The influence of nonmonotonic synchronized flow branch in a cellular automaton traffic flow model

In this paper we study the congested patterns upstream of an isolated on-ramp in a cellular automaton traffic flow model, which is proposed in our previous paper [Cheng-Jie Jin, Wei Wang, Rui Jiang, Kun Gao, J. Stat. Mech (2010) P03018]. The simulation results under open boundary conditions are presented by spatiotemporal diagrams. Our diagram of congested patterns is quite similar to that of the cellular automaton models within Kerner’s three-phase traffic theory, while some differences in the “moving synchronized flow pattern” (MSP) should be noted. In our model the upstream front of MSP propagates not only upstream, but also downstream. The propagation direction depends on the flow rates and densities of free flow and synchronized flow. Besides, in our model the outflow of wide moving jams or bottlenecks could be free flow or synchronized flow, as reported in many empirical data. In the dissolving of congestions, the form of free flow may be hindered and stable synchronized flow may emerge. This phenomenon can help us understand more about the outflow. All the interesting characteristics of our model are due to the nonmonotonic structure of synchronized flow branch in the fundamental diagram, which has not been found in previous models.     

Simulating synchronized traffic flow and wide moving jam based on the brake light rule

A new cellular automaton (CA) model based on brake light rules is proposed, which considers the influence of deterministic deceleration on randomization probability and deceleration extent. To describe the synchronized flow phase of Kerner’s three-phase theory in accordance with empirical data, we have changed some rules of vehicle motion with the aim to improve speed and acceleration vehicle behavior in synchronized flow simulated with earlier cellular automaton models with brake lights. The fundamental diagrams and spatial–temporal diagrams are analyzed, as well as the complexity of the traffic evolution, the emergence process of wide moving jam. Simulation results show that our new model can reproduce the three traffic phases: free flow, synchronized flow and wide moving jam. In addition, our new model can well describe the complexity of traffic evolution: (1) with initial homogeneous distribution and large densities, the traffic will evolve into multiple steady states, in which the numbers of wide moving jams are not invariable. (2) With initial homogeneous distribution and the middle range of density, the wide moving jam will emerge stochastically. (3) With initial mega-jam distribution and the density close to a point with the low value, the initial mega-jam will disappear stochastically. (4) For the cases with multiple wide moving jams, the process is analyzed involving the generation of narrow moving jam due to “pinch effect”, which leads to wide moving jam emergence.     

Discontinuous transition from free flow to synchronized flow induced by short-range interaction between vehicles in a three-phase traffic flow model

In this paper, we incorporate a limitation on the interaction range between neighboring vehicles into the cellular automaton model proposed by Gao and Jiang et al. [K. Gao, R. Jiang, S. X. Hu, B. H. Wang and Q. S. Wu, Phys. Rev. E 76 (2007) 026105], which was established within the framework of Kerner’s three-phase traffic theory and has been shown to be able to reproduce the three-phase traffic flow. This modification eliminates an unrealistic phenomenon found in the previous model, where the velocity-adaptation effect between neighboring vehicles can exist even if those vehicles are infinitely far away from each other. Therefore, in the improved model, we regulate that such interactions can only occur within a finite distance. For simplicity, we suppose a constant value to describe this distance in this paper. As a result, when compared to the previous model, the improved model mainly simulates the following results which are believed to be an improvement. (1) The improved model successfully reproduces the expected discontinuous transition from free flow to synchronized flow and the related “moving synchronized flow pattern”, which are both absent in the original model but have been observed in real traffic. (2) The improved model simulates the correlation functions, time headway distributions and optimal velocity functions which are all more consistent with the empirical data than the previous model and most of the other models published before. (3) Together with the previous two models considering the velocity-difference effect, this model finally accomplishes a significative process of developing traffic flow models from the traditional “fundamental diagram approach” to the three-phase traffic theory. This process should be helpful for us to understand the traffic dynamics and mechanics further and deeper.     

A study of wide moving jams in a new lattice model of traffic flow with the consideration of the driver anticipation effect and numerical simulation

In this paper, a new lattice model of traffic flow is proposed to investigate wide moving jams in traffic flow with the consideration of the driver anticipation information about two preceding sites. The linear stability condition is obtained by using linear stability analysis. The mKdV equation is derived through nonlinear analysis, which can be conceivably taken as an approximation to a wide moving jam. Numerical simulation also confirms that the congested traffic patterns about wide moving jam propagation in accordance with empirical results can be suppressed efficiently by taking the driver anticipation effect of two preceding sites into account in a new lattice model.     

