Characteristic Scale Research Articles

On quasi-steadiness of transverse galloping of rectangular cylinders at Reynolds numbers below 10,000

Forced transverse oscillations are used to investigate the quasi-steady behavior of a rectangular cylinder with a side ratio of 2 at Reynolds numbers less than 10,000 (based on cylinder thickness). To this end, phase-averaged measurements of the transverse force acting on the oscillating cylinder at different phases of motion are compared to the mean force acting on the static cylinder at different angles of attack. The force data are complemented with boundary-layer-resolved measurements of the streamwise velocity using single-component molecular tagging velocimetry. The experiments are conducted for two Reynolds numbers of 2,500 and 7,500, two oscillation amplitudes of 20 % and 50 % of the cylinder thickness, and reduced velocities in the approximate range of 2–30 times the reduced velocity corresponding to the vortex shedding frequency. The results show that the reduced velocity threshold required to attain quasi-steady behavior is strongly dependent on Reynolds number in the investigated range. The effect is such that the lower the Reynolds number, the higher the threshold. This behavior is linked to viscous effects which render the shear layer too slow to adapt to the cylinder motion with decreasing Reynolds number. A most pronounced effect is observed at the lowest reduced velocity and Reynolds number, where the shear layer reattaches on the side of the cylinder during the cycle at an angle of attack less than half that exhibited for the static cylinder. Overall, the study shows that in addition to the time scale associated with vortex shedding, when the Reynolds number is sufficiently low, a viscous time scale characteristic of the shear layer dynamic response should be included in determining the validity of quasi-steadiness.

2D and 3D Properties of Stably Stratified Turbulence

Through interactions between the modes of “waves” and “vortices”, stably stratified turbulence exhibits characteristic features both in 2D and 3D. Using DNS of the Navier–Stokes equations coupled to an equation for temperature (the Bousinessq system), we investigate dynamical properties of stably stratified turbulence. After reviewing the importance of three characteristic length scales and their relations in stably stratified turbulence, we present numerical results showing how structures and spectra develop with the growth of the length scales. It is demonstrated that the temperature fluctuations make sharp fronts vertically which result in non-symmetric PDFs of the vertical derivative ∂zθ.

Reversal of drift direction during the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion

Earth's magnetic field changes in both space and time: the temporal changes are called geomagnetic and paleomagnetic secular variations. Westward drift has been noted as a feature of secular variation for several centuries, but eastward drift has received less attention. We use three global geomagnetic field models covering the past 100 kyr to extend temporal coverage for tracking the zonal (azimuthal) motion of the radial magnetic field. The models we use are GGF100k (100–0 ka), GGFSS70 (70–15 ka), LSMOD.2 (50–30 ka); the extent of the models enables the inclusion of the extreme secular variations found during excursions, particularly the Laschamp excursion (42–40 ka). GGFSS70 and LSMOD.2 have higher temporal resolution than GGF100k, but their underlying data have poorer spatial coverage. Spatial structure is greatly diminished in all models for spherical harmonic degrees l>4.We use two types of time-longitude plots, one of the full radial field to expose reverse and intense flux patches at the core-mantle boundary. The second time-longitude plot is processed to enhance zonal motion signatures and allows us to use Radon drift analyses to uncover characteristic time scales of both westward and eastward drift at mid to high latitudes in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Our results differ across the three models, which we attribute to varying degrees of resolution, accuracy, and data distribution. Nevertheless, recurrent episodes of both eastward and westward drift ranging from ±0.05o/yr to ±0.18o/yr occur in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Westward drift dominates. We also observe 8–20 kyr intervals between occurrences of high-latitude reverse flux patches correlated with strong drift signals. Focusing on the period 50–30 ka, we observe dominant eastward drift preceding the Laschamp excursion and westward drift subsequently. In a period not associated with an excursion, 90–80 ka, we see strong mid to high latitude drift signatures in the northern hemisphere.

Unravelling Size-Dependent and Coupled Properties in Mechanical Metamaterials: A Couple-Stress Theory Perspective.

