Interstate variation in welfare benefits and the migration of the poor: Substantive concerns and symbolic responses

Nearly all states are thinking about reforming their welfare systems, and several states--particularly those that offer high welfare benefits--are taking action. A major concern is that poor people are moving to high- benefit states in order to receive the benefits offered by those states. It is unclear, however, if this "welfare migration" is extensive enough to break the budgets of high-benefit states. Nevertheless, legislators in those states are seeking to stop it, usually through two-tier benefit schedules whereby new arrivals to a state are temporarily paid the welfare benefits they would have received had they remained in their original state. The authors discuss the extent to which two-tier benefit schedules represent substantive reform or symbolic action. In their estimation, current strategies for welfare reform fail to address the causes of poverty and welfare dependency and may only intensify the antagonism many Americans feel toward the poor.

Diffusion in a Time-dependent External Field

The problem of diffusion in a time-dependent (and generally inhomogeneous) external field is considered on the basis of a generalized master equation with two times, introduced in [1,2]. We consider the case of the quasi Fokker-Planck approximation, when the probability transition function for diffusion (PTD-function) does not possess a long tail in coordinate space and can be expanded as a function of instantaneous displacements. The more complicated case of long tails in the PTD will be discussed separately. We also discuss diffusion on the basis of hydrodynamic and kinetic equations and show the validity of the phenomenological approach. A new type of "collision" integral is introduced for the description of diffusion in a system of particles, which can transfer from a moving state to the rest state (with some waiting time distribution). The solution of the appropriate kinetic equation in the external field also confirms the phenomenological approach of the generalized master equation.Comment: 18 pages, no figure

On anomalous diffusion in a plasma in velocity space

The problem of anomalous diffusion in momentum space is considered for plasma-like systems on the basis of a new collision integral, which is appropriate for consideration of the probability transition function (PTF) with long tails in momentum space. The generalized Fokker-Planck equation for description of diffusion (in momentum space) of particles (ions, grains etc.) in a stochastic system of light particles (electrons, or electrons and ions, respectively) is applied to the evolution of the momentum particle distribution in a plasma. In a plasma the developed approach is also applicable to the diffusion of particles with an arbitrary mass relation, due to the small characteristic momentum transfer. The cases of an exponentially decreasing in momentum space (including the Boltzmann-like) kernel in the PT-function, as well as the more general kernels, which create the anomalous diffusion in velocity space due to the long tail in the PT-function, are considered. Effective friction and diffusion coefficients for plasma-like systems are found.Comment: 18 pages, no figure

Anomalous Transport in Velocity Space, from Fokker-Planck to General Equation

The problem of anomalous diffusion in momentum (velocity) space is considered based on the master equation and the appropriate probability transition function (PTF). The approach recently developed by the author for coordinate space, is applied with necessary modifications to velocity space. A new general equation for the time evolution of the momentum distribution function in momentum space is derived. This allows the solution of various problems of anomalous transport when the probability transition function (PTF) has a long tail in momentum space. For the opposite cases of the PTF rapidly decreasing as a function of transfer momenta (when large transfer momenta are strongly suppressed), the developed approach allows us to consider strongly non-equilibrium cases of the system evolution. The stationary and non-stationary solutions are studied. As an example, the particular case of the Boltzmann-type PT-function for collisions of heavy and light particles with the determined (prescribed) distribution function, which can be strongly non-equilibrium, is considered within the proposed general approach. The appropriate diffusion and friction coefficients are found. The Einstein relation between the friction and diffusion coefficients is shown to be violated in these cases.Comment: 23 pages, 0 figure

Automatic eduction and statistical analysis of coherent structures in the wall region of a confine plane

This paper describes a vortex detection algorithm used to expose and statistically characterize the coherent flow patterns observable in the velocity vector fields measured by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) in the impingement region of air curtains. The philosophy and the architecture of this algorithm are presented. Its strengths and weaknesses are discussed. The results of a parametrical analysis performed to assess the variability of the response of our algorithm to the 3 user-specified parameters in our eduction scheme are reviewed. The technique is illustrated in the case of a plane turbulent impinging twin-jet with an opening ratio of 10. The corresponding jet Reynolds number, based on the initial mean flow velocity U0 and the jet width e, is 14000. The results of a statistical analysis of the size, shape, spatial distribution and energetic content of the coherent eddy structures detected in the impingement region of this test flow are provided. Although many questions remain open, new insights into the way these structures might form, organize and evolve are given. Relevant results provide an original picture of the plane turbulent impinging jet

Hydrogen incorporation during deposition of a-Si:H from an intense source of SiH3

The incorporation of hydrogen during the fast deposition of a-Si:H from an expanding thermal arc is investigated by means of isotope labeling of the precursor gases silane and hydrogen. It is found that hydrogen in a-Si:H originates dominantly from the silyl radical. A small fraction of the hydrogen in a-Si:H is due to exchange reaction of atomic hydrogen in the plasma with hydrogen chemisorbed on the surface during growth.</p

Kramers-Kronig Relations For The Dielectric Function And The Static Conductivity Of Coulomb Systems

The mutual influence of singularities of the dielectric permittivity e(q,w) in a Coulomb system in two limiting cases w tends to zero, q tends to zero, and opposite q tends to zero, w tends to zero is established. It is shown that the dielectric permittivity e(q,w) satisfies the Kramers-Kronig relations, which possesses the singularity due to a finite value of the static conductivity. This singularity is associated with the long "tails" of the time correlation functions.Comment: 9 pages, 0 figure

Fokker-Planck Equation for Boltzmann-type and Active Particles: transfer probability approach

Fokker-Planck equation with the velocity-dependent coefficients is considered for various isotropic systems on the basis of probability transition (PT) approach. This method provides the self-consistent and universal description of friction and diffusion for Brownian particles. Renormalization of the friction coefficient is shown to occur for two dimensional (2-D) and three dimensional (3-D) cases, due to the tensorial character of diffusion. The specific forms of PT are calculated for the Boltzmann-type of collisions and for the absorption-type of collisions (the later are typical for dusty plasmas and some other systems). Validity of the Einstein's relation for the Boltzmann-type collisions is analyzed for the velocity-dependent friction and diffusion coefficients. For the Boltzmann-type collisions in the region of very high grain velocity as well as it is always for non-Boltzmann collisions, such as, e.g., absorption collisions, the Einstein relation is violated, although some other relations (determined by the structure of PT) can exist. The generalized friction force is investigated in dusty plasma in the framework of the PT approach. The relation between this force, negative collecting friction force and scattering and collecting drag forces is established.+AFwAXA- The concept of probability transition is used to describe motion of active particles in an ambient medium. On basis of the physical arguments the PT for a simple model of the active particle is constructed and the coefficients of the relevant Fokker-Planck equation are found. The stationary solution of this equation is typical for the simplest self-organized molecular machines.+AFwAXA- PACS number(s): 52.27.Lw, 52.20.Hv, 52.25.Fi, 82.70.-yComment: 18 page