville, TN

2010-12-14

A particle inlet system comprises a first chamber having a limiting orifice for an incoming gas stream and a micrometer controlled expansion slit. Lateral components of the momentum of the particles are substantially cancelled due to symmetry of the configuration once the laminar flow converges at the expansion slit. The particles and flow into a second chamber, which is maintained at a lower pressure than the first chamber, and then moves into a third chamber including multipole guides for electromagnetically confining the particle. The vertical momentum of the particles descending through the center of the third chamber is minimized as an upward stream of gases reduces the downward momentum of the particles. The translational kinetic energy of the particles is near-zero irrespective of the mass of the particles at an exit opening of the third chamber, which may be advantageously employed to provide enhanced mass resolution in mass spectrometry.

Mass independent kinetic energy reducing inlet system for vacuum environment

DOEpatents

Reilly, Peter T.A.

2013-12-03

A particle inlet system comprises a first chamber having a limiting orifice for an incoming gas stream and a micrometer controlled expansion slit. Lateral components of the momentum of the particles are substantially cancelled due to symmetry of the configuration once the laminar flow converges at the expansion slit. The particles and flow into a second chamber, which is maintained at a lower pressure than the first chamber, and then moves into a third chamber including multipole guides for electromagnetically confining the particle. The vertical momentum of the particles descending through the center of the third chamber is minimized as an upward stream of gases reduces the downward momentum of the particles. The translational kinetic energy of the particles is near-zero irrespective of the mass of the particles at an exit opening of the third chamber, which may be advantageously employed to provide enhanced mass resolution in mass spectrometry.

Osmotic propulsion: the osmotic motor.

PubMed

Córdova-Figueroa, Ubaldo M; Brady, John F

2008-04-18

A model for self-propulsion of a colloidal particle--the osmotic motor--immersed in a dispersion of "bath" particles is presented. The nonequilibrium concentration of bath particles induced by a surface chemical reaction creates an osmotic pressure imbalance on the motor causing it to move. The ratio of the speed of reaction to that of diffusion governs the bath particle distribution which is employed to calculate the driving force on the motor, and from which the self-induced osmotic velocity is determined. For slow reactions, the self-propulsion is proportional to the reaction velocity. When surface reaction dominates over diffusion the osmotic velocity cannot exceed the diffusive speed of the bath particles. Implications of these features for different bath particle volume fractions and motor sizes are discussed. Theoretical predictions are compared with Brownian dynamics simulations.

Tunable interactions between paramagnetic colloidal particles driven in a modulated ratchet potential.

PubMed

Straube, Arthur V; Tierno, Pietro

2014-06-14

We study experimentally and theoretically the interactions between paramagnetic particles dispersed in water and driven above the surface of a stripe patterned magnetic garnet film. An external rotating magnetic field modulates the stray field of the garnet film and generates a translating potential landscape which induces directed particle motion. By varying the ellipticity of the rotating field, we tune the inter-particle interactions from net repulsive to net attractive. For attractive interactions, we show that pairs of particles can approach each other and form stable doublets which afterwards travel along the modulated landscape at a constant mean speed. We measure the strength of the attractive force between the moving particles and propose an analytically tractable model that explains the observations and is in quantitative agreement with experiment.

Positron emission particle tracking and its application to granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, D. J.

2017-05-01

Positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) is a technique for tracking a single radioactively labelled particle. Accurate 3D tracking is possible even when the particle is moving at high speed inside a dense opaque system. In many cases, tracking a single particle within a granular system provides sufficient information to determine the time-averaged behaviour of the entire granular system. After a general introduction, this paper describes the detector systems (PET scanners and positron cameras) used to record PEPT data, the techniques used to label particles, and the algorithms used to process the data. This paper concentrates on the use of PEPT for studying granular systems: the focus is mainly on work at Birmingham, but reference is also made to work from other centres, and options for wider diversification are suggested.

Magnetic particles guided by ellipsoidal AC magnetic fields in a shallow viscous fluid: Controlling trajectories and chain lengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jorge, Guillermo A.; Llera, María; Bekeris, Victoria

2017-12-01

We study the propulsion of superparamagnetic particles dispersed in a viscous fluid upon the application of an elliptically polarized rotating magnetic field. Reducing the fluid surface tension the particles sediment due to density mismatch and rotate close to the low recipient confining plate. We study the net translational motion arising from the hydrodynamic coupling with the plate and find that, above a cross over magnetic field, magnetically assembled doublets move faster than single particles. In turn, particles are driven in complex highly controlled trajectories by rotating the plane containing the magnetic field vector. The effect of the field rotation on long self assembled chains is discussed and the alternating breakup and reformation of the particle chains is described.

Portable chemical detection system with intergrated preconcentrator

DOEpatents

Baumann, Mark J.; Brusseau, Charles A.; Hannum, David W.; Linker, Kevin L.

2005-12-27

A portable system for the detection of chemical particles such as explosive residue utilizes a metal fiber substrate that may either be swiped over a subject or placed in a holder in a collection module which can shoot a jet of gas at the subject to dislodge residue, and then draw the air containing the residue into the substrate. The holder is then placed in a detection module, which resistively heats the substrate to evolve the particles, and provides a gas flow to move the particles to a miniature detector in the module.

The stochastic thermodynamics of a rotating Brownian particle in a gradient flow

PubMed Central

Lan, Yueheng; Aurell, Erik

2015-01-01

We compute the entropy production engendered in the environment from a single Brownian particle which moves in a gradient flow, and show that it corresponds in expectation to classical near-equilibrium entropy production in the surrounding fluid with specific mesoscopic transport coefficients. With temperature gradient, extra terms are found which result from the nonlinear interaction between the particle and the non-equilibrated environment. The calculations are based on the fluctuation relations which relate entropy production to the probabilities of stochastic paths and carried out in a multi-time formalism. PMID:26194015

Simulating Free Surface Flows with SPH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monaghan, J. J.

1994-02-01

The SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) method is extended to deal with free surface incompressible flows. The method is easy to use, and examples will be given of its application to a breaking dam, a bore, the simulation of a wave maker, and the propagation of waves towards a beach. Arbitrary moving boundaries can be included by modelling the boundaries by particles which repel the fluid particles. The method is explicit, and the time steps are therefore much shorter than required by other less flexible methods, but it is robust and easy to program.

X-Ray Measurements of the Particle Acceleration Properties at Inward Shocks in Cassiopeia A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Toshiki; Katsuda, Satoru; Morii, Mikio; Bamba, Aya; Hughes, John P.; Maeda, Yoshitomo; Ishida, Manabu; Fraschetti, Federico

2018-01-01

We present new evidence that the bright nonthermal X-ray emission features in the interior of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant are caused by inward-moving shocks, based on Chandra and NuSTAR observations. Several bright inward-moving filaments were identified using monitoring data taken by Chandra in 2000–2014. These inward-moving shock locations are nearly coincident with hard X-ray (15–40 keV) hot spots seen by NuSTAR. From proper-motion measurements, the transverse velocities were estimated to be in the range of ∼2100–3800 km s‑1 for a distance of 3.4 kpc. The shock velocities in the frame of the expanding ejecta reach values of ∼5100–8700 km s‑1, which is slightly higher than the typical speed of the forward shock. Additionally, we find flux variations (both increasing and decreasing) on timescales of a few years in some of the inward-moving shock filaments. The rapid variability timescales are consistent with an amplified magnetic field of B ∼ 0.5–1 mG. The high speed and low photon cut-off energy of the inward-moving shocks are shown to imply a particle diffusion coefficient that departs from the Bohm regime (k 0 = D 0/D 0,Bohm ∼ 3–8) for the few simple physical configurations we consider in this study. The maximum electron energy at these shocks is estimated to be ∼8–11 TeV, which is smaller than the values of ∼15–34 TeV that were inferred for the forward shock. Cassiopeia A is dynamically too young for its reverse shock to appear to be moving inward in the observer frame. We propose instead that the inward-moving shocks are a consequence of the forward shock encountering a density jump of ≳5–8 in the surrounding material.

Repulsive Effect for Unbound High Energy Particles Along Rotation Axis in Kerr-Taub-NUT Spacetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lu; Chen, Song-Bai

2018-04-01

We have investigated the acceleration of the unbound high energy particles moving along the rotation axis in the Kerr-Taub-NUT spacetime, and then study the dependence of the repulsive effects on the NUT charge for the particles in the spacetime. Whether the repulsive effects with the NUT charge become stronger depends on the Carter constant, the position and velocity of the particles themselves. We also present numerically the changes of the observable velocity and acceleration with the NUT charge for the unbound particles in the Kerr-Taub-NUT spacetime. Supported by the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department under Grant No. 17A124, and the Construct Program of Key Disciplines in Hunan Province

Detection and counting of a submicrometer particle in liquid flow by self-mixing microchip Yb:YAG laser velocimetry.

PubMed

Ohtomo, Takayuki; Sudo, Seiichi; Otsuka, Kenju

2016-09-20

We observed intermittent modulation by scattered light from a single submicrometer particle moving in the flow channel using a self-mixing microchip Yb:YAG laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) under lateral beam access. The Doppler-shift frequency chirping (i.e., velocity change) was identified in accordance with a particle passage through the beam focus. Single particle counting, which obeys the Poisson distribution, was performed successfully over a long period of time. The experimental results have been reproduced by a numerical simulation. The LDV signal was increased over 20 dB for a 202-nm particle without chirping by collinear beam access with the laser beam axis aligned along the flow direction.

Dispersal of large branchiopod cysts: Potential movement by wind from potholes on the Colorado Plateau

USGS Publications Warehouse

Graham, T.B.; Wirth, D.

2008-01-01

Wind is suspected to be a primary dispersal mechanism for large branchiopod cysts on the Colorado Plateau. We used a wind tunnel to investigate wind velocities capable of moving pothole sediment and cysts from intact and disturbed surfaces. Material moved in the wind tunnel was trapped in filters; cysts were separated from sediment and counted. Undisturbed sediment moved at velocities as low as 5.9 m s-1 (12.3 miles h-1). A single all-terrain vehicle (ATV) track increased the sediment mass collected 10-fold, with particles moving at a wind velocity of only 4.2 m s-1 (8.7 miles h-1). Cysts were recovered from every wind tunnel trial. Measured wind velocities are representative of low-wind speeds measured near Moab, Utah. Wind can move large numbers of cysts to and from potholes on the Colorado Plateau. Our results indicate that large branchiopod cysts move across pothole basins at low-wind speeds; additional work is needed to establish velocities at which cysts move between potholes. ?? 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

How coarse is too coarse for salmon spawning substrates?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wooster, J. K.; Riebe, C. S.; Ligon, F. K.; Overstreet, B. T.

2009-12-01

Populations of Pacific salmon species have declined sharply in many rivers of the western US. Reversing these declines is a top priority and expense of many river restoration projects. To help restore salmon populations, managers often inject gravel into rivers, to supplement spawning habitat that has been depleted by gravel mining and the effects of dams—which block sediment and thus impair habitat downstream by coarsening the bed where salmon historically spawned. However, there is little quantitative understanding nor a methodology for determining when a river bed has become too coarse for salmon spawning. Hence there is little scientific basis for selecting sites that would optimize the restoration benefits of gravel injection (e.g., sites where flow velocities are suitable but bed materials are too coarse for spawning). To develop a quantitative understanding of what makes river beds too coarse for salmon spawning, we studied redds and spawning use in a series of California and Washington rivers where salmon spawning ability appears to be affected by coarse bed material. Our working hypothesis is that for a given flow condition, there is a maximum “threshold” particle size that a salmon of a given size is able to excavate and/or move as she builds her redd. A second, related hypothesis is that spawning use should decrease and eventually become impossible with increasing percent coverage by immovable particles. To test these hypotheses, we quantified the sizes and spatial distributions of immovably coarse particles in a series of salmon redds in each river during the peak of spawning. We also quantified spawning use and how it relates to percent coverage by immovable particles. Results from our studies of fall-run chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytsha) in the Feather River suggest that immovable particle size varies as a function of flow velocity over the redd, implying that faster water helps fish move bigger particles. Our Feather River study also suggests that the immovable particle size varies as a function of particle shape. Results from our study of fall run chinook salmon in the Sacramento River suggest that spawning is not possible when the bed is more than 40% covered by immovable particles, consistent with our second hypotheses. We will explore these relationships further in fall 2009, when we collect data on threshold particle sizes and spawning use for both pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) in the Puyallup River, and chinook salmon in the Trinity River. Because pink salmon are significantly smaller than chinook salmon, we expect that their redd building success is constrained by a lower average threshold particle size. We expect that there will be a range of threshold sizes for each run, depending on intra-run variability in fish size and variations in flow velocity. Taken together we expect that our results will demonstrate the feasibility of a new methodology for determining when a bed has become too coarse, thus contributing to more effective management of rivers where monitoring of spawning suitability of natural gravels is a priority.

Navigation strategies for multiple autonomous mobile robots moving in formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, P. K. C.

