Optimization technique based on learning automata

Optimization techniques are finding increasingly numerous applications in process design, in parallel to the increase of computer sophistication. The process synthesis problem can be stated as a largescale constrained optimization problem involving numerous local optima and presenting a nonlinear and nonconvex character. To solve this kind of problem, the classical optimization methods can lead to analytical and numerical difficulties. This paper describes the feasibility of an optimization technique based on learning systems which can take into consideration all the prior information concerning the process to be optimized and improve their behavior with time. This information generally occurs in a very complex analytical, empirical, or know-how form. Computer simulations related to chemical engineering problems (benzene chlorination, distillation sequence) and numerical examples are presented. The results illustrate both the performance and the implementation simplicity of this method.Nomenclature c _i penalty probability - cp precision parameter on constraints - D variation domain of the variablex - f(·) objective function - g(·) constraints - i,j indexes - k iteration number - N number of actions - P probability distribution vector - p _i ith component of the vectorP as iterationk - r number of reactors in the flowsheet - u(k) discrete value or action chosen by the algorithm at iterationk - u _i discrete value of the optimization variable in [u _min,u _max] - u _min lowest value of the optimization variable - u _max largest value of the optimization variable - Z random number - x variable for the criterion function - xp precision parameter on criterion function - W(k) performance index unit output at iterationk - ₀, ₁ reinforcement scheme parameters - _p sum of the probability distribution vector components     

A quasi double-grating grazing incidence pulsed dye laser

Continuous scanning of a 1 GHz pulsed laser line using only one 5-cm grating as an intracavity selective element is obtained from a pulsed dye laser pumped by a Nd: YAG (8 ns-532 nm) laser. Such a single-grating dye laser operates in the same way as a real double-grating grazing incidence laser and provides an appreciable improvement of the resolution (enhancement factor 2), compared with previous grazing incidence ones. The superiority of this laser cavity has been proved for single-longitudinal-mode operation.Laboratoire associé à l'Université de Paris-Sud     

Sur une conjecture de M. Kac

Summary We consider the following heat conduction problem. Let K be a compact set in Euclidean space ³. Suppose that K is held at the temperature 1, while the surrounding medium is at the temperature 0 at time 0. Following Spitzer we investigate the asymptotic behaviour of the integral E _K (t) which represents the total energy flow in time t from the set K to the surrounding medium ³–K. An asymptotic expansion is given for E _K (t) which refines a theorem due to Spitzer. This expansion also verifies and improves a formal calculation of Kac. Similar results are proved in higher dimensions. Up to the constant m(K), the quantity E _K (t) can be interpreted as the expected value of the volume of the Wiener sausage associated with K and a d-dimensional Brownian motion. This point of view both plays a major role in the proofs and leads to a probabilistic interpretation of the different terms of the expansion.     

Multi-quark structure ofU(3.1)

We interpret the recently observedU(3.1) mesons with the \(\Lambda \bar p\) + pions decays as the bound state of \(\Lambda ,\bar p\) andX ₀(1480). TheX ₀(1480) is a mesonium with \(Q^2 \bar Q^2 \) structures observed in γγ reactions and \(\bar pn\) annihilations. With this interpretation, we can understand its decay modes. Furthermore, we predict the ratio of \(\sigma (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ - )/\sigma (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ + )\) to be ?3.1 for centrally produced events and that the width of \(U^ - (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ - )\) to be greater than that of \(U^ + (\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ + \pi ^ + )\) . Both predictions seem to be in reasonable accord with the available data. We call for the detection of the \(\Lambda \bar p\pi ^ - \pi ^ - \) mode to verify the present interpretation.