Hyper-learning for population-based incremental learning in dynamic environments

This article is posted here here with permission from IEEE - Copyright @ 2009 IEEEThe population-based incremental learning (PBIL) algorithm is a combination of evolutionary optimization and competitive learning. Recently, the PBIL algorithm has been applied for dynamic optimization problems. This paper investigates the effect of the learning rate, which is a key parameter of PBIL, on the performance of PBIL in dynamic environments. A hyper-learning scheme is proposed for PBIL, where the learning rate is temporarily raised whenever the environment changes. The hyper-learning scheme can be combined with other approaches, e.g., the restart and hypermutation schemes, for PBIL in dynamic environments. Based on a series of dynamic test problems, experiments are carried out to investigate the effect of different learning rates and the proposed hyper-learning scheme in combination with restart and hypermutation schemes on the performance of PBIL. The experimental results show that the learning rate has a significant impact on the performance of the PBIL algorithm in dynamic environments and that the effect of the proposed hyper-learning scheme depends on the environmental dynamics and other schemes combined in the PBIL algorithm.The work by Shengxiang Yang was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom under Grant EP/E060722/1

Green's function theory of quasi-two-dimensional spin-half Heisenberg ferromagnets: stacked square versus stacked kagom\'e lattice

We consider the thermodynamic properties of the quasi-two-dimensional spin-half Heisenberg ferromagnet on the stacked square and the stacked kagom\'e lattices by using the spin-rotation-invariant Green's function method. We calculate the critical temperature $T_C$, the uniform static susceptibility $\chi$, the correlation lengths $\xi_\nu$ and the magnetization $M$ and investigate the short-range order above $T_C$. We find that $T_C$ and $M$ at $T>0$ are smaller for the stacked kagom\'e lattice which we attribute to frustration effects becoming relevant at finite temperatures.Comment: shortened version as published in PR

Spiral correlations in frustrated one-dimensional spin-1/2 Heisenberg J1-J2-J3 ferromagnets

We use the coupled cluster method for infinite chains complemented by exact diagonalization of finite periodic chains to discuss the influence of a third-neighbor exchange J3 on the ground state of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain with ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interaction J1 and frustrating antiferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor interaction J2. A third-neighbor exchange J3 might be relevant to describe the magnetic properties of the quasi-one-dimensional edge-shared cuprates, such as LiVCuO4 or LiCu2O2. In particular, we calculate the critical point J2^c as a function of J3, where the ferromagnetic ground state gives way for a ground state with incommensurate spiral correlations. For antiferromagnetic J3 the ferro-spiral transition is always continuous and the critical values J2^c of the classical and the quantum model coincide. On the other hand, for ferromagnetic J3 \lesssim -(0.01...0.02)|J1| the critical value J2^c of the quantum model is smaller than that of the classical model. Moreover, the transition becomes discontinuous, i.e. the model exhibits a quantum tricritical point. We also calculate the height of the jump of the spiral pitch angle at the discontinuous ferro-spiral transition.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, version as published in JPC

Suppression of weak-localization (and enhancement of noise) by tunnelling in semiclassical chaotic transport

We add simple tunnelling effects and ray-splitting into the recent trajectory-based semiclassical theory of quantum chaotic transport. We use this to derive the weak-localization correction to conductance and the shot-noise for a quantum chaotic cavity (billiard) coupled to $n$ leads via tunnel-barriers. We derive results for arbitrary tunnelling rates and arbitrary (positive) Ehrenfest time, $\tau_{\rm E}$. For all Ehrenfest times, we show that the shot-noise is enhanced by the tunnelling, while the weak-localization is suppressed. In the opaque barrier limit (small tunnelling rates with large lead widths, such that Drude conductance remains finite), the weak-localization goes to zero linearly with the tunnelling rate, while the Fano factor of the shot-noise remains finite but becomes independent of the Ehrenfest time. The crossover from RMT behaviour ($\tau_{\rm E}=0$) to classical behaviour ($\tau_{\rm E}=\infty$) goes exponentially with the ratio of the Ehrenfest time to the paired-paths survival time. The paired-paths survival time varies between the dwell time (in the transparent barrier limit) and half the dwell time (in the opaque barrier limit). Finally our method enables us to see the physical origin of the suppression of weak-localization; it is due to the fact that tunnel-barriers ``smear'' the coherent-backscattering peak over reflection and transmission modes.Comment: 20 pages (version3: fixed error in sect. VC - results unchanged) - Contents: Tunnelling in semiclassics (3pages), Weak-localization (5pages), Shot-noise (5pages

Shot noise in semiclassical chaotic cavities

We construct a trajectory-based semiclassical theory of shot noise in clean chaotic cavities. In the universal regime of vanishing Ehrenfest time \tE, we reproduce the random matrix theory result, and show that the Fano factor is exponentially suppressed as \tE increases. We demonstrate how our theory preserves the unitarity of the scattering matrix even in the regime of finite \tE. We discuss the range of validity of our semiclassical approach and point out subtleties relevant to the recent semiclassical treatment of shot noise in the universal regime by Braun et al. [cond-mat/0511292].Comment: Final version, to appear in Physical Review Letter

On Hardness of the Joint Crossing Number

The Joint Crossing Number problem asks for a simultaneous embedding of two disjoint graphs into one surface such that the number of edge crossings (between the two graphs) is minimized. It was introduced by Negami in 2001 in connection with diagonal flips in triangulations of surfaces, and subsequently investigated in a general form for small-genus surfaces. We prove that all of the commonly considered variants of this problem are NP-hard already in the orientable surface of genus 6, by a reduction from a special variant of the anchored crossing number problem of Cabello and Mohar

DSN 70-meter antenna X- and S-band calibration. Part 1: Gain measurements

Aperture efficiency measurements made during 1988 on the three 70-m stations (DSS-14, DSS-43, and DSS-63) at X-band (8420 MHz) and S-band (2295 MHz) have been analyzed and reduced to yield best estimates of antenna gain versus elevation. The analysis has been carried out by fitting the gain data to a theoretical expression based on the Ruze formula. Newly derived flux density and source-size correction factors for the natural radio calibration sources used in the measurements have been used in the reduction of the data. Peak gains measured at the three stations were 74.18 (plus or minus 0.10) dBi at X-band, and 63.34 (plus or minus 0.03) dBi at S-band, with corresponding peak aperture efficiencies of 0.687 (plus or minus 0.015) and 0.762 (plus or minus 0.006), respectively. The values quoted assume no atmosphere is present, and the estimated absolute accuracy of the gain measurements is approximately plus or minus 0.2 dB at X-band and plus or minus 0.1 dB at S-band (1-sigma values)

Preparation and photoemission investigation of bulk-like a-Mn films on W(110)

We report the successful stabilization of a thick bulk-like, distorted $\alpha$-Mn film with (110) orientation on a W(110) substrate. The observed $(3\times3)$ overstructure for the Mn film with respect to the original W(110) low-energy electron diffraction pattern is consistent with the presented structure model. The possibility to stabilize such a pseudomorphic Mn film is supported by density functional total energy calculations. Angle-resolved photoemission spectra of the stabilized $\alpha$-Mn(110) film show weak dispersions of the valence band electronic states in accordance with the large unit cell.Comment: 11 pages; 5 figure

A Poincar\'e section for the general heavy rigid body

A general recipe is developed for the study of rigid body dynamics in terms of Poincar\'e surfaces of section. A section condition is chosen which captures every trajectory on a given energy surface. The possible topological types of the corresponding surfaces of section are determined, and their 1:1 projection to a conveniently defined torus is proposed for graphical rendering.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure