arXiv subjects

F. Stefani

Publications and source records attributed to F. Stefani.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

First international comparison of fountain primary frequency standards via a long distance optical fiber link

We report on the first comparison of distant caesium fountain primary frequency standards (PFSs) via an optical fiber link. The 1415 km long optical link connects two PFSs at LNE-SYRTE (Laboratoire National de métrologie et d'Essais - SYstème de Références Temps-Espace) in Paris (France) with two at PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) in Braunschweig (Germany). For a long time, these PFSs have been major contributors to accuracy of the International Atomic Time (TAI), with stated accuracies of around $3\times 10^{-16}$. They have also been the references for a number of absolute measurements of clock transition frequencies in various optical frequency standards in view of a future redefinition of the second. The phase coherent optical frequency transfer via a stabilized telecom fiber link enables far better resolution than any other means of frequency transfer based on satellite links. The agreement for each pair of distant fountains compared is well within the combined uncertainty of a few 10$^{-16}$ for all the comparisons, which fully supports the stated PFSs' uncertainties. The comparison also includes a rubidium fountain frequency standard participating in the steering of TAI and enables a new absolute determination of the $^{87}$Rb ground state hyperfine transition frequency with an uncertainty of $3.1\times 10^{-16}$. This paper is dedicated to the memory of André Clairon, who passed away on the 24$^{th}$ of December 2015, for his pioneering and long-lasting efforts in atomic fountains. He also pioneered optical links from as early as 1997.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Transitions in a magnetized quasi-laminar spherical Couette Flow

First results of a new spherical Couette experiment are presented. The liquid metal flow in a spherical shell is exposed to a homogeneous axial magnetic field. For a Reynolds number Re=1000, we study the effect of increasing Hartmann number Ha. The resulting flow structures are inspected by ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. With a weak applied magnetic field, we observe an equatorially anti-symmetric jet instability with azimuthal wave number m=3. As the magnetic field strength increases, this instability vanishes. When the field is increased further, an equatorially symmetric return flow instability arises. Our observations are shown to be in good agreement with linear stability analysis and non-linear flow simulations.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations on magnetic instabilities

Magnetic fields of planets, stars and galaxies are generated by self-excitation in moving electrically conducting fluids. Once produced, magnetic fields can play an active role in cosmic structure formation by destabilizing rotational flows that would be otherwise hydrodynamically stable. For a long time, both hydromagnetic dynamo action as well as magnetically triggered flow instabilities had been the subject of purely theoretical research. Meanwhile, however, the dynamo effect has been observed in large-scale liquid sodium experiments in Riga, Karlsruhe and Cadarache. In this paper, we summarize the results of some smaller liquid metal experiments devoted to various magnetic instabilities such as the helical and the azimuthal magnetorotational instability, the Tayler instability, and the different instabilities that appear in a magnetized spherical Couette flow. We conclude with an outlook on a large scale Tayler-Couette experiment using liquid sodium, and on the prospects to observe magnetically triggered instabilities of flows with positive shear.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

The Tayler instability at low magnetic Prandtl numbers: Chiral symmetry breaking and synchronizable helicity oscillations

The current-driven, kink-type Tayler instability (TI) is a key ingredient of the Tayler-Spruit dynamo model for the generation of stellar magnetic fields, but is also discussed as a mechanism that might hamper the up-scaling of liquid metal batteries. Under some circumstances, the TI involves a helical flow pattern which goes along with some alpha effect. Here we focus on the chiral symmetry breaking and the related impact on the alpha effect that would be needed to close the dynamo loop in the Tayler-Spruit model. For low magnetic Prandtl numbers, we observe intrinsic oscillations of the alpha effect. These oscillations serve then as the basis for a synchronized Tayler-Spruit dynamo model, which could possibly link the periodic tidal forces of planets with the oscillation periods of stellar dynamos.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

Synchronized helicity oscillations: a link between planetary tides and the solar cycle?

