A Computationally Efficient Limited Memory CMA-ES for Large Scale Optimization

We propose a computationally efficient limited memory Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy for large scale optimization, which we call the LM-CMA-ES. The LM-CMA-ES is a stochastic, derivative-free algorithm for numerical optimization of non-linear, non-convex optimization problems in continuous domain. Inspired by the limited memory BFGS method of Liu and Nocedal (1989), the LM-CMA-ES samples candidate solutions according to a covariance matrix reproduced from $m$ direction vectors selected during the optimization process. The decomposition of the covariance matrix into Cholesky factors allows to reduce the time and memory complexity of the sampling to $O(mn)$, where $n$ is the number of decision variables. When $n$ is large (e.g., $n$ > 1000), even relatively small values of $m$ (e.g., $m=20,30$) are sufficient to efficiently solve fully non-separable problems and to reduce the overall run-time.Comment: Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO'2014) (2014

Suitability of commercially available laboratory cryogenic refrigerators to support shipboard electro-optical systems in the 10 - 77 Kelvin region

The primary development of cryogenically cooled infrared systems was accomplished by FLIR systems designed for airborne, passive night vision. Essential to the development of these FLIR systems was a family of closed cycle refrigerators which had to meet a limited envelope requirement, utilize a nonlubricated compressor module, and be light in weight. Closed cycle refrigerators accomplished the same cooling function, they use modified oil lubricated reciprocating compressors which are limited in their axis of orientation to an angle of approximately 15-20 degrees maximum from horizon

Many-body interactions and correlations in coarse-grained descriptions of polymer solutions

We calculate the two, three, four, and five-body (state independent) effective potentials between the centers of mass (CM) of self avoiding walk polymers by Monte-Carlo simulations. For full overlap, these coarse-grained n-body interactions oscillate in sign as (-1)^n, and decrease in absolute magnitude with increasing n. We find semi-quantitative agreement with a scaling theory, and use this to discuss how the coarse-grained free energy converges when expanded to arbitrary order in the many-body potentials. We also derive effective {\em density dependent} 2-body potentials which exactly reproduce the pair-correlations between the CM of the self avoiding walk polymers. The density dependence of these pair potentials can be largely understood from the effects of the {\em density independent} 3-body potential. Triplet correlations between the CM of the polymers are surprisingly well, but not exactly, described by our coarse-grained effective pair potential picture. In fact, we demonstrate that a pair-potential cannot simultaneously reproduce the two and three body correlations in a system with many-body interactions. However, the deviations that do occur in our system are very small, and can be explained by the direct influence of 3-body potentials.Comment: 11 pages, 1 table, 9 figures, RevTeX (revtex.cls

Constraining neutrino physics with BBN and CMBR

We perform a likelihood analysis of the recent results on the anisotropy of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation from the BOOMERanG and DASI experiments to show that they single out an effective number of neutrinos in good agreement with standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. We also consider degenerate Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to provide new bounds on effective relativistic degrees of freedom $N_\nu$ and, in particular, on neutrino chemical potential $\xi_\alpha$. When including Supernova Ia data we find, at $2\sigma$, $N_\nu \leq 7$ and $-0.01 \leq \xi_e \leq 0.22$, $|\xi_{\mu,\tau}|\leq 2.6$.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, some reference adde

Tolerance and Sensitivity in the Fuse Network

We show that depending on the disorder, a small noise added to the threshold distribution of the fuse network may or may not completely change the subsequent breakdown process. When the threshold distribution has a lower cutoff at a finite value and a power law dependence towards large thresholds with an exponent which is less than $0.16\pm0.03$, the network is not sensitive to the added noise, otherwise it is. The transition between sensitivity or not appears to be second order, and is related to a localization-delocalization transition earlier observed in such systems.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures available upon request, plain Te

Why does the Jeans Swindle work?

When measuring the mass profile of any given cosmological structure through internal kinematics, the distant background density is always ignored. This trick is often refereed to as the "Jeans Swindle". Without this trick a divergent term from the background density renders the mass profile undefined, however, this trick has no formal justification. We show that when one includes the expansion of the Universe in the Jeans equation, a term appears which exactly cancels the divergent term from the background. We thereby establish a formal justification for using the Jeans Swindle.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Effective-range approach and scaling laws for electromagnetic strength in neutron-halo nuclei

We study low-lying multipole strength in neutron-halo nuclei. The strength depends only on a few low-energy constants: the neutron separation energy, the asymptotic normalization coefficient of the bound state wave function, and the scattering length that contains the information on the interaction in the continuum. The shape of the transition probability shows a characteristic dependence on few scaling parameters and the angular momenta. The total E1 strength is related to the root-mean-square radius of the neutron wave function in the ground state and shows corresponding scaling properties. We apply our approach to the E1 strength distribution of 11Be.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure (modified), additional table, extended discussion of example, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Energy Dependence of Breakup Cross Sections of Halo Nucleus 8B and Effective Interactions

We study the energy dependence of the cross sections for nucleon removal of 8B projectiles. It is shown that the Glauber model calculations with nucleon-nucleon t-matrix reproduce well the energy dependence of the breakup cross sections of 8B. A DWBA model for the breakup cross section is also proposed and results are compared with those of the Glauber model. We show that to obtain an agreement between the DWBA calculations, the Glauber formalism, and the experimental data, it is necessary to modify the energy behavior of the effective interaction. In particular, the breakup potential has a quite different energy dependence than the strong absorption potential.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Density profiles and surface tensions of polymers near colloidal surfaces

The surface tension of interacting polymers in a good solvent is calculated theoretically and by computer simulations for a planar wall geometry and for the insertion of a single colloidal hard-sphere. This is achieved for the planar wall and for the larger spheres by an adsorption method, and for smaller spheres by a direct insertion technique. Results for the dilute and semi-dilute regimes are compared to results for ideal polymers, the Asakura-Oosawa penetrable-sphere model, and to integral equations, scaling and renormalization group theories. The largest relative changes with density are found in the dilute regime, so that theories based on non-interacting polymers rapidly break down. A recently developed ``soft colloid'' approach to polymer-colloid mixtures is shown to correctly describe the one-body insertion free-energy and the related surface tension