Exact solution of a problem in a stellar atmosphere using the Laplace transform and the Wiener-Hopf technique

The general equation for radiative transfer of line scattering intensity — including the effects of scattering, absorption and thermal emission — in the Milne-Eddington model is considered here. The scattering function is assumed to be quadratically anisotropic in the cosine of the scattering angle, and Planck's intensity function is assumed for thermal emission. The exact solutions for emergent intensity from the bounding face and the intensity at any optical depth are obtained by the method of the Laplace transform in combination with the Wiener-Hopf technique.     

Geo-engineering properties of expansive soil treated with xanthan gum biopolymer

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the effectiveness of xanthan gum (XG) biopolymer in stabilising the expansive soil. The XG biopolymer is mixed with expansive soil in different proportions such as 0%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 0.8% and 1.0% by weight of the dry soil mass. The plasticity, compaction, swelling, compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, strength and durability characteristics of the treated and un-treated expansive soil are examined. Results show that the plasticity index of the treated soil mass initially increases but beyond 0.5% biopolymer addition it decreases sharply. The optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of treated soil, found out from light and heavy compaction tests, do not follow any definite trend. It is also found that increasing XG content increases compressibility slightly but, it reduces swelling pressure, differential free swelling value and hydraulic conductivity remarkably. On the other hand, time-dependent compressive strength and resistance to mass loss increases with increasing XG content. Microscopic examination confirms the formation of gel-like linkage, which brings about the modifications in the treated expansive soil.     

Radial tidal current field in a semi-enclosed rectangular basin: formation and evolution

The radial tidal current field accounts for the formation of the radial sand ridges in the South Yellow Sea. Understanding the formation and evolution of this radial tidal current field is vital to assessing the morphodynamic features in the area. A semi-enclosed rectangular basin with and without a coastal barrier was schematized from the topography of the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea. The 2D tidal current field in this basin was simulated using the DELFT3D-FLOW model. The concept of tidal wave refraction, which highlights the effect of the sloped or stepped submarine topography on the propagation of the tidal waves, was introduced to explain the formation of the radial tidal current field. Under the effect of tidal wave refraction, co-phase lines of the counterclockwise rotating tidal wave and incident tidal wave are transformed into clockwise and counterclockwise deflections, respectively, leading to the convergence and divergence of the flow field. Regardless of whether a coastal barrier exists or not, the outer radial tidal current field might emerge over certain topography. The responses of the radial tidal current field in this basin to the environmental variations such as coastline changes and bottom erosions were discussed. Results show that local protrusion near the focal point of the radial tidal current field will have limited effects on the location of the tidal system. However, a remarkable shift of the amphidromic point toward the entrance and central axis of this basin and a movement of the focal point of the radial tidal current field toward the entrance could be caused by the significant seaward coastline advance and submarine slope erosion.     

From Nearby Low Luminosity AGN to High Redshift Radio Galaxies: Science Interests with Square Kilometre Array

We present detailed science cases that a large fraction of the Indian AGN community is interested in pursuing with the upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA). These interests range from understanding low luminosity active galactic nuclei in the nearby Universe to powerful radio galaxies at high redshifts. Important unresolved science questions in AGN physics are discussed. Ongoing low-frequency surveys with the SKA pathfinder telescope GMRT, are highlighted.     

Dynamical behavior of size-graded dust grains levitated in rotating magnetized astroplasmas

Our purpose is to examine the formation of different sheaths in rotating astroplasmas embedded in an ambient magnetic field. Sequel to our recent work (Das and Chakraborty in Astrophys. Space Sci., 2011) we remodeled our present study with the view to finding of robust sheath over the Earth’s Moon along with the formation of dust clouds therein. Based on using the pseudopotential analysis, a modified Sagdeev potential equation has been derived, which, in turns, quantifies the interaction of Coriolis force and magnetic field and to derive the different natures of sheath and dust atmosphere. The application of this result to the input numeric data of the lunar environment and dynamical behaviors of dust levitation has been studied. Our study finds that the dust particles having a spatial segregation within the sheath region form dust clouds in spaces.     

