arXiv subjects

Amandine Aftalion

Publications and source records attributed to Amandine Aftalion.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Mountain pass for the Ginzburg-Landau energy in a strip: solitons and solitonic vortices

Motivated by recent experiments, we study critical points of the Ginzburg-Landau energy in an infinite strip where phase imprinting is applied to half of the domain. We prove that there is a critical width of the cross section below which the soliton solution is a mountain pass solution and the minimizer within the subspace of odd functions. Above the critical width, we find that the mountain pass solution is a vortex with a solitonic behaviour in the infinite direction, called a solitonic vortex. Moreover, depending on the width, we prove that the minimizer in a space with some symmetries can display one or several solitonic vortices. While the problem shares some similarities with the analysis of stability and minimality of the Ginzburg-Landau vortex of degree one in a disk or the whole plane, the change in geometry introduces subtle analytical differences. Extensions to the case of an infinite cylinder in 3D are also given.

math.AP↗

arXiv2025

Ginzburg-Landau minimizers with high topological degrees in an annulus

Motivated by recent experiments on fermionic rings, we study the asymptotic behaviour of minimizers of the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) energy in an annulus with a Dirichlet data which depends on the GL parameter on the outer boundary. We show that there is a critical degree of order $|\ln \varepsilon|$ under which the ground state displays a giant vortex and above which minimizers exhibit a combination of a giant vortex and vortices which tend to the outer boundary as the GL parameter tends to zero. Our analysis relies on the construction of suitable upper and lower bounds, on the extension to a slightly bigger annulus and on the minimization of the mean-field energy appearing in the lower bound. In order to be able to derive the minimum of this energy we use the symmetry of the domain and criticality with respect to inner variations.

math.AP↗

arXiv2024

Bifurcating solitonic vortices in a strip

The specific geometry of a strip provides connections between solitons and solitonic vortices, which are vortices with a solitonic behaviour in the infinite direction of the strip. We show that there exist stationary solutions to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with k vortices on a transverse line, which bifurcate from the soliton solution as the width of the strip is increased. After decomposing into Fourier series with respect to the transverse variable, the construction of these solitonic vortices is achieved by relying on a careful analysis of the linearized operator around the soliton solution: we apply a fixed point argument to solve the equation in the directions orthogonal to the kernel of the linearized operator, and then handle the direction corresponding to the kernel by an inverse function theorem.

math.AP↗

arXiv2023

Metamorphoses of the flow past an obstacle of a resonantly-driven bistable polariton fluid

Motivated by recent experiments, we theoretically analyze the flow past an obstacle of a one-dimensional "quantum fluid of light" which is resonantly driven, and exhibits bistability. The flow is found to abruptly change several times when the fluid velocity or the obstacle potential strength are increased. In contrast to the cases of usual fluids and superfluids, the transitions take place between stationary states. They involve the fluid bistability in an essential way. Remarkably, at the transitions points, the fluid in the obstacle wake lies in the unstable intermediate density state.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Solitons and solitonic vortices in a strip

We study the ground state of the Gross Pitaveskii energy in a strip, with a phase imprinting condition, motivated by recent experiments on matter waves solitons. We prove that when the width of the strip is small, the ground state is a one dimensional soliton. On the other hand, when the width is large, the ground state is a solitonic vortex. We provide an explicit expression for the limiting phase of the solitonic vortex as the size of the strip is large: it has the same behaviour as the soliton in the infinite direction and decays exponentially due to the geometry of the strip, instead of algebraically as vortices in the whole space.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

Pace and motor control optimization for a runner

Our aim is to present a new model which encompasses pace optimization and motor control effort for a runner on a fixed distance. We see that for long races, the long term behaviour is well approximated by a turnpike problem. We provide numerical simulations quite consistent with this approximation which leads to a simplified problem. We are also able to estimate the effect of slopes and ramps.

math.OC↗

arXiv2021

Optimal speed in Thoroughbred horse racing

The objective of this work is to provide a mathematical analysis on how a Thoroughbred horse should regulate its speed over the course of a race to optimize performance. Because Thoroughbred horses are not capable of running the whole race at top speed, determining what pace to set and when to unleash the burst of speed is essential. Our model relies on mechanics, energetics (both aerobic and anaerobic) and motor control. It is a system of coupled ordinary differential equations on the velocity, the propulsive force and the anaerobic energy, that leads to an optimal control problem that we solve. In order to identify the parameters meaningful for Thoroughbred horses, we use velocity data on races in Chantilly (France) provided by France Galop, the French governing body of flat horse racing in France. Our numerical simulations of performance optimization then provide the optimal speed along the race, the oxygen uptake evolution in a race, as well as the energy or the propulsive force. It also predicts how the horse has to change its effort and velocity according to the topography (altitude and bending) of the track.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2020

Critical velocity in resonantly driven polariton superfluids

We study the necessary condition under which a resonantly driven exciton polariton superfluid flowing against an obstacle can generate turbulence. The value of the critical velocity is well estimated by the transition from elliptic to hyperbolic of an operator following ideas developed by Frisch, Pomeau, Rica for a superfluid flow around an obstacle, though the nature of equations governing the polariton superfluid is quite different. We find analytical estimates depending on the pump amplitude and on the pump energy detuning, quite consistent with our numerical computations.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2019

Moving planes for domain walls in a coupled system

The system leading to phase segregation in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates can be generalized to hyperfine spin states with a Rabi term coupling. This leads to domain wall solutions having a monotone structure for a non-cooperative system. We use the moving plane method to prove mono-tonicity and one-dimensionality of the phase transition solutions. This relies on totally new estimates for a type of system for which no Maximum Principle a priori holds. We also derive that one dimensional solutions are unique up to translations. When the Rabi coefficient is large, we prove that no non-constant solutions can exist.

math.AP↗

arXiv2019

Vortex patterns and sheets in segregated two component Bose-Einstein condensates

We study minimizers of a Gross-Pitaevskii energy describing a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate set into rotation. We consider the case of segregation of the components in the Thomas-Fermi regime, where a small parameter $ε$ conveys a singular perturbation. We estimate the energy as a term due to a perimeter minimization and a term due to rotation. In particular, we prove a new estimate concerning the error of a Modica Mortola type energy away from the interface. For large rotations, we show that the interface between the components gets long, which is a first indication towards vortex sheets.

math.AP↗

arXiv2018

Phase transition in a Rabi coupled two-component Bose-Einstein condensate

This paper deals with the study of the phase transition of the wave functions of a segregated two-component Bose-Einstein condensate under Rabi coupling. This yields a system of two coupled ODE's where the Rabi coupling is linear in the other wave function and acts against segregation. We prove estimates on the asymptotic behaviour of the wave functions, as the strength of the interaction gets strong or weak. We also derive limiting problems in both cases.

math.AP↗

arXiv2018

Optimizing running a race on a curved track

In order to determine the optimal strategy to run a race on a curved track according to the lane number, we introduce a model based on differential equations for the velocity, the propulsive force and the anaerobic energy which takes into account the centrifugal force. This allows us to analyze numerically the different strategies according to the different types of track since the straight line is not always of the same length. In particular, we find that the tracks with shorter straight lines lead to better performances, while the double bend track with the longest straight line leads to the worst performances and the biggest difference between lanes. Then for a race with two runners, we introduce a psychological attraction to follow someone just ahead and the delay to benefit again from this interaction after being overtaken. We provide numerical simulations in different cases. Results are overall consistent with the IAAF rules for lanes drawing, indicating that middle lanes are the best, followed by the exterior lanes, interior lanes being the worst.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2017

One dimensional phase transition problem modelling striped spin orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates

We study the behaviour of a Modica-Mortola phase transition type problem with a non-homogeneous Neumann boundary condition. According to the parameters of the problem, this leads to the existence of either one component occupying most of the condensate with an outer boundary layer containing the other component, or to many interfaces, on a periodic pattern. This is related to the striped behaviour of a two component Bose-Einstein condensate with spin orbit coupling in one dimension. We prove that minimizers of the full Gross-Pitaevskii energy in 1D converge, in the Thomas-Fermi limit of strong intra-component interaction, to those of the simplified Modica-Mortola problem we have studied in the first part.

