Aspects of stochastic resonance in reaction-diffusion systems: The nonequilibrium-potential approach

We analyze several aspects of the phenomenon of stochastic resonance in reaction-diffusion systems, exploiting the nonequilibrium potential's framework. The generalization of this formalism (sketched in the appendix) to extended systems is first carried out in the context of a simplified scalar model, for which stationary patterns can be found analytically. We first show how system-size stochastic resonance arises naturally in this framework, and then how the phenomenon of array-enhanced stochastic resonance can be further enhanced by letting the diffusion coefficient depend on the field. A yet less trivial generalization is exemplified by a stylized version of the FitzHugh-Nagumo system, a paradigm of the activator-inhibitor class. After discussing for this system the second aspect enumerated above, we derive from it -through an adiabatic-like elimination of the inhibitor field- an effective scalar model that includes a nonlocal contribution. Studying the role played by the range of the nonlocal kernel and its effect on stochastic resonance, we find an optimal range that maximizes the system's response.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, uses svjour.cls and svepj-spec.clo. Minireview to appear in The European Physical Journal Special Topics (issue in memory of Carlos P\'erez-Garc\'{\i}a, edited by H. Mancini

Chance Constrained Optimization for Targeted Internet Advertising

We introduce a chance constrained optimization model for the fulfillment of guaranteed display Internet advertising campaigns. The proposed formulation for the allocation of display inventory takes into account the uncertainty of the supply of Internet viewers. We discuss and present theoretical and computational features of the model via Monte Carlo sampling and convex approximations. Theoretical upper and lower bounds are presented along with a numerical substantiation

Highly synchronized noise-driven oscillatory behavior of a FitzHugh-Nagumo ring with phase-repulsive coupling

We investigate a ring of $N$ FitzHugh--Nagumo elements coupled in \emph{phase-repulsive} fashion and submitted to a (subthreshold) common oscillatory signal and independent Gaussian white noises. This system can be regarded as a reduced version of the one studied in [Phys. Rev. E \textbf{64}, 041912 (2001)], although externally forced and submitted to noise. The noise-sustained synchronization of the system with the external signal is characterized.Comment: 7 pages, 15 figures, uses aipproc.cls, aip-6s.clo and aipxfm.sty. "Cooperative Behavior in Neural Systems: Ninth Granada Lectures'', edited by J. Marro, P. L. Garrido, and J. J. Torre

Noise-induced phase transitions: Effects of the noises' statistics and spectrum

The local, uncorrelated multiplicative noises driving a second-order, purely noise-induced, ordering phase transition (NIPT) were assumed to be Gaussian and white in the model of [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{73}, 3395 (1994)]. The potential scientific and technological interest of this phenomenon calls for a study of the effects of the noises' statistics and spectrum. This task is facilitated if these noises are dynamically generated by means of stochastic differential equations (SDE) driven by white noises. One such case is that of Ornstein--Uhlenbeck noises which are stationary, with Gaussian pdf and a variance reduced by the self-correlation time (\tau), and whose effect on the NIPT phase diagram has been studied some time ago. Another such case is when the stationary pdf is a (colored) Tsallis' (q)--\emph{Gaussian} which, being a \emph{fat-tail} distribution for (q>1) and a \emph{compact-support} one for (q<1), allows for a controlled exploration of the effects of the departure from Gaussian statistics. As done before with stochastic resonance and other phenomena, we now exploit this tool to study--within a simple mean-field approximation and with an emphasis on the \emph{order parameter} and the ``\emph{susceptibility}''--the combined effect on NIPT of the noises' statistics and spectrum. Even for relatively small (\tau), it is shown that whereas fat-tail noise distributions ((q>1)) counteract the effect of self-correlation, compact-support ones ((q<1)) enhance it. Also, an interesting effect on the susceptibility is seen in the last case.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures, uses aipproc.cls, aip-8s.clo and aipxfm.sty. To appear in AIP Conference Proceedings. Invited talk at MEDYFINOL'06 (XV Conference on Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics and Nonlinear Physics

Supragaussian-fluctuaction energy harvesting by piezoelectric method, through monostable squarewell-like oscillators: an electronic analogy

Se presenta un análogo electrónico de un oscilador monoestable de tipo pozo cuadrado, propuesto para cosechar energía del ruido mediante transducción piezoeléctrica. Se supone un ruido altamente correlacionado y con estadística supra Gaussiana, que se controla mediante un parámetro q. Éste es sintetizado y enviado a través de un circuito electrónico en el que se utiliza un diodo Zener como análogo del potencial tipo pozo cuadrado, para observar cómo varía la tensión cuadrática media entregada a la carga a medida que el ruido se aleja de uno Gaussiano. Los resultados muestran que al crecer q por encima de 1 (correspondiente a estadística Gaussiana) la tensión cuadrática media se incrementa, de modo que el Zener actúa efectivamente como selector de grandes excursiones.An electronic analog is introduced of a square-well monostable oscillator, proposed for noise energy harvesting using piezoelectric transduction. A highly correlated noise is assumed, whose supra Gaussian statistics is controlled by a parameter q. This is synthesized and sent through an electronic circuit in which a Zener diode is used as an analogue of the square-well potential, to observe how the rms voltage delivered to the load varies as the noise departs from Gaussian. The results show that as q grows above 1 (corresponding to Gaussian statistics) the rms voltage increases, so that the Zener effectively acts as selector of large excursions.Fil: Peña Rosselló, Julián Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Deza, J. I.. Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya; EspañaFil: Wio, H. S.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas; EspañaFil: Deza, R. R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas de Mar del Plata; Argentin

Invited review: KPZ. Recent developments via a variational formulation

Recently, a variational approach has been introduced for the paradigmatic Kardar--Parisi--Zhang (KPZ) equation. Here we review that approach, together with the functional Taylor expansion that the KPZ nonequilibrium potential (NEP) admits. Such expansion becomes naturally truncated at third order, giving rise to a nonlinear stochastic partial differential equation to be regarded as a gradient-flow counterpart to the KPZ equation. A dynamic renormalization group analysis at one-loop order of this new mesoscopic model yields the KPZ scaling relation alpha+z=2, as a consequence of the exact cancelation of the different contributions to vertex renormalization. This result is quite remarkable, considering the lower degree of symmetry of this equation, which is in particular not Galilean invariant. In addition, this scheme is exploited to inquire about the dynamical behavior of the KPZ equation through a path-integral approach. Each of these aspects offers novel points of view and sheds light on particular aspects of the dynamics of the KPZ equation.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure

Structure of Fermionic Density Matrices: Complete N-representability Conditions

We present a constructive solution to the N-representability problem---a full characterization of the conditions for constraining the two-electron reduced density matrix (2-RDM) to represent an N-electron density matrix. Previously known conditions, while rigorous, were incomplete. Here we derive a hierarchy of constraints built upon (i) the bipolar theorem and (ii) tensor decompositions of model Hamiltonians. Existing conditions D, Q, G, T1, and T2, known classical conditions, and new conditions appear naturally. Subsets of the conditions are amenable to polynomial-time computations of strongly correlated systems