arXiv subjects

Christos Efthymiopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to Christos Efthymiopoulos.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Chirikov and Nekhoroshev diffusion estimates: bridging the two sides of the river

We present theoretical and numerical results pointing towards a strong connection between the estimates for the diffusion rate along simple resonances in multidimensional nonlinear Hamiltonian systems that can be obtained using the heuristic theory of Chirikov and a more formal one due to Nekhoroshev. We show that, despite a wide-spread impression, the two theories are complementary rather than antagonist. Indeed, although Chirikov's 1979 review has thousands of citations, almost all of them refer to topics such as the resonance overlap criterion, fast diffusion, the Standard or Whisker Map, and not to the constructive theory providing a formula to measure diffusion along a single resonance. However, as will be demonstrated explicitly below, Chirikov's formula provides values of the diffusion coefficient which are quite well comparable to the numerically computed ones, provided that it is implemented on the so-called optimal normal form derived as in the analytic part of Nekhoroshev's theorem. On the other hand, Chirikov's formula yields unrealistic values of the diffusion coefficient, in particular for very small values of the perturbation, when used in the original Hamiltonian instead of the optimal normal form. In the present paper, we take advantage of this complementarity in order to obtain accurate theoretical predictions for the local value of the diffusion coefficient along a resonance in a specific 3DoF nearly integrable Hamiltonian system. Besides, we compute numerically the diffusion coefficient and a full comparison of all estimates is made for ten values of the perturbation parameter, showing a very satisfactory agreement.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2013

Low-dimensional q-Tori in FPU Lattices: Dynamics and Localization Properties

This is a continuation of our study concerning q-tori, i.e. tori of low dimensionality in the phase space of nonlinear lattice models like the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) model. In our previous work we focused on the beta FPU system, and we showed that the dynamical features of the q-tori serve as an interpretational tool to understand phenomena of energy localization in the FPU space of linear normal modes. In the present paper i) we employ the method of Poincare - Lindstedt series, for a fixed set of frequencies, in order to compute an explicit quasi-periodic representation of the trajectories lying on q-tori in the alpha model, and ii) we consider more general types of initial excitations in both the alpha and beta models. Furthermore we turn into questions of physical interest related to the dynamical features of the q-tori. We focus on particular q-tori solutions describing low-frequency `packets' of modes, and excitations of a small set of modes with an arbitrary distribution in q-space. In the former case, we find formulae yielding an exponential profile of energy localization, following an analysis of the size of the leading order terms in the Poincare - Lindstedt series. In the latter case, we explain the observed localization patterns on the basis of a rigorous result concerning the propagation of non-zero terms in the Poincare - Lindstedt series from zeroth to subsequent orders. Finally, we discuss the extensive (i.e. independent of the number of degrees of freedom) properties of some q-tori solutions.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2013

The speed of Arnold diffusion

A detailed numerical study is presented of the slow diffusion (Arnold diffusion) taking place around resonance crossings in nearly integrable Hamiltonian systems of three degrees of freedom in the so-called `Nekhoroshev regime'. The aim is to construct estimates regarding the speed of diffusion based on the numerical values of a truncated form of the so-called remainder of a normalized Hamiltonian function, and to compare them with the outcomes of direct numerical experiments using ensembles of orbits. In this comparison we examine, one by one, the main steps of the so-called analytic and geometric parts of the Nekhoroshev theorem. We are led to two main results: i) We construct in our concrete example a convenient set of variables, proposed first by Benettin and Gallavotti (1986), in which the phenomenon of Arnold diffusion in doubly resonant domains can be clearly visualized. ii) We determine, by numerical fitting of our data the dependence of the local diffusion coefficient "D" on the size "||R_{opt}||" of the optimal remainder function, and we compare this with a heuristic argument based on the assumption of normal diffusion. We find a power law "D\propto ||R_{opt}||^{2(1+b)}", where the constant "b" has a small positive value depending also on the multiplicity of the resonance considered.

math-ph↗

arXiv2008

Explicit Construction of First Integrals with Quasi-monomial Terms from the Painlevé Series

The Painlevé and weak Painlevé conjectures have been used widely to identify new integrable nonlinear dynamical systems. For a system which passes the Painlevé test, the calculation of the integrals relies on a variety of methods which are independent from Painlevé analysis. The present paper proposes an explicit algorithm to build first integrals of a dynamical system, expressed as `quasi-polynomial' functions, from the information provided solely by the Painlevé - Laurent series solutions of a system of ODEs. Restrictions on the number and form of quasi-monomial terms appearing in a quasi-polynomial integral are obtained by an application of a theorem by Yoshida (1983). The integrals are obtained by a proper balancing of the coefficients in a quasi-polynomial function selected as initial ansatz for the integral, so that all dependence on powers of the time $τ=t-t_0$ is eliminated. Both right and left Painlevé series are useful in the method. Alternatively, the method can be used to show the non-existence of a quasi-polynomial first integral. Examples from specific dynamical systems are given.

