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At least 1,477 records · Page 82

A microfluidic study of transient flow states in permeable media using fluorescent particle image velocimetry

Velocity fields in flow in permeable media are of great importance to many subsurface processes such as geologic storage of CO 2 , oil and gas extraction, and geothermal systems. Steady-state flow is characterized by velocity fields that do not change significantly over time. The flow field transitions to a new steady state once it experiences a disturbance such as a change in flow rate or in pressure gradient. This transition is often assumed to be instantaneous, which justifies the expression of constitutive relations as functions of instantaneous phase saturations. This work examines the evolution of velocity fields in a surrogate quasi-2D permeable medium using a microfluidic device, a microscopy system, and a high-speed camera. Tracer particles are injected into the medium along with DI water. The evolution of the velocity field is examined by tracing these particles in the captured images using the standard high-density particle image velocimetry algorithm founded on cross-correlation. The results suggest that the transition between steady states for an incompressible fluid takes a finite and non-negligible amount of time that is independent of the magnitude of the change in pressure gradient. The existence of transient states and the nature of the response during these states are readily interpreted by the principle of least action where flow gradually establishes an optimal configuration such that energy dissipation is 2 minimized. The findings provide evidence against the applicability of the assumption that flowing phases relax instantaneously to their steady states and, hence, against the accuracy of the classical multiphase extension of Darcy's law.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Experimental Study of the Fundamental Properties of Warm Dense Mixtures

The aim of the proposed research was to provide a multi-scale study of the properties of warm dense hydrocarbons, by studying the thermodynamic properties through the equation of state and the microscopic properties by x-ray scattering. Understanding the fundamental properties of warm dense mixtures is an intellectual challenge due to the complexity of the system. Unlike liquids or gases, where constituent particle interactions occur through collisions or bonding between valence electrons, in these strongly coupled systems the atoms will be partially ionized and compressed so tightly together that interactions between the inner core electrons can play a role in the systems chemistry. Advances in computational capabilities and development of new theoretical models have been used to predict the properties of mixtures but there is currently no experimental data of the fundamental interaction between the particles in mixtures to test these predictions against. The proposed research was to experimentally investigate the interaction of the different species in hydrocarbons by measuring the compressibility of substances with different carbon and hydrogen ratios and the complexity of the microscopic interactions through elastic and inelastic x-ray scattering. To study the bulk properties of warm dense hydrocarbons we established the Warm Dense Matter Research Laboratory (WDMRL) in the Institute for Shock Physics at Washington State University. The goal was for experiments in the WDMRL to determine shock loading conditions of interest in the hydrocarbon mixtures. We planned on using Hugoniot EOS measurements and a range of carbon and hydrogen concentrations to determine conditions when the EOS of the mixture varied significantly from that of the classical mixing model. Even though shock transit measurements through aluminum foils suggested pressures upto 400GPa, the experiments in the WDMRL were unsuccessful in getting usable shockwave compression data above 100GPa in polystyrene which was below the pressure of interest for hydrocarbon mixtures (>200GPa). To complete the project, we tested a technique using x-ray phase contrast imaging to map the location of tracer layers in a test sample of polycarbonate to record the material motion in dynamically compressed samples. A technique that will be useful for future warm dense matter experiments. These experiments used <200nm gold layers in polycarbonate samples to measure the material velocity and shock speed using x-ray phase contrast imaging. These results were compared to continuum surface measurements performed at ISP and show that the tracer layer technique can measure hydrodynamic properties accurately in dynamically compressed materials.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Characterization of a Multilayered Dielectric Transmissive Phase Modulator

