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At least 1,405 records · Page 78

Coupling constant corrections in a holographic model of heavy ion collisions with nonzero baryon number density

Sufficiently energetic collisions of heavy ions result in the formation of a droplet of a strongly coupled liquid state of QCD matter known as quark-gluon plasma. By using gauge-gravity duality (holography), a model of a rapidly hydrodynamizing and thermal- izing process like this can be constructed by colliding sheets of energy density moving at the speed of light and tracking the subsequent evolution. In this work, we consider the dual gravitational description of such collisions in the most general bulk theory with a four-derivative gravitational action containing a dynamical metric and a gauge field in five dimensions. Introducing the bulk gauge field enables the analysis of collisions of sheets which carry nonzero “baryon” number density in addition to energy density. Introducing the four-derivative terms enables consideration of such collisions in a gauge theory with finite gauge coupling, working perturbatively in the inverse coupling. While the dynamics of energy and momentum in the presence of perturbative inverse-coupling corrections has been analyzed previously, here we are able to determine the effect of such finite coupling corrections on the dynamics of the density of a conserved global charge, which we take as a model for the dynamics of nonzero baryon number density. In accordance with expectations, as the coupling is reduced we observe that after the collisions less baryon density ends up stopped at mid-rapidity and more of it ends up moving near the lightcone.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The dynamical tides of spinning Newtonian stars

ABSTRACT We carefully develop the framework required to model the dynamical tidal response of a spinning neutron star in an inspiralling binary system, in the context of Newtonian gravity, making sure to include all relevant details and connections to the existing literature. The tidal perturbation is decomposed in terms of the normal oscillation modes, used to derive an expression for the effective Love number which is valid for any rotation rate. In contrast to previous work on the problem, our analysis highlights subtle issues relating to the orthogonality condition required for the mode-sum representation of the dynamical tide and shows how the prograde and retrograde modes combine to provide the overall tidal response. Utilizing a slow-rotation expansion, we show that the dynamical tide (the effective Love number) is corrected at first order in rotation, whereas in the case of the static tide (the static Love number) the rotational corrections do not enter until second order.

Pnigouras, P. (ORCID:0000000318959431)↗

Diurnal evolution of non-precipitating marine stratocumuli in a large-eddy simulation ensemble

Abstract. We explore the cloud system evolution of non-precipitating marine stratocumuli with a focus on the impacts of the diurnal cycle and free-tropospheric (FT) humidity based on an ensemble of 244 large-eddy simulations generated by perturbing initial thermodynamic profiles and aerosol conditions. Cases are categorized based on their degree of decoupling and the cloud liquid water path (LWPc, based on model columns with cloud optical depths greater than one). A budget analysis method is proposed to analyze the evolution of cloud water in both coupled and decoupled boundary layers. More coupled clouds start with a relatively low LWPc and cloud fraction (fc) but experience the least decrease in LWPc and fc during the daytime. More decoupled clouds undergo greater daytime reduction in LWPc and fc, especially those with higher LWPc at sunrise because they suffer from faster weakening of net radiative cooling. During the nighttime, a positive correlation between FT humidity and the LWPc emerges, consistent with higher FT humidity reducing both radiative cooling and the humidity jump, both of which reduce entrainment and increase LWPc. The LWPc is more likely to decrease during the nighttime for a larger LWPc and greater inversion base height (zi), conditions under which entrainment dominates as turbulence develops. In the morning, the rate of the LWPc reduction depends on the LWPc at sunrise, zi, and the degree of decoupling, with distinct contributions from subsidence and radiation.

Chen, Yao-Sheng (ORCID:0000000208354132)↗

The diffusive idealization of charged particle transport in random magnetic fields

The transport of charged particles diffusing in a random magnetic field parallel to a relatively large guiding field is presented. The same coefficient of diffusion is obtained by three methods. Two corrections must be added to the expression in which the diffusive flux is proportional to the gradient of the density. Explicit expressions are given for a characteristic time and a characteristic length which describe the corrections. The well known divergence of the coefficient of diffusion, which is implied by the quasilinear analysis of pitch angle scattering, does not occur if the scattering rate is finite at 90 deg pitch angle. This effect is illustrated by formulas which give the coefficient of diffusion when the quasilinear expression is perturbed by a variable amount of isotropic scattering.

