Optical Absorption Spectra of Gd2BaCoO5 and Y2BaCoO5

The marked differences found in the optical spectra of the brown coloured G₂BaCoO₅ and the green coloured Y₂BaCoO₅ oxides, have been explained taking into account the different crystal structures that they present. While Gd₂BaCoO₅ shows orthorhombic symmetry, space group lmmm, with the cobalt located at distorted octahedral coordination (CoO₆), the Y₂BaCoO₅ crystallizes with orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma, in which the cobalt is surrounded by five oxygen atoms, forming distorted square pyramids (CoO₅) which belong to the C_4v group symmetry.     

Scalar-Particle Self-Energy Amplitudes and Confinement in Minkowski Space

We analyze the analytic structure of the Covariant Spectator Theory (CST) contribution to the self-energy amplitude for a scalar particle in a ${\phi^2\chi}$ theory. To this end we derive dispersion relations in 1+1 and in 3+1 dimensional Minkowski space. The divergent loop integrals in 3+1 dimensions are regularized using dimensional regularization. We find that the CST dispersion relations exhibit, in addition to the usual right-hand branch cut, also a left-hand cut. The origin of this “spectator” left-hand cut can be understood in the context of scattering for a scalar ${\phi^2\chi^2}$ -type theory. If the interaction kernel contains a linear confining component, its contribution to the self-energy vanishes exactly.     

Resonances Generated by the Vector Meson-Baryon Dynamics

We have recently studied vector meson-octet baryon (VB) interactions with the aim to find dynamical generation of resonances in such systems. For this, we consider the s-, t-, u-channel diagrams along with a contact interaction originating from the hidden local symmetry Lagrangian. We find the contribution from all these sources, except the s-channel, to be important. The amplitudes obtained by solving the coupled channel Bethe–Salpeter equations for the systems with total strangeness zero show generation of one isospin 3/2, spin 1/2 resonance and three isospin 1/2 resonances: two with spin 3/2 and one with spin 1/2. We identify these resonances with Δ (1900) S ₃₁, N*(2080) D ₁₃, N* (1700) D ₁₃, and N*(2090) S ₁₁, respectively. Further, we briefly discuss the results of our investigation of the VB systems when coupled to the pseudoscalar meson-baryon (PB) channels. We find that the low-lying resonances couple strongly to the VB channels, a result which can be useful in studying the reactions involving pseudoscalar and vector meson exchanges. In case of the higher mass resonances (in the 1,800–2,200 MeV region), we find that some of the states claimed as dynamically generated states in the VB system can disappear due to their coupling to the PB channels. We also find that new states can appear from PB–VB coupled channel dynamics; for example, we find that a Σ resonance near 1,400 MeV gets developed due to such an effect.     

On sequences of Hurwitz polynomials related to orthogonal polynomials

ABSTRACT

In this contribution, we explore the well-known connection between Hurwitz and orthogonal polynomials. Namely, given a Hurwitz polynomial, it is shown that it can be decomposed into two parts: a polynomial that is orthogonal with respect to some positive measure supported in the positive real axis and its corresponding second-kind polynomial. Conversely, given a sequence of orthogonal polynomials with respect to a positive measure supported in the positive real axis, a sequence of Hurwitz polynomials can be constructed. Based on that connection, we construct sequences of Hurwitz polynomials that satisfy a recurrence relation, in a similar way as the orthogonal polynomials do. Even more, we present a way to construct families of Hurwitz polynomials using two sequences of parameters and a recurrence relation that constitutes an analogue of Favard's theorem in the theory of orthogonal polynomials.     

Aggregating preferences rankings with variable weights

One of the most important issues for aggregating preferences rankings is the determination of the weights associated with the different ranking places. To avoid the subjectivity in determining the weights, Cook and Kress (1990) [5] suggested evaluating each candidate with the most favorable scoring vector for him/her. With this purpose, various models based on Data Envelopment Analysis have appeared in the literature. Although these methods do not require predetermine the weights subjectively, some of them have a serious drawback: the relative order between two candidates may be altered when the number of first, second, …, kth ranks obtained by other candidates changes, although there is not any variation in the number of first, second, …, kth ranks obtained by both candidates. In this paper we propose a model that allows each candidate to be evaluated with the most favorable weighting vector for him/her and avoids the previous drawback. Moreover, in some cases, we give a closed expression for the score assigned with our model to each candidate.     

Joint optimization of fleet size and maintenance capacity in a fork-join cyclical transportation system

This article presents an asset management-oriented multi-criteria methodology for the joint estimation of a mobile equipment fleet size, and the maintenance capacity to be allocated in a productive system. Using a business-centred life-cycle perspective, we propose an integrated analytical model and evaluate it using global cost rate, availability and throughput as performance indicators. The global cost components include: (i) opportunity costs associated with lost production, (ii) vehicle idle time costs, and (iii) maintenance resources idle time costs. This multi-criteria approach allows a balanced scorecard to be built that identifies the main trade-offs in the system. The methodology uses an improved closed network queueing model approach to describe the production and maintenance areas. We test the proposed methodology using an underground mining operation case study. The decision variables are the size of a load-haul-dump fleet and specialized maintenance crew levels. Our model achieves savings of 20.6% in global cost terms with respect to a benchmark case. We also optimize the system to achieve desired targets of vehicle availability and system throughput (based on system utilization). The results show increments of 7.1% in vehicle availability and 13.5% in system throughput with respect to baseline case. For the case studied, these criteria also have a maximum, which allows for further improvement if desired. The results also show the importance of using balanced performance measures in the decision process. A multi-criteria optimization was also performed, showing the Pareto front of considered indicators. We discuss the trade-offs among different criteria, and the implications in finding balanced solutions. The proposed analytical approach is easy to implement and requires low computational effort. It also allows for an easy re-evaluation of resources when the business cycle changes and relevant exogenous factors vary.