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We conduct a systematic search for periodic variables in the hot subdwarf catalogue using data from the Zwicky Transient Facility. We present the classification of 67 HW Vir binaries, 496 reflection effect, pulsation or rotation sinusoids, 11 eclipsing signals, and 4 ellipsoidally modulated binaries. Of these, 486 are new discoveries that have not been previously published including a new mass-transferring hot subdwarf binary candidate. These sources were determined by applying the Lomb–Scargle and box least squares periodograms along with manual inspection. We calculated variability statistics on all periodic sources, and compared our results to traditional methods of determining astrophysical variability. We find that ≈60 per cent of variable targets, mostly sinusoidal variability, would have been missed using a traditional varindex cut. Most HW Virs, eclipsing systems, and all ellipsoidal variables were recovered with a varindex >0.02. We also find a significant reddening effect, with some variable hot subdwarfs meshing with the main-sequence stripe in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Examining the positions of the variable stars in Galactic coordinates, we discover a higher proportion of variable stars within |b| < 25° of the Galactic plane, suggesting that the Galactic plane may be fertile grounds for future discoveries if photometric surveys can effectively process the clustered field.

 

The propagation of spin waves in magnetically ordered systems has emerged as a potential means to shuttle quantum information over large distances. Conventionally, the arrival time of a spin wavepacket at a distance,d, is assumed to be determined by its group velocity,v_g. Here, we report time-resolved optical measurements of wavepacket propagation in the Kagome ferromagnet Fe₃Sn₂that demonstrate the arrival of spin information at times significantly less thand/v_g. We show that this spin wave “precursor” originates from the interaction of light with the unusual spectrum of magnetostatic modes in Fe₃Sn₂. Related effects may have far-reaching consequences toward realizing long-range, ultrafast spin wave transport in both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems.

 

Recent studies indicate that cavitation may play a vital role in laser lithotripsy. However, the underlying bubble dynamics and associated damage mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we use ultra-high-speed shadowgraph imaging, hydrophone measurements, three-dimensional passive cavitation mapping (3D-PCM), and phantom test to investigate the transient dynamics of vapor bubbles induced by a holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser and their correlation with solid damage. We vary the standoff distance ( SD) between the fiber tip and solid boundary under parallel fiber alignment and observe several distinctive features in bubble dynamics. First, long pulsed laser irradiation and solid boundary interaction create an elongated “pear-shaped” bubble that collapses asymmetrically and forms multiple jets in sequence. Second, unlike nanosecond laser-induced cavitation bubbles, jet impact on solid boundary generates negligible pressure transients and causes no direct damage. A non-circular toroidal bubble forms, particularly following the primary and secondary bubble collapses at SD = 1.0 and 3.0 mm, respectively. We observe three intensified bubble collapses with strong shock wave emissions: the intensified bubble collapse by shock wave, the ensuing reflected shock wave from the solid boundary, and self-intensified collapse of an inverted “triangle-shaped” or “horseshoe-shaped” bubble. Third, high-speed shadowgraph imaging and 3D-PCM confirm that the shock origins from the distinctive bubble collapse form either two discrete spots or a “smiling-face” shape. The spatial collapse pattern is consistent with the similar BegoStone surface damage, suggesting that the shockwave emissions during the intensified asymmetric collapse of the pear-shaped bubble are decisive for the solid damage. 

Underwater explosion poses a significant threat to the structural integrity of ocean vehicles and platforms. Accurate prediction of the dynamic loads from an explosion and the resulting structural response is crucial to ensuring safety without overconservative design. When the distance between the explosive charge and the structure is relatively small (i.e., near-field explosion), the dynamics of the gaseous explosion product, i.e., the “bubble”, comes into play, rendering a multiphysics problem that features the interaction of the bubble, the surrounding liquid water, and the solid structure. The problem is highly nonlinear, as it involves shock waves, large deformation, yielding, contact, and possibly fracture. This paper investigates the two-way interaction between the cyclic expansion and collapse of an explosion bubble and the deformation of a thin-walled elastoplastic cylindrical shell in its vicinity. Intuitively, when a shock wave impinges on a thin cylindrical shell, the shell would collapse in the direction of shock propagation. However, some recent laboratory experiments have shown that under certain conditions the shell collapsed in a counter-intuitive mode in which the direction of collapse is perpendicular to that of shock propagation. In other words, the nearest point on the structural surface moved towards the explosion charge, despite being impacted by a compressive shock. This paper focuses on replicating this phenomenon through numerical simulation and elucidating the underlying mechanisms. A recently developed computational framework (“FIVER”) coupling a nonlinear finite element structural dynamics solver and a finite volume compressible fluid dynamics solver is used to complete this study. The solver utilizes an embedded boundary method to track the wetted surface of the structure (i.e. the fluid-structure interface), which is capable of handling large structural deformation and topological changes (e.g., fracture). The solver also adopts the level set method for tracking the bubble surface (i.e. the liquid-gas interface). The fluid-structure and liquid-gas interface conditions are enforced by constructing and solving one-dimensional multi-material Riemann problems, which naturally accommodates the propagation of shock waves across the interfaces. In this paper, mesh refinement study is made to examine the sensitivity of the results to various meshing parameters. The results show that the intermediate level of refinement is appropriate in terms of both the accuracy and the computation costs. Next, the deformation history of both the bubble and the structure are presented and analyzed to provide a detailed view of the counter-intuitive collapse mode mentioned above. We show that timewise, the structural collapse spans multiple cycles of bubble oscillation. Additional details about the time-histories of fluid pressure, structure displacement, and bubble size are presented to elucidate this dynamic bubble-structure interaction and the resulting structural failure.