1991-01-01

The problem of deriving navigation strategies for a fleet of autonomous mobile robots moving in formation is considered. Here, each robot is represented by a particle with a spherical effective spatial domain and a specified cone of visibility. The global motion of each robot in the world space is described by the equations of motion of the robot's center of mass. First, methods for formation generation are discussed. Then, simple navigation strategies for robots moving in formation are derived. A sufficient condition for the stability of a desired formation pattern for a fleet of robots each equipped with the navigation strategy based on nearest neighbor tracking is developed. The dynamic behavior of robot fleets consisting of three or more robots moving in formation in a plane is studied by means of computer simulation.

On the motion of a rigid body with an internal moving point mass on a horizontal plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bardin, B. S.; Panev, A. S.

2018-05-01

We consider motions of a body carrying movable internal mass. The internal mass is a particle moving in a circle inside the body, which performs a rectilinear motion on a horizontal plane. We suppose that viscous and dry friction acts between the plane and the body. We also assume that the body moves without jumps on the plane. Our study has shown that depending on values of parameters the body moves either periodically stoping and resting for certain time intervals or it approaches a periodic mode of motion without quiescence intervals. The above conclusions are in good correspondence with results obtained in our previous papers, where the above problem has been studied under assumption that the viscous friction is absent.

Amodal completion of moving objects by pigeons.

PubMed

Nagasaka, Yasuo; Wasserman, Edward A

2008-01-01

In a series of four experiments, we explored whether pigeons complete partially occluded moving shapes. Four pigeons were trained to discriminate between a complete moving shape and an incomplete moving shape in a two-alternative forced-choice task. In testing, the birds were presented with a partially occluded moving shape. In experiment 1, none of the pigeons appeared to complete the testing stimulus; instead, they appeared to perceive the testing stimulus as incomplete fragments. However, in experiments 2, 3, and 4, three of the birds appeared to complete the partially occluded moving shapes. These rare positive results suggest that motion may facilitate amodal completion by pigeons, perhaps by enhancing the figure - ground segregation process.

Mass-conserved volumetric lattice Boltzmann method for complex flows with willfully moving boundaries.

PubMed

Yu, Huidan; Chen, Xi; Wang, Zhiqiang; Deep, Debanjan; Lima, Everton; Zhao, Ye; Teague, Shawn D

2014-06-01

In this paper, we develop a mass-conserved volumetric lattice Boltzmann method (MCVLBM) for numerically solving fluid dynamics with willfully moving arbitrary boundaries. In MCVLBM, fluid particles are uniformly distributed in lattice cells and the lattice Boltzmann equations deal with the time evolution of the particle distribution function. By introducing a volumetric parameter P(x,y,z,t) defined as the occupation of solid volume in the cell, we distinguish three types of lattice cells in the simulation domain: solid cell (pure solid occupation, P=1), fluid cell (pure fluid occupation, P=0), and boundary cell (partial solid and partial fluid, 0

A moving mesh unstaggered constrained transport scheme for magnetohydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mocz, Philip; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Springel, Volker; Vogelsberger, Mark; Marinacci, Federico; Hernquist, Lars

2016-11-01

We present a constrained transport (CT) algorithm for solving the 3D ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations on a moving mesh, which maintains the divergence-free condition on the magnetic field to machine-precision. Our CT scheme uses an unstructured representation of the magnetic vector potential, making the numerical method simple and computationally efficient. The scheme is implemented in the moving mesh code AREPO. We demonstrate the performance of the approach with simulations of driven MHD turbulence, a magnetized disc galaxy, and a cosmological volume with primordial magnetic field. We compare the outcomes of these experiments to those obtained with a previously implemented Powell divergence-cleaning scheme. While CT and the Powell technique yield similar results in idealized test problems, some differences are seen in situations more representative of astrophysical flows. In the turbulence simulations, the Powell cleaning scheme artificially grows the mean magnetic field, while CT maintains this conserved quantity of ideal MHD. In the disc simulation, CT gives slower magnetic field growth rate and saturates to equipartition between the turbulent kinetic energy and magnetic energy, whereas Powell cleaning produces a dynamically dominant magnetic field. Such difference has been observed in adaptive-mesh refinement codes with CT and smoothed-particle hydrodynamics codes with divergence-cleaning. In the cosmological simulation, both approaches give similar magnetic amplification, but Powell exhibits more cell-level noise. CT methods in general are more accurate than divergence-cleaning techniques, and, when coupled to a moving mesh can exploit the advantages of automatic spatial/temporal adaptivity and reduced advection errors, allowing for improved astrophysical MHD simulations.

The Mobility and Dispersal of Augmented Gravel in Upland Channels: a Knowledge-limited Practise in Supply-limited Channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Downs, P. W.; Gilvear, D. J.

2017-12-01

Most river restoration research has been directed at rivers in the highly populated alluvial lowlands: significantly less is known about effectively rehabilitating upland channels, in part because the dynamics of sediment transfer are less well understood. Upland gravel augmentation is thus both a somewhat unproven method for rehabilitating degraded aquatic habitats in sediment-poor reaches, but also a natural experiment in better understanding sediment dynamics in steep, hydraulically-complex river channels. Monitoring on the River Avon in SW England since Water Year (WY) 2015 uses seismic impact plates, RFID-tagged particles and detailed channel bed mapping to establish the mobility rates of augmented particles, their dispersal distances and settling locations relative to flows received. Particles are highly, and equally, mobile: in WY2015, 17 sub-bankfull flows moved at least 60% of augmented particles with volumetric movement non-linearly correlated to flow energy but not to particle size. Waning rates of transport over the year suggest supply limitations. This relationship breaks down early in WY2017 where a two-year flow event moved 40% of the particles in just two months - confounding factors may include particle mass differences and particle supplies from upstream. Median particle travel distances correlate well to energy applied and suggest a long-tailed fan of dispersal with supplemental controls including channel curvature, boulder presence and stream power. Locally, particles are deposited preferentially around boulders and in sheltered river margins but also perched in clusters above the low-flow channel. High tracer mobility makes median transport distances highly dependent on the survey length - in WY2017 some particles travelled 300 m in a 3-month period that included the two-year flood event. Further, in WY2017 median transport distance as a function of volumetric transport suggested significant transport beyond the target reach. The observed particle dynamics thus have implications both for the biological effectiveness of gravel augmentation and the efficacy criterion of `minimum mobility'. They also reflect the challenges inherent to constraint-limited natural experiments that are, conversely, important in proving the value of geomorphology to resource managers.

Electrostatic dust transport on the surfaces of airless bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X.; Schwan, J.; Hsu, H. W.; Horanyi, M.

2015-12-01

The surfaces of airless bodies are charged due to the exposure to solar wind plasma and UV radiation. Dust particles on the regolith of these surfaces can become charged, and may move and even get lofted due to electrostatic force. Electrostatic dust transport has been a long-standing problem that may be related to many observed phenomena on the surfaces of airless planetary bodies, including the lunar horizon glow, the dust ponds on asteroid Eros, the spokes in Saturn's rings, and more recently, the collection of dust particles ejected off Comet 67P, observed by Rosetta. In order to resolve these puzzles, a handful of laboratory experiments have been performed in the past and demonstrated that dust indeed moves and lifts from surfaces exposed to plasma. However, the exact mechanisms for the mobilization of dust particles still remain a mystery. Current charging models, including the so-called "shared charge model" and the charge fluctuation theory, will be discussed. It is found that neither of these models can explain the results from either laboratory experiments or in-situ observations. Recently, single dust trajectories were captured with our new dust experiments, enabling novel micro-scale investigations. The particles' initial launch speeds and size distributions are analyzed, and a new so-called "patched charge model" is proposed to explain our findings. We identify the role of plasma micro-cavities that are formed in-between neighboring dust particles. The emitted secondary or photo- electrons are proposed to be absorbed inside the micro-cavities, resulting in significant charge accumulation on the exposed patches of the surfaces of neighboring particles. The resulting enhanced Coulomb force (repulsion) between particles is likely the dominant force to mobilize and lift them off the surface. The role of other properties, including surface morphology, cohesion and photoelectron charging, will also be discussed.

Fate of microplastics and mesoplastics carried by surface currents and wind waves: A numerical model approach in the Sea of Japan.

PubMed

Iwasaki, Shinsuke; Isobe, Atsuhiko; Kako, Shin'ichiro; Uchida, Keiichi; Tokai, Tadashi

2017-08-15

A numerical model was established to reproduce the oceanic transport processes of microplastics and mesoplastics in the Sea of Japan. A particle tracking model, where surface ocean currents were given by a combination of a reanalysis ocean current product and Stokes drift computed separately by a wave model, simulated particle movement. The model results corresponded with the field survey. Modeled results indicated the micro- and mesoplastics are moved northeastward by the Tsushima Current. Subsequently, Stokes drift selectively moves mesoplastics during winter toward the Japanese coast, resulting in increased contributions of mesoplastics south of 39°N. Additionally, Stokes drift also transports micro- and mesoplastics out to the sea area south of the subpolar front where the northeastward Tsushima Current carries them into the open ocean via the Tsugaru and Soya straits. Average transit time of modeled particles in the Sea of Japan is drastically reduced when including Stokes drift in the model. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Large-Scale Patterns in a Minimal Cognitive Flocking Model: Incidental Leaders, Nematic Patterns, and Aggregates.

PubMed

Barberis, Lucas; Peruani, Fernando

2016-12-09

We study a minimal cognitive flocking model, which assumes that the moving entities navigate using the available instantaneous visual information exclusively. The model consists of active particles, with no memory, that interact by a short-ranged, position-based, attractive force, which acts inside a vision cone (VC), and lack velocity-velocity alignment. We show that this active system can exhibit-due to the VC that breaks Newton's third law-various complex, large-scale, self-organized patterns. Depending on parameter values, we observe the emergence of aggregates or millinglike patterns, the formation of moving-locally polar-files with particles at the front of these structures acting as effective leaders, and the self-organization of particles into macroscopic nematic structures leading to long-ranged nematic order. Combining simulations and nonlinear field equations, we show that position-based active models, as the one analyzed here, represent a new class of active systems fundamentally different from other active systems, including velocity-alignment-based flocking systems. The reported results are of prime importance in the study, interpretation, and modeling of collective motion patterns in living and nonliving active systems.

From conformal blocks to path integrals in the Vaidya geometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anous, Tarek; Hartman, Thomas; Rovai, Antonin

Correlators in conformal field theory are naturally organized as a sum over conformal blocks. In holographic theories, this sum must reorganize into a path integral over bulk fields and geometries. We explore how these two sums are related in the case of a point particle moving in the background of a 3d collapsing black hole. The conformal block expansion is recast as a sum over paths of the first-quantized particle moving in the bulk geometry. Off-shell worldlines of the particle correspond to subdominant contributions in the Euclidean conformal block expansion, but these same operators must be included in order tomore » correctly reproduce complex saddles in the Lorentzian theory. During thermalization, a complex saddle dominates under certain circumstances; in this case, the CFT correlator is not given by the Virasoro identity block in any channel, but can be recovered by summing heavy operators. This effectively converts the conformal block expansion in CFT from a sum over intermediate states to a sum over channels that mimics the bulk path integral.« less

Three-dimensional mid-air acoustic manipulation by ultrasonic phased arrays.

PubMed

Ochiai, Yoichi; Hoshi, Takayuki; Rekimoto, Jun

2014-01-01

The essence of levitation technology is the countervailing of gravity. It is known that an ultrasound standing wave is capable of suspending small particles at its sound pressure nodes. The acoustic axis of the ultrasound beam in conventional studies was parallel to the gravitational force, and the levitated objects were manipulated along the fixed axis (i.e. one-dimensionally) by controlling the phases or frequencies of bolted Langevin-type transducers. In the present study, we considered extended acoustic manipulation whereby millimetre-sized particles were levitated and moved three-dimensionally by localised ultrasonic standing waves, which were generated by ultrasonic phased arrays. Our manipulation system has two original features. One is the direction of the ultrasound beam, which is arbitrary because the force acting toward its centre is also utilised. The other is the manipulation principle by which a localised standing wave is generated at an arbitrary position and moved three-dimensionally by opposed and ultrasonic phased arrays. We experimentally confirmed that expanded-polystyrene particles of 0.6 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm in diameter could be manipulated by our proposed method.

From conformal blocks to path integrals in the Vaidya geometry

DOE PAGES

Anous, Tarek; Hartman, Thomas; Rovai, Antonin; ...