We describe a multilayered dielectric stack configuration designed specifically for use as a transmissive phase modulator for broadband optical signals. Applications for this device range from full aperture wavefront correction to nonmechanical beam steering arrays for free space optical communication links. Our implementation employs alternating GaAs and AlAs layers of varying thickness on a GaAs substrate to create a bandpass region of high average transmission centered about the one micrometer wavelength. Within this transmission bandpass, the phase component of the complex transmission coefficient varies in a near-linear fashion with respect to wavelength. The transmission bandpass is designed to have a bandwidth of 21.0 nm (or 6.3THz frequency bandwidth) and to have an edge-to-edge phase change of greater than 47T radians. Modification of the stack materials' optical properties causes the transmission profile to shift spectrally, resulting in a phase modulation for bands of transmitted frequencies. Our broadband phase modulator imparts up to a full-cycle of phase modulation with low loss and low group velocity dispersion. We identify several methods for implementing the requisite modulation, including refractive index modulation through free carrier injection and optical path length modulation through variation in angle of incidence. At least one sample comprising 91 alternating layers has been fabricated to exhibit the bandpass properties required for optical signal phase modulation. We experimentally characterize the sample using an interferometer and spectrometer to measure the transmitted signal spectrum and relative phase modulation. We compare the experimental data to computational predictions and discuss the results.

Keys, Andrew S.↗

DRIVING OUTFLOWS WITH RELATIVISTIC JETS AND THE DEPENDENCE OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS FEEDBACK EFFICIENCY ON INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM INHOMOGENEITY

We examine the detailed physics of the feedback mechanism by relativistic active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets interacting with a two-phase fractal interstellar medium (ISM) in the kpc-scale core of galaxies using 29 three-dimensional grid-based hydrodynamical simulations. The feedback efficiency, as measured by the amount of cloud dispersal generated by the jet-ISM interactions, is sensitive to the maximum size of clouds in the fractal cloud distribution but not to their volume filling factor. Feedback ceases to be efficient for Eddington ratios P{sub jet}/L{sub edd} {approx}< 10{sup -4}, although systems with large cloud complexes {approx}> 50 pc require jets of Eddington ratio in excess of 10{sup -2} to disperse the clouds appreciably. Based on measurements of the bubble expansion rates in our simulations, we argue that sub-grid AGN prescriptions resulting in negative feedback in cosmological simulations without a multi-phase treatment of the ISM are good approximations if the volume filling factor of warm-phase material is less than 0.1 and the cloud complexes are smaller than {approx}25 pc. We find that the acceleration of the dense embedded clouds is provided by the ram pressure of the high-velocity flow through the porous channels of the warm phase, flow that has fully entrained the shocked hot-phase gas it has swept up, and is additionally mass loaded by ablated cloud material. This mechanism transfers 10% to 40% of the jet energy to the cold and warm gas, accelerating it within a few 10 to 100 Myr to velocities that match those observed in a range of high- and low-redshift radio galaxies hosting powerful radio jets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Probing the microhydration of metal carbonyls: a photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopic and theoretical study of Ni(CO) 3 (H 2 O) n –

A series of microhydrated nickel carbonyls, Ni(CO) 3 (H 2 O) n – ( n = 0–4), are prepared via a laser vaporization supersonic cluster source in the gas phase and identified by mass-selected photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Vertical detachment energies for the n = 1–4 anions are measured from the photoelectron spectra to be 1.429 ± 0.103, 1.698 ± 0.090, 1.887 ± 0.080, and 2.023 ± 0.074 eV, respectively. The C–O stretching vibrational frequencies in the corresponding neutral clusters are determined to be 1968, 1950, 1945, and 1940 cm –1 for n = 1–4, respectively, which are characteristic of terminal CO. It is determined that the hydrogen atom of the first water molecule is bound to the nickel center. Addition of a second water molecule prefers solvation at the carbonyl terminal. Spectroscopy combined with theory suggests that the solvation of nickel tricarbonyl is dominated by a water-ring network. Here, the present findings would have important implications for the fundamental understanding of the multifaceted mechanisms of the multibody interaction of water and carbon monoxide with transition metals.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Towards an all-orders calculation of the electroweak bubble wall velocity

