First observation of the universal periodic corrections to scaling: Magnetoresistance of normal-metal self-similar networks

Multiquanta flux jumps in superconducting fractal

We study the magnetic field response of millimeter scale fractal Sierpinski gaskets (SG) assembled of superconducting equilateral triangular patches. Directly imaged quantitative induction maps reveal hierarchical periodic filling of enclosed void areas with multiquanta magnetic flux, which jumps inside the voids in repeating bundles of individual flux quanta Φ0. The number Ns of entering flux quanta in different triangular voids of the SG is proportional to the linear size s of the void, while the field periodicity of flux jumps varies as 1/s. We explain this behavior by modeling the triangular voids in the SG with effective superconducting rings and by calculating their response following the London analysis of persistent currents, Js, induced by the applied field Ha and by the entering flux. With changing Ha, Js reaches a critical value in the vertex joints that connect the triangular superconducting patches and allows the giant flux jumps into the SG voids through phase slips or multiple Abrikosov vortex transfer across the vertices. The unique flux behavior in superconducting SG patterns, may be used to design tunable low-loss resonators with multi-line high-frequency spectrum for microwave technologies.

The Altes Family of Log-Periodic Chirplets and the Hyperbolic Chirplet Transform

This work revisits a class of biomimetically inspired waveforms introduced by R.A. Altes in the 1970s for use in sonar detection. Similar to the chirps used for echolocation by bats and dolphins, these waveforms are log-periodic oscillations, windowed by a smooth decaying envelope. Log-periodicity is associated with the deep symmetry of discrete scale invariance in physical systems. Furthermore, there is a close connection between such chirping techniques, and other useful applications such as wavelet decomposition for multi-resolution analysis. Motivated to uncover additional properties, we propose an alternative, simpler parameterisation of the original Altes waveforms. From this, it becomes apparent that we have a flexible family of hyperbolic chirps suitable for the detection of accelerating time-series oscillations. The proposed formalism reveals the original chirps to be a set of admissible wavelets with desirable properties of regularity, infinite vanishing moments and time-frequency localisation. As they are self-similar, these “Altes chirplets” allow efficient implementation of the scale-invariant hyperbolic chirplet transform (HCT), whose basis functions form hyperbolic curves in the time-frequency plane. Compared with the rectangular time-frequency tilings of both the conventional wavelet transform and the short-time Fourier transform, the HCT can better facilitate the detection of chirping signals, which are often the signature of critical failure in complex systems. A synthetic example is presented to illustrate this useful application of the HCT.

Anisotropic anomalous diffusion modulated by log-periodic oscillations

We introduce finite ramified self-affine substrates in two dimensions with a set of appropriate hopping rates between nearest-neighbor sites where the diffusion of a single random walk presents an anomalous anisotropic behavior modulated by log-periodic oscillations. The anisotropy is revealed by two different random-walk exponents ν(x) and ν(y) in the x and y directions, respectively. The values of these exponents as well as the periods of the oscillations are obtained analytically and confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.

Anomalous diffusion with log-periodic modulation in a selected time interval

On certain self-similar substrates the time behavior of a random walk is modulated by logarithmic-periodic oscillations on all time scales. We show that if disorder is introduced in a way that self-similarity holds only in average, the modulating oscillations are washed out but subdiffusion remains as in the perfect self-similar case. Also, if disorder distribution is appropriately chosen the oscillations are localized in a selected time interval. Both the overall random walk exponent and the period of the oscillations are analytically obtained and confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.

Log-periodic oscillations for diffusion on self-similar finitely ramified structures

Under certain circumstances, the time behavior of a random walk is modulated by logarithmic-periodic oscillations. Using heuristic arguments, we give a simple explanation of the origin of this modulation for diffusion on a substrate with two properties: self-similarity and finite ramification order. On these media, the time dependence of the mean-square displacement shows log-periodic modulations around a leading power law, which can be understood on the basis of a hierarchical set of diffusion constants. Both the random walk exponent and the period of oscillations are analytically obtained for a pair of examples, one is fractal and the other is nonfractal, and confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations. The last example shows that the anomalous diffusion can arise from substrates without holes of all sizes.

Statistical analysis of the fractal gating motions of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase

The enzyme acetylcholinesterase has an active site that is accessible only by a "gorge" or main channel from the surface, and perhaps by secondary channels such as the "back door." Molecular-dynamics simulations show that these channels are too narrow most of the time to admit substrate or other small molecules. Binding of substrates is therefore "gated" by structural fluctuations of the enzyme. Here, we analyze the fluctuations of these possible channels, as observed in the 10.8-ns trajectory of the simulation. The probability density function of the gorge proper radius (defined in the text) was calculated. A double-peak feature of the function was discovered and therefore two states with a threshold were identified. The relaxation (transition probability) functions of these two states were also calculated. The results revealed a power-law decay trend and an oscillation around it, which show properties of fractal dynamics with a "complex exponent." The cross correlation of potential energy versus proper radius was also investigated. We discuss possible physical models behind the fractal protein dynamics; the dynamic hierarchical model for glassy systems is evaluated in detail.