A Variational Principle for the Asymptotic Speed of Fronts of the Density Dependent Diffusion--Reaction Equation

We show that the minimal speed for the existence of monotonic fronts of the equation $u_t = (u^m)_{xx} + f(u)$ with $f(0) = f(1) = 0$, $m >1$ and $f>0$ in $(0,1)$ derives from a variational principle. The variational principle allows to calculate, in principle, the exact speed for arbitrary $f$. The case $m=1$ when $f'(0)=0$ is included as an extension of the results.Comment: Latex, postcript figure availabl

Relaxation under outflow dynamics with random sequential updating

In this paper we compare the relaxation in several versions of the Sznajd model (SM) with random sequential updating on the chain and square lattice. We start by reviewing briefly all proposed one dimensional versions of SM. Next, we compare the results obtained from Monte Carlo simulations with the mean field results obtained by Slanina and Lavicka . Finally, we investigate the relaxation on the square lattice and compare two generalizations of SM, one suggested by Stauffer and another by Galam. We show that there are no qualitative differences between these two approaches, although the relaxation within the Galam rule is faster than within the well known Stauffer rule.Comment: 9 figure

The Galam Model of Minority Opinion Spreading and the Marriage Gap

In 2002, Serge Galam designed a model of a minority opinion spreading. The effect is expected to lead a conservative minority to prevail if the issue is discussed long enough. Here we analyze the marriage gap, i.e. the difference in voting for Bush and Kerry in 2004 between married and unmarried people. It seems possible to interpret this marriage gap in terms of the Galam model.Comment: 6 page

The magnetic response at the metal–insulator transition in La1−xSrxTiO3 (abstract)

We report on recent inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the magnetic response close to the metal–insulator transition in La1−xSrxTiO3. Specific heat and susceptibility data from Tokura et al. give evidence for a divergent effective mass at the critical concentration xc=0.05 in agreement with recent mean‐field theories of the transition. The mass enhancement is believed to arise from the formation of a d‐electron resonance at the Fermi energy close to the transition. The aim of this investigation is to look for evidence of this resonance in the dynamic magnetic susceptibility. We studied samples with x=0, 0.05, and 0.2 using incident energies between 25 and 200 meV. After correction for the phonon scattering, we observe a broad response above a threshold of 20–30 meV extending to over 100 meV. In addition, the Mott insulating antiferromagnet (x=0) has a peak at 40 meV, consistent with the estimated activation energy derived from resistivity measurements. This feature becomes washed out with temperature and doping. Possible origins for this peak are discussed. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70552/2/JAPIAU-79-8-6432-1.pd

Development of a procedure for substantiating replacement terms for the condenser tubes of steam turbine installations

Results obtained from elaboration of a procedure for estimating replacement terms for the condenser tube systems of steam turbine installations are presented. Censored data processing methods are used in performing statistical assessment of replacement terms. The service life of condenser tubes blanked off in the course of turbine operation is assumed to be known (complete operation time), and that for tubes blanked off during the turbine repair process is assumed to be undetermined (censored operation time). The criterion for estimating the replacement term for a condenser tube system is defined as the ratio between the number of tubes blanked off during a repair and in the course of turbine operation. The procedure is validated by the results from a study on analyzing the damageability of tubes made of different materials for the condensers of 11 turbines with capacities ranging from 25 to 500 MW. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd