Self-similarities in the frequency-amplitude space of a loss-modulated CO2_2 laser

We show the standard two-level continuous-time model of loss-modulated CO$_2$ lasers to display the same regular network of self-similar stability islands known so far to be typically present only in discrete-time models based on mappings. For class B laser models our results suggest that, more than just convenient surrogates, discrete mappings in fact could be isomorphic to continuous flows.Comment: (5 low-res color figs; for ALL figures high-res PDF: http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~jgallas/jg_papers.html

Vacuum phenomenology of the chiral partner of the nucleon in a linear sigma model with vector mesons

We investigate a linear sigma model with global chiral $U(2)_{R} \times U(2)_{L}$ symmetry. The mesonic degrees of freedom are the standard scalar and pseudoscalar mesons and the vector and axial-vector mesons. The baryonic degrees of freedom are the nucleon, $N$, and its chiral partner, $N^{*}$, which is usually identified with N(1535). The chiral partner is incorporated in the so-called mirror assignment, where the nucleon mass is not solely generated by the chiral condensate but also by a chirally invariant mass term, $m_{0}$. The presence of (axial-) vector fields modifies the expressions for the axial coupling constants of the nucleon, $g_{A}^{N}$, and its partner, $g_{A}^{N^{*}}$. Using experimental data for the decays $N^{*} \to N \pi$ and $a_{1} \to\pi\gamma$, as well as lattice results for $g_{A}^{N^{*}}$ we infer $m_{0}\sim500$ MeV, i.e., an appreciable amount of the nucleon mass originates from sources other than the chiral condensate. We test our model by evaluating the decay $N^{*} \to N \eta$ and the s-wave nucleon-pion scattering lengths $a_{0}^{(\pm)}$.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Coherence in scale-free networks of chaotic maps

We study fully synchronized states in scale-free networks of chaotic logistic maps as a function of both dynamical and topological parameters. Three different network topologies are considered: (i) random scale-free topology, (ii) deterministic pseudo-fractal scale-free network, and (iii) Apollonian network. For the random scale-free topology we find a coupling strength threshold beyond which full synchronization is attained. This threshold scales as $k^{-\mu}$, where $k$ is the outgoing connectivity and $\mu$ depends on the local nonlinearity. For deterministic scale-free networks coherence is observed only when the coupling strength is proportional to the neighbor connectivity. We show that the transition to coherence is of first-order and study the role of the most connected nodes in the collective dynamics of oscillators in scale-free networks.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Onset of fluidization in vertically shaken granular material

When granular material is shaken vertically one observes convection, surface fluidization, spontaneous heap formation and other effects. There is a controversial discussion in literature whether there exists a threshold for the Froude number $\Gamma=A_0\omega_0^2/g$ below which these effects cannot be observed anymore. By means of theoretical analysis and computer simulation we find that there is no such single threshold. Instead we propose a modified criterion which coincides with critical Froude number $\Gamma_c=1$ for small driving frequency $\omega_0$.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Coefficient of restitution for elastic disks

We calculate the coefficient of restitution, $\epsilon$, starting from a microscopic model of elastic disks. The theory is shown to agree with the approach of Hertz in the quasistatic limit, but predicts inelastic collisions for finite relative velocities of two approaching disks. The velocity dependence of $\epsilon$ is calculated numerically for a wide range of velocities. The coefficient of restitution furthermore depends on the elastic constants of the material via Poisson's number. The elastic vibrations absorb kinetic energy more effectively for materials with low values of the shear modulus.Comment: 25 pages, 12 Postscript figures, LaTex2

Vacuum Properties of Mesons in a Linear Sigma Model with Vector Mesons and Global Chiral Invariance

We present a two-flavour linear sigma model with global chiral symmetry and vector and axial-vector mesons. We calculate pion-pion scattering lengths and the decay widths of scalar, vector, and axial-vector mesons. It is demonstrated that vector and axial-vector meson degrees of freedom play an important role in these low-energy processes and that a reasonable theoretical description requires globally chirally invariant terms other than the vector meson mass term. An important question for meson vacuum phenomenology is the quark content of the physical scalar f0(600) and a0(980) mesons. We investigate this question by assigning the quark-antiquark sigma and a0 states of our model with these physical mesons. We show via a detailed comparison with experimental data that this scenario can describe all vacuum properties studied here except for the decay width of the sigma, which turns out to be too small. We also study the alternative assignment f0(1370) and a0(1450) for the scalar mesons. In this case the decay width agrees with the experimental value, but the pion-pion scattering length $a_{0}^{0}$ is too small. This indicates the necessity to extend our model by additional scalar degrees of freedom.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

The multilevel trigger system of the DIRAC experiment

The multilevel trigger system of the DIRAC experiment at CERN is presented. It includes a fast first level trigger as well as various trigger processors to select events with a pair of pions having a low relative momentum typical of the physical process under study. One of these processors employs the drift chamber data, another one is based on a neural network algorithm and the others use various hit-map detector correlations. Two versions of the trigger system used at different stages of the experiment are described. The complete system reduces the event rate by a factor of 1000, with efficiency $\geq$95% of detecting the events in the relative momentum range of interest.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure

Periodic Neural Activity Induced by Network Complexity

We study a model for neural activity on the small-world topology of Watts and Strogatz and on the scale-free topology of Barab\'asi and Albert. We find that the topology of the network connections may spontaneously induce periodic neural activity, contrasting with chaotic neural activities exhibited by regular topologies. Periodic activity exists only for relatively small networks and occurs with higher probability when the rewiring probability is larger. The average length of the periods increases with the square root of the network size.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Novel host report for Catadiscus uruguayensis Freitas & Lent, 1939 (Trematoda, Diplodiscidae) infecting Austrolebias Costa, 1998 species from Uruguay

The genus Catadiscus Cohn, 1904 has a total of 16 known species that infect the intestinal tract of reptiles, amphibians, and mollusks. However, Catadiscus has never been found in teleosts. The annual fish Austrolebias prognathus (Amato, 1986) and A. cheradophilus (Vaz-Ferreira, Sierra de Soriano & Scaglia de Paulete, 1965) were collected from temporary ponds in the southeast of Uruguay. The specimens found in the intestinal tract of these hosts were morphologically identified as Catadiscus uruguayensis Freitas & Lent, 1939, which until now were only known to infect amphibians. This work represents the first report of the genus Catadiscus infecting and developing in a fish host

Author Correction: Identification of minimal parameters for optimal suppression of chaos in dissipative driven systems

Correction to: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17969-9, published online 21 December 201