The lack of material characteristic length scale prevents classical continuum theory (CCT) from recognizing size effect. Additionally, the even-order material property tensors associated with CCT only characterize the materials' centrosymmetric behavior and overlook their intrinsic chirality and polarity. Moreover, CCT is not reducible to 2D and 1D space without adding couples and higher-order deformation gradients. Despite several generalized continuum theories proposed over the past century to overcome the limitations of CCT, the broad application of these theories in the field of mechanical metamaterials has encountered significant challenges. These obstacles primarily arise from a limited understanding of the material coefficients associated with these theories, impeding their widespread adoption. Implementing a bottom-up approach based on augmented asymptotic homogenization, a consistent and self-sufficient effective couple-stress theory for materials with microstructures in 3D, 2D, and 1D spaces is presented. Utilizing the developed models, material properties associated with axial-twist, shear-bending, bending-twist, and double curvature bending couplings in mechanical metamaterials are characterized. The accuracy of these homogenized models is investigated by comparing them with the detailed finite element models and experiments performed on 3D-printed samples. The proposed models provide a benchmark for the rational design, classification, and manufacturing of mechanical metamaterials with programmable coupleddeformation modes.

The polymer melt swelling behavior in micro-extrusion process for preparation of continuous carbon fiber reinforced PP prepreg filament

The micro-extrusion process for polymer melt has been increasingly used for the production of high value-added prepreg filaments with applications in the fields of fused deposition modeling (FDM). In this study, the effect of characteristic scale, defined as the gap of die land in an annular micro-extrusion die, on the extrudate swelling behaviour of viscoelastic melt is analyzed through numerical simulations and micro-extrusion experiments. The results show that the swelling behaviour displays an obvious dependence on the characteristic scale. An increase in the characteristic scale reduces the swell ratio and retards the process to reach the equilibrium state. In contrast, a decrease in the characteristic scale results in a larger magnitude of change in velocity field and faster relaxation development of stress field. The location of the maximum velocity layer for the laminar flow gradually deviates from the geometric center of channel toward the wall of mandrel with the increase in the characteristic scale. It is imperative to consider the complicated swelling behavior and remarkable viscoelastic effect simultaneously in micro-extrusion process.

DMD analysis on sporadic flame behaviors in low-Lewis-number counterflow under microgravity

In order to deepen the understanding on the quasi-steady flame behaviors in counterflow field involving mixtures with low-Lewis number (Le) near lean limit, the experimental and numerical analyses for sporadic flames were carried out. The experiment was conducted with the mixture of Le 0.3 and 0.5 under microgravity environment using parabolic flights of an airplane to eliminate the effect of buoyancy for low-stretch conditions. Three-dimensional numerical simulation with simplified diffusive thermal model was carried out to investigate the three-dimensional structure of sporadic flames. The experimental observations showed the change in the conditions for sporadic flames with changes in Le. The sporadic flames of Le 0.3 could be observed under leaner conditions and endured higher stretch circumstances compared to those observed with Le 0.5. The numerical simulation also reproduced this trend and proved that Le has an important role in the conditions for sporadic flames. To understand the characteristic structure of sporadic flames, the analysis with dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) was conducted. Through this analysis, three characteristic structure modes—planar, radial, and circular—were identified. The decomposed modes showed that the domain of counterflow field could be divided into two; the area forming sporadic flames near the counterflow axis and the area splitting and transporting flame pieces at outer part of the counterflow field. The characteristic length scale was also analyzed using fast Fourier transform (FFT). FFT analysis quantified the characteristic length scale of the decomposed mode of radial and circular. It was also found that the characteristic length scale in radial and angular direction had the same value.

Derivation of correlation dimension from spatial autocorrelation functions.

Spatial complexity is always associated with spatial autocorrelation. Spatial autocorrelation coefficients including Moran's index proved to be an eigenvalue of the spatial correlation matrixes. An eigenvalue represents a kind of characteristic length for quantitative analysis. However, if a spatial correlation process is based on self-organized evolution, complex structure, and the distributions without characteristic scale, the eigenvalue will be ineffective. In this case, a scaling exponent such as fractal dimension can be used to compensate for the shortcoming of characteristic length parameters such as Moran's index. This paper is devoted to finding an intrinsic relationship between Moran's index and fractal dimension by means of spatial correlation modeling. Using relative step function as spatial contiguity function, we can convert spatial autocorrelation coefficients into spatial autocorrelation functions. By decomposition of spatial autocorrelation functions, we can derive the relation between spatial correlation dimension and spatial autocorrelation functions. As results, a series of useful mathematical models are constructed, including the functional relation between Moran's index and fractal parameters. Correlation dimension proved to be a scaling exponent in the spatial correlation equation based on Moran's index. As for empirical analysis, the scaling exponent of spatial autocorrelation of Chinese cities is Dc = 1.3623±0.0358, which is equal to the spatial correlation dimension of the same urban system, D2. The goodness of fit is about R2 = 0.9965. This fractal parameter value suggests weak spatial autocorrelation of Chinese cities. A conclusion can be drawn that we can utilize spatial correlation dimension to make deep spatial autocorrelation analysis, and employ spatial autocorrelation functions to make complex spatial autocorrelation analysis. This study reveals the inherent association of fractal patterns with spatial autocorrelation processes. The work may inspire new ideas for spatial modeling and exploration of complex systems such as cities.

Critical decoupling criterion for dual-incident shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction

Interaction zones resulting from the dual-incident shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions (D-ISWTBLI) typically exhibit one of two distinct flow patterns: the formation of two isolated small-scale interaction zones following decoupling or the presence of a coupled large-scale interaction zone. This paper investigates the underlying mechanism governing the transition of the flow field of D-ISWTBLI, shifting from a coupled flow pattern to an isolated one. To achieve this, we employ numerical simulations and propose a criterion for determining the critical decoupling condition. Our study commences by presenting an analysis of the time-averaged pressure distribution along-the-wall and the corresponding changes in the characteristic scale of the coupled interaction zone as the spacing between the shock incident points continuously increases. We elucidate the variation mechanism of the characteristic scale by analyzing the flow field. Subsequently, based on the intrinsic relationships among the characteristic scales of the coupled interaction zone in their critical state, we establish a relational expression that links the critical decoupling spacing with the characteristic scales of the interaction zone in the critical state. We then employ numerical simulation data, accounting for key influencing factors such as the intensity ratio of the individual incident shock components comprising the dual-incident shock system, the overall intensity of the dual-incident shock system, and the free-stream conditions to determine the critical decoupling condition. This critical decoupling condition effectively delineates the flow pattern of the interaction zone under various free-stream conditions and shock configurations, a conclusion that is corroborated by published experimental data.

Microfluidic approaches in microbial ecology.

Microbial life is at the heart of many diverse environments and regulates most natural processes, from the functioning of animal organs to the cycling of global carbon. Yet, the study of microbial ecology is often limited by challenges in visualizing microbial processes and replicating the environmental conditions under which they unfold. Microfluidics operates at the characteristic scale at which microorganisms live and perform their functions, thus allowing for the observation and quantification of behaviors such as growth, motility, and responses to external cues, often with greater detail than classical techniques. By enabling a high degree of control in space and time of environmental conditions such as nutrient gradients, pH levels, and fluid flow patterns, microfluidics further provides the opportunity to study microbial processes in conditions that mimic the natural settings harboring microbial life. In this review, we describe how recent applications of microfluidic systems to microbial ecology have enriched our understanding of microbial life and microbial communities. We highlight discoveries enabled by microfluidic approaches ranging from single-cell behaviors to the functioning of multi-cellular communities, and we indicate potential future opportunities to use microfluidics to further advance our understanding of microbial processes and their implications.

Magnetic field suppression characteristics in interaction process between shock wave and light gas cylinder

Based on ideal compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations, the interface instabilities induced by the interaction between planar shock wave and the light gas (Helium) cylinder under the influence of the magnetic fields with different directions are investigated numerically by using the CTU(corner transport upwind)+CT (constrained transport) algorithm. The numerical results elucidate the evolution of flow field characteristics and wave structures with and without magnetic field. Moreover, we examine the influence of the magnetic field direction on a characteristic scales (including the length, height and width of the central axis of gas cylinder), as well as the volume compressibility. Then, the mechanism of the magnetic field direction affecting the interface instability is studied in depth by integrating the analyses of the circulation, energy, velocity and magnetic force distribution within the flow field. The core of this study, is to explore the suppression mechanism of interface instability by magnetic field force. The results show that the magnetic pressure plays a crucial role in driving vorticity away from the interface, thereby reducing its deposition on the density interface. Simultaneously, it adheres to the divided vortex layer, thereby effectively isolating the influence of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability on the interface. On the other hand, the magnetic tension adheres to the separated vortex layer, and its direction is opposite to that of the vorticity generated by the shear of interface velocity. This action effectively suppresses the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and the rolling-up of vortices on the density interface. Additionally, under the control of a longitudinal magnetic field, the direction of magnetic tension is opposite to the direction of the central jet, effectively suppressing the development of Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

