arXiv subjects

Reza Tavakol

Publications and source records attributed to Reza Tavakol.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Absence of supersensitivity to small input signals in generalized on--off systems

It has recently been shown that nonlinear skew product dynamical systems with invariant subspaces which are capable of displaying on-off intermittency can show supersensitivity to small input signals. Here we show that this supersensitivity is absent for more general dynamical systems with non-skew product structure, capable of displaying a generalized form of on-off intermittency, and is therefore in this sense fragile. This absence of supersensitivity is of importance in view of the fact that dynamical systems are generically expected to be of non-skew product nature.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2000

Initial data and spherical dust collapse

By considering families of radial null geodesics, we study the subsets of initial data that lead to naked singularities and black holes in inhomogeneous spherical dust collapse. We introduce the notion of central homogeneity for spherical dust collapse and prove that for the occurrence of naked singularities, the initial data set must in general be centrally homogeneous. Even though mathematically this indicates that naked singularities are in general unstable, we show that centrally inhomogeneous perturbations in the initial data are not physically reasonable. This provides an example of the fact that instability in this context deduced with respect to general perturbations can become stabilised once the class of perturbations are restricted to be physical.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

On Holography and Cosmology

We consider a recent generalisation by Bousso of an earlier holography proposal by Fischler and Susskind. We demonstrate that in general inhomogeneous universes such a proposal would involve extremely complicated - possibly fractal - light sheets. Furthermore, in general such a light sheet cannot be known a priori on the basis of theory and moreover, the evolution of the universe makes it clear that in general such bounds cannot remain invariant under time reversal and will change with epoch. We propose a modified version of this proposal in which the light sheets end on the boundary of the past, and hence avoid contact with the caustics. In this way the resulting light sheets and projections can be made much simpler. We discuss the question of operational definability of these sheets within the context of both proposals and conclude that in both cases the theoretical existence of such sheets must be clearly distinguished from their complexity and the difficulty of their construction in practice. This puts into perspective the likely practical difficulties one would face in applying the holographic principle to the real cosmos. These issues may also be of relevance in debates regarding the applications of the holographic principle to other settings such as string theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

On Applications of Campbell's Embedding Theorem

A little known theorem due to Campbell is employed to establish the local embedding of a wide class of 4-dimensional spacetimes in 5-dimensional Ricci-flat spaces. An embedding for the class of n-dimensional Einstein spaces is also found. The local nature of Campbell's theorem is highlighted by studying the embedding of some lower-dimensional spaces.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Multiple forms of intermittency in PDE dynamo models

We find concrete evidence for the presence of crisis-induced and Pomeau-Manneville Type-I intermittencies in an axisymmetric PDE mean-field dynamo model. These findings are of potential importance for two different reasons. Firstly, as far as we are aware, this is the first time detailed evidence has been produced for the occurrence of these types of intermittency for such deterministic PDE models. And secondly, despite the rather idealised nature of these models, the concrete evidence for the occurrence of more than one type of intermittency in such models makes it in principle possible that different types of intermittency may occur in different solar-type stars or even in the same star over different epochs. In this way a multiple intermittency framework may turn out to be of importance in understanding the mechanisms responsible for grand-minima type behaviour in the Sun and solar-type stars and in particular in the interpretation of the corresponding observational and proxy evidence.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Inhomogeneous Einstein-Rosen String Cosmology

Families of anisotropic and inhomogeneous string cosmologies containing non-trivial dilaton and axion fields are derived by applying the global symmetries of the string effective action to a generalized Einstein-Rosen metric. The models exhibit a two-dimensional group of Abelian isometries. In particular, two classes of exact solutions are found that represent inhomogeneous generalizations of the Bianchi type VI_h cosmology. The asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated and further applications are briefly discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Intermittency as a possible underlying mechanism for solar and stellar variability

We briefly discuss the status of the intermittency hypothesis, according to which the grand minima type variability in solar-type stars may be understood in terms of dynamical intermittency. We review concrete examples which establish this hypothesis in the mean-field setting. We discuss some difficulties and open problems regarding the establishment of this hypothesis in more realistic settings as well as its operationally decidability.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Tilted String Cosmologies

