arXiv subjects

A. E. Allahverdyan

Publications and source records attributed to A. E. Allahverdyan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Defining work done on electromagnetic field

The problem of defining work done on electromagnetic field (EMF) via moving charges does not have a ready solution, because the standard Hamiltonian of EMF does not predict gauge-invariant energy changes. This limits applications of statistical mechanics to EMF. We obtained a new, explicitly gauge-invariant Hamiltonian for EMF that depends only on physical observables. This Hamiltonian allows to define thermodynamic work done on EMF and to formulate the second law for the considered situation. It also leads to a direct link between this law and the electrodynamic arrow of time, i.e. choosing retarded, and not advanced solutions of wave-equations. Measuring the thermodynamic work can give information on whether the photon mass is small but non-zero.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2017

Memory-induced mechanism for self-sustaining activity in networks

We study a mechanism of activity sustaining on networks inspired by a well-known model of neuronal dynamics. Our primary focus is the emergence of self-sustaining collective activity patterns, where no single node can stay active by itself, but the activity provided initially is sustained within the collective of interacting agents. In contrast to existing models of self-sustaining activity that are caused by (long) loops present in the network, here we focus on tree--like structures and examine activation mechanisms that are due to temporal memory of the nodes. This approach is motivated by applications in social media, where long network loops are rare or absent. Our results suggest that under a weak behavioral noise, the nodes robustly split into several clusters, with partial synchronization of nodes within each cluster. We also study the randomly-weighted version of the models where the nodes are allowed to change their connection strength (this can model attention redistribution), and show that it does facilitate the self-sustained activity.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2017

Modeling gasodynamic vortex cooling

We aim at studying gasodynamic vortex cooling in an analytically solvable, thermodynamically consistent model that can explain limitations on the cooling efficiency. To this end, we study a angular plus radial flow between two (co-axial) rotating permeable cylinders. Full account is taken of compressibility, viscosity and heat conductivity. For a weak inward radial flow the model qualitatively describes the vortex cooling effect|both in terms of temperature and of decrease of the stagnation enthalpy|seen in short uniflow vortex (Ranque) tubes. The cooling does not result from external work, and its efficiency is defined as the ratio of the lowest temperature reached adiabatically (for the given pressure gradient) to the actually reached lowest temperature. We show that for the vortex cooling the efficiency is strictly smaller than 1, but in another configuration with an outward radial flow, we found that the efficiency can be larger than 1. This is related to both the geometry and the finite heat conductivity.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Free energy for non-equilibrium quasi-stationary states

We study a class of non-equilibrium quasi-stationary states for a Markov system interacting with two different thermal baths. We show that the work done under a slow, external change of parameters admits a potential, i.e., the free energy. Three conditions are needed for the existence of free energy in this non-equilibrium system: time-scale separation between variables of the system, partial controllability (external fields couple only with the slow variable), and an effective detailed balance. These conditions are facilitated in the continuous limit for the slow variable. In contrast to its equilibrium counterpart, the non-equilibrium free energy can increase with temperature. One example of this is that entropy reduction by means of external fields (cooling) can be easier (in the sense of the work cost) if it starts from a higher temperature.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2017

Can morphological changes of erythrocytes be driven by hemoglobin?

At 49 C erythrocytes undergo morphological changes due to an internal force, but the origin of the force that drives changes is not clear. Here we point out that our recent experiments on thermally induced force-release in hemoglobin can provide an explanation for the morphological changes of erythrocytes.

q-bio.BM↗

arXiv2016

Electromagnetic gauge-freedom and work

We argue that the definition of the thermodynamic work done on a charged particle by a time-dependent electromagnetic field is an open problem, because the particle's Hamiltonian is not gauge-invariant. The solution of this problem demands accounting for the source of the field. Hence we focus on the work done by a heavy body (source) on a lighter particle when the interaction between them is electromagnetic and relativistic. The work can be defined via the gauge-invariant kinetic energy of the source. We uncover a formulation of the first law (or the generalized work-energy theorem) which is derived from relativistic dynamics, has definite validity conditions, and relates the work to the particle's Hamiltonian in the Lorenz gauge. Thereby the thermodynamic work also relates to the mechanic work done by the Lorentz force acting on the source. The formulation of the first law is based on a specific separation of the overall energy into those of the source, particle and electromagnetic field. This separation is deduced from a consistent energy-momentum tensor. Hence it holds relativistic covariance and causality.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2016

