EQUIVARIANT PATH FIELDS ON TOPOLOGICAL MANIFOLDS

A classical theorem of H. Hopf asserts that a closed connected smooth manifold admits a nowhere vanishing vector field if and only if its Euler characteristic is zero. R. Brown generalized Hopf`s result to topological manifolds, replacing vector fields with path fields. In this note, we give an equivariant analog of Brown`s theorem for locally smooth G-manifolds where G is a finite group.

Invariant theory and reversible-equivariant vector fields

In this paper we present results for the systematic study of reversible-equivariant vector fields - namely, in the simultaneous presence of symmetries and reversing symmetries - by employing algebraic techniques from invariant theory for compact Lie groups. The Hilbert-Poincare series and their associated Molien formulae are introduced,and we prove the character formulae for the computation of dimensions of spaces of homogeneous anti-invariant polynomial functions and reversible-equivariant polynomial mappings. A symbolic algorithm is obtained for the computation of generators for the module of reversible-equivariant polynomial mappings over the ring of invariant polynomials. We show that this computation can be obtained directly from a well-known situation, namely from the generators of the ring of invariants and the module of the equivariants. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V, All rights reserved.

Reversible equivariant Hopf bifurcation

In this paper we study codimension-one Hopf bifurcation from symmetric equilibrium points in reversible equivariant vector fields. Such bifurcations are characterized by a doubly degenerate pair of purely imaginary eigenvalues of the linearization of the vector field at the equilibrium point. The eigenvalue movements near such a degeneracy typically follow one of three scenarios: splitting (from two pairs of imaginary eigenvalues to a quadruplet on the complex plane), passing (on the imaginary axis), or crossing (a quadruplet crossing the imaginary axis). We give a complete description of the behaviour of reversible periodic orbits in the vicinity of such a bifurcation point. For non-reversible periodic solutions. in the case of Hopf bifurcation with crossing eigenvalues. we obtain a generalization of the equivariant Hopf Theorem.

Path formulation for Z(2) circle plus Z(2)-equivariant bifurcation problems

M. Manoel and I. Stewart 0101) classify Z(2) circle plus Z(2)-equivariant bifurcation problems up to codimension 3 and 1 modal parameter, using the classical techniques of singularity theory of Golubistky and Schaeffer [8]. In this paper we classify these same problems using an alternative form: the path formulation (Theorem 6.1). One of the advantages of this method is that the calculates to obtain the normal forms are easier. Furthermore, in our classification we observe the presence of only one modal parameter in the generic core. It differs from the classical classification where the core has 2 modal parameters. We finish this work comparing our classification to the one obtained in [10].

Path formulation for multiparameter D3-equivariant bifurcation problems

We implement a singularity theory approach, the path formulation, to classify D3-equivariant bifurcation problems of corank 2, with one or two distinguished parameters, and their perturbations. The bifurcation diagrams are identified with sections over paths in the parameter space of a Ba-miniversal unfolding f0 of their cores. Equivalence between paths is given by diffeomorphisms liftable over the projection from the zero-set of F0 onto its unfolding parameter space. We apply our results to degenerate bifurcation of period-3 subharmonics in reversible systems, in particular in the 1:1-resonance.

OPF-MRF: Optimum-path forest and Markov random fields for contextual-based image classification

Some machine learning methods do not exploit contextual information in the process of discovering, describing and recognizing patterns. However, spatial/temporal neighboring samples are likely to have same behavior. Here, we propose an approach which unifies a supervised learning algorithm - namely Optimum-Path Forest - together with a Markov Random Field in order to build a prior model holding a spatial smoothness assumption, which takes into account the contextual information for classification purposes. We show its robustness for brain tissue classification over some images of the well-known dataset IBSR. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Azimuthal Anisotropy of pi(0) Production in Au plus Au Collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV: Path-Length Dependence of Jet Quenching and the Role of Initial Geometry

We have measured the azimuthal anisotropy of pi(0) production for 1 < p(T) < 18 GeV/c for Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. The observed anisotropy shows a gradual decrease for 3 less than or similar to p(T) less than or similar to 7-10 GeV/c, but remains positive beyond 10 GeV/c. The magnitude of this anisotropy is underpredicted, up to at least similar to 10 GeV/c, by current perturbative QCD (PQCD) energy-loss model calculations. An estimate of the increase in anisotropy expected from initial-geometry modification due to gluon saturation effects and fluctuations is insufficient to account for this discrepancy. Calculations that implement a path-length dependence steeper than what is implied by current PQCD energy-loss models show reasonable agreement with the data.

