Fluctuation theorems and orbital magnetism in nonequilibrium state

We study Langevin dynamics of a driven charged particle in the presence as well as in the absence of magnetic field. We discuss the validity of various work fluctuation theorems using different model potentials and external drives. We also show that one can generate an orbital magnetic moment in a nonequilibrium state which is absent in equilibrium.      

Deterministic inhomogeneous inertia ratchets

We study the deterministic dynamics of a periodically driven particle in the underdamped case in a spatially symmetric periodic potential. The system is subjected to a space-dependent friction coefficient, which is similarly periodic as the potential but with a phase difference. We observe that frictional inhomogeneity in a symmetric periodic potential mimics most of the qualitative features of deterministic dynamics in a homogeneous system with an asymmetric periodic potential. We point out the need of averaging over the initial phase of the external drive at small frictional inhomogeneity parameter values or analogously low potential asymmetry regimes in obtaining ratchet current. We also show that at low amplitudes of the drive, where ratchet current is not possible in the deterministic case, noise plays a significant role in realizing ratchet current.     

Interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses in the inhomogeneous media

Pulse interactions affect pulse qualities during the propagation. Interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses are investigated to improve pulse qualities in the inhomogeneous media. In order to describe the interactions between butterfly-shaped pulses, analytic two-soliton solutions are derived. Based on those solutions, influences of corresponding parameters on pulse interactions are discussed. Methods to control the pulse interactions are suggested.     

Observation of molecular migration in porous media using 2D exchange spectroscopy in the inhomogeneous magnetic field

We present a new method for observing fluid diffusion in a porous medium. The method employs 2D exchange spectroscopy for molecules diffusing in the presence of local magnetic field inhomogeneities, in our case distilled water in various sized glass bead packs. Our experiment involves an acquisition and evolution time domain with the two Fourier domains corresponding to the spectral distribution of local fields. We show that exchange in the internal magnetic field can be seen in a 2D spectrum with a characteristic time on the order of that required to diffuse 0.15 sphere diameters with similar behavior found for computer simulations. The method is potentially useful for studying the internal migrations in more complicated systems such as sandstones or other porous media.     

Theoretical Analysis of the Fluctuation Theorem Applied to Electric Circuits

We carry out a theoretical analysis of the fluctuations in the Johnson-Nyquist noise in an RC electric circuit being driven by a non-ideal constant current source. Using the appropriate Langevin equation, we derive the fluctuation theorem for the system. This analysis exhibits some interesting features. Firstly, the average of the dissipation function is not necessarily just an instantaneous entropy production, i.e. the work being done on the circuit by the external power source divided by the ambient temperature. Secondly, by appropriate selection of the values for the circuit components, the transient response of the system can be made identical to the nonequilibrium steady state response. In the limit of an ideal current source, the average of the dissipation function reduces to the entropy production. Our analysis accurately reproduces published experimental results.     

Beam interaction in one-dimensional inhomogeneous Kerr nonlinear arrays

The interactions between two parallel and co-polarized beams in weakly coupled cubic focusing nonlinear waveguide arrays with transverse inhomogeneous modulation of the refractive index were investigated by means of beam propagation method. Results show that the in-phase beams attract each other and coalesce when the inhomogeneous parameter is smaller than a critical value. For the out-of-phase beams, oscillations exist at low power level, and the larger inhomogeneous parameter, the larger period and amplitude of oscillation. At a high power level, solitonlike propagation of weak coupling occurs. The inhomogeneity of waveguide arrays provide a flexible way to control the interactions of beams, and may find potential applications in all-optical systems.     