Earl, J. A.↗

Interaction between a shock wave and a turbulent boundary layer in transonic flow

Interaction between a shock wave and an unseparated turbulent boundary layer is considered. The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used, with solutions valid in the double limit as Reynolds number tends to infinity and Mach number tends to unity. The shock is weak enough that interaction effects can be considered as perturbations to the undisturbed flow; the case considered is that where the sonic line is near the outer edge of the boundary layer. It is shown that, with order estimates for Reynolds stress perturbations, the induced wall pressure distribution can be calculated using only the two outer interaction regions, independent of a specific closure condition and that this solution is in fact a turbulent free interaction solution. A detailed analysis of the inner regions, for which an eddy viscosity model for the Reynolds shear stress is used, provides a description of the variations in velocity, temperature and density near and at the wall.

Adamson, T. C., Jr.↗

Parameterization of the photochemistry of stratospheric ozone including catalytic loss processes

A parameterization has been developed which accurately describes the photochemical response of odd oxygen to dynamically induced perturbations in odd oxygen and temperature. The temperature and odd oxygen dependencies of the loss processes for odd oxygen through catalytic cycles involving odd nitrogen, odd chlorine, and odd hydrogen have been specifically included. The assumption that a linear perturbation equation may be used to describe the response of odd oxygen to perturbations in odd oxygen and temperature has been tested and found to be acceptable for a physically reasonable range of perturbations, i.e., up to approximately 50 percent in odd oxygen mixing ratio and approximately 10 K in temperature. The scheme should prove useful for analyzing the feedback between ozone chemistry and ozone transport and also for analysis of ozone and temperature data.

Stolarski, R. S.↗

Sunrise/sunset thermal shock disturbance analysis and simulation for the TOPEX satellite

It is shown here that during normal on-orbit operations the TOPEX low-earth orbiting satellite is subjected to an impulsive disturbance torque caused by rapid heating of its solar array when entering and exiting the earth's shadow. Error budgets and simulation results are used to demonstrate that this sunrise/sunset torque disturbance is the dominant Normal Mission Mode (NMM) attitude error source. The detailed thermomechanical modeling, analysis, and simulation of this torque is described, and the predicted on-orbit performance of the NMM attitude control system in the face of the sunrise/sunset disturbance is presented. The disturbance results in temporary attitude perturbations that exceed NMM pointing requirements. However, they are below the maximum allowable pointing error which would cause the radar altimeter to break lock.

Dennehy, C. J.↗

The aerodynamic characteristics of vortex ingestion for the F/A-18 inlet duct

A Reduced Navier-Stokes (RNS) solution technique was successfully combined with the concept of partitioned geometry and mesh generation to form a very efficient 3D RNS code aimed at the analysis-design engineering environment. Partitioned geometry and mesh generation is a pre-processor to augment existing geometry and grid generation programs which allows the solver to (1) recluster an existing gridlife mesh lattice, and (2) perturb an existing gridfile definition to alter the cross-sectional shape and inlet duct centerline distribution without returning to the external geometry and grid generator. The present results provide a quantitative validation of the initial value space marching 3D RNS procedure and demonstrates accurate predictions of the engine face flow field, with a separation present in the inlet duct as well as when vortex generators are installed to supress flow separation. The present results also demonstrate the ability of the 3D RNS procedure to analyze the flow physics associated with vortex ingestion in general geometry ducts such as the F/A-18 inlet. At the conditions investigated, these interactions are basically inviscid like, i.e., the dominant aerodynamic characteristics have their origin in inviscid flow theory.

