Influence of information flow in the formation of economic cycles

A microscopic approach to macroeconomic features is intended. A model for macroeconomic behavior based on the Ausloos-Clippe-Pekalski model is built and investigated. The influence of a discrete time information transfer is investigated. The formation of economic cycles is observed as a function of the time of information delay. Three regions of delay time are recognized: short $t_d \in (2 IS, 4 IS)$ (IS - iteration steps) - the system evolves toward a unique stable equilibrium state, medium $t_d =5 IS$ or $t_d =6 IS$, the system undergoes oscillations: stable concentration cycles appear in the system. For long information flow delay times, $t_d \geq 7$, the systems may crash for most initial concentrations. However, even in the case of long delay time the crash time may be long enough to allow observation of the system evolution and to introduce an appropriate strategy in order to avoid the collapse of the e.g. company concentration. In the long time delay it is also possible to observe an "economy resonance" where despite a long delay time the system evolves for a long time or can even reach a stable state, which insures its existence.Comment: 18 pages,16 figures, to be published in Verhulst 200 Proceedings, M. Ausloos and M. Dirickx, Eds. (in press

Anisotropic AC Behavior of Multifilamentary Bi-2223/Ag Tapes

In this communication, we report on the anisotropy of the superconducting properties of multifilamentary Bi-based tapes experimentally investigated by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. The susceptibility $\chi= \chi' - j \chi''$ was measured using a commercial system and a couple of orthogonal pick-up coils. The $\chi''$ vs. temperature curves were shown to exhibit two peaks. The smaller of the peaks, occurring near T = 72K, was only visible for particular field directions and within a given frequency window. Such results point out the role played by the phase difference between the applied magnetic field and the internal magnetic field seen by the filaments.Comment: 4 pages (2 columns); 4 figure

Statistical Dynamics of Religions and Adherents

Religiosity is one of the most important sociological aspects of populations. All religions may evolve in their beliefs and adapt to the society developments. A religion is a social variable, like a language or wealth, to be studied like any other organizational parameter. Several questions can be raised, as considered in this study: e.g. (i) from a ``macroscopic'' point of view : How many religions exist at a given time? (ii) from a ``microscopic'' view point: How many adherents belong to one religion? Does the number of adherents increase or not, and how? No need to say that if quantitative answers and mathematical laws are found, agent based models can be imagined to describe such non-equilibrium processes. It is found that empirical laws can be deduced and related to preferential attachment processes, like on evolving network; we propose two different algorithmic models reproducing as well the data. Moreover, a population growth-death equation is shown to be a plausible modeling of evolution dynamics in a continuous time framework. Differences with language dynamic competition is emphasized.Comment: submitted to EP

An SIS-based sideband-separating heterodyne mixer optimized for the 600 to 720 GHz band

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is the largest radio astronomical enterprise ever proposed. When completed, each of its 64 constituting radio-telescopes will be able to hold 10 heterodyne receivers covering the spectroscopic windows allowed by the atmospheric transmission at the construction site, the altiplanos of the northern Chilean Andes. In contrast to the sideband-separating (2SB) receivers being developed at low frequencies, double-side-band (DSB) receivers are being developed for the highest two spectroscopic windows (bands 9 and 10). Despite of the well known advantages of 2SB mixers over their DSB counterparts, they have not been implemented at the highest-frequency bands as the involved dimensions for some of the radio frequency components are prohibitory small. However, the current state-of-the-art micromachining technology has proved that the structures necessary for this development are attainable. Here we report the design, modeling, realization, and characterization of a 2SB mixer for band 9 of ALMA (600 to 720 GHz). At the heart of the mixer, two superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junctions are used as mixing elements. The constructed instrument presents an excellent performance as shown by two important figures of merit: noise temperature of the system and side band ratio, both of them within ALMA specifications