Time arrow is influenced by the dark energy

The arrow of time and the accelerated expansion are two fundamental empirical facts of the Universe. We advance the viewpoint that the dark energy (positive cosmological constant) accelerating the expansion of the Universe also supports the time asymmetry. It is related to the decay of meta-stable states under generic perturbations, as we show on example of a microcanonical ensemble. These states will not be meta-stable without dark energy. The latter also ensures a hyperbolic motion leading to dynamic entropy production with the rate determined by the cosmological constant.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Adaptive heat engine

A major limitations for many heat engines is that their functioning demands on-line control, and/or an external fitting between environmental parameters (e.g. temperatures of thermal baths) and internal parameters of the engine. We study a model for an adaptive heat engine, where---due to feedback from the functional part---the engine's structure adapts to given thermal baths. Hence no on-line control and no external fitting are needed. The engine can employ unknown resources, it can also adapt to results of its own functioning that makes the bath temperatures closer. We determine thermodynamic costs of adaptation and relate them to the prior information available about the environment. We also discuss informational constraints on the structure-function interaction that are necessary for adaptation.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2016

Non-random structures in universal compression and the Fermi paradox

We study the hypothesis of information panspermia assigned recently among possible solutions of the Fermi paradox ("where are the aliens?"). It suggests that the expenses of alien signaling can be significantly reduced, if their messages contain compressed information. To this end we consider universal compression and decoding mechanisms (e.g. the Lempel-Ziv-Welch algorithm) that can reveal non-random structures in compressed bit strings. The efficiency of Kolmogorov stochasticity parameter for detection of non-randomness is illustrated, along with the Zipf's law. The universality of these methods, i.e. independence on data details, can be principal in searching for intelligent messages.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2015

Thermal-induced proteinquake in oxyhemoglobin

Oxygen is released to living tissues via conformational changes of hemoglobin from R-state (oxyhemoglobin) to T-state (desoxyhemoglobin). The detailed mechanism of this process is not yet fully understood. We have carried out micromechanical experiments on oxyhemoglobin crystals to determine the behavior of the Young's modulus and the internal friction for temperatures between 20 C and 70 C. We have found that around 49 C oxyhemoglobin crystal samples undergo a sudden and strong increase of their Young's modulus, accompanied by a sudden decrease of the internal friction. This sudden mechanical change (proteinquake) takes place in a partially unfolded state and precedes the full denaturation transition at higher temperatures. The hemoglobin crystals after the proteinquake has the same mechanical properies as the initial state at room temperatures. We conjecture that it can be relevant for explaining the oxygen-releasing function of native oxyhemoglobin when the temperature is increased, e.g. due to active sport. The effect is specific for the quaternary structure of hemoglobin, and is absent for myoglobin with only one peptide sequence.

q-bio.BM↗

arXiv2014

Imprecise probability for non-commuting observables

It is known that non-commuting observables in quantum mechanics do not have joint probability. This statement refers to the precise (additive) probability model. I show that the joint distribution of any non-commuting pair of variables can be quantified via upper and lower probabilities, i.e. the joint probability is described by an interval instead of a number (imprecise probability). I propose transparent axioms from which the upper and lower probability operators follow. They depend only on the non-commuting observables and revert to the usual expression for the commuting case.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Opinion Dynamics with Confirmation Bias

Background: Confirmation bias is the tendency to acquire or evaluate new information in a way that is consistent with one's preexisting beliefs. It is omnipresent in psychology, economics, and even scientific practices. Prior theoretical research of this phenomenon has mainly focused on its economic implications possibly missing its potential connections with broader notions of cognitive science. Methodology/Principal Findings: We formulate a (non-Bayesian) model for revising subjective probabilistic opinion of a confirmationally-biased agent in the light of a persuasive opinion. The revision rule ensures that the agent does not react to persuasion that is either far from his current opinion or coincides with it. We demonstrate that the model accounts for the basic phenomenology of the social judgment theory, and allows to study various phenomena such as cognitive dissonance and boomerang effect. The model also displays the order of presentation effect|when consecutively exposed to two opinions, the preference is given to the last opinion (recency) or the first opinion (primacy)|and relates recency to confirmation bias. Finally, we study the model in the case of repeated persuasion and analyze its convergence properties. Conclusions: The standard Bayesian approach to probabilistic opinion revision is inadequate for describing the observed phenomenology of persuasion process. The simple non-Bayesian model proposed here does agree with this phenomenology and is capable of reproducing a spectrum of effects observed in psychology: primacy-recency phenomenon, boomerang effect and cognitive dissonance. We point out several limitations of the model that should motivate its future development.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Non-equilibrium quantum fluctuations of work