Anderson, Bernhard H.↗

The aerodynamic characteristics of vortex ingestion for the F/A-18 inlet duct

A Reduced Navier-Stokes (RNS) solution technique was successfully combined with the concept of partitioned geometry and mesh generation to form a very efficient 3-D RNS code aimed at the analysis-design engineering environment. Partitioned geometry and mesh generation is a pre-processor to augment existing geometry and grid generation programs which allows the solver to (1) recluster an existing gridlife mesh lattice, and (2) perturb an existing gridfile definition to alter the cross-sectional shape and inlet duct centerline distribution without returning to the external geometry and grid generator. The present results provide a quantitative validation of the initial value space marching 3-D RNS procedure and demonstrates accurate predictions of the engine face flow field, with a separation present in the inlet duct as well as when vortex generators are installed to suppress flow separation. The present results also demonstrate the ability of the 3-D RNS procedure to analyze the flow physics associated with vortex ingestion in general geometry ducts such as the F/A-18 inlet. At the conditions investigated, these interactions are basically inviscid like, i.e., the dominant aerodynamic characteristics have their origin in inviscid flow theory.

Anderson, Bernhard H.↗

Remote sensing of two-dimensional magnetopause structures

The study presents a technique for analyzing remote measurements made by a single spacecraft of 2D disturbances in the ambient magnetosheath or magnetospheric magnetic field caused, for example, by flux transfer events or pressure pulses. The methodology is based on a recent linear theory for isentropic field-aligned MHD flow over gently sloping 2D obstacles. The technique uses only magnetic field measurements and can provide information about the orientation and actual cross-sectional shape of the event, as well as information about the spacecraft trajectory relative to the bulge. Analysis of two sample events, one recorded by the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft in the magnetosheath and the other by AMPTE/CCE in the magnetosphere, indicates that the bulges on the magnetopause surface causing the magnetic field and flow perturbations for these events did not have the semicircular cross section suggested in previous work; instead they had a more elongated shape, the dimension tangential to the magnetopause being substantially larger than that normal to it.

Walthour, D. W.↗

Deployment Process, Mechanization, and Testing for the Mars Exploration Rovers

NASA's Mar Exploration Rover (MER) robotic prospectors were produced in an environment of unusually challenging schedule, volume, and mass restrictions. The technical challenges pushed the system s design towards extensive integration of function, which resulted in complex system engineering issues. One example of the system's integrated complexity can be found in the deployment process for the rover. Part of this process, rover "standup", is outlined in this paper. Particular attention is given to the Rover Lift Mechanism's (RLM) role and its design. Analysis methods are presented and compared to test results. It is shown that because prudent design principles were followed, a robust mechanism was created that minimized the duration of integration and test, and enabled recovery without perturbing related systems when reasonably foreseeable problems did occur. Examples of avoidable, unnecessary difficulty are also presented.

Iskenderian, Ted↗

Deployment process, mechanization, and testing for the Mars Exploration Rovers

NASA’s Mar Exploration Rover (MER) robotic prospectors were produced in an environment of unusually challenging schedule, volume, and mass restrictions. The technical challenges pushed the system’s design towards extensive integration of function, which resulted in complex system engineering issues. One example of the system’s integrated complexity can be found in the deployment process for the rover. Part of this process, rover “standup”, is outlined in this paper. Particular attention is given to the Rover Lift Mechanism’s (RLM) role and its design. Analysis methods are presented and compared to test results. It is shown that because prudent design principles were followed, a robust mechanism was created that minimized the duration of integration and test, and enabled recovery without perturbing related systems when reasonably foreseeable problems did occur. Examples of avoidable, unnecessary difficulty are also presented.

