arXiv subjects

Rafael Abreu

Publications and source records attributed to Rafael Abreu.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quantum observables as Fréchet sensitivity kernels

We present a variational--adjoint interpretation of quantum mechanics in which the interaction between forward and adjoint wavefunctions defines a general sensitivity kernel of the system. This Fréchet interaction density quantifies how perturbations in the wavefunction (or system parameters) influence a chosen observable. The familiar Born probability density appears as a special case when the adjoint wavefunction is chosen as the complex conjugate of the forward wavefunction, for which the interaction density becomes real and non-negative. Within this framework, probability is a particular positive-definite form of sensitivity described by the Fréchet interaction density. In general, the variational--adjoint interpretation also produces Fréchet sensitivity kernels associated with other quantum observables, including momentum, energy, and spin. This suggests that the Born probability density belongs to a broader class of Fréchet sensitivity kernels associated with quantum observables. The proposed interpretation also provides a connection with time-symmetric interpretations of quantum mechanics and possible future applications in quantum control and quantum metrology.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

On the Fréchet interaction density of certain wave equations

We extend the adjoint method to complex-valued PDEs and introduce the \emph{Fréchet interaction density}, as the most fundamental interaction from which Fréchet sensitivity kernels can be derived. We apply this framework to four representative equations: two real-valued PDEs (the second-order wave equation and the Euler--Bernoulli beam equation) and two complex-valued PDEs (the complex transport equation and the Schrödinger equation with zero potential). We compute and analyze the Fréchet interaction densities for all four PDEs and show that the interaction shows consistent structure, with a waveform that depends on the initial conditions. For the Schrödinger equation, when the adjoint field is chosen as the complex conjugate of the forward wavefunction, the interaction density reduces algebraically to the Born probability density. Our results establish a unified approach to sensitivity analysis for real- and complex-valued PDEs.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2026

From complex-step differentiation to a general reconstruction framework

The complex-step method is traditionally derived from the Taylor expansion of an analytic function and is widely used as a numerical technique for derivative approximation. We present an alternative formulation based on the Cauchy--Riemann equations and show that the classical complex-step relation arises naturally from the harmonic structure of holomorphic functions. In particular, the complex-step method admits two complementary harmonic interpretations: as a Cauchy problem, in which the derivative is identified with the normal datum of the imaginary component on the real axis, and as a reconstruction problem in a strip, in which the finite imaginary perturbation provides the upper-boundary data. The latter formulation leads explicitly to the strip Poisson and conjugate Poisson kernels and their derivatives. A related harmonic reconstruction framework in the upper half-plane leads to the Poisson, conjugate Poisson, and Cauchy kernels as elementary reconstruction operators for harmonic and holomorphic functions. Extending this reconstruction from ordinary boundary functions to finite measures yields the classical Stieltjes transform and its inversion formula. The same measure-theoretic structure appears in spectral theory, where scalar matrix elements of the resolvent are Stieltjes transforms of the associated spectral measures. These results establish a common complex-analytic structure connecting complex-step differentiation, harmonic reconstruction, Stieltjes inversion, and spectral reconstruction, while distinguishing the boundary-value problems through which the corresponding information is recovered.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

The Complex-Step Integral Transform

Building on the well-established connection between the Hilbert transform and derivative operators, and motivated by recent developments in complex-step differentiation, we introduce the Complex-Step Integral Transform (CSIT): a generalized integral transform that combines analytic continuation, derivative approximation, and multi-scale smoothing within a unified framework. A spectral analysis shows that the CSIT preserves phase while suppressing high-wavenumber noise, offering advantages over conventional Fourier derivatives. We discuss the roles of the real and imaginary step parameters, compare FFT-based and interpolation-based implementations, and demonstrate the method on the advection equation and instantaneous-frequency computation. Results show that the CSIT yields smoother, more robust attributes than Hilbert-based methods and provides built-in stabilization for PDE solvers. The CSIT thus represents a flexible alternative for numerical differentiation, spectral analysis, and seismic signal processing. The method opens several avenues for future work, including non-periodic implementations, adaptive parameter selection, and integration with local interpolation frameworks such as high-order Finite-Element methods.

math.NA↗

arXiv2024

Understanding the Adjoint Method in Seismology: Theory and Implementation in the Time Domain

The adjoint method is a popular method used for seismic (full-waveform) inversion today. The method is considered to give more realistic and detailed images of the interior of the Earth by the use of more realistic physics. It relies on the definition of an adjoint wavefield (hence its name) that is the time reversed synthetics that satisfy the original equations of motion. The physical justification of the nature of the adjoint wavefield is, however, commonly done by brute force with ad hoc assumptions and/or relying on the existence of Green's functions, the representation theorem and/or the Born approximation. Using variational principles only, and without these mentioned assumptions and/or additional mathematical tools, we show that the time reversed adjoint wavefield should be defined as a premise that leads to the correct adjoint equations. This allows us to clarify mathematical inconsistencies found in previous seminal works when dealing with visco-elastic attenuation and/or odd-order derivative terms in the equation of motion. We then discuss some methodologies for the numerical implementation of the method in the time domain and to present a variational formulation for the construction of different misfit functions. We here define a new misfit travel-time function that allows us to find consensus for the long-standing debate on the zero sensitivity along the ray path that cross-correlation travel-time measurements show. In fact, we prove that the zero sensitivity along the ray-path appears as a consequence of the assumption on the similarity between data and synthetics required to perform cross-correlation travel-time measurements. When no assumption between data and synthetics is preconceived, travel-time Frechet kernels show an extremum along the ray path as one intuitively would expect.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2017

Transparent anisotropy for the relaxed micromorphic model: macroscopic consistency conditions and long wave length asymptotics

In this paper, we study the anisotropy classes of the fourth order elastic tensors of the relaxed micromorphic model, also introducing their second order counterpart by using a Voigt-type vector notation. In strong contrast with the usual micromorphic theories, in our relaxed micromorphic model only classical elasticity-tensors with at most 21 independent components are studied together with rotational coupling tensors with at most 6 independent components. We show that in the limit case $L_c\rightarrow 0$ (which corresponds to considering very large specimens of a microstructured metamaterial the meso- and micro-coefficients of the relaxed model can be put in direct relation with the macroscopic stiffness of the medium via a fundamental homogenization formula. We also show that a similar homogenization formula is not possible in the case of the standard Mindlin-Eringen-format of the anisotropic micromorphic model. Our results allow us to forecast the successful short term application of the relaxed micromorphic model to the characterization of anisotropic mechanical metamaterials.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

Real wave propagation in the isotropic relaxed micromorphic model

For the recently introduced isotropic relaxed micromorphic generalized continuum model, we show that under the assumption of positive definite energy, planar harmonic waves have real velocity. We also obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for real wave velocity which is weaker than positive-definiteness of the energy. Connections to isotropic linear elasticity and micropolar elasticity are established. Notably, we show that strong ellipticity does not imply real wave velocity in micropolar elasticity, while it does in isotropic linear elasticity.

math-ph↗