Energy dissipation in wave propagation in general-relativistic plasma

Based on a recent communication by the present authors the question of energy dissipation in magnetohydrodynamical waves in an inflating background in general relativity is examined. It is found that the expanding background introduces a sort of dragging force on the propagating wave such that, unlike the Newtonian case, energy gets dissipated as it progresses. This loss in energy having no special-relativistic analogue is, however, not mechanical in nature as in case of an elastic wave. It is also found that the energy loss is model dependent and also depends on the number of dimensions.     

Evidence for structural discordance in the inverted metamorphic sequence of Sikkim Himalaya: Towards resolving the Main Central Thrust controversy

Inverted metamorphism in the Himalayas is closely associated with the Main Central Thrust (MCT). In the western Himalayas, the Main Central Thrust conventionally separates high grade metamorphic rocks of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Sequence (HHCS) from unmetamorphosed rocks of the Inner sedimentary Belt. In the eastern Himalayas, the Inner sedimentary Belt is absent, and the HHCS and meta-sedimentary Lesser Himalayan Sequence (LHS) apparently form a continuous Barrovian metamorphic sequence, leading to confusion about the precise location of the MCT. In this study, it is demonstrated that migmatitic gneisses of the sillimanite zone in the higher structural levels of the HHCS are multiply deformed, with two phases of penetrative fabric formation (S_1HHCS and S_2HHCS) followed by third folding event associated with a spaced, NW-SE trending, north-east dipping foliation (S_3HHCS). The underlying LHS schists (kyanite zone and lower) are also multiply deformed, with the bedding S₀ being isoclinally folded (F_1LHS), and subsequently refolded (F_2LHS and F_3LHS). The contact zone between the HHCS and LHS is characterized by ductile, top-to-the southwest shearing and stabilization of a pervasive foliation that is consistently oriented NW-SE and dips northeast. This foliation is parallel to the S_3HHCS foliation in the HHCS, and the S_2LHS in the LHS. Early lineations in the HHCS and LHS also show different dispersions across the contact shear zone, implying that pre-thrusting orientations of the two units were distinct. The contact shear zone is therefore interpreted to be a plane of structural discordance, shows a shear sense consistent with thrust movement and is associated with mineral growth during Barrovian metamorphism. It may well be considered to represent the MCT in this region.     

Extended Finite Element Method for the Analysis of Discontinuities in Rock Masses

The strength and deformability of rock mass primarily depend on the condition of joints and their spacing and partially on the engineering properties of rock matrix. Till today, numerical analysis of discontinuities e.g. joint, fault, shear plane and others is conducted placing an interface element in between two adjacent rock matrix elements. However, the applicability of interface elements is limited in rock mechanics problems having multiple discontinuities due to its inherent numerical difficulties often leading to non-convergent solution. Recent developments in extended finite element method (XFEM) having strong discontinuity imbedded within a regular element provide an opportunity to analyze discrete discontinuities in rock masses without any numerical difficulties. This concept is based on partition of unity principle and can be used for cohesive rock joints. This paper summarizes the mathematical frameworks for the implementation of strong discontinuities in 3 and 6 nodded triangular elements and also provides numerical examples of the application of XFEM in one and two dimensional problems with single and multiple discontinuities.     

Intercomparison of Oceansat-2 and ASCAT Winds with In Situ Buoy Observations and Short-Term Numerical Forecasts

Sea surface winds from the Oceansat-2 scatterometer (OSCAT) are important inputs to Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently updated the OSCAT retrieval algorithm in order to generate better products. An attempt has been made in this study to evaluate the updated OSCAT winds using buoy observations and the 6-hour short-term forecasts from the T574L64 model from the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) during the 2011 monsoon. The results of the OSCAT evaluation are also compared with those from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) on-board the Meteorological Operational Satellite-A (MetOp-A) which were evaluated in the same way. The root mean square differences (RMSDs) for wind speed and direction, are within 2?m?s^?1 and 20° for both scatterometers. The RMSDs for OSCAT are slightly higher than those for ASCAT, and this difference may be attributed in part to the difference in frequency and resolution of the scatterometer payloads. The bias and standard deviation for ASCAT winds are also lower than those for OSCAT winds with respect to the model short-range forecast, and this can be attributed to the regular assimilation of ASCAT winds in the model.