Geometrical Phases and Symmetries in Dissipative Systems

A geometrical phase is constructed for dissipative dynamical systems possessing continuous symmetries. It emerges as the natural analog of the holonomy associated with the adiabatic variation of parameters in quantum-mechanical and classical Hamiltonian systems. In continuous media, the physical manifestation of this phase is a spatial shift of a wave pattern, typically a translation or rotation. An illustration associated with pattern formation in fluids is provided

Disorder-Induced Desynchronization in a 2x2 Circular Josephson Junction Array

Analytical results are presented which characterize the behavior of a dc-biased, two-dimensional circular array of overdamped Josephson junctions subject to increasing levels of disorder. It is shown that high levels of disorder can abruptly destroy the synchronous functioning of the array. We identify the transition boundary between synchronized and desynchronized behavior, along with the mechanism responsible for the loss of frequency locking. Comparisons with recent results for arrays with rectangular lattice geometries are described

Oscillatory Doubly Diffusive Convection in a Finite Container

Oscillatory doubly diffusive convection in a large aspect ratio Hele-Shaw cell is considered. The partial differential equations are reduced via center-unstable manifold reduction to the normal form equations describing the interaction of even and odd parity standing waves near onset. These equations take the form of the equations for a Hopf bifurcation with approximate D4 symmetry, verifying the conclusions of the preceding paper [A.S. Landsberg and E. Knobloch, Phys. Rev. E 53, 3579 (1996)]. In particular, the amplitude equations differ in the limit of large aspect ratios from the usual Ginzburg-Landau description in having additional nonlinear terms with O(1) coefficients. Numerical simulations of the amplitude equations for experimental parameter values are presented and compared with the results of recent experiments by Predtechensky et al. [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 218 (1994); Phys. Fluids 6, 3923 (1994)]

Oscillatory Bifurcation with Broken Translation Symmetry

The effect of distant endwalls on the bifurcation to traveling waves is considered. Previous approaches have treated the problem by assuming that it is a weak perturbation of the translation invariant problem. When the problem is formulated instead in a finite box of length L and the limit L--\u3e [infinity] is taken, one obtains amplitude equations that differ from the usual Ginzburg-Landau description by the presence of an additional nonlinear term. This formulation leads to a description in terms of the amplitudes of the primary box modes, which are odd and even parity standing waves. For large L, the equations that result take the form of a Hopf bifurcation with approximate D4 symmetry. These equations are able to describe, qualitatively, not only traveling and blinking states, but also asymmetrical blinking states and repeated transients, all of which have been observed in binary fluid convection experiments

Dynamical Effects of Partial Orderings in Physical Systems

We demonstrate that many physical systems possess an often overlooked property known as a partial-ordering structure. The detection and analysis of this special geometric property can be crucial for understanding a system\u27s dynamical behavior. We review here the fundamental dynamical features common to all such systems, and describe how the partial ordering imposes interesting restrictions on their possible behavior. We show, for instance, that though such systems are capable of displaying highly complex and even chaotic behaviors, most of their experimentally observable behaviors will be simple. Partial orderings are illustrated with examples drawn from many branches of physics, including solid state physics, fluids, and chemical systems. We also describe the consequences of partial orderings on some simple nonlinear models, and prove, for example, that for general two-dimensional mappings with the partial-ordering property, period 3 implies chaos, in analogy with the well-known result of Li and York [Am. Math. Mon. 82, 985 (1975)] for (ordinary) one-dimensional mappings

Nonlinear Dynamics in Combinatorial Games: Renormalizing Chomp

We develop a new approach to combinatorial games that reveals connections between such games and some of the central ideas of nonlinear dynamics: scaling behaviors, complex dynamics and chaos, universality, and aggregation processes. We take as our model system the combinatorial game Chomp, which is one of the simplest in a class of unsolved combinatorial games that includes Chess, Checkers, and Go. We discover that the game possesses an underlying geometric structure that grows (reminiscent of crystal growth), and show how this growth can be analyzed using a renormalization procedure adapted from physics. In effect, this methodology allows one to transform a combinatorial game like Chomp into a type of dynamical system. Not only does this provide powerful insights into the game of Chomp (yielding a complete probabilistic description of optimal play in Chomp and an answer to a longstanding question about the nature of the winning opening move), but more generally, it offers a mathematical framework for exploring this unexpected relationship between combinatorial games and modern dynamical systems theory

Effect of Disorder on Synchronization in Prototype 2-Dimensional Josephson Arrays

We study the effects of quenched disorder on the dynamics of two-dimensional arrays of overdamped Josephson junctions. Disorder in both the junction critical currents and resistances is considered. Analytical results for small arrays are used to identify a physical mechanism which promotes frequency locking across each row of the array, and to show that no such locking mechanism exists between rows. The intrarow locking mechanism is surprisingly strong, so that a row can tolerate large amounts of disorder before frequency locking is destroyed

Behavior of Coupled Automata

We study the nature of statistical correlations that develop between systems of interacting self-organized critical automata (sandpiles). Numerical and analytical findings are presented describing the emergence of synchronization between sandpiles and the dependency of this synchronization on factors such as variations in coupling strength, toppling rule probabilities, symmetric versus asymmetric coupling rules, and numbers of sandpiles

Combinatorial Games with a Pass: A dynamical systems approach

By treating combinatorial games as dynamical systems, we are able to address a longstanding open question in combinatorial game theory, namely, how the introduction of a "pass" move into a game affects its behavior. We consider two well known combinatorial games, 3-pile Nim and 3-row Chomp. In the case of Nim, we observe that the introduction of the pass dramatically alters the game's underlying structure, rendering it considerably more complex, while for Chomp, the pass move is found to have relatively minimal impact. We show how these results can be understood by recasting these games as dynamical systems describable by dynamical recursion relations. From these recursion relations we are able to identify underlying structural connections between these "games with passes" and a recently introduced class of "generic (perturbed) games." This connection, together with a (non-rigorous) numerical stability analysis, allows one to understand and predict the effect of a pass on a game.Comment: 39 pages, 13 figures, published versio