2017-09-04

Correlators in conformal field theory are naturally organized as a sum over conformal blocks. In holographic theories, this sum must reorganize into a path integral over bulk fields and geometries. We explore how these two sums are related in the case of a point particle moving in the background of a 3d collapsing black hole. The conformal block expansion is recast as a sum over paths of the first-quantized particle moving in the bulk geometry. Off-shell worldlines of the particle correspond to subdominant contributions in the Euclidean conformal block expansion, but these same operators must be included in order tomore » correctly reproduce complex saddles in the Lorentzian theory. During thermalization, a complex saddle dominates under certain circumstances; in this case, the CFT correlator is not given by the Virasoro identity block in any channel, but can be recovered by summing heavy operators. This effectively converts the conformal block expansion in CFT from a sum over intermediate states to a sum over channels that mimics the bulk path integral.« less

Three-Dimensional Mid-Air Acoustic Manipulation by Ultrasonic Phased Arrays

PubMed Central

Ochiai, Yoichi; Hoshi, Takayuki; Rekimoto, Jun

2014-01-01

The essence of levitation technology is the countervailing of gravity. It is known that an ultrasound standing wave is capable of suspending small particles at its sound pressure nodes. The acoustic axis of the ultrasound beam in conventional studies was parallel to the gravitational force, and the levitated objects were manipulated along the fixed axis (i.e. one-dimensionally) by controlling the phases or frequencies of bolted Langevin-type transducers. In the present study, we considered extended acoustic manipulation whereby millimetre-sized particles were levitated and moved three-dimensionally by localised ultrasonic standing waves, which were generated by ultrasonic phased arrays. Our manipulation system has two original features. One is the direction of the ultrasound beam, which is arbitrary because the force acting toward its centre is also utilised. The other is the manipulation principle by which a localised standing wave is generated at an arbitrary position and moved three-dimensionally by opposed and ultrasonic phased arrays. We experimentally confirmed that expanded-polystyrene particles of 0.6 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm in diameter could be manipulated by our proposed method. PMID:24849371

Three dimensional N=4 supersymmetric mechanics with Wu-Yang monopole

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bellucci, Stefano; Krivonos, Sergey; Sutulin, Anton

2010-05-15

We propose Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of a N=4 supersymmetric three-dimensional isospin-carrying particle moving in the non-Abelian field of a Wu-Yang monopole and in some specific scalar potential. This additional potential is completely fixed by N=4 supersymmetry, and in the simplest case of flat metrics it coincides with that which provides the existence of the Runge-Lenz vector for the bosonic subsector. The isospin degrees of freedom are described on the Lagrangian level by bosonic auxiliary variables forming N=4 supermultiplet with additional, also auxiliary, fermions. Being quite general, the constructed systems include such interesting cases as N=4 superconformally invariant systems withmore » Wu-Yang monopole, the particles living in the flat R{sup 3} and in the RxS{sup 2} spaces and interacting with the monopole, and also the particles moving on three-dimensional sphere and pseudosphere with the Wu-Yang monopole sitting in the center. The superfield Lagrangian description of these systems is so simple that one could wonder to see how all couplings and the proper coefficients arise while passing to the component action.« less

Resonant current in coupled inertial Brownian particles with delayed-feedback control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Tian-Fu; Zheng, Zhi-Gang; Chen, Jin-Can

2017-12-01

The transport of a walker in rocking feedback-controlled ratchets is investigated. The walker consists of two coupled "feet" that allow the interchange of the order of particles while the walker moves. In the underdamped case, the deterministic dynamics of the walker in a tilted asymmetric ratchet with an external periodic force is considered. It is found that delayed feedback ratchets with a switching-onand-off dependence of the states of the system can lead to absolute negative mobility. In such a novel phenomenon, the particles move against the bias. Moreover, the walker can acquire a series of resonant steps for different values of the current. It is interesting to find that the resonant currents of the walker are induced by the phase locked motion that corresponds to the synchronization of the motion with the change in the frequency of the external driving. These resonant steps can be well predicted in terms of time-space symmetry analysis, which is in good agreement with dynamics simulations. The transport performances can be optimized and controlled by suitably adjusting the parameters of the delayed-feedback ratchets.

Characterization of Hypervelocity Metal Fragments for Explosive Initiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeager, John; Bowden, Patrick; Guildenbecher, Daniel; Olles, Joseph

2017-06-01

The off-normal detonation behavior of two plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) formulations was studied using explosively-driven aluminum fragments moving at hypersonic velocity. Witness plate materials, including copper and polycarbonate, were used to characterize the distribution of particles, finding that the aluminum did not fragment homogeneously but rather with larger particles in a ring surrounding finer particles. Digital holography experiments were conducted to measure three-dimensional shape and size of the fastest-moving fragments, which ranged between 100 and 700 microns and traveled between 2 and 3.5 km/s. Crucially, these experiments showed variability in the fragmentation in terms of the number of fragments at the leading edge of the fragment field, indicating that both single and multiple shock impacts could be imparted to the target material. Lower density PBX 9407 (RDX-based) was initiable at up to 4.5 inches, while higher density PBX 9501 (HMX-based) was only initiable at up to 0.25 inches. This type of data is critical for safety experiments and hydrocode simulations to quantify shock-to-detonation transition mechanisms and the associated risk-margins for these materials.

Meandering Brownian Donkeys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eichhorn, R.; Reimann, P.

2004-04-01

We consider a Brownian particle whose motion is confined to a ``meandering'' pathway and which is driven away from thermal equilibrium by an alternating external force. This system exhibits absolute negative mobility, i.e. when an external static force is applied the particle moves in the direction opposite to that force. We reveal the physical mechanism behind this ``donkey-like'' behavior, and derive analytical approximations that are in excellent agreement with numerical results.

Analysis of ultrasonically rotating droplet using moving particle semi-implicit and distributed point source methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wada, Yuji; Yuge, Kohei; Tanaka, Hiroki; Nakamura, Kentaro

2016-07-01

Numerical analysis of the rotation of an ultrasonically levitated droplet with a free surface boundary is discussed. The ultrasonically levitated droplet is often reported to rotate owing to the surface tangential component of acoustic radiation force. To observe the torque from an acoustic wave and clarify the mechanism underlying the phenomena, it is effective to take advantage of numerical simulation using the distributed point source method (DPSM) and moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method, both of which do not require a calculation grid or mesh. In this paper, the numerical treatment of the viscoacoustic torque, which emerges from the viscous boundary layer and governs the acoustical droplet rotation, is discussed. The Reynolds stress traction force is calculated from the DPSM result using the idea of effective normal particle velocity through the boundary layer and input to the MPS surface particles. A droplet levitated in an acoustic chamber is simulated using the proposed calculation method. The droplet is vertically supported by a plane standing wave from an ultrasonic driver and subjected to a rotating sound field excited by two acoustic sources on the side wall with different phases. The rotation of the droplet is successfully reproduced numerically and its acceleration is discussed and compared with those in the literature.

Seasonal characteristics of water exchange in Beibu Gulf based on a particle tracking model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L.; Pan, W.; Yan, X.

2016-12-01

A lagrangian particle tracking model coupled with a three-dimensional Marine Environmental Committee Ocean Model (MEC) is used to study the transport and seasonal characteristics of water exchange in Beibu Gulf. The hydrodynamic model (MEC), which is forced with the daily surface and lateral boundary fluxes, as well as tidal harmonics and monthly climatological river discharges, is applied to simulate the flow field in the gulf during 2014. Using these results, particle tracking method which includes tidal advection and random walk in the horizontal is used to determine the residence times of sub regions within the gulf in response of winter and summer wind forcing. The result shows water exchange processes in the gulf have a similar tendency with seasonal circulation structure. During the sourthwestly prevailing wind in summer, water particles are traped within the gulf that considerably increases the residence time of each sub region. On the contrary, the presence of strong northeastly prevailing wind in winter drives particles to move cyclonicly leading to shorter residence times and rather active water exchanges among sub regions. Similarly, particle tracking is applied to investigate the water transport in Beibu Gulf. As Qiongzhou Strait and the wide opening in the south of the gulf are two significant channels connecting with the open ocean, continuous particle releases are simulated to quantify the influence range and the pathways of these sources water flowing into Beibu Gulf. The results show that water particles originated from Qiongzhou Strait are moving westward due to the year-round strong westward flow transportation. Influencing range in the north of the Beibu Gulf is enlarged by winter northeastly wind, however, it is blocked to the Leizhou Peninsula coastal region by summer westly wind. In the south opening, water particles are transported northward into the gulf along Hainan Island and flushed from Vietnam coastal region to the ocean rapidly by the longshore currents.

Experimental Exploration of Scale Effects and Factors Controlling Bed Load Sediment Entrainment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fathel, S. L.; Furbish, D. J.; Schmeeckle, M. W.

2015-12-01

Detailed measurements of individual sand grains moving on a streambed allow us to obtain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of incipient motion and evaluate spatial and temporal trends in particle entrainment. We use bed load particle motions measured from high-speed imaging (250 Hz) of uniform, coarse grained sand from two flume experiments, which have different mean fluid velocities near the bed. Particle tracking reveals more than 6,000 entrainment events in 5 seconds (Run 1) and over 5,000 events in 2 seconds (Run 2). We manually track particles, at sub-pixel resolution, from entrainment to either disentrainment or until the particle leaves the frame. Within these experiments we find that over 90% of all initial motions contain a cross-stream component of motion where approximately a third of the motions may be cross-stream dominated, and furthermore, up to 7% of the motions may be negative (i.e. move backwards). We propose that the variability in the direction of initial motion is, in part, a product of the bed topography, where we find that with increasing mean fluid velocity, the initial motion of the sand particles are less sensitive to bed topography, and are more likely to be dominated by the fluid. The high resolution of this data set, containing positions of particles measured start-to-stop, allows us to calculate the characteristic timescale required for a particle to become streamwise, or fluid, dominated in these systems. We also evaluate these data to further show whether the nature of entrainment is a memoryless, uncorrelated process, a correlated process related to the number of particles already in motion (i.e., possibly reflecting collective entrainment), or some combination of the two. This work suggests that the probability of entrainment depends on physical factors such as bed microtopography and the magnitude of the fluid velocity, in addition to varying with space and time scales.

Dust in the wind: long range transport of dust in the atmosphere and its implications for global public and ecosystem health

USGS Publications Warehouse

Griffin, Dale W.; Kellogg, Christina A.; Shinn, Eugene A.

2001-01-01

Movement of soil particles in atmospheres is a normal planetary process. Images of Martian dust devils (wind-spouts) and dust storms captured by NASA's Pathfinder have demonstrated the significant role that storm activity plays in creating the red atmospheric haze of Mars. On Earth, desert soils moving in the atmosphere are responsible for the orange hues in brilliant sunrises and sunsets. In severe dust storm events, millions of tons of soil may be moved across great expanses of land and ocean. An emerging scientific interest in the process of soil transport in the Earth's atmosphere is in the field of public and ecosystem health. This article will address the benefits and the potential hazards associated with exposure to particle fallout as clouds of desert dust traverse the globe.

Universal Long Ranged Correlations in Driven Binary Mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poncet, Alexis; Bénichou, Olivier; Démery, Vincent; Oshanin, Gleb

2017-03-01

When two populations of "particles" move in opposite directions, like oppositely charged colloids under an electric field or intersecting flows of pedestrians, they can move collectively, forming lanes along their direction of motion. The nature of this "laning transition" is still being debated and, in particular, the pair correlation functions, which are the key observables to quantify this phenomenon, have not been characterized yet. Here, we determine the correlations using an analytical approach based on a linearization of the stochastic equations for the density fields, which is valid for dense systems of soft particles. We find that the correlations decay algebraically along the direction of motion, and have a self-similar exponential profile in the transverse direction. Brownian dynamics simulations confirm our theoretical predictions and show that they also hold beyond the validity range of our analytical approach, pointing to a universal behavior.

Plasma drag on a dust grain due to Coulomb collisions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Northrop, T. G.; Birmingham, T. J.

1990-01-01

Expressions are given for the drag due to Coulomb collisions on a charged dust grain moving through a plasma. The commonly used Chandrasekhar (1943) result does not include large scattering angles or plasma collective effects. An equation given by Morfill et al. (1980) which does include large scattering angles, is limited to one-dimensional plasma particle motion and can give at least an order of magnitude too much drag. This paper also makes use of an analogy between the drag problem and problems in electrostatics. This analogy permits generalization to any isotropic plasma of an observation made by Chandrasekhar for a Maxwellian, namely, that the drag is independent of the presence or absence of plasma particles moving faster than the grain. Finally, the contribution of plasma collective effects to the drag is studied with the inclusion of large scattering angles.

Radiation from particles moving in small-scale magnetic fields created in solid-density laser-plasma laboratory experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keenan, Brett D., E-mail: bdkeenan@ku.edu; Medvedev, Mikhail V.

2015-11-15

Plasmas created by high-intensity lasers are often subject to the formation of kinetic-streaming instabilities, such as the Weibel instability, which lead to the spontaneous generation of high-amplitude, tangled magnetic fields. These fields typically exist on small spatial scales, i.e., “sub-Larmor scales.” Radiation from charged particles moving through small-scale electromagnetic (EM) turbulence has spectral characteristics distinct from both synchrotron and cyclotron radiation, and it carries valuable information on the statistical properties of the EM field structure and evolution. Consequently, this radiation from laser-produced plasmas may offer insight into the underlying electromagnetic turbulence. Here, we investigate the prospects for, and demonstrate themore » feasibility of, such direct radiative diagnostics for mildly relativistic, solid-density laser plasmas produced in lab experiments.« less

On the statistical and transport properties of a non-dissipative Fermi-Ulam model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livorati, André L. P.; Dettmann, Carl P.; Caldas, Iberê L.; Leonel, Edson D.