On the Fluctuation Relation for Nosé-Hoover Boundary Thermostated Systems

We discuss the transient and steady state fluctuation relation for a mechanical system in contact with two deterministic thermostats at different temperatures. The system is a modified Lorentz gas in which the fixed scatterers exchange energy with the gas of particles, and the thermostats are modelled by two Nosé-Hoover thermostats applied at the boundaries of the system. The transient fluctuation relation, which holds only for a precise choice of the initial ensemble, is verified at all times, as expected. Times longer than the mesoscopic scale, needed for local equilibrium to be settled, are required if a different initial ensemble is considered. This shows how the transient fluctuation relation asymptotically leads to the steady state relation when, as explicitly checked in our systems, the condition found in (D.J. Searles, et al., J. Stat. Phys. 128:1337, 2007), for the validity of the steady state fluctuation relation, is verified. For the steady state fluctuations of the phase space contraction rate Λ and of the dissipation function Ω, a similar relaxation regime at shorter averaging times is found. The quantity Ω satisfies with good accuracy the fluctuation relation for times larger than the mesoscopic time scale; the quantity Λ appears to begin a monotonic convergence after such times. This is consistent with the fact that Ω and Λ differ by a total time derivative, and that the tails of the probability distribution function of Λ are Gaussian.     

Iterative approach of high-order scattering solution for vector radiative transfer of inhomogeneous random media

By stratifying a random scatter media into multiple thin layers in the vertical z direction, the first-order scattering solution of each thin layer is employed to derive high-order scattering solution of whole random media. Using the Fourier transform and Mueller matrices in discrete ordinates, an iterative approach to solve high-order scattering solution of vector radiative transfer (VRT) equation is newly developed. Numerical results are well compared with the Mueller matrix solutions of the first order for a single layer medium, second order for a half-space, and the results of the discrete ordinate and eigen analysis method. It demonstrates our approach as feasible, effective and especially applicable to high-order solution of VRT for both bistatic scattering and thermal emission of inhomogeneous non-spherical scatter media.     

Analysis and design of electromagnetic band gap structures with stratified and inhomogeneous media

In this study, a generalized and easy to use method based on Hill's equation and chain matrix concept is used to analyze the electromagnetic wave propagation in stratified dielectric and inhomogeneous media with arbitrary profiles.Numerical simulations are performed to compute the reflection and transmission of several Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) structures for various permittivity profiles and given polarization as well as incidence angles of driving fields.Multilayer structures are analyzed and optimized to enhance their selectivity performances. Obtained results agree excellently well with other published data.     

Test of the Fluctuation Relation in Lagrangian Turbulence on a Free Surface

The statistics of velocity divergence are studied for an assembly of particles that float on a closed turbulent fluid. Under an appropriate definition of entropy, the two-dimensional Lagrangian velocity divergence of a particle trajectory represents the local entropy rate , a random variable in time. The statistics of this rate, measured in the Lagrangian frame, are collected over a wide range of values. This permits a severe test of the fluctuation relation (FR) over a range that exceeds prior experiments, out to a regime beyond which the FR no longer holds. Notably, the probability density functions (PDF) of the dimensionless divergence σ _τ are strongly non-Gaussian. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number DMR-0201805.     

Wave fronts in inhomogeneous neural field models

In this work we investigate the influence of inhomogeneities on wave front propagation in an excitatory neural field model describing synaptic activity in the absence of delays. This allows the derivation of the spatial (and hence temporal) behaviour of the front velocity under the assumption that the front is approximatively homogeneous in a very small time window. With this assumption we can also derive the spatiotemporal behaviour of the membrane potential analytically in the vicinity of the wave front. In addition to this we investigate stationary solutions such as standing wave fronts and localised activity (so-called bumps) to determine the existence condition of travelling and standing fronts. Numerical results are included to point out the accordance of theory and simulation.     

Casimir stress in an inhomogeneous medium

The Casimir effect in an inhomogeneous dielectric is investigated using Lifshitz’s theory of electromagnetic vacuum energy. A permittivity function that depends continuously on one Cartesian coordinate is chosen, bounded on each side by homogeneous dielectrics. The result for the Casimir stress is infinite everywhere inside the inhomogeneous region, a divergence that does not occur for piece-wise homogeneous dielectrics with planar boundaries. A Casimir force per unit volume can be extracted from the infinite stress but it diverges on the boundaries between the inhomogeneous medium and the homogeneous dielectrics. An alternative regularization of the vacuum stress is considered that removes the contribution of the inhomogeneity over small distances, where macroscopic electromagnetism is invalid. The alternative regularization yields a finite Casimir stress inside the inhomogeneous region, but the stress and force per unit volume diverge on the boundaries with the homogeneous dielectrics. The case of inhomogeneous dielectrics with planar boundaries thus falls outside the current understanding of the Casimir effect.     

