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At least 829 records · Page 46

Energy balance in the solar transition region. II - Effects of pressure and energy input on hydrostatic models

The radiation of energy by hydrogen lines and continua in hydrostatic energy-balance models of the transition region between the solar chromosphere and corona is studied using models which assume that mechanical or magnetic energy is dissipated in the hot corona and is then transported toward the chromosphere down the steep temperature gradient of the transition region. These models explain the average quiet sun and also the entire range of variability of the Ly-alpha lines. The relations between the downward energy flux, the pressure of the transition region, and the different hydrogen emission are described.

Fontenla, J. M.↗

Analysis of flight-measured boundary-layer stability and transition data

The paper concentrates on the computational analysis of both the Tollmien-Schlichting and crossflow-type instabilities using the results of a boundary-layer transition flight experiment on a smooth swept test surface. In addition, the effect of nonadiabatic wall conditions is analyzed using the measured surface temperature distribution on the boundary-layer development and stability growth. The computational methods utilized in analyzing the boundary-layer stability characteristics are discussed: one approach analyzes the Tollmien-Schlichting and crossflow instabilities independently with maximum Tollmien-Schlichting n-factors near nine and maximum crossflow n-factors near six at transition onset for separate cases, while the second approach analyzes the instabilities for maximum growth regardless of the type. As much as a 27-percent increase in n-factor is found at transition onset due to an increased Tollmien-Schlichting instability.

Obara, Clifford J.↗

Fluctuation driven electroweak phase transition

We examine the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. For Higgs masses in the range 46 less than or = M sub H less than or = 150 GeV and top quark masses less than 200 GeV, regions of symmetric and asymmetric vacuum coexist to below the critical temperature, with thermal equilibrium between the two phases maintained by fluctuations of both phases. We propose that the transition to the asymmetric vacuum is completed by percolation of these subcritical fluctuations. Our results are relevant to scenarios of baryogenesis that invoke a weakly first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale.

Gleiser, Marcelo↗

A kappa-epsilon calculation of transitional boundary layers

A recently proposed kappa-epsilon model for low Reynolds number turbulent flows was modified by introducing a new damping function f(sub mu). The modified model is used to calculate the transitional boundary layer over a flat plate with different freestream turbulence levels. It is found that the model could mimic the transitional flow. However, the predicted transition is found to be sensitive to the initial conditions.

Yang, Z.↗

RNG in turbulence and modeling of bypass transition

Two projects are considered: the Renormalization Group (RNG) analysis of turbulence modeling, and the calculation of bypass transition through turbulence modeling. RNG is a process which eliminates small scales on the uneliminated large scales as the change in the transport properties. It is because of this property of RNG that it was previously suggested that RNG could be used as a model builder in turbulence modeling. The possibility is studied of constructing RNG based turbulence models, and to try to proceed to do the modeling through RNG in parallel with the classical approach. The numerical predictions made by RNG models and by classical models is compared against data from Direct Numerical Simulation. While in an environment with freestream turbulence, the transition initiated by the instability of the laminar boundary layer to Tollmien-Schlichting waves is found to be a bypass one in which turbulent spots are formed without T-S wave amplification. The formation is a random process, and flow within a turbulent spot is almost fully turbulent. This suggests the possibility of using turbulence modeling to describe and predict the bypass transition.

Yang, Zhigang↗

A fractal transition in the two dimensional shear layer

The dependence of product generation with the Peclet and Reynolds number in a numerically simulated, reacting, two dimensional, temporally growing mixing layer is used to compute the fractal dimension of passive scalar interfaces. A transition from a low dimension of 4/3 to a higher one of 5/3 is identified and shown to be associated to the kinematic distortion on the flow field during the first pairing interaction. It is suggested that the structures responsible for this transition are non-deterministic, non-random, inhomogeneous fractals. Only the large scales are involved. No further transition is found for Reynolds numbers up to 20,000.

