Hereditary optimal control problems: Numerical method based upon a padé approximation

In this paper, we consider a particular approximation scheme which can be used to solve hereditary optimal control problems. These problems are characterized by variables with a time-delayed argumentx(t – ). In our approximation scheme, we first replace the variable with an augmented statey(t) x(t - ). The two-sided Laplace transform ofy(t) is a product of the Laplace transform ofx(t) and an exponential factor. This factor is approximated by a first-order Padé approximation, and a differential relation fory(t) can be found. The transformed problem, without any time-delayed argument, can then be solved using a gradient algorithm in the usual way. Four problems are solved to illustrate the validity and usefulness of this technique.This research was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under NASA Grant NCC-2-106.     

The projection approach to the Fokker-Planck equation. I. Colored Gaussian noise

It is shown that the Fokker-Planck operator can be derived via a projection-perturbation approach, using the repartition of a more detailed operator into a perturbation ₁ and an unperturbed part ₀. The standard Fokker-Planck structure is recovered at the second order in ₁, whereas the perturbation terms of higher order are shown to provoke the breakdown of this structure. To get rid of these higher order terms, a key approximation, local linearization (LL), is made. In general, to evaluate at the second order in ₁ the exact expression of the diffusion coefficient which simulates the influence of a Gaussian noise with a finite correlation time, a resummation up to infinite order in must be carried out, leading to what other authors call the best Fokker-Planck approximation (BFPA). It is shown that, due to the role of terms of higher order in ₁, the BFPA leads to predictions on the equilibrium distributions that are reliable only up to the first order in t. The LL, on the contrary, in addition to making the influence of terms of higher order in ₁ vanish, results in a simple analytical expression for the term of second order that is formally coincident with the complete resummation over all the orders in t provided by the Fox theory. The corresponding diffusion coefficient in turn is shown to lead in the limiting case to exact results for the steady-state distributions. Therefore, over the whole range 0 the LL turns out to be an approximation much more accurate than the global linearization proposed by other authors for the same purpose of making the terms of higher order in ₁ vanish. In the short- region the LL leads to results virtually coincident with those of the BFPA. In the large- region the LL is a more accurate approximation than the BFPA itself. These theoretical arguments are supported by the results of both analog and digital simulation.     

One-dimensional harmonic lattice caricature of hydrodynamics: Second approximation

The long-time behavior of an infinite chain of coupled harmonic oscillators is studied. In addition to a limiting hydrodynamic (Euler-type) equation, the next approximation is investigated. The corresponding equation is derived.     

Surface properties of finite classical Coulomb systems: Debye-Hückel approximation and computer simulations

We report analytical and numerical studies of surface correlations in finite, homogeneously polarizable, classical Coulomb systems placed in an insulating or conducting environment. Their purpose is to understand the phenomenological, shape-dependent laws of electrostatics, from the point of view of statistical mechanics; we focus on the knowledge of the dielectric susceptibility of the system, a quantity proportional to the equilibrium fluctuation of the system's instantaneous polarization per unit volume. This goal has been achieved for a system in a conducting state. The picture is that the shape-dependent part of the susceptibilities results from the action of unbounded observables (the second moments of the instantaneous polarization of the system) on long-range surface correlations and that the relations of electrostatics are verified by means of shape-dependent thermodynamic limits. This picture is supported (i) by exact solutions and asymptotic analysis of the Debye-Hückel approximation of multicomponent plasmas in disks and spheres with insulating and conducting environment and also in ellipses in a vacuum, and (ii) by computer simulations of a one-component plasma in a disk with different environments, notably a conducting environment with permeable and impermeable wall. These observations have revealed for the first time the reason why the susceptibility of a conducting disk in a conductor with impermeable walls diverges linearly with the radius of the disk: this is due to the occurrence of long-range radial correlations in the conductor. These findings are quantitatively interpreted in terms of a novel canonical Debye-Huckel approximation as contrasted to the ordinary grand canonical version. Lastly a fresh look at the problem of the surface correlations of a conductor in a vacuum, which places the observer close to the surface of the conductor but in the vacuum, is presented and applied to the disk, the ellipse, the cylinder, the sphere, and the wedge.     

Zur Theorie der Chiralitätsfunktionen

The Algebraic Theory of Chirality Functions is derived by means of exclusively qualitative considerations. Hence, the significance of quantitative results is questionable. Moreover the construction of “Näherungsansätze” (”Approximation-Ansatz”), which may be interpreted as semiempirical methods, is achieved on the basis of plausibility and mathematical simplicity. Since physical arguments are not included, the consistency or inconsistency of “Näherungsansätze” with experimental results do not justify direct physical conclusions.     

Convex programs with an additional reverse convex constraint

A method is presented for solving a class of global optimization problems of the form (P): minimizef(x), subject toxD,g(x)0, whereD is a closed convex subset ofR ⁿ andf,g are convex finite functionsR ⁿ . Under suitable stability hypotheses, it is shown that a feasible point is optimal if and only if 0=max{g(x):xD,f(x)f( )}. On the basis of this optimality criterion, the problem is reduced to a sequence of subproblemsQ _k ,k=1, 2, ..., each of which consists in maximizing the convex functiong(x) over some polyhedronS _k . The method is similar to the outer approximation method for maximizing a convex function over a compact convex set.     

Infrared asymptotic freedom of a hierarchical φ 3 6 lattice theory

For the weakly coupled lattice ₃ ⁶ theory in a hierarchical model approximation a nonperturbative renormalization group analysis in the spirit of Gawedzki and Kupiainen is performed to study the flow of the effective actions. We deduce a domain of attraction to the tricritical (Gaussian) fixed point. The two relevant coupling constants of the problem are controlled by analytic continuation to complex domains, tracing their images under the renormalization group iterations.     

An Improvement of IAP OGCM for the Pacific Ocean Circulation and Its Simulated Results

Based on the oceanic CCM with standard stratification subtraction but without the rigid-lid approximation designed in Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP OGCM) and its numerical modelings for the large-scale ocean circulation, a numerical model for the Pacific Ocean is developed with higher resolution (2.5°×2° in the longitude and latitude, 8 layers in the vertical),the realistic coastline geometry,the smoothed bottom topography and the Richardson number dependent vertical mixing parameterization.The splitting time integration scheme of the barotropic and baroclinic modes is adopted in the model. The numerical simulation under the annual mean atmospheric forcing shows that the model performance is improved substantially compared with the previous low resolution version.This free surface model,in particular, successfully simulates the well-known ridge-trough structure in the sea level, i.e. the equatorial trough, the equatorial ridge near 3°N, the north countercurrent trough between 8°N and 10°N,     

Ab initio calculations of small hydrides including electron correlation

Five different structures of CH₅ ⁺ and one structure of CH₅ ^– are calculated using a gaussian basis both in the SCF approximation and with the inclusion of electron correlation in the independent electron pair approximation (IEPA). While on SCF level the C _sstructure of CH₅ ⁺ has to lowest energy, the energy difference between the C _sand C _2vstructures becomes negligible if correlation is included. In contrast to this the approach of a proton to CH₄ at large and intermediate distances is most favorable towards a corner of the CH₄ tetrahedron which means a structure. The decomposition of CH₅ ⁺ into CH₃ ⁺ and H₂ requires 20kcal/mol on SCF level and 40 kcal/mol if correlation is included.