Iskenderian, Ted C.↗

The Great Inequality and the Dynamical Disintegration of the Outer Solar System

Using an ensemble of N-body simulations, this paper considers the fate of the outer gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) after the Sun leaves the main sequence and completes its stellar evolution. Due to solar mass loss—which is expected to remove roughly half of the star’s mass—the orbits of the giant planets expand. This adiabatic process maintains the orbital period ratios, but the mutual interactions between planets and the width of mean-motion resonances (MMR) increase, leading to the capture of Jupiter and Saturn into a stable 5:2 resonant configuration. The expanded orbits, coupled with the large-amplitude librations of the critical MMR angle, make the system more susceptible to perturbations from stellar flyby interactions. Accordingly, within about 30 Gyr, stellar encounters perturb the planets onto the chaotic subdomain of the 5:2 resonance, triggering a large-scale instability, which culminates in the ejections of all but one planet over the subsequent ∼10 Gyr. After an additional ∼50 Gyr, a close stellar encounter (with a perihelion distance less than ∼200 au) liberates the final planet. Through this sequence of events, the characteristic timescale over which the solar system will be completely dissolved is roughly 100 Gyr. Our analysis thus indicates that the expected dynamical lifetime of the solar system is much longer than the current age of the universe, but is significantly shorter than previous estimates.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Thermal stability analysis of the fine structure of solar prominences

The linear thermal stability of a 2D periodic structure (alternatively hot and cold) in a uniform magnetic field is analyzed. The energy equation includes wave heating (assumed proportional to density), radiative cooling and both conduction parallel and orthogonal to magnetic lines. The equilibrium is perturbed at constant gas pressure. With parallel conduction only, it is found to be unstable when the length scale 1// is greater than 45 Mn. In that case, orthogonal conduction becomes important and stabilizes the structure when the length scale is smaller than 5 km. On the other hand, when the length scale is greater than 5 km, the thermal equilibrium is unstable, and the corresponding time scale is about 10,000 s: this result may be compared to observations showing that the lifetime of the fine structure of solar prominences is about one hour; consequently, our computations suggest that the size of the unresolved threads could be of the order of 10 km only.

Demoulin, Pascal↗

A preliminary analysis of the orbit of the Mars Trojan asteroid (5261) Eureka

Observations and results of orbit determination of the first known Mars Trojan asteroid (5261) Eureka are presented. We have numerically calculated the evolution of the orbital elements, and have analyzed the behavior of the motion during the next 2 Myr. Strong perturbations by planets other than Mars seem to stabilize the eccentricity of the asteroid by stirring the high order resonances present in the elliptic restricted problem. As a result, the orbit appears stable at least on megayear timescales. The difference of the mean longitudes of Mars and Eureka and the semimajor axis of the asteroid form a pair of variables that essentially behave in an adiabatic manner, while the evolution of the other orbital elements is largely determined by the pertubations due to other planets.

Mikkola, Seppo↗

Development and validation of a mathematical model of heart rate response to fluid perturbation

Physiological closed-loop controlled (PCLC) medical devices monitor and automatically adjust the patient’s condition by using physiological variables as feedback, ideally with minimal human intervention to achieve the target levels set by a clinician. PCLC devices present a challenge when it comes to evaluating their performance, where conducting large clinical trials can be expensive. Virtual physiological patients simulated by validated mathematical models can be utilized to obtain preclinical evidence of safety and assess the performance of the PCLC medical device during normal and worst-case conditions that are unlikely to happen in a limited clinical trial. A physiological variable that plays a major role during fluid resuscitation is heart rate (HR). For in silico assessment of PCLC medical devices regarding fluid perturbation, there is currently no mathematical model of HR validated in terms of its predictive capability performance. This paper develops and validates a mathematical model of HR response using data collected from sheep subjects undergoing hemorrhage and fluid infusion. The model proved to be accurate in estimating the HR response to fluid perturbation, where averaged between 21 calibration datasets, the fitting performance showed a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 7.41 ± 2.8%. The model was also evaluated in terms of model predictive capability performance via a leave-one-out procedure (21 subjects) and an independent validation dataset (6 subjects). Two different virtual cohort generation tools were used in each validation analysis. The generated envelope of virtual subjects robustly met the defined acceptance criteria, in which 95% of the testing datasets presented simulated HR patterns that were within a deviation of 50% from the observed data. In addition, out of 16000 and 18522 simulated subjects for the leave one-out and independent datasets, the model was able to generate at least one virtual subject that was close to the real subject within an error margin of 9.56 ± 3.15% and 11.1 ± 1.22% NRMSE, respectively. In conclusion, the model can generate valid virtual HR physiological responses to fluid perturbation and be incorporated into future non-clinical simulated testing setups for assessing PCLC devices intended for fluid resuscitation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