Let M be a closed connected smooth manifold and G = Diff0(M) denote the connected component of the diffeomorphism group of M containing the identity. The natural action of G on M induces the trace homomorphism on homology. We show that the image of trace homomorphism is annihilated by the subalgebra of the cohomology ring of M , generated by the characteristic classes of M . Analogously, if J i...

Optical vortices are always created or annihilated in pairs with opposite topological charges. However, the presence of such a vortex dipole does not directly indicate whether they are associated with a creation or an annihilation event. Here we propose a method to distinguish between vortex dipoles that have just been created and those that are about to be annihilated. We use first and second ...

Biological networks frequently use cascades, generally defined as chain-like arrangements of similar modules. Spatially lumped cascades can serve as noise filters, time-delay, or thresholding elements. The operation and functional capabilities of spatially distributed cascades are much less understood. Motivated by studies of pattern formation in the early Drosophila embryo, we analyze cascades...

Von Neumann and Wigner theorized the bounding and anti-crossing of eigenstates. Experiments have demonstrated that owing to anti-crossing and similar radiation rates, the graphene-like resonance of inhomogeneously strained photonic eigenstates can generate a pseudomagnetic field, bandgaps and Landau levels, whereas exponential or dissimilar rates induce non-Hermicity. Here, we experimentally de...