Teaching statistical physics by thinking about models and algorithms

We discuss several ways of illustrating fundamental concepts in statistical and thermal physics by considering various models and algorithms. We emphasize the importance of replacing students' incomplete mental images by models that are physically accurate. In some cases it is sufficient to discuss the results of an algorithm or the behavior of a model rather than having students write a program.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, submitted to the American Journal of Physic

Turbulence characteristics of an axisymmetric reacting flow

Turbulent sudden expansion flows are of significant theoretical and practical importance. Such flows have been the subject of extensive analytical and experimental study for decades, but many issues are still unresolved. Detailed information on reacting sudden expansion flows is very limited, since suitable measurement techniques have only been available in recent years. The present study of reacting flow in an axisymmetric sudden expansion was initiated under NASA support in December 1983. It is an extension of a reacting flow program which has been carried out with Air Force support under Contract F33615-81-K-2003. Since the present effort has just begun, results are not yet available. Therefore a brief overview of results from the Air Force program will be presented to indicate the basis for the work to be carried out

Using constraint preconditioners with regularized saddle-point problems

The problem of finding good preconditioners for the numerical solution of a certain important class of indefinite linear systems is considered. These systems are of a 2 by 2 block (KKT) structure in which the (2,2) block (denoted by -C) is assumed to be nonzero. In Constraint preconditioning for indefinite linear systems , SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl., 21 (2000), Keller, Gould and Wathen introduced the idea of using constraint preconditioners that have a specific 2 by 2 block structure for the case of C being zero. We shall give results concerning the spectrum and form of the eigenvectors when a preconditioner of the form considered by Keller, Gould and Wathen is used but the system we wish to solve may have C \neq 0 . In particular, the results presented here indicate clustering of eigenvalues and, hence, faster convergence of Krylov subspace iterative methods when the entries of C are small; such situations arise naturally in interior point methods for optimization and we present results for such problems which validate our conclusions.\ud \ud The first author's work was supported by the OUCL Doctorial Training Accoun

Nonequilibrium phase transitions and tricriticality in a three-dimensional lattice system with random-field competing kinetics

We study a nonequilibrium Ising model that stochastically evolves under the simultaneous operation of several spin-flip mechanisms. In other words, the local magnetic fields change sign randomly with time due to competing kinetics. This dynamics models a fast and random diffusion of disorder that takes place in dilute metallic alloys when magnetic ions diffuse. We performe Monte Carlo simulations on cubic lattices up to L=60. The system exhibits ferromagnetic and paramagnetic steady states. Our results predict first-order transitions at low temperatures and large disorder strengths, which correspond to the existence of a nonequilibrium tricritical point at finite temperature. By means of standard finite-size scaling equations, we estimate the critical exponents in the low-field region, for which our simulations uphold continuous phase transitions.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Alternative criterion for two-dimensional wrapping percolation

Based on the differences between a spanning cluster and a wrapping cluster, an alternative criterion for testing wrapping percolation is provided for two-dimensional lattices. By following the Newman-Ziff method, the finite size scaling of estimates for percolation thresholds are given. The results are consistent with those from Machta's method.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Graded reflection equation algebras and integrable Kondo impurities in the one-dimensional t-J model

Integrable Kondo impurities in two cases of the one-dimensional $t-J$ model are studied by means of the boundary ${\bf Z}_2$-graded quantum inverse scattering method. The boundary $K$ matrices depending on the local magnetic moments of the impurities are presented as nontrivial realizations of the reflection equation algebras in an impurity Hilbert space. Furthermore, these models are solved by using the algebraic Bethe ansatz method and the Bethe ansatz equations are obtained.Comment: 14 pages, RevTe

A dc to dc converter

The object of the invention is to provide an improved converter for converting one direct current voltage to another. A plurality of phased square wave voltages are provided from a ring counter through amplifiers to a like plurality of output transformers. Each of these transformers has two windings, and S(1) winding and an S(2) winding. The S(1) windings are connected in series, then the S(2) windings are connected in series, and finally, the two sets of windings are connected in series. One of six SCRs is connected between each two series connected windings to a positive output terminal and one of diodes is connected between each set of two windings of a zero output terminal. By virtue of this configuration, a quite high average direct current voltage is obtained, which varies between full voltage and two-thirds full voltage rather than from full voltage to zero. Further, its variation, ripple frequency, is reduced to one-sixth of that present in a single phase system. Application to raising battery voltage for an ion propulsion system is mentioned