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An open problem in linear quadratic (LQ) games has been characterizing the Nash equilibria. This problem has renewed relevance given the surge of work on understanding the convergence of learning algorithms in dynamic games. This paper investigates scalar discrete-time infinite-horizon LQ games with two agents. Even in this arguably simple setting, there are no results for finding $\textit{all}$ Nash equilibria. By analyzing the best response map, we formulate a polynomial system of equations characterizing the linear feedback Nash equilibria. This enables us to bring in tools from algebraic geometry, particularly the Gr\"obner basis, to study the roots of this polynomial system. Consequently, we can not only compute all Nash equilibria numerically, but we can also characterize their number with explicit conditions. For instance, we prove that the LQ games under consideration admit at most three Nash equilibria. We further provide sufficient conditions for the existence of at most two Nash equilibria and sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of the Nash equilibrium. Our numerical experiments demonstrate the tightness of our bounds and showcase the increased complexity in settings with more than two agents.

We present a policy iteration algorithm for the infinite-horizon N-player general-sum deterministic linear quadratic dynamic games and compare it to policy gradient methods. We demonstrate that the proposed policy iteration algorithm is distinct from the Gauss-Newton policy gradient method in the N-player game setting, in contrast to the single-player setting where under suitable choice of step size they are equivalent. We illustrate in numerical experiments that the convergence rate of the proposed policy iteration algorithm significantly surpasses that of the Gauss-Newton policy gradient method and other policy gradient variations. Furthermore, our numerical results indicate that, compared to policy gradient methods, the convergence performance of the proposed policy iteration algorithm is less sensitive to the initial policy and changes in the number of players.

Which integer sequences are sequences of generalized weights of a linear code? In this paper, we answer this question for linear block codes, rank-metric codes, and more generally for sum-rank metric codes. We do so under an existence assumption for MDS and MSRD codes. We also prove that the same integer sequences appear as sequences of greedy weights of linear block codes, rank-metric codes, and sum-rank metric codes. Finally, we characterize the integer sequences which appear as sequences of relative generalized weights (respectively, relative greedy weights) of linear block codes., Comment: 19 pages

Our paper addresses characterizing conditions for a linear quadratic (LQ) game to be a potential game. The desired properties of potential games in finite action settings, such as convergence of learning dynamics to Nash equilibria, and the challenges of learning Nash equilibria in continuous state and action settings motivate us to characterize LQ potential games. Our first contribution is to show that the set of LQ games with full-state feedback that are potential games is very limited, essentially differing only slightly from an identical interest game. Given this finding, we restrict the class of LQ games to those with decoupled dynamics and decoupled state information structure. For this subclass, we show that the set of potential games strictly includes non-identical interest games and characterize conditions for the LQ games in this subclass to be potential. We further derive their corresponding potential function and prove the existence of a Nash equilibrium. Meanwhile, we highlight the challenges in the characterization and computation of Nash equilibrium for this class of potential LQ games., Comment: 12 pages, 0 figure

The solving degree is an important parameter for estimating the complexity of solving a system of polynomial equations. In this paper, we provide an upper bound for the solving degree in terms of the degree of regularity. We also show that this bound is optimal. As a direct consequence, we prove an upper bound for the last fall degree and a Macaulay bound., Comment: 7 pages

The MacWilliams' Extension Theorem is a classical result by Florence Jessie MacWilliams. It shows that every linear isometry between linear block-codes endowed with the Hamming distance can be extended to a linear isometry of the ambient space. Such an extension fails to exist in general for rank-metric codes, that is, one can easily find examples of linear isometries between rank-metric codes which cannot be extended to linear isometries of the ambient space. In this paper, we explore to what extent a MacWilliams' Extension Theorem may hold for rank-metric codes. We provide an extensive list of examples of obstructions to the existence of an extension, as well as a positive result., Comment: 12 pages

Sum-rank metric codes are a natural extension of both linear block codes and rank-metric codes. They have several applications in information theory, including multishot network coding and distributed storage systems. The aim of this chapter is to present the mathematical theory of sum-rank metric codes, paying special attention to the $\mathbb{F}_q$-linear case in which different sizes of matrices are allowed. We provide a comprehensive overview of the main results in the area. In particular, we discuss invariants, optimal anticodes, and MSRD codes. In the last section, we concentrate on $\mathbb{F}_{q^m}$-linear codes.

