Out of Equilibrium Correlations in the XY Chain

We study the transversal spin–spin correlations in the non-equilibrium steady state of the XY chain constructed by coupling a finite cutout of the chain to the two infinite parts to its left and right acting as thermal reservoirs at different temperatures. We prove that the spatial decay of these correlations is at least exponentially fast.     

Global and local optimization using radial basis function response surface models

The focus of this paper is the optimization of complex multi-parameter systems. We consider systems in which the objective function is not known explicitly, and can only be evaluated through computationally intensive numerical simulation or through costly physical experiments. The objective function may also contain many local extrema which may be of interest. Given objective function values at a scattered set of parameter values, we develop a response surface model that can dramatically reduce the required computation time for parameter optimization runs. The response surface model is developed using radial basis functions, producing a model whose objective function values match those of the original system at all sampled data points. Interpolation to any other point is easily accomplished and generates a model which represents the system over the entire parameter space. This paper presents the details of the use of radial basis functions to transform scattered data points, obtained from a complex continuum mechanics simulation of explosive materials, into a response surface model of a function over the given parameter space. Response surface methodology and radial basis functions are discussed in general and are applied to a global optimization problem for an explosive oil well penetrator.     

The Orevkov invariant of an affine plane curve

We show that although the fundamental group of the complement of an algebraic affine plane curve is not easy to compute, it possesses a more accessible quotient, which we call the Orevkov invariant.