A 1-D modelling of streaming potential dependence on water content during drainage experiment in sand

The understanding of electrokinetics for unsaturated conditions is crucial for numerous of geophysical data interpretation. Nevertheless, the behaviour of the streaming potential coefficient C as a function of the water saturation Sw is still discussed. We propose here to model both the Richards' equation for hydrodynamics and the Poisson's equation for electrical potential for unsaturated conditions using 1-D finite element method. The equations are first presented and the numerical scheme is then detailed for the Poisson's equation. Then, computed streaming potentials (SPs) are compared to recently published SP measurements carried out during drainage experiment in a sand column. We show that the apparent measurement of DV / DP for the dipoles can provide the SP coefficient in these conditions. Two tests have been performed using existing models for the SP coefficient and a third one using a new relation. The results show that existing models of unsaturated SP coefficients C(Sw) provide poor results in terms of SP magnitude and behaviour. We demonstrate that the unsaturated SP coefficient can be until one order of magnitude larger than Csat, its value at saturation. We finally prove that the SP coefficient follows a non-monotonous behaviour with respect to water saturation. Key words: Electrical properties; Electromagnetic theory; Hydrogeophysics; Hydrology; Permeability and porosity; electrokinetic; streaming potential; self-potential; water content; water saturation; unsaturated condition; finite element modelin

A Study of the Day - Night Effect for the Super - Kamiokande Detector: I. Time Averaged Solar Neutrino Survival Probability

This is the first of two articles aimed at providing comprehensive predictions for the day-night (D-N) effect for the Super-Kamiokande detector in the case of the MSW \nu_e \to \numt transition solution of the solar neutrino problem. The one-year averaged probability of survival of the solar \nue crossing the Earth mantle, the core, the inner 2/3 of the core, and the (core + mantle) is calculated with high precision (better than 1%) using the elliptical orbit approximation (EOA) to describe the Earth motion around the Sun. Results for the survival probability in the indicated cases are obtained for a large set of values of the MSW transition parameters $\Delta m^2$ and $sin^22\theta_{V}$ from the ``conservative'' regions of the MSW solution, derived by taking into account possible relatively large uncertainties in the values of the $^{8}$B and $^{7}$Be neutrino fluxes. Our results show that the one-year averaged D-N asymmetry in the $\nu_e$ survival probability for neutrinos crossing the Earth core can be, in the case of $sin^22 \theta_{V} \leq 0.13$, larger than the asymmetry in the probability for (only mantle crossing + core crossing) neutrinos by a factor of up to six. The enhancement is larger in the case of neutrinos crossing the inner 2/3 of the core. This indicates that the Super-Kamiokande experiment might be able to test the $sin^22\theta_{V} \leq 0.01$ region of the MSW solution of the solar neutrino problem by performing selective D-N asymmetry measurements.Comment: LaTeX2e - 18 Text Pages + 21 figures = 39 Pages. - Figures in PS + text file sk1b14.tex requires two auxiliary files (included

Tri-critical behavior in rupture induced by disorder

We discover a qualitatively new behavior for systems where the load transfer has limiting stress amplification as in real fiber composites. We find that the disorder is a relevant field leading to tri--criticality, separating a first-order regime where rupture occurs without significant precursors from a second-order regime where the macroscopic elastic coefficient exhibit power law behavior. Our results are based on analytical analysis of fiber bundle models and numerical simulations of a two-dimensional tensorial spring-block system in which stick-slip motion and fracture compete.Comment: Revtex, 10 pages, 4 figures available upon reques

