Decay of the remanent magnetization in the asymmetric spin chain

The dynamics of the one-dimensional spin glass with asymmetric interactions between neighboring spins is considered. We confine ourselves to discrete couplings with values ±J. We show that the algebraic decay of the remanent magnetization of the infinite ±J-spin chain at zero temperature is only valid for symmetric couplings. Our analytical investigations as well as computer simulations show stretched exponential decay for any finite concentration of antisymmetric bonds. Thus, the asymmetric ±J-spin chain shows an asymmetry-induced phase transition at zero temperature.     

Statistical properties of aggregation with injection

We study a generalized aggregation process in which charged particles diffuse and coalesce randomly on a lattice. For one-dimensional and mean-field models, we show that there exists a statistically-invariant steady state when randomly charged particles are continuously injected. The steady-state charge distribution obeys a power law with the exponent depending both on the type of the injection and on the spatial dimension. The response of the system to a perturbation (i.e., relaxation) is characterized by either a power law decay (t ^– ,1) or a compressed exponential decay [exp(–t ),>1].     

Frequency domain measurements on Na2B4O7−V2O5 semiconducting glass

Summary Dielectric measurements on Na₂B₄O₇(99.5%)−V₂O₅(0.5%) glass system, in the frequency range 10⁻³ to 10⁴ Hz and temperature range 300 to 500 K, have been carried out. The normalized plots of complex capacitance have shown a single mechanism responsible for conduction for both volume and surface measurements with their close values of activation energies (0.67±0.03) eV and (0.64±0.03) eV, respectively. The low-frequency dispersion (LFD) behaviour has been observed to be perturbed by the presence of more than one competing process. The impedance plots have shown a parallel combination of a capacitor (C) and a resistor (R), with some contribution of a dispersive element due to charge accumulation in the vicinity of the electrodes. The values ofR andC were found to be of the same order of magnitude, for both surface and volume measurements. The observedR has shown a decrease with an increase in temperature due to an increase in mobility of Na⁺ ions, whereasC remains practicaly constant. The complex capacitance surface behaviour is dominated by volume, due to hygroscopy of this glass system.     

An Open Question on Cyclic Relaxation

The problem discussed in this note is highly interesting. It is related to several dual iterative methods, such as the methods proposed by Kaczmarz, Hildreth, Agmon, Cryer, Mangasarian, Herman, Lent, Censor, and others. Cast as row-action methods these algorithms have been proved as useful tools for solving large convex feasibility problems that arise in medical image reconstruction from projections, in inverse problems in radiation therapy, and in linear programming.The question that we want to answer is how these algorithms behave when the feasible region is empty. It is shown that under certain conditions the primal sequence still converges while the dual sequence {y _k } obeys the rule y _k =u _k +k v, where {u _k } is a converging sequence and v is a fixed vector that satisfies A ^T v=0,v0,and,b ^T v>0. It is conjectured that these properties hold whenever the feasible region is empty. However, the validity of this claim remains an open question.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the Global Stability of Solutions of Moment Systems in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

In this paper, we study the linearization of the Cauchy problem and the mixed problem for the system of Grad--Hermite moments in nonequilibrium thermodynamics in the neighborhood of the equilibrium state. Stability conditions for solutions of the Cauchy problem are proved as a generalization of the classical Hermite--Biller theorem on stable polynomials. For the mixed problem, we prove an analog of the Vishik--Lyusternik theorem on small singular perturbations of general elliptic problems. The last observation allows us to introduce the Shapiro--Lopatinskii condition, which implies the well-posedness of the mixed problem.     

Two exact algorithms for the capacitated p-median problem

The p-median problem has been widely studied in combinatorial optimisation, but its generalisation to the capacitated case has not. We propose a branch and price algorithm, comparing it with a standard MIP solver and a branch and bound algorithm based on Lagrangean relaxation. We present computational experience, using test instances drawn from the literature and new instances with higher ratio between the number of medians p and the number of nodes N. The branch and price algorithm shows very good performances and computational time robustness in solving problems for any ratio.Received: December 2002, Revised: August 2003AMS classification: 90C10, 90C27     

A technique for speeding up the solution of the Lagrangean dual

We propose techniques for the solution of the LP relaxation and the Lagrangean dual in combinatorial optimization and nonlinear programming problems. Our techniques find the optimal solution value and the optimal dual multipliers of the LP relaxation and the Lagrangean dual in polynomial time using as a subroutine either the Ellipsoid algorithm or the recent algorithm of Vaidya. Moreover, in problems of a certain structure our techniques find not only the optimal solution value, but the solution as well. Our techniques lead to significant improvements in the theoretical running time compared with previously known methods (interior point methods, Ellipsoid algorithm, Vaidya's algorithm). We use our method to the solution of the LP relaxation and the Langrangean dual of several classical combinatorial problems, like the traveling salesman problem, the vehicle routing problem, the Steiner tree problem, thek-connected problem, multicommodity flows, network design problems, network flow problems with side constraints, facility location problems,K-polymatroid intersection, multiple item capacitated lot sizing problem, and stochastic programming. In all these problems our techniques significantly improve the theoretical running time and yield the fastest way to solve them.     

Transport coefficients of quark-gluon plasma

Transport coefficients of quark-gluon plasma are discussed in the framework of relativistic kinetic theory with the relaxation time approximation of Boltzmann transport equation. The expressions for the coefficients of shear and volume viscosities and heat conductivity are derived assuming quark-gluon plasma to be a non-reactive mixture of quarks, anti-quarks and gluons. A lowest order in deviations from local thermal equilibrium and in plasma phase, lowest order in coupling constant are assumed. Entropy production due to irreversible processes is discussed.     

Fourier acceleration of iterative processes in disordered systems

Technical details are given on how to use Fourier acceleration with iterative processes such as relaxation and conjugate gradient methods. These methods are often used to solve large linear systems of equations, but become hopelessly slow very rapidly as the size of the set of equations to be solved increases. Fourier acceleration is a method designed to alleviate these problems and result in a very fast algorithm. The method is explained for the Jacobi relaxation and conjugate gradient methods and is applied to two models: the random resistor network and the random central-force network. In the first model, acceleration works very well; in the second, little is gained. We discuss reasons for this. We also include a discussion of stopping criteria.     

Charge storage and relaxation process of polymer film by thermally stimulated discharge current technique

Charge storage and relaxation process of the polymide film electret were investigated using the thermally stimulated discharge current technique. Homo- and heterocharges were mainly observed up to and above the polarization temperature.