nlin.SI↗

arXiv2007

Nodal points and the transition from ordered to chaotic Bohmian trajectories

We explore the transition from order to chaos for the Bohmian trajectories of a simple quantum system corresponding to the superposition of three stationary states in a 2D harmonic well with incommensurable frequencies. We study in particular the role of nodal points in the transition to chaos. Our main findings are: a) A proof of the existence of bounded domains in configuration space which are devoid of nodal points, b) An analytical construction of formal series representing regular orbits in the central domain as well as a numerical investigation of its limits of applicability. c) A detailed exploration of the phase-space structure near the nodal point. In this exploration we use an adiabatic approximation and we draw the flow chart in a moving frame of reference centered at the nodal point. We demonstrate the existence of a saddle point (called X-point) in the vicinity of the nodal point which plays a key role in the manifestation of exponential sensitivity of the orbits. One of the invariant manifolds of the X-point continues as a spiral terminating at the nodal point. We find cases of Hopf bifurcation at the nodal point and explore the associated phase space structure of the nodal point - X-point complex. We finally demonstrate the mechanism by which this complex generates chaos. Numerical examples of this mechanism are given for particular chaotic orbits, and a comparison is made with previous related works in the literature.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Appropriate SCF basis sets for orbital studies of galaxies and a `quantum-mechanical' method to compute them

We address the question of an appropriate choice of basis functions for the self-consistent field (SCF) method of simulation of the N-body problem. Our criterion is based on a comparison of the orbits found in N-body realizations of analytical potential-density models of triaxial galaxies, in which the potential is fitted by the SCF method using a variety of basis sets, with those of the original models. Our tests refer to maximally triaxial Dehnen gamma-models for values of $γ$ in the range 0<=gamma<=1. When an N-body realization of a model is fitted by the SCF method, the choice of radial basis functions affects significantly the way the potential, forces, or derivatives of the forces are reproduced, especially in the central regions of the system. We find that this results in serious discrepancies in the relative amounts of chaotic versus regular orbits, or in the distributions of the Lyapunov characteristic exponents, as found by different basis sets. Numerical tests include the Clutton-Brock and the Hernquist-Ostriker (HO) basis sets, as well as a family of numerical basis sets which are `close' to the HO basis set. The family of numerical basis sets is parametrized in terms of a quantity $ε$ which appears in the kernel functions of the Sturm-Liouville (SL) equation defining each basis set. The HO basis set is the $ε=0$ member of the family. We demonstrate that grid solutions of the SL equation yielding numerical basis sets introduce large errors in the variational equations of motion. We propose a quantum-mechanical method of solution of the SL equation which overcomes these errors. We finally give criteria for a choice of optimal value of $ε$ and calculate the latter as a function of the value of gamma.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Invariant manifolds, phase correlations of chaotic orbits and the spiral structure of galaxies

In the presence of a strong $m=2$ component in a rotating galaxy, the phase space structure near corotation is shaped to a large extent by the {\it invariant manifolds} of the short period family of unstable periodic orbits terminating at L$_1$ or L$_2$. The main effect of these manifolds is to create robust {\it phase correlations} among a number of chaotic orbits large enough to support a {\it spiral} density wave outside corotation. The phenomenon is described theoretically by soliton-like solutions of a Sine-Gordon equation. Numerical examples are given in an N-Body simulation of a barred spiral galaxy. In these examples, we demonstrate how the projection of unstable manifolds in configuration space reproduces essentially the entire observed bar-spiral pattern.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Special Features of Galactic Dynamics

The present lecture notes are an introduction to selected topics of {\it Galactic Dynamics}. The focus is on topics that we consider more relevant to the main theme of this workshop, {\it Celestial Mechanics}. This is not intended to be a review article. In fact, any of the topics below could be the subject of a separate review. Only the main ideas and notions are introduced, as well as some important currently open problems in each topic. Some relevant results from our own research are also presented. We discuss topics related mostly to the so-called {\it ellipsoidal components} of galaxies. These are \textbf{a)} the dark halos of both elliptical and disk galaxies, \textbf{b)} the luminous matter in elliptical galaxies, and \textbf{c)} the bulges of disk galaxies. We shall only occasionally refer to the dynamics of disks, bars or spiral structure.

astro-ph↗