Dust-acoustic wave modulation in the presence of superthermal ions

A study is presented of the nonlinear self-modulation of low-frequency electrostatic (dust acoustic) waves propagating in a dusty plasma, in the presence of a superthermal ion (and Maxwellian electron) background. A kappa-type superthermal distribution is assumed for the ion component, accounting for an arbitrary deviation from Maxwellian equilibrium, parametrized via a real parameter kappa. The ordinary Maxwellian-background case is recovered for kappa ->infinity. By employing a multiple scales technique, a nonlinear Schrodinger-type equation (NLSE) is derived for the electric potential wave amplitude. Both dispersion and nonlinearity coefficients of the NLSE are explicit functions of the carrier wavenumber and of relevant physical parameters (background species density and temperature, as well as nonthermality, via kappa). The influence of plasma background superthermality on the growth rate of the modulational instability is discussed. The superthermal feature appears to control the occurrence of modulational instability, since the instability window is strongly modified. Localized wavepackets in the form of either bright-or dark-type envelope solitons, modeling envelope pulses or electric potential holes (voids), respectively, may occur. A parametric investigation indicates that the structural characteristics of these envelope excitations (width, amplitude) are affected by superthermality, as well as by relevant plasma parameters (dust concentration, ion temperature).

Higher-order effects and ultrashort solitons in left-handed metamaterials

Starting from Maxwell's equations, we use the reductive perturbation method to derive a second-order and a third-order nonlinear Schrodinger equation, describing ultrashort solitons in nonlinear left-handed metamaterials. We find necessary conditions and derive exact bright and dark soliton solutions of these equations for the electric and magnetic field envelopes.

Electromagnetic envelope solitons in magnetized plasma

A multiple scales technique is employed to solve the fluid-Maxwell equations describing a weakly nonlinear circularly polarized electromagnetic pulse in magnetized plasma. A nonlinear Schrodinger-type (NLS) equation is shown to govern the amplitude of the vector potential. The conditions for modulational instability and for the existence of various types of localized envelope modes are investigated in terms of relevant parameters. Right-hand circularly polarized (RCP) waves are shown to be modulationally unstable regardless of the value of the ambient magnetic field and propagate as bright-type solitons. The same is true for left-hand circularly polarized (LCP) waves in a weakly to moderately magnetized plasma. In other parameter regions, LCP waves are stable in strongly magnetized plasmas and may propagate as dark-type solitons (electric field holes). The evolution of envelope solitons is analyzed numerically, and it is shown that solitons propagate in magnetized plasma without any essential change in amplitude and shape. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Discretization and solution of the inhomogeneous Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations

In the presence of inhomogeneities, defects and currents, the equations describing a Bose-condensed ensemble of alkali atoms have to be solved numerically. By combining both linear and nonlinear equations within a Discrete Variable Representation framework, we describe a computational scheme for the solution of the coupled Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) and nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equations for fields in a 3D spheroidal potential. We use the method to calculate the collective excitation spectrum and quasiparticle mode densities for excitations of a Bose condensed gas in a spheroidal trap. The method is compared against finite-difference and spectral methods, and we find the DVR computational scheme to be superior in accuracy and efficiency for the cases we consider. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrostatic solitary waves in the presence of excess superthermal electrons: modulational instability and envelope soliton modes

The nonlinear dynamics of electrostatic solitary waves in the form of localized modulated wavepackets is investigated from first principles. Electron-acoustic (EA) excitations are considered in a two-electron plasma, via a fluid formulation. The plasma, assumed to be collisionless and uniform (unmagnetized), is composed of two types of electrons (inertial cold electrons and inertialess kappa-distributed superthermal electrons) and stationary ions. By making use of a multiscale perturbation technique, a nonlinear Schrodinger equation is derived for the modulated envelope, relying on which the occurrence of modulational instability (MI) is investigated in detail. Stationary profile localized EA excitations may exist, in the form of bright solitons (envelope pulses) or dark envelopes (voids). The presence of superthermal electrons modifies the conditions for MI to occur, as well as the associated threshold and growth rate. The concentration of superthermal electrons (i.e., the deviation from a Maxwellian electron distribution) may control or even suppress MI. Furthermore, superthermality affects the characteristics of solitary envelope structures, both qualitatively (supporting one or the other type, for different.) and quantitatively, changing their characteristics (width, amplitude). The stability of bright and dark-type nonlinear structures is confirmed by numerical simulations.

Dynamics of dark hollow Gaussian laser pulses in relativistic plasma

Optical beams with null central intensity have potential applications in the field of atom optics. The spatial and temporal evolution of a central shadow dark hollow Gaussian (DHG) relativistic laser pulse propagating in a plasma is studied in this article for first principles. A nonlinear Schrodinger-type equation is obtained for the beam spot profile and then solved numerically to investigate the pulse propagation characteristics. As series of numerical simulations are employed to trace the profile of the focused and compressed DHG laser pulse as it propagates through the plasma. The theoretical and simulation results predict that higher-order DHG pulses show smaller divergence as they propagate and, thus, lead to enhanced energy transport. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Robust fault detection using consistency techniques for uncertainty handling

Often practical performance of analytical redundancy for fault detection and diagnosis is decreased by uncertainties prevailing not only in the system model, but also in the measurements. In this paper, the problem of fault detection is stated as a constraint satisfaction problem over continuous domains with a big number of variables and constraints. This problem can be solved using modal interval analysis and consistency techniques. Consistency techniques are then shown to be particularly efficient to check the consistency of the analytical redundancy relations (ARRs), dealing with uncertain measurements and parameters. Through the work presented in this paper, it can be observed that consistency techniques can be used to increase the performance of a robust fault detection tool, which is based on interval arithmetic. The proposed method is illustrated using a nonlinear dynamic model of a hydraulic system

Autonomous intelligent cruise control using a novel multiple-controller framework incorporating fuzzy-logic-based switching and tuning

This paper presents a novel intelligent multiple-controller framework incorporating a fuzzy-logic-based switching and tuning supervisor along with a generalised learning model (GLM) for an autonomous cruise control application. The proposed methodology combines the benefits of a conventional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, and a PID structure-based (simultaneous) zero and pole placement controller. The switching decision between the two nonlinear fixed structure controllers is made on the basis of the required performance measure using a fuzzy-logic-based supervisor, operating at the highest level of the system. The supervisor is also employed to adaptively tune the parameters of the multiple controllers in order to achieve the desired closed-loop system performance. The intelligent multiple-controller framework is applied to the autonomous cruise control problem in order to maintain a desired vehicle speed by controlling the throttle plate angle in an electronic throttle control (ETC) system. Sample simulation results using a validated nonlinear vehicle model are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multiple-controller with respect to adaptively tracking the desired vehicle speed changes and achieving the desired speed of response, whilst penalising excessive control action. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Information-based data selection for ensemble data assimilation

Ensemble-based data assimilation is rapidly proving itself as a computationally-efficient and skilful assimilation method for numerical weather prediction, which can provide a viable alternative to more established variational assimilation techniques. However, a fundamental shortcoming of ensemble techniques is that the resulting analysis increments can only span a limited subspace of the state space, whose dimension is less than the ensemble size. This limits the amount of observational information that can effectively constrain the analysis. In this paper, a data selection strategy that aims to assimilate only the observational components that matter most and that can be used with both stochastic and deterministic ensemble filters is presented. This avoids unnecessary computations, reduces round-off errors and minimizes the risk of importing observation bias in the analysis. When an ensemble-based assimilation technique is used to assimilate high-density observations, the data-selection procedure allows the use of larger localization domains that may lead to a more balanced analysis. Results from the use of this data selection technique with a two-dimensional linear and a nonlinear advection model using both in situ and remote sounding observations are discussed.

Body-centric modelling, identification, and acceleration tracking control of a quadrotor UAV

This paper presents the mathematical development of a body-centric nonlinear dynamic model of a quadrotor UAV that is suitable for the development of biologically inspired navigation strategies. Analytical approximations are used to find an initial guess of the parameters of the nonlinear model, then parameter estimation methods are used to refine the model parameters using the data obtained from onboard sensors during flight. Due to the unstable nature of the quadrotor model, the identification process is performed with the system in closed-loop control of attitude angles. The obtained model parameters are validated using real unseen experimental data. Based on the identified model, a Linear-Quadratic (LQ) optimal tracker is designed to stabilize the quadrotor and facilitate its translational control by tracking body accelerations. The LQ tracker is tested on an experimental quadrotor UAV and the obtained results are a further means to validate the quality of the estimated model. The unique formulation of the control problem in the body frame makes the controller better suited for bio-inspired navigation and guidance strategies than conventional attitude or position based control systems that can be found in the existing literature.

Solitons of two-component Bose-Einstein condensates modulated in space and time

In this Letter we present soliton solutions of two coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations modulated in space and time. The approach allows us to obtain solitons for a large variety of solutions depending on the nonlinearity and potential profiles. As examples we show three cases with soliton solutions: a solution for the case of a potential changing from repulsive to attractive behavior, and the other two solutions corresponding to localized and delocalized nonlinearity terms, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Weed interference on maize (Zea mays) under no tillage system

A field trial was carried out in Brazil in March 2002 with the aim to evaluate the effects of different timing and extension of weedy period on maize productivity. The hybrid Pioneer 30K75 was sowed under 7 t ha(-1) mulching promoted by glyphosate spraying. The treatments were divided in two groups: In the first group, weeds were maintained since the maize sowing until different periods in the crop cycle: 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 150 days (harvesting time). In the second group, the maize crop was kept weed free for the same periods of the first group. Weed control was done through hand hoeing. A complete randomized blocks experimental design with five replications was used for plots distribution in the field. Nonlinear regression model was used to study the effects of weedy or weedfree periods on maize productivity. Weed community included 13 families and 31 species. Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Euphorbiaceae were the most abundant families. Results showed that under no tillage condition with 7 t ha-1 mulching at sowing time, the maize crop could cohabit with weed community for 54 days without any yield lost. on the other hand, if the crop was kept weed free for 27 days, the weed interference was not enable to reduce maize production. According to these results one weed control measure between 27 and 54 days after crop emergence could be enough to avoid any reduction in maize productivity.

Comparison of logistic and neural network models to fit to the egg production curve of White Leghorn hens

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic associations of sexual precocity with growth traits and visual scores of conformation, finishing, and muscling in Nelore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic parameters and relationships between heifers rebreeding and hip height in Nellore cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)