Dispersion Aerosol Indirect Effect in Turbulent Clouds: Laboratory Measurements of Effective Radius.

Cloud optical properties are determined not only by the number density n d and mean radius r ¯ of cloud droplets but also by the shape of the droplet size distribution. The change in cloud optical depth with changing n d , due to the change in distribution shape, is known as the dispersion effect. Droplet relative dispersion is defined as d = σ r / r ¯ . For the first time, a commonly used effective radius parameterization is tested in a controlled laboratory environment by creating a turbulent cloud. Stochastic condensation growth suggests d independent of n d for a nonprecipitating cloud, hence nearly zero albedo susceptibility due to the dispersion effect. However, for size-dependent removal, such as in a laboratory cloud or highly clean atmospheric conditions, stochastic condensation produces a weak dispersion effect. The albedo susceptibility due to turbulence broadening has the same sign as the Twomey effect and augments it by order 10%.

Nucleation at the contact line observed on nanotextured surfaces.

It has been conjectured that roughness plays a role in surface nucleation, the tendency for freezing to begin preferentially at the liquid-gas interface. Using high speed imaging, we sought evidence for freezing at the contact line on catalyst substrates with imposed characteristic length scales (texture). Length scales consistent with the critical nucleus size and with δ∼τ/σ, where τ is a relevant line tension and σ is the surface tension, range from nanometers to micrometers. It is found that nanoscale texture causes a shift in the nucleation of ice in supercooled water to the three-phase contact line, while microscale texture does not.

On the extinction of radiation by a homogeneous but spatially correlated random medium.

Exponential extinction of incoherent radiation intensity in a random medium (sometimes referred to as the Beer-Lambert law) arises early in the development of several branches of science and underlies much of radiative transfer theory and propagation in turbid media with applications in astronomy, atmospheric science, and oceanography. We adopt a stochastic approach to exponential extinction and connect it to the underlying Poisson statistics of extinction events. We then show that when a dilute random medium is statistically homogeneous but spatially correlated, the attenuation of incoherent radiation with depth is often slower than exponential. This occurs because spatial correlations among obstacles of the medium spread out the probability distribution of photon extinction events. Therefore the probability of transmission (no extinction) is increased.

Constraints on Mueller matrices of polarization optics.

The issue of physical realizability constraints on depolarizing scattering or imaging systems is addressed. In particular, the overpolarization problem, i.e., the problem of ensuring that the output degree of polarization is always smaller than (or equal to) unity, is discussed in detail. A set of necessary conditions for the elements of a Mueller matrix is derived. These conditions can be used to test the accuracy of polarimetric measurements and computations. Several recent experimental examples from polarization optics and radar are discussed.

Depolarization criterion for incoherent scattering.

We consider the problem of establishing conditions on a given Mueller matrix that ensure that the scattered light is purely polarized independently of the incident light polarization. It is shown that physically realizable Mueller matrices can be decomposed into a nondepolarizing part and an inputindependent additive depolarizing part. The nondepolarizing part, however, is not always derivable from a Jones matrix. Applications to polarimetric optimal transmission and reception are also discussed.

Modeled velopharyngeal orifice area prediction during simulated stop consonant production in the presence of increased nasal airway resistance.

This project examined modeled velopharyngeal orifice area estimation under conditions simulating voiceless stop consonant production in the presence of nasal airway obstruction. The results indicated that accurate estimates of velopharyngeal orifice area can be obtained using Warren's hydrokinetic equation during aerodynamic events like those known to exist during speech in the presence of increased nasal airway resistance. These findings provide support for clinical and research use of Warren's pressure-flow approach to investigate velopharyngeal function during speech production.

Predictions of modeled palatopharyngeal port openings under conditions simulating pharyngeal flap reconstruction.

This study examined the estimation of modeled palatopharyngeal orifice areas under conditions similar to those created by pharyngeal flap reconstruction. Results indicated that accurate estimates of the palatopharyngeal orifice area can be obtained using Warren's pressure-flow approach when the calculated area is actually the combined area of the lateral palatopharyngeal port openings. Our findings lend additional support to the view that pressure-flow techniques can provide objective information about the degree to which surgical procedures provide palatopharyngeal competence for speech.