Recent years have seen an increased interest in the question of whether the gravitational action of planets could have an influence on the solar dynamo. Without discussing the observational validity of the claimed correlations, we ask for a possible physical mechanism that might link the weak planetary forces with solar dynamo action. We focus on the helicity oscillations that were recently found in simulations of the current-driven, kink-type Tayler instability, which is characterized by an m=1 azimuthal dependence. We show how these helicity oscillations can be resonantly excited by some m=2 perturbation that reflects a tidal oscillation. Specifically, we speculate that the 11.07 years tidal oscillation induced by the Venus--Earth--Jupiter system may lead to a 1:1 resonant excitation of the oscillation of the alpha-effect. Finally, in the framework of a reduced, zero-dimensional alpha--Omega dynamo model we recover a 22.14-year cycle of the solar dynamo.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

A clock network for geodesy and fundamental science

Leveraging the unrivaled performance of optical clocks in applications in fundamental physics beyond the standard model, in geo-sciences, and in astronomy requires comparing the frequency of distant optical clocks truthfully. Meeting this requirement, we report on the first comparison and agreement of fully independent optical clocks separated by 700 km being only limited by the uncertainties of the clocks themselves. This is achieved by a phase-coherent optical frequency transfer via a 1415 km long telecom fiber link that enables substantially better precision than classical means of frequency transfer. The fractional precision in comparing the optical clocks of three parts in $10^{17}$ was reached after only 1000 s averaging time, which is already 10 times better and more than four orders of magnitude faster than with any other existing frequency transfer method. The capability of performing high resolution international clock comparisons paves the way for a redefinition of the unit of time and an all-optical dissemination of the SI-second.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Subcritical excitation of the current-driven Tayler instability by super-rotation

It is known that in a hydrodynamic Taylor-Couette system uniform rotation or a rotation law with positive shear ('super-rotation') are linearly stable. It is also known that a conducting fluid under the presence of a sufficiently strong axial electric-current becomes unstable against nonaxisymmetric disturbances. It is thus suggestive that a cylindric pinch formed by a homogeneous axial electric-current is stabilized by rotation laws with $dΩ/dR \geq 0$. However, for magnetic Prandtl numbers Pm$\neq 1$ and for slow rotation also rigid rotation and super-rotation support the instability by lowering their critical Hartmann numbers. For super-rotation in narrow gaps and for modest rotation rates this double-diffusive instability even exists for toroidal magnetic fields with rather arbitrary radial profiles, the current-free profile $B_ϕ\propto 1/R$ included. For rigid rotation and for super-rotation the sign of the azimuthal drift of the nonaxisymmetric hydromagnetic instability pattern strongly depends on the magnetic Prandtl number. The pattern counterrotates with the flow for Pm$\ll 1$ and it corotates for Pm$\gg 1$ while for rotation laws with negative shear the instability pattern migrates in the direction of the basic rotation for all Pm. An axial electric-current of minimal 3.6 kAmp flowing inside or outside the inner cylinder suffices to realize the double-diffusive instability for super-rotation in experiments using liquid sodium as the conducting fluid between the rotating cylinders. The limit is 11 kAmp if a gallium alloy is used.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Triadic resonances in non-linear simulations of a fluid flow in a precessing cylinder

We present results from three-dimensional non-linear hydrodynamic simulations of a precession driven flow in cylindrical geometry. The simulations are motivated by a dynamo experiment currently under development at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) in which the possibility of generating a magnetohydrodynamic dynamo will be investigated in a cylinder filled with liquid sodium and simultaneously rotating around two axes. In this study, we focus on the emergence of non-axisymmetric time-dependent flow structures in terms of inertial waves which - in cylindrical geometry - form so-called Kelvin modes. For a precession ratio ${\rm{Po}}=Ω_p/Ω_c=0.014$ the amplitude of the forced Kelvin mode reaches up to one fourth of the rotation velocity of the cylindrical container confirming that precession provides a rather efficient flow driving mechanism even at moderate values of ${\rm{Po}}$. More relevant for dynamo action might be free Kelvin modes with higher azimuthal wave number. These free Kelvin modes are triggered by non-linear interactions and may constitute a triadic resonance with the fundamental forced mode when the height of the container matches their axial wave lengths. Our simulations reveal triadic resonances at aspect ratios close to those predicted by the linear theory except around the primary resonance of the forced mode. In that regime we still identify various free Kelvin modes, however, all of them exhibit a retrograde drift around the symmetry axis of the cylinder and none of them can be assigned to a triadic resonance. The amplitudes of the free Kelvin modes always remain below the forced mode but may reach up to 6% of the of the container's angular velocity. The properties of the free Kelvin modes will be used in future simulations of the magnetic induction equation to investigate their ability to provide for dynamo action.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2014

Numerical simulations for the DRESDYN precession dynamo

The next generation dynamo experiment currently under development at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) will consist of a precessing cylindrical container filled with liquid sodium. We perform numerical simulations of kinematic dynamo action applying a velocity field that is obtained from hydrodynamic models of a precession driven flow. So far, the resulting magnetic field growth-rates remain below the dynamo threshold for magnetic Reynolds numbers up to Rm=2000.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2014