We analyze Higgs condensate bubble expansion during a first-order electroweak phase transition in the early Universe. The interaction of particles with the bubble wall can be accompanied by the emission of multiple soft gauge bosons. When computed at fixed order in perturbation theory, this process exhibits large logarithmic enhancements which must be resummed to all orders when the wall velocity is large. We perform this resummation both analytically and numerically at leading logarithmic accuracy. The numerical simulation is achieved by means of a particle shower in the broken phase of the electroweak theory. The two approaches agree to the 10$\%$ level. For fast-moving walls, we find the scaling of the thermal pressure exerted against the wall to be $P\sim \gamma^2T^4$, independent of the particle masses, implying a significantly slower terminal velocity than previously suggested.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Modified ICED-ALE method for astrogeophysical plasma flows

The Implicit-Continuous-Eulerian-Difference Mesh-Arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian (ICED-ALE) algorithm of Brackbill and Pracht (1973) is modified for the study of astrophysical plasma flows in which dynamical effects are important. In the present study the general-energy-conservation law is directly applied to the iteration process, with the total (kinetic-, specific-internal-, and magnetic-) energy density being obtained implicitly at the end of the process. An example is computed in which the convergence speed of the latter method is substantially faster than that of the former. The initializing calculation, or explicit phase, in which the electric current density, magnetic diffusion of field, energy augmentation, and zero-order approximation of the flow velocity are given, is described. Consideration is given to the iteration process, or implicit phase, from which the exact Lagrangian solution for energy density, velocity, and a magnetic field is obtained.

Wu, S. T.↗

Shock propagation in aerogel and TPP foams for inertial fusion energy target design

Achieving practical inertial fusion energy (IFE) requires the development of target designs with well-characterized microstructure and compression response. We measured shock dynamics in low-density (17.5–500 mg/cm 3 ) aerogel and two-photon polymerization (TPP) foams using x-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) methods and the Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector. By analyzing shock front evolution, we examined how target type and density influence shock propagation and energy dissipation. Talbot-XPCI shows that aerogels support a smooth, bowed shock front due to their homogeneous nanometer-scale pore network. In contrast, TPP foams exhibit irregular, stepwise propagation driven by interactions with their periodic micrometer-scale lattice. Shock velocity follows a power-law relation: aerogels deviate from classical ρ −1/2 scaling due to pore-collapse dissipation, while TPP foams follow the trend with larger uncertainties from density variations. Comparisons with xRAGE simulations reveal systematic underestimation of shock speeds. These results provide the first experimental constraints on shock propagation in TPP foams over a wide density range and highlight the influence of internal structure on anisotropic shock behavior. Our findings support improved benchmarking of EOS and hydrodynamic models and inform the design of foam architectures that promote implosion symmetry in IFE capsules.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Dynamic phases of active matter systems with quenched disorder

Depinning and nonequilibrium transitions within sliding states in systems driven over quenched disorder arise across a wide spectrum of size scales ranging from atomic friction at the nanoscale, flux motion in type II superconductors at the mesoscale, colloidal motion in disordered media at the microscale, and plate tectonics at geological length scales. Here we show that active matter or self-propelled particles interacting with quenched disorder under an external drive represents a class of system that can also exhibit pinning-depinning phenomena, plastic flow phases, and nonequilibrium sliding transitions that are correlated with distinct morphologies and velocity-force curve signatures. When interactions with the substrate are strong, a homogeneous pinned liquid phase forms that depins plastically into a uniform disordered phase and then dynamically transitions first into a moving stripe coexisting with a pinned liquid and then into a moving phase-separated state at higher drives. We numerically map the resulting dynamical phase diagrams as a function of external drive, substrate interaction strength, and self-propulsion correlation length. These phases can be observed for active matter moving through random disorder. Lastly, our results indicate that intrinsically nonequilibrium systems can exhibit additional nonequilibrium transitions when subjected to an external drive.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Dynamic Weakening (Extinction) of Simple Hydrocarbon-air Counterflow Diffusion Flames by Oscillatory Inflows

