Calculation of some determinants using the s-shifted factorial

Several determinants with gamma functions as elements are evaluated. This kind of determinants are encountered in the computation of the probability density of the determinant of random matrices. The s-shifted factorial is defined as a generalization for non-negative integers of the power function, the rising factorial (or Pochammer's symbol) and the falling factorial. It is a special case of polynomial sequence of the binomial type studied in combinatorics theory. In terms of the gamma function, an extension is defined for negative integers and even complex values. Properties, mainly composition laws and binomial formulae, are given. They are used to evaluate families of generalized Vandermonde determinants with s-shifted factorials as elements, instead of power functions.Comment: 25 pages; added section 5 for some examples of application

Using the Δ3\Delta_3 statistic to test for missed levels in mixed sequence neutron resonance data

The $\Delta_3(L)$ statistic is studied as a tool to detect missing levels in the neutron resonance data where 2 sequences are present. These systems are problematic because there is no level repulsion, and the resonances can be too close to resolve. $\Delta_3(L)$ is a measure of the fluctuations in the number of levels in an interval of length $L$ on the energy axis. The method used is tested on ensembles of mixed Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble (GOE) spectra, with a known fraction of levels ($x$) randomly depleted, and can accurately return $x$. The accuracy of the method as a function of spectrum size is established. The method is used on neutron resonance data for 11 isotopes with either s-wave neutrons on odd-A, or p-wave neutrons on even-A. The method compares favorably with a maximum likelihood method applied to the level spacing distribution. Nuclear Data Ensembles were made from 20 isotopes in total, and their $\Delta_3(L)$ statistic are discussed in the context of Random Matrix Theory.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, 4 table

Energy correlations for a random matrix model of disordered bosons

Linearizing the Heisenberg equations of motion around the ground state of an interacting quantum many-body system, one gets a time-evolution generator in the positive cone of a real symplectic Lie algebra. The presence of disorder in the physical system determines a probability measure with support on this cone. The present paper analyzes a discrete family of such measures of exponential type, and does so in an attempt to capture, by a simple random matrix model, some generic statistical features of the characteristic frequencies of disordered bosonic quasi-particle systems. The level correlation functions of the said measures are shown to be those of a determinantal process, and the kernel of the process is expressed as a sum of bi-orthogonal polynomials. While the correlations in the bulk scaling limit are in accord with sine-kernel or GUE universality, at the low-frequency end of the spectrum an unusual type of scaling behavior is found.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures, references adde

Probability density of determinants of random matrices

In this brief paper the probability density of a random real, complex and quaternion determinant is rederived using singular values. The behaviour of suitably rescaled random determinants is studied in the limit of infinite order of the matrices

Improved Perturbation Theory for Improved Lattice Actions

We study a systematic improvement of perturbation theory for gauge fields on the lattice; the improvement entails resumming, to all orders in the coupling constant, a dominant subclass of tadpole diagrams. This method, originally proposed for the Wilson gluon action, is extended here to encompass all possible gluon actions made of closed Wilson loops; any fermion action can be employed as well. The effect of resummation is to replace various parameters in the action (coupling constant, Symanzik coefficients, clover coefficient) by ``dressed'' values; the latter are solutions to certain coupled integral equations, which are easy to solve numerically. Some positive features of this method are: a) It is gauge invariant, b) it can be systematically applied to improve (to all orders) results obtained at any given order in perturbation theory, c) it does indeed absorb in the dressed parameters the bulk of tadpole contributions. Two different applications are presented: The additive renormalization of fermion masses, and the multiplicative renormalization Z_V (Z_A) of the vector (axial) current. In many cases where non-perturbative estimates of renormalization functions are also available for comparison, the agreement with improved perturbative results is significantly better as compared to results from bare perturbation theory.Comment: 17 pages, 3 tables, 6 figure

Density of critical points for a Gaussian random function

Critical points of a scalar quantitiy are either extremal points or saddle points. The character of the critical points is determined by the sign distribution of the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix. For a two-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic random function topological arguments are sufficient to show that all possible sign combinations are equidistributed or with other words, the density of the saddle points and extrema agree. This argument breaks down in three dimensions. All ratios of the densities of saddle points and extrema larger than one are possible. For a homogeneous Gaussian random field one finds no longer an equidistribution of signs, saddle points are slightly more frequent.Comment: 11 pages 1 figure, changes in list of references, corrected typo

Application of the Trace Formula in Pseudointegrable Systems

We apply periodic-orbit theory to calculate the integrated density of states $N(k)$ from the periodic orbits of pseudointegrable polygon and barrier billiards. We show that the results agree so well with the results obtained from direct diagonalization of the Schr\"odinger equation, that about the first 100 eigenvalues can be obtained directly from the periodic-orbit calculations in good accuracy.Comment: 5 Pages, 4 Figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Analysis of the separated boundary layer flow on the surface and in the wake of blunt trailing edge airfoils

The viscous flow phenomena associated with sharp and blunt trailing edge airfoils were investigated. Experimental measurements were obtained for a 17 percent thick, high performance GAW-1 airfoil. Experimental measurements consist of velocity and static pressure profiles which were obtained by the use of forward and reverse total pressure probes and disc type static pressure probes over the surface and in the wake of sharp and blunt trailing edge airfoils. Measurements of the upper surface boundary layer were obtained in both the attached and separated flow regions. In addition, static pressure data were acquired, and skin friction on the airfoil upper surface was measured with a specially constructed device. Comparison of the viscous flow data with data previously obtained elsewhere indicates reasonable agreement in the attached flow region. In the separated flow region, considerable differences exist between these two sets of measurements

Sensitivity of the structure of untripped mixing layers to small changes in initial conditions

An experimental study was conducted concerning the influence of small changes in initial conditions on the near- and far-field evolution of the three-dimensional structure of a plan mixing layer. A two-stream mixing layer with a velocity ratio of 0.6 was generated with the initial boundary layers on the splitter plate laminar and was nominally two-dimensional. The initial conditions were changed slightly by interchanging the high- and low-speed sides of the wind tunnel, while maintaining the same velocities, and hence velocity ratio. This resulted in small changes in the initial boundary layer properties, and the perturbations present in the boundary layers were interchanged between the high- and low-speed sides for the two cases. The results indicate that, even with this relatively minor change in initial conditions, the near-field regions of the two cases differ significantly. The peak Reynolds stress levels in the near-field differ by up to 100 percent, and this is attributed to a difference in the location of the initial spanwise vortex roll-up. In addition, the positions and shapes of the individual streamwise vortical structures differ for the two cases, although the overall structures differ for the two cases, although the overall qualitative description of these structures is comparable. The subsequent reorganization and decay of the streamwise vortical structures is very similar for the two cases. As a result, in the far field, both mixing layers achieve similar structure, yielding comparable growth rates, Reynolds stress, distribution, and spectral content

Competition and cooperation:aspects of dynamics in sandpiles

In this article, we review some of our approaches to granular dynamics, now well known to consist of both fast and slow relaxational processes. In the first case, grains typically compete with each other, while in the second, they cooperate. A typical result of {\it cooperation} is the formation of stable bridges, signatures of spatiotemporal inhomogeneities; we review their geometrical characteristics and compare theoretical results with those of independent simulations. {\it Cooperative} excitations due to local density fluctuations are also responsible for relaxation at the angle of repose; the {\it competition} between these fluctuations and external driving forces, can, on the other hand, result in a (rare) collapse of the sandpile to the horizontal. Both these features are present in a theory reviewed here. An arena where the effects of cooperation versus competition are felt most keenly is granular compaction; we review here a random graph model, where three-spin interactions are used to model compaction under tapping. The compaction curve shows distinct regions where 'fast' and 'slow' dynamics apply, separated by what we have called the {\it single-particle relaxation threshold}. In the final section of this paper, we explore the effect of shape -- jagged vs. regular -- on the compaction of packings near their jamming limit. One of our major results is an entropic landscape that, while microscopically rough, manifests {\it Edwards' flatness} at a macroscopic level. Another major result is that of surface intermittency under low-intensity shaking.Comment: 36 pages, 23 figures, minor correction