math.AP↗

arXiv2017

Nash equilibrium in a stochastic model of two competing athletes

We propose a toy model for a stochastic description of the competition between two athletes of unequal strength, whose average strength difference is represented by a parameter $d$. The athletes interact through the choice of their strategies $x,y\in[0,1]$. These variables denote the amount of energy each invests in the competition, and determine the performance of each athlete. Each athlete picks his strategy based on his knowledge of his own and his competitor's performance distribution, and on his evaluation of the danger of exhaustion, which increases with the amount of invested energy. We formulate this problem as a zero-sum game. Mathematically it is in the class of "discontinuous games" for which a Nash equilibrium is not guaranteed in advance. We demonstrate by explicit construction that the problem has a mixed strategy Nash equilibrium $\big( f(x),g(y) \big)$ for arbitrary $0<d<1$. The probability distributions $f$ and $g$ appear to both be the sum of a continuous component and a Dirac delta peak. It is remarkable that this problem is analytically tractable. The Nash equilibrium provides both the weaker and the stronger athlete with the best strategy to optimize their chances to win.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2017

How to run 100 meters ?

The aim of this paper is to bring a mathematical justification to the optimal way of organizing one's effort when running. It is well known from physiologists that all running exercises of duration less than 3mn are run with a strong initial acceleration and a decelerating end; on the contrary, long races are run with a final sprint. This can be explained using a mathematical model describing the evolution of the velocity, the anaerobic energy, and the propulsive force: a system of ordinary differential equations, based on Newton's second law and energy conservation, is coupled to the condition of optimizing the time to run a fixed distance. We show that the monotony of the velocity curve vs time is the opposite of that of the oxygen uptake ($\dot{VO2}$) vs time. Since the oxygen uptake is monotone increasing for a short run, we prove that the velocity is exponentially increasing to its maximum and then decreasing. For longer races, the oxygen uptake has an increasing start and a decreasing end and this accounts for the change of velocity profiles. Numerical simulations are compared to timesplits from real races in world championships for 100m, 400m and 800m and the curves match quite well.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2016

Interface layer of a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate

This paper deals with the study of the behaviour of the wave functions of a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate near the interface, in the case of strong segregation. This yields a system of two coupled ODE's for which we want to have estimates on the asymptotic behaviour, as the strength of the coupling tends to infinity. As in phase separation models, the leading order profile is a hyperbolic tangent. We construct an approximate solution and use the properties of the associated linearized operator to perturb it into a genuine solution for which we have an asymptotic expansion. We prove that the constructed heteroclinic solutions are linearly nondegenerate, in the natural sense, and that there is a spectral gap, independent of the large interaction parameter, between the zero eigenvalue (due to translations) at the bottom of the spectrum and the rest of the spectrum. Moreover, we prove a uniqueness result which implies that, in fact, the constructed heteroclinic is the unique minimizer (modulo translations) of the associated energy, for which we provide an expansion.

math.AP↗

arXiv2016

A two-runners model: optimization of running strategies according to the physiological parameters

In order to describe the velocity and the anaerobic energy of two runners competing against each other for middle-distance races, we present a mathematical model relying on an optimal control problem for a system of ordinary differential equations. The model is based on energy conservation and on Newton's second law: resistive forces, propulsive forces and variations in the maximal oxygen uptake are taken into account. The interaction between the runners provides a minimum for staying one meter behind one's competitor. We perform numerical simulations and show how a runner can win a race against someone stronger by taking advantage of staying behind, or how he can improve his personal record by running behind someone else. Our simulations show when it is the best time to overtake, depending on the difference between the athletes. Finally, we compare our numerical results with real data from the men's 1500 -- m finals of different competitions.

math.OC↗

arXiv2014

Thomas-Fermi approximation for coexisting two component Bose-Einstein condensates and nonexistence of vortices for small rotation

We study minimizers of a Gross--Pitaevskii energy describing a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate confined in a radially symmetric harmonic trap and set into rotation. We consider the case of coexistence of the components in the Thomas-Fermi regime, where a small parameter $\ep$ conveys a singular perturbation. The minimizer of the energy without rotation is determined as the positive solution of a system of coupled PDE's for which we show uniqueness. The limiting problem for $\ep =0$ has degenerate and irregular behavior at specific radii, where the gradient blows up. By means of a perturbation argument, we obtain precise estimates for the convergence of the minimizer to this limiting profile, as $\ep$ tends to 0. For low rotation, based on these estimates, we can show that the ground states remain real valued and do not have vortices, even in the region of small density.

math.AP↗