A solvable model exhibiting a glass-like transition

A nonlinear equation of motion of an overdamped oscillator exhibiting a glass-like transition at a critical coupling constant _c is presented and solved exactly. Below _c , in the fluid phase, the oscillator coordinatex(t) decays to zero, while above _c , in the amorphous phase, it decays to a nonzero infinite time limit. Near _c the motion is slowed down by a nonlinear feedback mechanism andx(t) decays exponentially to its long time limit with a relaxation time diverging as (1 – / _c )^–3/2 and (/ _c –1)^–1 for < _c and > _c respectively. At _c x(t) exhibits a power law decay proportional tot ^– with exponent -1/2.     

Rigorous Spectral Analysis of the Metal–Insulator Transition in a Limit-Periodic Potential

We consider the limit-periodic Jacobi matrices associated with the real Julia sets of f (z)=z ²– for which [2, ) can be seen as the strength of the limit-periodic coefficients. The typical local spectral exponent of their spectral measures is shown to be a harmonic function in decreasing logarithmically from 1 to 0.     

Schrödinger Operators with Empty Singularly Continuous Spectra

Let H be a semibounded perturbation of the Laplacian H ₀ in L ²( ^d ). For an admissible function sufficient conditions are given for the completeness of the scattering system (H), (H ₀). If is the exponential function and if e^{– H} is an integral operator we denote the kernel of the difference D = e^{– H} – e^{– H} ₀ by D (x, y), > 0. The singularly continuous spectrum of H is empty if^d dx ^d dy |D(x,y)| (1 + |y|²)< for some > 1. This result is applied to potential perturbations and to perturbations by imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions.     

Massive spin-two particle in a gravitational field

The spin-two particle is described by a symmetric tensorh subject to the subsidiary conditionsh = h =0. Their covariant generalization and the wave equation have been obtained directly from the Eulerian variational equations by algebraic methods only. In addition to the tensor fieldh a symmetric third-rank tensor = as well as a vector fieldA have been added, neither of which enter in the final result. The Lagrangian function is taken as a linear sum of all combinations which can be constructed from these functions, as well as terms involving the curvature tensor and its two possible contractions. Variation with respect toh , andA independently gives the Euler equations. Combining the various trace equations and choice of arbitrary constants yields the subsidiary conditions, while the Euler equations themselves give the connection between the auxiliary functions and the tensorh as well as the generalization of the wave equationD D h + 2R h -R h -R h +g R h +Rh =m ² h Finally, variation with respect tog yields the energy-momentum tensor.     

Anderson localization for the almost Mathieu equation: A nonperturbative proof

We prove that for any diophantine rotation angle and a.e. phase the almost Mathieu operator (H()) _n = _n–1 + _n+1 +cos(2(+n)) _n has pure point spectrum with exponentially decaying eigenfunctions for 15. We also prove the existence of some pure point spectrum for any 5.4.     

Energy level crossings in quantum mechanics

From the eigenvalue equationH \ _n () =E _n ()\ _n () withH H ₀ +V one can derive an autonomous system of first order differential equations for the eigenvaluesE _n () and the matrix elementsV _mn () where is the independent variable. To solve the dynamical system we need the initial valuesE _n ( = 0) and \ _n ( = 0). Thus one finds the motion of the energy levelsE _n (). We discuss the question of energy level crossing. Furthermore we describe the connection with the stationary state perturbation theory. The dependence of the survival probability as well as some thermodynamic quantities on is derived. This means we calculate the differential equations which these quantities obey. Finally we derive the equations of motion for the extended caseH =H ₀ +V ₁ + ² V ₂ and give an application to a supersymmetric Hamiltonian.     

Calculation and optimization of parameters of radiating distributed feedback structures

A simple method is suggested for calculation of reflection, radiation and transmission coefficients for the distributed feedback structure in the second diffraction order. The method is based on a slight difference between coefficients of reflectionR and radiationI of the surface wave for = (where is the light wavelength corresponding to a precise resonance for the grating length I) and those for =_l (where _l is the light wavelength corresponding to the resonance for the finite grating length). The simplicity of the method makes it possible to use it for optimization of the distributed feedback structure by a number of parameters. The technique can be used in the case of thin-film and diffused waveguides for both TE and TM modes.     

Geometry and combinatorics of Julia sets of real quadratic maps

For real a correspondence is made between the Julia setB forz(z–)², in the hyperbolic case, and the set of-chains±(±(±..., with the aid of Cremer's theorem. It is shown how a number of features ofB can be understood in terms of-chains. The structure ofB is determined by certain equivalence classes of-chains, fixed by orders of visitation of certain real cycles; and the bifurcation history of a given cycle can be conveniently computed via the combinatorics of-chains. The functional equations obeyed by attractive cycles are investigated, and their relation to-chains is given. The first cascade of period-doubling bifurcations is described from the point of view of the associated Julia sets and-chains. Certain Julia sets associated with the Feigenbaum function and some theorems of Lanford are discussed.Supported by NSF grant No. MCS-8104862.Supported by NSF grant No. MCS-8203325.     