Experimental investigations using wind and water tunnels have long been a staple of fluid mechanics research for a large number of applications. These experiments often single out a specific physical process to be investigated, while studies involving multiscale and multi-physics processes are rare due to the difficulty and complexity in the experimental setup. In the era of climate change, there is an increasing interest in innovative experimental studies in which fluid (wind and water) tunnels are employed for modelling multiscale, multi-physics phenomena of the urban climate. High-quality fluid tunnel measurements of urban-physics related phenomena are also much needed to facilitate the development and validation of advanced multi-physics numerical models. As a repository of knowledge in modelling these urban processes, we cover fundamentals, recommendations and guidelines for experimental design, recent advances and outlook on eight selected research areas, including (i) thermal buoyancy effects of urban airflows, (ii) aerodynamic and thermal effects of vegetation, (iii) radiative and convective heat fluxes over urban materials, (iv) influence of thermal stratification on land-atmosphere interactions, (v) pollutant dispersion, (vi) indoor and outdoor natural ventilation, (vii) wind thermal comfort, and (viii) urban winds over complex urban sites. Further, three main challenges, i.e., modelling of multi-physics, modelling of anthropogenic processes, and combined use of fluid tunnels, scaled outdoor and field measurements for urban climate studies, are discussed., Comment: 36 pages,9 figures, 1 table

We define a notion of r-generalized column distances for the j-truncation of a convolutional code. Taking the limit as j tends to infinity allows us to define r-generalized column distances of a convolutional code. We establish some properties of these invariants and compare them with other invariants of convolutional codes which appear in the literature., Comment: 13 pages, submitted

Greening cities is a key solution to improve the urban microclimate and mitigate the impact of climate change. However, the effect of tree planting on pollutant dispersion in streets is still a debated topic. To shed light on this issue, we present a wind-tunnel experiment aimed at investigating the effect of trees on street canyon ventilation. An idealized urban district was simulated by an array of blocks, and two rows of model trees were arranged at the sides of a street canyon oriented perpendicularly with respect to the wind direction. Reduced scale trees were chosen to mimic a realistic shape and aerodynamic behaviour. Three different spacings between the trees were considered. A passive scalar was injected from a line source placed at ground level and concentration measurements were performed in the whole canyon. Results show that the presence of trees alters the concentration pattern in the street with a progressive shift from a nearly two-dimensional to a three-dimensional field depending on tree density. Despite the significant change of the concentration field induced by trees, the average level of pollution in the street, and thus the overall ventilation efficiency, does not show a specific trend with the density of trees.

To predict pollutant concentration in urban areas, it is crucial to take into account the chemical transformations of reactive pollutants in operational dispersion models. In this work, we derive and discuss different NO-NO2-O3 chemical street canyon models with increasing complexity and we analytically evaluate their applicability in different urban contexts. We then evaluate the performance of the models in predicting NO2 concentration at different locations within an urban district by comparing their predictions with measurements acquired in a field campaign. The results are in line with analytical speculations and give indications as to which model to use according to the conditions of the urban street canyon. In courtyards with limited ventilation and without direct emissions, the performance of the photostationary model is satisfactory. On the other hand, the application of a non-photostationary model significantly improves the predictions in urban canyons with direct vehicular emissions. The applicability of the proposed models in operational tools at the city scale is finally discussed.