2015-10-01

The transport and diffusion properties for the velocity of a Fermi-Ulam model were characterized using the decay rate of the survival probability. The system consists of an ensemble of non-interacting particles confined to move along and experience elastic collisions with two infinitely heavy walls. One is fixed, working as a returning mechanism of the colliding particles, while the other one moves periodically in time. The diffusion equation is solved, and the diffusion coefficient is numerically estimated by means of the averaged square velocity. Our results show remarkably good agreement of the theory and simulation for the chaotic sea below the first elliptic island in the phase space. From the decay rates of the survival probability, we obtained transport properties that can be extended to other nonlinear mappings, as well to billiard problems.

Modeling of brittle-viscous flow using discrete particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thordén Haug, Øystein; Barabasch, Jessica; Virgo, Simon; Souche, Alban; Galland, Olivier; Mair, Karen; Abe, Steffen; Urai, Janos L.

2017-04-01

Many geological processes involve both viscous flow and brittle fractures, e.g. boudinage, folding and magmatic intrusions. Numerical modeling of such viscous-brittle materials poses challenges: one has to account for the discrete fracturing, the continuous viscous flow, the coupling between them, and potential pressure dependence of the flow. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a numerical technique, widely used for studying fracture of geomaterials. However, the implementation of viscous fluid flow in discrete element models is not trivial. In this study, we model quasi-viscous fluid flow behavior using Esys-Particle software (Abe et al., 2004). We build on the methodology of Abe and Urai (2012) where a combination of elastic repulsion and dashpot interactions between the discrete particles is implemented. Several benchmarks are presented to illustrate the material properties. Here, we present extensive, systematic material tests to characterize the rheology of quasi-viscous DEM particle packing. We present two tests: a simple shear test and a channel flow test, both in 2D and 3D. In the simple shear tests, simulations were performed in a box, where the upper wall is moved with a constant velocity in the x-direction, causing shear deformation of the particle assemblage. Here, the boundary conditions are periodic on the sides, with constant forces on the upper and lower walls. In the channel flow tests, a piston pushes a sample through a channel by Poisseuille flow. For both setups, we present the resulting stress-strain relationships over a range of material parameters, confining stress and strain rate. Results show power-law dependence between stress and strain rate, with a non-linear dependence on confining force. The material is strain softening under some conditions (which). Additionally, volumetric strain can be dilatant or compactant, depending on porosity, confining pressure and strain rate. Constitutive relations are implemented in a way that limits the range of viscosities. For identical pressure and strain rate, an order of magnitude range in viscosity can be investigated. The extensive material testing indicates that DEM particles interacting by a combination of elastic repulsion and dashpots can be used to model viscous flows. This allows us to exploit the fracturing capabilities of the discrete element methods and study systems that involve both viscous flow and brittle fracturing. However, the small viscosity range achievable using this approach does constraint the applicability for systems where larger viscosity ranges are required, such as folding of viscous layers of contrasting viscosities. References: Abe, S., Place, D., & Mora, P. (2004). A parallel implementation of the lattice solid model for the simulation of rock mechanics and earthquake dynamics. PAGEOPH, 161(11-12), 2265-2277. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-004-2562-x Abe, S., and J. L. Urai (2012), Discrete element modeling of boudinage: Insights on rock rheology, matrix flow, and evolution of geometry, JGR., 117, B01407, doi:10.1029/2011JB00855

Rapidity evolution of Wilson lines at the next-to-leading order

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Balitsky, Ian; Chirilli, Giovanni

2013-12-01

At high energies particles move very fast so the proper degrees of freedom for the fast gluons moving along the straight lines are Wilson-line operators - infinite gauge factors ordered along the line. In the framework of operator expansion in Wilson lines the energy dependence of the amplitudes is determined by the rapidity evolution of Wilson lines. We present the next-to-leading order hierarchy of the evolution equations for Wilson-line operators.

Numerical Treatment of the Boltzmann Equation for Self-Propelled Particle Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thüroff, Florian; Weber, Christoph A.; Frey, Erwin

2014-10-01

Kinetic theories constitute one of the most promising tools to decipher the characteristic spatiotemporal dynamics in systems of actively propelled particles. In this context, the Boltzmann equation plays a pivotal role, since it provides a natural translation between a particle-level description of the system's dynamics and the corresponding hydrodynamic fields. Yet, the intricate mathematical structure of the Boltzmann equation substantially limits the progress toward a full understanding of this equation by solely analytical means. Here, we propose a general framework to numerically solve the Boltzmann equation for self-propelled particle systems in two spatial dimensions and with arbitrary boundary conditions. We discuss potential applications of this numerical framework to active matter systems and use the algorithm to give a detailed analysis to a model system of self-propelled particles with polar interactions. In accordance with previous studies, we find that spatially homogeneous isotropic and broken-symmetry states populate two distinct regions in parameter space, which are separated by a narrow region of spatially inhomogeneous, density-segregated moving patterns. We find clear evidence that these three regions in parameter space are connected by first-order phase transitions and that the transition between the spatially homogeneous isotropic and polar ordered phases bears striking similarities to liquid-gas phase transitions in equilibrium systems. Within the density-segregated parameter regime, we find a novel stable limit-cycle solution of the Boltzmann equation, which consists of parallel lanes of polar clusters moving in opposite directions, so as to render the overall symmetry of the system's ordered state nematic, despite purely polar interactions on the level of single particles.

GRMHD and GRPIC Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nishikawa, K.-I.; Mizuno, Y.; Watson, M.; Fuerst, S.; Wu, K.; Hardee, P.; Fishman, G. J.

2007-01-01

We have developed a new three-dimensional general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) code by using a conservative, high-resolution shock-capturing scheme. The numerical fluxes are calculated using the HLL approximate Riemann solver scheme. The flux-interpolated constrained transport scheme is used to maintain a divergence-free magnetic field. We have performed various 1-dimensional test problems in both special and general relativity by using several reconstruction methods and found that the new 3D GRMHD code shows substantial improvements over our previous code. The simulation results show the jet formations from a geometrically thin accretion disk near a nonrotating and a rotating black hole. We will discuss the jet properties depended on the rotation of a black hole and the magnetic field configuration including issues for future research. A General Relativistic Particle-in-Cell Code (GRPIC) has been developed using the Kerr-Schild metric. The code includes kinetic effects, and is in accordance with GRMHD code. Since the gravitational force acting on particles is extreme near black holes, there are some difficulties in numerically describing these processes. The preliminary code consists of an accretion disk and free-falling corona. Results indicate that particles are ejected from the black hole. These results are consistent with other GRMHD simulations. The GRPIC simulation results will be presented, along with some remarks and future improvements. The emission is calculated from relativistic flows in black hole systems using a fully general relativistic radiative transfer formulation, with flow structures obtained by GRMHD simulations considering thermal free-free emission and thermal synchrotron emission. Bright filament-like features protrude (visually) from the accretion disk surface, which are enhancements of synchrotron emission where the magnetic field roughly aligns with the line-of-sight in the co-moving frame. The features move back and forth as the accretion flow evolves, but their visibility and morphology are robust. We would like to extend this research using GRPIC simulations and examine a possible new mechanism for certain X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in blackhole X-ray binaries.

Test of Relativistic Gravity for Propulsion at the Large Hadron Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felber, Franklin

2010-01-01

A design is presented of a laboratory experiment that could test the suitability of relativistic gravity for propulsion of spacecraft to relativistic speeds. An exact time-dependent solution of Einstein's gravitational field equation confirms that even the weak field of a mass moving at relativistic speeds could serve as a driver to accelerate a much lighter payload from rest to a good fraction of the speed of light. The time-dependent field of ultrarelativistic particles in a collider ring is calculated. An experiment is proposed as the first test of the predictions of general relativity in the ultrarelativistic limit by measuring the repulsive gravitational field of bunches of protons in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The estimated `antigravity beam' signal strength at a resonant detector of each proton bunch is 3 nm/s2 for 2 ns during each revolution of the LHC. This experiment can be performed off-line, without interfering with the normal operations of the LHC.

Using the tritium plasma experiment to evaluate ITER PFC safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longhurst, Glen R.; Anderl, Robert A.; Bartlit, John R.; Causey, Rion A.; Haines, John R.

1993-06-01

The Tritium Plasma Experiment was assembled at Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore and is being moved to the Tritium Systems Test Assembly facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory to investigate interactions between dense plasmas at low energies and plasma-facing component materials. This apparatus has the unique capabilty of replicating plasma conditions in a tokamak divertor with particle flux densities of 2 × 1023 ions/m2.s and a plasma temperature of about 15 eV using a plasma that includes tritium. An experimental program has been initiated using the Tritium Plasma Experiment to examine safety issues related to tritium in plasma-facing components, particularly the ITER divertor. Those issues include tritium retention and release characteristics, tritium permeation rates and transient times to coolant streams, surface modification and erosion by the plasma, the effects of thermal loads and cycling, and particulate production. An industrial consortium led by McDonnell Douglas will design and fabricate the test fixtures.

Fast time-resolved aerosol collector: proof of concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, X.-Y.; Cowin, J. P.; Iedema, M. J.; Ali, H.

2010-10-01

Atmospheric particles can be collected in the field on substrates for subsequent laboratory analysis via chemically sensitive single particle methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis. With moving substrates time resolution of seconds to minutes can be achieved. In this paper, we demonstrate how to increase the time resolution when collecting particles on a substrate to a few milliseconds to provide real-time information. Our fast time-resolved aerosol collector ("Fast-TRAC") microscopically observes the particle collection on a substrate and records an on-line video. Particle arrivals are resolved to within a single frame (4-17 ms in this setup), and the spatial locations are matched to the subsequent single particle analysis. This approach also provides in-situ information on particle size and number concentration. Applications are expected in airborne studies of cloud microstructure, pollution plumes, and surface long-term monitoring.

Fast time-resolved aerosol collector: proof of concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, X.-Y.; Cowin, J. P.; Iedema, M. J.; Ali, H.

2010-06-01

Atmospheric particles can be collected in the field on substrates for subsequent laboratory analysis via chemically sensitive single particle methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis. With moving substrates time resolution of seconds to minutes can be achieved. In this paper, we demonstrate how to increase the time resolution when collecting particles on a substrate to a few milliseconds to provide real-time information. Our fast time-resolved aerosol collector ("Fast-TRAC") microscopically observes the particle collection on a substrate and records an on-line video. Particle arrivals are resolved to within a single frame (4-17 ms in this setup), and the spatial locations are matched to the subsequent single particle analysis. This approach also provides in-situ information on particle size and number concentration. Applications are expected in airborne studies of cloud microstructure, pollution plumes, and surface long-term monitoring.

Diffusion of massive particles around an Abelian-Higgs string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saha, Abhisek; Sanyal, Soma

2018-03-01

We study the diffusion of massive particles in the space time of an Abelian Higgs string. The particles in the early universe plasma execute Brownian motion. This motion of the particles is modeled as a two dimensional random walk in the plane of the Abelian Higgs string. The particles move randomly in the space time of the string according to their geodesic equations. We observe that for certain values of their energy and angular momentum, an overdensity of particles is observed close to the string. We find that the string parameters determine the distribution of the particles. We make an estimate of the density fluctuation generated around the string as a function of the deficit angle. Though the thickness of the string is small, the length is large and the overdensity close to the string may have cosmological consequences in the early universe.

Manipulation of particles by weak forces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adler, M. S.; Savkar, S. D.; Summerhayes, H. R.

1972-01-01

Quantitative relations between various force fields and their effects on the motion of particles of various sizes and physical characteristics were studied. The forces considered were those derived from light, heat, microwaves, electric interactions, magnetic interactions, particulate interactions, and sound. A physical understanding is given of the forces considered as well as formulae which express how the size of the force depends on the physical and electrical properties of the particle. The drift velocity in a viscous fluid is evaluated as a function of initial acceleration and the effects of thermal random motion are considered. A means of selectively sorting or moving particles by choosing a force system and/or environment such that the particle of interest reacts uniquely was developed. The forces considered and a demonstration of how the initial acceleration, drift velocity, and ultimate particle density distribution is affected by particle, input, and environmental parameters are tabulated.

The transport of wear particles in the prosthetic hip joint: a computational fluid dynamics investigation.