Asymptotic Characteristics of the Evolution of Polarization of Nonmonochromatic Radiation in Single-Mode Optical Fibers with a Random Twisting of Axes of Linear Birefringence. I. Limiting of Polarization in an Infinitely Long Fiber

We reduce the problem of finding the limiting value of the fiber-ensemble averaged degree of radiation polarization of in an infinitely long optical fiber to the problem of distributions (including joint distributions) of random complex amplitudes E(,z) of the electric field in an optical wave for different wavelengths and the fiber length z tending to infinity. We prove that the random complex vector E(,z) is uniformly distributed on a three-dimensional sphere if z. It is also proved that the random vectors E(₁,z) and E(₂,z) are independent if ₁₂ and z, whence it follows that their joint distribution is entirely determined by the distribution of each of them. The result obtained allows us to find the limiting average values of various quantities describing the radiation upon passing an optical fiber with a random twisting of the anisotropy axes. In particular, on the basis of this result, we show that the average degree of polarization of incoherent radiation upon passing a fiber with such random irregularities tends to zero as the optical-fiber length goes to infinity.     

On the invariant sets of a family of quadratic maps

The Julia setB for the mappingz (z–)² is considered, where is a complex parameter. For 2 a new upper bound for the Hausdorff dimension is given, and the monic polynomials orthogonal with respect to the equilibrium measure onB are introduced. A method for calculating all of the polynomials is provided, and certain identities which obtain among coefficients of the three-term recurrence relations are given. A unifying theme is the relationship betweenB and -chains ± (± (± ...), which is explored for –1/42 and for with ||1/4, with the aid of the Böttcher equation. ThenB is shown to be a Hölder continuous curve for ||<1/4.Supported by NSF Grant MCS-8104862Supported by NSF Grant MCS-8002731     

Trapping and cascading of eigenvalues in the large coupling limit

We consider eigenvaluesE of the HamiltonianH =–+V+W,W compactly supported, in the limit. ForW0 we find monotonic convergence ofE to the eigenvalues of a limiting operatorH (associated with an exterior Dirichlet problem), and we estimate the rate of convergence for 1-dimensional systems. In 1-dimensional systems withW0, or withW changing sign, we do not find convergence. Instead, we find a cascade phenomenon, in which, as , each eigenvalueE stays near a Dirichlet eigenvalue for a long interval (of lengthO( )) of the scaling range, quickly drops to the next lower Dirichlet eigenvalue, stays there for a long interval, drops again, and so on. As a result, for most large values of the discrete spectrum ofH is close to that ofE , but when reaches a transition region, the entire spectrum quickly shifts down by one. We also explore the behavior of several explicit models, as .Max Kade Foundation FellowPartially supported by USNSF under Grant DMS-8416049On leave of absence from Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Partially supported by USNSF under Grant DMS-8620231 and the Case Institute of Technology, RIG     

Theory of fluctuations in limit-cycles of second-order bifurcation type

The fluctuations in limit cycles of second-order bifurcation (transition from a stable to an unstable focus) are investigated near the bifurcation point _c, being an external control parameter. Two different methods are applied: a time- and space-dependent Fokker-Planck equation obtained from an ^1/2-expansion of the master equation ( being the volume) and a time- and space-dependent Langevin equation. Both methods give the same results. It is shown that the dependence of the radial correlation on ² = | – _c| and the time-behaviour of the phase correlation (ensemble dephasing) are determined by the dimensionality of space.     

Purely absolutely continuous spectrum for almost Mathieu operators

Using a recent result of Sinai, we prove that the almost Mathieu operators acting onl ²(), (l _Y, )(n) = (l+1)+(l–)+ cos(n+) (n) have a purely absolutely continuous spectrum for almost all a provided that is a good irrational and is sufficiently small. Furthermore, the generalized eigen-functions are quasiperiodic.     

The asymmetric contact process on a finite set

The contact process onZ has one phase transition; let _c be the critical value at which the transition occurs. Let _N be the extinction time of the contact process on {0,...,N}. Durrett and Liu (1988), Durrett and Schonmann (1988), and Durrett, Schonmann, and Tanaka (1989) have respectively proved that the subcritical, supercritical, and critical phases can be characterized using a large finite system (instead ofZ) in the following way. There are constants ₁() and ₂() such that if < _c , lim _{N N} /logN = 1/₁(); if > _c , lim _N log _N /N = ₂(); if = _c , lim _{N N} /N= and lim _{N N} /N ⁴=0 in probability. In this paper we consider the asymmetric contact process onZ when it has two distinct critical values _c1< _c2. The arguments of Durrett and Liu and of Durrett and Schonmann hold for < _c1 and > _c2. We show that for [ _c1< _c2), lim _{N N} /N=-1/, (where _i is an edge speed) and for = _c2, lim _N log _N /logN=2 in probability.     

