An organizing center for optical bistability and self-pulsing

The problem of self-pulsing in optically bistable systems is discussed within the framework of imperfect bifurcation theory. The joint appearance of a hysteresis cycle in the cw-transmission curve and of transitions to self-pulsing is described as an interaction between steady-state and Hopf bifurcations induced by varying the incident field intensity. The bifurcation equations for the most degenerate case are shown to be determined by a corank-two and codimension-four polynomial normal form. This form can be extracted from analytical and numerical studies on the Maxwell-Bloch equations, and acts as an organizing center for bistable switching and the self-pulsing mechanism. The structurally stable unfolded bifurcation diagrams are analyzed. Besides describing correctly and in a comprehensive way all bifurcations to self-pulsing that have so far been observed, a number of new generic transitions are predicted. These include self-pulsing from the low transmission branch and transitions leading to the formation of islands with self-pulsing behavior.     

Frequency Switches at Transition Temperature in Voltage-Gated Ion Channel Dynamics of Neural Oscillators

Understanding of the mechanisms of neural phase transitions is crucial for clarifying cognitive processes in the brain. We investigate a neural oscillator that undergoes different bifurcation transitions from the big saddle homoclinic orbit type to the saddle node on an invariant circle type, and the saddle node on an invariant circle type to the small saddle homoclinic orbit type. The bifurcation transitions are accompanied by an increase in thermodynamic temperature that affects the voltage-gated ion channel in the neural oscillator. We show that nonlinear and thermodynamical mechanisms are responsible for different switches of the frequency in the neural oscillator. We report a dynamical role of the phase response curve in switches of the frequency, in terms of slopes of frequency-temperature curve at each bifurcation transition. Adopting the transition state theory of voltagegated ion channel dynamics, we confirm that switches of the frequency occur in the first-order phase transition temperature states and exhibit different features of their potential energy derivatives in the ion channel. Each bifurcation transition also creates a discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot used to compute the time constant of the ion channel.     

Generalized Ginzburg-Landau equation for self-pulsing instability in a two-photon laser

A nonlinear analysis is made for a degenerate two-photon ring laser near its critical point corresponding to a self-pulsing instability by using the slaving principle and normal form theory. It turns out that the system undergoes two kinds of transitions, a usual Hopf bifurcation to a stable or unstable limit cycle and a co-dimension two Hopf bifurcation where the limit cycles disappear. An analytical criterion is given to distinguish the super-from the sub-critical bifurcation. We have also solved the equations numerically to confirm and to supplement our analytical results. In the case of super-critical bifurcation, a period-doubling bifurcation sequence to chaos is also observed with the decrease in pumping.     

光学多稳系统的相变及临界点分类

参照朗道相变理的基本精神,确定光学多稳性系统的相变与临床界现象,揭示了相变的多样性,以及多稳系统通向完全单稳状态态的不同路径。多稳性的级次愈高,相变的式样也就愈多。     

Bifurcation transitions in an optically injected diode laser: theory and experiment

We show how bifurcation theory and experimental measurements can be used hand-in-hand to analyse transitions to complicated dynamics in a semiconductor laser subject to optical injection. By a direct comparison of theoretical and experimental optical spectra we identify and explain the underlying dynamics in phase space. This is demonstrated with four distinct bifurcation transitions, including a transition near a saddle-node Hopf point and an intermittent transition to chaos.     

Additive global noise delays Turing bifurcations

We apply a stochastic center manifold method to the calculation of noise-induced phase transitions in the stochastic Swift-Hohenberg equation. This analysis is applied to the reduced mode equations that result from Fourier decomposition of the field variable and of the temporal noise. The method shows a pitchfork bifurcation at lower perturbation order, but reveals a novel additive-noise-induced postponement of the Turing bifurcation at higher order. Good agreement is found between the theory and the numerics for both the reduced and the full system. The results are generalizable to a broad class of nonlinear spatial systems.     

Pattern formation and bistability in flow between counterrotating cylinders

In the Taykor-Coutte experiment on fluid flow counterrotating cylinders, there is a bicritical point where the onset of instabilities to Taylor vortex flow (a steady-state bifurcation) and spiral vortex flow (a Hopf bifurcation) meet. The nonlinear mode interactions near this bicritical point are analyzed, exploiting the role of symmetry in the bifurcation theory, and with emphasis of the relevance to experiments, for a range of raduis ratios 0.43 ≤η≤0.98. The mechanism of the pattern formation is elucidated, and several new flow patterns and transitions are predicted, including wavy vortices, bistability, hysteresis, and up to 7 quasiperiodic flows.     