Towards a precession driven dynamo experiment

The most ambitious project within the DREsden Sodium facility for DYNamo and thermohydraulic studies (DRESDYN) at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) is the set-up of a precession-driven dynamo experiment. After discussing the scientific background and some results of water pre-experiments and numerical predictions, we focus on the numerous structural and design problems of the machine. We also outline the progress of the building's construction, and the status of some other experiments that are planned in the framework of DRESDYN.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2014

The influence of current collectors on Tayler instability and electro-vortex flows in liquid metal batteries

The Tayler instability is a kink-type flow instability which occurs when the electrical current through a conducting fluid exceeds a certain critical value. Originally studied in the astrophysical context, the instability was recently shown to be also a limiting factor for the upward scalability of liquid metal batteries. In this paper, we continue our efforts to simulate this instability for liquid metals within the framework of an integro-differential equation approach. The original solver is enhanced by multi-domain support with Dirichlet-Neumann partitioning for the static boundaries. Particular focus is laid on the detailed influence of the axial electrical boundary conditions on the characteristic features of the Tayler instability, and, secondly, on the occurrence of electro-vortex flows and their relevance for liquid metal batteries.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2013

Astrophysical and experimental implications from the magnetorotational instability of toroidal fields

The interaction of differential rotation and toroidal fields that are current-free in the gap between two corotating axially unbounded cylinders is considered. It is shown that nonaxisymmetric perturbations are unstable if the rotation rate and Alfvén frequency of the field are of the same order, almost independent of the magnetic Prandtl number Pm. For the very steep rotation law Ω\propto R^{-2} (the Rayleigh limit) and for small Pm the threshold values of rotation and field for this Azimuthal MagnetoRotational Instability (AMRI) scale with the ordinary Reynolds number and the Hartmann number, resp. A laboratory experiment with liquid metals like sodium or gallium in a Taylor-Couette container has been designed on the basis of this finding. For fluids with more flat rotation laws the Reynolds number and the Hartmann number are no longer typical quantities for the instability. For the weakly nonlinear system the numerical values of the kinetic energy and the magnetic energy are derived for magnetic Prandtl numbers \leq 1. We find that the magnetic energy grows monotonically with the magnetic Reynolds number Rm, while the kinetic energy grows with Rm/\sqrt{Pm}. The resulting turbulent Schmidt number, as the ratio of the `eddy' viscosity and the diffusion coefficient of a passive scalar (such as lithium) is of order 20 for Pm=1, but for small Pm it drops to order unity. Hence, in a stellar core with fossil fields and steep rotation law the transport of angular momentum by AMRI is always accompanied by an intense mixing of the plasma, until the rotation becomes rigid.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Influence of high permeability disks in an axisymmetric model of the Cadarache dynamo experiment

Numerical simulations of the kinematic induction equation are performed on a model configuration of the Cadarache von-Kármán-Sodium dynamo experiment. The effect of a localized axisymmetric distribution of relative permeability μ that represents soft iron material within the conducting fluid flow is investigated. The critical magnetic Reynolds number Rm^c for dynamo action of the first non-axisymmetric mode roughly scales like Rm^c(μ)-Rm^c(μ->infinity) ~ μ^(-1/2) i.e. the threshold decreases as μ increases. This scaling law suggests a skin effect mechanism in the soft iron disks. More important with regard to the Cadarache dynamo experiment, we observe a purely toroidal axisymmetric mode localized in the high permeability disks which becomes dominant for large μ. In this limit, the toroidal mode is close to the onset of dynamo action with a (negative) growth-rate that is rather independent of the magnetic Reynolds number. We qualitatively explain this effect by paramagnetic pumping at the fluid/disk interface and propose a simplified model that quantitatively reproduces numerical results. The crucial role of the high permeability disks for the mode selection in the Cadarache dynamo experiment cannot be inferred from computations using idealized pseudo-vacuum boundary conditions (H x n = 0).

