12,683 research outputs found
Fundraising and vote distribution: a non-equilibrium statistical approach
The number of votes correlates strongly with the money spent in a campaign,
but the relation between the two is not straightforward. Among other factors,
the output of a ballot depends on the number of candidates, voters, and
available resources. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on Shannon
entropy maximization and Superstatistics to establish a relation between the
distributions of money spent by candidates and their votes. By establishing
such a relation, we provide a tool to predict the outcome of a ballot and to
alert for possible misconduct either in the report of fundraising and spending
of campaigns or on vote counting. As an example, we consider real data from a
proportional election with candidates, where a detailed data
verification is virtually impossible, and show that the number of potential
misconducting candidates to audit can be reduced to only nine
Renormalization of the N=1 Abelian Super-Chern-Simons Theory Coupled to Parity-Preserving Matter
We analyse the renormalizability of an Abelian N=1 super-Chern-Simons model
coupled to parity-preserving matter on the light of the regularization
independent algebraic method. The model shows to be stable under radiative
corrections and to be gauge anomaly free.Comment: Latex, 7 pages, no figure
Breathing synchronization in interconnected networks
Global synchronization in a complex network of oscillators emerges from the
interplay between its topology and the dynamics of the pairwise interactions
among its numerous components. When oscillators are spatially separated,
however, a time delay appears in the interaction which might obstruct
synchronization. Here we study the synchronization properties of interconnected
networks of oscillators with a time delay between networks and analyze the
dynamics as a function of the couplings and communication lag. We discover a
new breathing synchronization regime, where two groups appear in each network
synchronized at different frequencies. Each group has a counterpart in the
opposite network, one group is in phase and the other in anti-phase with their
counterpart. For strong couplings, instead, networks are internally
synchronized but a phase shift between them might occur. The implications of
our findings on several socio-technical and biological systems are discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures + 3 pages of Supplemental Materia
The influence of statistical properties of Fourier coefficients on random surfaces
Many examples of natural systems can be described by random Gaussian
surfaces. Much can be learned by analyzing the Fourier expansion of the
surfaces, from which it is possible to determine the corresponding Hurst
exponent and consequently establish the presence of scale invariance. We show
that this symmetry is not affected by the distribution of the modulus of the
Fourier coefficients. Furthermore, we investigate the role of the Fourier
phases of random surfaces. In particular, we show how the surface is affected
by a non-uniform distribution of phases
Torsion and Gravitation: A new view
According to the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, curvature and
torsion are two equivalent ways of describing the same gravitational field.
Despite equivalent, however, they act differently: whereas curvature yields a
geometric description, in which the concept of gravitational force is absent,
torsion acts as a true gravitational force, quite similar to the Lorentz force
of electrodynamics. As a consequence, the right-hand side of a
spinless-particle equation of motion (which would represent a gravitational
force) is always zero in the geometric description, but not in the teleparallel
case. This means essentially that the gravitational coupling prescription can
be minimal only in the geometric case. Relying on this property, a new
gravitational coupling prescription in the presence of curvature and torsion is
proposed. It is constructed in such a way to preserve the equivalence between
curvature and torsion, and its basic property is to be equivalent with the
usual coupling prescription of general relativity. According to this view, no
new physics is connected with torsion, which appears as a mere alternative to
curvature in the description of gravitation. An application of this formulation
to the equations of motion of both a spinless and a spinning particle is madeComment: To appear on IJMP
Gauge Theories with Lorentz-Symmetry Violation by Symplectic Projector Method
The violation of Lorentz symmetry is studied from the point of view of a
canonical formulation. We make the usual analysis on the constraints structure
of the Carroll-Field-Jackiw model. In this context we derive the equations of
motion for the physical variables and check out the dispersion relations
obtained from them. Therefore, by the analysis using Symplectic Projector
Method (SPM), we can check the results about this type of Lorentz breaking with
those in the recent literature: in this sense we can confirm that the
configuration of space-like is stable, and the time-like
carry tachionic modes.Comment: 7 pages and no figure
Rapid Profiling of Marine Notches Using a Handheld Laser Distance Meter
A rapid, single-user profiling method for rocky shores is described. The Leica Disto D8 handheld laser distance meter
measures distance up to 100 m and inclination in 360 degrees. It automatically calculates horizontal distance and vertical elevation. Memory storage accommodates data for 30 measurement points, allowing easy plotting of shore profiles. This technique allows even inaccessible, dangerous, and overhanging cliff faces to be evaluated faithfully and within minutes. It is a major improvement over standard methods that often involve risky coasteering and climbing. Examples are given from marine notches in Thailand
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