A pseudo-matched filter for chaos

A matched filter maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal. In the recent work of Corron et al. [Chaos 20, 023123 (2010)], a matched filter is derived for the chaotic waveforms produced by a piecewise-linear system. Motivated by these results, we describe a pseudo-matched filter, which removes noise from the same chaotic signal. It consists of a notch filter followed by a first-order, low-pass filter. We compare quantitatively the matched filter's performance to that of our pseudo-matched filter using correlation functions in a simulated radar application. On average, the pseudo-matched filter performs with a correlation signal-to-noise ratio that is 2.0 dB below that of the matched filter. Our pseudo-matched filter, though somewhat inferior in comparison to the matched filter, is easily realizable at high speed (> 1 GHz) for potential radar applications

Subwavelength position sensing using nonlinear feedback and wave chaos

We demonstrate a position-sensing technique that relies on the inherent sensitivity of chaos, where we illuminate a subwavelength object with a complex structured radio-frequency field generated using wave chaos and a nonlinear feedback loop. We operate the system in a quasi-periodic state and analyze changes in the frequency content of the scalar voltage signal in the feedback loop. This allows us to extract the object's position with a one-dimensional resolution of ~\lambda/10,000 and a two-dimensional resolution of ~\lambda/300, where \lambda\ is the shortest wavelength of the illuminating source.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Ultra-high-frequency piecewise-linear chaos using delayed feedback loops

We report on an ultra-high-frequency (> 1 GHz), piecewise-linear chaotic system designed from low-cost, commercially available electronic components. The system is composed of two electronic time-delayed feedback loops: A primary analog loop with a variable gain that produces multi-mode oscillations centered around 2 GHz and a secondary loop that switches the variable gain between two different values by means of a digital-like signal. We demonstrate experimentally and numerically that such an approach allows for the simultaneous generation of analog and digital chaos, where the digital chaos can be used to partition the system's attractor, forming the foundation for a symbolic dynamics with potential applications in noise-resilient communications and radar

High-order optical nonlinearity at low light levels

We observe a nonlinear optical process in a gas of cold atoms that simultaneously displays the largest reported fifth-order nonlinear susceptibility \chi^(5) = 1.9x10^{-12} (m/V)^4 and high transparency. The nonlinearity results from the simultaneous cooling and crystallization of the gas, and gives rise to efficient Bragg scattering in the form of six-wave-mixing at low-light-levels. For large atom-photon coupling strengths, the back-action of the scattered fields influences the light-matter dynamics. This system may have important applications in many-body physics, quantum information processing, and multidimensional soliton formation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Modelos poblacionales del gran ánsar nival: comparación entre distintos enfoques empleados para evaluar los impactos potenciales de la cosecha

Demographic models, which are a natural extension of capture–recapture (CR) methodology, are a powerful tool to guide decisions when managing wildlife populations. We compare three different modelling approaches to evaluate the effect of increased harvest on the population growth of Greater Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica). Our first approach is a traditional matrix model where survival was reduced to simulate increased harvest. We included environmental stochasticity in the matrix projection model by simulating good, average, and bad years to account for the large inter–annual variation in fecundity and first–year survival, a common feature of birds nesting in the Arctic. Our second approach is based on the elasticity (or relative sensitivity) of population growth rate (lambda) to changes in survival as simple functions of generation time. Generation time was obtained from the mean transition matrix based on the observed proportion of good, average and bad years between 1985 and 1998. If we assume that hunting mortality is additive to natural mortality, then a simple formula predicts changes in lambda as a function of changes in harvest rate. This second approach can be viewed as a simplification of the matrix model because it uses formal sensitivity results derived from population projection. Our third, and potentially more powerful approach, uses the Kalman Filter to combine information on demographic parameters, i.e. the population mechanisms summarized in a transition matrix model, and the census information (i.e. annual survey) within an overall Gaussian likelihood. The advantage of this approach is that it minimizes process and measured uncertainties associated with both the census and demographic parameters based on the variance of each estimate. This third approach, in contrast to the second, can be viewed as an extension of the matrix model, by combining its results with the independent census information.Los modelos demográficos, que son una ampliación natural de la metodología de captura–recaptura (CR), constituyen un excelente instrumento orientativo a la hora de decidir cómo gestionar las poblaciones de flora y fauna. Comparamos tres enfoques de modelos distintos para evaluar los efectos de una mayor cosecha en el crecimiento poblacional del ánsar nival (Chen caerulescens atlantica). Nuestro primer enfoque consiste en un modelo de matrices tradicional en el que se redujo la supervivencia a efectos de simular una mayor cosecha. Incluimos estocasticidad medioambiental en el modelo de proyección matricial simulando años buenos, medios y malos a efectos justificar la significativa variación interanual en la fecundidad y en la supervivencia durante el primer año, dado que constituyen una característica común de las aves que nidifican en el Ártico. Nuestro segundo enfoque se basa en la elasticidad (o sensibilidad relativa) de la tasa de crecimiento poblacional (lambda) con respecto a los cambios en la supervivencia como funciones simples del tiempo generacional. El tiempo generacional se obtuvo a partir de la matriz de transición media basada en la proporción observada de años buenos, medios y malos entre 1985 y 1998. Si suponemos que la mortalidad por caza se suma a la mortalidad natural, una fórmula simple predice cambios en la lambda como una función de cambios en la tasa de cosechas. El segundo enfoque puede considerarse como una simplificación del modelo de matrices, puesto que emplea resultados de sensibilidad formal derivados de la proyección poblacional. Nuestro tercer enfoque, de mayor alcance potencial, utiliza el filtro de Kalman para combinar información sobre parámetros demográficos; es decir, los mecanismos poblacionales resumidos en un modelo de matrices de transición, y la información censal (es decir, la inspección anual) en una probabilidad gaussiana general. La ventaja de este enfoque es que minimiza los procesos y las incertidumbres medidas que se asocian, tanto con el censo como con los parámetros demográficos basados en la varianza de cada estimación. El tercer enfoque, a diferencia del segundo, puede considerarse como una ampliación del modelo de matrices, combinando sus resultados con la información censal independiente

Crystal-to-crystal transition of ultrasoft colloids under shear

Ultrasoft colloids typically do not spontaneously crystallize, but rather vitrify, at high concentrations. Combining in-situ rheo-SANS experiments and numerical simulations we show that shear facilitates crystallization of colloidal star polymers in the vicinity of their glass transition. With increasing shear rate well beyond rheological yielding, a transition is found from an initial bcc-dominated structure to an fcc-dominated one. This crystal-to-crystal transition is not accompanied by intermediate melting but occurs via a sudden reorganization of the crystal structure. Our results provide a new avenue to tailor colloidal crystallization and crystal-to-crystal transition at molecular level by coupling softness and shear

Archiving Complex Digital Artworks

The transmission of the documentation of changes made in each presentation of an artwork and the motivation behind each display are of importance to the continued preservation, re-exhibition and future understanding of artworks. However, it is generally acknowledged that existing digital archiving and documentation systems used by many museums are not suitable for complex digital artworks. Looking for an approach that can easily be adjusted, shared and adopted by others, this article focusses on open-source alternatives that also enable collaborative working to facilitate the sharing and changing of information. As an interdisciplinary team of conservators, researchers, artists and programmers, the authors set out to explore and compare the functionalities of two systems featuring version control: MediaWiki and Git. We reflect on their technical details, virtues and shortcomings for archiving complex digital artworks, while looking at the potential they offer for collaborative workflows