A robust automated machine-learning method for the identification of star clusters in the central region of the Small Magellanic Cloud

Aims. We developed a cluster-detection method based on the code DBSCAN to identify star clusters in the central region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Methods. Two approaches were used to determine the values of the free parameters of DBSCAN. They agree well with each other and can be used in the fields that are studied without any a priori knowledge of clustering, characteristic scales, or background density. We validated the success of the DBSCAN cluster-detection method on recent cluster catalogues after introducing a cluster-classification scheme based on three diagnostics that relie on colour-magnitude diagrams and growth curves. We used data from the Magellan Telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile and from Gaia Data Release 3. Results. As a byproduct of the validation process, we revisited objects that were classified as clusters in recent compilations. We found that 40% fail all diagnostics and most probably are not clusters. DBSCAN was very successful in recovering actual clusters with high precision and recall.

Characterizing quantum gases in time-controlled disorder realizations using cross-correlations of density distributions

The role of disorder on physical systems has been widely studied in the macroscopic and microscopic world. While static disorder is well understood in many cases, the impact of time-dependent disorder on quantum gases is still poorly investigated. In our experimental setup, we introduce and characterize a method capable of producing time-controlled optical-speckle disorder. Experimentally, coherent light illuminates a combination of a static and a rotating diffuser, thereby collecting a spatially varying phase due to the diffusers’ structure and a temporally variable phase due to the relative rotation. Controlling the rotation of the diffuser allows changing the speckle realization or, for future work, the characteristic time scale of the change of the speckle pattern, i.e. the correlation time, matching typical time scales of the quantum gases investigated. We characterize the speckle pattern ex-situ by measuring its intensity distribution cross-correlating different intensity patterns. In-situ, we observe its impact on a molecular Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) and cross-correlate the density distributions of BECs probed in different speckle realizations. As one diffuser rotates relative to the other around the common optical axis, we trace the optical speckle’s intensity cross-correlations and the quantum gas’ density cross-correlations. Our results show comparable outcomes for both measurement methods. The setup allows us to tune the disorder potential adapted to the characteristics of the quantum gas. These studies pave the way for investigating nonequilibrium physics in interacting quantum gases using controlled dynamical-disorder potentials.

Simulation and analytical modeling of high-speed droplet impact onto a surface

The fluid dynamics of liquid droplet impact on surfaces hold significant relevance to various industrial applications. However, high impact velocities introduce compressible effects, leading to material erosion. A gap in understanding and modeling these effects has motivated this study. We simulated droplet impacts on solid surfaces and proposed a new analytical model for impact pressure and droplet turning line, targeting at predictions for enhanced cavitation. The highly compressed liquid behind the droplet expands sideways, causing lateral jetting. As the droplet encounters a shock wave, it reflects as a rarefaction wave, leading to low-pressure zones within the droplet. These zones converge at the droplet's center, causing cavitation, which, upon collapse, induces another shock wave, contributing to erosion. Using the well-established model for the low-velocity impact shows a significant discrepancy. Hence, an analytical model for the turning line radius is introduced, incorporating the lateral jetting's characteristic length scale. Comparing our model with existing ones, our new model exhibits superior predictive accuracy.

An Investigation of the Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Extreme Dry and Wet Events across NLDAS-2 Models

Abstract Extreme hydrological events (including droughts and floods) produce severe social and economic impacts. Monitoring hydrological processes from remote sensing is necessary to improve understanding and preparedness for these events, with current missions focusing on a range of hydrological variables (i.e., SWOT, SMAP, and GRACE). This study uses output from three state-of-the-art land surface assimilation models and an event clustering algorithm to identify the characteristic spatial and temporal scales of large-scale extreme dry and wet events in the contiguous United States for three major hydrological processes: precipitation, runoff, and soil moisture. We also examine the sensitivity of extreme event characteristics to model resolution and assess intermodel differences. We find that models generally agree in terms of the mean characteristics of events: precipitation dry events are of shorter duration in comparison with soil moisture and runoff events, and more intense events tend to be smaller in area. We also find that mean spatial and temporal characteristics are highly dependent on model resolution—important in the context of detecting and monitoring these events. Results from this study can be used to inform land surface model development, extreme hydrology event detection, and sampling requirements of upcoming remote sensing missions in hydrology. Significance Statement Understanding the fundamental characteristics of dry and wet extreme events (droughts and floods) is of importance for improving our preparedness and response to events, as well as for designing satellite observing systems that can adequately monitor them. Here we use output from land surface models to determine the average size and duration of large-scale extreme events for the contiguous United States using fine temporal data. We find that events that are most extreme—the most severe floods and droughts—tend to be shorter in duration and smaller in size. We also present an assessment of how three commonly used land surface models detect extreme hydrological events, which is important for assessments based on models. These findings are important for understanding the proportion of events that may be not adequately resolved by current hydrology remote sensing missions.