A New Lattice Model of Two-Lane Traffic Flow with the Consideration of the Honk Effect

In this paper, a new lattice model of two-lane traffic flow with the honk effect term is proposed to study the influence of the honk effect on wide moving jams under lane changing. The linear stability condition on two-lane highway is obtained by applying the linear stability theory. The modified Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation near the critical point is derived and the coexisting curves resulted from the modified KdV equation can be described, which shows that the critical point, the coexisting curve and the neutral stability line decrease with increasing the honk effect coefficient. A wide moving jam can be conceivably described approximately in the unstable region. Numerical simulation is performed to verify the analytic results. The results show that the honk effect could suppress effectively the congested traffic patterns about wide moving jam propagation in lattice model of two-lane traffic flow.     

Analytic approach to the critical density in cellular automata for traffic flow

The jamming transition in the stochastic traffic cellular automaton of Nagel and Schreckenberg [J. Phys. I 2, 2221 (1992)] is examined. We argue that most features of the transition found in the deterministic limit do not persist in the presence of noise, and suggest instead to define the transition to take place at that critical density rho(c) at which a large initial jam just fails to dissolve. We show that rho(c)=v(J)/(v(J)+v(F)), where v(F) is the velocity of noninteracting vehicles and v(J) is the speed of the dissolution wave moving into the jam. An approximate analytic calculation of v(J) in the framework of a simple renormalization scheme is presented, which explicitly displays the effect of the interaction between vehicles during the acceleration stage of the Nagel-Schreckenberg rules with maximum velocity v(max)>1. The analytic prediction is compared to numerical simulations. We find a remarkable correspondence between the analytic expression for v(J) and a phase diagram obtained numerically by Lübeck et al.     

Phase transition of traffic states with on-ramp

We study the phase transition on a highway in a modified anisotropic continuum model with an on-ramp, which is recently developed by Gupta and Katiyar (J. Phys. A: Math. Nucl. Gen. 38 (2005) 4069]. To investigate whether this model can describe several distinct traffic states that are identified from real-traffic data [Kerner and Rehborn, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79 (1997) 4030; Kerner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81 (1998) 3797], we carry out numerical simulations with an open boundary condition. The observed transition between free flow and various types of congested flow such as localized clusters, stop-and-go traffic and different kinds of synchronized traffic flow is obtained by applying a triggering pulse through an on-ramp in our simulation.We present the phase diagram for three representative values of the upstream boundary flux and for the whole range of the on-ramp flux. Several states like pinned localized cluster, triggered stop-and-go, recurring hump state, the oscillatory congested traffic and the homogeneous congested traffic are observed in phase transition from free flow to traffic-jam state. The phase diagram for our model near on-ramp is consistent with the results obtained by Lee et al. [Phys. Rev. E 59(5) (1999) 5101]. The results suggest that the modified model is able to describe all the three phases of traffic-flow theory developed by Kerner [Physica A 333 (2004) 379].     

Cellular automaton model in the fundamental diagram approach reproducing the synchronized outflow of wide moving jams

Velocity effect and critical velocity are incorporated into the average space gap cellular automaton model [J.F. Tian, et al., Phys. A 391 (2012) 3129], which was able to reproduce many spatiotemporal dynamics reported by the three-phase theory except the synchronized outflow of wide moving jams. The physics of traffic breakdown has been explained. Various congested patterns induced by the on-ramp are reproduced. It is shown that the occurrence of synchronized outflow, free outflow of wide moving jams is closely related with drivers time delay in acceleration at the downstream jam front and the critical velocity, respectively.     

Dilemma game structure hidden in traffic flow at a bottleneck due to a 2 into 1 lane junction

Following Yamauchi’s study [A. Yamauchi, J. Tanimoto, A. Hagishima, H. Sagara, Dilemma game structure observed in traffic flow at a 2-to-1 lane junction, Physical Review E 79 (2009) 036104], we find that several social dilemma structures are represented by n-person Prisoner’s Dilemma (n-PD) games in certain traffic flow phases at a bottleneck caused by a lane-closing section. In this study, the stochastic Nishinari-Fukui-Schadschneider (S-NFS) model was adopted as a cellular automaton traffic model. In the system, two classes of driver-agents coexist: C-Agents (cooperative strategy) always driving in the first lane, and D-Agents (defective strategy) trying to drive in a lower-density lane, whether the first or the second lane. In relatively high-density flow phases, such as the metastable phase and the high-density phase, we found n-PD games, where D-Agents’ interruption into the first lane from the second just before the lane-closing section creates a heavier traffic jam, which reduces social efficiency. This could be solved by decreasing the interruption probability, which can be realized by a provision where drivers in the first lane firmly refuse interruptions.     

On the geometry and homology of certain simple stratified varieties

We study certain mild degenerations of algebraic varieties which appear in the analysis of a large class of supersymmetric theories, including superstring theory. We analyze Witten’s σ-model [Nucl. Phys. B 403 (1993) 159] and find that the non-transversality of the superpotential induces additional singularities and a stratification of the ground state variety. This stratified variety admits certain homology groups such that ⊕_qH^2q satisfies the “Kähler package” of requirements [Ann. Math. Studies 102 (1982) 303]. Also, this ⊕_qH^2q extends the “flopped” pair of small resolutions [Nucl. Phys. B 416 (1994) 414; Nucl. Phys. B 330 (1990) 49; Commun. Math. Phys. 119 (1988) 431] to an “(exo)flopped” triple, and is compatible with both mirror symmetry [S.-T. Yau (Ed.), Mirror Manifolds, International Press, Hong Kong, 1990; B. Greene, S.-T. Yau (Eds.), Mirror Manifolds II, International Press, Hong Kong, 1996] and string theory [Mod. Phys. Lett. A 12 (1997) 521; Nucl. Phys. B 451 (1995) 96] results. Finally, we revisit the conifold transition [Nucl. Phys. B 330 (1990) 49] as it applies in our formalism.     

Is there a quantization condition for the classical problem of charge and pole?

In elementary derivations of the quantization of azimuthal angular momentum the eigenfunction is determined to be exp(im φ), which is “oversensitive” to the rotation φ → φ+2π, unlessm is an integer. In a recent paper Kerner examined the classical system of charge and magnetic pole, and expressed Π, a vector constant of motion for the system, in terms of a physical angle ψ, to deduce a remarkable paradox. Kerner pointed out that Π(ψ) is “oversensitive” to ψ → ψ+2π unless a certain charge quantization condition is met. Our explicandum of this paradox highlights the distinction between coordinates in classical and quantum physics. It is shown why the single-valuedness requirement on Π(ψ) is devoid of physical significance. We are finally led to examine the classical analog of the quantum mechanical argument that demonstrates the quantization of magnetic charge, to show that there is “no hope” of a classical quantization condition.     

Edward Teller, the Hungarian, American and Jew, too

As explained on p. 57 of George Marx’ comprehensive treatiseThe Voice of the Martians [1] (a pun on Leo Szilárd’sVoice of the Dolphins [2]), the titleThe Martians refers to another Szilárd joke, namely to his reply to a question of Fermi’s. In end-of-the-Century parlance, Fermi’s question would be formulated as follows: —With the galaxy presumably full of planetary systems, thereby also of life and thus of intelligence, where are all those extraterrestrials? [3] — to which Szilárd answered —They are among us, but they call themselves Hungarian… — One of these individuals of high intellectual stature, is (“let him be distinguished by a long life” as we would add in such cases by Jewish custom)Edward Teller.     

Phase states of traffic flows in linear tunnels. Analysis of empirical data

The empirical data on traffic flows collected in the linear portion of the Lefortovsky tunnel of the third Moscow transport ring were analyzed. It was shown that the crowded traffic observed in the tunnel is indeed characterized by the synchronized vehicular traffic. In particular, long-range spatial correlations in their motion velocities and the region of “widely scattered states”, i.e., two typical properties of the synchronized vehicular traffic phase, were detected in the fundamental diagram. Moreover, the phase diagram of the traffic flow dynamics showed two regions with essentially different properties, which are separated by a narrow layer with a virtually fixed vehicle density. One of them corresponds to synchronized vehicular traffic and contains a core of chaotic dynamics. Another region corresponds to irreversible formation of wide moving jams.     

