Approximating Loops in a Shortest Homology Basis from Point Data

Inference of topological and geometric attributes of a hidden manifold from its point data is a fundamental problem arising in many scientific studies and engineering applications. In this paper we present an algorithm to compute a set of loops from a point data that presumably sample a smooth manifold $M\subset \mathbb{R}^d$. These loops approximate a {\em shortest} basis of the one dimensional homology group $H_1(M)$ over coefficients in finite field $\mathbb{Z}_2$. Previous results addressed the issue of computing the rank of the homology groups from point data, but there is no result on approximating the shortest basis of a manifold from its point sample. In arriving our result, we also present a polynomial time algorithm for computing a shortest basis of $H_1(K)$ for any finite {\em simplicial complex} $K$ whose edges have non-negative weights

Evidence for A Two-dimensional Quantum Wigner Solid in Zero Magnetic Field

We report the first experimental observation of a characteristic nonlinear threshold behavior from dc dynamical response as an evidence for a Wigner crystallization in high-purity GaAs 2D hole systems in zero magnetic field. The system under increasing current drive exhibits voltage oscillations with negative differential resistance. They confirm the coexistence of a moving crystal along with striped edge states as observed for electrons on helium surfaces. However, the threshold is well below the typical classical levels due to a different pinning and depinning mechanism that is possibly related to a quantum process

Approximation of Random Slow Manifolds and Settling of Inertial Particles under Uncertainty

A method is provided for approximating random slow manifolds of a class of slow-fast stochastic dynamical systems. Thus approximate, low dimensional, reduced slow systems are obtained analytically in the case of sufficiently large time scale separation. To illustrate this dimension reduction procedure, the impact of random environmental fluctuations on the settling motion of inertial particles in a cellular flow field is examined. It is found that noise delays settling for some particles but enhances settling for others. A deterministic stable manifold is an agent to facilitate this phenomenon. Overall, noise appears to delay the settling in an averaged sense.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figure