Planning systems and artificial intelligence

Traditional O.R. systems are compared with problem solving in Artificial Intelligence via Expert Systems. The discussion centers on explicit knowledge representation. The general aspects are illustrated by two planning systems:

1. LESP 2: A learning system for inspection plan generation
2. IDA: A system for finding functions and solutions in construction

     

Periodic solutions of nonlinear integral equations

The existence of a continuous periodic solution of the system

String structures and the index of the Dirac-Ramond operator on orbifolds

We discuss the relationship between string structures and the topological class H ⁴(M,Z) on non-simply connected manifolds. We also investigate to what extent the index formula for the Dirac-Ramond operator detects the class, .Supported by the NSF Grant #84-07109 and by the U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.) under contract #DE-AC02-76ER03069On leave from the University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland     

Relative index theorems and supersymmetric scattering theory

We discuss supersymmetric scattering theory and employ Krein's theory of spectral shift functions to investigate supersymmetric scattering systems. This is the basis for the derivation of relative index theorems on some classes of open manifolds. As an example we discuss the de Rham complex for obstacles in ^N and asymptotically flat manifolds. It is shown that the absolute or relative Euler characteristic of an obstacle in ^N may be obtained from scattering data for the Laplace operator on forms with absolute or relative boundary conditions respectively. In the case of asymptotically flat manifolds we obtain the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem for theL ²-Euler characteristic.On leave of absence from Institute of Physics, Leningrad State University, Leningrad     

Sensitivity of hydrodynamic system of the Obukhov type

The paper deals with the regime of advanced Bénard instabilities (described usually by the Lorenz system) in a more general system formulated firstly by Obukhov. It has been shown that triplet co-operation leads to characteristic courses where some new regularities occur.     

Stochastic modeling of a billiard in a gravitational field: Power law behavior of Lyapunov exponents

We consider the motion of a point particle (billiard) in a uniform gravitational field constrained to move in a symmetric wedge-shaped region. The billiard is reflected at the wedge boundary. The phase space of the system naturally divides itself into two regions in which the tangent maps are respectively parabolic and hyperbolic. It is known that the system is integrable for two values of the wedge half-angle ₁ and ₂ and chaotic for ₁<< ₂. We study the system at three levels of approximation: first, where the deterministic dynamics is replaced by a random evolution; second, where, in addition, the tangent map in each region is, replaced by its average; and third, where the tangent map is replaced by a single global average. We show that at all three levels the Lyapunov exponent exhibits power law behavior near ₁ and ₂ with exponents 1/2 and 1, respectively. We indicate the origin of the exponent 1, which has not been observed in unaccelerated billiards.     

Restoration of universality for the rod-to-coil transition scaling in the infinite-dimensionality limit: Exact results for directed walks

We derive scaling forms for the thermodynamic and correlation quantities for the turn-weighted fully and partially directed self-avoiding walks on the hypercubic lattices ind2. In the grand canonical (fixed fugacity per step) ensemble, the conformational rod-to-coil transition sets up in the regimew¯N=O(1), wherew is the weight of each 90° turn and¯N is the (fugacity-dependent) average number of steps. Contrary to the conventional critical phenomena wisdom, the scaling functions for the two different walk models, directed and partially directed, become universal only in the limitd.     

Proton-proton correlations at small relative momentum in neon-nucleus collisions at E/A=400 and 800 MeV

Proton-proton small angle correlations have been measured in neon-nucleus collisions, using the 4 pi detector Diogene, at 400 and 800 MeV per nucleon incident energies. Values of the size of the emitting region are obtained by comparison with the Koonin formula, taking into account the biases of the apparatus. The dependence of the density on target mass and incident energy is also analysed.     

Positive muons in bismuth: determination of their sites,detection of a large local lattice contraction and giant associated electric field gradients,evidence for short and long range diffusion

Using a high purity Bi single crystal the temperature and orientation dependence of the zero and transverse field muon spin relaxation rate has been studied in detail. The results imply that the ⁺ occupies one of the two possible interstitial sites in the distorted rhombohedral crystal structure of Bi below 10 K and the other site above 80 K. At both sites the nearest neighbor Bi atoms are found to be shifted towards the ⁺ by 10% of their nominal distance, implying a large local lattice contraction. In concomitance extremely strong electric field gradients are manifest at the nn Bi nuclei. An almost temperature independent reduced relaxation rate in the temperature range from 20 K to 60 K is interpreted in terms of short range diffusion along a limited chain of alternating types of sites. Above 100 K both long range and short range diffusion are indicated.