Stein's method, Palm theory and Poisson process approximation

The framework of Stein's method for Poisson process approximation is presented from the point of view of Palm theory, which is used to construct Stein identities and define local dependence. A general result (Theorem \refimportantproposition) in Poisson process approximation is proved by taking the local approach. It is obtained without reference to any particular metric, thereby allowing wider applicability. A Wasserstein pseudometric is introduced for measuring the accuracy of point process approximation. The pseudometric provides a generalization of many metrics used so far, including the total variation distance for random variables and the Wasserstein metric for processes as in Barbour and Brown [Stochastic Process. Appl. 43 (1992) 9-31]. Also, through the pseudometric, approximation for certain point processes on a given carrier space is carried out by lifting it to one on a larger space, extending an idea of Arratia, Goldstein and Gordon [Statist. Sci. 5 (1990) 403-434]. The error bound in the general result is similar in form to that for Poisson approximation. As it yields the Stein factor 1/\lambda as in Poisson approximation, it provides good approximation, particularly in cases where \lambda is large. The general result is applied to a number of problems including Poisson process modeling of rare words in a DNA sequence.Comment: Published by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org) in the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/00911790400000002

Simulations of an energy dechirper based on dielectric lined waveguides

Terahertz frequency wakefields can be excited by ultra-short relativistic electron bunches travelling through dielectric lined waveguide (DLW) structures. These wakefields can either accelerate a witness bunch with high gradient, or modulate the energy of the driving bunch. In this paper, we study a passive dechirper based on the DLW to compensate the correlated energy spread of the bunches accelerated by the laser plasma wakefield accelerator (LWFA). A rectangular waveguide structure was employed taking advantage of its continuously tunable gap during operation. The assumed 200 MeV driving bunch had a Gaussian distribution with a bunch length of 3.0 {\mu}m, a relative correlated energy spread of 1%, and a total charge of 10 pC. Both of the CST Wakefield Solver and PIC Solver were used to simulate and optimize such a dechirper. Effect of the time-dependent self-wake on the driving bunch was analyzed in terms of the energy modulation and the transverse phase space

S-Lemma with Equality and Its Applications

Let $f(x)=x^TAx+2a^Tx+c$ and $h(x)=x^TBx+2b^Tx+d$ be two quadratic functions having symmetric matrices $A$ and $B$. The S-lemma with equality asks when the unsolvability of the system $f(x)<0, h(x)=0$ implies the existence of a real number $\mu$ such that $f(x) + \mu h(x)\ge0, ~\forall x\in \mathbb{R}^n$. The problem is much harder than the inequality version which asserts that, under Slater condition, $f(x)<0, h(x)\le0$ is unsolvable if and only if $f(x) + \mu h(x)\ge0, ~\forall x\in \mathbb{R}^n$ for some $\mu\ge0$. In this paper, we show that the S-lemma with equality does not hold only when the matrix $A$ has exactly one negative eigenvalue and $h(x)$ is a non-constant linear function ($B=0, b\not=0$). As an application, we can globally solve $\inf\{f(x)\vert h(x)=0\}$ as well as the two-sided generalized trust region subproblem $\inf\{f(x)\vert l\le h(x)\le u\}$ without any condition. Moreover, the convexity of the joint numerical range $\{(f(x), h_1(x),\ldots, h_p(x)):~x\in\Bbb R^n\}$ where $f$ is a (possibly non-convex) quadratic function and $h_1(x),\ldots,h_p(x)$ are affine functions can be characterized using the newly developed S-lemma with equality.Comment: 34 page

Enhancement of Coherent X ray Diffraction from Nanocrystals by Introduction of X ray Optics

Coherent X-ray Diffraction is applied to investigate the structure of individual nanocrystalline silver particles in the 100nm size range. In order to enhance the available signal, Kirkpatrick-Baez focusing optics have been introduced in the 34-ID-C beamline at APS. Concerns about the preservation of coherence under these circumstances are addressed through experiment and by calculations

Proof of a Conjecture of Hirschhorn and Sellers on Overpartitions

Let $\bar{p}(n)$ denote the number of overpartitions of $n$. It was conjectured by Hirschhorn and Sellers that \bar{p}(40n+35)\equiv 0\ ({\rm mod\} 40) for $n\geq 0$. Employing 2-dissection formulas of quotients of theta functions due to Ramanujan, and Hirschhorn and Sellers, we obtain a generating function for $\bar{p}(40n+35)$ modulo 5. Using the $(p, k)$-parametrization of theta functions given by Alaca, Alaca and Williams, we give a proof of the congruence \bar{p}(40n+35)\equiv 0\ ({\rm mod\} 5). Combining this congruence and the congruence \bar{p}(4n+3)\equiv 0\ ({\rm mod\} 8) obtained by Hirschhorn and Sellers, and Fortin, Jacob and Mathieu, we give a proof of the conjecture of Hirschhorn and Sellers.Comment: 11 page