Flexural response of doubly curved laminated composite shells

In the present work, analytical solutions for laminated composite doubly curved panels on rectangular plan form undergoing small deformations and subjected to uniformly distributed transverse load have been obtained. The problem is formulated using first order shear deformation theory. The spatial descretization of the linear differential equations is carried out using fast converging finite double Chebyshev series. The effect of panel thickness, curvature, boundary conditions, lamination scheme as well as material property on the static response of panel has been investigated in detail.     

Experimental investigation of ultrasonic velocity anisotropy in magnetic fluids: Influence of grain–grain interaction

Magnetic field-induced dispersion of ultrasonic velocity in a Mn_0.7Zn_0.3Fe₂O₄ fluid (applied magnetic field is perpendicular to the ultrasonic propagation vector) is determined by employing continuous wave method. The magnitude of dispersion initially decreases with increasing field, then increases and reaches a plateau at higher fields. Results indicate that the velocity anisotropy is dominated by grain–grain interactions rather than grain–field interaction. At the critical temperature, the grain–grain interaction becomes weak as the transverse component of the particle/cluster moment is larger than the longitudinal one and the system reaches saturation even at low field. These observed variations in the field-induced anisotropy are analysed by incorporating the moment distribution of particles in Tarapov’s theory (J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 39, 51 (1983)).     

Three-dimensional simulation of laser–plasma-based electron acceleration

A sequential three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell simulation code PICPSI-3D with a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI) has been developed and used to study the interaction of plasma with ultrahigh intensity laser radiation. A case study of laser–plasma-based electron acceleration has been carried out to assess the performance of this code. Simulations have been performed for a Gaussian laser beam of peak intensity 5 × 10¹⁹ W/cm² propagating through an underdense plasma of uniform density 1 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3, and for a Gaussian laser beam of peak intensity 1.5 × 10¹⁹ W/cm² propagating through an underdense plasma of uniform density 3.5 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3. The electron energy spectrum has been evaluated at different time-steps during the propagation of the laser beam. When the plasma density is 1 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3, simulations show that the electron energy spectrum forms a monoenergetic peak at ~14 MeV, with an energy spread of ±7 MeV. On the other hand, when the plasma density is 3.5 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3, simulations show that the electron energy spectrum forms a monoenergetic peak at ~23 MeV, with an energy spread of ±7.5 MeV.     

Thermoelastic properties of minerals at high temperature

The knowledge of elasticity of the minerals is useful for interpreting the structure and composition of the lower mantle and also in seismic studies. The purpose of the present study is to discuss a simple and straightforward method for evaluating thermoelastic properties of minerals at high temperatures. We have extended the Kumar’s formulation by taking into the account the concept of anharmonicity in minerals above the Debye temperature (θ _D). In our present study, we have investigated the thermophysical properties of two minerals (pyrope-rich garnet and MgAl₂O₄) under high temperatures and calculated the second-order elastic constant (C _ij ) and bulk modulus (K _T) of the above minerals, in two cases first by taking Anderson–Gruneisen parameter (δ _T) as temperature-independent and then by treating δ _T as temperature-dependent parameter. The results obtained when δ _T is temperature-dependent are in close agreement with experimental data.     

Erbium–ytterbium fibre laser emitting more than 13 W of power in 1.55 μm region

We report the work on erbium:ytterbium-doped double clad fibre laser (EYDFL), that is pumped at 976 nm. The maximum output power generated is 13.6 W in 1550 nm region with a slope efficiency of about 21%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest power reported from an EYDFL, that uses commercially available off-the-shelf large mode area Er:Yb-doped double-clad fibre.     

Role of near threshold resonances in intermediate energy nuclear physics

The presence of a resonance close to the threshold strongly effects the dynamics of the interacting particles at low energies. Production of ¹²C, the element for life, in ⁴He burning in Sun is a classic example of such a situation. In intermediate energy nuclear physics, this situation arises in the interactions of a η-meson with a nucleon and that of a K ^?-meson with a proton at low energies, where, both these systems have a resonance or a bound state near their thresholds, resulting in a strong attractive interaction. If putting these mesons in nuclear environment produces a strong attraction, it is possible that, in nature there may exist η- and K ^?-nuclear bound states. Such a tantalizing possibility has led to experimental and theoretical programmes to search for them. These efforts have produced positive results. This paper gives a brief critical overview of these studies, emphasizing especially the efforts led by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).     

一类具有非线性发生率的无线传感网络蠕虫传播模型的延迟动力学行为

研究了一类具有不同发生率的无线传感网络蠕虫传播模型的延迟动力学行为。由于在监测节点隔离不稳定节点需要消耗一定的时间,在模型中考虑了处理时滞。通过分析相应特征方程根的分布情况,得到了平衡点存在性、模型局部稳定性和Hopf分岔存在的充分性条件。通过构造合适的李雅普诺夫函数,证明了蠕虫病毒平衡点的全局稳定性。数值仿真实验验证了理论分析结果的正确性。仿真结果表明,当处理时滞的值越过关键值时,网络中的蠕虫传播将失去控制,发现无线传感网络的覆盖范围是控制蠕虫传播和保证无线传感网络安全最为重要的因素之一。并通过仿真发现消除模型混沌状态的一些关键参数,其中非线性发生率βSII+1是控制蠕虫病毒传播、保证无线传感网络安全的最佳选择。     

Shock wave propagation in soda lime glass using optical shadowgraphy

Propagation of shock waves in soda lime glass, which is a transparent material, has been studied using the optical shadowgraphy technique. The time-resolved shock velocity information has been obtained (1) in single shot, using the chirped pulse shadowgraphy technique, with a temporal resolution of tens of picoseconds and (2) in multiple shots, using conventional snapshot approach, with a second harmonic probe pulse. Transient shock velocities of (5–7) × 10⁶ cm/s have been obtained. The scaling of the shock velocity with intensity in the 2 × 10¹³–10¹⁴ W/cm² range has been obtained. The shock velocity is observed to scale with laser intensity as I^0.38. The present experiments also show the presence of ionization tracks, generated probably due to X-ray hotspots from small-scale filamentation instabilities. The results and various issues involved in these experiments are discussed.     

Linearly polarized intracavity passive Q-switched Yb-doped photonic crystal fibre laser

In this paper we report linearly polarized high average power passive Q-switched ytterbium-doped photonic crystal fibre laser with a Cr⁴⁺:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber. An average output power of 9.4 W with pulse duration of 64 ns and pulse repetition rate of 57.4 kHz with a slope efficiency of 52% was achieved. Measured polarization extinction ratio (PER) of the Q-switched laser output was 10.5 dB.     

Communication on the structure of biological networks

Networks are widely used to represent interaction pattern among the components in complex systems. Structures of real networks from different domains may vary quite significantly. As there is an interplay between network architecture and dynamics, structure plays an important role in communication and spreading of information in a network. Here we investigate the underlying undirected topology of different biological networks which support faster spreading of information and are better in communication. We analyse the good expansion property by using the spectral gap and communicability between nodes. Different epidemic models are also used to study the transmission of information in terms of spreading of disease through individuals (nodes) in those networks. Moreover, we explore the structural conformation and properties which may be responsible for better communication. Among all biological networks studied here, the undirected structure of neuronal networks not only possesses the small-world property but the same is also expressed remarkably to a higher degree compared to any randomly generated network which possesses the same degree sequence. A relatively high percentage of nodes, in neuronal networks, form a higher core in their structure. Our study shows that the underlying undirected topology in neuronal networks, in a significant way, is qualitatively different from the same in other biological networks and that they may have evolved in such a way that they inherit a (undirected) structure which is excellent and robust in communication.