Possible Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov inhomogeneous superconducting state in CeCoIn5

We present specific heat and thermal conductivity of the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 in the vicinity of the superconducting critical fieldH _c2, measured with magnetic field in the plane of this quasi-2D compound and at temperatures down to 50 mK. The superconducting phase diagram and the first order nature of the superconducting phase transition at high fields close to a critical fieldH _c2 indicate the importance of the Pauli limiting effect in CeCoIn₅. In the same range of magnetic field we observe a second specific heat anomaly within the superconducting state, and interpret it as a signature of a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) inhomogeneous superconducting state. In addition, the thermal conductivity data as a function of field display a kink at a fieldH _k below the superconducting critical field, which closely coincides with the low temperature anomaly in specific heat tentatively identified with the appearance of the FFLO superconducting state. The enhancement of thermal conductivity within the FFLO state calls for further theoretical investigations of the real space structure of the order parameter (and in particular, the structure of vortices) and of the thermal transport within the inhomogeneous FFLO state.     

Nonequilibrium dynamics in type-II superconductors with inhomogeneous vortex pinning

We study numerically the dynamics relating to negative vortex motion in inhomogeneous pinning systems. We show that this dynamical phenomenon results from the internal field effect produced by the growing local barriers with decreasing temperature. We find that the negative motion is characterized by a peak of negative voltage or resistance in resistance–temperature transport measurements. We also demonstrate that the time window to observe the negative motion is determined by the magnitude of driving force in addition to the temperature scanning rate.     

Fluctuation effects in spin diffusion measurements in liquid He

We have measured spin diffusion coefficients of liquid ³He at a frequency of 920 kHz by pulsed NMR. By analyzing our data in the framework of the Leggett–Rice theory we got a spin diffusion coefficient and a Leggett–Rice parameter =λωτ simultaneously at each temperature. On approaching the superfluid transition the spin diffusion coefficients showed a deviation from predictions of the Fermi liquid theory. The deviation at low pressure was larger than that at high pressure. This anomaly may be due to the effects of fluctuations of superfluidity which were recently observed in the viscosity measurement of liquid ³He.     

Fluctuation Resonance of Feed Forward Loops in Gene Regulatory Networks

应用化学主方程和线性涨落近似方法,重点研究了前馈环路(FFL)对外界输入弱信号的响应,特别考察了它的涨落共振现象．研究发现Z基因的FR行为很大程度上依赖于FFL的协同性：协同FFL中Z的FR曲线呈明显的单峰,而非协同FFL中该曲线出现明显双峰．由于振荡信号常常在实际应用中用来探测网络的调控结构,因此可以利用涨落共振曲线的定性差别来区分FFL网络的性能．     

Universal interpretation of efficacy parameter in perturbed nonequilibrium systems

The fluctuation theorems have remained one of the cornerstones in the study of systems that are driven far out of equilibrium, and they provide strong constraints on the fraction of trajectories that behave atypically in light of the second law. They have mainly been derived for a predetermined external drive applied to the system. However, to improve the efficiency of a process, one needs to incorporate protocols that are modified by receiving feedbacks about the recent state of the system, during its evolution. In such a case, the forms of the conventional fluctuation theorems get modified, the correction term involving terms that depend on the way the reverse/conjugate process is defined, namely, the rules of using feedback in order to generate the exact time-reversed/conjugate protocols. We show in this paper that this can be done in a large number of ways, and in each case we would get a different expression for the correction terms. This would in turn lead to several lower bounds on the mean work that must be performed on the system, or on the entropy changes. Here we analyze a form of the extended fluctuation theorems that involves the efficacy parameter, and find that this form retains a consistent physical meaning regardless of the design of feedback along the conjugate process, as opposed to the case of the previously mentioned form of the modified fluctuation theorems.