A non-extensive statistical physics approach to the polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field

Using the CK95 database of Cande and Kent (1995) [7], we apply the concepts of non-extensive statistical physics (NESP) to the time intervals between two consecutive geomagnetic reversals, called inter-reversal times. The application of NESM is appropriate to systems such as the geomagnetic field where non-linearity, long-range interactions, memory effects and scaling are important. We calculate the probability density function for the inter-reversal times and using the CK95 geomagnetic reversals and we estimate a thermodynamic q parameter of q=1.5, which supports the conclusion that the geomagnetic system is a sub-extensive one with long-range memory effects. The results discussed using the complementary to the NESP approach of superstatistics which is based on a superposition of ordinary local equilibrium statistical mechanics, using a suitable intensive parameter β that fluctuates on a relatively large temporal scale, leading to the conclusion that two degrees of freedom describe the process which generates the geomagnetic reversals.     

Sheath formation in the presence of non-extensive electron distribution

The main aim of this article is to recognize the sheath formation in the presence of non-extensive electron distribution. The role of ion–neutral collision parameter K and the non-extensive parameter “q” has been discussed. Existing literature suggests that the presence of non-extensive electrons potentially modifies the plasma sheath behaviour. However, numerical calculations over the full plasma range, jointly addressing the sheath and presheath, are rare. Sheath formation, being a very fundamental phenomenon, deserves enough investigation in the region of non-extensive distribution of particles. This study attempts to bridge the gap in understanding the formation of the sheath in collisional plasma in the light of both Boltzmann and q-distributed non-extensive electrons.     

A non-extensive statistical mechanical approach to define the equilibrium value function in the kinetics of voltage-gated ion channels

We present a model for the steady-state (or equilibrium) behaviors of the voltage-gated ion channels in cell membranes using the non-extensive or generalized statistical mechanics. The equilibrium value function in the gating kinetics of batrachotoxin-modified sodium channels from a squid optic nerve in planar bilayers are calculated for different values of entropic index (q) which characterizes the degree of non-extensivity of Tsallis’ entropy and the fractal structure of the channels. It is found that in the limit q→1, the results of calculation reduce to the results described by the well-known Boltzmann statistics or the extensive physics. For the non-extensive case (q≠1), a small deviation with respect to the Boltzmann curve which was observed in a great variety of physical systems occurred.     

Structural and morphological characterization of CdSe:Mn thin films

The nonlinear propagation of cylindrical and spherical dust-ion-acoustic (DIA) envelope solitary waves in unmagnetized dusty plasma consisting of dust particles with opposite polarity and non-extensive distribution of electron is investigated. By using the reductive perturbation method, the modified nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation in cylindrical and spherical geometry is obtained. The modulational instability (MI) of DIA waves governed by the NLS equation is also presented. The effects of different ranges of the non-extensive parameter q on the MI are studied. The growth rate of the MI is also given for different values of q. It is found that the basic features of the DIA waves are significantly modified by non-extensive electron distribution, polarity of the net dust-charge number density and non-planar geometry.     

The stability of a non-extensive relativistic Fermi system

Based on the statistical theory of non-extensive relativity,and using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation,the non-extensive mechanical stability of ultra-relativistic free Fermi gas is investigated.The expressions of the stability conditions under high and low temperatures are given,and the mechanisms of the influences of temperature,ultrarelativistic effect,and non-extensive parameter q on stability are analysed.Our results show that at high temperature and under the condition of q < 1,the stability of a non-extensive system is weaker than that of an extensive system,and the relativistic effect reduces system stability as compared with a non-relativistic system.However,under the condition of q > 1,the stability of the non-extensive system is stronger than that of the extensive system,and the relativistic effect strengthens the system stability as compared with the non-relativistic system.In addition,under the condition of low temperature,the variation of the stability of the non-extensive system with temperature has a turning point.     