Classification in bifurcation theory and reaction-diffusion systems

The fundamental open problem in bifurcation theory is to determine when linearization and construction are valid. This problem and the problem of matching a critical exponent with a bifurcation point are solved through the application of selection rules. Selection rules are also central for a classification theory which is a natural extension of the above problems. Solutions are classified by four equivalence relations differing in their coarseness. Canonical function bases and bifurcation points are studied. The direction of increased vanishing of integrals involved in existence theorems correspond to various interesting similar order relations, for example to increased phase symmetry and decreased solution symmetry. The symmetries of physical and phase spaces are correlated and the closure of the solutions under the symmetry group is shown and analyzed. The common group theoretical basis for equilibrium and nonequilibrium transitions is emphasized throughout. Thus in both settings the same selection rules determine if the transition is continuous or discontinuous. A theory of symmetry breaking for nonequilibrium-bifurcation systems is described. After discussion of stability and jumps, the theory and the history of potentials in chemical systems far from equilibrium are reviewed from the mathematical, thermodynamic and catastrophe theory points of view. Implications to biological control, morphogenesis and pattern formation are briefly indicated. Throughout, reaction-diffusion is of central importance and it also serves as a carrier for the general ideas in bifurcation theory .     

General theory of lee-yang zeros in models with first-order phase transitions

We present a general, rigorous theory of Lee-Yang zeros for models with first-order phase transitions that admit convergent contour expansions. We derive formulas for the positions and the density of the zeros. In particular, we show that, for models without symmetry, the curves on which the zeros lie are generically not circles, and can have topologically nontrivial features, such as bifurcation. Our results are illustrated in three models in a complex field: the low-temperature Ising and Blume-Capel models, and the q-state Potts model for large q.     

Complex patterns in reaction-diffusion systems: A tale of two front instabilities

Two front instabilities in a reaction-diffusion system are shown to lead to the formation of complex patterns. The first is an instability to transverse modulations that drives the formation of labyrinthine patterns. The second is a nonequilibrium Ising-Bloch (NIB) bifurcation that renders a stationary planar front unstable and gives rise to a pair of counterpropagating fronts. Near the NIB bifurcation the relation of the front velocity to curvature is highly nonlinear and transitions between counterpropagating fronts become feasible. Nonuniformly curved fronts may undergo local front transitions that nucleate spiral-vortex pairs. These nucleation events provide the ingredient needed to initiate spot splitting and spiral turbulence. Similar spatiotemporal processes have been observed recently in the ferrocyanide-iodate-sulfite reaction.     

Experimental relevance of global properties of time-delayed feedback control

We show by means of theoretical considerations and electronic circuit experiments that time-delayed feedback control suffers from severe global constraints if transitions at the control boundaries are discontinuous. Subcritical behavior gives rise to small basins of attraction and thus limits the control performance. The reported properties are, on the one hand, universal since the mechanism is based on general arguments borrowed from bifurcation theory and, on the other hand, directly visible in experimental time series.     

Phase separation in binary systems with internal multiplicative noise

A study of a phase separation process in stochastic systems with a field dependent kinetic coefficient and an internal multiplicative noise is presented. Dynamics of spinodal decomposition at early and late stages is investigated by computer simulations where the domain growth law is generalized. A mean field approach was carried out in order to obtain the stationary probability, bifurcation and phase diagrams displaying reentrant phase transitions. We relate our approach to entropy driven phase transitions theory.     

Comparison of a low- to high-confinement transition theory with experimental data from DIII-D

From our recent theory based on the generation of shear flow and field in finite beta plasmas, the criterion for bifurcation from low to high confinement mode yields a critical parameter proportional to T(e)/square root (L(n)), where T(e) is the electron temperature and L(n) is the density scale length. The predicted threshold shows very good agreement with edge measurements on discharges undergoing low-to-high transitions in DIII-D. The observed differences in the transitions with the reversal of the toroidal magnetic field are reconciled in terms of this critical parameter. The theory also provides an explanation for pellet injection H modes in DIII-D, thereby unifying unconnected methods for accomplishing the transition.     

Bifurcation mechanisms of regular and chaotic network signaling in brain astrocytes

Bifurcation mechanisms underlying calcium oscillations in the network of astrocytes are investigated. Network model includes the dynamics of intracellular calcium concentration and intercellular diffusion of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate through gap junctions. Bifurcation analysis of underlying nonlinear dynamical system is presented. Parameter regions and principle bifurcation boundaries have been delineated and described. We show how variations of the diffusion rate can lead to generation of network calcium oscillations in originally nonoscillating cells. Different scenarios of regular activity and its transitions to chaotic dynamics have been obtained. Then, the bifurcations have been associated with statistical characteristics of calcium signals showing that different bifurcation scenarios yield qualitative changes in experimentally measurable quantities of the astrocyte activity, e.g., statistics of calcium spikes.     

Modulated amplitude waves and the transition from phase to defect chaos

The mechanism for transitions from phase to defect chaos in the one-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (CGLE) is presented. We describe periodic coherent structures of the CGLE, called modulated amplitude waves (MAWs). MAWs of various periods P occur in phase chaotic states. A bifurcation study of the MAWs reveals that for sufficiently large period, pairs of MAWs cease to exist via a saddle-node bifurcation. For periods beyond this bifurcation, incoherent near-MAW structures evolve towards defects. This leads to our main result: the transition from phase to defect chaos takes place when the periods of MAWs in phase chaos are driven beyond their saddle-node bifurcation.     

Bifurcation phenomena in two-dimensional piecewise smooth discontinuous maps

In recent years the theory of border collision bifurcations has been developed for piecewise smooth maps that are continuous across the border and has been successfully applied to explain nonsmooth bifurcation phenomena in physical systems. However, there exist a large number of switching dynamical systems that have been found to yield two-dimensional piecewise smooth maps that are discontinuous across the border. In this paper we present a systematic approach to the problem of analyzing the bifurcation phenomena in two-dimensional discontinuous maps, based on a piecewise linear approximation in the neighborhood of the border. We first motivate the analysis by considering the bifurcations occurring in a familiar physical system-the static VAR compensator used in electrical power systems-and then proceed to formulate the theory needed to explain the bifurcation behavior of such systems. We then integrate the observed bifurcation phenomenology of the compensator with the theory developed in this paper. This theory may be applied similarly to other systems that yield two-dimensional discontinuous maps.     

Orientational transitions in antiferromagnetic liquid crystals

The orientational phases in an antiferromagnetic liquid crystal (ferronematic) based on the nematic liquid crystal with the negative anisotropy of diamagnetic susceptibility are studied in the framework of the continuum theory. The ferronematic was assumed to be compensated; i.e., in zero field, impurity ferroparticles with the magnetic moments directed parallel and antiparallel to the director are equiprobably distributed in it. It is established that under the action of a magnetic field the ferronematic undergoes orientational transitions compensated (antiferromagnetic) phase–non-uniform phase–saturation (ferrimagnetic) phase. The analytical expressions for threshold fields of the transitions as functions of material parameters are obtained. It is shown that with increasing magnetic impurity segregation parameter, the threshold fields of the transitions significantly decrease. The bifurcation diagram of the ferronematic orientational phases is built in terms of the energy of anchoring of magnetic particles with the liquid-crystal matrix and magnetic field. It is established that the Freedericksz transition is the second-order phase transition, while the transition to the saturation state can be second- or first-order. In the latter case, the suspension exhibits orientational bistability. The orientational and magnetooptical properties of the ferronematic in different applied magnetic fields are studied.     

Spectra of delay-coupled heterogeneous noisy nonlinear oscillators

Complex systems are described by a large number of variables with strong and nonlinear interactions. Such systems frequently undergo regime shifts. Combining insights from bifurcation theory in nonlinear dynamics and the theory of critical transitions in statistical physics, we know that critical slowing down and critical fluctuations occur close to such regime shifts. In this paper, we show how universal precursors expected from such critical transitions can be used to forecast regime shifts in the US housing market. In the housing permit, volume of homes sold and percentage of homes sold for gain data, we detected strong early warning signals associated with a sequence of coupled regime shifts, starting from a Subprime Mortgage Loans transition in 2003–2004 and ending with the Subprime Crisis in 2007–2008. Weaker signals of critical slowing down were also detected in the US housing market data during the 1997–1998 Asian Financial Crisis and the 2000–2001 Technology Bubble Crisis. Backed by various macroeconomic data, we propose a scenario whereby hot money flowing back into the US during the Asian Financial Crisis fueled the Technology Bubble. When the Technology Bubble collapsed in 2000–2001, the hot money then flowed into the US housing market, triggering the Subprime Mortgage Loans transition in 2003–2004 and an ensuing sequence of transitions. We showed how this sequence of couple transitions unfolded in space and in time over the whole of US.     

U-SEQUENCES IN THE PERIODICALLY FORCED BRUSSELATOR

We show numerical evidence of exact U-sequences in the periodically forced trimolecular model (the forced Brusselator). Interspersed among period-doubling bifurcation sequences star-ting with RLⁿ type periods, there are chaotic regions bounded on one side by period-doubling bifurcation sequences and on the other side by intermittent transitions. Along certain directions in the parameter space the most clearly seen periods appear in the same order as that in the logistic map, but along other directions the U-sequences may fold and give rise to deviations from the standard patterns. Our results show the coexistence of different "routes to chaos" in one and the same matheatical model and the necessity to enlarge the parameter space in both real and computer experiments on chaotic transitions.     

用连续法计算五维对流模型的定常解和周期解

利用连续算法(Continuation algorithm)对五维对流非线性动力系统的定常解和周期解进行了数值计算。在参数平面Ri-Re上计算出实分岔点曲线、极限点曲线、Hopf分岔点曲线,绘出了分岔图。在分岔图上的不同区域,存在性质不同的稳定解如定常吸引子、周期吸引子等。分析了定常解、周期解的分岔过程。计算结果很好地说明大气中由基本态到对流态再到波动态最后到湍流态的物理转换过程。 连续算法对研究非线性动力系统的分岔以及耗散结构是很有效的计算方法。