765 research outputs found
Evaluating the Evans function: Order reduction in numerical methods
We consider the numerical evaluation of the Evans function, a Wronskian-like
determinant that arises in the study of the stability of travelling waves.
Constructing the Evans function involves matching the solutions of a linear
ordinary differential equation depending on the spectral parameter. The problem
becomes stiff as the spectral parameter grows. Consequently, the
Gauss--Legendre method has previously been used for such problems; however more
recently, methods based on the Magnus expansion have been proposed. Here we
extensively examine the stiff regime for a general scalar Schr\"odinger
operator. We show that although the fourth-order Magnus method suffers from
order reduction, a fortunate cancellation when computing the Evans matching
function means that fourth-order convergence in the end result is preserved.
The Gauss--Legendre method does not suffer from order reduction, but it does
not experience the cancellation either, and thus it has the same order of
convergence in the end result. Finally we discuss the relative merits of both
methods as spectral tools.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures; removed superfluous material (+/- 1 page), added
paragraph to conclusion and two reference
Evans function and Fredholm determinants
We explore the relationship between the Evans function, transmission
coefficient and Fredholm determinant for systems of first order linear
differential operators on the real line. The applications we have in mind
include linear stability problems associated with travelling wave solutions to
nonlinear partial differential equations, for example reaction-diffusion or
solitary wave equations. The Evans function and transmission coefficient, which
are both finite determinants, are natural tools for both analytic and numerical
determination of eigenvalues of such linear operators. However, inverting the
eigenvalue problem by the free state operator generates a natural linear
integral eigenvalue problem whose solvability is determined through the
corresponding infinite Fredholm determinant. The relationship between all three
determinants has received a lot of recent attention. We focus on the case when
the underlying Fredholm operator is a trace class perturbation of the identity.
Our new results include: (i) clarification of the sense in which the Evans
function and transmission coefficient are equivalent; and (ii) proof of the
equivalence of the transmission coefficient and Fredholm determinant, in
particular in the case of distinct far fields.Comment: 26 page
The Mental Health Effects of Assisted Reproductive Technology
In this research project, I explored how mental health and undergoing ART are intertwined. Through a literature review, published researched about mental health and its relation to ART was reviewed to find key information regarding the mental health effects of ART. Following the literature review, interviews were conducted with seven women to gain a better understanding of their lived experiences undergoing ART treatments. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the lived experiences of women who go through fertility treatments and how the journey through infertility and trying to conceive a child influences their mental health
Partial differential systems with nonlocal nonlinearities: Generation and solutions
We develop a method for generating solutions to large classes of evolutionary
partial differential systems with nonlocal nonlinearities. For arbitrary
initial data, the solutions are generated from the corresponding linearized
equations. The key is a Fredholm integral equation relating the linearized flow
to an auxiliary linear flow. It is analogous to the Marchenko integral equation
in integrable systems. We show explicitly how this can be achieved through
several examples including reaction-diffusion systems with nonlocal quadratic
nonlinearities and the nonlinear Schrodinger equation with a nonlocal cubic
nonlinearity. In each case we demonstrate our approach with numerical
simulations. We discuss the effectiveness of our approach and how it might be
extended.Comment: 4 figure
Levy Processes and Quasi-Shuffle Algebras
We investigate the algebra of repeated integrals of semimartingales. We prove
that a minimal family of semimartingales generates a quasi-shuffle algebra. In
essence, to fulfill the minimality criterion, first, the family must be a
minimal generator of the algebra of repeated integrals generated by its
elements and by quadratic covariation processes recursively constructed from
the elements of the family. Second, recursively constructed quadratic
covariation processes may lie in the linear span of previously constructed ones
and of the family, but may not lie in the linear span of repeated integrals of
these. We prove that a finite family of independent Levy processes that have
finite moments generates a minimal family. Key to the proof are the Teugels
martingales and a strong orthogonalization of them. We conclude that a finite
family of independent Levy processes form a quasi-shuffle algebra. We discuss
important potential applications to constructing efficient numerical methods
for the strong approximation of stochastic differential equations driven by
Levy processes.Comment: 10 page
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