Maximum entropy with fluctuating constraints: The example of K-distributions

We indicate that in a maximum entropy setting, the thermodynamic β and the observation constraint are linked, so that fluctuations of the latter imposes fluctuations of the former. This gives an alternate viewpoint to ‘superstatistics’. While a Gamma model for fluctuations of the β parameter gives the so-called Tsallis distributions, we work out the case of a Gamma model for fluctuations of the observable, and show that this leads to K-distributions. We draw attention to the fact that these heavy-tailed distributions have high interest in physical applications, and we discuss them in some details.     

Tunable Goos-Hänchen shift for self-collimated beams in two-dimensional photonic crystals

We present finite-difference time-domain studies of the Goos-Hänchen effect observed at the reflection of a self-collimated beam from the surface of a two-dimensional photonic crystal. We describe a method of tuning the shift of the reflected beam in photonic crystals through the modification of the surface, first structurally, as a change in the radius of the surface rods, and then all-optically, with the addition of nonlinear material to the surface layer. We demonstrate all-optical tunability and intensity-dependent control of the beam shift.     

Conservative force fields in non-Gaussian statistics

In this Letter, we determine the κ-distribution function for a gas in the presence of an external field of force described by a potential U(r). In the case of a dilute gas, we show that the κ-power law distribution including the potential energy factor term can rigorously be deduced in the framework of kinetic theory with basis on the Vlasov equation. Such a result is significant as a preliminary to the discussion on the role of long range interactions in the Kaniadakis thermostatistics and the underlying kinetic theory.     

Statistical physics in deformed spaces with minimal length

We considered the thermodynamics in spaces with deformed commutation relations leading to the existence of minimal length. We developed a classical method of the partition function evaluation. We calculated the partition function and heat capacity for ideal gas and harmonic oscillators using this method. The obtained results are in good agreement with the exact quantum ones. We also showed that the minimal length introduction reduces degrees of freedom of an arbitrary system in the high temperature limit significantly.     

Radial breathing-like mode of wide carbon nanoribbon

The radial breathing-like mode (RBLM), an interesting Raman mode, of the carbon nanoribbons (CNRs) with different widths have been calculated by the empirical Brenner potential. It is found that the RBLM frequencies of CNRs whose widths are larger than 25 Å follow a new 1/w rule, which is different from the rule, obtained for the narrow CNRs [J. Zhou, J. Dong, Appl. Phys. Lett. 91 (2007) 173108]. A continuum rod model is proposed to explain the new 1/w rule, which is also different from the previous simple one-dimensional oscillator model, suitable only for the narrow CNRs. Based upon the CNR's RBLMs, we have proposed a practical experimental method to determine the widths of CNRs by their Raman spectra.     

Random walks and diameter of finite scale-free networks

Dynamical scalings for the end-to-end distance R_ee and the number of distinct visited nodes N_v of random walks (RWs) on finite scale-free networks (SFNs) are studied numerically. 〈R_ee〉 shows the dynamical scaling behavior , where is the average minimum distance between all possible pairs of nodes in the network, N is the number of nodes, γ is the degree exponent of the SFN and t is the step number of RWs. Especially, in the limit t→∞ satisfies the relation , where d is the diameter of network with for γ≥3 or for γ<3. Based on the scaling relation 〈R_ee〉, we also find that the scaling behavior of the diameter of networks can be measured very efficiently by using RWs.     

Taxonomy of correlations of wind velocity — an application to the Sicilian area

We present an algorithm that allows us to analyze the cross-correlation of wind velocity measured in different locations; this algorithm is applied to 29 recording stations in Sicily. The results show that such correlations present a significant and persistent ultrametric structure that is influenced by the geographical neighborhood as well as by the presence of mountain and the sea. The algorithm presented, that is also able to reveal weak correlations, can be used as a starting point for the development of multivariate models of wind.     

First passage time of multiple Brownian particles on networks with applications

In this article, we study some theoretical and technological problems with relation to multiple Brownian particles on networks. We are especially interested in the behavior of the first arriving Brownian particle when all the Brownian particles start out from the source s simultaneously and head to the destination h randomly. We analyze the first passage time (FPT) Y_sh(z) and the mean first passage time (MFPT) 〈Y_sh(z)〉 of multiple Brownian particles on complex networks. Equations of Y_sh(z) and 〈Y_sh(z)〉 are obtained. On a variety of commonly encountered networks, we observe first passage properties of multiple Brownian particles from different aspects. We find that 〈Y_sh(z)〉 drops substantially when particle number z increases at the first stage, and converges to d_sh, the distance between the source and the destination when z→∞. The distribution of FPT Prob{Y_sh(z)=t},t=0,1,2,… is also analyzed in these networks. The distribution curve peaks up towards t=d_sh when z increases. Consequently, if particle number z is set appropriately large, the first arriving Brownian particle will go along the shortest or near shortest paths between the source and the destination with high probability. Simulations confirm our analysis. Based on theoretical studies, we also investigate some practical problems using multiple Brownian particles, such as communication on P2P networks, optimal routing in small world networks, phenomenon of asymmetry in scale-free networks, information spreading in social networks, pervasion of viruses on the Internet, and so on. Our analytic and experimental results on multiple Brownian particles provide useful evidence for further understanding and properly tackling these problems.     

Pareto and Boltzmann-Gibbs behaviors in a deterministic multi-agent system

A deterministic system of interacting agents is considered as a model for economic dynamics. The dynamics of the system is described by a coupled map lattice with nearest neighbor interactions. The evolution of each agent results from the competition between two factors: the agent’s own tendency to grow and the environmental influence that moderates this growth. Depending on the values of the parameters that control these factors, the system can display Pareto or Boltzmann-Gibbs statistical behaviors in its asymptotic dynamical regime. The regions where these behaviors appear are calculated on the space of parameters of the system. Other statistical properties, such as the mean wealth, the standard deviation, and the Gini coefficient characterizing the degree of equity in the wealth distribution are also calculated.     

Fundamental diagram in traffic flow of mixed vehicles on multi-lane highway

We study the fundamental diagram for traffic flow of vehicular mixture on a multi-lane highway. We present the car-following model of multi-lane traffic in which slow and fast vehicles flow with changing lanes. We investigate the traffic states of the vehicular mixture under the periodic boundary. Two values of the current appear at a density and two current curves are obtained. Vehicles move with changing lanes in the traffic state of high current, while vehicles move without changing lanes in the traffic state of low current. They depend on the density, the fraction of slow vehicles, and the initial condition. In the high-current curve, the jamming transition between the free flow and the jammed state occurs at a low density. The fundamental diagrams (current-density diagrams) are shown for the single-lane, two-lane, three-lane, and four-lane traffics.