Dynamical Systems Commons^™

Mathematics And Determinism: Chaos, Quantum Mechanics, And The Limits Of Predictive Structure, Jackson T. Salumbides

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between mathematics and determinism by analyzing how chaos theory, quantum mechanics, and formal mathematical limits challenge traditional conceptions of predictability and causal structure. Chaos theory shows that deterministic systems can exhibit practical unpredictability due to sensitivity to initial conditions. Quantum mechanics introduces probabilistic outcomes that complicate deterministic interpretation, though alternative frameworks such as Bohmian mechanics and superdeterminism attempt to restore determinism at conceptual cost. Additionally, results from mathematical logic, including Gödel’s incompleteness theorems and Turing’s undecidability, demonstrate intrinsic limitations on what can be deduced or computed, even in fully deterministic systems. By synthesizing these areas, …

Solvability Of Stochastic Linear-Quadratic Optimal Control Problems Under Partial Stabilizability Conditions, Al-Sadh Rahman Imadh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Optimal Control Theory, a branch of Control Theory, is applicable in fields such as engineering, operations research, and economics. Stochastic Optimal Control deals with noisy systems and data using Ito’s formulation. Given a noisy system and a cost functional, the goal is to find a control that will minimize the cost. This thesis focuses on linear quadratic stochastic optimal control, and we explore state equations that are not stabilizable. We first address measurability concerns arising from the semigroup property of the state trajectory. The notions of partial stability and partial stabilizability are introduced, and we formulate their corresponding Lyapunov and …

Weakly Reversible Deficiency Zero Realizations Of Polynomial Dynamical Systems, Neal Ryan Buxton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Weakly reversible, deficiency zero (WR0) systems form a large class of polynomial ODEs modeling chemical reaction networks. Their behavior is exceptionally stable: they have unique positive steady states, which are locally asymptotically stable (they are also conjectured to be globally asymptotically stable). This powerful result (the Deficiency Zero Theorem) applies to a large class of high dimensional, nonlinear polynomial dynamics, and is independent of the choice of parameters in the model. In this dissertation we present two algorithms that expands the scope of the Deficiency Zero Theorem to:

1. Networks with WR0 realizations, i.e. networks that are not necessarily WR0 …

Mathematical Modelling Of Disease Outbreak, Favour Christian, Matthew Molloy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Establishing a model framework for more research necessitates a thorough understanding of the causes, distribution, prevalence, and evolution of infectious illnesses. The main mathematical concept used in this modelling simulation is ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of the many criteria linked to a zombie virus spread. The zombie framework provides an accessible and relatively simple representation of the nature of infectious disease spread, allowing for tractable assumptions and the development of more complex situations.

The models are designed around a zombie outbreak in which the zombie virus is spread through a …

Theory And Algorithms To Learn, Propagate, And Exploit Uncertainty For Stochastic Optimal Control Of Dynamical Systems, Vignesh Sivaramakrishnan

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Non-Gaussian uncertainty frequently arises in learning and control problems involving stochastic dynamical systems, particularly in autonomous vehicles, UAVs, satellites, and robotics. In this dissertation, we propose a new framework that leverages characteristic functions that provides a frequency-domain representation of random variables. The dissertation is structured into three key areas. First, we address model-based stochastic optimal control for linear systems with non-Gaussian noise, demonstrating that characteristic functions can be used to enforce chance constraints and control systems toward desired distributions. Second, we explore data-driven stochastic control, utilizing empirical characteristic functions to handle systems with unknown disturbances. In addition, we derive several …

Shevtsov: Teaching Modeling To First-Year Life Science Students: The Ucsc Experience, Martin H. Weissman

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Modeling Opioid Addiction In Hand Surgery Patients, Eli Goldwyn, Grace Bowman, Kathryn Montovan, Julie Blackwood

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Relative Equilibria Of Pinwheel Point Mass Systems In A Planar Gravitational Field, Ritwik Gaur

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal

In this paper, we consider a planar case of the full two-body problem (F2BP) where one body is a pinwheel (four point masses connected via two perpendicular massless rods) and the other is a point mass. Relative equilibria (RE) are defined to be ordered pairs (r, θ) such that there exists a rotating reference frame under which the two bodies are in equilibrium when the distance between the point mass and the center of the pinwheel is r and the angle of the pinwheel within its orbit is θ. We prove that relative equilibria exist for …

Categorical Chain Conditions For Étale Groupoid Algebras, Sunil Philip

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Let R be a unital commutative ring and G an ample groupoid. Using the topology of the groupoid G, Steinberg defined an étale groupoid algebra RG. These étale groupoid algebras generalize various algebras, including group algebras, commutative algebras over a field generated by idempotents, traditional groupoid algebras, Leavitt path algebras, higher-rank graph algebras, and inverse semigroup algebras. Steinberg later characterized the classical chain conditions for étale groupoid algebras. In this work, we characterize categorically noetherian and artinian, locally noetherian and artinian, and semisimple étale groupoid algebras, thereby generalizing existing results for Leavitt path algebras and introducing new results for inverse …

A Measure Of Interactive Complexity In Network Models, Will Deter

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This work presents an innovative approach to understanding and measuring complexity in network models. We revisit several classic characterizations of complexity and propose a novel measure that represents complexity as an interactive process. This measure incorporates transfer entropy and Jensen-Shannon divergence to quantify both the information transfer within a system and the dynamism of its constituents’ state changes. To validate our measure, we apply it to several well-known simulation models implemented in Python, including: two models of residential segregation, Conway’s Game of Life, and the Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible (SIS) model. Our results reveal varied trajectories of complexity, demonstrating the efficacy and sensitivity …

