An algebraic characterization ofB-convergent Runge-Kutta methods

Summary In the analysis of discretization methods for stiff intial value problems, stability questions have received most part of the attention in the past.B-stability and the equivalent criterion algebraic stability are well known concepts for Runge-Kutta methods applied to dissipative problems. However, for the derivation ofB-convergence results — error bounds which are not affected by stiffness — it is not sufficient in many cases to requireB-stability alone. In this paper, necessary and sufficient conditions forB-convergence are determined.This paper was written while J. Schneid was visiting the Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science with an Erwin-Schrödinger stipend from the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung     

Onset of crater formation during short pulse laser ablation

We report morphologic changes of metallic surfaces at the onset of ablation, starting from gentle ablation to the emergence of ablation craters. The evolution of both observed melting zones and of ablation craters therein are investigated in dependence of the ablation laser fluence for nanosecond ultraviolet laser pulses. Further, consequences of crater formation for cluster synthesis within the released atomic vapor are pointed out. PACS 52.38.Mf; 79.20.Ds; 65.40.De     

Stability testing in an integrated scheme

ISO Guide 35 deals with RM stability issues and scrutinizes the evaluation of stability testing results under the assumption that either there is no trend at all (a rather rare situation), or any observed deterministic change is insignificant and thus can be neglected. However, market demands for reliable reference materials are obviously not limited to stable or at least seemingly stable materials. In many analytical applications, analytes and measurands under consideration are known, or at least suspected, to be unstable on time scales that may vary widely from measurand to measurand. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) has developed (and successfully uses) an integrated approach in its certification practice. The approach is based on an initial stability study and subsequent post-certification monitoring. Data evaluation is model-based and takes advantage of all information collected in the stability testing scheme(s). It thus allows one to deal with any kind of instability observed, to assess limiting time intervals at any stress condition in the range tested, to estimate a final expiry date for materials with detected instabilities or the maximum admissible re-testing interval for seemingly stable materials, and to assess maximum admissible stress loads during delivery of the material to the customer. The article describes (and exemplifies) typical study layout, the model selection, and the integrated data assessment.     

Complex powers of classical SG-pseudodifferential operators

Abstract Under a suitable ellipticity condition, we show that classical SG-pseudodifferential operators of nonnegative order possess complex powers. We show that the powers are again classical and derive an explicit formula for all homogeneous components. Keywords: Complex power, Weighted symbols, Noncompact manifolds     

Stability of a Model of Relativistic Quantum Electrodynamics

The relativistic “no pair” model of quantum electrodynamics uses the Dirac operator, D(A) for the electron dynamics together with the usual self-energy of the quantized ultraviolet cutoff electromagnetic field A– in the Coulomb gauge. There are no positrons because the electron wave functions are constrained to lie in the positive spectral subspace of some Dirac operator, D, but the model is defined for any number, N, of electrons, and hence describes a true many-body system. In addition to the electrons there are a number, K, of fixed nuclei with charges ≤Z. If the fields are not quantized but are classical, it was shown earlier that such a model is always unstable (the ground state energy E=−∞) if one uses the customary D(0) to define the electron space, but is stable (E > − const.(N+K)) if one uses D(A) itself (provided the fine structure constant α and Z are not too large). This result is extended to quantized fields here, and stability is proved for α= 1/137 and Z≤ 42. This formulation of QED is somewhat unusual because it means that the electron Hilbert space is inextricably linked to the photon Fock space. But such a linkage appears to better describe the real world of photons and electrons. Received: 8 September 2001 / Accepted: 18 March 2002     

VIBRATION OF TWISTED AND CURVED CYLINDRICAL PANELS WITH VARIABLE THICKNESS

A numerical procedure, with an exact strain-displacement relationship of twisted and curved cylindrical panels having variable thickness derived by considering the Green strain tensor on general shell theory, is presented using the principle of virtual work and the Rayleigh-Ritz method with algebraic polynomials as in-plane and transverse displacement functions. The accuracy and applicability of the procedure are verified by comparing the present results with previous experimental and theoretical results for several panels. The effects of variation ratio of thickness in chordwise and lengthwise directions, twist, and curvature both in two directions aforementioned on vibrations of cylindrical panels are studied in detail, and typical vibration mode shapes are plotted to demonstrate the effects.     

Ermakov Approach for Minisuperspace Oscillators

The Wheeler–DeWitt equation of arbitrary Hartle–Hawking factor ordering for several minisuperspace universe models, such as the pure gravity Friedmann–Robertson–Walker and Taub ones, is mapped onto the dynamics of corresponding classical oscillators. The latter ones are studied by the classical Ermakov invariant method, which is a natural approach in this context. For the more realistic case of a minimally coupled massive scalar field, one can study, within the same type of approach, the corresponding squeezing features as a possible means of describing cosmological evolution. Finally, we comment on the analogy with the accelerator physics.     

Odd-Excited Binomial States of the Radiation Field and Some of Their Statistical Properties

In this paper a new state called odd-excited binomial state (OEBS) is introduced. It interpolates between the odd number state and the odd-excited coherent state. We discuss some statistical properties, such as the Glauber second-order correlation function and squeezing phenomenon (normal and amplitude-squared squeezing) for this state. The quasiprobability distribution functions (Husimi Q-function and Wigner W-function) are also examined.