A strategy for choosing Gegenbauer reconstruction parameters for numerical stability

The Gegenbauer reconstruction method was first proposed in 1992, but in early studies no attempts were made to optimize the relevant parameters of this method. These parameters were allowed to grow proportionally with the number of nodes which, in many cases, resulted in exponential convergence for a selected range of the proportionality constants. Early studies also made clear that very large error bounds could be expected if these key parameters were not chosen carefully. Subsequent studies then pointed out that, although unrelated to the method’s analytically predictable domains of poor accuracy, round-off errors could also sabotage the method’s accuracy. The challenge of successfully implementing a Gegenbauer reconstruction then rests on understanding the performance trade-offs we can expect when choosing the key parameters in accordance with different objectives.In this study, we propose a new strategy for choosing optimal parameters in the Chebyshev-Gegenbauer reconstruction method, specifically to achieve numerical stability. This strategy is based on asymptotic analysis as well as minimization problems in one and two dimensions. The effectiveness of our approach, which could also be applied to a wider selection of polynomials is then illustrated with results from numerical experiments.     

The cutoff phenomenon for randomized riffle shuffles

We study the cutoff phenomenon for generalized riffle shuffles where, at each step, the deck of cards is cut into a random number of packs of multinomial sizes which are then riffled together. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2008     

C 1,α-solutions to non-autonomous anisotropic variational problems

We establish several smoothness results for local minimizers of non-autonomous variational integrals with anisotropic growth conditions. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 49N60, 49N99     

Digital total variation filtering as postprocessing for Chebyshev pseudospectral methods for conservation laws

Digital total variation filtering is analyzed as a fast, robust, post-processing method for accelerating the convergence of pseudospectral approximations that have been contaminated by Gibbs oscillations. The method, which originated in image processing, can be combined with spectral filters to quickly post-process large data sets with sharp resolution of discontinuities and with exponential accuracy away from the discontinuities.     

Energy Transfers in a System of Two Coupled Oscillators with Essential Nonlinearity: 1:1 Resonance Manifold and Transient Bridging Orbits

The purpose of this study is to highlight and explain the vigorous energy transfers that may take place in a linear oscillator weakly coupled to an essentially nonlinear attachment, termed a nonlinear energy sink. Although these energy exchanges are encountered during the transient dynamics of the damped system, it is shown that the dynamics can be interpreted mainly in terms of the periodic orbits of the underlying Hamiltonian system. To this end, a frequency-energy plot gathering the periodic orbits of the system is constructed which demonstrates that, thanks to a 1:1 resonance capture, energy can be irreversibly and almost completely transferred from the linear oscillator to the nonlinear attachment. Furthermore, it is observed that this nonlinear energy pumping is triggered by the excitation of transient bridging orbits compatible with the nonlinear attachment being initially at rest, a common feature in most practical applications. A parametric study of the energy exchanges is also performed to understand the influence of the parameters of the nonlinear energy sink. Finally, the results of experimental measurements supporting the theoretical developments are discussed. This study was carried out while the author was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Technical University of Athens and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.     

Quenching phenomenon of a time‐fractional diffusion equation with singular source term

In this paper, a time‐fractional diffusion equation with singular source term is considered. The Caputo fractional derivative with order 0<α ?1 is applied to the temporal variable. Under specific initial and boundary conditions, we find that the time‐fractional diffusion equation presents quenching solution that is not globally well‐defined as time goes to infinity. The quenching time is estimated by using the eigenfunction of linear fractional diffusion equation. Moreover, by implementing a finite difference scheme, we give some numerical simulations to demonstrate the theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Point-source spark shadowgraphy at the historic birthplace of supersonic transportation

About a decade after its foundation, the most advanced ballistics laboratory in Germany at the time, the Kruppsche Schiessplatz, was utilized by Ernst Mach in 1888. His intent was to validate his pioneering shock wave research using military shells as supersonic vehicles. The 125th anniversary of the Schiessplatz was celebrated in 2002. Along with Machs research, it served to initiate the field of supersonic transportation technology. The specific subject of this paper is the application of point-source spark shadowgraphy at the same laboratory in the 1970s to visualize gas flow over aeroballistic projectiles. However, different from Machs original interest, the new purpose of spark photography at that time in the ballistic ranges of the German Bundeswehr was to find technical solutions to aeroballistic problems when field-testing gave incomplete answers. Both a qualitative and a quantitative understanding of the principles of aeroballistics were sought in this research.Received: 3 February 2003, Accepted: 30 June 2003, Published online: 2 September 2003An abridged version of this paper was presented at the 13th American Physical Society Topical Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter at Portland, Oregon, from July 20 to 25, 2003     

Direct analysis of anabolic steroids in urine using Leidenfrost phenomenon assisted thermal desorption-dielectric barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry

Rapid detection of trace level anabolic steroids in urine is highly desirable to monitor the consumption of performance enhancing anabolic steroids by athletes. The present article describes a novel strategy for identifying the trace anabolic steroids in urine using Leidenfrost phenomenon assisted thermal desorption (LPTD) coupled to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) ionization mass spectrometry. Using this method the steroid molecules are enriched within a liquid droplet during the thermal desorption process and desorbed all-together at the last moment of droplet evaporation in a short time domain. The desorbed molecules were ionized using a dielectric barrier discharge ion-source in front of the mass spectrometer inlet at open atmosphere. This process facilitates the sensitivity enhancement with several orders of magnitude compared to the thermal desorption at a lower temperature. The limits of detection (LODs) of various steroid molecules were found to be in the range of 0.05–0.1 ng mL⁻¹ for standard solutions and around two orders of magnitude higher for synthetic urine samples. The detection limits of urinary anabolic steroids could be lowered by using a simple and rapid dichloromethane extraction technique. The analytical figures of merit of this technique were evaluated at open atmosphere using suitable internal standards. The technique is simple and rapid for high sensitivity and high throughput screening of anabolic steroids in urine.     

STABILITY OF EQUILIBRIA OF NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS

We provide an analytical study on the stability of equilibria of rigid rodlike nematic liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) governed by the Smoluchowski equation with the Maier-Saupe intermolecular potential. We simplify the expression of the free energy of an orientational distribution function of rodlike LCP molecules by properly selecting a coordinate system and then investigate its stability with respect to perturbations of orientational probability density. By computing the Hessian matrix explicitly, we are able to prove the hysteresis phenomenon of nematic LCPs: when the normalized polymer concentration b is below a critical value b*(6.7314863965), the only equilibrium state is isotropic and it is stable; when b*< b < 15/2, two anisotropic (prolate) equilibrium states occur together with a stable isotropic equilibrium state. Here the more aligned prolate state is stable whereas the less aligned prolate state is unstable. When b > 15/2, there are three equilibrium states: a stable prolate state, an unstable isotropic state and an unstable oblate state.     

卷积算子的Gibbs现象

本文建立了一般卷积算子在函数的第一类间断点处有Gibbs现象的刻画定理,并且给出了某些例子.