PubMed

Hölzer, Andreas; Schröder, Christian; Woiczinski, Matthias; Sadoghi, Patrick; Müller, Peter E; Jansson, Volkmar

2012-02-02

The joint fluid mechanics and transport of wear particles in the prosthetic hip joint were analyzed for subluxation and flexion motion using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The entire joint space including a moving capsule boundary was considered. It was found that particles suspended in the joint space are drawn into the joint gap between prosthesis cup and head during subluxation, which was also documented by Lundberg et al. (2007; Journal of Biomechanics 40, 1676-1685), however, wear particles remain in the joint gap. Wear particles leave the joint gap during flexion and can finally migrate to the proximal boundaries including the acetabular bone, where the particle deposition can cause osteolysis according to the established literature. Thus, the present study supports the theory of polyethylene wear particle induced osteolysis of the acetabular bone as a major factor in the loosening of hip prosthesis cups. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vivo characteristics of targeted drug-carrying filamentous bacteriophage nanomedicines

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Targeted drug-carrying phage nanomedicines are a new class of nanomedicines that combines biological and chemical components into a modular nanometric drug delivery system. The core of the system is a filamentous phage particle that is produced in the bacterial host Escherichia coli. Target specificity is provided by a targeting moiety, usually an antibody that is displayed on the tip of the phage particle. A large drug payload is chemically conjugated to the protein coat of the phage via a chemically or genetically engineered linker that provides for controlled release of the drug after the particle homed to the target cell. Recently we have shown that targeted drug-carrying phage nanomedicines can be used to eradicate pathogenic bacteria and cultured tumor cells with great potentiation over the activity of the free untargeted drug. We have also shown that poorly water soluble drugs can be efficiently conjugated to the phage coat by applying hydrophilic aminoglycosides as branched solubility-enhancing linkers. Results With an intention to move to animal experimentation of efficacy, we tested anti-bacterial drug-carrying phage nanomedicines for toxicity and immunogenicity and blood pharmacokinetics upon injection into mice. Here we show that anti-bacterial drug-carrying phage nanomedicines that carry the antibiotic chloramphenicol conjugated via an aminoglycoside linker are non-toxic to mice and are greatly reduced in immunogenicity in comparison to native phage particles or particles to which the drug is conjugated directly and are cleared from the blood more slowly in comparison to native phage particles. Conclusion Our results suggest that aminoglycosides may serve as branched solubility enhancing linkers for drug conjugation that also provide for a better safety profile of the targeted nanomedicine. PMID:22185583

Transport of active ellipsoidal particles in ratchet potentials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ai, Bao-Quan, E-mail: aibq@scnu.edu.cn; Wu, Jian-Chun

2014-03-07

Rectified transport of active ellipsoidal particles is numerically investigated in a two-dimensional asymmetric potential. The out-of-equilibrium condition for the active particle is an intrinsic property, which can break thermodynamical equilibrium and induce the directed transport. It is found that the perfect sphere particle can facilitate the rectification, while the needlelike particle destroys the directed transport. There exist optimized values of the parameters (the self-propelled velocity, the torque acting on the body) at which the average velocity takes its maximal value. For the ellipsoidal particle with not large asymmetric parameter, the average velocity decreases with increasing the rotational diffusion rate, whilemore » for the needlelike particle (very large asymmetric parameter), the average velocity is a peaked function of the rotational diffusion rate. By introducing a finite load, particles with different shapes (or different self-propelled velocities) will move to the opposite directions, which is able to separate particles of different shapes (or different self-propelled velocities)« less

Continuously phase-modulated standing surface acoustic waves for separation of particles and cells in microfluidic channels containing multiple pressure nodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Junseok; Rhyou, Chanryeol; Kang, Byungjun; Lee, Hyungsuk

2017-04-01

This paper describes continuously phase-modulated standing surface acoustic waves (CPM-SSAW) and its application for particle separation in multiple pressure nodes. A linear change of phase in CPM-SSAW applies a force to particles whose magnitude depends on their size and contrast factors. During continuous phase modulation, we demonstrate that particles with a target dimension are translated in the direction of moving pressure nodes, whereas smaller particles show oscillatory movements. The rate of phase modulation is optimized for separation of target particles from the relationship between mean particle velocity and period of oscillation. The developed technique is applied to separate particles of a target dimension from the particle mixture. Furthermore, we also demonstrate human keratinocyte cells can be separated in the cell and bead mixture. The separation technique is incorporated with a microfluidic channel spanning multiple pressure nodes, which is advantageous over separation in a single pressure node in terms of throughput.

Nonlocal birth-death competitive dynamics with volume exclusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khalil, Nagi; López, Cristóbal; Hernández-García, Emilio

2017-06-01

A stochastic birth-death competition model for particles with excluded volume is proposed. The particles move, reproduce, and die on a regular lattice. While the death rate is constant, the birth rate is spatially nonlocal and implements inter-particle competition by a dependence on the number of particles within a finite distance. The finite volume of particles is accounted for by fixing an upper value to the number of particles that can occupy a lattice node, compromising births and movements. We derive closed macroscopic equations for the density of particles and spatial correlation at two adjacent sites. Under different conditions, the description is further reduced to a single equation for the particle density that contains three terms: diffusion, a linear death, and a highly nonlinear and nonlocal birth term. Steady-state homogeneous solutions, their stability which reveals spatial pattern formation, and the dynamics of time-dependent homogeneous solutions are discussed and compared, in the one-dimensional case, with numerical simulations of the particle system.

Rotating states of self-propelling particles in two dimensions.

PubMed

Chen, Hsuan-Yi; Leung, Kwan-Tai

2006-05-01

We present particle-based simulations and a continuum theory for steady rotating flocks formed by self-propelling particles (SPPs) in two-dimensional space. Our models include realistic but simple rules for the self-propelling, drag, and interparticle interactions. Among other coherent structures, in particle-based simulations we find steady rotating flocks when the velocity of the particles lacks long-range alignment. Physical characteristics of the rotating flock are measured and discussed. We construct a phenomenological continuum model and seek steady-state solutions for a rotating flock. We show that the velocity and density profiles become simple in two limits. In the limit of weak alignment, we find that all particles move with the same speed and the density of particles vanishes near the center of the flock due to the divergence of centripetal force. In the limit of strong body force, the density of particles within the flock is uniform and the velocity of the particles close to the center of the flock becomes small.

Self-lubricating Al-WS2 composites for efficient and greener tribological parts.

PubMed

Niste, Vlad Bogdan; Ratoi, Monica; Tanaka, Hiroyoshi; Xu, Fang; Zhu, Yanqiu; Sugimura, Joichi

2017-11-07

Due to their mechanical and physical properties, aluminium alloys possess wide potential in the automotive industry, particularly in hot reciprocating applications such as pistons for diesel and petrol engines. WS 2 particle-reinforced composites could bring further improvements by reducing friction and wear between moving parts. Reducing friction improves efficiency by lowering energy/fuel use, ultimately leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions, while antiwear properties can prolong component life. This study compares for the first time the tribological performance of powder metallurgy-consolidated Al composites reinforced with either IF- or 2H-WS 2 particles, so as to elucidate their mechanism of action in test conditions similar to those encountered in engine applications. The composites were tested in lubricated reciprocating contacts against AISI52100 steel balls and the impact of WS 2 could be seen at both 25 and 100 °C. The reduced friction and wear at ambient temperature is due to the predominantly physical mechanism of action of WS 2 , while the best antiwear performance is measured at elevated (standard operating engine) temperatures that promote the chemical reaction of WS 2 with the aluminium matrix. The investigation focused on studying the wear tracks/scars and the tribofilms generated on the composite and ball with optical profilometry, SEM, XPS and Auger spectroscopy.

Higher-order force moments of active particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nasouri, Babak; Elfring, Gwynn J.

2018-04-01

Active particles moving through fluids generate disturbance flows due to their activity. For simplicity, the induced flow field is often modeled by the leading terms in a far-field approximation of the Stokes equations, whose coefficients are the force, torque, and stresslet (zeroth- and first-order force moments) of the active particle. This level of approximation is quite useful, but may also fail to predict more complex behaviors that are observed experimentally. In this study, to provide a better approximation, we evaluate the contribution of the second-order force moments to the flow field and, by reciprocal theorem, present explicit formulas for the stresslet dipole, rotlet dipole, and potential dipole for an arbitrarily shaped active particle. As examples of this method, we derive modified Faxén laws for active spherical particles and resolve higher-order moments for active rod-like particles.

Detection of nanoparticles in carbon arc discharge with laser-induced incandescence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yatom, S.; Bak, J.; Khrabryi, A.

Laser-induced incandescence measurements were conducted in the carbon arc discharge, used for synthesis of carbon nanostructures. The results reveal two spatial regions occupied by dominant populations of carbon particles with different sizes. Close to the axis of the arc, large micron size particles dominate the incandescence signal. In the arc periphery, the dominant population of nanoparticles has diameter of 20 nm. Using a heat transfer model between the gas, arc plasma and the particles, it is shown that such a drastic difference in the particle sizes can be explained by evaporation of the micron-scale particles which move across the arcmore » plasma towards the arc periphery. It is also hypothesized that mass evaporated from the micro particles contributes to the carbon feedstock for the formation of nanostructures. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.« less

Spectrally reconfigurable integrated multi-spot particle trap.

PubMed

Leake, Kaelyn D; Olson, Michael A B; Ozcelik, Damla; Hawkins, Aaron R; Schmidt, Holger

2015-12-01

Optical manipulation of small particles in the form of trapping, pushing, or sorting has developed into a vast field with applications in the life sciences, biophysics, and atomic physics. Recently, there has been increasing effort toward integration of particle manipulation techniques with integrated photonic structures on self-contained optofluidic chips. Here, we use the wavelength dependence of multi-spot pattern formation in multimode interference (MMI) waveguides to create a new type of reconfigurable, integrated optical particle trap. Interfering lateral MMI modes create multiple trapping spots in an intersecting fluidic channel. The number of trapping spots can be dynamically controlled by altering the trapping wavelength. This novel, spectral reconfigurability is utilized to deterministically move single and multiple particles between different trapping locations along the channel. This fully integrated multi-particle trap can form the basis of high throughput biophotonic assays on a chip.

Detection of nanoparticles in carbon arc discharge with laser-induced incandescence

DOE PAGES

Yatom, S.; Bak, J.; Khrabryi, A.; ...

2017-02-20

Laser-induced incandescence measurements were conducted in the carbon arc discharge, used for synthesis of carbon nanostructures. The results reveal two spatial regions occupied by dominant populations of carbon particles with different sizes. Close to the axis of the arc, large micron size particles dominate the incandescence signal. In the arc periphery, the dominant population of nanoparticles has diameter of 20 nm. Using a heat transfer model between the gas, arc plasma and the particles, it is shown that such a drastic difference in the particle sizes can be explained by evaporation of the micron-scale particles which move across the arcmore » plasma towards the arc periphery. It is also hypothesized that mass evaporated from the micro particles contributes to the carbon feedstock for the formation of nanostructures. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.« less

Time-reversibility and particle sedimentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golubitsky, Martin; Krupa, Martin; Lim, Chjan

1991-01-01

This paper studies an ODE model, called the Stokeslet model, and describes sedimentation of small clusters of particles in a highly viscous fluid. This model has a trivial solution in which the n particles arrange themselves at the vertices of a regular n-sided polygon. When n = 3, Hocking and Caflisch et al. (1988) proved the existence of periodic motion (in the frame moving with the center of gravity in the cluster) in which the particles form an isosceles triangle. Here, the study of periodic and quasi-periodic solutions of the Stokeslet model is continued, with emphasis on the spatial and time-reversal symmetry of the model. For three particles, the existence of a second family of periodic solutions and a family of quasi-periodic solutions is proved. It is also indicated how the methods generalize to the case of n particles.

Transport of underdamped active particles in ratchet potentials.

PubMed

Ai, Bao-Quan; Li, Feng-Guo

2017-03-29

We study the rectified transport of underdamped active noninteracting particles in an asymmetric periodic potential. It is found that the ratchet effect of active noninteracting particles occurs in a single direction (along the easy direction of the substrate asymmetry) in the overdamped limit. However, when the inertia is considered, it is possible to observe reversals of the ratchet effect, where the motion is along the hard direction of the substrate asymmetry. By changing the friction coefficient or the self-propulsion force, the average velocity can change its direction several times. Therefore, by suitably tailoring the parameters, underdamped active particles with different self-propulsion forces can move in different directions and can be separated.

Elliptically polarizing adjustable phase insertion device

DOEpatents

Carr, R.

1995-01-17

An insertion device for extracting polarized electromagnetic energy from a beam of particles is disclosed. The insertion device includes four linear arrays of magnets which are aligned with the particle beam. The magnetic field strength to which the particles are subjected is adjusted by altering the relative alignment of the arrays in a direction parallel to that of the particle beam. Both the energy and polarization of the extracted energy may be varied by moving the relevant arrays parallel to the beam direction. The present invention requires a substantially simpler and more economical superstructure than insertion devices in which the magnetic field strength is altered by changing the gap between arrays of magnets. 3 figures.

A new class of exact solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation of a charged particle interacting with an electromagnetic plane wave in a medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varró, Sándor

2014-01-01

Exact solutions are presented of the Klein-Gordon equation of a charged particle moving in a transverse monochromatic plasmon wave of arbitrary high amplitude, which propagates in an underdense plasma. These solutions are expressed in terms of Ince polynomials, forming a doubly infinite set, parametrized by discrete momentum components of the charged particle’s de Broglie wave along the polarization vector and along the propagation direction of the plasmon radiation. The envelope of the exact wavefunctions describes a high-contrast periodic structure of the particle density on the plasma length scale, which may have relevance in novel particle acceleration mechanisms.