Deterministic growth model of Laplacian charged particle aggregates

The results of the computer simulation of the aggregates growth of the similarly charged particles in the framework of deterministic Laplacian growth model on a square lattice are presented. Cluster growth is controlled by three parameters ${p, E,\lambda}$, where $p$ - Laplacian growth parameter, $E$ - energy of a particle sticking to a cluster, $\lambda$ - the screening length of electrostatic interactions. The phase diagram of cluster growth is built in the co-ordinates ${E,\lambda}$. The zones of different cluster morphology are selected: I-the zone of finite X-like structures,II-the zone of infinite ramified structures, controlled by electrostatic interactions, III-the zone of infinite structures with electrostatic interactions effectively switched off. Simple electrostatic estimations of the locations of the zone boundaries are presented. It is shown that in general case within the zone II the continuous change of $D_f$, controlled by parameters ${p, E,\lambda}$, takes place. In the degeneration limit when the given model transforms into deterministic version of the Eden model (at $p=0$), the crossover from linear $(D_f=1)$ to compact $(D_f=2)$ structures is observed when passing through the boundary between the zones I and II.Comment: REVTEX, 3 pages with 4 postscript figure

Range expansion with mutation and selection: dynamical phase transition in a two-species Eden model

The colonization of unoccupied territory by invading species, known as range expansion, is a spatially heterogeneous non-equilibrium growth process. We introduce a two-species Eden growth model to analyze the interplay between uni-directional (irreversible) mutations and selection at the expanding front. While the evolutionary dynamics leads to coalescence of both wild-type and mutant clusters, the non-homogeneous advance of the colony results in a rough front. We show that roughening and domain dynamics are strongly coupled, resulting in qualitatively altered bulk and front properties. For beneficial mutations the front is quickly taken over by mutants and growth proceeds Eden-like. In contrast, if mutants grow slower than wild-types, there is an antagonism between selection pressure against mutants and growth by the merging of mutant domains with an ensuing absorbing state phase transition to an all-mutant front. We find that surface roughening has a marked effect on the critical properties of the absorbing state phase transition. While reference models, which keep the expanding front flat, exhibit directed percolation critical behavior, the exponents of the two-species Eden model strongly deviate from it. In turn, the mutation-selection process induces an increased surface roughness with exponents distinct from that of the classical Eden model

Spatial interactions in agent-based modeling

Agent Based Modeling (ABM) has become a widespread approach to model complex interactions. In this chapter after briefly summarizing some features of ABM the different approaches in modeling spatial interactions are discussed. It is stressed that agents can interact either indirectly through a shared environment and/or directly with each other. In such an approach, higher-order variables such as commodity prices, population dynamics or even institutions, are not exogenously specified but instead are seen as the results of interactions. It is highlighted in the chapter that the understanding of patterns emerging from such spatial interaction between agents is a key problem as much as their description through analytical or simulation means. The chapter reviews different approaches for modeling agents' behavior, taking into account either explicit spatial (lattice based) structures or networks. Some emphasis is placed on recent ABM as applied to the description of the dynamics of the geographical distribution of economic activities, - out of equilibrium. The Eurace@Unibi Model, an agent-based macroeconomic model with spatial structure, is used to illustrate the potential of such an approach for spatial policy analysis.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, 105 references; a chapter prepared for the book "Complexity and Geographical Economics - Topics and Tools", P. Commendatore, S.S. Kayam and I. Kubin, Eds. (Springer, in press, 2014

Statistical dynamics of religion evolutions

A religion affiliation can be considered as a "degree of freedom" of an agent on the human genre network. A brief review is given on the state of the art in data analysis and modelization of religious "questions" in order to suggest and if possible initiate further research, ... after using a "statistical physics filter". We present a discussion of the evolution of 18 so called religions, as measured through their number of adherents between 1900 and 2000. Some emphasis is made on a few cases presenting a minimum or a maximum in the investigated time range, - thereby suggesting a competitive ingredient to be considered, beside the well accepted "at birth" attachement effect. The importance of the "external field" is still stressed through an Avrami late stage crystal growth-like parameter. The observed features and some intuitive interpretations point to opinion based models with vector, rather than scalar, like agents