2,055 research outputs found
Discreteness-induced oscillatory instabilities of dark solitons
We reveal that even weak inherent discreteness of a nonlinear model can lead to instabilities of the
localized modes it supports. We present the first example of an oscillatory instability of dark solitons,
and analyze how it may occur for dark solitons of the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger and generalized
Ablowitz-Ladik equations. [S0031-9007(98)08088-0
Modeling Epidemic Spread in Synthetic Populations - Virtual Plagues in Massively Multiplayer Online Games
A virtual plague is a process in which a behavior-affecting property spreads
among characters in a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG). The MMOG
individuals constitute a synthetic population, and the game can be seen as a
form of interactive executable model for studying disease spread, albeit of a
very special kind. To a game developer maintaining an MMOG, recognizing,
monitoring, and ultimately controlling a virtual plague is important,
regardless of how it was initiated. The prospect of using tools, methods and
theory from the field of epidemiology to do this seems natural and appealing.
We will address the feasibility of such a prospect, first by considering some
basic measures used in epidemiology, then by pointing out the differences
between real world epidemics and virtual plagues. We also suggest directions
for MMOG developer control through epidemiological modeling. Our aim is
understanding the properties of virtual plagues, rather than trying to
eliminate them or mitigate their effects, as would be in the case of real
infectious disease.Comment: Accepted for presentation at Digital Games Research Association
(DiGRA) conference in Tokyo in September 2007. All comments to the authors
(mail addresses are in the paper) are welcom
Gap and out-gap breathers in a binary modulated discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger model
We consider a modulated discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger (DNLS) model with
alternating on-site potential, having a linear spectrum with two branches
separated by a 'forbidden' gap. Nonlinear localized time-periodic solutions
with frequencies in the gap and near the gap -- discrete gap and out-gap
breathers (DGBs and DOGBs) -- are investigated. Their linear stability is
studied varying the system parameters from the continuous to the
anti-continuous limit, and different types of oscillatory and real
instabilities are revealed. It is shown, that generally DGBs in infinite
modulated DNLS chains with hard (soft) nonlinearity do not possess any
oscillatory instabilities for breather frequencies in the lower (upper) half of
the gap. Regimes of 'exchange of stability' between symmetric and antisymmetric
DGBs are observed, where an increased breather mobility is expected. The
transformation from DGBs to DOGBs when the breather frequency enters the linear
spectrum is studied, and the general bifurcation picture for DOGBs with tails
of different wave numbers is described. Close to the anti-continuous limit, the
localized linear eigenmodes and their corresponding eigenfrequencies are
calculated analytically for several gap/out-gap breather configurations,
yielding explicit proof of their linear stability or instability close to this
limit.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.
The Discrete Nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation - 20 Years on
We review work on the Discrete Nonlinear Schr\"odinger (DNLS) equation over
the last two decades.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure, Proceedings of the conference on "Localization
and Energy Transfer in Nonlinear Systems", June 17-21, 2002, San Lorenzo de
El Escorial, Madrid, Spain; to be published by World Scientifi
Institutional Effects on the Evolution of the Size Distribution of Firms
In this paper it is argued that the size distribution of firms may largely be determined by institutional factors. This hypothesis is tested in an exploratory fashion by studying the evolution of the size distribution of firms over time in Sweden for a period spanning from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. The data used is divided into finer size classes compared to most previous studies. This gives more scope for investigating the impact of institutions. Moreover, we use a unique data set, starting in 1984, to take account of corporate groups and government ownership. The analysis shows a poor development for intermediate-sized (10-199 employees) firms. This is likely to reflect the existence of a threshold that many firms are either unwilling or unable to cross. The analysis of the institutions and rules of the game determining the entrepreneurial and business conditions in Sweden indicate that the conditions have been unfavorable for small firms, and hence that too few small firms have managed to grow out of the smallest size classes. The conclusion is supported by an international comparison of the number of firms in different size classes. Data indicate that Sweden has fewer small (10-99) employees), and more large (500+) firms per capita than other European countries.Business taxation; Industrial policy; Industrial structure; Size distribution
Competencies and Institutions Fostering High-growth Firms
High-growth firms (HGFs) are critical for net job creation and economic growth. We analyze HGFs using the theory of competence blocs, linking firm growth to property rights and the interaction of complementary expertise. Specifically, we discuss how the institutional framework affects the prevalence and performance of HGFs. Firm growth is viewed as resulting from the perpetual discovery and use of productive knowledge. A key element in this process is the competence bloc, a nexus of economic actors with complementary competencies that are vital in order to generate and commercialize novel ideas. The institutional framework determines the incentives for these individuals to acquire and utilize knowledge. We identify a number of institutions that foster the emergence of competence blocs and the creation of HGFs. In particular, our analysis points to the pivotal roles played by tax structures, labor market regulation, and the contestability of currently closed service markets. Finally, we characterize institutions beneficial for sclerotic or dynamic capitalism, respectively, depending on whether they provide a favorable environment for the emergence of competence blocs and the creation of HGFs.Competence bloc; Dynamic capitalism; Entrepreneurship; Flyers; Gazelles; High-growth firms; Industrial policy; Innovation; Institutions; Labor security; Product market regulations; Property rights; Sclerotic capitalism; Self-employment; Tax policy.
Statistical mechanics of general discrete nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger models: Localization transition and its relevance for Klein-Gordon lattices
We extend earlier work [Phys.Rev.Lett. 84, 3740 (2000)] on the statistical
mechanics of the cubic one-dimensional discrete nonlinear Schrodinger (DNLS)
equation to a more general class of models, including higher dimensionalities
and nonlinearities of arbitrary degree. These extensions are physically
motivated by the desire to describe situations with an excitation threshold for
creation of localized excitations, as well as by recent work suggesting
non-cubic DNLS models to describe Bose-Einstein condensates in deep optical
lattices, taking into account the effective condensate dimensionality.
Considering ensembles of initial conditions with given values of the two
conserved quantities, norm and Hamiltonian, we calculate analytically the
boundary of the 'normal' Gibbsian regime corresponding to infinite temperature,
and perform numerical simulations to illuminate the nature of the localization
dynamics outside this regime for various cases. Furthermore, we show
quantitatively how this DNLS localization transition manifests itself for
small-amplitude oscillations in generic Klein-Gordon lattices of weakly coupled
anharmonic oscillators (in which energy is the only conserved quantity), and
determine conditions for existence of persistent energy localization over large
time scales.Comment: to be published in Physical Review
Firm Growth, Institutions and Structural Transformation
This essay argues that the economic contribution of certain firms – be they small, young or rapidly growing – has to be understood in a broader context of creative destruction. Growth of some firms requires contraction and exit of some other firms to free up resources that can be reallocated to expanding firms. Entry and expansion are flip sides to exit and contraction and the process through which the factors of production are put into different use defines structural transformation. We analyze institutions and policies conducive to structural transformation, in particular the expansion of high-growth firms (HGFs), since they have empirically been shown to contribute disproportionately to economic development. Firm growth is viewed as resulting from the continuous discovery and use of productive knowledge. Rapid firm growth requires a set of economic actors with complementary competencies that work together to identify and commercialize novel business ideas. The institutional framework determines the incentives for these individuals to acquire and utilize knowledge. We identify a number of institutions that encourage the creation of HGFs and promote structural transformation. In particular, our analysis points to the key roles played by tax structures, labor market regulation, and the contestability of service markets. Even in advanced economies, there is a large untapped economic potential which can be unleashed by institutional changes, such as the opening up of closed markets for entrepreneurial competition. However, there is no “quick-fix” that will boost the frequency of HGFs and structural transformation. Our analysis suggests that policymakers need to adopt a broad approach and implement a wide array of complementary institutional reforms to increase the prevalence of HGFs and to facilitate structural transformation.Entrepreneurship; Firm growth; Gazelles; High-growth firms; High-impact firms; Institutions; Job creation; Rapidly growing firms
Competencies and Institutions Fostering High-growth Firms
High-growth firms (HGFs) are critical for net job creation and economic growth. We analyze HGFs using the theory of competence blocs, linking firm growth to property rights and the interaction of complementary expertise. Specifically, we discuss how the institutional framework affects the prevalence and performance of HGFs. Firm growth is viewed as resulting from the perpetual discovery and use of productive knowledge. A key element in this process is the competence bloc, a nexus of economic actors with complementary competencies that are vital in order to generate and commercialize novel ideas. The institutional framework determines the incentives for these individuals to acquire and utilize knowledge. We identify a number of institutions that foster the emergence of competence blocs and the creation of HGFs. In particular, our analysis points to the pivotal roles played by tax structures, labor market regulation, and the contestability of currently closed service markets. Finally, we characterize institutions beneficial for sclerotic or dynamic capitalism, respectively, depending on whether they provide a favorable environment for the emergence of competence blocs and the creation of HGFs.Competence Bloc; Dynamic Capitalism; Entrepreneurship; Flyers; Gazelles; High-growth Firms; Industrial Policy; Innovation; Institutions; Labor Security; Product Market Regulations; Property Rights; Sclerotic Capitalism; Self-employment; Tax Policy
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