Asymptotic stability of semigroups associated with linear weak dissipative systems with memory

We study the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of a class of linear dissipative integral differential equations. We show in the abstract setting a necessary and sufficient condition to get an exponential decay of the solution. In the case of the lack of exponential decay, we find the polynomial rate of decay of the solution. Some examples are given.     

Singular numbers of the monodromy operator and sufficient conditions of the asymptotic stability of periodic system of differential equations with fixed delay

To obtain sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of linear periodic systems with fixed delay commensurable with the period of coefficients, singular numbers of the monodromy operator are used. To find these numbers, a self-adjoint boundary value problem for ordinary differential equations is applied. We study the motion of eigenvalues of this boundary value problem under a variation of a parameter. Obtaining sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability is reduced to finding the bifurcation value of the parameter for the boundary value problem.     

Symmetries of Integrable Difference Equations on the Quad-Graph

This paper describes symmetries of all integrable difference equations that belong to the famous Adler–Bobenko–Suris classification. For each equation, the characteristics of symmetries satisfy a functional equation, which we solve by reducing it to a system of partial differential equations. In this way, all five-point symmetries of integrable equations on the quad-graph are found. These include mastersymmetries, which allow one to construct infinite hierarchies of local symmetries. We also demonstrate a connection between the symmetries of quad-graph equations and those of the corresponding Toda type difference equations.     

The harmonic consistency index for the analytic hierarchy process

A new consistency measure, the harmonic consistency index, is obtained for any positive reciprocal matrix in the analytic hierarchy process. We show how this index varies with changes in any matrix element. A tight upper bound is provided for this new consistency measure when the entries of matrix are at most 9, as is often recommended. Using simulation, the harmonic consistency index is shown to give numerical values similar to the standard consistency index but it is easier to compute and interpret. In addition, new properties of the column sums of reciprocal matrices are obtained.     

Regularization of singular systems of linear algebraic equations by shifts

Regularization of singular systems of linear algebraic equations by shifts is examined. New equivalent conditions for the shift regularizability of such systems are derived.     

Photothermal techniques applied to the determination of the water vapor diffusion coefficient and thermal diffusivity of edible films.

Water vapor diffusion coefficient (WVDC) and thermal diffusivity (alpha) were determined in gelatin-starch films through photothermal techniques. The effect of different variables in the elaboration of these films, such as starch and glycerol concentrations and pH, were evaluated through the response surface methodology. The results indicated that an increase in the glycerol concentration and pH favored the WVDC of the films. On the other hand, alpha was influenced principally by the starch content and pH of the film-forming solution. The minimum alpha value was 4.5 x 10(-4) cm2/s, which is compared with alpha values reported for commercial synthetic polymers.     

Expansion of explosion products of silver azide

A new method for studying the kinetics of the expansion of explosion products based on measuring the time elapsed from explosion initiation to the short-circuiting of the discharge gap by the products was proposed. It was revealed that, at the initial stage of expansion of the silver azide explosion products, they move with uniform acceleration, a behavior suggestive that, during this period, the exothermic reaction 2N₃ → 3N₂ occurs.     

Interaction between large and small signals in a resonant transmission line based on magnetostatic waves

The influence of a large signal on the characteristics of a small signal near the frequency of the former is experimentally studied for the case of their simultaneous propagation through a resonant transmission line based on backward volume magnetostatic waves. The effects observed are caused by the excitation of spin waves in a ferromagnetic film at different large-signal frequencies and by the back influence of excited spin-wave packets on the amplitude and phase characteristics of the small signal.     

Towards Higher-N Superextensions of Born–Infeld Theory

We give a brief account of supersymmetric Born–Infeld theories with extended supersymmetry, including those with partially broken supersymmetry. Some latest developments in this area are presented. One of them is N = 3 supersymmetric Born–Infeld theory which admits a natural off-shell formulation in N = 3 harmonic superspace.     

Timelike Compton scattering: exclusive photoproduction of lepton pairs

We investigate the exclusive photoproduction of a heavy timelike photon which decays into a lepton pair, . This can be seen as the analog of deeply virtual Compton scattering, and we argue that the two processes are complementary for studying generalized parton distributions in the nucleon. In an unpolarized experiment the angular distribution of the leptons readily provides access to the real part of the Compton amplitude. We estimate the possible size of this effect in kinematics where the Compton process should be dominated by quark exchange. Received: 9 October 2001 / Published online: 5 April 2002