Shock creation and particle acceleration driven by plasma expansion into a rarefied medium

The expansion of a dense plasma through a more rarefied ionized medium is a phenomenon of interest in various physics environments ranging from astrophysics to high energy density laser-matter laboratory experiments. Here this situation is modeled via a one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation; a jump in the plasma density of a factor of 100 is introduced in the middle of an otherwise equally dense electron-proton plasma with an uniform proton and electron temperature of 10 eV and 1 keV, respectively. The diffusion of the dense plasma, through the rarefied one, triggers the onset of different nonlinear phenomena such as a strong ion-acoustic shock wave and a rarefaction wave. Secondary structures are detected, some of which are driven by a drift instability of the rarefaction wave. Efficient proton acceleration occurs ahead of the shock, bringing the maximum proton velocity up to 60 times the initial ion thermal speed. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3469762]

Dissipation and vortex creation in Bose-Einstein condensed gases

We solve the Gross-Pitaevskii equation to study energy transfer from an oscillating

Value creation and value claiming in strategic outsourcing decisions: A resource contingency perspective

This study integrates the concepts of value creation and value claiming into a theoretical framework that emphasizes the dependence of resource value maximization on value-claiming motivations in outsourcing decisions. To test this theoretical framework, it develops refutable implications to explain the firm's outsourcing decision, and it uses data from 178 firms in the publishing and printing industry on outsourcing of application services. The results show that in outsourcing decisions, resource value and transaction costs are simultaneously considered and that outsourcing decisions are dependent on alignment between resource and transaction attributes. The findings support a resource contingency view that highlights value-claiming mechanisms as resource contingency in interorganizational strategic decisions.

Creation of persistent, straight, 2 mm long laser driven channels in underdense plasmas

The experimental study of the behavior of deuterium plasma with densities between 2 X 1018 and 2 x 10(20) cm(-3), subjected to a 6 TW, 30 ps, 3 X 10(18) W cm(-2) laser pulse, is presented Conclusive experimental proof that a single straight channel is generated when the laser pulse interacts with the lowest densities is provided This channel shows no small-scale longitudinal density modulations, extends up to 2 mm in length and persists for up to 150 ps after the peak of the interaction Bifurcation of the channel after 1 mm propagation distance is observed for the first time For higher density interactions, above the relativistic self-focusing threshold, bubblelike structures are observed to form at late times These observations have implications for both laser wakefield accelerators and fast ignition inertial fusion studies (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics [doi 10 1063/1 3505305]

Unlocking synergies between business units: internal value creation at Royal Vopak.

This paper examines the process of creating and exploiting synergies between business units of a multi-unit corporation and the creation of internal value by combining and exploiting knowledge. It offers a framework to create and manage such synergies and undertakes an empirical test through in-depth study across three business units of Royal Vopak, a Dutch-based global multi-unit corporation. Finally, it offers lessons for corporate managers trying to create and manage cross-unit synergies.

'Purity of Diction in English Verse' (on literary criticism)

Essay on literary criticism.

Politics and Literary Prizes:A Case Study of Spanish America and the Premio Cervantes

The Premio Cervantes, one of the most prestigious prizes awarded for literature in the Spanish language, was established in 1976 as Spain negotiated the Transition to democracy in the post-Franco era. This article examines the context in which the prize was created and subsequently used to negotiate inter-continental relations between Spain and Latin America. The article highlights the exchanges of economic, political and symbolic capital which took place between the Spanish State, its representative, the King of Spain, and winning Latin American authors. Significantly, the involvement of the Spanish State is shown to bring political capital into play in a way that commercial prizes do not. In so doing, the Premio Cervantes gives those formerly at the colonial periphery the opportunity to speak out and negotiate the terms of a new kind of relationship with the former colonial center.