Particle acceleration in step function shear flows - A microscopic analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jokipii, J. R.; Morfill, G. E.

1990-01-01

The transport of energetic particles in a moving, scattering fluid, which has a large shear in its velocity over a distance small compared with the scattering mean free path is discussed. The analysis is complementary to an earlier paper by Earl, Jokipii, and Morfill (1988), which considered effects of more-gradual shear in the diffusion approximation. The case in which the scattering fluid undergoes a step function change in velocity, in the direction normal to the flow is considered. An analytical, approximate calculation and a Monte Carlo analysis of particle motion are presented. It is found that particles gain energy at a rate proportional to the square of the magnitude of the velocity change.

Investigating phonon-mediated interactions with polar molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sous, John; Madison, Kirk; Berciu, Mona; Krems, Roman

2017-04-01

We show that an ensemble of polar molecules in an optical lattice realizes the Peierls polaron model for hard-core particles/ pseudospins. We analyze the quasiparticle spectrum in the one-particle subspace, the two-particle subspace and at finite concentrations. We derive an effective model that describes the low-energy behavior of the system. We show that the Hamiltonian includes phonon-mediated repulsions and phonon-mediated ``pair-hopping'' terms which move the particle pair as a whole. We show that microwave excitations of the system exhibit signatures of these interactions. These results pave the way for the experimental observation of phonon-mediated repulsion. This work was supported by NSERC of Canada and the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute.

Characterization of hypervelocity metal fragments for explosive initiation

DOE PAGES

Yeager, John D.; Bowden, Patrick R.; Guildenbecher, Daniel R.; ...

2017-07-17

The fragment impact response of two plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) formulations was studied using explosively driven aluminum fragments. A generic aluminum-capped detonator generated sub-mm aluminum particles moving at hypersonic velocities. The ability of these fragments to initiate reaction or otherwise damage two PBX materials was assessed using go/no-go experiments at standoff distances of up to 160 mm. Lower density PBX 9407 (RDX-based) was initiable at up to 115 mm, while higher density PBX 9501 (HMX-based) was only initiable at up to 6 mm. Several techniques were used to characterize the size, distribution, and velocity of the particles. Witness plate materials, includingmore » copper and polycarbonate, and backlit high speed video were used to characterize the distribution of particles, finding that the aluminum cap did not fragment homogeneously but rather with larger particles in a ring surrounding finer particles. Finally, precise digital holography experiments were conducted to measure the three-dimensional shape and size of the fastest-moving fragments, which ranged between 100 and 700 μm and traveled between 2.2 and 3.2 km/s. Crucially, these experiments showed variability in the fragmentation in terms of the number of fragments at the leading edge of the fragment field, indicating that both single and multiple shock impacts could be imparted to the target material. As a result, these types of data are critical for safety experiments and hydrocode simulations to quantify shock-to-detonation transition mechanisms and the associated risk-margins for these materials.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yeager, John D.; Bowden, Patrick R.; Guildenbecher, Daniel R.

The fragment impact response of two plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) formulations was studied using explosively driven aluminum fragments. A generic aluminum-capped detonator generated sub-mm aluminum particles moving at hypersonic velocities. The ability of these fragments to initiate reaction or otherwise damage two PBX materials was assessed using go/no-go experiments at standoff distances of up to 160 mm. Lower density PBX 9407 (RDX-based) was initiable at up to 115 mm, while higher density PBX 9501 (HMX-based) was only initiable at up to 6 mm. Several techniques were used to characterize the size, distribution, and velocity of the particles. Witness plate materials, includingmore » copper and polycarbonate, and backlit high speed video were used to characterize the distribution of particles, finding that the aluminum cap did not fragment homogeneously but rather with larger particles in a ring surrounding finer particles. Finally, precise digital holography experiments were conducted to measure the three-dimensional shape and size of the fastest-moving fragments, which ranged between 100 and 700 μm and traveled between 2.2 and 3.2 km/s. Crucially, these experiments showed variability in the fragmentation in terms of the number of fragments at the leading edge of the fragment field, indicating that both single and multiple shock impacts could be imparted to the target material. As a result, these types of data are critical for safety experiments and hydrocode simulations to quantify shock-to-detonation transition mechanisms and the associated risk-margins for these materials.« less

Characterization of hypervelocity metal fragments for explosive initiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeager, John D.; Bowden, Patrick R.; Guildenbecher, Daniel R.; Olles, Joseph D.

2017-07-01

The fragment impact response of two plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) formulations was studied using explosively driven aluminum fragments. A generic aluminum-capped detonator generated sub-mm aluminum particles moving at hypersonic velocities. The ability of these fragments to initiate reaction or otherwise damage two PBX materials was assessed using go/no-go experiments at standoff distances of up to 160 mm. Lower density PBX 9407 (RDX-based) was initiable at up to 115 mm, while higher density PBX 9501 (HMX-based) was only initiable at up to 6 mm. Several techniques were used to characterize the size, distribution, and velocity of the particles. Witness plate materials, including copper and polycarbonate, and backlit high speed video were used to characterize the distribution of particles, finding that the aluminum cap did not fragment homogeneously but rather with larger particles in a ring surrounding finer particles. Finally, precise digital holography experiments were conducted to measure the three-dimensional shape and size of the fastest-moving fragments, which ranged between 100 and 700 μm and traveled between 2.2 and 3.2 km/s. Crucially, these experiments showed variability in the fragmentation in terms of the number of fragments at the leading edge of the fragment field, indicating that both single and multiple shock impacts could be imparted to the target material. These types of data are critical for safety experiments and hydrocode simulations to quantify shock-to-detonation transition mechanisms and the associated risk-margins for these materials.

Human tracking in thermal images using adaptive particle filters with online random forest learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ko, Byoung Chul; Kwak, Joon-Young; Nam, Jae-Yeal

2013-11-01

This paper presents a fast and robust human tracking method to use in a moving long-wave infrared thermal camera under poor illumination with the existence of shadows and cluttered backgrounds. To improve the human tracking performance while minimizing the computation time, this study proposes an online learning of classifiers based on particle filters and combination of a local intensity distribution (LID) with oriented center-symmetric local binary patterns (OCS-LBP). Specifically, we design a real-time random forest (RF), which is the ensemble of decision trees for confidence estimation, and confidences of the RF are converted into a likelihood function of the target state. First, the target model is selected by the user and particles are sampled. Then, RFs are generated using the positive and negative examples with LID and OCS-LBP features by online learning. The learned RF classifiers are used to detect the most likely target position in the subsequent frame in the next stage. Then, the RFs are learned again by means of fast retraining with the tracked object and background appearance in the new frame. The proposed algorithm is successfully applied to various thermal videos as tests and its tracking performance is better than those of other methods.

Self-Diffusiophoresis of Janus Particles in Near-Critical Mixtures.

PubMed

Würger, Alois

2015-10-30

We theoretically study the self-propulsion of a laser-heated Janus particle in a near-critical water-lutidine mixture, and we relate its velocity v_{p} and squirmer parameter β to the wetting properties of its two hemispheres. For nonionic surface forces, the particle moves the active cap at the front, whereas a charged hydrophilic cap leads to backward motion, in agreement with the experiment. Both v_{p} and β show nonmonotonic dependencies on the heating power, and they may even change sign. The variation of β is expected to strongly affect the collective behavior of dense squirmer systems.

Scattering phaseshift formulas for mesons and baryons in elongated boxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Frank X.; Alexandru, Andrei

2018-03-01

We derive Lüscher phaseshift formulas for two-particle states in boxes elongated in one of the dimensions. Such boxes offer a cost-effective way of varying the relative momentum of the particles. Boosted states in the elongated direction, which allow wider access to energies, are also considered. The formulas for the various scenarios (moving and zero-momentum states in cubic and elongated boxes) are compared and relations between them are clarified. The results are applicable to a wide set of meson-meson and meson-baryon elastic scattering processes, with the two-particle system having equal or unequal masses.

Size-sensitive sorting of microparticles through control of flow geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Cheng; Jalikop, Shreyas V.; Hilgenfeldt, Sascha

2011-07-01

We demonstrate a general concept of flow manipulation in microfluidic environments, based on controlling the shape and position of flow domains in order to force switching and sorting of microparticles without moving parts or changes in design geometry. Using microbubble acoustic streaming, we show that regulation of the relative strength of streaming and a superimposed Poiseuille flow allows for size-selective trapping and releasing of particles, with particle size sensitivity much greater than what is imposed by the length scales of microfabrication. A simple criterion allows for quantitative tuning of microfluidic devices for switching and sorting of particles of desired size.

Polaronic and dressed molecular states in orbital Feshbach resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Junjun; Qi, Ran

2018-04-01

We consider the impurity problem in an orbital Feshbach resonance (OFR), with a single excited clock state | e ↑⟩ atom immersed in a Fermi sea of electronic ground state | g ↓⟩. We calculate the polaron effective mass and quasi-particle residue, as well as the polaron to molecule transition. By including one particle-hole excitation in the molecular state, we find significant correction to the transition point. This transition point moves toward the BCS side for increasing particle densities, which suggests that the corresponding many-body physics is similar to a narrow resonance.

Particle model for optical noisy image recovery via stochastic resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yongbin; Liu, Hongjun; Huang, Nan; Wang, Zhaolu; Han, Jing

2017-10-01

We propose a particle model for investigating the optical noisy image recovery via stochastic resonance. The light propagating in nonlinear media is regarded as moving particles, which are used for analyzing the nonlinear coupling of signal and noise. Owing to nonlinearity, a signal seeds a potential to reinforce itself at the expense of noise. The applied electric field, noise intensity, and correlation length are important parameters that influence the recovery effects. The noise-hidden image with the signal-to-noise intensity ratio of 1:30 is successfully restored and an optimal cross-correlation gain of 6.1 is theoretically obtained.

Discovery of Jovian dust streams and interstellar grains by the Ulysses spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gruen, E.; Zook, H. A.; Baguhl, M.; Balogh, A.; Bame, S. J.; Fechtig, H.; Forsyth, R.; Hanner, M. S.; Horanyi, M.; Kissel, J.

1993-01-01

Within 1 AU from Jupiter, the dust detector aboard the Ulysses spacecraft during the flyby on February 8, 1992 recorded periodic bursts of submicron dust particles with durations ranging from several hours to two days and occurring at about monthly intervals. These particles arrived at Ulysses in collimate streams radiating from close to the line-of-sight direction to Jupiter, suggesting a Jovian origin for the periodic bursts. Ulysses also detected a flux of micron-sized dust particles moving in high-velocity retrograde orbits. These grains are identified here as being of interstellar origin.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Suppressing anomalous diffusion by cooperation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dybiec, Bartłomiej

2010-08-01

Within a continuous time random walk scenario we consider a motion of a complex of particles which moves coherently. The motion of every particle is characterized by the waiting time and jump length distributions which are of the power-law type. Due to the interactions between particles it is assumed that the waiting time is adjusted to the shortest or to the longest waiting time. Analogously, the jump length is adjusted to the shortest or to the longest jump length. We show that adjustment to the shortest waiting time can suppress the subdiffusive behavior even in situations when the exponent characterizing the waiting time distribution assures subdiffusive motion of a single particle. Finally, we demonstrate that the characteristic of the motion depends on the number of particles building a complex.

Distribution of self-propelled organisms in fluid flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neufeld, Zoltan

2006-11-01

We study the distribution of microorganisms represented as self-propelled particles in a moving fluid medium. The particles are advected by the flow and, in addition, they swim in a direction controlled by external factors. Two cases are considered: 1. passive spheroidal particles, that swim with constant speed but the swimming direction is reoriented by the viscous torque acting on the spheroid due to the local velocity field, and 2. chemotactic particles, whose swimming speed is oriented and proportional to the gradient of the concentration of a chemoattractant. We show that the combined effects of chaotic mixing and chemotaxis or flow reorientation leads to aggregation of the particles along a complex manifold. We analyse the properties of the aggregates and the efficiency of chemotaxis in flows with strongly non-uniform fluctuating distribution of the chemottractant.

Osmotic Propulsion: The Osmotic Motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Córdova-Figueroa, Ubaldo M.; Brady, John F.

2008-04-01

A model for self-propulsion of a colloidal particle—the osmotic motor—immersed in a dispersion of “bath” particles is presented. The nonequilibrium concentration of bath particles induced by a surface chemical reaction creates an osmotic pressure imbalance on the motor causing it to move. The ratio of the speed of reaction to that of diffusion governs the bath particle distribution which is employed to calculate the driving force on the motor, and from which the self-induced osmotic velocity is determined. For slow reactions, the self-propulsion is proportional to the reaction velocity. When surface reaction dominates over diffusion the osmotic velocity cannot exceed the diffusive speed of the bath particles. Implications of these features for different bath particle volume fractions and motor sizes are discussed. Theoretical predictions are compared with Brownian dynamics simulations.

