Effect of the Canting of Local Anisotropy Axes on Ground-State Properties of a Ferrimagnetic Chain with Regularly Alternating Ising and Heisenberg Spins

The effect of the canting of local anisotropy axes on the ground-state phase diagram and magnetization of a ferrimagnetic chain with regularly alternating Ising and Heisenberg spins is exactly examined in an arbitrarily oriented magnetic field. It is shown that individual contributions of Ising and Heisenberg spins to the total magnetization basically depend on the spatial orientation of the magnetic field and the canting angle between two different local anisotropy axes of the Ising spins.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

On the rate of black hole binary mergers in galactic nuclei due to dynamical hardening

We assess the contribution of dynamical hardening by direct three-body scattering interactions to the rate of stellar-mass black hole binary (BHB) mergers in galactic nuclei. We derive an analytic model for the single-binary encounter rate in a nucleus with spherical and disk components hosting a super-massive black hole (SMBH). We determine the total number of encounters $N_{\rm GW}$ needed to harden a BHB to the point that inspiral due to gravitational wave emission occurs before the next three-body scattering event. This is done independently for both the spherical and disk components. Using a Monte Carlo approach, we refine our calculations for $N_{\rm GW}$ to include gravitational wave emission between scattering events. For astrophysically plausible models we find that typically $N_{\rm GW} \lesssim$ 10. We find two separate regimes for the efficient dynamical hardening of BHBs: (1) spherical star clusters with high central densities, low velocity dispersions and no significant Keplerian component; and (2) migration traps in disks around SMBHs lacking any significant spherical stellar component in the vicinity of the migration trap, which is expected due to effective orbital inclination reduction of any spherical population by the disk. We also find a weak correlation between the ratio of the second-order velocity moment to velocity dispersion in galactic nuclei and the rate of BHB mergers, where this ratio is a proxy for the ratio between the rotation- and dispersion-supported components. Because disks enforce planar interactions that are efficient in hardening BHBs, particularly in migration traps, they have high merger rates that can contribute significantly to the rate of BHB mergers detected by the advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Optimization Heuristics for Determining Internal Rating Grading Scales

Basel II imposes regulatory capital on banks related to the default risk of their credit portfolio. Banks using an internal rating approach compute the regulatory capital from pooled probabilities of default. These pooled probabilities can be calculated by clustering credit borrowers into different buckets and computing the mean PD for each bucket. The clustering problem can become very complex when Basel II regulations and real-world constraints are taken into account. Search heuristics have already proven remarkable performance in tackling this problem. A Threshold Accepting algorithm is proposed, which exploits the inherent discrete nature of the clustering problem. This algorithm is found to outperform alternative methodologies already proposed in the literature, such as standard k-means and Differential Evolution. Besides considering several clustering objectives for a given number of buckets, we extend the analysis further by introducing new methods to determine the optimal number of buckets in which to cluster banks’ clients

A nonextensive approach to the dynamics of financial observables

We present results about financial market observables, specifically returns and traded volumes. They are obtained within the current nonextensive statistical mechanical framework based on the entropy $S_{q}=k\frac{1-\sum\limits_{i=1}^{W} p_{i} ^{q}}{1-q} (q\in \Re)$ ($S_{1} \equiv S_{BG}=-k\sum\limits_{i=1}^{W}p_{i} \ln p_{i}$). More precisely, we present stochastic dynamical mechanisms which mimic probability density functions empirically observed. These mechanisms provide possible interpretations for the emergence of the entropic indices $q$ in the time evolution of the corresponding observables. In addition to this, through multi-fractal analysis of return time series, we verify that the dual relation $q_{stat}+q_{sens}=2$ is numerically satisfied, $q_{stat}$ and $q_{sens}$ being associated to the probability density function and to the sensitivity to initial conditions respectively. This type of simple relation, whose understanding remains ellusive, has been empirically verified in various other systems.Comment: Invited paper to appear in special issue of Eur. Phys. J. B dedicated to econophysics, edited by T. Di Matteo and T. Aste. 7 page

An extended-phase-space dynamics for the generalized nonextensive thermostatistics

We apply a variant of the Nose-Hoover thermostat to derive the Hamiltonian of a nonextensive system that is compatible with the canonical ensemble of the generalized thermostatistics of Tsallis. This microdynamical approach provides a deterministic connection between the generalized nonextensive entropy and power law behavior. For the case of a simple one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, we confirm by numerical simulation of the dynamics that the distribution of energy H follows precisely the canonical q-statistics for different values of the parameter q. The approach is further tested for classical many-particle systems by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that the intrinsic nonlinear features of the nonextensive formalism are capable to generate energy fluctuations that obey anomalous probability laws. For q<1 a broad distribution of energy is observed, while for q>1 the resulting distribution is confined to a compact support.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

A torque formula for non-isothermal Type I planetary migration - II. Effects of diffusion

We study the effects of diffusion on the non-linear corotation torque, or horseshoe drag, in the two-dimensional limit, focusing on low-mass planets for which the width of the horseshoe region is much smaller than the scale height of the disc. In the absence of diffusion, the non-linear corotation torque saturates, leaving only the Lindblad torque. Diffusion of heat and momentum can act to sustain the corotation torque. In the limit of very strong diffusion, the linear corotation torque is recovered. For the case of thermal diffusion, this limit corresponds to having a locally isothermal equation of state. We present some simple models that are able to capture the dependence of the torque on diffusive processes to within 20% of the numerical simulations.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA