Collective synchronization induced by epidemic dynamics on complex networks with communities

Much recent empirical evidence shows that \textit{community structure} is ubiquitous in the real-world networks. In this Letter, we propose a growth model to create scale-free networks with the tunable strength (noted by $Q$) of community structure and investigate the influence of community strength upon the collective synchronization induced by SIRS epidemiological process. Global and local synchronizability of the system is studied by means of an order parameter and the relevant finite-size scaling analysis is provided. The numerical results show that, a phase transition occurs at $Q_c\simeq0.835$ from global synchronization to desynchronization and the local synchronization is weakened in a range of intermediately large $Q$. Moreover, we study the impact of mean degree $$ upon synchronization on scale-free networks.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. to appeared in Phys. Rev. E 75 (2007

Pulsating magneto-dipole radiation of a quaking neutron star powered by energy of Alfven seismic vibrations

We compute the characteristic parameters of magnetic dipole radiation of a neutron star undergoing torsional seismic vibrations under the action of Lorentz restoring force about axis of a dipolar magnetic field experiencing decay. After brief outline of general theoretical background of the model of vibration powered neutron star, we present numerical estimates of basic vibration and radiation characteristics, such as the oscillation frequency, lifetime, luminosity of radiation, and investigate their time dependence upon magnetic field decay. The presented analysis suggests that gradual decrease in frequencies of pulsating high-energy emission detected from a handful of currently monitored AXP/SGR-like X-ray sources can be explained as being produced by vibration powered magneto-dipole radiation of quaking magnetars. \keywords{neutron stars, torsion Alfv\'en vibrations, vibration powered radiation, magnetic field decay, magnetars}Comment: Preprint of article accepted for publication in "Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics" [RAA-Vol.11-No9-(2011)-p.1074

Thorium-doping induced superconductivity up to 56 K in Gd1-xThxFeAsO

Following the discovery of superconductivity in an iron-based arsenide LaO1-xFxFeAs with a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 26 K[1], Tc was pushed up surprisingly to above 40 K by either applying pressure[2] or replacing La with Sm[3], Ce[4], Nd[5] and Pr[6]. The maximum Tc has climbed to 55 K, observed in SmO1-xFxFeAs[7, 8] and SmFeAsO1-x[9]. The value of Tc was found to increase with decreasing lattice parameters in LnFeAsO1-xFx (Ln stands for the lanthanide elements) at an apparently optimal doping level. However, the F- doping in GdFeAsO is particularly difficult[10,11] due to the lattice mismatch between the Gd2O2 layers and Fe2As2 layers. Here we report observation of superconductivity with Tc as high as 56 K by the Th4+ substitution for Gd3+ in GdFeAsO. The incorporation of relatively large Th4+ ions relaxes the lattice mismatch, hence induces the high temperature superconductivity.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A new parametric equation of state and quark stars

It is still a matter of debate to understand the equation of state of cold supra-nuclear matter in compact stars because of unknown on-perturbative strong interaction between quarks. Nevertheless, it is speculated from an astrophysical view point that quark clusters could form in cold quark matter due to strong coupling at realistic baryon densities. Although it is hard to calculate this conjectured matter from first principles, one can expect the inter-cluster interaction to share some general features to nucleon-nucleon interaction. We adopt a two-Gaussian component soft-core potential with these general features and show that quark clusters can form stable simple cubic crystal structure if we assume Gaussian form wave function. With this parameterizing, Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation is solved with reasonable constrained parameter space to give mass-radius relation of crystalline solid quark star. With baryon densities truncated at 2 times nuclear density at surface and range of interaction fixed at 2fm we can reproduce similar mass-radius relation to that obtained with bag model equations of state. The maximum mass ranges from about 0.5 to 3 solar mass. Observed maximum pulsar mass (about 2 solar mass) is then used to constrain parameters of this simple interaction potential.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Memory-Based Snowdrift Game on Networks

We present a memory-based snowdrift game (MBSG) taking place on networks. We found that, when a lattice is taken to be the underlying structure, the transition of spatial patterns at some critical values of the payoff parameter is observable for both 4 and 8-neighbor lattices. The transition points as well as the styles of spatial patterns can be explained by local stability analysis. In sharp contrast to previously reported results, cooperation is promoted by the spatial structure in the MBSG. Interestingly, we found that the frequency of cooperation of the MBSG on a scale-free network peaks at a specific value of the payoff parameter. This phenomenon indicates that properly encouraging selfish behaviors can optimally enhance the cooperation. The memory effects of individuals are discussed in detail and some non-monotonous phenomena are observed on both lattices and scale-free networks. Our work may shed some new light on the study of evolutionary games over networks.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations for mixed d- and s-wave superconductors

A set of coupled time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations (TDGL) for superconductors of mixed d- and s-wave symmetry are derived microscopically from the Gor'kov equations by using the analytical continuation technique. The scattering effects due to impurities with both nonmagnetic and magnetic interactions are considered. We find that the d- and s-wave components of the order parameter can have very different relaxation times in the presence of nonmagnetic impurities. This result is contrary to a set of phenomenologically proposed TDGL equations and thus may lead to new physics in the dynamics of flux motion.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures are available upon request, to appear in Phys. Rev.

The Current Flows in Pulsar Magnetospheres

The global structure of the current flows in pulsar magnetospheres is investigated, with rough calculations of the elements in the magnetospheric circuit. It is emphasized that the potential of critical field lines is the same as that of interstellar medium, and that the pulsars whose rotation axes and magnetic dipole axes are parallel should be positively charged, in order to close the pulsar's current flows. The statistical relation between the radio luminosity and pulsar's electric charge (or the spindown power) may hint that the millisecond pulsars could be low-mass bare strange stars.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Noise bridges dynamical correlation and topology in coupled oscillator networks

We study the relationship between dynamical properties and interaction patterns in complex oscillator networks in the presence of noise. A striking finding is that noise leads to a general, one-to-one correspondence between the dynamical correlation and the connections among oscillators for a variety of node dynamics and network structures. The universal finding enables an accurate prediction of the full network topology based solely on measuring the dynamical correlation. The power of the method for network inference is demonstrated by the high success rate in identifying links for distinct dynamics on both model and real-life networks. The method can have potential applications in various fields due to its generality, high accuracy and efficiency.Comment: 2 figures, 2 tables. Accepted by Physical Review Letter

Magnetars: fact or fiction?

Anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) are enigmatic pulsar-like objects. The energy budget is the fundamental problem in their studies. In the magnetar model, they are supposed to be powered by the extremely strong magnetic fields (>~ 10^14 G) of neutron stars. Observations for and against the magnetar model are both summarized. Considering the difficulties encountered by the magnetar model to comfortably understand more and more observations, one may doubt that AXPs and SGRs are really magnetars. If they are not magnetar candidates (including magnetar-based models), then they must be "quark star/fallback disk" systems.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure; talk at SMFN201

Particle Emission-dependent Timing Noise of Pulsars?

Though pulsars spin regularly, the differences between the observed and predicted ToA (time of arrival), known as "timing noise", can still reach a few milliseconds or more. We try to understand the noise in this paper. As proposed by Xu & Qiao in 2001, both dipole radiation and particle emission would result in pulsar braking. Accordingly, possible fluctuation of particle current flow is suggested here to contribute significant ToA variation of pulsars. We find that the particle emission fluctuation could lead to timing noise which can't be eliminated in timing process, and that a longer period fluctuation would arouse a stronger noise. The simulated timing noise profile and amplitude are in accord with the observed timing behaviors on the timescale of years.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. (Accepted by Chin. Phys. Lett.