A spike analysis method for characterizing neurons based on phase locking and scaling to the interval between two behavioral events

Phase-Scaling analysis is a novel technique to unbiasedly characterize the temporal dependency of functional neuron activity on two behavioral events and objectively determine the latency and form of the activity change. This powerful analysis can uncover several classes of latently functioning neurons that have thus far been overlooked, which may participate differently in intermediate processes of a brain function. The Phase-Scaling analysis will yield profound insights into neural mechanisms for processing internal information.

Turbulent hydrodynamics experiments in high energy density plasmas: scientific case and preliminary results of the TurboHEDP project

The physics of compressible turbulence in high energy density (HED) plasmas is an unchartered experimental area. Simulations of compressible and radiative flows relevant for astrophysics rely mainly on subscale parameters. Therefore, we plan to perform turbulent hydrodynamics experiments in HED plasmas (TurboHEDP) in order to improve our understanding of such important phenomena for interest in both communities: laser plasma physics and astrophysics. We will focus on the physics of supernovae remnants which are complex structures subject to fluid instabilities such as the Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities. The advent of megajoule laser facilities, like the National Ignition Facility and the Laser Megajoule, creates novel opportunities in laboratory astrophysics, as it provides unique platforms to study turbulent mixing flows in HED plasmas. Indeed, the physics requires accelerating targets over larger distances and longer time periods than previously achieved. In a preparatory phase, scaling from experiments at lower laser energies is used to guarantee the performance of future MJ experiments. This subscale experiments allow us to develop experimental skills and numerical tools in this new field of research, and are stepping stones to achieve our objectives on larger laser facilities. We review first in this paper recent advances in high energy density experiments devoted to laboratory astrophysics. Then we describe the necessary steps forward to commission an experimental platform devoted to turbulent hydrodynamics on a megajoule laser facility. Recent novel experimental results acquired on LULI2000, as well as supporting radiative hydrodynamics simulations, are presented. Together with the development of LiF detectors as transformative X-ray diagnostics, these preliminary results are promising on the way to achieve micrometric spatial resolution in turbulent HED physics experiments in the near future.

SELF-ORGANIZED PHASE SEGREGATION IN A DRIVEN FLOW OF DISSIMILAR PARTICLES MIXTURES

Self-organized patterns in an immiscible fluid mixture of dissimilar particles driven from a source at the bottom are examined as a function of hydrostatic pressure bias by a Monte Carlo computer simulation. As the upward pressure bias competes with sedimentation due to gravity, a multi-phase system emerges: a dissociating solid phase from the source is separated from a migrating gas phase towards the top by an interface of mixed (bi-continuous) phase. Scaling of solid-to-gas phase with the altitude is nonuniversal and depends on both the range of the height/depth and the magnitude of the pressure bias. Onset of phase separation and layering is pronounced at low bias range.