arXiv subjects

Tadashi Tokieda

Publications and source records attributed to Tadashi Tokieda.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Rattleback: a model of how geometric singularity induces dynamic chirality

The rattleback is a boat-shaped top with an asymmetric preference in spin. Its dynamics can be described by nonlinearly coupled pitching, rolling, and spinning modes. The chirality, designed into the body as a skewed mass distribution, manifests itself in the quicker transition of $+$spin $\rightarrow$ pitch $\rightarrow$ $-$spin than that of $-$spin $\rightarrow$ roll $\rightarrow$ $+$spin. The curious guiding idea of this work is that we can formulate the dynamics as if a symmetric body were moving in a chiral space. By elucidating the duality of matter and space in the Hamiltonian formalism, we attribute asymmetry to space. The rattleback is shown to live in the space dictated by the Bianchi type ${\rm VI}_{h < -1}$ (belonging to class B) algebra; this particular algebra is used here for the first time in a mechanical example. The class B algebra has a singularity that separates the space (Poisson manifold) into mirror-asymmetric subspaces, breaking the time-reversal symmetry of nearby orbits.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

Surprises in numerical expressions of physical constants

In science, as in life, `surprises' can be adequately appreciated only in the presence of a null model, what we expect a priori. In physics, theories sometimes express the values of dimensionless physical constants as combinations of mathematical constants like pi or e. The inverse problem also arises, whereby the measured value of a physical constant admits a `surprisingly' simple approximation in terms of well-known mathematical constants. Can we estimate the probability for this to be a mere coincidence, rather than an inkling of some theory? We answer the question in the most naive form.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2012

Deformation of geometry and bifurcation of vortex rings

We construct a smooth family of Hamiltonian systems, together with a family of group symmetries and momentum maps, for the dynamics of point vortices on surfaces parametrized by the curvature of the surface. Equivariant bifurcations in this family are characterized, whence the stability of the Thomson heptagon is deduced without recourse to the Birkhoff normal form, which has hitherto been a necessary tool.

math.DS↗

arXiv2011

Dynamics of poles with position-dependent strengths and its optical analogues

The dynamics of point vortices is generalized in two ways: first by making the strengths complex, which allows for sources and sinks in superposition with the usual vortices, second by making them functions of position. These generalizations lead to a rich dynamical system, which is nonlinear and yet has conservation laws coming from a Hamiltonian-like formalism. We then discover that in this system the motion of a pair mimics the behavior of rays in geometric optics. We describe several exact solutions with optical analogues, notably Snell's law and the law of reflection off a mirror, and perform numerical experiments illustrating some striking behavior.

math.DS↗

arXiv2002

Vortex dynamics on a cylinder

Point vortices on a cylinder (periodic strip) are studied geometrically. The Hamiltonian formalism is developed, a non-existence theorem for relative equilibria is proved, equilibria are classified when all vorticities have the same sign, and several results on relative periodic orbits are established, including as corollaries classical results on vortex streets and leapfrogging.

math.DS↗

arXiv2002

Openness of momentum maps and persistence of extremal relative equilibria

We prove that for every proper Hamiltonian action of a Lie group G in finite dimensions the momentum map is locally G-open relative to its image (i.e. images of G-invariant open sets are open). As an application we deduce that in a Hamiltonian system with continuous Hamiltonian symmetries, extremal relative equilibria persist for every perturbation of the value of the momentum map, provided the isotropy subgroup of this value is compact. We also demonstrate how this persistence result applies to an example of ellipsoidal figures of rotating fluid, and provide an example with plane point vortices which shows how the compactness assumption is related to persistence.

math.SG↗