Higher Order Operator Splitting Schemes With Complex Coefficients And Applications, Arun Banjara

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation is to apply the concept of Lie generators for linear semigroups induced by nonlinear flows, originally developed by J. R. Dorroh and J. W. Neuberger in the 1990’s [15], to approximate solutions of initial value problems like

x′(t) = F(x(t)), x(0) = x₀, (1)

where F = (F₁,··· ,F_N), and F_i : R^N ⊃ Ω -> R^N. The method, sometimes referred to as ``Bernard Koopman’s Global Linearization Method,” traces its origins back to the works of Sophus Lie in the 1890’s [30], Gerhard Kowalewski in …

Bifurcations And Resultants For Rational Maps And Dynatomic Modular Curves In Positive Characteristic, Colette Lapointe

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Mandelbrot Set, James Shirley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Mandelbrot set is a mathematical mystery. Finding its home somewhere be-
tween holomorphic dynamics and complex analysis, the Mandelbrot set showcases
its usefulness in fields across the many realms of math—ranging from physics to nu-
merical methods and even biology. While typically defined in terms of its bounded
sequences, this thesis intends to illuminate the Mandelbrot set as a type of param-
eterization of connectivity itself, specifically that of complex-valued rational maps
of the form z → z² + c. This fully illustrated guide to the Mandelbrot set merges
the worlds of intuition and theory with a series of …

Mathematical Modeling For Dental Decay Prevention In Children And Adolescents, Mahdiyeh Soltaninejad

Dissertations

The high prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, is a significant nationwide health concern. Early prevention, such as dental sealants and fluoride varnish (FV), is essential, but access to this care remains limited and disparate. In this research, a national dataset is utilized to assess sealants' reach and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, particularly focusing on 2nd molars that emerge during early adolescence, a current gap in the knowledge base. FV is recommended to be delivered during medical well-child visits to children who are not seeing a dentist. Challenges and facilitators in …

Comparison Of Linear Control Techniques For The Underactuated Nonlinear Quadcopter System, Ian Golsby

Mathematics Senior Capstone Papers

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a prevalent technology in many fields. They must be lightweight, efficient, and stable in order to carry out their objectives or support a payload. The control system that maintains a UAV’s attitude directly contributes to the stability and efficiency of the UAV, and more efficient UAVs can be made more lightweight by reducing battery size. Because the UAV has only four degrees of control (one per motor) but requires twelve dimensions to describe its orientation and position over time, it is considered an under-actuated nonlinear complex system. In this study, we compare various linear control …

Birkhoff Summation Of Irrational Rotations: A Surprising Result For The Golden Mean, Heather Moore

University Honors Theses

This thesis presents a surprising result that the difference in certain sums of constant rotations by the golden mean approaches exactly 1/5. Specifically, we focus on the Birkhoff sums of these rotations, with the number of terms equal to squared Fibonacci numbers. The proof relies on the properties of continued fraction approximants, Vajda's identity and the explicit formula for the Fibonacci numbers.

A Causal Inference Approach For Spike Train Interactions, Zach Saccomano

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Since the 1960s, neuroscientists have worked on the problem of estimating synaptic properties, such as connectivity and strength, from simultaneously recorded spike trains. Recent years have seen renewed interest in the problem coinciding with rapid advances in experimental technologies, including an approximate exponential increase in the number of neurons that can be recorded in parallel and perturbation techniques such as optogenetics that can be used to calibrate and validate causal hypotheses about functional connectivity. This thesis presents a mathematical examination of synaptic inference from two perspectives: (1) using in vivo data and biophysical models, we ask in what cases the …

Optimal Control Frameworks For A Class Of Epidemiological And Oncological Models, Asma Ali H Alghamdi

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

In this thesis, we employ optimal control frameworks in two distinct contexts: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and esophageal cancer. For HIV, we introduce a comprehensive data-driven nonlinear optimization framework designed for personalized therapies. This framework utilizes a deterministic in-host nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) model and formulates two optimization problems using individual patient data. The first problem focuses on estimating patient-specific parameters through constrained optimization, while the second problem determines optimal combination therapies to reduce viral load to undetectable levels. Several numerical experiments suggest that our framework can provide a robust and effective optimal dosages with lower toxicity levels to …

Exploring Sigmoidal Bounded Confidence Models With Mean Field Methods, Tian Dong

HMC Senior Theses

Mathematicians use models of opinion dynamics to describe how opinions in a group of people change over time, which can yield insight into mechanisms behind phenomena like polarization and consensus. In these models, mathematicians represent the community as a graph, where nodes represent agents and edges represent possible interactions. Opinion updates are modeled with a system of differential equations (ODEs). Our work focuses on the sigmoidal bounded confidence model (SBCM), where agents update their opinion toward a weighted average of their neighbors' opinions by weighting similar opinions more heavily. Using tools developed in physics (mean-field theory), we derive a continuity …

Optimizing Microbe-Infected Mosquito Release: A Stochastic Model For Malaria Prevention, Steeven Belvinos Affognon, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Philip Ngare, Benard Kipchumba Kiplangat, Shirley Abelman, Jeremy K. Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Malaria remains a critical public health challenge in Africa, demanding innovative control strategies. This study introduces a novel approach using Microsporidia MB-infected mosquitoes and stochastic optimal control within a Lévy process framework to regulate mosquito release strategies. The primary goal is to optimize Microsporidia MB prevalence within mosquito populations to disrupt Plasmodium transmission to humans. By incorporating Lévy noise into the modeling process, we capture the inherent randomness of mosquito dynamics, improving intervention accuracy. The model, guided by the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation, optimizes release protocols while accounting for key environmental factors like seasonality and temperature fluctuations. Results show that intervention …