Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Germain Rousseaux

Publications and source records attributed to Germain Rousseaux.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Influence of shear-flow vorticity on wave-current interaction. Part 1: Surface gravity waves without surface tension effect

Propagation of surface waves on a background shear flow with constant vorticity is studied and compared against the case when the background flow is uniform in depth. For a shear flow with the linear vertical profile, the dispersion relation of surface gravity waves is minutely analyzed for a fluid of finite depth. Under the assumption that the background flow gradually varies in the horizontal direction, the primary attention is paid to the wave blocking phenomenon; the effect of vorticity on this phenomenon is studied in details. The conditions of wave blocking are obtained and categorized for different values of the governing dimensionless parameters.

physics.flu-dyn↗

The flow induced by a mock whale : origin of flukeprint formation

Fluke oscillations of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) imprint the ocean surface with an oval patch that surface waves cannot enter. Scientists have hypothesized that modification of surface tension by surfactants creates flukeprints. Here, we show, on the contrary, that the formation of flukeprint is primarily due to a wave-current interaction problem. We provide Particle Image Velocimetry measurements of anisotropy and vorticity in the flow generated by a mock whale fluke in a laboratory experiment. We explain for the first time why long gravity waves enter the flukeprint, whereas short gravity waves are blocked.

physics.flu-dyn↗

The circular jump as a hydrodynamic white hole

Surface waves in classical fluids experience a rich array of black/white hole horizon effects. The dispersion relation depends on the characteristics of the fluid as well as on the fluid depth and the wavelength regime. We focus on the shallow-water regime, and discuss the experimental proof that the circular hydraulic jump marks the transition between a supercritical and a subcritical flow regime. This finally confirms a theoretical conjecture formulated by Lord Rayleigh nearly 100 years ago. It also confirms that the circular jump corresponds to the spontaneous formation of a hydrodynamic white hole, with interesting characteristics from the point of view of analogue gravity. We study the dispersive regime, mention some lessons about the trans-Planckian issue and describe possible directions for future work.

gr-qc↗

Hawking tunneling and boomerang behaviour of massive particles with E < m

Massive particles are radiated from black holes through the Hawking mechanism together with the more familiar radiation of massless particles. For $E >= m$, the emission rate is identical to the massless case. But $E < m$ particles can also tunnel across the horizon. A study of the dispersion relation and wave packet simulations show that their classical trajectory is similar to that of a boomerang. The tunneling formalism is used to calculate the probability for detecting such $E < m$ particles, for a Schwarzschild black hole of astrophysical size or in an analogue gravity experiment, as a function of the distance from the horizon and the energy of the particle.

gr-qc↗

The Cerenkov effect revisited: from swimming ducks to zero modes in gravitational analogs

We present an interdisciplinary review of the generalized Cerenkov emission of radiation from uniformly moving sources in the different contexts of classical electromagnetism, superfluid hydrodynamics, and classical hydrodynamics. The details of each specific physical systems enter our theory via the dispersion law of the excitations. A geometrical recipe to obtain the emission patterns in both real and wavevector space from the geometrical shape of the dispersion law is discussed and applied to a number of cases of current experimental interest. Some consequences of these emission processes onto the stability of condensed-matter analogs of gravitational systems are finally illustrated.

physics.class-ph↗

Hawking radiation and the boomerang behaviour of massive modes near a horizon

We discuss the behaviour of massive modes near a horizon based on a study of the dispersion relation and wave packet simulations of the Klein-Gordon equation. We point out an apparent paradox between two (in principle equivalent) pictures of black hole evaporation through Hawking radiation. In the picture in which the evaporation is due to the emission of positive-energy modes, one immediately obtains a threshold for the emission of massive particles. In the picture in which the evaporation is due to the absorption of negative-energy modes, such a threshold apparently does not exist. We resolve this paradox by tracing the evolution of the positive-energy massive modes with an energy below the threshold. These are seen to be emitted and move away from the black hole horizon, but they bounce back at a "red horizon" and are re-absorbed by the black hole, thus compensating exactly for the difference between the two pictures. For astrophysical black holes, the consequences are curious but do not affect the terrestrial constraints on observing Hawking radiation. For analogue gravity systems with massive modes, however, the consequences are crucial and rather surprising.

gr-qc↗

Horizon effects for surface waves in wave channels and circular jumps

Surface waves in classical fluids experience a rich array of black/white hole horizon effects. The dispersion relation depends on the characteristics of the fluid (in our case, water and silicon oil) as well as on the fluid depth and the wavelength regime. In some cases, it can be tuned to obtain a relativistic regime plus high-frequency dispersive effects. We discuss two types of ongoing analogue white-hole experiments: deep water waves propagating against a counter-current in a wave channel and shallow waves on a circular hydraulic jump.

physics.flu-dyn↗

The influence of an electromagnetic field on the wave-current interaction

We study the propagation of surface waves on a current in the presence of an electromagnetic field. A horizontal (vertical) field strengthens (weakens) the counter-current which blocks the waves. We compute the phase space diagrams (blocking velocities versus period of the waves) with and without surface tension. Three new dimensionless numbers are introduced to compare the relative strengths of gravity, surface tension and field effects. This work shows the importance of an electromagnetic field in order to design wave-breakers or in microfluidics applications.

physics.flu-dyn↗

Horizon effects with surface waves on moving water

Surface waves on a stationary flow of water are considered, in a linear model that includes the surface tension of the fluid. The resulting gravity-capillary waves experience a rich array of horizon effects when propagating against the flow. In some cases three horizons (points where the group velocity of the wave reverses) exist for waves with a single laboratory frequency. Some of these effects are familiar in fluid mechanics under the name of wave blocking, but other aspects, in particular waves with negative co-moving frequency and the Hawking effect, were overlooked until surface waves were investigated as examples of analogue gravity [Schützhold R and Unruh W G 2002 Phys. Rev. D 66 044019]. A comprehensive presentation of the various horizon effects for gravity-capillary waves is given, with emphasis on the deep water/short wavelength case kh>>1 where many analytical results can be derived. A similarity of the state space of the waves to that of a thermodynamic system is pointed out.

gr-qc↗

"Nonrelativistic" kinematics: Particles or waves?