In 1997 Rosenthal and York defined generalized Hamming weights for convolutional codes, by regarding a convolutional code as an infinite dimensional linear code endowed with the Hamming metric. In this paper, we propose a new definition of generalized weights of convolutional codes, that takes into account the underlying module structure of the code. We derive the basic properties of our generalized weights and discuss the relation with the previous definition. We establish upper bounds on the weight hierarchy of MDS and MDP codes and show that that, depending on the code parameters, some or all of the generalized weights of MDS codes are determined by the length, rank, and internal degree of the code. We also prove an anticode bound for convolutional codes and define optimal anticodes as the codes which meet the anticode bound. Finally, we classify optimal anticodes and compute their weight hierarchy.

Sum-rank metric codes have recently attracted the attention of many researchers, due to their relevance in several applications. Mathematically, the sum-rank metric is a natural generalization of both the Hamming metric and the rank metric. In this paper, we provide an Anticode Bound for the sum-rank metric, which extends the corresponding Hamming and rank-metric Anticode bounds. We classify then optimal anticodes, i.e., codes attaining the sum-rank metric Anticode Bound. We use these optimal anticodes to define generalized sum-rank weights and we study their main properties. In particular, we prove that the generalized weights of an MSRD code are determined by its parameters. As an application, in the Appendix we explain how generalized weights measure information leakage in multishot network coding.

Non-Gaussian statistics of large-scale fields are routinely observed in data from atmospheric and oceanic campaigns and global models. Recent direct numerical simulations (DNSs) showed that large-scale intermittency in stably stratified flows is due to the emergence of sporadic, extreme events in the form of bursts in the vertical velocity and the temperature. This phenomenon results from the interplay between waves and turbulent motions, affecting mixing. We provide evidence of the enhancement of the classical small-scale (or internal) intermittency due to the emergence of large-scale drafts, connecting large- and small-scale bursts. To this aim we analyze a large set of DNSs of the stably stratified Boussinesq equations over a wide range of values of the Froude number ($Fr\approx 0.01-1$). The variation of the buoyancy field kurtosis with $Fr$ is similar to (though with smaller values than) the kurtosis of the vertical velocity, both showing a non-monotonic trend. We present a mechanism for the generation of extreme vertical drafts and vorticity enhancements which follows from the exact equations for field gradients., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

The additivity with respect to exact sequences is notoriously a fundamental property of the algebraic entropy of group endomorphisms. It was proved for abelian groups by deeply exploiting their structure. On the other hand, a solvable counterexample was recently found, showing that it does not hold in general. Nevertheless, we give a rather short proof of the additivity of the algebraic entropy for locally finite groups that are either quasihamiltonian or FC-groups.

We prove an instance of the so-called Addition Theorem for the algebraic entropy of actions of cancellative right amenable monoids $S$ on discrete abelian groups $A$ by endomorphisms, under the hypothesis that $S$ is locally monotileable (that is, $S$ admits a right F\o lner sequence $(F_n)_{n\in\mathbb N}$ such that $F_n$ is a monotile of $F_{n+1}$ for every $n\in\mathbb N$). We study in details the class of locally monotileable groups, also in relation with already existing notions of monotileability for groups, introduced by Weiss and developed further by other authors recently.

The dynamics of a passive scalar plume in a turbulent boundary layer is experimentally investigated via vertical turbulent transport time-series. Data are acquired in a rough-wall turbulent boundary layer that develops in a recirculating wind tunnel set-up. Two source sizes in an elevated position are considered in order to investigate the influence of the emission conditions on the plume dynamics. The analysis is focused on the effects of the meandering motion and the relative dispersion. First, classical statistics are investigated. We found that (in accordance with previous studies) the meandering motion is the main responsible for differences in the variance and intermittency, as well as the kurtosis and power spectral density, between the two source sizes. On the contrary, the mean and the skewness are slightly affected by the emission conditions. To characterize the temporal structure of the turbulent transport series, the visibility algorithm is exploited to carry out a complex network-based analysis. Two network metrics -- the average peak occurrence and the assortativity coefficient -- are analysed, as they can capture the temporal occurrence of extreme events and their relative intensity in the series. The effects of the meandering motion and the relative dispersion of the plume are discussed in the view of the network metrics, revealing that a stronger meandering motion is associated with higher values of both the average peak occurrence and the assortativity coefficient. The network-based analysis advances the level of information of classical statistics, by characterizing the impact of the emission conditions on the temporal structure of the signals in terms of extreme events and their relative intensity. In this way, complex networks provide -- through the evaluation of network metrics -- an effective tool for time-series analysis of experimental data.