This study of laminar non-premixed HC-air flames used an Oscillatory-input Opposed Jet Burner (OOJB) system developed from a previously well-characterized 7.2-mm Pyrex-nozzle OJB system. Over 600 dynamic Flame Strength (FS) measurements were obtained on unanchored (free-floating) laminar Counterflow Diffusion Flames (CFDF's). Flames were stabilized using plug inflows having steady-plus-sinusoidal axial velocities of varied magnitude, frequency, f, up to 1600 Hz, and phase angle from 0 (most data) to 360 degrees. Dynamic FS is defined as the maximum average air input velocity (U(sub air), at nozzle exit) a CFDF can sustain before strain-induced extinction occurs due to prescribed oscillatory peak-to-peak velocity inputs superimposed on steady inputs. Initially, dynamic flame extinction data were obtained at low f, and were supported by 25-120 Hz Hot-Wire cold-flow velocity data at nozzle exits. Later, expanded extinction data were supported by 4-1600 Hz Probe Microphone (PM) pk/pk P data at nozzle exits. The PM data were first obtained without flows, and later with cold stagnating flows, which better represent speaker-diaphragm dynamics during runs. The PM approach enabled characterizations of Dynamic Flame Weakening (DFW) of CFDF's from 8 to 1600 Hz. DFW was defined as % decrease in FS per Pascal of pk/pk P oscillation, namely, DFW = - 100 d(U(sub air) / U(sub air),0Hz) / d(pkpk P). The linear normalization with respect to acoustic pressure magnitude (and steady state (SS) FS) led to a DFW unaffected by strong internal resonances. For the C2H4/N2-air system, from 8 to 20 Hz, DFW is constant at 8.52 plus or minus 0.20 (% weakening)/Pa. This reflects a quasi-steady flame response to an acoustically induced dU(sub air)/dP. Also, it is surprisingly independent of C2H4/N2 mole fraction due to normalization by SS FS. From 20 to approximately 150 Hz, the C2H4/N2 air-flames weakened progressively less, with an inflection at approximately 70 Hz, and became asymptotically insensitive (DFW approximately 0) at approximately 300 Hz, which continued to 1600 Hz. The DFW of CH4-air flames followed a similar pattern, but showed much greater weakening than C2H4/N2-air flames; i.e., the quasi-steady DFW (8 to approximately 15 Hz) was 44.3 %/Pa, or approximately 5x larger, even though the 0 Hz (SS) FS was only 3.0 x smaller. The quasi-steady DFW's of C3H8-air and C2H6-air were intermediate at 34.8 and 20.9 %Pa, respectively. The DFW profiles of all four fuels, at various frequencies, correlated well but non-linearly with respective SS FS's. Notably, the DFW profile for C3H8 air fell more rapidly in the range greater than 15 to 60 Hz, compared with the 1- and 2-carbon fuels. This may indicate a shift in chemical kinetics, and/or O2 transport to a flame that moved closer to the fuel-side. In conclusion, Dynamic Flame Weakening limits appear significant and unique for each fuel, and correlate closely, but non-linearly, with Steady-State Flame Strengths at any given frequency. For reasons unknown, the dynamic flames didn't weaken more at intermediate frequencies (e.g., at 20-50 Hz) than they did at low frequencies (less than 15 Hz), where quasi-steady weakening appears to dominate. Quasi-steady flame weakening ostensibly represents a transient input strain rate maximum that just exceeds the steady-state strain-rate-limited extinction limit for a few cycles. Clearly, further detailed mechanistic understanding is needed in the fall-off region.

Pellett, G.↗

Investigating the Relation between Galaxy Properties and the Gaussianity of the Velocity Distribution of Groups and Clusters

We investigate the dependence of stellar population properties of galaxies on group dynamical stage for a subsample of the Yang catalog. We classify groups according to their galaxy velocity distribution into Gaussian (G) and Non-Gaussian (NG). Using two totally independent approaches, we have shown that our measurement of Gaussianity is robust and reliable. Our sample covers Yang’s groups in the redshift range 0.03 ≤ z ≤ 0.1, with mass ≥ 10{sup 14}M{sub ⊙}. The new method, called Hellinger Distance, to determine whether a group has a velocity distribution Gaussian or NG is very effective in distinguishing between the two families. NG groups present halo masses higher than the G ones, confirming previous findings. Examining the skewness and kurtosis of the velocity distribution of G and NG groups, we find that faint galaxies in NG groups are mainly infalling, for the first time, into the groups. We show that considering only faint galaxies in the outskirts; those in NG groups are older and more metal-rich than those in G groups. Also, examining the Projected Phase Space of cluster galaxies, we see that bright and faint galactic systems in G groups are in dynamical equilibrium—which does not seem to be the case in NG groups. These findings suggest that NG systems have a higher infall rate, assembling more galaxies that have experienced preprocessing before entering the group.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A LUMINOUS GAMMA-RAY BINARY IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD

Gamma-ray binaries consist of a neutron star or a black hole interacting with a normal star to produce gamma-ray emission that dominates the radiative output of the system. Only a handful of such systems have been previously discovered, all within our Galaxy. Here, we report the discovery of a luminous gamma-ray binary in the Large Magellanic Cloud, found with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), from a search for periodic modulation in all sources in the third Fermi LAT catalog. This is the first such system to be found outside the Milky Way. The system has an orbital period of 10.3 days, and is associated with a massive O5III star located in the supernova remnant DEM L241, previously identified as the candidate high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) CXOU J053600.0–673507. X-ray and radio emission are also modulated on the 10.3 day period, but are in anti-phase with the gamma-ray modulation. Optical radial velocity measurements suggest that the system contains a neutron star. The source is significantly more luminous than similar sources in the Milky Way, at radio, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths. The detection of this extra-galactic system, but no new Galactic systems, raises the possibility that the predicted number of gamma-ray binaries in our Galaxy has been overestimated, and that HMXBs may be born containing relatively slowly rotating neutron stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Linear and nonlinear effect of sheared plasma flow on resistive tearing modes

The effect of sheared plasma flow on the m/n = 2/1 tearing mode is studied numerically (m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers). It is found that in the linear phase the plasma flow with a weak or moderate shear plays a stabilizing effect on tearing mode. However, the mode is driven to be more unstable by sufficiently strong sheared flow when approaching the shear Alfvén resonance (AR). In the nonlinear phase, a moderate (strong) sheared flow leads to a smaller (larger) saturated island width. The stabilization of tearing modes by moderate shear plasma flow is enhanced for a larger plasma viscosity and a lower Alfvén velocity. It is also found that in the nonlinear phase AR accelerates the plasma rotation around the 2/1 rational surface but decelerates it at the AR location, and the radial location satisfying AR spreads inwards towards the magnetic axis.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

CFD studies coupling hydrodynamics and solid‐liquid mass transfer in slug flow for matter removal from tube walls

Organic matter deposition on internal surfaces constitutes a drawback that impairs the efficiency of several industrial processes. To overcome this problem, sparging a train of bubbles could be useful since its presence strongly increases the wall shear stress. A detailed numerical mass‐transfer study between a finite soluble wall and the liquid around a rising Taylor bubble was performed, simultaneously solving velocity and concentration fields. The bubble passage throws solute backward and is responsible for radial dispersion. There is also an increase in the transfer rate with enhancements between 10 and 20% (depending on liquid average velocity and bubble length) compared to single‐phase flow. Mass‐transfer coefficients along the different hydrodynamic regions around the bubble nose, liquid film, and wake were characterized and their values compared with those from literature. The results suggest a promising potential of bubble train flow to enhance organic matter removal from walls in biological systems. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 63: 2420–2439, 2017

