Algorithm Portfolio for Individual-based Surrogate-Assisted Evolutionary Algorithms

Surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms (SAEAs) are powerful optimisation tools for computationally expensive problems (CEPs). However, a randomly selected algorithm may fail in solving unknown problems due to no free lunch theorems, and it will cause more computational resource if we re-run the algorithm or try other algorithms to get a much solution, which is more serious in CEPs. In this paper, we consider an algorithm portfolio for SAEAs to reduce the risk of choosing an inappropriate algorithm for CEPs. We propose two portfolio frameworks for very expensive problems in which the maximal number of fitness evaluations is only 5 times of the problem's dimension. One framework named Par-IBSAEA runs all algorithm candidates in parallel and a more sophisticated framework named UCB-IBSAEA employs the Upper Confidence Bound (UCB) policy from reinforcement learning to help select the most appropriate algorithm at each iteration. An effective reward definition is proposed for the UCB policy. We consider three state-of-the-art individual-based SAEAs on different problems and compare them to the portfolios built from their instances on several benchmark problems given limited computation budgets. Our experimental studies demonstrate that our proposed portfolio frameworks significantly outperform any single algorithm on the set of benchmark problems

Dynamics of Quantum Fisher information in a spin-boson model

Quantum Fisher information characterizes the phase sensitivity of qubits in the spin-boson model with a finite bandwidth spectrum. In contrast with Markovian reservoirs, the quantum Fisher information will flow from the environments to qubits after some times if the bath parameter $s$ is larger than a critical value which is related to temperatures. The sudden change behavior will happen during the evolution of the quantum Fisher information of the maximal entanglement state in the non-Markovian environments. The sudden change times can be varied with the change of the bath parameter $s$. For a very large number of entangled qubits, the sudden change behavior of the maximal quantum Fisher information can be used to characterize the existence of the entanglement. The metrology strategy based on the quantum correlated state leads to a lower phase uncertainty when compared to the uncorrelated product state.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

The effects of KSEA interaction on the ground-state properties of spin chains in a transverse field

The effects of symmetric helical interaction which is called the Kaplan, Shekhtman, Entin-Wohlman, and Aharony (KSEA) interaction on the ground-state properties of three kinds of spin chains in a transverse field have been studied by means of correlation functions and chiral order parameter. We find that the anisotropic transition of $XY$ chain in a transverse field ($XY$TF) disappears because of the KSEA interaction. For the other two chains, we find that the regions of gapless chiral phases in the parameter space induced by the DM or $XZY-YZX$ type of three-site interaction are decreased gradually with increase of the strength of KSEA interaction. When it is larger than the coefficient of DM or $XZY-YZX$ type of three-site interaction, the gapless chiral phases also disappear.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Hard X-ray emission cutoff in anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61 detected by INTEGRAL

The anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61 was studied by the INTEGRAL observations. The hard X-ray spectrum of 18 -- 500 keV for 4U 0142+61 was derived using near 9 years of INTEGRAL/IBIS data. We obtained the average hard X-ray spectrum of 4U 0142+61 with all available data. The spectrum of 4U 0142+61 can be fitted with a power-law with an exponential high energy cutoff. This average spectrum is well fitted with a power-law of $\Gamma\sim 0.51\pm 0.11$ plus a cutoff energy at $128.6\pm 17.2$ keV. The hard X-ray flux of the source from 20 -- 150 keV showed no significant variations (within 20$\%$) from 2003 -- 2011. The spectral profiles have some variability in nine years: photon index varied from 0.3 -- 1.5, and cutoff energies of 110 -- 250 keV. The detection of the high energy cutoff around 130 keV shows some constraints on the radiation mechanisms of magnetars and possibly probes the differences between magnetar and accretion models for these special class of neutron stars. Future HXMT observations could provide stronger constraints on the hard X-ray spectral properties of this source and other magnetar candidates.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, figures are updated, new data are added, conclusion does not change, to be published in RA

Searching for the doubly-charged Higgs bosons in the Georgi-Machacek model at the electron-proton colliders

The Georgi-Machacek model is one of many beyond Standard Model scenarios with an extended scalar sector which can group under the custodial $\rm SU(2)_C$ symmetry. There are 5-plet, 3-plet and singlet Higgs bosons under the classification of such symmetry in addition to the Standard Model Higgs boson. In this paper, we study the prospects for detecting the doubly-charged Higgs boson ($\rm H_5^{\pm\pm}$) through the vector boson fusion production at the electron-proton (ep) colliders. We concentrate on our analysis through $\mu$-lepton pair production via pair of same-sign W bosons decay. The $\rm H_5^{\pm\pm}$ discovery potentials at the ep colliders are presented.Comment: 23 pages, 7 pages, to appear in pr