Nonclassical equations of state for critical and tricritical points

We develop a method by which certain classical equations of state may be modified to produce nonclassical critical scaling behavior. We then apply this method to the classical free energy describing a tricritical point that was originally introduced by Griffiths. The phase behavior of the resulting nonclassical free energy is characterized by the competition between critical scaling and tricritical scaling already envisioned by previous authors.Work supported by the National Science Foundation and the Cornell University Materials Science Center.Footnotes 3–10 of Ref. 1 provide a comprehensive list of experimental investigations of tricritical points in fluid mixtures.     

Hydrodynamical limit for a Hamiltonian system with weak noise

Starting from a general hamiltonian system with superstable pairwise potential, we construct a stochastic dynamics by adding a noise term which exchanges the momenta of nearby particles. We prolve that, in the scaling limit, the time conserved quantities, energy, momenta and density, satisfy the Euler equation of conservation laws up to a fixed timet provided that the Euler equation has a smooth solution with a given initial data up to timet. The strength of the noise term is chosen to be very small (but nonvanishing) so that it disappears in the scaling limit.Research partially supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants DMS 89001682, DMS 920-1222 and a grant from ARO, DAAL03-92-G-0317Research partially supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants DMS-9101196, DMS-9100383, and PHY-9019433-A01, Sloan Foundation Fellowship and David and Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowship     

Critical point inequalities and scaling limits

A refined and extended version of the Buckingham-Gunton inequality relating various pairs of critical exponents is shown to be valid for a large class of statistical mechanical models. If this inequality is an equality (in the refined sense) and one of the critical exponents has a non-Gaussian value, then any scaling limit must be non-Gaussian. This result clarifies the relationship between the nontriviality or triviality of the scaling limit for ordinary critical points in four dimensions (or tricritical points in three dimensions) and the existence of logarithmic factors in the asymptotics which define the two critical exponents.Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow. Research supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant MCS 77-20683     

Pair function for the rectangular Ising ferromagnet

A representation of the pair correlation function for the rectangular Ising model in zero magnetic field is derived using a new spinor technique; this enables the scaling limit to be established, as well as several analytical properties of the scaling functions.Supported by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique, by the National Science Foundation Grant No. PHY76-17191, and by the National Research Council of Canada Grant No. NRC A9344     

The Analyticity Breakdown for Frenkel-Kontorova Models in Quasi-periodic Media: Numerical Explorations

We study numerically the “analyticity breakdown” transition in 1-dimensional quasi-periodic media. This transition corresponds physically to the transition between pinned down and sliding ground states. Mathematically, it corresponds to the solutions of a functional equation losing their analyticity properties. We implemented some recent numerical algorithms that are efficient and backed up by rigorous results so that we can compute with confidence even close to the breakdown. We have uncovered several phenomena that we believe deserve a theoretical explanation: (A) The transition happens in a smooth surface. (B) There are scaling relations near breakdown. (C) The scaling near breakdown is very anisotropic. Derivatives in different directions blow up at different rates. Similar phenomena seem to happen in other KAM problems.     

A harmonious unifying hybrid preferential model and its universal properties for complex dynamical networks

To describe the real world which is a harmonious unification world with both de- terminism and randomness, we propose a harmonious unifying hybrid preferential model (HUHPM) of a certain class of complex dynamical networks. HUHPM is gov- erned only by the total hybrid ratio d/r according to the practical need. As some typical examples, the concepts and methods of the HUHPM are applied to the un-weighted BA model proposed by Barabási et al., the weighted BBV model pro- posed by Barat et al. and the weighted TDE model proposed by Wang et al. to get the so-called HUHPM-BA network, HUHPM-BBV network and HUHPM-TDE network. These HUHPM networks are investigated both analytically and numerically. It is found that the HUHPM reveals several universal properties, which more approach to the real-world networks for both un-weighted and weighted networks and have potential for applications.     

Functional equations for circle homeomorphisms with golden ratio rotation number

The investigation of a scaling limit for mappings of the circle to itself with golden ratio rotation number leads to a pair of functional equations with at least a formal resemblance to the functional equation using the accumulation of period-doubling bifurcations. We discuss the general theory of these functional equations, assuming that solutions exist.Work supported in part by the National Science Foundation.     

