36,897 research outputs found
Quantum localized modes in capacitively coupled Josephson junctions
We consider the quantum dynamics of excitations in a system of two
capacitively coupled Josephson junctions. Quantum breather states are found in
the middle of the energy spectrum of the confined nonescaping states of the
system. They are characterized by a strong excitation of one junction. These
states perform slow tunneling motion from one junction to the other, while
keeping their coherent nature. The tunneling time sensitively depends on the
initial excitation energy. By using an external bias as a control parameter,
the tunneling time can be varied with respect to the escape time and the
experimentally limited coherence time. Thus one can control the flow of quantum
excitations between the two junctions.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Improved version, title was slightly changed.
Accepted in Europhysics Letters (http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/EPL
Explosive synchronization with partial degree-frequency correlation
Networks of Kuramoto oscillators with a positive correlation between the
oscillators frequencies and the degree of the their corresponding vertices
exhibits the so-called explosive synchronization behavior, which is now under
intensive investigation. Here, we study and report explosive synchronization in
a situation that has not yet been considered, namely when only a part,
typically small, of the vertices is subjected to a degree frequency
correlation. Our results show that in order to have explosive synchronization,
it suffices to have degree-frequency correlations only for the hubs, the
vertices with the highest degrees. Moreover, we show that a partial
degree-frequency correlation does not only promotes but also allows explosive
synchronization to happen in networks for which a full degree-frequency
correlation would not allow it. We perform exhaustive numerical experiments for
synthetic networks and also for the undirected and unweighted version of the
neural network of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. The latter is an explicit
example where partial degree-frequency correlation leads to explosive
synchronization with hysteresis, in contrast with the fully correlated case,
for which no explosive synchronization is observed.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, final version to appear in PR
Optimal synchronization of Kuramoto oscillators: a dimensional reduction approach
A recently proposed dimensional reduction approach for studying
synchronization in the Kuramoto model is employed to build optimal network
topologies to favor or to suppress synchronization. The approach is based in
the introduction of a collective coordinate for the time evolution of the phase
locked oscillators, in the spirit of the Ott-Antonsen ansatz. We show that the
optimal synchronization of a Kuramoto network demands the maximization of the
quadratic function , where stands for the vector of
the natural frequencies of the oscillators, and for the network Laplacian
matrix. Many recently obtained numerical results can be re-obtained
analytically and in a simpler way from our maximization condition. A
computationally efficient {hill climb} rewiring algorithm is proposed to
generate networks with optimal synchronization properties. Our approach can be
easily adapted to the case of the Kuramoto models with both attractive and
repulsive interactions, and again many recent numerical results can be
rederived in a simpler and clearer analytical manner.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, final version to appear in PR
Quantum breathers in capacitively coupled Josephson junctions: Correlations, number conservation, and entanglement
We consider the classical and quantum dynamics of excitations in a system of
two capacitively coupled Josephson junctions. In the classical case the
equations of motion admit discrete breather solutions, which are time periodic
and localized predominantly on one of the junctions. In the quantum case
breather states are found in the central part of the energy spectrum of the
confined nonescaping states of the system. We perform a systematic analysis of
their tunneling frequency, site correlations, fluctuations of the number of
quanta, and entanglement. Quantum breather states show strong site correlation
of quanta and are characterized by a strong excitation of quanta on one
junction which perform slow coherent tunneling motion from one junction to the
other. They suppress fluctuations of the total number of excited quanta.
Quantum breather states are the least entangled states among the group of
eigenstates in the same range of the energy spectrum. We describe how quantum
breather excitations could be experimentally observed by employing the already
developed techniques for quantum information processing using Josephson
junctions.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Improved version with further discussions.
Accepted in Physical Review
Discontinuous Almost Automorphic Functions and Almost Automorphic Solutions of Differential Equations with Piecewise Constant Argument
In this article we introduce a class of discontinuous almost automorphic
functions which appears naturally in the study of almost automorphic solutions
of differential equations with piecewise constant argument. Their fundamental
properties are used to prove the almost automorphicity of bounded solutions of
a system of differential equations with piecewise constant argument. Due to the
strong discrete character of these equations, the existence of a unique
discrete almost automorphic solution of a non-autonomous almost automorphic
difference system is obtained, for which conditions of exponential dichotomy
and discrete Bi-almost automorphicity are fundamental
Modelling a layer for real-time management of interactions in web based distance learning
In the last few years, the University of Aveiro, Portugal, has been offering several distance learning courses
over the Web, using e-learning platforms.
Experience showed that different editions of a same course, using the same contents and structure, and having
similar target learners, had different success rates. What would be the reason for that?
A hypothesis was considered: The level of success could be directly related with the remote follow-up of the
learners’ participation in the courses; the best results usually occur when the follow-up is closer.
The existing e-learning platforms offer and the standardization works being developed by organizations and
consortiums like IMS (IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc), ADL SCORM (Advanced Distributed Learning
Sherable Content Object Reference Model), IEEE LTSC LOM (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Learning Technologies Standard Committee Learning Object Metadata), ARIADNE (ARIADNE Foundation
for the European Knowledge Pool), AICC CMI (Aviation Industry CBT Committee Computer Managed
Instruction), etc, don’t cover the course monitorization concerns mentioned. Those projects were focused on
aspects like contents and its delivery in the context of the execution of the courses’ activities. This is even
true in the SCORM project that doesn’t include any reference to the management of the e-learning processes.
Recently, in the context of the IMS Global Consortium, a new project designated IMS LD (Learning Design) is
under development, providing a framework for the description of learning units under a three level model. In
the most recently defined level, the C level, some functionalities related to notifications were proposed,
expressing similar concerns to the ones that triggered our research. However, the extent at which IMS LD
takes the functionalities is, from our point of view, not complete.
This article describes a proposal of a reference model and functionalities towards a specification of a layer for
real-time management of user interactions on LMSs, and its possible integration with the ADL SCORM
standard proposal. The paper includes a discussion of the management metadata model for the LMS
sub-system and how the integration of the management module under SCORM may be achieved
Enhancing web supported learning in higher education by adding a management layer to LMSs
There are many situations in the e-Learning experiences
that can compromise the success of the courses. Many
times simple reasons are great enough to motivate people
to abandon them. For example, if someone does not
execute a programmed activity inside the defined window
of time, it can compromise the rest of the course to that
person. In such situations it would be important that the
teacher knew about the situation in useful time, to be able
to take any corrective action.
Another example could be presented, involving the
professor and the learners. Let us assume that an activity
A2 is programmed to be executed by the learners and that
it depends on the previous knowledge of the result of the
evaluation of a work submitted by the learners to the
teacher (activity A1). If the teacher doesn’t inform the
learners about their classification in useful time, that can
compromise the execution of the activity A2.
It seems to be necessary to use mechanisms of automatic
management, in real time, of the envolvement of each
participant in a distance learning course using LMS
(Learning Management System). Such a functionality
allows the detection of deviations to the scheduled
activities planned for each actor. If it is the case, the
referred mechanism can initiate the process of sending
notifications to the relevant entities, enabling the
correction of these deviations.
Several organizations and consortiuns, involving the
industry, governmental institutions and universities, are
developing projects of standardization. It seemed
important to us to see how the referred aspects were
covered by those projects, and to perceive how it could be
possible to articulate our work with the ones that are
available from these organizations and consortiuns.
This article describes the work that the authors are
developing towards the specification of a layer for
real-time management of user interactions with LMSs,
during the operationalization of a course, and also
includes a management meta-data model, related to that
management layer
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