How does inflation depend upon the nature of fluids filling up the universe in brane world scenario?

By constructing different parameters which are able to give us the information about our universe during inflation, (specially at the start and the end of the inflationary universe) a brief idea of brane world inflation is given in this work. What will be the size of the universe at the end of inflation, i.e., how many times will it grow than the original size is been speculated and analysed thereafter. Different kinds of fluids are taken to be the matter inside the brane. It is observed that in the case of highly positive pressure giving gas like polytropic, the size of the universe at the end of inflation is comparatively smaller. Whereas for negative pressure creators (like Chaplygin gas) this size is much bigger. Except these two cases, inflation has been studied for barotropic fluid and linear red shift parametrization ω(z)=ω ₀+ω ₁ z too. For them the size of the universe after inflation is much more high. We also have seen that this size does not depend upon the potential energy at the end of the inflation. On the contrary, there is a high impact of the initial potential energy upon the size of inflation.     

Ionospheric effects near the magnetic equator and the anomaly crest of the Indian longitude zone during a large number of intense geomagnetic storms

Ionospheric effects of a large number (51) of severe geomagnetic storms are studied using total electron content (TEC) and VHF/UHF scintillation data from Calcutta, situated near the northern crest of equatorial ionization anomaly and equatorial spread-F (ESF) data from Kodaikanal. The susceptibility of the equatorial ionosphere to develop storm time plasma density irregularities responsible for ESF and scintillation is found to be largely modulated by the local times of occurrences of main and recovery phases as seen in the D_st index. While inhibition of premidnight scintillation for lower TEC values compared to the quiet day averages is omnipresent, occurrence of scintillation for enhancements of TEC is largely dependent on initiation time and amplitude of the said deviations. An overall reduction in threshold values of h′F for observing storm induced ESF and scintillation compared to reported quiet time values is noted. The results are discussed in terms of storm time variabilities in electric fields, neutral wind system and composition changes.     

Space-time structures of earthquakes

Using the United States Geological Survey global daily data sets for 31 years, we have tabulated the earthquake intensities on a global latitude longitude grid and represented them as a finite sum of spherical harmonics. An interesting aspect of this global view of earthquakes is that we see a low frequency modulation in the amplitudes of the spherical harmonic waves. There are periods when these waves carry larger amplitudes compared to other periods. A power spectral analysis of these amplitudes clearly shows the presence of a low frequency oscillation in time with a largest mode around 40 days. That period also coincides with a well-know period in the atmosphere and in the ocean called the Madden Julian Oscillation. This paper also illustrates the existence of a spatial oscillation in strong earthquake occurrences on the western rim of the Pacific plate. These are like pendulum oscillations in the earthquake frequencies that swing north or south along the western rim at these periods. The spatial amplitude of the oscillation is nearly 10,000 km and occurs on an intraseasonal time scale of 20–60 days. A 34-year long United States Geological Survey earthquake database was examined in this context; this roughly exhibited 69 swings of these oscillations. Spectral analysis supports the intraseasonal timescale, and also reveals higher frequencies on a 7–10 day time scale. These space-time characteristics of these pendulum-like earthquake oscillations are similar to those of the MJO. Fluctuations in the length of day on this time scale are also connected to the MJO. Inasmuch as the atmospheric component of the MJO will torque the solid earth through mountain stresses, we speculate the MJO and our proposed earthquake cycle may be connected. The closeness of these periods calls for future study.     

Dynamic Analysis of Tunnel in Soil Subjected to Internal Blast Loading

The present work deals with the three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) analyses of the tunnel in soil subjected to internal blast loading. The analyses are performed using the coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian analysis tool in FE software Abaqus/Explicit. The soil and reinforced concrete lining are modeled using the Lagrangian elements. The explosive Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is modeled using the Eulerian elements. The stress–strain response of soil, concrete, and reinforcement are simulated using strain rate dependent Drucker–Prager plasticity, concrete damaged plasticity and Johnson–Cook (J–C) plasticity models, respectively. The pressure–volume relationship of the TNT explosive is simulated using the Jones-Wilkins-Lee equation of state. Parametric sensitivity studies have been performed for different (1) tunnel lining thicknesses, (2) explosive charge weights and (3) angles of internal friction of soil. It is observed from the results that blast induced pressure on the tunnel lining increases with the increase in charge weight. Both the lining and the surrounding soil undergo significant deformation. The deformation of the tunnel lining increases with increasing charge weight and decreases with increasing lining thickness and increasing the angle of internal friction of soil. Blast-induced velocity in soil attenuates with increasing distance from the source of the blast.     

On role of pressure anisotropy for relativistic stars admitting conformal motion

We investigate the spacetime of anisotropic stars admitting conformal motion. The Einstein field equations are solved using different ansatz of the surface tension. In this investigation, we study two cases in details with the anisotropy as: (1) p _t =n p _r , (2) -p_r=(+c_2)p_{t}-p_{r}=\frac{1}{8\pi}(\frac{c_{1}}{r^{2}}+c_{2}) where, n, c ₁ and c ₂ are arbitrary constants. The solutions yield expressions of the physical quantities like pressure gradients and the mass.     

Black holes in the Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet theory and the geometry of their thermodynamics—II

In the present work we study (i) the charged black hole in Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet (EGB) theory, known as the Einstein–Maxwell–Gauss–Bonnet (EMGB) black hole and (ii) the black hole in EGB gravity with a Yang–Mills field. The thermodynamic geometry of these two black hole solutions has been investigated, using the modified entropy in Gauss–Bonnet theory.     

Inversion of PROSAIL Model for Retrieval of Plant Biophysical Parameters

The current development of satellite technology particularly in the sensors like POLDER and MISR, has emphasized more on directional reflectance measurements (i.e. spectral reflectance of the target measured from different view zenith and azimuth angles) of the earth surface features mainly the vegetation for retrieval of biophysical parameters at regional scale using radiative transfer models. This approach being physical process based and uses directional reflectance measurement has been found to better and more reliable compared to the conventional statistical approach used till date and takes care of anisotropic nature (i.e. reflectance from the target is different if measured from different view angles) of the target. Keeping this in view a field experiment was conducted in mustard crop to evaluate the radiative transfer model for biophysical parameter retrieval through its inversion with the objectives set as (i) to relate canopy biophysical parameters and geometry to its bidirectional reflectance, (ii) to evaluate a canopy reflectance model to best represent the radiative transfer within the canopy for its inversion and (iii) to retrieve crop biophysical parameters through inversion of the model. Two varieties of the mustard crop (Brassica juncea L) were grown with two nitrogen treatments. The bidirectional reflectance data obtained at 5 nm interval for a range of 400–1100 nm were integrated to IRS LISS–II sensor’s four band values using Newton Cotes Integration technique. Biophysical parameters like leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf length, plant height and average leaf inclination angle, biomass etc were estimated synchronizing with the bi-directional reflectance measurements. Radiative transfer model PROSAIL model was validated and its inversion was done to retrieve LAI and ALA. Look Up Table (LUT) of Bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) was prepared simulating through PROSAIL model varying only LAI (0.2 interval from 1.2 to 5.4 ) and ALA (5° interval from 40° to 55°) parameters and inversion was done using a merit function and numerical optimization technique given by Press et al. (1986). The derived LAI and ALA values from inversion were well matched with observed one with RMSE 0.521 and 5.57, respectively.     

Appraisal and mapping the spatial-temporal distribution of urban road traffic noise

The present study aims to compute the temporal and spatial distribution of road traffic induced noise pollution in an urban environment by monitoring and mapping. The study area was the entire Asansol city of West Bengal, India. A total of 35 locations were selected for collection of data, classified as industrial, commercial, residential, sensitive and mixed areas according to the national regulatory standards. Noise recordings were conducted during morning and night hours. Day time L_eq level ranged between 51.2 and 89.0 dB(A), whereas it ranged between 43.5 and 81.9 dB(A) during night. The average L_dn value was 73.28 ±8.51 dB(A) (Range: 55.1–87.3); The traffic noise index was 80.62 ± 15.88 dB(A) (Range: 49.4–115.8). The computed data were mapped by utilization of Geographic information system methodology that allowed the visualization and identification of the extent and distribution of sound pollution across the study area. This proves to be an ideal tool for carrying out noise impact assessments in urban settings. The study reveals that present noise level in all the locations exceeds the prescribed limit. Based on the finding, it can be mentioned that the population in this industrial town are exposed to significantly high noise level, which is caused mostly due to road traffic. The study reveals that vulnerable establishments like schools and hospitals are subjected to significantly high noise level throughout the day and immediate mitigatory measures are required to alleviate the problem.     

Bearing of plate geometry and rheology on shallow-focus mega-thrust seismicity with special reference to 26 December 2004 Sumatra event

We propose a model pertaining to the generation of 26th December 2004 off Sumatra mega-event in the backdrop of other similar type earthquakes along subduction zones around the world. Reconstructions of Benioff trajectories through the hypocenters of historical earthquakes including six mega-earthquakes indicate (i) confinement of hypocenters right within the descending lithosphere, and (ii) natural coincidence of foci of the mega-events around the zones of plate flexing. These observations are discussed in detail with special emphasis on the Sumatra margin considering the role of rheological anomaly across the cross-section of the descending lithosphere; yield strength envelope and residual stress accumulation through time. The intraplate origin of shallow mega-thrust earthquakes allowed us to advocate the ‘zone of flexing’ along the profiles of the subducting plates as nodal area for stress concentration. We propose here that at elevated confining pressure and temperature, loading of unidirectional cyclic stress on time-average bending stress enhanced the material yield strength (i.e., strain-hardening), and leads the semi-brittle portion of the lithosphere into near-brittle condition through rheological transformation. Under subsequent rise in neutral surface and increase in compressive stress field, non-coaxial deformation triggered shear failure on 26th December 2004 preferably at the rheological interface between strain-hardened near-brittle layer and deformed ductile layer within the sub-oceanic mantle.A two-stage fracture mechanism viz. a slow (～1.1 km/s) bilateral initiation in an essentially strain-hardened near-brittle domain and a follow-up very rapid progression (3.3 km/s) in the brittle, crustal domain was mainly involved in the generation of 2004 off Sumatra mega-event. Estimation shows an amount of 3.38 × 10²² to 4.50 × 10²² N m seismic moment (M_o) and 8.95–9.03 moment magnitude (M_w) for the southern part of the 1300 km extended rupture i.e. between the North Andaman to the north and the Sumatra at its south. The study necessitates the reassessment of other shallow-focus mega-thrust earthquakes along the subduction margins around the globe.