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Horizontal rotation signals detected by "G-Pisa" ring laser for the Mw=9.0, March 2011, Japan earthquake

We report the observation of the ground rotation induced by the Mw=9.0, 11th of March 2011, Japan earthquake. The rotation measurements have been conducted with a ring laser gyroscope operating in a vertical plane, thus detecting rotations around the horizontal axis. Comparison of ground rotations with vertical accelerations from a co-located force-balance accelerometer shows excellent ring laser coupling at periods longer than 100s. Under the plane wave assumption, we derive a theoretical relationship between horizontal rotation and vertical acceleration for Rayleigh waves. Due to the oblique mounting of the gyroscope with respect to the wave direction-of-arrival, apparent velocities derived from the acceleration / rotation rate ratio are expected to be always larger than, or equal to the true wave propagation velocity. This hypothesis is confirmed through comparison with fundamental-mode, Rayleigh wave phase velocities predicted for a standard Earth model.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2012

Spectral properties of oscillatory and non-oscillatory α^2-dynamos

The eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a linear α^{2}-dynamo have been computed for different spatial distributions of an isotropic α-effect. Oscillatory solutions are obtained when αexhibits a sign change in the radial direction. The time-dependent solutions arise at so called exceptional points where two stationary modes merge and continue as an oscillatory eigenfunction with conjugate complex eigenvalues. The close proximity of oscillatory and non-oscillatory solutions may serve as the basic ingredient for reversal models that describe abrupt polarity switches of a dipole induced by noise. Whereas the presence of an inner core with different magnetic diffusivity has remarkable little impact on the character of the dominating dynamo eigenmodes, the introduction of equatorial symmetry breaking considerably changes the geometric character of the solutions. Around the dynamo threshold the leading modes correspond to hemispherical dynamos even when the symmetry breaking is small. This behavior can be explained by the approximate dipole-quadrupole degeneration for the unperturbed problem. More complicated scenarios may occur in case of more realistic anisotropies of α- and β-effect or through non-linearities caused by the back-reaction of the magnetic field (magnetic quenching).

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2012

DRESDYN - A new facility for MHD experiments with liquid sodium

The DREsden Sodium facility for DYNamo and thermohydraulic studies (DRESDYN) is intended as a platform both for large scale experiments related to geo- and astrophysics as well as for experiments related to thermohydraulic and safety aspects of liquid metal batteries and liquid metal fast reactors. The most ambitious projects in the framework of DRESDYN are a homogeneous hydromagnetic dynamo driven solely by precession and a large Taylor-Couette type experiment for the combined investigation of the magnetorotational instability and the Tayler instability. In this paper we give a short summary about the ongoing preparations and delineate the next steps for the realization of DRESDYN.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2011

Measuring Gravito-magnetic Effects by Multi Ring-Laser Gyroscope

We propose an under-ground experiment to detect the general relativistic effects due to the curvature of space-time around the Earth (de Sitter effect) and to rotation of the planet (dragging of the inertial frames or Lense-Thirring effect). It is based on the comparison between the IERS value of the Earth rotation vector and corresponding measurements obtained by a tri-axial laser detector of rotation. The proposed detector consists of six large ring-lasers arranged along three orthogonal axes. In about two years of data taking, the 1% sensitivity required for the measurement of the Lense-Thirring drag can be reached with square rings of 6 $m$ side, assuming a shot noise limited sensitivity ($ 20 prad/s/\sqrt{Hz}$). The multi-gyros system, composed of rings whose planes are perpendicular to one or the other of three orthogonal axes, can be built in several ways. Here, we consider cubic and octahedron structures. The symmetries of the proposed configurations provide mathematical relations that can be used to study the stability of the scale factors, the relative orientations or the ring-laser planes, very important to get rid of systematics in long-term measurements, which are required in order to determine the relativistic effects.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

Electromagnetic induction in non-uniform domains

Kinematic simulations of the induction equation are carried out for different setups suitable for the von-Kármán-Sodium (VKS) dynamo experiment. Material properties of the flow driving impellers are considered by means of high conducting and high permeability disks that are present in a cylindrical volume filled with a conducting fluid. Two entirely different numerical codes are mutually validated by showing quantitative agreement on Ohmic decay and kinematic dynamo problems using various configurations and physical parameters. Field geometry and growth rates are strongly modified by the material properties of the disks even if the high permeability/high conductivity material is localized within a quite thin region. In contrast the influence of external boundary conditions remains small. Utilizing a VKS like mean fluid flow and high permeability disks yields a reduction of the critical magnetic Reynolds number for the onset of dynamo action of the simplest non-axisymmetric field mode. However this decrease is not sufficient to become relevant in the VKS experiment. Furthermore, the reduction of Rm_c is essentially influenced by tiny changes in the flow configuration so that the result is not very robust against small modifications of setup and properties of turbulence.

physics.flu-dyn↗