Jimenez, Javier↗

Orbit crowding of molecular gas at a bar-spiral arm transition zone in M83

The southwestern bar-spiral arm transition zone in M83 is been studied in CO, H-alpha, H I, red light, and the radio continuum. A massive molecular gas complex in the heart of the transition zone is composed or two principal components which have the morphology and kinematics expected from orbit crowding, where gas on highly elliptical orbits form the bar region converges with gas on more circular orbits from the spiral arm region. Three mechanisms for the origin of the orbit crowding are investigated, and it is proposed that the crowding is due primarily to density wave streaming motions caused by the bar and spiral arms. The inner CO component is partially coincident with a region of highly polarized radio continuum emission which precedes the H-alpha spiral arm by 15-25 arcsec, indicating that it lies on or just downstream from a shock front. This suggests that the bar gas approaching the transition zone is shocked and explains the ridge of dense gas seen upstream from the spiral arm.

Kenney, Jeffrey D. P.↗

Fine structure and resonance transitions in C(+)

Significant features in the collision strengths for electron-impact excitation of the fine-structure transition 2P0 1/2 - 2P0 3/2 and the resonance transition 2P0 - 2D in C(+) are discussed based on improved calculations. The former transition gives rise to a well-known (2,3) line in the infrared spectra of many astrophysical sources.

Blum, Robert D.↗

Microwave properties of YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) high-transition-temperature superconducting thin films measured by the power transmission method

The microwave response of YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) superconducting thin films deposited on LaAlO3, MgO, YSZ, and LaGaO3 substrates are studied. It is found that the microwave transmission properties are very weakly dependent on temperature in the normal state but change drastically upon transition to the superconducting state. In particular, the transmission decreases and there is a negative phase shift with respect to the phase at room temperature when the sample is cooled through its transition temperature. The magnetic penetration depth for all the films was determined from the surface reactance of the films. The microwave complex conductivity is determined in both the normal and the superconducting state. It is observed that both sigma1 and sigma2 increase in transition to the superconducting state. The surface resistivity is calculated for all the films.

Miranda, F. A.↗

On the nonlinear development of three-dimensional instability waves in natural transition

The nonlinear development of a pair of symmetrical three-dimensional oblique instability waves in transitioning boundary layers is investigated based on critical-layer nonlinearity (CLN). Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms leading to the naturally occurring transition in which the amplitudes of the plane and oblique modes can be of the same order. Results indicate that the self-interaction of the oblique waves reduces their growth rate. A relatively large oblique mode can either suppress or enhance the growth of the plane mode, depending on the initial phase difference. If the plane mode amplitude is not negligible with respect to that of the oblique modes, it causes a strong amplification of the oblique mode at the subharmonic frequency. The comparison with observations are quite encouraging and several novel features of the natural transition process are revealed.

Mankbadi, Reda R.↗

Dipole moments and transition probabilities of the i 3Pi sub g-b 3Sigma(+) sub u, c 3Pi sub u-a 3Sigma(+) sub g, and i 3Pi sub g-c 3Pi sub u systems of molecular hydrogen

Bonn-Oppenheimer-based ab initio calculations of dipole moments from the i 3Pi sub g-b 3Sigma(+) sub u, c 3Pi sub u-a 3Sigma(+) sub g, and i 3Pi sub g-c 3Pi sub u transitions of H2 have been conducted, to yield a tabulation of the dipole transition probabilities and Franck-Condon factors. These factors are given for transitions originating in the lowest vibrational level of the ground X 1Sigma(+) sub g state.

Guberman, Steven L.↗

Testing of transition-region models

An approach for the comprehensive testing of transition-region models is described. This approach emphasizes the need to evaluate the models in all of the flow scenarios for which they are likely to be used. As an example of the procedure, seven different types of transitioning flows are described and experiments illustrating the different scenarios are discussed. Two transition-region models are used to predict mean-flow quantities for all of the cases and selected results are reported.