We present a new DNS data set for a statistically axisymmetric turbulent jet, plume and forced plume in a domain of size $40 r_0 \times 40 r_0 \times 60 r_0$, where $r_0$ is the source diameter. The data set provides evidence of the validity of the Priestley and Ball entrainment model in unstratified environments (excluding the region near the source), which is corroborated further by the Wang and Law and Ezzamel \emph{et al.} experimental data sets, the latter being corrected for a small but influential co-flow that affected the statistics. We show that the turbulence in the core region of the jet and the plume are practically indistinguishable, although the invariants of the anisotropy tensor reveal a significant change in the turbulence near the plume edge. The DNS data indicates that the turbulent Prandtl number is about 0.7 for both jets and plumes. For plumes, this value is a result of the difference in the ratio of the radial turbulent transport of radial momentum and buoyancy. For jets however, the value originates from a different spread of the buoyancy and velocity profiles, in spite of the fact that the ratio of radial turbulent transport terms is approximately unity. The DNS data does not show any evidence of similarity drift associated with gradual variations in the ratio of buoyancy profile to velocity profile widths.

A gauge theory can be formulated on a noncommutative (NC) spacetime. This NC gauge theory has an equivalent dual description through the so-called Seiberg-Witten (SW) map in terms of an ordinary gauge theory on a commutative spacetime. We show that all NC U(1) instantons of Nekrasov-Schwarz type are mapped to ALE gravitational instantons by the exact SW map and that the NC gauge theory of U(1) instantons is equivalent to the theory of hyper-Kaehler geometries. It implies the remarkable consequence that ALE gravitational instantons can emerge from local condensates of purely NC photons., Comment: 4 pages with two columns; comments and references added, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett

The exact Seiberg-Witten (SW) map of a noncommutative (NC) gauge theory gives the commutative equivalent as an ordinary gauge theory coupled to a field dependent effective metric. We study instanton solutions of this commutative equivalent whose self-duality equation turns out to be the exact SW map of NC instantons. We derive general differential equations governing U(1) instantons and we explicitly get an exact solution corresponding to the single NC instanton. Remarkably the effective metric induced by the single U(1) instanton is related to the Eguchi-Hanson metric - the simplest gravitational instanton. Surprisingly the instanton number is not quantized but depends on an integration constant. Our result confirms the expected non-perturbative breakdown of the SW map. However, the breakdown of the map arises in a consistent way: The instanton number plays the role of a parameter giving rise to a one-parameter family of Eguchi-Hanson metrics., Comment: 15 pages, Latex; Comment on commutative limit is added and a small mistake in section 4 is corrected

We collect some arguments for treating a D-brane with overcritical electric field as a well-posed initial condition for a D-brane decay. Within the field theoretical toy model of Minahan and Zwiebach we give an estimate for the condensates of the related infinite tower of tachyonic excitations., Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures; references and comments added, version to appear in PRD

We discuss the scalar propagator on generic AdS_{d+1} x S^{d'+1} backgrounds. For the conformally flat situations and masses corresponding to Weyl invariant actions the propagator is powerlike in the sum of the chordal distances with respect to AdS_{d+1} and S^{d'+1}. In all other cases the propagator depends on both chordal distances separately. We discuss the KK mode summation to construct the propagator in brief. For AdS_5 x S^5 we relate our propagator to the expression in the BMN plane wave limit and find a geometric interpretation of the variables occurring in the known explicit construction on the plane wave., Comment: 7 pages, Fortsch.Phys. style, Talk given at 36th International Symposium Ahrenshoop on the Theory of Elementary Particles: Recent Developments in String/M- Theory and Field Theory, Wernsdorf, Germany, 26-30 Aug 2003

