Tautological classes on the moduli space of hyperelliptic curves with rational tails

We study tautological classes on the moduli space of stable n-pointed hyperelliptic curves of genus g with rational tails. The method is based on the approach of Yin in comparing tautological classes on the moduli of curves and the universal Jacobian. Our result gives a complete description of tautological relations. It is proven that all relations come from the Jacobian side. The intersection pairings are shown to be perfect in all degrees. We show that the tautological algebra coincides with its image in cohomology via the cycle class map. The latter is identified with monodromy invariant classes in cohomology. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved11sci

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.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review E., full paper available at http://www.maths.qmw.ac.uk/~eo

On the Domain of Applicability of General Relativity

We consider the domain of applicability of general relativity (GR), as a classical theory of gravity, by considering its applications to a variety of settings of physical interest as well as its relationship with real observations. We argue that, as it stands, GR is deficient whether it is treated as a microscopic or a macroscopic theory of gravity. We briefly discuss some recent attempts at removing this shortcoming through the construction of a macroscopic theory of gravity. We point out that such macroscopic extensions of GR are likely to be non-unique and involve non-Riemannian geometrical frameworks.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, submitted to Found. Phy

Chameleon scalar fields in relativistic gravitational backgrounds

We study the field profile of a scalar field $\phi$ that couples to a matter fluid (dubbed a chameleon field) in the relativistic gravitational background of a spherically symmetric spacetime. Employing a linear expansion in terms of the gravitational potential $\Phi_c$ at the surface of a compact object with a constant density, we derive the thin-shell field profile both inside and outside the object, as well as the resulting effective coupling with matter, analytically. We also carry out numerical simulations for the class of inverse power-law potentials $V(\phi)=M^{4+n} \phi^{-n}$ by employing the information provided by our analytical solutions to set the boundary conditions around the centre of the object and show that thin-shell solutions in fact exist if the gravitational potential $\Phi_c$ is smaller than 0.3, which marginally covers the case of neutron stars. Thus the chameleon mechanism is present in the relativistic gravitational backgrounds, capable of reducing the effective coupling. Since thin-shell solutions are sensitive to the choice of boundary conditions, our analytic field profile is very helpful to provide appropriate boundary conditions for $\Phi_c \lesssim O(0.1)$.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

DD-Dimensional Gravity from (D+1)(D+1) Dimensions

We generalise Wesson's procedure, whereby vacuum $(4+1)-$dimensional field equations give rise to $(3+1)-$dimensional equations with sources, to arbitrary dimensions. We then employ this generalisation to relate the usual $(3+1)-$dimensional vacuum field equations to $(2+1)-$dimensional field equations with sources and derive the analogues of the classes of solutions obtained by Ponce de Leon. This way of viewing lower dimensional gravity theories can be of importance in establishing a relationship between such theories and the usual 4-dimensional general relativity, as well as giving a way of producing exact solutions in $(2+1)$ dimensions that are naturally related to the vacuum $(3+1)-$dimensional solutions. An outcome of this correspondence, regarding the nature of lower dimensional gravity, is that the intuitions obtained in $(3+1)$ dimensions may not be automatically transportable to lower dimensions. We also extend a number of physically motivated solutions studied by Wesson and Ponce de Leon to $(D+1)$ dimensions and employ the equivalence between the $(D+1)$ Kaluza-Klein theories with empty $D-$dimensional Brans-Dicke theories (with $\omega=0$) to throw some light on the solutions derived by these authors.Comment: 11 pages, latex, published in CQG vol. 12 no. 1

The influence of noise on scalings for in-out intermittency

We study the effects of noise on a recently discovered form of intermittency, referred to as in-out intermittency. This type of intermittency, which reduces to on-off in systems with a skew product structure, has been found in the dynamics of maps, ODE and PDE simulations that have symmetries. It shows itself in the form of trajectories that spend a long time near a symmetric state interspersed with short bursts away from symmetry. In contrast to on-off intermittency, there are clearly distinct mechanisms of approach towards and away from the symmetric state, and this needs to be taken into account in order to properly model the long time statistics. We do this by using a diffusion-type equation with delay integral boundary condition. This model is validated by considering the statistics of a two-dimensional map with and without the addition of noise.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review E, also available at http://www.eurico.web.co

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.Comment: Full paper with figures, also available on the web page http://www.maths.qmw.ac.uk/~eoc. Physical Review E, accepte