Singer, B. A.↗

Fine structure of the solar transition region - Observations and interpretation

An evaluation is conducted of recent high spatial resolution observations of the solar transition region and temperature minimum, in the form of UV spectra and spectroheliographs from both sounding rockets and the Spacelab 2 flights of the High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (HRTS). Attention is given to the solar atmosphere structure implications of the HRST's observational results. The inclusion of fine structure in conjectures concerning the transition region affects the plausibility of 1D average models of the solar atmosphere, as well as the determination of temperature gradients, possible nonradiative-heating mechanisms, and the comparison of transition region structures with corresponding observations of the photosphere and corona.

Cook, J. W.↗

Natural transition from rate to force control of a manipulator

A method for teleoperator control which offers advantages over previous techniques is demonstrated. In the new method, a fundamental variable exchanged between the master and slave is the rate of change in position and force. An inherent capability of the control scheme is demonstrated for transition between control methods based on environmental constraints in a manner natural to the operator. Specifically, rate control of a manipulator makes the transition to force-force control when a force-reflecting hand controller is used with a local force accommodation algorithm running on the remote manipulator. The transition from rate to force occurs when contact is made with the environment.

Harrison, F. W.↗

Slow mode transition in the frontside magnetosheath

Three magnetosheath passes with density enhancements in front of the magnetopause are studied with data from ISEE 1, 2, and 3. The density structure appears to be locally generated and slow mode in nature. In one pass when ISEE 1 and 2 were well separated, the motion of the density structure can be determined. The density structure appears to stand in the magnetosheath flow. Thus, it propagates upstream in the rest frame of the flow. The flow in and near the density structure appears to be closer to isothermal than adiabatic. The flow velocity decreases from super-slow to being close to the intermediate and slow mode velocities at the outer edge of the density structure. This study provides additional evidence that the density structure in front of the magnetopause is a slow mode transition in which the flow velocity decreases to the MHD slow mode velocity. The slow mode transition may consist of two wave fronts and a region with strong slow mode waves. This slow mode transition may play an important role in establishing the flow and field pattern near the magnetopause.

Song, P.↗

Effects on post-glacial rebound from the hard rheology in the transition zone

The effect of an increase of viscosity in the earth-mantle's transition zone between 420 and 670 km on the geophysical signatures induced by postglacial rebound was analyzed using a self-gravitating model consisting of an elastic lithosphere, a three-layer viscoelastic mantle, and an inviscid core. Results show that the horizontal displacements and velocities as well as the stress pattern are extremely sensitive to the viscosity increase and to the chemical stratification of the transition zone. The findings indicate that geodetic data on intraplate deformation can be used to put constraints on the viscosity increase in the transition zone and on the amount of chemical stratification in the mantle.

Spada, Giorgio↗

A computational study of advanced exhaust system transition ducts with experimental validation

The current study is an application of CFD to a 'real' design and analysis environment. A subsonic, three-dimensional parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code is used to construct stall margin design charts for optimum-length advanced exhaust systems' circular-to-rectangular transition ducts. Computer code validation has been conducted to examine the capability of wall static pressure predictions. The comparison of measured and computed wall static pressures indicates a reasonable accuracy of the PNS computer code results. Computations have also been conducted on 15 transition ducts, three area ratios, and five aspect ratios. The three area ratios investigated are constant area ratio of unity, moderate contracting area ratio of 0.8, and highly contracting area ratio of 0.5. The degree of mean flow acceleration is identified as a dominant parameter in establishing the minimum duct length requirement. The effect of increasing aspect ratio in the minimum length transition duct is to increase the length requirement, as well as to increase the mass-averaged total pressure losses. The design guidelines constructed from this investigation may aid in the design and manufacture of advanced exhaust systems for modern fighter aircraft.

Wu, C.↗

Fluctuation-driven electroweak phase transition

We examine the dynamics of the electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. For Higgs masses in the range 46 less than or = M sub H less than or = 150 GeV and top quark masses less than 200 GeV, regions of symmetric and asymmetric vacuum coexist to below the critical temperature, with thermal equilibrium between the two phases maintained by fluctuations of both phases. We propose that the transition to the asymmetric vacuum is completed by percolation of these subcritical fluctuations. Our results are relevant to scenarios of baryogenesis that invoke a weakly first-order phase transition at the electroweak scale.

Gleiser, Marcelo↗