A New Lattice Model of Two-Lane Trafc Flow with the Consideration of the Honk Efect

In this paper,a new lattice model of two-lane trafc flow with the honk efect term is proposed to study the influence of the honk efect on wide moving jams under lane changing.The linear stability condition on two-lane highway is obtained by applying the linear stability theory.The modified Korteweg-de Vries(KdV)equation near the critical point is derived and the coexisting curves resulted from the modified KdV equation can be described,which shows that the critical point,the coexisting curve and the neutral stability line decrease with increasing the honk efect coefcient.A wide moving jam can be conceivably described approximately in the unstable region.Numerical simulation is performed to verify the analytic results.The results show that the honk efect could suppress efectively the congested trafc patterns about wide moving jam propagation in lattice model of two-lane trafc flow.     

考虑行车状态的一维元胞自动机交通流模型

在Nagel Schrekenberg单车道元胞自动机交通流模型（简称NS模型）的基础上，考虑车辆之间的相对运动薛郁等提出了一种改进的单车道元胞自动机交通流模型（简称改进的NS模型）.通过两种情况列出了改进的NS模型存在不尽周严的地方，随之在新模型中引入了行车状态 变量和反馈规则，从而控制车辆出现倒车和刹车过急等现象.通过计算机对新模型进行模拟 ，发现减速概率和车流密度对车流状态的演化影响很大，当减速概率高（如道路条件差）时 ，即使车流密度低，车流也会出现局部堵塞状态；而当减速概率一定时，随着车流密度增加 ，车流的运动相与堵塞相发生了全局性的交替出现，此时类似于波的波峰和波谷的传播.与 改进的NS模型相比较，新模型模拟的车流量较高，说明新模型减少了车流的总体停滞状态. 关键词： 交通流 元胞自动机 行车状态 反馈规则     

The effect of stochastic accelerating and delay probability with the velocity and the gap between vehicles on traffic flow

This paper proposes a new combined cellular automaton (CA) model considering the driver behavior of stochastic acceleration and delay with the velocity of the preceding vehicle and the gap between the successive vehicles based on the WWH model and the noise-first NaSch model. It introduces the delay probability varying with the gap, adds the anticipation headway and increases the acceleration with a certain probability. Through these simulations, not only can the metastable state and start--stop wave be obtained but also the synchronized flow which the wide moving jam results in. Moreover, the effect of stochastic acceleration and delay on traffic flow is discussed by analyzing the correlation of traffic data. This indicates that synchronized flow easily emerges in the critical area between free flow and synchronized flow when acceleration and delay are synchronized or their probability is close to 0.5.     

Helmholtz, Riemann, and the Sirens: Sound, Color, and the “Problem of Space”

Emerging from music and the visual arts, questions about hearing and seeing deeply affected Hermann Helmholtz’s and Bernhard Riemann’s contributions to what became called the “problem of space [Raumproblem],” which in turn influenced Albert Einstein’s approach to general relativity. Helmholtz’s physiological investigations measured the time dependence of nerve conduction and mapped the three-dimensional manifold of color sensation. His concurrent studies on hearing illuminated musical evidence through experiments with mechanical sirens that connect audible with visible phenomena, especially how the concept of frequency unifies motion, velocity, and pitch. Riemann’s critique of Helmholtz’s work on hearing led Helmholtz to respond and study Riemann’s then-unpublished lecture on the foundations of geometry. During 1862–1870, Helmholtz applied his findings on the manifolds of hearing and seeing to the Raumproblem by supporting the quadratic distance relation Riemann had assumed as his fundamental hypothesis about geometrical space. Helmholtz also drew a “close analogy … in all essential relations between the musical scale and space.” These intersecting studies of hearing and seeing thus led to reconsideration and generalization of the very concept of “space,” which Einstein shaped into the general manifold of relativistic space-time.     

Road traffic sound level distributions

A microprocessor-controlled instrument has been used to form a traffic noise level histogram with a resolution better than 0·1 dB per channel. The instrument calculates the mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis of the distribution, along with L_N and L_eq values. The results of over 200 measurements, of 400 s duration, are shown to be in disagreement with predictions based on the commonly assumed Gaussian distribution. Skewness values ranging from +1 to ?1 have been observed, while kurtosis can exceed 4. Measurements taken near freely flowing, pulsed and banked traffic have been used to describe the “typical” distribution shape, it being observed that banked traffic noise has markedly different characteristics from other types of traffic. Simultaneous measurements taken on each side of the road have been related to the position of the traffic on the road and these data have led to a simple model for estimating the distribution shape and statistical parameters.