The concept of work is basic for statistical thermodynamics. To gain a fuller understanding of work and its (quantum) features, it needs to be represented as an average of a fluctuating quantity. Here I focus on the work done between two moments of time for a thermally isolated quantum system driven by a time-dependent Hamiltonian. I formulate two natural conditions needed for the fluctuating work to be physically meaningful for a system that starts its evolution from a non-equilibrium state. The existing definitions do not satisfy these conditions due to issues that are traced back to non-commutativity. I propose a definition of fluctuating work that is free of previous drawbacks and that applies for a wide class of non-equilibrium initial states. It allows to deduce a generalized (out of equilibrium) work-fluctuation theorem.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2014

Rank-frequency relation for Chinese characters

We show that the Zipf's law for Chinese characters perfectly holds for sufficiently short texts (few thousand different characters). The scenario of its validity is similar to the Zipf's law for words in short English texts. For long Chinese texts (or for mixtures of short Chinese texts), rank-frequency relations for Chinese characters display a two-layer, hierarchic structure that combines a Zipfian power-law regime for frequent characters (first layer) with an exponential-like regime for less frequent characters (second layer). For these two layers we provide different (though related) theoretical descriptions that include the range of low-frequency characters (hapax legomena). The comparative analysis of rank-frequency relations for Chinese characters versus English words illustrates the extent to which the characters play for Chinese writers the same role as the words for those writing within alphabetical systems.

cs.CL↗

arXiv2010

A weakly random Universe?

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is characterized by well-established scales, the 2.7 K temperature of the Planckian spectrum and the $10^{-5}$ amplitude of the temperature anisotropy. These features were instrumental in indicating the hot and equilibrium phases of the early history of the Universe and its large scale isotropy, respectively. We now reveal one more intrinsic scale in CMB properties. We introduce a method developed originally by Kolmogorov, that quantifies a degree of randomness (chaos) in a set of numbers, such as measurements of the CMB temperature in some region. Considering CMB as a composition of random and regular signals, we solve the inverse problem of recovering of their mutual fractions from the temperature sky maps. Deriving the empirical Kolmogorov's function in the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe's maps, we obtain the fraction of the random signal to be about 20 per cent, i.e. the cosmological sky is a weakly random one. The paper is dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Arnold (1937-2010).

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Glassy state of native collagen fibril

Our micromechanical experiments show that at physiological temperatures type I collagen fibril has several basic features of the glassy state. The transition out of this state [softening transition] essentially depends on the speed of heating v, e.g., for v=1 C/min it occurs around 70 C and is displayed by a peak of the internal friction and decreasing Young's modulus. The softening transition decreases by 45 C upon decreasing the heating speed to v=0.1 C/min. For temperatures 20-30 C the native collagen fibril demonstrates features of mechanical glassines at oscillation frequencies 0.1-3 kHz; in particular, the internal friction has a sharp maximum as a function of the frequency. This is the first example of biopolymer glassines at physiological temperatures, because well-known glassy features of DNA and globular proteins are seen only for much lower temperatures (around 200 K).

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2009

Post-adiabatic forces and Lagrangians with higher-order derivatives

We study a slow classical system [particle] coupled to a fast quantum system with discrete energy spectrum. We adiabatically exclude the quantum system and construct an autonomous dynamics for the classical particle in successive orders of the small ratio $ε$ of the characteristic times. It is known that in the order $ε^0$ the particle gets an additional [Born-Oppenheimer] potential, while in the order $\eps^1$ it feels an effective magnetic field related to the Berry phase. In the order $ε^2$ the motion of the classical particle can be reduced to a free [geodesic] motion on a curved Riemannian manifold, with the metric generated by the excluded quantum system. This motion has a number of unusual features, e.g., it combines subspaces of different (Riemannian and pseudo-Riemannian) signature for the metric tensor. In the order $ε^3$ the motion of the classical particle is still described by a Lagrangian, but the latter linearly depends on the particle's acceleration. This implies the existence of a spin tensor [non-orbital angular momentum] for the particle. This spin tensor is related to the momentum via an analogue of the zitterbewegung effect. The Hamiltonian structure of the system is non-trivial and is defined via non-linear Poisson brackets. The linear dependence of the effective classical Lagrangian on higher-order derivatives is seen as well in the higher orders $ε^n$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

How adsorption influences DNA denaturation

The thermally induced denaturation of DNA in the presence of attractive solid surface is studied. The two strands of DNA are modeled via two coupled flexible chains without volume interactions. If the two strands are adsorbed on the surface, the denaturation phase-transition disappears. Instead, there is a smooth crossover to a weakly naturated state. Our second conclusion is that even when the inter-strand attraction alone is too weak for creating a naturated state at the given temperature, and also the surface-strand attraction alone is too weak for creating an adsorbed state, the combined effect of the two attractions can lead to a naturated and adsorbed state.

cond-mat.soft↗