Silva, Mónica C. F.↗

Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Theoretical Studies of PCSe − , AsCS − , AsCSe − , and NCSe − : Insights into the Electronic Structures of the Whole Family of ECX − Anions (E=N, P, As; X=O, S, Se)

Abstract The newly synthesized phosphorus‐ and arsenic‐containing analogues of the thio‐ and seleno‐cyanate anions, PCSe − , AsCS − , and AsCSe − , as well as the known ion NCSe − were investigated in the gas phase by negative‐ion photoelectron spectroscopy (NIPES), velocity‐map imaging (VMI) spectroscopy, and quantum‐chemical computations. The electron affinities (EA), spin–orbit (SO) splittings, and “symmetric”/“asymmetric” stretching frequencies of the neutral radicals ECX . (E=N, P, As; X=S, Se), generated by electron detachment from the corresponding anions, were obtained from the spectra. The calculated EAs, SO splittings, and vibrational frequencies are in excellent agreement with the experimental measurements. These newly obtained values, when combined with those previously determined for the lighter analogues, show interesting trends on descending the pnictogen and chalcogen series. These trends are rationalized based on electronegativity arguments, the electron distributions in the HOMOs, and NBO/NRT analyses.

Yuan, Qinqin↗

Boundary-Layer Model to Predict Chemically Reacting Flow within Heated, High-Speed, Microtubular Reactors

Chen nozzle experiments are used to study the early–stage unimolecular decomposition of larger molecules and, sometimes, the following chemistry. The nozzle itself is typically a small–diameter (order millimeter), short (order 20–50 mm), heated (order 1700 K) tube (nozzle) that exhausts into a vacuum chamber where a variety of diagnostics may be used to measure gas–phase composition. Under typical operating conditions, the velocities are high and the exhaust flow is near sonic. Quantitatively interpreting the measurements requires a model for flow within the nozzle that is coupled with reaction kinetics simulations. The present model shows that the flow can produce significant radial and axial variations in both the thermodynamic conditions and species concentrations. Thus, plug–flow models may not be appropriate. Results show that using He as a carrier gas produces much more plug–like flow than is the case with Ar as the carrier gas. As a result, the boundary–layer model provides a computationally efficient approach to modeling detailed chemical kinetics within Chen nozzles. Results are illustrated using acetaldehyde decomposition kinetics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The mechanisms, dynamics, and implications of self-sealing and CO 2 resistance in wellbore cements

Here, this study analyzes the dynamics and mechanisms of the interactions of carbonated brine with hydrated-Portland-cement; in particular, the study focuses on self-sealing, a process whereby hydrated-Portland cement reacts with carbonated brine to for silica and calcium carbonate in sufficient quantities to seal the flow pathway. The analysis is based on a comprehensive set of reactive-transport simulations that explore the complex coupled dynamics between the fluid flow and mineral reactions that underlie self-sealing, and it relies heavily on the synthesis of the extensive body of work on wellbore integrity that has been conducted over the past decade. The analysis explores a large chemical and mineralogical diversity and a wide range in physical conditions and flow regimes, attempting to assess the robustness of the analysis. Self-sealing conditions arise over a wide range in cement properties and reservoir conditions. Although some properties and conditions promote a stronger self-sealing response, self-sealing occurs for a wide range of Ca:Si ratios in cement and for various reservoir fluid compositions. Self-sealing conditions move along a wellbore proportional to the flux of the leaking carbonated brine, and the reaction zone spreads out proportional to the fluid velocity, where volumetric flux and velocity are related by porosity (flux = velocity * porosity). However, self-sealing conditions can be maintained in a specific section of a wellbore by controlling the pressure drive and/or effective wellbore permeability, which in turn can limit the flux and velocity of any leaking fluid. Finally, the phases produced by hydrating Portland cement represent a carbonic cement that will react with a carbonated brine to produce end products (calcium carbonate and silica) that can maintain integrity in the presence of carbonic acid. Lastly, the attributes that make hydrated Portland cement phases a carbonic cement are required for self-sealing.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