6,339 research outputs found
Stability criterion for self-similar solutions with a scalar field and those with a stiff fluid in general relativity
A stability criterion is derived in general relativity for self-similar
solutions with a scalar field and those with a stiff fluid, which is a perfect
fluid with the equation of state . A wide class of self-similar
solutions turn out to be unstable against kink mode perturbation. According to
the criterion, the Evans-Coleman stiff-fluid solution is unstable and cannot be
a critical solution for the spherical collapse of a stiff fluid if we allow
sufficiently small discontinuity in the density gradient field in the initial
data sets. The self-similar scalar-field solution, which was recently found
numerically by Brady {\it et al.} (2002 {\it Class. Quantum. Grav.} {\bf 19}
6359), is also unstable. Both the flat Friedmann universe with a scalar field
and that with a stiff fluid suffer from kink instability at the particle
horizon scale.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity,
typos correcte
Planar inviscid flows in a channel of finite length : washout, trapping and self-oscillations of vorticity
The paper addresses the nonlinear dynamics of planar inviscid incompressible flows in the straight channel of a finite length. Our attention is focused on the effects of boundary conditions on vorticity dynamics. The renowned Yudovich's boundary conditions (YBC) are the normal component of velocity given at all boundaries, while vorticity is prescribed at an inlet only. The YBC are fully justified mathematically: the well posedness of the problem is proven. In this paper we study general nonlinear properties of channel flows with YBC. There are 10 main results in this paper: (i) the trapping phenomenon of a point vortex has been discovered, explained and generalized to continuously distributed vorticity such as vortex patches and harmonic perturbations; (ii) the conditions sufficient for decreasing Arnold's and enstrophy functionals have been found, these conditions lead us to the washout property of channel flows; (iii) we have shown that only YBC provide the decrease of Arnold's functional; (iv) three criteria of nonlinear stability of steady channel flows have been formulated and proven; (v) the counterbalance between the washout and trapping has been recognized as the main factor in the dynamics of vorticity; (vi) a physical analogy between the properties of inviscid channel flows with YBC, viscous flows and dissipative dynamical systems has been proposed; (vii) this analogy allows us to formulate two major conjectures (C1 and C2) which are related to the relaxation of arbitrary initial data to C1: steady flows, and C2: steady, self-oscillating or chaotic flows; (viii) a sufficient condition for the complete washout of fluid particles has been established; (ix) the nonlinear asymptotic stability of selected steady flows is proven and the related thresholds have been evaluated; (x) computational solutions that clarify C1 and C2 and discover three qualitatively different scenarios of flow relaxation have been obtained
Nonlinear variations in axisymmetric accretion
We subject the stationary solutions of inviscid and axially symmetric
rotational accretion to a time-dependent radial perturbation, which includes
nonlinearity to any arbitrary order. Regardless of the order of nonlinearity,
the equation of the perturbation bears a form that is similar to the metric
equation of an analogue acoustic black hole. We bring out the time dependence
of the perturbation in the form of a Li\'enard system, by requiring the
perturbation to be a standing wave under the second order of nonlinearity. We
perform a dynamical systems analysis of the Li\'enard system to reveal a saddle
point in real time, whose implication is that instabilities will develop in the
accreting system when the perturbation is extended into the nonlinear regime.