Co-encapsulation of organic polymers and inorganic superparamagnetic iron oxide colloidal crystals requires matched diffusion time scales.

Nanoparticles (NPs) that contain both organic molecules and inorganic metal or metal oxide colloids in the same NP core are "composite nanoparticles" which are of interest in many applications, particularly in biomedicine as "theranostics" for the combined delivery of colloidal diagnostic imaging agents with therapeutic drugs. The rapid precipitation technique Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) enables continuous and scalable production of composite nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters between 40-200 nanometers (nm) that contain hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide primary colloids. Composite NPs co-encapsulate these primary colloids (diameters of 6 nm, 15 nm, or 29 nm), a fluorescent dye (600 Daltons), and poly(styrene) homopolymer (1800, 50 000, or 200 000 Daltons) with NPs stabilized by a poly(styrene)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (1600 Da-b-5000 Da) block copolymer. Nanoparticle assembly in FNP occurs by diffusion limited aggregation of the hydrophobic core components followed by adsorption of the hydrophobic block of the stabilizing polymer. The hydrodynamic diameter mismatch between the collapsed organic species and the primary colloids (0.5-5 nm versus 6-29 nm) creates a diffusion-aggregation time scale mismatch between components that can lead to nonstoichiometric co-encapsulation in the final nanoparticles; some nanoparticles are composites with primary colloids co-encapsulated alongside organics while others are devoid of the primary colloids and contain only organic species. We use a magnetic capture process to separate magnetic composite nanoparticles from organic-only nanoparticles and quantify the amount of iron oxide colloids and hydrophobic fluorescent dye (as a proxy for total hydrophobic polymer content) in the magnetic and nonmagnetic fractions of each formulation. Analysis of the microstructure in over 1100 individual nanoparticles by TEM imaging and composition measurements identifies the conditions that produce nonstoichiometric composite NP populations without co-encapsulated magnetic iron oxide colloids. Stoichiometric magnetically responsive composite NPs are produced when the ratio of characteristic diffusion-aggregation time scales between the inorganic primary colloid and the organic core component is less than 30 and all NPs in a dispersion contain organic and inorganic species in approximately the same ratio. These rules for assembly of colloids and organic components into homogeneous composite nanoparticles are broadly applicable.

Kondo screening cloud scaling: impurity entanglement and magnetization

The screening of an impurity spin in the Kondo model occurs over a characteristic length scale ξ K , that defines the size of the Kondo screening cloud or ‘mist’. The presence of such a length scale in experimental and numerical results is rather subtle. A consistent way to show the presence of the screening cloud is to demonstrate scaling in the spatial correlations in terms of the single variable, r/ξK instead of the correlations depending on r and ξ K separately. Here we study the paradigmatic one channel Kondo model using a spin chain representation, with an impurity spin at one end of the chain coupled with a strength JK′ . Using Fermi liquid theory combined with numerical results, we obtain new high precision estimates of the non-universal terms in the entanglement entropy which leads to a verification of the expected non-integer ground-state degeneracy, g. This then allows us to study the impurity contribution to the entanglement in detail. If the impurity coupling JK′ is varied, a precise determination of ξ K can then be obtained. The length scale, ξ K , is then shown to characterize the scaling of both the uniform and alternating part of a measure of the magnetization of part of an odd length chain.

Diffusion across particle-laden interfaces in Pickering droplets.

Emulsions stabilized by nanoparticles, known as Pickering emulsions, exhibit remarkable stability, which enables applications ranging from encapsulation, to advanced materials, to chemical conversion. The layer of nanoparticles at the interface of Pickering droplets is a semi-permeable barrier between the two liquid phases, which can affect the rate of release of encapsulates, and the interfacial transfer of reactants and products in biphasic chemical conversion. A gap in our fundamental understanding of diffusion in multiphase systems with particle-laden interfaces currently limits the optimal development of these applications. To address this gap, we developed an experimental approach for in situ, real-time quantification of concentration fields in Pickering droplets in a Hele-Shaw geometry and investigated the effect of the layer of nanoparticles on diffusion of solute across a liquid-liquid interface. The experiments did not reveal a significant hindrance on the diffusion of solute across an interface densely covered by nanoparticles. We interpret this result using an unsteady diffusion model to predict the spatio-temporal evolution of the concentration of solute with a particle-laden interface. We find that the concentration field is only affected in the immediate vicinity of the layer of particles, where the area available for diffusion is affected by the particles. This defines a characteristic time scale for the problem, which is the time for diffusion across the layer of particles. The far-field concentration profile evolves towards that of a bare interface. This localized effect of the particle hindrance is not measurable in our experiments, which take place over a much longer time scale. Our model also predicts that the hindrance by particles can be more pronounced depending on the particle size and physicochemical properties of the liquids and can ultimately affect performance in applications.

Pricing vanilla, barrier, and lookback options under two-scale stochastic volatility driven by two approximate fractional Brownian motions

<p>In this paper, we proposed a stochastic volatility model in which the volatility was given by stochastic processes representing two characteristic time scales of variation driven by approximate fractional Brownian motions with two Hurst exponents. We obtained an approximate closed-form formula for a European vanilla option price and the corresponding implied volatility formula based on singular and regular perturbations and a Mellin transform. The explicit formula for the implied volatility allowed us to find the slope of the implied volatility skew with respect to the Hurst exponent and time-to-maturity. The proposed model allows the market volatility behavior to be captured uniformly in time-to-maturity. We conducted an empirical analysis to find the validity of the proposed model by comparing it with other models and Monte Carlo simulation. Further, we extended the pricing result for the vanilla option to two path-dependent exotic (barrier and lookback) options and obtained the corresponding price formulas explicitly.</p>

Fission Fragment Angular Momenta: Generation and Observation

The fission fragment angular momenta can generally be expressed in terms of the six normal modes of rotation for the dinucleus and different models populate those modes to different degrees reflecting the mechanisms involved. For the nucleon exchange mechanism, the characteristic time scales for the various modes are discussed, leading to the expectation that the wriggling mode is fully populated, while twisting is unlikely to play a major role; bending probably has some presence which increases with mass asymmetry. Subsequently it is discussed how information about the fragment spin directions can be determined by observation of E2 emissions in even-even nuclei. It is shown how the yield ratio Y (0°)/Y (90°) in a modern Wilhelmy-type experiment can reveal the degree of twisting, a measurement that could be readily carried out now. Furthermore, with a view towards the future when the required technology has been developed, it is illustrated how the relative role of positive modes (wriggling) and negative modes (bending and twisting) can be determined by measuring the opening angle between two E2 photons whose helicities are also identified.

Tangentially viewing phase contrast imaging for turbulence measurementsin toroidal fusion devices

Phase contrast imaging (PCI) is an established and powerful techniquefor measuring density fluctuations in plasmas and has been successfullyapplied to several fusion devices. Rooted in a concept first developed formicroscopy, PCI belongs to the category of internal-reference interferometersand has been shown to possess superior qualities among such techniques,particularly in terms of spatial linearity. In essence, it produces a true imageof fluctuations in the plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of theprobing laser beam, provided their characteristic spatial scale is smaller thanthe beam width. The measurement in itself is line-integrated and thus notspatially resolved longitudinally to the beam. However, the properties of theturbulence itself can be exploited to achieve longitudinal resolution,particularly when the beam propagates nearly tangentially to the magnetic field.This assertion has been recently rigorously tested through numericalmodeling, which has revealed significant additional complexity while confirmingthe general principle. Tangential PCI has been employed extensively in the TCVtokamak and has resulted in a rich body of work on broadband microturbulence inthe ion-temperature-gradient/trapped-electron-moderange and on geodesic acoustic modes. A similar diagnosticarrangement is also at an advanced planning stage for the new superconductingtokamak JT-60SA.