The covert set-cover problem with application to Network Discovery

We address a version of the set-cover problem where we do not know the sets initially (and hence referred to as covert) but we can query an element to find out which sets contain this element as well as query a set to know the elements. We want to find a small set-cover using a minimal number of such queries. We present a Monte Carlo randomized algorithm that approximates an optimal set-cover of size $OPT$ within $O(\log N)$ factor with high probability using $O(OPT \cdot \log^2 N)$ queries where $N$ is the input size. We apply this technique to the network discovery problem that involves certifying all the edges and non-edges of an unknown $n$-vertices graph based on layered-graph queries from a minimal number of vertices. By reducing it to the covert set-cover problem we present an $O(\log^2 n)$-competitive Monte Carlo randomized algorithm for the covert version of network discovery problem. The previously best known algorithm has a competitive ratio of $\Omega (\sqrt{n\log n})$ and therefore our result achieves an exponential improvement

Soliton solution in dilaton-Maxwell gravity

The inverse scattering problem method application to construction of exact solution for Maxwell dilaton gravity system ia considered. By use of Belinsky and Zakharov L - A pair the solution of the theory is constructed. The rotating Kerr - like configuration with NUT - parameter is obtained.Comment: 8 pages in LaTex; published in Gen. Rel. Grav. pp. 32 (2000) 2219-222

Gapless points of dimerized quantum spin chains: analytical and numerical studies

We study the locations of the gapless points which occur for quantum spin chains of finite length (with a twisted boundary condition) at particular values of the nearest neighbor dimerization, as a function of the spin S and the number of sites. For strong dimerization and large values of S, a tunneling calculation reproduces the same results as those obtained from more involved field theoretic methods using the non-linear sigma-model approach. A different analytical calculation of the matrix element between the two Neel states gives a set of gapless points; for strong dimerization, these differ significantly from the tunneling values. Finally, the exact diagonalization method for a finite number of sites yields a set of gapless points which are in good agreement with the Neel state calculations for all values of the dimerization, but the agreement with the tunneling values is not very good even for large S. This raises questions about possible corrections to the tunneling results.Comment: Revtex4, 10 pages including 5 figure

Taxation by Auction: Fund-Raising by 19th Century Indian Guilds

We describe a unique institution used by 19th century Indian guilds to raise funds: The guild members agreed that on a particular day all but one of their shops would be shut. An auction would be held to determine which one shop would remain open, and the winning bid would go to the guild funds. We compare this “taxation by auction” mechanism with more conventional tax schemes and show that under certain conditions, not only will a majority of the guild members prefer to be taxed via an auction, but that this form of taxation will be more equitable than other forms.Auctions, Fund-Raising, Indian Guilds, Taxation

Counterterms, critical gravity and holography

We consider counterterms for odd dimensional holographic CFTs. These counterterms are derived by demanding cut-off independence of the CFT partition function on $S^d$ and $S^1 \times S^{d-1}$. The same choice of counterterms leads to a cut-off independent Schwarzschild black hole entropy. When treated as independent actions, these counterterm actions resemble critical theories of gravity, i.e., higher curvature gravity theories where the additional massive spin-2 modes become massless. Equivalently, in the context of AdS/CFT, these are theories where at least one of the central charges associated with the trace anomaly vanishes. Connections between these theories and logarithmic CFTs are discussed. For a specific choice of parameters, the theories arising from counterterms are non-dynamical and resemble a DBI generalization of gravity. For even dimensional CFTs, analogous counterterms cancel log-independent cut-off dependence.Comment: 28 pages, v2: references added, v3: minor changes, version to appear in PR

Chiral Dirac fermions on the lattice using Geometric Discretisation

A new approach to the problem of doubling is presented with the Dirac-Kahler (DK) theory as a starting point and using Geometric Discretisation providing us with a new way of extracting the Dirac field in the discrete setting of a hyper-cubic complex.Comment: Lattice2003(Chiral), 3 page

Turbulent flow in graphene

We demonstrate the possibility of a turbulent flow of electrons in graphene in the hydrodynamic region, by calculating the corresponding turbulent probability density function. This is used to calculate the contribution of the turbulent flow to the conductivity within a quantum Boltzmann approach. The dependence of the conductivity on the system parameters arising from the turbulent flow is very different from that due to scattering.Comment: 4 pages, Latex file, Journal versio

Solitons on compact and noncompact spaces in large noncommutativity

We study solutions at the minima of scalar field potentials for Moyal spaces and torii in the large non-commutativity and interprete these solitons in terms of non-BPS D-branes of string theory. We derive a mass spectrum formula linking different D-branes together on quantum torii and suggest that it describes general systems of D-brane bound states extending the D2-D0 one. Then we propose a shape for the effective potential approaching these quasi-stable bound states. We give the gauge symmetries of these systems of branes and show that they depend on the quantum torii representations.Comment: 25 pages, Latex, 1 figure (use epsfig.sty), corrected formul

Black Hole Entropy Function and the Attractor Mechanism in Higher Derivative Gravity

We study extremal black hole solutions in D dimensions with near horizon geometry AdS_2\times S^{D-2} in higher derivative gravity coupled to other scalar, vector and anti-symmetric tensor fields. We define an entropy function by integrating the Lagrangian density over S^{D-2} for a general AdS_2\times S^{D-2} background, taking the Legendre transform of the resulting function with respect to the parameters labelling the electric fields, and multiplying the result by a factor of 2\pi. We show that the values of the scalar fields at the horizon as well as the sizes of AdS_2 and S^{D-2} are determined by extremizing this entropy function with respect to the corresponding parameters, and the entropy of the black hole is given by the value of the entropy function at this extremum. Our analysis relies on the analysis of the equations of motion and does not directly make use of supersymmetry or specific structure of the higher derivative terms.Comment: LaTeX file, 12page

Time Delay Induced Death in Coupled Limit Cycle Oscillators

We investigate the dynamical behaviour of two limit cycle oscillators that interact with each other via time delayed coupling and find that time delay can lead to amplitude death of the oscillators even if they have the same frequency. We demonstrate that this novel regime of amplitude "death" also exists for large collections of coupled identical oscillators and provide quantitative measures of this death region in the parameter space of coupling strength and time delay. Its implication for certain biological and physical applications is also pointed out.Comment: 4 aps formatted revtex pages; 3 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. Let