Positivity-preserving H∞ model reduction for positive systems

This is the post-print version of the Article - Copyright @ 2011 ElevierThis paper is concerned with the model reduction of positive systems. For a given stable positive system, our attention is focused on the construction of a reduced-order model in such a way that the positivity of the original system is preserved and the error system is stable with a prescribed H∞ performance. Based upon a system augmentation approach, a novel characterization on the stability with H∞ performance of the error system is first obtained in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI). Then, a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a desired reduced-order model is derived accordingly. Furthermore, iterative LMI approaches with primal and dual forms are developed to solve the positivity-preserving H∞ model reduction problem. Finally, a compartmental network is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.The work was partially supported by GRF HKU 7137/09E

Nuclear Spin Relaxation Rate of Disordered px+ipyp_x+ip_y-wave Superconductors

Based on an effective Hamiltonian with the binary alloy disorder model defined in the triangular lattice, the impurity scattering effects on the density of states and especially on the spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ of $p_x+ip_y$-wave superconductors are studied by solving numerically the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. In the clean limit, the coherence peak of $1/T_1$ is observed as expected. More intriguingly, for strong scattering potential, the temperature dependence of $1/T_1$ exhibits the two different power law behaviors near $T_{\text{c}}$ and at low temperatures, respectively, which is in good agreement with the nuclear quadrupolar resonance measurement.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Robust synchronization for 2-D discrete-time coupled dynamical networks

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 IEEEIn this paper, a new synchronization problem is addressed for an array of 2-D coupled dynamical networks. The class of systems under investigation is described by the 2-D nonlinear state space model which is oriented from the well-known Fornasini–Marchesini second model. For such a new 2-D complex network model, both the network dynamics and the couplings evolve in two independent directions. A new synchronization concept is put forward to account for the phenomenon that the propagations of all 2-D dynamical networks are synchronized in two directions with influence from the coupling strength. The purpose of the problem addressed is to first derive sufficient conditions ensuring the global synchronization and then extend the obtained results to more general cases where the system matrices contain either the norm-bounded or the polytopic parameter uncertainties. An energy-like quadratic function is developed, together with the intensive use of the Kronecker product, to establish the easy-to-verify conditions under which the addressed 2-D complex network model achieves global synchronization. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the theoretical results and the effectiveness of the proposed synchronization scheme.This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants 61028008 and 61174136, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Project of China under Grant No. 2009DFA32050, the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China under Grant BK2011598, the Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu Province of China, the Project sponsored by SRF for ROCS of SEM of China, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the U.K. under Grant GR/S27658/01, the Royal Society of the U.K., and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany

Viscous potential flow analysis of peripheral heavy ion collisions

The conditions for the development of a Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability (KHI) for the Quark-gluon Plasma (QGP) flow in a peripheral heavy-ion collision is investigated. The projectile and target side particles are separated by an energetically motivated hypothetical surface, characterized with a phenomenological surface tension. In such a view, a classical potential flow approximation is considered and the onset of the KHI is studied. The growth rate of the instability is computed as function of phenomenological parameters characteristic for the QGP fluid: viscosity, surface tension and flow layer thickness

Short- and intermediate-time behavior of the linear stress relaxation in semiflexible polymers

The linear viscoelasticity of semiflexible polymers is studied through Brownian Dynamics simulations covering a broad range of chain stiffness and time scales. Our results agree with existing theoretical predictions in the flexible and stiff limits; however, we find that over a wide intermediate-time window spanning several decades, the stress relaxation is described by a single power law t^(-alpha), with the exponent alpha apparently varying continuously from 1/2 for flexible chains, to 5/4 for stiff ones. Our study identifies the limits of validity of the t^(-3/4) power law at short times predicted by recent theories. An additional regime is identified, the "ultrastiff" chains, where this behavior disappears. In the absence of Brownian motion, the purely mechanical stress relaxation produces a t^(-3/4) power law for both short and intermediate times

Analysis of the Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Images of the Charge Density Wave Phase in Quasi-one-dimensional Rb0.3MoO3

The experimental STM images for the CDW phase of the blue bronze RbMoO3 have been successfully explained on the basis of first-principles DFT calculations. Although the density of states near the Fermi level strongly concentrates in two of the three types of Mo atoms Mo-II and Mo-III, the STM measurement mostly probes the contribution of the uppermost O atoms of the surface, associated with the Mo-IO6 octahedra. In addition, it is found that the surface concentration of Rb atoms plays a key role in determining the surface nesting vector and hence the periodicity of the CDW modulation. Significant experimental inhomogeneities of the b* surface component of the wavevector of the modulation, probed by STM, are reported. The calculated changes in the surface nesting vector are consistent with the observed experimental inhomogeneities.Comment: 4 pages 5 Figure

Optimal time-dependent polarized current pattern for fast domain wall propagation in nanowires: Exact solutions for biaxial and uniaxial anisotropies

One of the important issues in nanomagnetism is to lower the current needed for a technologically useful domain wall (DW) propagation speed. Based on the modified Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation with both Slonczewski spin-transfer torque and the field-like torque, we derive the optimal spin current pattern for fast DW propagation along nanowires. Under such conditions, the DW velocity in biaxial wires can be enhanced as much as ten times compared to the velocities achieved in experiments so far. Moreover, the fast variation of spin polarization can help DW depinning. Possible experimental realizations are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Macroporous materials: microfluidic fabrication, functionalization and applications

This article provides an up-to-date highly comprehensive overview (594 references) on the state of the art of the synthesis and design of macroporous materials using microfluidics and their applications in different fields