Nonlinear diffusion limit for a system with nearest neighbor interactions

We consider a system of interacting diffusions. The variables are to be thought of as charges at sites indexed by a periodic one-dimensional lattice. The diffusion preserves the total charge and the interaction is of nearest neighbor type. With the appropriate scaling of lattice spacing and time, a nonlinear diffusion equation is derived for the time evolution of the macroscopic charge density.Work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants no. DMS 8600233 and DMS 8701895     

Statistical mechanics of two-dimensional vortices

Equilibrium statistics of a cluster of a large number of positive two-dimensional point vortices in an infinite region and the associated thermodynamic functions, exhibiting negative temperatures, are evaluated analytically and numerically from a microcanonical ensemble. Extensive numerical simulations of vortex motion are performed to verify the predicted equilibrium configurations. An application of Kubo's linear response theory is used to study the nonequilibrium situation that results from placing a cluster, of vortices in a weak external velocity field, such as that produced by a distant vortex cluster. The weak field causes the cluster to grow in size as if there were an effective positive eddy viscosity. When a number of clusters interact, the effect is for each to grow while the distances between them decrease with time. The latter effect is an exhibit of negative viscosity. The application of this to the motion of the atmosphere is discussed.Supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant GK-40263.Advanced Study Program, National Center for Atmospheric Research (sponsored by the National Science Foundation).     

Differentiability at the Tip of Arnold Tongues for Diophantine Rotations: Numerical Studies and Renormalization Group Explanations

We study numerically the regularity of Arnold tongues corresponding to Diophantine rotation numbers of circle maps at the edge of validity of KAM theorem. This serves as a good test for the numerical stability of two different algorithms. We find empirically that Arnold tongues are only finitely differentiable at the tip. We also find several scaling properties of the Sobolev norms of the conjugacy near the breakdown. We also provide a renormalization group explanation of the regularity at the tip and the scaling behaviors of the Sobolev regularity. We also uncover empirically some other patterns which require explanation.     

Phase transitions in lattice gas models for water

Water-like lattice gases on the triangular and body-centered cubic lattices are investigated. Molecules may reside on the lattice sites in either of two possible orientations, a hydrogen bond being formed between molecules on neighboring sites if they have the proper orientation with respect to one another. For a range of chemical potential at sufficiently low temperatures, the models are shown to have an ordered phase consisting of an open, hydrogen-bonded, icelike structure. The models are shown to be transitionfree at sufficiently high temperature, indicating the existence of a critical point.Research supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Grant CHE-7726177, and by The Robert A. Welch Foundation, Grant P-446.     

Lattice gas generalization of the hard hexagon model. II. The local densities as elliptic functions

In a previous paper we considered an extension of the hard hexagon model to a solvable two-dimensional lattice gas with at most two particles per pair of adjacent sites. Here we use various mathematical identities (in particular Gordon's generalization of the Rogers-Ramanujan relations) to express the local densities in terms of elliptic functions. The critical behavior is then readily obtained.Supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant MCS 8201733.     

Normal fluctuations and the FKG inequalities

In a translation invariant pure phase of a ferromagnet, finite susceptibility and the FKG inequalities together imply convergence of the block spin scaling limit to the infinite temperature Gaussian fixed point. This result is presented in a rather general probabilistic context and is applicable to infinite cluster density fluctuations in percolation models and to boson field fluctuations in (Euclidean) Yukawa quantum field theory models as well as to magnetization fluctuations in Ising models.Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, on leave from Indiana University. Research supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant MCS 77-20683 and by the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation     

A Statistical Approach to the Asymptotic Behavior of a Class of Generalized Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations

A statistical relaxation phenomenon is studied for a general class of dispersive wave equations of nonlinear Schrödinger-type which govern non-integrable, non-singular dynamics. In a bounded domain the solutions of these equations have been shown numerically to tend in the long-time limit toward a Gibbsian statistical equilibrium state consisting of a ground-state solitary wave on the large scales and Gaussian fluctuations on the small scales. The main result of the paper is a large deviation principle that expresses this concentration phenomenon precisely in the relevant continuum limit. The large deviation principle pertains to a process governed by a Gibbs ensemble that is canonical in energy and microcanonical in particle number. Some supporting Monte-Carlo simulations of these ensembles are also included to show the dependence of the concentration phenomenon on the properties of the dispersive wave equation, especially the high frequency growth of the dispersion relation. The large deviation principle for the process governed by the Gibbs ensemble is based on a large deviation principle for Gaussian processes, for which two independent proofs are given.This research was supported in part by grants from the Department of Energy (DE-FG02-99ER25376) and from the National Science Foundation (NSF-DMS-0202309)This research was partially supported by a Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation.This research was supported in part by grants from the Department of Energy (DE-FG02-99ER25376) and from the National Science Foundation (NSF-DMS-0207064).     

Hyperfine experiments on magnetic critical phenomena

The application of hyperfine techniques to the study of magnetic critical phenomena is selectively reviewed. Topics discussed are probe independence, the test of universality via measurements of static exponents, static exponents in disordered systems, and dynamic critical phenomena.Work supported in part by the National Science Foundation.     

First-principles study of interphase Ni3Sn in Sn--Ni alloy for anode of lithium ion battery

This paper investigates the mechanism of Li insertion into interphase Ni3Sn in Ni-Sn alloy for the anode of lithium ion battery by means of the first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential. Compared with other phases, it is found that the Ni3Sn has larger relative expansion ratio and lower electrochemical potential, with its specific plateaus voltage around 0.3 eV when lithium atoms are filled in all octahedral interstitial sites, and the relative expansion ratio increasing dramatically when the lithiated phase transits from octahedral interstitial sites to tetrahedral interstitial sites. So this phase is a devastating phase for whole alloy electrode materials.     

Nucleation near a critical temperature

In this paper we extend the conventional theory of nucleation to take in the effects of excluded-volume interference between the precritical droplets present prior to phase transformation. It is shown that, close to the critical point, the effect of excluded volume is to cause a sizable increase in the surface free energy of the critical nucleus. A corresponding increase in the barrier to nucleation explains the large undercoolings achieveable experimentally in this region. Our results are compared with recent experimental measurements of Heady and Cahn and favorable agreement is found.Supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant NSF CHE 76-21297.     

A generalized Lorenz system

A 14-dimensional generalized Lorenz system of ordinary differential equations is constructed and its bifurcation sequence is then studied numerically. Several fundamental differences are found which serve to distinguish this model from Lorenz's original one, the most unexpected of which is a family of invariant two-tori whose ultimate bifurcation leads to a strange attractor. The strange attractor seems to have many of the gross features observed in Lorenz's model and therefore is an excellent candidate for a higher dimensional analogue.On leave from Department of Mathematics, Howard University, Washington, DC, USAThe National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation     

Equilibrium statistics of a vortex filament with applications

The thermodynamic functions and scaling exponents (including the Kolmogorov and Flory exponents) of a vortex filament in thermal equilibrium are calculated, giving a quantitative content to earlier qualitative analyses. The numerical results uncover a percolation property of vortex filaments near the maximum entropy state. The implications of the results for the onset of turbulence, for the structure of its inertial range, and for superfluid vortices are discussed. In particular, it is shown that vortex stretching pushes a vortex system to a polymeric state and a Kolmogorov spectrum.This work was supported in part by the Applied Mathematical Sciences subprogram of the Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract DE-AC03-76SF-00098, and in part by the National Science Foundation under grant number DMS89-19074     

The hydrothermal wave of large-Prandtl-number fluid in a shallow cavity

The hydrothermal wave was investigated numerically for large-Prandtl-number fluid (Pr = 105.6) in a shallow cavity with different heated sidewalls. The traveling wave appears and propagates in the direction opposite to the surface flow (upstream) in the case of zero gravity when the applied temperature difference grows and over the critical value. The phase relationships of the disturbed velocity, temperature and pressure demonstrate that the traveling wave is driven by the disturbed temperature, which is named hydrothermal wave. The hydrothermal wave is so weak that the oscillatory flow field and temperature distribution can hardly be observed in the liquid layer. The exciting mechanism of hydrothermal wave is analyzed and discussed in the present paper.