arXiv subjects

Santiago Ibáñez

Publications and source records attributed to Santiago Ibáñez.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Christoffel words as extremal structures in Collatz dynamics

We study the combinatorial structure of parity sequences associated with the accelerated Collatz map with the goal of identifying extremal configurations and relating them to the existence of periodic orbits. To each finite sequence of an orbit, we associate a binary word whose ones encode the odd iterates, and we introduce a functional $C(d)$ on such words which provides an explicit expression for the iterates and characterizes possible periodic cycles. We define a natural rotation action on binary words, compatible with the cyclic structure of periodic orbits, and consider the functional $C_{\min}(d)$ as a canonical representative of each rotation class. In this setting, we formulate and solve a discrete optimization problem on the set of binary words of fixed length and prescribed density. We prove that Christoffel words are, up to rotation, the unique maximizers of $C_{\min}(d)$ on $D_{N,r}$, the set of binary words of length $N$ with exactly $r$ ones, thereby establishing a direct connection between the dynamics of the Collatz problem and the classical theory of balanced words. As a consequence, we obtain restrictions on the possible existence of nontrivial cycles and derive explicit bounds for the minimum element of an orbit in terms of its length and the proportion of odd iterates. These results show that the combinatorial structure of parity sequences imposes strong constraints on Collatz dynamics and suggest that extremal configurations are governed by classical objects from the combinatorics on words, exhibiting a pronounced structural rigidity.

math.DS↗

arXiv2025

Three-dimensional horseshoes near an unfolding of a Hopf-Hopf singularity

Motivated by a certain type of unfolding of a Hopf-Hopf singularity, we consider a one-parameter family $(f_γ)_{γ\geq0}$ of $C^3$--vector fields in $\mathbb{R}^4$ whose flows exhibit a heteroclinic cycle associated to two periodic solutions and a bifocus, all of them hyperbolic. It is formally proved that combining rotation with a generic condition concerning the transverse intersection between the three-dimensional invariant manifolds of the periodic solutions, all sets are highly distorted by the first return map and hyperbolic three-dimensional horseshoes emerge, accumulating on the network. Infinitely many linked horseshoes prompt the coexistence of infinitely many saddle-type invariant sets for all values of $γ\gtrsim 0$ belonging to the heteroclinic class of the two hyperbolic periodic solutions. We apply the results to a particular unfolding of the Hopf-Hopf singularity, the so called \emph{Gaspard-type unfolding}.

math.DS↗

arXiv2024

Invariant manifolds in a reversible Hamiltonian system: the tentacle-like geometry

We study a one-parameter family of time-reversible Hamiltonian vector fields in $\mathbb{R}^4$, which has received great attention in the literature. On the one hand, it is due to the role it plays in the context of certain applications in the field of Physics or Engineering and, on the other hand, we especially highlight its relevance within the framework of generic unfoldings of the four-dimensional nilpotent singularity of codimension four. The system exhibits a bifocal equilibrium point for a range of parameter values. The associated two-dimensional invariant manifolds, stable and unstable, fold into the phase space in such a way that they produce intricate patterns. This entangled geometry has previously been called \textit{tentacular geometry}. We consider a three-dimensional level set containing the bifocal equilibrium point to gain insight into the folding behavior of these invariant manifolds. Our method consists of describing the traces left by invariant manifolds when crossing an invariant cross section by the reversibility map. With this new approach, we provide a better understanding of how tentacular geometry evolves with respect to the parameter. Our techniques enables us to link the tentacular geometry on the cross section with the study of cocooning cascades of homoclinic tangencies. Indeed, we present a general theory to extend to $\mathbb{R}^4$ the phenomena related to cocoon bifurcation that classically develop within families of three-dimensional reversible vector fields. On the basis of these results, we conjecture the existence of heteroclinic cycles consisting of two orbits connecting the bifocus with a saddle node periodic orbit.

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arXiv2023

Geometry of bifurcation sets: Exploring the parameter space

Inspecting a $p$-dimensional parameter space by means of $(p-1)$-dimensional slices, changes can be detected that are only determined by the geometry of the manifolds that compose the bifurcation set. We refer to these changes as geometric bifurcations. They can be understood within the framework of the theory of singularities for differentiable mappings and, particularly, the Morse Theory. Working with a three-dimensional parameter space, geometric bifurcations are discussed in the context of two models of neuron activity: the Hindmarsh-Rose and the FitzHugh-Nagumo systems. Both are fast-slow systems with a small parameter that controls the time scale of a slow variable. Geometric bifurcations are observed on slices corresponding to fixed values of this distinguished small parameter.

math.DS↗

arXiv2018

A counterintuitive way to speed up pedestrian and granular bottleneck flows prone to clogging: Can 'more' escape faster?

Dense granular flows through constrictions, as well as competitive pedestrian evacuations, are hindered by a propensity to form clogs. We usesimulations of model pedestrians and experiments with granular disks to explore an original strategy to speed up these flows, which consists in including contact-averse entities in the assembly. On the basis of a minimal cellular automaton and a continuous agent-based model for pedestrian evacuation dynamics, we find that the inclusion of polite pedestrians amid a given competitive crowd fails to reduce the evacuation time when the constriction (the doorway) is acceptably large. This is not surprising, because adding agents makes the crowd larger. In contrast, when the door is so narrow that it can accommodate at most one or two agents at a time, our strategy succeeds in substantially curbing long-lived clogs and speeding up the evacuation. A similar effect is seen experimentally in a vibrated two-dimensional hopper flow with an opening narrower than 3 disk diameters. Indeed, by adding to the initial collection of neutral disks a large fraction of magnetic ones, interacting repulsively, we observe a shortening of the time intervals between successive egresses of neutral disks, as reflected by the study of their probability distribution. On a more qualitative note, our study suggests that the much discussed analogy between pedestrian flows and granular flows could be extended to some behavioural traits of individual pedestrians.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2015

Heteroclinic cycles arising in generic unfoldings of nilpotent singularities

In this paper we study the existence of heteroclinic cycles in generic unfoldings of nilpotent singularities. Namely we prove that any nilpotent singularity of codimension four in $\mathbb{R}^4$ unfolds generically a bifurcation hypersurface of bifocal homoclinic orbits, that is, homoclinic orbits to equilibrium points with two pairs of complex eigenvalues. We also prove that any nilpotent singularity of codimension three in $\mathbb{R}^3$ unfolds generically a bifurcation curve of heteroclinic cycles between two saddle-focus equilibrium points with different stability indexes. Under generic assumptions these cycles imply the existence of homoclinic bifurcations. Homoclinic orbits to equilibrium points with complex eigenvalues are the simplest configurations which can explain the existence of complex dynamics as, for instance, strange attractors. The proof of the arising of these dynamics from a singularity is a very useful tool, particularly for applications.

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