The kinematics of particles refer to events and tangent vectors, while that of waves refer to dual gradient planes. Special relativity [1-3] applies to both objects alike. Here we show that spacetime exchange symmetry [7] implicit in the SIdefinition of length based on the universal constant c has profound consequences at low velocities. Galilean physics, exact in the limit c \to \infty, is mirrored by a dual so-called Carrollian superluminal kinematics [4-6] exact in the limit c \to 0. Several new results follow. The Galilean limit explains mass conservation in Newtonian mechanics, while the dual limit is a kinematical prerequisite for wavelike tachyonic motion [8, 9]. As an example, the Landé paradox [19, 20] of waveparticle duality has a natural resolution within special relativity in terms of superluminal, particlelike waves. It is emphasized that internal particle energy mc^2 can not be ignored, while kinetic energy leads to an extended Galilei group. We also demonstrate that Maxwell's equations have magnetic and electric limits covariant under Galilean and Carrollian symmetry.

physics.gen-ph↗

Galilean Covariance versus Gauge Invariance

We demonstrate for the first time and unexpectedly that the Principle of Relativity dictates the choice of the "gauge conditions" in the canonical example of a Gauge Theory namely Classical Electromagnetism. All the known "gauge conditions" of the literature are interpreted physically as electromagnetic continuity equations hence the "gauge fields". The existence of a Galilean Electromagnetism with TWO dual limits ("electric" and "magnetic") is the crux of the problem [1]. A phase-space with the domains of validity of the various "gauge conditions" is provided and is shown to depend on three characteristic times : the magnetic diffusion time, the charge relaxation time and the transit time of electromagnetic waves in a continuous medium [2].

physics.class-ph↗

Observation of negative-frequency waves in a water tank: A classical analogue to the Hawking effect?

The conversion of positive-frequency waves into negative-frequency waves at the event horizon is the mechanism at the heart of the Hawking radiation of black holes. In black-hole analogues, horizons are formed for waves propagating in a medium against the current when and where the flow exceeds the wave velocity. We report on the first direct observation of negative-frequency waves converted from positive-frequency waves in a moving medium. The measured degree of mode conversion is significantly higher than expected from theory.

gr-qc↗

On the interaction between a current density and a vector potential: Ampère force, Helmholtz tension and Larmor torque

Several mathematical formulae are used nowadays in order to compute a magnetic torque. We demonstrate that its more general expression is the vectorial product of the current density with the vector potential. We associate this Larmor's torque with Ampère's force and more specifically with Helmholtz mechanical tension, which is at the origin of the longitudinal stresses in "open" circuits carrying current. We show that Ampère's force enters into the realm of Newtonian Electrodynamics and we explain the absence of contradiction with special relativity. Hence, we provide for the first time a theoretical basis for the numerous experiments, which claimed to have demonstrated the existence of the longitudinal mechanical tension starting with the historical Ampère's hairpin demonstration and the more modern ones of the Graneaus and of Saumont.

physics.class-ph↗

On the Lamb Vector and the Hydrodynamic Charge

This work is an attempt to test the concept of hydrodynamic charge (analogous to the electric charge in Electromagnetism) in the simple case of a coherent structure such as the Burgers vortex. We provide experimental measurements of both the so-called Lamb vector and its divergence (the charge) by two-dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry. In addition, we perform a Helmholtz-Hodge decomposition of the Lamb vector in order to explore its topological features. We compare the charge with the well-known Q criterion in order to assess its interest in detecting and characterizing coherent structure. Usefulness of this concept in studies of vortex dynamics is demonstrated.

physics.class-ph↗

On some applications of Galilean electrodynamics of moving bodies

We discuss the seminal article in which Le Bellac and Lévy-Leblond have identified two Galilean limits of electromagnetism [1], and its modern implications. Recent works have shed a new light on the choice of gauge conditions in classical electromagnetism. We discuss various applications and experiments, such as in quantum mechanics, superconductivity, electrodynamics of continuous media, etc. Much of the current technology, where waves are not taken into account, is actually based on Galilean electromagnetism

physics.class-ph↗

Les structures fines de l'électromagnétisme classique et de la relativité restreinte (The fine structures of Classical Electromagnetism and Special Relativity)

One of us (Y.P.) has shown the existence of a longitudinal component in the propagation of light waves on the basis of the kinematics underlying Poincaré's ellipse. We show how this statement agrees with the electromagnetic theory. We recall that the second of us supports the existence of a "fine structure" of Electromagnetism that is, the co-existence of two theories, one based on the fields (Heaviside-Hertz) and the other on the potentials (Riemann-Lorenz). The existence of two different kinematics (the "fine structure" of Special Relativity : Einstein or Poincaré) corresponds to these two formulations of Classical Electromagnetism. With this goal in mind, we prove the relativistic covariance of the Helmholtz decomposition of the vector potential. This one translates into a generalized compensation for all directions of propagation, on the basis of the tangent to Poincaré's ellipse, between the scalar potential and the longitudinal component of the vector potential. The adoption by Poincaré of the Lorenz gauge condition (with longitudinal and temporal components) is in contrast with the Einsteinian photon and the Einsteinian kinematics with only transversal components compatible with the choice of the "completed" Coulomb gauge condition (transverse gauge).

physics.hist-ph↗