Global symmetries of the string effective action are employed to generate tilted, homogeneous Bianchi type VI_h string cosmologies from a previously known stiff perfect fluid solution to Einstein gravity. The dilaton field is not constant on the surfaces of homogeneity. The future asymptotic state of the models is interpreted as a plane wave and is itself an exact solution to the string equations of motion to all orders in the inverse string tension. An inhomogeneous generalization of the Bianchi type III model is also found.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Evolution of the density contrast in inhomogeneous dust models

With the help of families of density contrast indicators, we study the tendency of gravitational systems to become increasingly lumpy with time. Depending upon their domain of definition, these indicators could be local or global. We make a comparative study of these indicators in the context of inhomogeneous cosmological models of Lemaitre--Tolman and Szekeres. In particular, we look at the temporal asymptotic behaviour of these indicators and ask under what conditions, and for which class of models, they evolve monotonically in time. We find that for the case of ever-expanding models, there is a larger class of indicators that grow monotonically with time, whereas the corresponding class for the recollapsing models is more restricted. Nevertheless, in the absence of decaying modes, indicators exist which grow monotonically with time for both ever-expanding and recollapsing models simultaneously. On the other hand, no such indicators may found which grow monotonically if the decaying modes are allowed to exist. We also find the conditions for these indicators to be non-divergent at the initial singularity in both models. Our results can be of potential relevance for understanding structure formation in inhomogeneous settings and in debates regarding gravitational entropy and arrow of time. In particular, the spatial dependence of turning points in inhomogeneous cosmologies may result in multiple density contrast arrows in recollapsing models over certain epochs. We also find that different notions of asymptotic homogenisation may be deduced, depending upon the density contrast indicators used.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Initial Conditions in String Cosmology

We take a critical look at a recent conjecture concerning the past attractor in the pre-big-bang scenario. We argue that the Milne universe is unlikely to be a general past attractor for such models and support this with a number of examples.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

In-out intermittency in PDE and ODE models of axisymmetric mean-field dynamos

Employing some recent results in dynamics of systems with invariant subspaces we find evidence in both truncated and full axisymmetric mean-field dynamo models of a recently discovered type of intermittency, referred to as in-out intermittency. This is a generalised form of on-off intermittency that can occur in systems that are not skew products. As far as we are aware this is the first time detailed evidence has been produced for the occurrence of a particular form of intermittency for such deterministic PDE models and their truncations. The specific signatures of this form of intermittency make it possible in principle to look for such behaviour in solar and stellar observations. Also in view of its generality, this type of intermittency is likely to occur in other physical models with invariant subspaces.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1998

Scale Factor Dualities in Anisotropic Cosmologies

The concept of scale factor duality is considered within the context of the spatially homogeneous, vacuum Brans-Dicke cosmologies. In the Bianchi class A, it is found that duality symmetries exist for the types I, II, VI_0, VII_0, but not for types VIII and IX. The Kantowski-Sachs and locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type III models also exhibit a scale factor duality, but no such symmetries are found for the Bianchi type V. In this way anisotropy and spatial curvature may have important effects on the nature of such dualities.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Transverse instability for non-normal parameters

We consider the behaviour of attractors near invariant subspaces on varying a parameter that does not preserve the dynamics in the invariant subspace but is otherwise generic, in a smooth dynamical system. We refer to such a parameter as ``non-normal''. If there is chaos in the invariant subspace that is not structurally stable, this has the effect of ``blurring out'' blowout bifurcations over a range of parameter values that we show can have positive measure in parameter space. Associated with such blowout bifurcations are bifurcations to attractors displaying a new type of intermittency that is phenomenologically similar to on-off intermittency, but where the intersection of the attractor by the invariant subspace is larger than a minimal attractor. The presence of distinct repelling and attracting invariant sets leads us to refer to this as ``in-out'' intermittency. Such behaviour cannot appear in systems where the transverse dynamics is a skew product over the system on the invariant subspace. We characterise in-out intermittency in terms of its structure in phase space and in terms of invariants of the dynamics obtained from a Markov model of the attractor. This model predicts a scaling of the length of laminar phases that is similar to that for on-off intermittency but which has some differences.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1997