Dragon-kings: mechanisms, statistical methods and empirical evidence

This introductory article presents the special Discussion and Debate volume "From black swans to dragon-kings, is there life beyond power laws?" published in Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics in May 2012. We summarize and put in perspective the contributions into three main themes: (i) mechanisms for dragon-kings, (ii) detection of dragon-kings and statistical tests and (iii) empirical evidence in a large variety of natural and social systems. Overall, we are pleased to witness significant advances both in the introduction and clarification of underlying mechanisms and in the development of novel efficient tests that demonstrate clear evidence for the presence of dragon-kings in many systems. However, this positive view should be balanced by the fact that this remains a very delicate and difficult field, if only due to the scarcity of data as well as the extraordinary important implications with respect to hazard assessment, risk control and predictability.Comment: 20 page

Scale relativity and fractal space-time: theory and applications

In the first part of this contribution, we review the development of the theory of scale relativity and its geometric framework constructed in terms of a fractal and nondifferentiable continuous space-time. This theory leads (i) to a generalization of possible physically relevant fractal laws, written as partial differential equation acting in the space of scales, and (ii) to a new geometric foundation of quantum mechanics and gauge field theories and their possible generalisations. In the second part, we discuss some examples of application of the theory to various sciences, in particular in cases when the theoretical predictions have been validated by new or updated observational and experimental data. This includes predictions in physics and cosmology (value of the QCD coupling and of the cosmological constant), to astrophysics and gravitational structure formation (distances of extrasolar planets to their stars, of Kuiper belt objects, value of solar and solar-like star cycles), to sciences of life (log-periodic law for species punctuated evolution, human development and society evolution), to Earth sciences (log-periodic deceleration of the rate of California earthquakes and of Sichuan earthquake replicas, critical law for the arctic sea ice extent) and tentative applications to system biology.Comment: 63 pages, 14 figures. In : First International Conference on the Evolution and Development of the Universe,8th - 9th October 2008, Paris, Franc

Mutations in BHD and TP53 genes, but not in HNF1β gene, in a large series of sporadic chromophobe renal cell carcinoma

BHD, TP53, and HNF1β on chromosome 17 were studied in 92 cases of renal cell carcinoma (46 chromophobe, 19 clear cell, 18 oncocytoma, and nine papillary). Six, thirteen, and zero cases had, respectively BHD, TP53, and HNF1β mutations, (84% mutations involved chromophobe), suggesting a role for BHD and TP53 in chromophobe subtype

A Study of the Day - Night Effect for the \SK Detector: III. The Case of Transitions into Sterile Neutrino

Using the results of a high precision calculation of the solar neutrino survival probability for Earth crossing neutrinos in the case of MSW $\nu_e --> \nu_s$ transition solution of the solar neutrino problem, we derive predictions for the one-year averaged day-night (D-N) asymmetries in the deformed recoil-$e^-$ spectrum and in the energy-integrated event rate due to the solar neutrinos, to be measured with the Super - Kamiokande detector. The asymmetries are calculated for three event samples, produced by solar $\nu_e$ crossing the Earth mantle only, the core, and the mantle only + the core (the full night sample). The effects of the uncertainties in the value of the bulk matter density and in the chemical composition of the Earth core on the predictions for the D-N asymmetries are investigated. The dependence of the D - N effect related observables on the threshold recoil - e- kinetic energy, TeTh, is studied. It is shown, in particular, that for $\sin^2 2\theta_V \leq 0.030$ the one year average D-N - asymmetry in the sample of events due to the core-crossing neutrinos is larger than the asymmetry in the full night sample typically by a factor $\sim (2 - 4)$. We find, however, that at small mixing angles \sin^2 2 \theta_V \ltap 0.014, the D-N asymmetry in the case of solar $\nu_e --> \nu_s$ transitions is considerably smaller than if the transitions were into an active neutrino, $\nu_e --> \nu_{\mu(\tau)}$. In particular, a precision better than 1% in the measurement of any of the three one year averaged D-N asymmetries considered by us would be required to test the small mixing angle nonadiabatic $\nu_e --> \nu_s$ solution at \sin^2 2\theta_V ~\ltap ~0.01.Comment: 61 pages (28 text, 7 tables, 40 figures (26 pages)), LaTeX, for any Comment contact [email protected], [email protected]