691 research outputs found
An Exploration of a Quantitative Reasoning Instructional Approach to Linear Equations in Two Variables with Community College Students
In this exploratory study, we examined the effects of a quantitative reasoning instructional approach to linear equations in two variables on community college students’ conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and reasoning ability. This was done in comparison to the use of a traditional procedural approach for instruction on the same topic. Data were gathered from a common unit assessment that included procedural and conceptual questions. Results demonstrate that small changes in instruction focused on quantitative reasoning can lead to significant differences in students’ ability to demonstrate conceptual understanding compared to a procedural approach. The results also indicate that a quantitative reasoning approach does not appear to diminish students’ procedural skills, but that additional work is needed to understand how to best support students’ understanding of linear relationships
Stochastic Light-Cone CTMRG: a new DMRG approach to stochastic models
We develop a new variant of the recently introduced stochastic
transfer-matrix DMRG which we call stochastic light-cone corner-transfer-matrix
DMRG (LCTMRG). It is a numerical method to compute dynamic properties of
one-dimensional stochastic processes. As suggested by its name, the LCTMRG is a
modification of the corner-transfer-matrix DMRG (CTMRG), adjusted by an
additional causality argument. As an example, two reaction-diffusion models,
the diffusion-annihilation process and the branch-fusion process, are studied
and compared to exact data and Monte-Carlo simulations to estimate the
capability and accuracy of the new method. The number of possible Trotter steps
of more than 10^5 shows a considerable improvement to the old stochastic TMRG
algorithm.Comment: 15 pages, uses IOP styl
Transfer-matrix DMRG for stochastic models: The Domany-Kinzel cellular automaton
We apply the transfer-matrix DMRG (TMRG) to a stochastic model, the
Domany-Kinzel cellular automaton, which exhibits a non-equilibrium phase
transition in the directed percolation universality class. Estimates for the
stochastic time evolution, phase boundaries and critical exponents can be
obtained with high precision. This is possible using only modest numerical
effort since the thermodynamic limit can be taken analytically in our approach.
We also point out further advantages of the TMRG over other numerical
approaches, such as classical DMRG or Monte-Carlo simulations.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, uses IOP styl
Stochastic switching in delay-coupled oscillators
A delay is known to induce multistability in periodic systems. Under influence of noise, coupled oscillators can switch between coexistent orbits with different frequencies and different oscillation patterns. For coupled phase oscillators we reduce the delay system to a nondelayed Langevin equation, which allows us to analytically compute the distribution of frequencies and their corresponding residence times. The number of stable periodic orbits scales with the roundtrip delay time and coupling strength, but the noisy system visits only a fraction of the orbits, which scales with the square root of the delay time and is independent of the coupling strength. In contrast, the residence time in the different orbits is mainly determined by the coupling strength and the number of oscillators, and only weakly dependent on the coupling delay. Finally we investigate the effect of a detuning between the oscillators. We demonstrate the generality of our results with delay-coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillators
Nonlocal mechanism for cluster synchronization in neural circuits
The interplay between the topology of cortical circuits and synchronized
activity modes in distinct cortical areas is a key enigma in neuroscience. We
present a new nonlocal mechanism governing the periodic activity mode: the
greatest common divisor (GCD) of network loops. For a stimulus to one node, the
network splits into GCD-clusters in which cluster neurons are in zero-lag
synchronization. For complex external stimuli, the number of clusters can be
any common divisor. The synchronized mode and the transients to synchronization
pinpoint the type of external stimuli. The findings, supported by an
information mixing argument and simulations of Hodgkin Huxley population
dynamic networks with unidirectional connectivity and synaptic noise, call for
reexamining sources of correlated activity in cortex and shorter information
processing time scales.Comment: 8 pges, 6 figure
Precise Critical Exponents for the Basic Contact Process
We calculated some of the critical exponents of the directed percolation
universality class through exact numerical diagonalisations of the master
operator of the one-dimensional basic contact process. Perusal of the power
method together with finite-size scaling allowed us to achieve a high degree of
accuracy in our estimates with relatively little computational effort. A simple
reasoning leading to the appropriate choice of the microscopic time scale for
time-dependent simulations of Markov chains within the so called quantum chain
formulation is discussed. Our approach is applicable to any stochastic process
with a finite number of absorbing states.Comment: LaTeX 2.09, 9 pages, 1 figur
Directed Percolation with a Wall or Edge
We examine the effects of introducing a wall or edge into a directed
percolation process. Scaling ansatzes are presented for the density and
survival probability of a cluster in these geometries, and we make the
connection to surface critical phenomena and field theory. The results of
previous numerical work for a wall can thus be interpreted in terms of surface
exponents satisfying scaling relations generalising those for ordinary directed
percolation. New exponents for edge directed percolation are also introduced.
They are calculated in mean-field theory and measured numerically in 2+1
dimensions.Comment: 14 pages, submitted to J. Phys.
Analysis of CDMA systems that are characterized by eigenvalue spectrum
An approach by which to analyze the performance of the code division multiple
access (CDMA) scheme, which is a core technology used in modern wireless
communication systems, is provided. The approach characterizes the objective
system by the eigenvalue spectrum of a cross-correlation matrix composed of
signature sequences used in CDMA communication, which enables us to handle a
wider class of CDMA systems beyond the basic model reported by Tanaka. The
utility of the novel scheme is shown by analyzing a system in which the
generation of signature sequences is designed for enhancing the orthogonality.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Resonant Effects in Nanoscale Bowtie Apertures
Nanoscale bowtie aperture antennas can be used to focus light well below the diffraction limit with extremely high transmission efficiencies. This paper studies the spectral dependence of the transmission through nanoscale bowtie apertures defined in a silver film. A realistic bowtie aperture is numerically modeled using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. Results show that the transmission spectrum is dominated by Fabry-PĂ©rot (F-P) waveguide modes and plasmonic modes. The F-P resonance is sensitive to the thickness of the film and the plasmonic resonant mode is closely related to the gap distance of the bowtie aperture. Both characteristics significantly affect the transmission spectrum. To verify these numerical results, bowtie apertures are FIB milled in a silver film. Experimental transmission measurements agree with simulation data. Based on this result, nanoscale bowtie apertures can be optimized to realize deep sub-wavelength confinement with high transmission efficiency with applications to nanolithography, data storage, and bio-chemical sensing
Nature of phase transitions in a probabilistic cellular automaton with two absorbing states
We present a probabilistic cellular automaton with two absorbing states,
which can be considered a natural extension of the Domany-Kinzel model. Despite
its simplicity, it shows a very rich phase diagram, with two second-order and
one first-order transition lines that meet at a tricritical point. We study the
phase transitions and the critical behavior of the model using mean field
approximations, direct numerical simulations and field theory. A closed form
for the dynamics of the kinks between the two absorbing phases near the
tricritical point is obtained, providing an exact correspondence between the
presence of conserved quantities and the symmetry of absorbing states. The
second-order critical curves and the kink critical dynamics are found to be in
the directed percolation and parity conservation universality classes,
respectively. The first order phase transition is put in evidence by examining
the hysteresis cycle. We also study the "chaotic" phase, in which two replicas
evolving with the same noise diverge, using mean field and numerical
techniques. Finally, we show how the shape of the potential of the
field-theoretic formulation of the problem can be obtained by direct numerical
simulations.Comment: 19 pages with 7 figure
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