Some observations on Levy stability and intermittency in nucleus-nucleus interactions at SPS energies

The power law relation between higher order and second order scaled factorial moments is studied in one dimensional pseudo-rapidity phase (η) space in the interactions of ³²S beam with CNO, AgBr and Emulsion at incident energy of 200 AGeV. Observation for such a power law may indicate a self similar cascade mechanism in multiparticle production process. The values of slope, β_q are found to be independent of target size. The value of the scaling exponent υ = 1.412 obtained is higher than the critical value υ = 1.304, indicating that no second order phase transition exists in our data. The ratio of anomalous fractal dimensions, d_q/d₂ is found to increase with increase in the order of moments, q. The dependence of d_q/d₂ on q indicates a multifractal structure and the presence of self-similar cascading mechanism in our data. The d_q/d₂ values are well described by the Levy-stable distribution with Levy index μ = 1.562 which is consistent with and lies within the Levy stable region (0 ≤ μ ≤ 2). The multifractal spectrum is concave downward with a maximum at q = 0. The decrease in D_q with increasing q shows that there is a self affine multifractal behaviour in multiparticle production in our data.     

Is plate tectonics a case of non-extensive thermodynamics?

Bird (2003) [5] proposed that the distribution of areas of the tectonic plates follows a power law and that this distribution fitted well with the concepts of a few major plates and a hierarchical self-similar organization of blocks at the boundary scale, a fractal plate distribution and a self-organized system. Here we apply the concepts of non-extensive statistical mechanics (NESM) to plate tectonics. The application of NESM is appropriate to systems such as tectonic plates where non-linearity, long-range interactions, memory effects and scaling are important. We calculate the probability density function for the areas of the tectonic plates. Our results show that three classes (small, intermediate and large) of tectonic plates can be distinguished, which is consistent with the observations of Bird. Furthermore, taking into account that for the intermediate class of tectonic plates the cumulative frequency distribution behaves as a power law with exponent 1/3, we estimate a thermodynamic q parameter of q=1.75, which supports the conclusion that the plate tectonics system is a sub-extensive one.     

Thermodynamics and relativistic kinetic theory for <Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>-generalized Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac systems

The thermodynamics and covariant kinetic theory are elaborately investigated in a non-extensive environment considering the non-extensive generalization of Bose–Einstein (BE) and Fermi–Dirac (FD) statistics. Starting with Tsallis’ entropy formula, the fundamental principles of thermostatistics are established for a grand canonical system having q-generalized BE/FD degrees of freedom. Many particle kinetic theory is set up in terms of the relativistic transport equation with q-generalized Uehling–Uhlenbeck collision term. The conservation laws are realized in terms of appropriate moments of the transport equation. The thermodynamic quantities are obtained in a weak non-extensive environment for a massive pion–nucleon and a massless quark–gluon system with non-zero baryon chemical potential. In order to get an estimate of the impact of non-extensivity on the system dynamics, the q-modified Debye mass and hence the q-modified effective coupling are estimated for a quark–gluon system.     

Non-extensive thermostatistics approach to metal melting entropy

A generalized Mott relation of metal melting entropy is derived by means of non-extensive solid and liquid quantum entropy that we calculate from grand partition functions of the localized ordered quantum solid and of the disordered quantum Boltzmann liquid. For each of the 18 elements considered, the entropic parameter _qm$q_m$, depending on particle correlations, is deduced such that a better agreement is obtained between calculated non-extensive metal melting entropy and available experimental data. The non-extensive entropic parameter makes the difference between normal and anomalous metals. Therefore, those elements not reported here should also belong to one of the two classes. Possible applications to condensed matter, Earth, and other solar planets seismology are mentioned.     

A note on q-weak law of large numbers

q-limit theorems for random variables are arising from non-extensive statistical mechanics. In this note we will prove q-weak law of large numbers using the notions of q-Fourier transform, q-independence, q-weak convergence.     