Dust Impact Monitor (SESAME-DIM) on-board Rosetta/Philae: Aerogel as comet analog material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flandes, Alberto; Albin, Thomas; Arnold, Walter; Fischer, Hans-Herbert; Hirn, Attila; Loose, Alexander; Mewes, Cornelia; Podolak, Morris; Seidensticker, Klaus J.; Volkert, Cynthia; Krüger, Harald

2018-03-01

On 12 November 2014, during the descent of the Rosetta lander Philae to the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko the Dust Impact Monitor (DIM) on board Philae recorded an impact of a cometary dust impact of a cometary dust particle at 2.4 km from the comet surface (5 km from the nucleus' barycentre). In this work, we report further experiments that support the identification of this particle. We use aerogel as a comet analog material to characterise the properties of this particle. Our experiments show that this particle has a radius of 0.9 mm, a low density of 0.25 g/cm3 and a high porosity close to 90%. The particle likely moved at near 4 m/s with respect to the comet.

Direct Numerical Simulations of Particle-Laden Turbulent Channel Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jebakumar, Anand Samuel; Premnath, Kannan; Abraham, John

2017-11-01

In a recent experimental study, Lau and Nathan (2014) reported that the distribution of particles in a turbulent pipe flow is strongly influenced by the Stokes number (St). At St lower than 1, particles migrate toward the wall and at St greater than 10 they tend to migrate toward the axis. It was suggested that this preferential migration of particles is due to two forces, the Saffman lift force and the turbophoretic force. Saffman lift force represents a force acting on the particle as a result of a velocity gradient across the particle when it leads or lags the fluid flow. Turbophoretic force is induced by turbulence which tends to move the particle in the direction of decreasing turbulent kinetic energy. In this study, the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) is employed to simulate a particle-laden turbulent channel flow through Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS). We find that the preferential migration is a function of particle size in addition to the St. We explain the effect of the particle size and St on the Saffman lift force and turbophoresis and present how this affects particle concentration at different conditions.

The drag force on a subsonic projectile in a fluid complex plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ivlev, A. V.; Zhukhovitskii, D. I.

2012-09-15

The incompressible Navier-Stokes equation is employed to describe a subsonic particle flow induced in complex plasmas by a moving projectile. Drag forces acting on the projectile in different flow regimes are calculated. It is shown that, along with the regular neutral gas drag, there is an additional force exerted on the projectile due to dissipation in the surrounding particle fluid. This additional force provides significant contribution to the total drag.

Moving walls and geometric phases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Facchi, Paolo, E-mail: paolo.facchi@ba.infn.it; INFN, Sezione di Bari, I-70126 Bari; Garnero, Giancarlo, E-mail: giancarlo.garnero@uniba.it

2016-09-15

We unveil the existence of a non-trivial Berry phase associated to the dynamics of a quantum particle in a one dimensional box with moving walls. It is shown that a suitable choice of boundary conditions has to be made in order to preserve unitarity. For these boundary conditions we compute explicitly the geometric phase two-form on the parameter space. The unboundedness of the Hamiltonian describing the system leads to a natural prescription of renormalization for divergent contributions arising from the boundary.

Exergy optimization in a steady moving bed heat exchanger.

PubMed

Soria-Verdugo, A; Almendros-Ibáñez, J A; Ruiz-Rivas, U; Santana, D

2009-04-01

This work provides an energy and exergy optimization analysis of a moving bed heat exchanger (MBHE). The exchanger is studied as a cross-flow heat exchanger where one of the phases is a moving granular medium. The optimal MBHE dimensions and the optimal particle diameter are obtained for a range of incoming fluid flow rates. The analyses are carried out over operation data of the exchanger obtained in two ways: a numerical simulation of the steady-state problem and an analytical solution of the simplified equations, neglecting the conduction terms. The numerical simulation considers, for the solid, the convection heat transfer to the fluid and the diffusion term in both directions, and for the fluid only the convection heat transfer to the solid. The results are compared with a well-known analytical solution (neglecting conduction effects) for the temperature distribution in the exchanger. Next, the analytical solution is used to derive an expression for the exergy destruction. The optimal length of the MBHE depends mainly on the flow rate and does not depend on particle diameter unless they become very small (thus increasing sharply the pressure drop). The exergy optimal length is always smaller than the thermal one, although the difference is itself small.

Experimental investigation on a colloidal damper rendered controllable under the variable magnetic field generated by moving permanent magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suciu, B.

2016-09-01

In this work, a colloidal damper rendered controllable under variable magnetic fields is proposed and its controllability is experimentally evaluated. This absorber employs a water- based ferrofluid (FERROTEC MSGW10) in association with a liquid-repellent nanoporous solid matrix, consisted of particles of gamma alumina or/and silica gel. Control of the dynamic characteristics is obtained by moving permanent neodymium annular magnets, which are placed either on the piston head (axial magnetic field) or on the external surface of the cylinder (radial magnetic field). In order to properly select these magnets, flow visualizations inside of a transparent model damper were performed, and the quantity of the displaced liquid by the magnets through the damper's filter and through the nanoporous solid matrix was determined. Experimental data concerning variation of the magnetic flux density at the magnet surface versus the height of the magnet, and versus the target distance was collected. Based on such data, the suitable magnet geometry was decided. Then, the 3D structural model of the trial colloidal damper obtained by using Solidworks, and the excitation test rig are presented. From excitation tests on a ball-screw shaker, one confirmed larger damping abilities of the proposed absorber relative to the traditional colloidal damper, and also the possibility to adjust the damping coefficient according to the excitation type.

COMMERCIALIZATION OF AN ATMOSPHERIC IRON-BASED CDCL PROCESS FOR POWER PRODUCTION. PHASE I: TECHNOECONOMIC ANALYSIS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vargas, Luis

Coal Direct Chemical Looping (CDCL) is an advanced oxy-combustion technology that has potential to enable substantial reductions in the cost and energy penalty associated with carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from coal-fired power plants. Through collaborative efforts, the Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group (B&W) and The Ohio State University (OSU) developed a conceptual design for a 550 MWe (net) supercritical CDCL power plant with greater than 90% CO2 capture and compression. Process simulations were completed to enable an initial assessment of its technical performance. A cost estimate was developed following DOE’s guidelines as outlined in NETL’s report “Quality Guidelines formore » Energy System Studies: Cost Estimation Methodology for NETL Assessments of Power Plant Performance”, (2011/1455). The cost of electricity for the CDCL plant without CO2 Transportation and Storage cost resulted in $ $102.67 per MWh, which corresponds to a 26.8 % increase in cost of electricity (COE) when compared to an air-fired pulverized-coal supercritical power plant. The cost of electricity is strongly depending on the total plant cost and cost of the oxygen carrier particles. The CDCL process could capture further potential savings by increasing the performance of the particles and reducing the plant size. During the techno-economic analysis, the team identified technology and engineering gaps that need to be closed to bring the technology to commercialization. The technology gaps were focused in five critical areas: (i) moving bed reducer reactor, (ii) fluidized bed combustor, (iii) particle riser, (iv) oxygen-carrier particle properties, and (v) process operation. The key technology gaps are related to particle performance, particle manufacturing cost, and the operation of the reducer reactor. These technology gaps are to be addressed during Phase II of project. The project team is proposing additional lab testing to be completed on the particle and a 3MWth pilot facility be built to evaluate the reducer reactor performance among other aspects of the technology. A Phase II proposal was prepared and submitted to DOE. The project team proposed a three year program in Phase II. Year 1 includes lab testing and particle development work aimed at improving the chemical and mechanical properties of the oxygen carrier particle. In parallel, B&W will design the 3MWt pilot plant. Any improvements to the particle performance discovered in year 1 that would impact the design of the pilot will be incorporated into the final design. Year 2 will focus on procurement of materials and equipment, and construction of the pilot plant. Year 3 will include, commissioning, start-up, and testing in the pilot. Phase I work was successfully completed and a design and operating philosophy for a 550 MWe commercial scale coal-direct chemical looping power plant was developed. Based on the results of the techno-economic evaluation, B&W projects that the CDCL process can achieve 96.5% CO2 capture with a« less

CFD-DEM based numerical simulation of liquid-gas-particle mixture flow in dam break

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Kyung Min; Yoon, Hyun Sik; Kim, Min Il

2018-06-01

This study investigates the multiphase flow of a liquid-gas-particle mixture in dam break. The open source codes, OpenFOAM and CFDEMproject, were used to reproduce the multiphase flow. The results of the present study are compared with those of previous results obtained by numerical and experimental methods, which guarantees validity of present numerical method to handle the multiphase flow. The particle density ranging from 1100 to 2500 kg/m3 is considered to investigate the effect of the particle density on the behavior of the free-surface and the particles. The particle density has no effect on the liquid front, but it makes the particle front move with different velocity. The time when the liquid front reach at the opposite wall is independent of particle density. However, such time for particle front decrease as particle density increases, which turned out to be proportional to particle density. Based on these results, we classified characteristics of the movement by the front positions of the liquid and the particles. Eventually, the response of the free-surface and particles to particle density is identified by three motion regimes of the advancing, overlapping and delaying motions.

The "moving valgus stress test" for medial collateral ligament tears of the elbow.

PubMed

O'Driscoll, Shawn W M; Lawton, Richard L; Smith, Adam M

2005-02-01

The diagnosis of a painful partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in overhead-throwing athletes is challenging, even for experienced elbow surgeons and despite the use of sophisticated imaging techniques. The "moving valgus stress test" is an accurate physical examination technique for diagnosis of medial collateral ligament attenuation in the elbow. Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Twenty-one patients underwent surgical intervention for medial elbow pain due to medial collateral ligament insufficiency or other abnormality of chronic valgus overload, and they were assessed preoperatively with an examination called the moving valgus stress test. To perform the moving valgus stress test, the examiner applies and maintains a constant moderate valgus torque to the fully flexed elbow and then quickly extends the elbow. The test is positive if the medial elbow pain is reproduced at the medial collateral ligament and is at maximum between 120 degrees and 70 degrees. The moving valgus stress test was highly sensitive (100%, 17 of 17 patients) and specific (75%, 3 of 4 patients) when compared to assessment of the medial collateral ligament by surgical exploration or arthroscopic valgus stress testing. The mean shear range (ie, the arc within which pain was produced with the moving valgus stress test) was 120 degrees to 70 degrees. The mean angle at which pain was at a maximum was 90 degrees of elbow flexion. The moving valgus stress test is an accurate physical examination technique that, when performed and interpreted correctly, is highly sensitive for medial elbow pain arising from the medial collateral ligament.

THE MECHANISM OF THE INFLAMMATORY PROCESS : III. ELECTROPHORETIC MIGRATION OF INERT PARTICLES AND BLOOD CELLS IN GELATIN SOLS AND GELS WITH REFERENCE TO LEUCOCYTE EMIGRATION THROUGH THE CAPILLARY WALL.

PubMed

Abramson, H A

1928-07-20

1. Quartz particles and certain other particles move cataphoretically in certain soft gelatin gels, with the same velocity as in the sol. The speed is a function of the true viscosity of the sol or gel, and it is See PDF for Structure apparently not altered in these soft gels by the presence of gel structure. It is proportional to the applied difference of potential. 2. This finding is compatible with the fact that certain sols undergo gelation with no increase of the true viscosity although a marked change in the apparent viscosity takes place. 3. Red cells in soft gelatin-serum gels show a distinct difference in behavior. They migrate through the sol or gel with a speed that is about twice as great as the leucocytes and quartz particles, which latter particles migrate with the same velocity. This ratio has been found to hold for serum and plasma. The absolute velocities are comparatively slightly decreased by the presence of the gel. 4. In more concentrated or stiffer gels, leucocytes, red cells and quartz particles all move at first with the same velocity. By producing mechanical softening of these gels (shearing from cataphoretic movement of the micells within the cell) the red cells presently resume their previous property of independent migration through the gel. 5. The movements of particles in gelatin gels produced by a magnetic force or the force of gravity are of a different nature than those movements produced by cataphoresis. 6. The mechanical nature of obstruction to the cataphoretic migration of leucocytes and red cells in fibrin gels is briefly described. 7. The correlation of cataphoresis of microscopic particles in gels with the order of magnitude and nature of the potential differences in the capillary wall, lends additional evidence to the theory that polymorphonuclear leucocyte emigration and migration are dependent upon these potential differences.

Drift correction of the dissolved signal in single particle ICPMS.