The asymmetric contact process at its second critical value

The asymmetric contact process onZ has two distinct critical values ₁ > ₂ (at least with sufficient asymmetry). One can consider the process on {0,...,N} and analyze the time (which we call _N ) till complete vacany starting from complete occupation. Its behavior has already been resolved for all regions of except for =₂. For this value, Schinazi proved that lim _N log _N /logN=2 in probability and conjectured that _N /N ² converges in distribution. It is that result that we prove in this paper. We rely heavily on the Brownian motion behavior of the edge particle, which comes from Galves and Presutti and Kuczek.     

The S-matrix for abstract scattering systems

Let S() be the S-matrix at energy for an abstract scattering system. We derive a bound, in terms of the interaction, on integrals of the form h () S()- _HS ² d, where denotes the Hilbert-Schmidt norm.Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

Quantitative universality for a class of nonlinear transformations

A large class of recursion relationsx _{n + 1} = f(x_n) exhibiting infinite bifurcation is shown to possess a rich quantitative structure essentially independent of the recursion function. The functions considered all have a unique differentiable maximum . With sufficiently small),z > 1, the universal details depend only uponz. In particular, the local structure of high-order stability sets is shown to approach universality, rescaling in successive bifurcations, asymptotically by the ratio ( = 2.5029078750957... forz = 2). This structure is determined by a universal functiong ^*(x), where the 2ⁿth iterate off,f ⁽ⁿ⁾, converges locally to ^–n g ^*( ⁿ x) for largen. For the class off's considered, there exists a _n such that a 2ⁿ-point stable limit cycle including exists; – _n R~ ^–n ( = 4.669201609103... forz = 2). The numbers and have been computationally determined for a range ofz through their definitions, for a variety off's for eachz. We present a recursive mechanism that explains these results by determiningg ^* as the fixed-point (function) of a transformation on the class off's. At present our treatment is heuristic. In a sequel, an exact theory is formulated and specific problems of rigor isolated.Research performed under the auspices of the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration.     

Realization of holonomic constraints and freezing of high frequency degrees of freedom in the light of classical perturbation theory. Part II

As in Part I of this paper, we consider the problem of the energy exchanges between two subsystems, of which one is a system of harmonic oscillators, while the other one is any dynamical system ofn degrees of freedom. Such a problem is of interest both for the realization of holonomic constraints of classical mechanics, and for the freezing of the internal degrees of freedom in molecular collisions. The results of Part I, which referred to the particular case =1, are here extended to the more difficult case >1. For the rate of energy transfer we find exponential estimates of Nekhoroshev's type, namely of the form exp (_*/)^1/a , where is a positive real number giving the size of the involved frequencies, and _* anda are constants. For the particularly relevant constanta we find in generala=1/ however, in the particular case when the frequencies are equal (collision of identical molecules), we finda=1 independently of , as conjectured by Jeans in the year 1903.     

Painlevé test and energy level motion

From the eigenvalue H|_n()=E_n() |_n(), where HH₀+V, one can derive an autonomous system of first-order differential equations for the eigenvaluesE _n() and the matrix elements V_mn(), where is the independent variable. We perform a Painlevé test for this system and discuss the connection with integrability. It turns out that the equations of motion do not pass the Painlevé test, but a weaker form. The first integrals are polynomials and can be related to the Kowalewski exponents.     

The Landau-Lifshitz equation,elliptic curves and the ward transform

The Landau-Lifshitz (LL) equation is studied from a point of view that is close to that of Segal and Wilson's work on KdV. The LL hierarchy is defined and shown to exist using a dressing transformation that involves parameters ₁, ₂, ₃ that live on an elliptic curve . The crucial role of the groupK ₂ × ₂ of translations by the half-periods of and its non-trivial central extension is brought out and an analogue of Birkhoff factorisation for -equivariant loops in is given. This factorisation theorem is given two treatments, one in terms of the geometry of an infinite-dimensional Grassmannian, and the other in terms of the algebraic geometry of bundles over . Further, a Ward-like transform between a class of holomorphic vector bundles on the total spaceZ of a line-bundle over and solutions of LL is constructed. An appendix is devoted to a careful definition of the Grassmannian of the Frechet spaceC (S ¹).