A Note On Stability of Steady Motion of a Rolling Disk

This note adds some critical remarks on the discussion presented in the McDonald's paper ([1]) on stability of steady motion of the well known problem of a disk rolling on a rough horizontal plane.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

Power-law solutions and accelerated expansion in scalar-tensor theories

We find exact power-law solutions for scalar-tensor theories and clarify the conditions under which they can account for an accelerated expansion of the Universe. These solutions have the property that the signs of both the Hubble rate and the deceleration parameter in the Jordan frame may be different from the signs of their Einstein-frame counterparts. For special parameter combinations we identify these solutions with asymptotic attractors that have been obtained in the literature through dynamical-system analysis. We establish an effective general-relativistic description for which the geometrical equivalent of dark energy is associated with a time dependent equation of state. The present value of the latter is consistent with the observed cosmological ``constant". We demonstrate that this type of power-law solutions for accelerated expansion cannot be realized in f(R) theories.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure, substantially rewritten, presentation improved. Accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.

Cohomology for partial actions of Hopf algebras

In this work, the cohomology theory for partial actions of co-commutative Hopf algebras over commutative algebras is formulated. This theory generalizes the cohomology theory for Hopf algebras introduced by Sweedler and the cohomology theory for partial group actions, introduced by Dokuchaev and Khrypchenko. Some nontrivial examples, not coming from groups are constructed. Given a partial action of a co-commutative Hopf algebra $H$ over a commutative algebra $A$, we prove that there exists a new Hopf algebra $\widetilde{A}$, over a commutative ring $E(A)$, upon which $H$ still acts partially and which gives rise to the same cochain complex as the original algebra $A$. We also study the partially cleft extensions of commutative algebras by partial actions of cocommutative Hopf algebras and prove that these partially cleft extensions can be viewed as a cleft extensions by Hopf algebroids.Comment: 49 pages, a longer version, with some detailed proofs kept in the appendi

Scalar Perturbations in a String Inspired Inflationary Scenario

We consider an inflationary model inspired in the low energy limit of string theory. In this model, the scale factor grows exponentially with time. A perturbation study is performed, and we show that there is a mode which displays an exponential growth in the perturbation of the scalar field.Comment: 8 pages, latex fil

Using spherical wavelets to search for magnetically-induced alignment in the arrival directions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays

Due to the action of the intervening cosmic magnetic fields, ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) can be deflected in such a way as to create clustered energy-ordered filamentary structures in the arrival direction of these particles, the so-called multiplets. In this work we propose a new method based on the spherical wavelet transform to identify multiplets in sky maps containing arrival directions of UHECRs. The method is illustrated in simulations with a multiplet embedded in isotropic backgrounds with different numbers of events. The efficiency of the algorithm is assessed through the calculation of Type I and II errors.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures. Matches the published versio

Testing the Rastall's theory using matter power spectrum

The Rastall's theory is a modification of the General Relativity theory leading to a different expression for the conservation law in the matter sector compared with the usual one. It has been argued recently that such a theory may have applications to the dark energy problem, since a pressureless fluid may lead to an accelerated universe. In the present work we confront the Rastall's theory with the power spectrum data. The results indicate a configuration that essentially reduces the Rastall's theory to General Relativity, unless the non-usual conservation law refers to a scalar field, situation where other configurations are eventually possible.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures in eps forma

Nematic droplets at fibres

The emergence of new techniques for the fabrication of nematic droplets with nontrivial topology provides new routes for the assembly of responsive devices. Here we perform a numerical study of spherical nematic droplets on fibres. We analyse the equilibrium textures and find that, under certain conditions,the nematic can avoid the nucleation of topological defects. We consider in detail a homeotropic nematic droplet wrapped around a fibre with planar anchoring. We investigate the effect of an electric field on the texture of this droplet such type of system. In the presence of a DC field, the system undergoes a Freederickzs-like transition above a given threshold $E_c$. We also consider AC fields, at high and low frequencies, and find that the textures are similar to those observed for static fields, in contrast with recently reported experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitte

The effect of anchoring on nematic flow in channels

Understanding the flow of liquid crystals in microfluidic environments plays an important role in many fields, including device design and microbiology. We perform hybrid lattice-Boltzmann simulations of a nematic liquid crystal flowing under an applied pressure gradient in two-dimensional channels with various anchoring boundary conditions at the substrate walls. We investigate the relation between flow rate and pressure gradient and the corresponding profile of the nematic director, and find significant departures from the linear Poiseuille relation. We also identify a morphological transition in the director profile and explain this in terms of an instability in the dynamical equations. We examine the qualitative and quantitative effects of changing the type and strength of the anchoring. Understanding such effects may provide a useful means of quantifying the anchoring of a substrate by measuring its flow properties

Chaos synchronization in long-range coupled map lattices

We investigate the synchronization phenomenon in coupled chaotic map lattices where the couplings decay with distance following a power-law. Depending on the lattice size, the coupling strength and the range of the interactions, complete chaos synchronization may be attained. The synchronization domain in parameter space can be analytically delimited by means of the condition of negativity of the largest transversal Lyapunov exponent. Here we analyze in detail the role of all the system parameters in the ability of the lattice to achieve complete synchronization, testing analytical results with the outcomes of numerical experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Position USBL/DVL Sensor-based Navigation Filter in the presence of Unknown Ocean Currents

This paper presents a novel approach to the design of globally asymptotically stable (GAS) position filters for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) based directly on the nonlinear sensor readings of an Ultra-short Baseline (USBL) and a Doppler Velocity Log (DVL). Central to the proposed solution is the derivation of a linear time-varying (LTV) system that fully captures the dynamics of the nonlinear system, allowing for the use of powerful linear system analysis and filtering design tools that yield GAS filter error dynamics. Simulation results reveal that the proposed filter is able to achieve the same level of performance of more traditional solutions, such as the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), while providing, at the same time, GAS guarantees, which are absent for the EKF.Comment: Combined with 49th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control December 15-17, 2010 at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia USA. 9 pages complete with full proof