PubMed

Cornelis, Geert; Rauch, Sebastien

2016-07-01

A method is presented where drift, the random fluctuation of the signal intensity, is compensated for based on the estimation of the drift function by a moving average. It was shown using single particle ICPMS (spICPMS) measurements of 10 and 60 nm Au NPs that drift reduces accuracy of spICPMS analysis at the calibration stage and during calculations of the particle size distribution (PSD), but that the present method can again correct the average signal intensity as well as the signal distribution of particle-containing samples skewed by drift. Moreover, deconvolution, a method that models signal distributions of dissolved signals, fails in some cases when using standards and samples affected by drift, but the present method was shown to improve accuracy again. Relatively high particle signals have to be removed prior to drift correction in this procedure, which was done using a 3 × sigma method, and the signals are treated separately and added again. The method can also correct for flicker noise that increases when signal intensity is increased because of drift. The accuracy was improved in many cases when flicker correction was used, but when accurate results were obtained despite drift, the correction procedures did not reduce accuracy. The procedure may be useful to extract results from experimental runs that would otherwise have to be run again. Graphical Abstract A method is presented where a spICP-MS signal affected by drift (left) is corrected (right) by adjusting the local (moving) averages (green) and standard deviations (purple) to the respective values at a reference time (red). In combination with removing particle events (blue) in the case of calibration standards, this method is shown to obtain particle size distributions where that would otherwise be impossible, even when the deconvolution method is used to discriminate dissolved and particle signals.

Olive Oil Tracer Particle Size Analysis for Optical Flow Investigations in a Gas Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Shaun; Smith, Barton

2014-11-01

Seed tracer particles must be large enough to scatter sufficient light while being sufficiently small to follow the flow. These requirements motivate a desire for control over the particle size. For gas measurements, it is common to use atomized oil droplets as tracer particles. A Laskin nozzle is a device for generating oil droplets in air by directing high-pressure air through small holes under an oil surface. The droplet diameter frequency distribution can be varied by altering the hole diameter, the number of holes, or the inlet pressure. We will present a systematic study of the effect of these three parameters on the resultant particle distribution as it leaves the Laskin nozzle. The study was repeated for cases where the particles moved through a typical jet facility before their size was measured. While the jet facility resulted in an elimination of larger particles, the average particle diameter could be varied by a factor of two at both the seeder exit and downstream of the jet facility.

Self-propulsion of a catalytically active particle near a planar wall: from reflection to sliding and hovering.

PubMed

Uspal, W E; Popescu, M N; Dietrich, S; Tasinkevych, M

2015-01-21

Micron-sized particles moving through a solution in response to self-generated chemical gradients serve as model systems for studying active matter. Their far-reaching potential applications will require the particles to sense and respond to their local environment in a robust manner. The self-generated hydrodynamic and chemical fields, which induce particle motion, probe and are modified by that very environment, including confining boundaries. Focusing on a catalytically active Janus particle as a paradigmatic example, we predict that near a hard planar wall such a particle exhibits several scenarios of motion: reflection from the wall, motion at a steady-state orientation and height above the wall, or motionless, steady "hovering." Concerning the steady states, the height and the orientation are determined both by the proportion of catalyst coverage and the interactions of the solutes with the different "faces" of the particle. Accordingly, we propose that a desired behavior can be selected by tuning these parameters via a judicious design of the particle surface chemistry.

Evidence of a rolling motion of a microparticle on a silicon wafer in a liquid environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schiwek, Simon; Stark, Robert W., E-mail: stark@csi.tu-darmstadt.de, E-mail: dietz@csi.tu-darmstadt.de; Dietz, Christian, E-mail: stark@csi.tu-darmstadt.de, E-mail: dietz@csi.tu-darmstadt.de

2016-05-21

The interaction of micro- and nanometer-sized particles with surfaces plays a crucial role when small-scale structures are built in a bottom-up approach or structured surfaces are cleaned in the semiconductor industry. For a reliable quantification of the interaction between individual particles and a specific surface, however, the motion type of the particle must be known. We developed an approach to unambiguously distinguish between sliding and rolling particles. To this end, fluorescent particles were partially bleached in a confocal laser scanning microscope to tailor an optical inhomogeneity, which allowed for the identification of the characteristic motion pattern. For the manipulation, themore » water flow generated by a fast moving cantilever-tip of an atomic force microscope enabled the contactless pushing of the particle. We thus experimentally evidenced a rolling motion of a micrometer-sized particle directly with a fluorescence microscope. A similar approach could help to discriminate between rolling and sliding particles in liquid flows of microfluidic systems.« less

Dynamic self-organization of confined autophoretic particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medrano, Anthony; Michelin, Sébastien; Kanso, Eva

2016-11-01

We study the behavior of chemically-active Janus particles in microfluidic Hele-Shaw-type confinement. These micron-scale chemical motors, when immersed in a fuel-laden fluid, produce an ionic chemical field which leads to motility and consequently a local fluid flow. In unconfined settings, experimental and computational studies have shown these particles to spontaneously self-organize into crystal structures, and form into asters of two or more particles. Here, we show that geometric confinement alters both the chemical and hydrodynamic signature of the particles in such a way that their far-field effects can be modeled as source dipoles. Each particle moves according to its own self-propelled motion and in response to the chemical and hydrodynamic field created by other particles. Two interaction modes are observed: self-assembly into quasi-static crystals and into dynamically-evolving chains. We discuss the conditions that lead to these modes of interactions and the phase transitions between them for various Janus particle concentrations. The National GEM Consortium.

Extended general relativity: Large-scale antigravity and short-scale gravity with ω=-1 from five-dimensional vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madriz Aguilar, José Edgar; Bellini, Mauricio

2009-08-01

Considering a five-dimensional (5D) Riemannian spacetime with a particular stationary Ricci-flat metric, we obtain in the framework of the induced matter theory an effective 4D static and spherically symmetric metric which give us ordinary gravitational solutions on small (planetary and astrophysical) scales, but repulsive (anti gravitational) forces on very large (cosmological) scales with ω=-1. Our approach is an unified manner to describe dark energy, dark matter and ordinary matter. We illustrate the theory with two examples, the solar system and the great attractor. From the geometrical point of view, these results follow from the assumption that exists a confining force that make possible that test particles move on a given 4D hypersurface.

A Simple Pythagorean Interpretation of E2 = p2c2 + (mc2)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tobar, J. A.; Vargas, E. L.; Andrianarijaona, V. M.

2015-03-01

We are considering the relationship between the relativistic energy, the momentum, and the rest energy, E2 =p2c2 + (mc2)2 , and using geometrical means to analyze each individual portion in a spatial setting. The aforementioned equation suggests that pc and mc2 could be thought of as the two axis of a plane. According to de Broglie's hypothesis λ = h / p therefore suggesting that the pc-axis is connected to the wave properties of a moving object, and subsequently, the mc2-axis is connected to the particle properties. Consequently, these two axis could represent the particle and wave properties of the moving object. An overview of possible models and meaningful interpretations will be presented. Authors wish to give special thanks to Pacific Union College Student Senate in Angwin, California, for their financial support.

Numerical simulation of the solitary wave interacting with an elastic structure using MPS-FEM coupled method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Chengping; Zhang, Youlin; Wan, Decheng

2017-12-01

Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) caused by fluid impacting onto a flexible structure commonly occurs in naval architecture and ocean engineering. Research on the problem of wave-structure interaction is important to ensure the safety of offshore structures. This paper presents the Moving Particle Semi-implicit and Finite Element Coupled Method (MPS-FEM) to simulate FSI problems. The Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method is used to calculate the fluid domain, while the Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to address the structure domain. The scheme for the coupling of MPS and FEM is introduced first. Then, numerical validation and convergent study are performed to verify the accuracy of the solver for solitary wave generation and FSI problems. The interaction between the solitary wave and an elastic structure is investigated by using the MPS-FEM coupled method.

Anomalous dynamics of intruders in a crowded environment of mobile obstacles

PubMed Central

Sentjabrskaja, Tatjana; Zaccarelli, Emanuela; De Michele, Cristiano; Sciortino, Francesco; Tartaglia, Piero; Voigtmann, Thomas; Egelhaaf, Stefan U.; Laurati, Marco

2016-01-01

Many natural and industrial processes rely on constrained transport, such as proteins moving through cells, particles confined in nanocomposite materials or gels, individuals in highly dense collectives and vehicular traffic conditions. These are examples of motion through crowded environments, in which the host matrix may retain some glass-like dynamics. Here we investigate constrained transport in a colloidal model system, in which dilute small spheres move in a slowly rearranging, glassy matrix of large spheres. Using confocal differential dynamic microscopy and simulations, here we discover a critical size asymmetry, at which anomalous collective transport of the small particles appears, manifested as a logarithmic decay of the density autocorrelation functions. We demonstrate that the matrix mobility is central for the observed anomalous behaviour. These results, crucially depending on size-induced dynamic asymmetry, are of relevance for a wide range of phenomena ranging from glassy systems to cell biology. PMID:27041068

Multiple wavelength interferometry for distance measurements of moving objects with nanometer uncertainty

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuschmierz, R.; Czarske, J.; Fischer, A.

2014-08-01

Optical measurement techniques offer great opportunities in diverse applications, such as lathe monitoring and microfluidics. Doppler-based interferometric techniques enable simultaneous measurement of the lateral velocity and axial distance of a moving object. However, there is a complementarity between the unambiguous axial measurement range and the uncertainty of the distance. Therefore, we present an extended sensor setup, which provides an unambiguous axial measurement range of 1 mm while achieving uncertainties below 100 nm. Measurements at a calibration system are performed. When using a pinhole for emulating a single scattering particle, the tumbling motion of the rotating object is resolved with a distance uncertainty of 50 nm. For measurements at the rough surface, the distance uncertainty amounts to 280 nm due to a lower signal-to-noise ratio. Both experimental results are close to the respective Cramér-Rao bound, which is derived analytically for both surface and single particle measurements.

Dynamics of Perturbed Relative Equilibria of Point Vortices on the Sphere or Plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patrick, G. W.

2000-06-01

, and there are stable relative equilibria of four point vortices, where three identical point vortices form an equilateral triangle circling a central vortex. These relative equilibria have zero (nongeneric) momentum and form a family that extends to arbitrarily small diameters. Using the energy-momentum method, I show their shape is stable while their location on the sphere is unstable, and they move, after perturbation to nonzero momentum, on the sphere as point particles move under the influence of a magnetic monopole. In the analysis the internal and external degrees of freedom are separated and the mass of these point particles determined. In addition, two identical such relative equilibria attract one another, while opposites repel, and in energetic collisions, opposites disintegrate to vortex pairs while identicals interact by exchanging a vortex. An analogous situation also occurs for the planar system with its noncompact SE(2) symmetry.

Target-locking acquisition with real-time confocal (TARC) microscopy.

PubMed

Lu, Peter J; Sims, Peter A; Oki, Hidekazu; Macarthur, James B; Weitz, David A

2007-07-09

We present a real-time target-locking confocal microscope that follows an object moving along an arbitrary path, even as it simultaneously changes its shape, size and orientation. This Target-locking Acquisition with Realtime Confocal (TARC) microscopy system integrates fast image processing and rapid image acquisition using a Nipkow spinning-disk confocal microscope. The system acquires a 3D stack of images, performs a full structural analysis to locate a feature of interest, moves the sample in response, and then collects the next 3D image stack. In this way, data collection is dynamically adjusted to keep a moving object centered in the field of view. We demonstrate the system's capabilities by target-locking freely-diffusing clusters of attractive colloidal particles, and activelytransported quantum dots (QDs) endocytosed into live cells free to move in three dimensions, for several hours. During this time, both the colloidal clusters and live cells move distances several times the length of the imaging volume.

Asynchronous beating of cilia enhances particle capture rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Yang; Kanso, Eva

2014-11-01

Many aquatic micro-organisms use beating cilia to generate feeding currents and capture particles in surrounding fluids. One of the capture strategies is to ``catch up'' with particles when a cilium is beating towards the overall flow direction (effective stroke) and intercept particles on the downstream side of the cilium. Here, we developed a 3D computational model of a cilia band with prescribed motion in a viscous fluid and calculated the trajectories of the particles with different sizes in the fluid. We found an optimal particle diameter that maximizes the capture rate. The flow field and particle motion indicate that the low capture rate of smaller particles is due to the laminar flow in the neighbor of the cilia, whereas larger particles have to move above the cilia tips to get advected downstream which decreases their capture rate. We then analyzed the effect of beating coordination between neighboring cilia on the capture rate. Interestingly, we found that asynchrony of the beating of the cilia can enhance the relative motion between a cilium and the particles near it and hence increase the capture rate.

Removal of 10-nm contaminant particles from Si wafers using CO2 bullet particles.

PubMed

Kim, Inho; Hwang, Kwangseok; Lee, Jinwon

2012-04-11

Removal of nanometer-sized contaminant particles (CPs) from substrates is essential in successful fabrication of nanoscale devices. The particle beam technique that uses nanometer-sized bullet particles (BPs) moving at supersonic velocity was improved by operating it at room temperature to achieve higher velocity and size uniformity of BPs and was successfully used to remove CPs as small as 10 nm. CO2 BPs were generated by gas-phase nucleation and growth in a supersonic nozzle; appropriate size and velocity of the BPs were obtained by optimizing the nozzle contours and CO2/He mixture fraction. Cleaning efficiency greater than 95% was attained. BP velocity was the most important parameter affecting removal of CPs in the 10-nm size range. Compared to cryogenic Ar or N2 particles, CO2 BPs were more uniform in size and had higher velocity and, therefore, cleaned CPs more effectively.