The ultimate tactics of self-referential systems

Mathematics is usually regarded as a kind of language. The essential behavior of physical phenomena can be expressed by mathematical laws, providing descriptions and predictions. In the present essay I argue that, although mathematics can be seen, in a first approach, as a language, it goes beyond this concept. I conjecture that mathematics presents two extreme features, denoted here by {\sl irreducibility} and {\sl insaturation}, representing delimiters for self-referentiality. These features are then related to physical laws by realizing that nature is a self-referential system obeying bounds similar to those respected by mathematics. Self-referential systems can only be autonomous entities by a kind of metabolism that provides and sustains such an autonomy. A rational mind, able of consciousness, is a manifestation of the self-referentiality of the Universe. Hence mathematics is here proposed to go beyond language by actually representing the most fundamental existence condition for self-referentiality. This idea is synthesized in the form of a principle, namely, that {\sl mathematics is the ultimate tactics of self-referential systems to mimic themselves}. That is, well beyond an effective language to express the physical world, mathematics uncovers a deep manifestation of the autonomous nature of the Universe, wherein the human brain is but an instance.Comment: 9 pages. This essay received the 4th. Prize in the 2015 FQXi essay contest: "Trick or Truth: the Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics

Chebyshev expansion for the component functions of the Almost-Mathieu Operator

The component functions {Ψn(∈)} (n ∈ Z+) from difference Schrödinger operators, can be formulated in a second order linear difference equation. Then the Harper equation, associated to almost-Mathieu operator, is a prototypical example. Its spectral behavior is amazing. Here, due the cosine coefficient in Harper equation, the component functions are expanded in a Chebyshev series of first kind, Tn(cos2πθ). It permits us a particular method for the θ variable separation. Thus, component functions can be expressed as an inner product, Ψn(, λ, θ) = _T [ n(n−1) 2 ] (cos2πθ) • _A [ n(n−1) 2 ] (_, λ). A matrix block transference method is applied for the calculation of the vector _A [ n(n−1) 2 ] (_, λ). When θ is integer, Ψn(_) is the sum of component from _A [ n(n−1) 2 ]. The complete family of Chebyshev Polynomials can be generated, with fit initial conditions. The continuous spectrum is one band with Lebesgue measure equal to 4. When θ is not integer the inner product Ψn can be seen as a perturbation of vector _T [ n(n−1) 2 ] on the sum of components from the vector _A [ n(n−1) 2 ]. When θ = p q , with p and q coprime, periodic perturbation appears, the connected band from the integer case degenerates in q sub-bands. When θ is irrational, ergodic perturbation produces that one band spectrum from integer case degenerates to a Cantor set. Lebesgue measure is Lσ = 4(1 − |λ|), 0 < |λ| ≤ 1. In this situation, the series solution becomes critical

Reflections on Evil

This is the text of The Lindley Lecture for 1973, given by Albert Hofstadter (1910-1989), an American philosopher

The Cool Spread: Hedging Natural Gas - LNG Price Movements

The launch of liquified natural gas futures in May of 2017 on a major exchange follows a dramatic increase in global demand for the energy source. The profit of firms that produce LNG, known as transformers, is driven by the spread between the price of natural gas and LNG. With the launch of LNG futures, transformers now have the ability to hedge their exposure to this spread, similar to oil refiners hedging the crack spread. This paper proposes three hedging strategies transformers can utilize to limit their exposure to natural gas and LNG price movements. Using second-order lower partial moments (LPM2) as a measure for hedging effectiveness, this paper will show that transformers who do not hedge their exposure to the spread perform better than those who employ any of the proposed strategies, a result driven in part by 2017 market conditions

Design study for LANDSAT D attitude control system

A design and performance evaluation is presented for the LANDSAT D attitude control system (ACS). Control and configuration of the gimballed Ku-band antenna system for communication with the tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS). Control of the solar array drive considered part of the ACS is also addressed

Metal insulator transition in modulated quantum Hall systems

The quantum Hall effect is studied numerically in modulated two-dimensional electron systems in the presence of disorder. Based on the scaling property of the Hall conductivity as well as the localization length, the critical energies where the states are extended are identified. We find that the critical energies, which are distributed to each of the subbands, combine into one when the disorder becomes strong, in the way depending on the symmetry of the disorder and/or the periodic potential.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physica