The localization effect for eigenfunctions of the mixed boundary value problem in a thin cylinder with distorted ends

A simple sufficient condition on curved end of a straight cylinder is found that provides a localization of the principal eigenfunction of the mixed boundary value for the Laplace operator with the Dirichlet conditions on the lateral side. Namely, the eigenfunction concentrates in the vicinity of the ends and decays exponentially in the interior. Similar effects are observed in the Dirichlet and Neumann problems, too.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure

Reconciling dark energy models with f(R) theories

Higher order theories of gravity have recently attracted a lot of interest as alternative candidates to explain the observed cosmic acceleration without the need of introducing any scalar field. A critical ingredient is the choice of the function f(R) of the Ricci scalar curvature entering the gravity Lagrangian and determining the dynamics of the universe. We describe an efficient procedure to reconstruct f(R) from the Hubble parameter $H$ depending on the redshift z. Using the metric formulation of f(R) theories, we derive a third order linear differential equation for f(R(z)) which can be numerically solved after setting the boundary conditions on the basis of physical considerations. Since H(z) can be reconstructed from the astrophysical data, the method we present makes it possible to determine, in principle, what is the f(R) theory which best reproduces the observed cosmological dynamics. Moreover, the method allows to reconcile dark energy models with f(R) theories finding out what is the expression of f(R) which leads to the same H(z) of the given quintessence model. As interesting examples, we consider "quiessence" (dark energy with constant equation of state) and the Chaplygin gas.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication on Physical Review

Water-waves modes trapped in a canal by a body with the rough surface

The problem about a body in a three dimensional infinite channel is considered in the framework of the theory of linear water-waves. The body has a rough surface characterized by a small parameter $\epsilon>0$ while the distance of the body to the water surface is also of order $\epsilon$. Under a certain symmetry assumption, the accumulation effect for trapped mode frequencies is established, namely, it is proved that, for any given $d>0$ and integer $N>0$, there exists $\epsilon(d,N)>0$ such that the problem has at least $N$ eigenvalues in the interval $(0,d)$ of the continuous spectrum in the case $\epsilon\in(0,\epsilon(d,N))$. The corresponding eigenfunctions decay exponentially at infinity, have finite energy, and imply trapped modes.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figure

Scalar boundary value problems on junctions of thin rods and plates. I. Asymptotic analysis and error estimates

We derive asymptotic formulas for the solutions of the mixed boundary value problem for the Poisson equation on the union of a thin cylindrical plate and several thin cylindrical rods. One of the ends of each rod is set into a hole in the plate and the other one is supplied with the Dirichlet condition. The Neumann conditions are imposed on the whole remaining part of the boundary. Elements of the junction are assumed to have contrasting properties so that the small parameter, i.e. the relative thickness, appears in the differential equation, too, while the asymptotic structures crucially depend on the contrastness ratio. Asymptotic error estimates are derived in anisotropic weighted Sobolev norms.Comment: 34 pages, 4 figure

Cosmography of f(R) gravity

It is nowadays accepted that the universe is undergoing a phase of accelerated expansion as tested by the Hubble diagram of Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa) and several LSS observations. Future SNeIa surveys and other probes will make it possible to better characterize the dynamical state of the universe renewing the interest in cosmography which allows a model independent analysis of the distance - redshift relation. On the other hand, fourth order theories of gravity, also referred to as $f(R)$ gravity, have attracted a lot of interest since they could be able to explain the accelerated expansion without any dark energy. We show here how it is possible to relate the cosmographic parameters (namely the deceleration $q_0$, the jerk $j_0$, the snap $s_0$ and the lerk $l_0$ parameters) to the present day values of $f(R)$ and its derivatives $f^{(n)}(R) = d^nf/dR^n$ (with $n = 1, 2, 3$) thus offering a new tool to constrain such higher order models. Our analysis thus offers the possibility to relate the model independent results coming from cosmography to the theoretically motivated assumptions of $f(R)$ cosmology.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure