arXiv subjects

E. R. Tracy

Publications and source records attributed to E. R. Tracy.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2008

Quadratic corrections to the metaplectic formulation of resonant mode conversion

The effects of quadratic order terms in the dispersion matrix near a mode conversion are considered. It is shown that including the corrections due to these quadratic terms gives a better matching between the local solution in the mode conversion region, and the far-field WKB solutions for the incoming and outgoing waves. This matching is demonstrated by comparison of the asymptotic solution with a numerical solution for a simple one-dimensional conversion. This procedure for obtaining the corrections due to quadratic order terms can be extended to arbitrary order and, in principle, an outline for performing such an extension is given.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2007

Analysis of ray phase-space recirculation in an extended Budden problem

A three-wave Budden model with two resonance layers is constructed that allows recirculation of energy fluxes along a quadrangle in ray phase space. The transmission, reflection, and conversion coefficients for this extended Budden problem are calculated by ray phase-space methods and the modular-eikonal approach. Analytical and numerical results show that all coefficients exhibit interference effects that depend on an interference phase calculated from the coupling constants and the area enclosed by the quadrangle.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2005

Noise Stabilized Random Attractor

A two dimensional flow model is introduced with deterministic behavior consisting of bursts which become successively larger, with longer interburst time intervals between them. The system is symmetric in one variable x and there are bursts on either side of x = 0, separated by the presence of an invariant manifold at x = 0. In the presence of arbitrarily small additive noise in the x direction, the successive bursts have bounded amplitudes and interburst intervals. This system with noise is proposed as a model for edge localized modes in tokamaks. Further, the bursts can switch from positive to negative x and vice-versa. The probability distribution of burst heights and interburst periods is studied, as is the dependence of the statistics on the noise variance. The modification of this behavior as the symmetry in x is broken is studied, showing qualitatively similar behavior if the symmetry breaking is small enough. Experimental observations of a nonlinear circuit governed by the same equations are presented, showing good agreement.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2004

Control of Integrable Hamiltonian Systems and Degenerate Bifurcations

We discuss control of low-dimensional systems which, when uncontrolled, are integrable in the Hamiltonian sense. The controller targets an exact solution of the system in a region where the uncontrolled dynamics has invariant tori. Both dissipative and conservative controllers are considered. We show that the shear flow structure of the undriven system causes a Takens-Bogdanov birfurcation to occur when control is applied. This implies extreme noise sensitivity. We then consider an example of these results using the driven nonlinear Schrodinger equation.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2003

Local Solutions for Generic Multidimensional Resonant Wave Conversion

In more than one spatial dimension, resonant linear conversion from one wave type to another can have a more complex geometry than the familiar 'avoided crossing' of one-dimensional problems. In previous work we have shown that helical ray shapes are generic in a mathematical sense. Here we briefly describe how the local field structure can be computed.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2003

Ray helicity: a geometric invariant for multi-dimensional resonant wave conversion

For a multicomponent wave field propagating into a multidimensional conversion region, the rays are shown to be helical, in general. For a ray-based quantity to have a fundamental physical meaning it must be invariant under two groups of transformations: congruence transformations (which shuffle components of the multi-component wave field) and canonical transformations (which act on the ray phase space). It is shown that for conversion between two waves there is a new invariant not previously discussed: the intrinsic helicity of the ray.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2003

Mini-Conference on Hamiltonian and Lagrangian Methods in Fluid and Plasma Physics

A mini-conference on Hamiltonian and Lagrangian methods in fluid and plasma physics was held on November 14, 2002, as part of the 44th meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics of the American Physical Society. This paper summarizes the material presented during the talks scheduled during the Mini-Conference, which was held to honor Allan Kaufman on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv1998

Anomalous scaling behavior in Takens-Bogdanov bifurcations

A general algorithm is presented for estimating the nonlinear instability threshold, $σ_c$, for subcritical transitions in systems where the linearized dynamics is significantly non-normal (i.e. subcritical bifurcations of {\em Takens-Bogdanov} type). The $N$-dimensional degenerate node is presented as an example. The predictions are then compared to numerical studies with excellent agreement.

physics.class-ph↗