Modulational instability,rogue waves,and envelope solitons in opposite polarity dusty plasmas

Dust-acoustic (DA) waves (DAWs) and their modulational instability (MI) have been investigated theoretically in a plasma system consisting of inertial opposite polarity (positively and negatively) warm adiabatic charged dust grains as well as inertialess non-extensive $q?$distributed electrons and non-thermal ions. A nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is derived by using the reductive perturbation method. It has been observed from the analysis of NLSE that the modulationally stable solitary DAWs give rise to the existence of dark envelope solitons, and that the modulationally unstable solitary DAWs give rise to the existence of bright envelope solitons or rogue structures. It is also observed for the fast mode of DAWs that the basic features (viz. stability of the DAWs, MI, growth rate, amplitude, and width of the DA rogue waves, etc.) are significantly modified by the related plasma parameters (viz. dust masses, dust charge state, non-extensive parameter q, and non-thermal parameter α). The results of our present investigation might be useful for understanding different nonlinear electrostatic phenomena in both space (viz. ionosphere and mesosphere) and laboratory plasmas (viz. high intensity laser irradiation and hot cathode discharge).     

Formulation of the Hellmann–Feynman theorem for the “second choice” version of Tsallis’ thermostatistics

An approach to formulating the Hellmann–Feynman theorem within the “second choice” formalism of non-extensive statistical mechanics is considered. For the state of thermal equilibrium, we derive a relation of Hellmann–Feynman type between the derivative of the non-extensive free energy with respect to the external parameter and the quantum statistical q$q$-average of the derivative of the Hamilton operator. We also give a proper extension for an arbitrary observable commuting with the Hamiltonian. Some reasons for the usefulness of new formulas are discussed.     

Quantum vibrational partition function in the non-extensive Tsallis framework

The quantum vibrational partition function has been obtained in the Tsallis statistics framework for the entropic index, q, between 1 and 2. The effect of non-extensivity on the population of states and thermodynamic properties have been studied and compared with their corresponding values obtained in the Boltzmann-Gibbs (BG) statistics. Our results show that the non-extensive partition function of harmonic oscillator at any temperature is larger than its corresponding values for an extensive system and that their differences increase with temperature and entropic index. Also, the number of accessible states increases with q but, compared to the BG statistics, the occupation number decreases for low energy levels while the population of the higher energy levels increases. The internal energy and heat capacity have also been obtained for the non-extensive harmonic oscillator system. Results indicate that the heat capacity is greater than its corresponding value in the extensive (BG) system at low temperatures but that this trend is reversed at higher temperatures.     

Infinite Ergodic Theory and Non-extensive Entropies

We recapitulate results from the infinite ergodic theory that are relevant to the theory of non-extensive entropies. In particular, we recall that the Lyapunov exponent of the corresponding systems is zero and that the deviation between neighboring trajectories does not necessarily grow polynomially. Nonetheless, as we show, no single quantity can describe this subexponential growth, the generalized q-exponential exp _q being, in particular, ruled out. We also revisit a number of dynamical systems preserving nonfinite ergodic measure.     

q-Gaussian representation of non-Lorentzian Mössbauer lineshapes

Generalized statistical physics (non-extensive/Tsallis) is being extensively used to study anomalous results in condensed matter physics. Mössbauer line shapes for systems like proteins and glasses show non-Lorentzian behaviour. In this paper we show q-Gaussian distribution can be used to represent non Lorentzian Mössbauer line shapes where q is non-extensivity index.     

Self-affinity and nonextensivity of sunspots

In this paper we study the time series of sunspots by using two different approaches, analyzing its self-affine behavior and studying its distribution. The long-range correlation exponent α has been calculated via Detrended Fluctuation Analysis and the power law vanishes to values greater than 11 years. On the other hand, the distribution of the sunspots obeys a q-exponential decay that suggests a non-extensive behavior. This observed characteristic seems to take an alternative interpretation of the sunspots dynamics. The present findings suggest us to propose a dynamic model of sunspots formation based on a nonlinear Fokker–Planck equation. Therefore its dynamic process follows the generalized thermostatistical formalism.     