We also model the perturbation as a high-frequency travelling wave, and carry
out a Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin analysis, treating nonlinearity iteratively as
a very feeble effect. Under this approach both the amplitude and the energy
flux of the perturbation exhibit growth, with the acoustic horizon segregating
the regions of stability and instability.Comment: 15 pages, ReVTeX. Substantially revised with respect to the previous
version. One figure and a new section on travelling waves (Sec. VI) have been
added. The bibliography has been revised. arXiv admin note: substantial text
overlap with arXiv:1207.107
Linear stability in networks of pulse-coupled neurons
In a first step towards the comprehension of neural activity, one should
focus on the stability of the various dynamical states. Even the
characterization of idealized regimes, such as a perfectly periodic spiking
activity, reveals unexpected difficulties. In this paper we discuss a general
approach to linear stability of pulse-coupled neural networks for generic
phase-response curves and post-synaptic response functions. In particular, we
present: (i) a mean-field approach developed under the hypothesis of an
infinite network and small synaptic conductances; (ii) a "microscopic" approach
which applies to finite but large networks. As a result, we find that no matter
how large is a neural network, its response to most of the perturbations
depends on the system size. There exists, however, also a second class of
perturbations, whose evolution typically covers an increasingly wide range of
time scales. The analysis of perfectly regular, asynchronous, states reveals
that their stability depends crucially on the smoothness of both the
phase-response curve and the transmitted post-synaptic pulse. The general
validity of this scenarion is confirmed by numerical simulations of systems
that are not amenable to a perturbative approach.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Frontiers in Computational
Neuroscienc
On the transition to turbulence of wall-bounded flows in general, and plane Couette flow in particular
The main part of this contribution to the special issue of EJM-B/Fluids
dedicated to Patrick Huerre outlines the problem of the subcritical transition
to turbulence in wall-bounded flows in its historical perspective with emphasis
on plane Couette flow, the flow generated between counter-translating parallel
planes. Subcritical here means discontinuous and direct, with strong
hysteresis. This is due to the existence of nontrivial flow regimes between the
global stability threshold Re_g, the upper bound for unconditional return to
the base flow, and the linear instability threshold Re_c characterized by
unconditional departure from the base flow. The transitional range around Re_g
is first discussed from an empirical viewpoint ({\S}1). The recent
determination of Re_g for pipe flow by Avila et al. (2011) is recalled. Plane
Couette flow is next examined. In laboratory conditions, its transitional range
displays an oblique pattern made of alternately laminar and turbulent bands, up
to a third threshold Re_t beyond which turbulence is uniform. Our current
theoretical understanding of the problem is next reviewed ({\S}2): linear
theory and non-normal amplification of perturbations; nonlinear approaches and
dynamical systems, basin boundaries and chaotic transients in minimal flow
units; spatiotemporal chaos in extended systems and the use of concepts from
statistical physics, spatiotemporal intermittency and directed percolation,
large deviations and extreme values. Two appendices present some recent
personal results obtained in plane Couette flow about patterning from numerical
simulations and modeling attempts.Comment: 35 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Eur. J. Mech B/Fluid
Dynamics of Coupled Maps with a Conservation Law
A particularly simple model belonging to a wide class of coupled maps which
obey a local conservation law is studied. The phase structure of the system and
the types of the phase transitions are determined. It is argued that the
structure of the phase diagram is robust with respect to mild violations of the
conservation law. Critical exponents possibly determining a new universality
class are calculated for a set of independent order parameters. Numerical
evidence is produced suggesting that the singularity in the density of Lyapunov
exponents at is a reflection of the singularity in the density of
Fourier modes (a ``Van Hove'' singularity) and disappears if the conservation
law is broken. Applicability of the Lyapunov dimension to the description of
spatiotemporal chaos in a system with a conservation law is discussed.Comment: To be published in CHAOS #7 (31 page, 16 figures
Instability of Turing patterns in reaction-diffusion-ODE systems
The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of the pattern
formation phenomenon in reaction-diffusion equations coupled with ordinary
differential equations. Such systems of equations arise, for example, from
modeling of interactions between cellular processes such as cell growth,
differentiation or transformation and diffusing signaling factors. We focus on
stability analysis of solutions of a prototype model consisting of a single
reaction-diffusion equation coupled to an ordinary differential equation. We
show that such systems are very different from classical reaction-diffusion
models. They exhibit diffusion-driven instability (Turing instability) under a
condition of autocatalysis of non-diffusing component. However, the same
mechanism which destabilizes constant solutions of such models, destabilizes
also all continuous spatially heterogeneous stationary solutions, and
consequently, there exist no stable Turing patterns in such
reaction-diffusion-ODE systems. We provide a rigorous result on the nonlinear
instability, which involves the analysis of a continuous spectrum of a linear
operator induced by the lack of diffusion in the destabilizing equation. These
results are extended to discontinuous patterns for a class of nonlinearities.Comment: This is a new version of the paper. Presentation of results was
essentially revised according to referee suggestion
Differential-Algebraic Equations and Beyond: From Smooth to Nonsmooth Constrained Dynamical Systems
The present article presents a summarizing view at differential-algebraic
equations (DAEs) and analyzes how new application fields and corresponding
mathematical models lead to innovations both in theory and in numerical
analysis for this problem class. Recent numerical methods for nonsmooth
dynamical systems subject to unilateral contact and friction illustrate the
topicality of this development.Comment: Preprint of Book Chapte
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