Equivalence of reduced, Polyakov, Faddeev-Popov, and Faddeev path-integral quantization of gauge theories

A geometrical treatment of the path integral for gauge theories with first-class constraints linear in the momenta is performed. The equivalence of reduced, Polyakov, Faddeev-Popov, and Faddeev path-integral quantization of gauge theories is established. In the process of carrying this out we find a modified version of the original Faddeev-Popov formula which is derived under much more general conditions than the usual one. Throughout this paper we emphasize the fact that we only make use of the information contained in the action for the system, and of the natural geometrical structures derived from it.

Massless minimally coupled fields in de Sitter space: O(4)-symmetric states versus de Sitter invariant vacuum

The issue of de Sitter invariance for a massless minimally coupled scalar field is examined. Formally, it is possible to construct a de Sitterinvariant state for this case provided that the zero mode of the field is quantized properly. Here we take the point of view that this state is physically acceptable, in the sense that physical observables can be computed and have a reasonable interpretation. In particular, we use this vacuum to derive a new result: that the squared difference between the field at two points along a geodesic observers spacetime path grows linearly with the observers proper time for a quantum state that does not break de Sitter invariance. Also, we use the Hadamard formalism to compute the renormalized expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor, both in the O(4)-invariant states introduced by Allen and Follaci, and in the de Sitterinvariant vacuum. We find that the vacuum energy density in the O(4)-invariant case is larger than in the de Sitterinvariant case.

Effects of non-uniform crosswind fields on scintillometry measurements

The effects of a non-uniform wind field along the path of a scintillometer are investigated. Theoretical spectra are calculated for a range of scenarios where the crosswind varies in space or time and compared to the ‘ideal’ spectrum based on a constant uniform crosswind. It is verified that the refractive-index structure parameter relation with the scintillometer signal remains valid and invariant for both spatially and temporally-varying crosswinds. However, the spectral shape may change significantly preventing accurate estimation of the crosswind speed from the peak of the frequency spectrum and retrieval of the structure parameter from the plateau of the power spectrum. On comparison with experimental data, non-uniform crosswind conditions could be responsible for previously unexplained features sometimes seen in observed spectra. By accounting for the distribution of crosswind, theoretical spectra can be generated that closely replicate the observations, leading to a better understanding of the measurements. Spatial variability of wind speeds should be expected for paths other than those that are parallel to the surface and over flat, homogenous areas, whilst fluctuations in time are important for all sites.

Pseudoclassical description of scalar particle in non-abelian background and path-integral representations

Path-integral representations for a scalar particle propagator in non-Abelian external backgrounds are derived. To this aim, we generalize the procedure proposed by Gitman and Schvartsman of path-integral construction to any representation of SU(N) given in terms of antisymmetric generators. And for arbitrary representations of SU(N), we present an alternative construction by means of fermionic coherent states. From the path-integral representations we derive pseudoclassical actions for a scalar particle placed in non-Abelian backgrounds. These actions are classically analyzed and then quantized to prove their consistency.

Path integral representations in noncommutative quantum mechanics and noncommutative version of Berezin-Marinov action

It is known that the actions of field theories on a noncommutative space-time can be written as some modified (we call them theta-modified) classical actions already on the commutative space-time (introducing a star product). Then the quantization of such modified actions reproduces both space-time noncommutativity and the usual quantum mechanical features of the corresponding field theory. In the present article, we discuss the problem of constructing theta-modified actions for relativistic QM. We construct such actions for relativistic spinless and spinning particles. The key idea is to extract theta-modified actions of the relativistic particles from path-integral representations of the corresponding noncommutative field theory propagators. We consider the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations for the causal propagators in such theories. Then we construct for the propagators path-integral representations. Effective actions in such representations we treat as theta-modified actions of the relativistic particles. To confirm the interpretation, we canonically quantize these actions. Thus, we obtain the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations in the noncommutative field theories. The theta-modified action of the relativistic spinning particle is just a generalization of the Berezin-Marinov pseudoclassical action for the noncommutative case.

PATH INTEGRAL AND OPERATOR APPROACH FOR THE PODOLSKY-SCHWINGER MODEL

We study the role of the thachyonic excitation which emerges from the quantum electrodynamics in two dimensions with Podolsky term. The quantization is performed by using path integral framework and the operator approach.

A note on non-degenerate umbilics and the path formulation for bifurcation problems

Path formulation can be used to classify and structure efficiently multiparameter bifurcation problems around fundamental singularities: the cores. The non-degenerate umbilic singularities are the generic cores for four situations in corank 2: the general or gradient problems and the ℤ 2-equivariant (general or gradient) problems. Those categories determine an interesting 'Russian doll' type of structure in the universal unfoldings of the umbilic singularities. One advantage of our approach is that we can handle one, two or more parameters using the same framework (even considering some special parameter structure, for instance, some internal hierarchy). We classify the generic bifurcations that occur in those cases with one or two parameters.