Axisymmetric mean field dynamos with dynamic and algebraic $α$--quenchings

We study axisymmetric mean field spherical and spherical shell dynamo models, with both dynamic and algebraic $α$--quenchings. Our results show that there are qualitative as well as quantitative differences and similarities between these models. Regarding similarities, both groups of models exhibit symmetric, antisymmetric and mixed modes of behaviour. As regards differences, the important feature in the full sphere models is the occurrence of chaotic behaviour in the algebraic $α$--quenching models. For the spherical shell models with dynamic $α$ the main features include the possibility of multi-attractor regimes with final state sensitivity with respect to small changes in the magnitude of $α$ and the initial parity. We find the effect of introducing a dynamic $α$ is likely to be complicated and depend on the region of the parameter space considered, rather than a uniform change towards simplicity or complexity.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Non-normal parameter blowout bifurcation: an example in a truncated mean field dynamo model

We examine global dynamics and bifurcations occurring in a truncated model of a stellar mean field dynamo. This model has symmetry-forced invariant subspaces for the dynamics and we find examples of transient type I intermittency and blowout bifurcations to transient on-off intermittency, involving laminar phases in the invariant submanifold. In particular, our model provides examples of blowout bifurcations that occur on varying a non-normal parameter; that is, the parameter varies the dynamics within the invariant subspace at the same time as the dynamics normal to it. As a consequence of this we find that the Lyapunov exponents do not vary smoothly and the blowout bifurcation occurs over a range of parameter values rather than a point in the parameter space.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1997

Crisis-induced intermittency in truncated mean field dynamos

We investigate the detailed dynamics of a truncated $αω$ dynamo model with a dynamic $α$ effect. We find the presence of multiple attractors, including two chaotic attractors with a fractal basin boundary which merge to form a single attractor as the control parameter is increased. By considering phase portraits and the scaling of averaged times of transitions between the two attractors, we demonstrate that this merging is accompanied by a crisis-induced intermittency. We also find a range of parameter values over which the system has a fractal parameter dependence for fixed initial conditions. This is the first time this type of intermittency has been observed in a dynamo model and it could be of potential importance in accounting for some forms of intermittency in the solar and stellar output.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Dynamos with different formulations of a dynamic alpha-effect

We investigate the behaviour of $αΩ$ dynamos with a dynamic $α$, whose evolution is governed by the imbalance between a driving and a damping term. We focus on truncated versions of such dynamo models which are often studied in connection with solar and stellar variability. Given the approximate nature of such models, it is important to study how robust they are with respect to reasonable changes in the formulation of the driving and damping terms. For each case, we also study the effects of changes of the dynamo number and its sign, the truncation order and initial conditions. Our results show that changes in the formulation of the driving term have important consequences for the dynamical behaviour of such systems, with the detailed nature of these effects depending crucially on the form of the driving term assumed, the value and the sign of the dynamo number and the initial conditions. On the other hand, the change in the damping term considered here seems to produce little qualitative effect.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Robustness of truncated alpha-Omega dynamos with a dynamic alpha

In a recent work (Covas et al. 1997), the behaviour and the robustness of truncated $αΩ$ dynamos with a dynamic $α$ were studied with respect to a number of changes in the driving term of the dynamic $α$ equation, which was considered previously by Schmalz and Stix (1991) to be of the form $\sim A_ϕB_ϕ$. Here we review and extend our previous work and consider the effect of adding a quadratic quenching term of the form $α|B|^2$. We find that, as before, such a change can have significant effects on the dynamics of the related truncated systems. We also find intervals of (negative) dynamo numbers, in the system considered by Schmalz and Stix (1991), for which there is sensitivity with respect to small changes in the dynamo number and the initial conditions, similar to what was found in our previous work. This latter behaviour may be of importance in producing the intermittent type of behaviour observed in the sun.

astro-ph↗