Landau damping of ion-acoustic waves with simultaneous effects of non-extensivity and non-thermality in the presence of hybrid Cairns-Tsallis distributed electrons

The dispersion properties and Landau damping rate of ion-acoustic waves (IAWs) with the hybrid Cairns-Tsallis distributed (CTD) electrons and Maxwellian ions are investigated using the plasma kinetic model based on Vlasov-Poisson's equations. For both super-extensive (q < 1) and sub-extensive (q > 1) plasmas, the dielectric response function, real frequency, and Landau damping rate of IAWs are derived. By taking the effect of θ_{i, e} (ion-to-electron temperature ratio) into account, it is found that with the increase of ion temperature, the real frequency and wave dispersion effects increase as well (for both super-extensive and sub-extensive cases). Exploring the properties of the Landau damping rate of IAWs with the simultaneous presence of non-thermal parameter α and non-extensive parameter q, a comparison of numerical and analytical results is presented. It is found that in different ranges of θ_{e, i} (electron-to-ion temperature ratio), on decreasing the values of the non-extensive parameter and increasing values of the non-thermal parameter, the weak damping rate is observed (vice versa) in super-extensive or super-thermal plasma, although the trend of the damping rate in sub-thermal plasma is similar (as in the case of super-thermal plasma) but is less weak. It is further revealed that the damping rate of IAWs in thermal plasmas (Maxwellian) is stronger than the damping rate of IAWs in the case of non-thermal plasmas (CTD). The current study is applicable to provide deep insight and further allow the exploration of electrostatic plasma modes in different space and laboratory plasma environments where the hybrid CTD plasma exists.     

Tsallis q-Stat and the Evidence of Long-Range Interactions in Soil Temperature Dynamics

The complexities in the variations of soil temperature and thermal diffusion poses a physical problem that requires more understanding. The quest for a better understanding of the complexities of soil temperature variation has prompted the study of the q-statistics in the soil temperature variation with the view of understanding the underlying dynamics of the temperature variation and thermal diffusivity of the soil. In this work, the values of Tsallis stationary state q index known as q-stat were computed from soil temperature measured at different stations in Nigeria. The intrinsic variations of the soil temperature were derived from the soil temperature time series by detrending method to extract the influences of other types of variations from the atmosphere. The detrended soil temperature data sets were further analysed to fit the q-Gaussian model. Our results show that our datasets fit into the Tsallis Gaussian distributions with lower values of q-stat during rainy season and around the wet soil regions of Nigeria and the values of q-stat obtained for monthly data sets were mostly in the range 1.2≤q≤2.9 for all stations, with very few values q closer to 1.2 for a few stations in the wet season. The distributions obtained from the detrended soil temperature data were mostly found to belong to the class of asymmetric q-Gaussians. The ability of the soil temperature data sets to fit into q-Gaussians might be due and the non-extensive statistical nature of the system and (or) consequently due to the presence of superstatistics. The possible mechanisms responsible this behaviour was further discussed.     

Comparing emerging and mature markets during times of crises: A non-extensive statistical approach

One of the important issues in finance and economics for both scholars and practitioners is to describe the behavior of markets, especially during times of crises. In this paper, we analyze the behavior of some mature and emerging markets with a Tsallis entropy framework that is a non-extensive statistical approach based on non-linear dynamics. During the past decade, this technique has been successfully applied to a considerable number of complex systems such as stock markets in order to describe the non-Gaussian behavior of these systems. In this approach, there is a parameter q$q$, which is a measure of deviation from Gaussianity, that has proved to be a good index for detecting crises. We investigate the behavior of this parameter in different time scales for the market indices. It could be seen that the specified pattern for q$q$ differs for mature markets with regard to emerging markets. The findings show the robustness of the stated approach in order to follow the market conditions over time. It is obvious that, in times of crises, q$q$ is much greater than in other times. In addition, the response of emerging markets to global events is delayed compared to that of mature markets, and tends to a Gaussian profile on increasing the scale. This approach could be very useful in application to risk and portfolio management in order to detect crises by following the parameter q$q$ in different time scales.