152 research outputs found
Adaptive Mesh Refinement Computation of Solidification Microstructures using Dynamic Data Structures
We study the evolution of solidification microstructures using a phase-field
model computed on an adaptive, finite element grid. We discuss the details of
our algorithm and show that it greatly reduces the computational cost of
solving the phase-field model at low undercooling. In particular we show that
the computational complexity of solving any phase-boundary problem scales with
the interface arclength when using an adapting mesh. Moreover, the use of
dynamic data structures allows us to simulate system sizes corresponding to
experimental conditions, which would otherwise require lattices greater that
elements. We examine the convergence properties of our
algorithm. We also present two dimensional, time-dependent calculations of
dendritic evolution, with and without surface tension anisotropy. We benchmark
our results for dendritic growth with microscopic solvability theory, finding
them to be in good agreement with theory for high undercoolings. At low
undercooling, however, we obtain higher values of velocity than solvability
theory at low undercooling, where transients dominate, in accord with a
heuristic criterion which we derive
Zonotopal algebra
A wealth of geometric and combinatorial properties of a given linear
endomorphism of is captured in the study of its associated zonotope
, and, by duality, its associated hyperplane arrangement .
This well-known line of study is particularly interesting in case n\eqbd\rank
X \ll N. We enhance this study to an algebraic level, and associate with
three algebraic structures, referred herein as {\it external, central, and
internal.} Each algebraic structure is given in terms of a pair of homogeneous
polynomial ideals in variables that are dual to each other: one encodes
properties of the arrangement , while the other encodes by duality
properties of the zonotope . The algebraic structures are defined purely
in terms of the combinatorial structure of , but are subsequently proved to
be equally obtainable by applying suitable algebro-analytic operations to
either of or . The theory is universal in the sense that it
requires no assumptions on the map (the only exception being that the
algebro-analytic operations on yield sought-for results only in case
is unimodular), and provides new tools that can be used in enumerative
combinatorics, graph theory, representation theory, polytope geometry, and
approximation theory.Comment: 44 pages; updated to reflect referees' remarks and the developments
in the area since the article first appeared on the arXi
Is high-density amorphous ice simply a “derailed” state along the ice I to ice IV pathway?
The structural nature of high-density amorphous ice (HDA), which forms through low-temperature pressure-induced amorphization of the “ordinary” ice I, is heavily debated. Clarifying this question is important for understanding not only the complex condensed states of H2O but also in the wider context of pressure-induced amorphization processes, which are encountered across the entire materials spectrum. We first show that ammonium fluoride (NH4F), which has a similar hydrogen-bonded network to ice I, also undergoes a pressure collapse upon compression at 77 K. However, the product material is not amorphous but NH4F II, a high-pressure phase isostructural with ice IV. This collapse can be rationalized in terms of a highly effective mechanism. In the case of ice I, the orientational disorder of the water molecules leads to a deviation from this mechanism, and we therefore classify HDA as a “derailed” state along the ice I to ice IV pathway
Banks' total factor productivity growth in a developing economy: does globalisation matter?
The paper provides, for the first time, empirical evidence on the impact of economic globalisation on bank total factor productivity in a developing economy. By employing the Malmquist Productivity Index method, we compute the total factor productivity of the Malaysian banking sector during 1998–2007. Examining different dimensions of economic globalisation, we find evidence supporting for greater trade and capital account restrictions and cultural proximity. On the other hand, personal contacts, information flows, and political globalisation seem to exert significant (negative) influence on banks' total factor productivity levels
Set optimization - a rather short introduction
Recent developments in set optimization are surveyed and extended including
various set relations as well as fundamental constructions of a convex analysis
for set- and vector-valued functions, and duality for set optimization
problems. Extensive sections with bibliographical comments summarize the state
of the art. Applications to vector optimization and financial risk measures are
discussed along with algorithmic approaches to set optimization problems
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