We discuss the scalar propagator on generic AdS x S backgrounds. For the conformally flat situations and masses corresponding to Weyl invariant actions, the propagator is powerlike in the sum of the chordal distances with respect to AdS(d+1) and S(d'+1). In these cases we analyze its source structure. In all other cases the propagator depends on both chordal distances separately. There an explicit formula is found for certain special mass values. For pure AdS we show how the well known propagators in the Weyl invariant case can be expressed as linear combinations of simple powers of the chordal distance. For AdS(5) x S(5) we relate our propagator to the expression in the plane wave limit and find a geometric interpretation of the variables occurring in the known explicit construction on the plane wave. As a byproduct of comparing different techniques, including the KK mode summation, a theorem for summing certain products of Legendre and Gegenbauer functions is derived., Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure; extended final version, section added

This review of bosonic string field theory is concentrated on two main subjects. In the first part we revisit the construction of the three string vertex and rederive the relevant Neumann coefficients both for the matter and the ghost part following a conformal field theory approach. We use this formulation to solve the VSFT equation of motion for the ghost sector. This part of the paper is based on a new method which allows us to derive known results in a simpler way. In the second part we concentrate on the solution of the VSFT equation of motion for the matter part. We describe the construction of the three strings vertex in the presence of a background B field. We determine a large family of lump solutions, illustrate their interpretation as D-branes and study the low energy limit. We show that in this limit the lump solutions flow toward the so-called GMS solitons., Comment: 47 pages, 1 figure, JHEP, v3: some comments and a footnote added in section 4, comments in section 5.1 modified, 1 reference added

We define a sequence of VSFT D-branes whose low energy limit leads exactly to a corresponding sequence of GMS solitons. The D-branes are defined by acting on a fixed VSFT lump with operators defined by means of Laguerre polynomials whose argument is quadratic in the string creation operators. The states obtained in this way form an algebra under the SFT star product, which is isomorphic to a corresponding algebra of GMS solitons under the Moyal product. In order to obtain a regularized field theory limit we embed the theory in a constant background B field., Comment: 1+16 pages; v2: typos corrected; v3: two appendices added, final version

We continue the analysis of Vacuum String Field Theory in the presence of a constant B field. In particular we give a proof of the ratio of brane tensions is the expected one. On the wake of the recent literature we introduce wedge-like states and orthogonal projections. Finally we show a few examples of the smoothing out effects of the B field on some of the singularities that appear in VSFT., Comment: 20 pages; v2: typos corrected, references added; final version

We show that squeezed state solutions for solitonic lumps in Vacuum String Field Theory still exist in the presence of a constant B field. We show in particular that, just as in the B=0 case, we can write down a compact explicit form for such solutions., Comment: 15 pages, Latex, typos corrected, final version

We discuss the problem of noncommutative SO(N) gauge field theories from the string one-loop point of view. To this end we propose an expression for the string propagator on the boundary of the Moebius strip in the presence of a constant B field. We discuss in detail the problems related to its derivation. Then we use it to compute the one-loop corrections to two-, three- and four-gluon amplitudes in an open string theory with orthogonal Chan-Paton factors. We show that these corrections in the field theory limit in 4D are compatible with the one-loop corrections of a renormalizable noncommutative SO(N) gauge field theory., Comment: 29 pages, 1 figure; New version

We give an explicit proof that the noncommutative U(N) gauge theories are one-loop renormalizable, Comment: 12 pages, Latex. v3: calculations redone, conclusions reversed. v4, v5: minor changes