papers

Publications (94)

physics.chem-ph2022

Predicting trajectory behaviour via machine-learned invariant manifolds

Vladimír Krajňák, Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper, we use support vector machines (SVM) to develop a machine learning framework to discover phase space structures that distinguish between distinct reaction pathways.…

physics.chem-ph2020

The role of depth and flatness of a potential energy surface in chemical reaction dynamics

Wenyang Lyu, Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

In this study, we analyze how changes in the geometry of a potential energy surface in terms of depth and flatness can affect the reaction dynamics. We formulate depth and flatness…

physics.chem-ph2017

Dynamics on the Double Morse Potential: A Paradigm for Roaming Reactions with no Saddle Points

Barry K. Carpenter, Gregory S. Ezra, Stavros C. Farantos +2

In this paper we analyze a two degree of freedom Hamiltonian system constructed from two planar Morse potentials. The resulting potential energy surface has two potential wells sur…

math.DS2026

Symplectic Constraints in Classical Reaction Dynamics: From Gromov's Camel to Reaction Rates

Stephen Wiggins

We investigate whether ideas from symplectic topology, in particular Gromov's non-squeezing theorem and symplectic capacity, can provide useful geometric insight into classical rea…

physics.chem-ph2013

Nonstatistical dynamics on potentials exhibiting reaction path bifurcations and valley-ridge inflection points

Peter Collins, Barry K. Carpenter, Gregory S. Ezra +1

We study reaction dynamics on a model potential energy surface exhibiting post-transition state bifurcation in the vicinity of a valley ridge inflection point. We compute fractiona…

quant-ph2026

Symplectic Constraints in Quantum Reaction Dynamics: Squeezed-State Suppression and Candidate Width Scales

Stephen Wiggins

Classical reaction dynamics suggests transport through an index-1 saddle is organized not just by flux, but by local symplectic width scales of bounded proxy neighborhoods near the…

quant-ph2026

Lobe Dynamics, Phase-Space Transport, and Non-Adiabatic Leakage Thresholds in the Nonautonomous Kerr-Cat Qubit

Stephen Wiggins

The Kerr-nonlinear parametric oscillator (KPO) provides a foundational semiclassical model for cat-state quantum hardware. Standard analyses of the KPO typically rely on autonomous…

nlin.CD2009

Finite-time Lagrangian transport analysis: Stable and unstable manifolds of hyperbolic trajectories and finite-time Lyapunov exponents

Michal Branicki, Stephen Wiggins

We consider issues associated with the Lagrangian characterisation of flow structures arising in aperiodically time-dependent vector fields that are only known on a finite time int…

math.DS2019

Finding NHIM: Identifying High Dimensional Phase Space Structures in Reaction Dynamics using Lagrangian Descriptors

Shibabrat Naik, Víctor J. García-Garrido, Stephen Wiggins

Phase space structures such as dividing surfaces, normally hyperbolic invariant manifolds, their stable and unstable manifolds have been an integral part of computing quantitative…

nlin.CD2021

Bifurcation of dividing surfaces constructed from a pitchfork bifurcation of periodic orbits in a symmetric potential energy surface with a post-transition-state bifurcation

Matthaios Katsanikas, Makrina Agaoglou, Stephen Wiggins

In this work we analyze the bifurcation of dividing surfaces that occurs as a result of a pitchfork bifurcation of periodic orbits in a two degrees of freedom Hamiltonian System. T…

physics.chem-ph2026

An entropic bottleneck, dynamical gating, and outward redistribution of roaming in a designed Chesnavich-type model

Stephen Wiggins

Roaming reactions are organized not by potential-energy saddles but by transition states that are unstable invariant objects in phase space, periodic orbits in the two degrees of f…

physics.flu-dyn2014

The Role of Variability in Transport for Large-Scale Flow Dynamics

Kayo Ide, Stephen Wiggins

We develop a framework to study the role of variability in transport across a streamline of a reference flow. Two complementary schemes are presented: a graphical approach for indi…

math.DS2024

Probabilistic Eddy Identification with Uncertainty Quantification

Jeffrey Covington, Nan Chen, Stephen Wiggins +1

Mesoscale eddies are critical in ocean circulation and the global climate system. Standard eddy identification methods are usually based on deterministic optimal point estimates of…

cond-mat.stat-mech2011

Index k saddles and dividing surfaces in phase space, with applications to isomerization dynamics

Peter Collins, Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper we continue our studies of the phase space geometry and dynamics associated with index k saddles (k > 1) of the potential energy surface. Using normal form theory, we…

math.DS2020

Using Lagrangian descriptors to uncover invariant structures in Chesnavich's Isokinetic Model with application to roaming

Vladimir Krajnak, Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

Complementary to existing applications of Lagrangian descriptors as an exploratory method, we use Lagrangian descriptors to find invariant manifolds in a system where some invarian…

astro-ph2003

Dynamics of capture in the restricted three-body problem

S. A. Astakhov, Andrew D. Burbanks, Stephen Wiggins +1

We propose a new dynamical model for capture of irregular moons which identifies chaos as the essential feature responsible for initial temporary gravitational trapping within a pl…

quant-ph2026

Geometric Diagnostics of Scrambling-Related Sensitivity in a Bohmian Preparation Space

Stephen Wiggins

The Out-of-Time-Order Correlator (OTOC) is a standard algebraic diagnostic of quantum information scrambling, but it offers limited direct geometric intuition. In this note, we pro…

math.DS2017

The Chaotic Saddle in the Lozi map, autonomous and non-autonomous versions

Carlos Lopesino, Francisco Balibrea-Iniesta, Stephen Wiggins +1

In this paper we prove the existence of a chaotic saddle for a piecewise linear map of the plane, referred to as the Lozi map. We study the Lozi map in its orientation and area pre…

math.DS2018

Influence of mass and potential energy surface geometry on roaming in Chesnavich's CH model

Vladimir Krajnak, Stephen Wiggins

Chesnavich's model Hamiltonian for the reaction CH CH is known to exhibit a range of interesting dynamical phenomena including roaming. The model system con…

math.DS2014

A Kolmogorov theorem for nearly-integrable Poisson systems with asymptotically decaying time-dependent perturbation

Alessandro Fortunati, Stephen Wiggins

The aim of this paper is to prove the Kolmogorov theorem of persistence of Diophantine flows for nearly-integrable Poisson systems associated to a real analytic Hamiltonian with ap…

quant-ph2026

Preparation-Space Diagnostics and Logical Information Loss in a Driven Kerr-Cat Qubit

Stephen Wiggins

A Kerr-cat qubit encodes a logical bit in the two wells of a parametrically driven nonlinear oscillator, and a logic gate is a transient change of the drive. In the phase plane the…

math.DS2008

A Bernoulli linked-twist map in the plane

James Springham, Stephen Wiggins

We prove that a Lebesgue measure-preserving linked-twist map defined in the plane is metrically isomorphic to a Bernoulli shift (and thus strongly mixing). This is the first such r…

math.DS2022

The Influence of a Parameter that Controls the Asymmetry of a Potential Energy Surface with an Entrance Channel and Two Potential Wells

Makrina Agaoglou, Matthaios Katsanikas, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper we study an asymmetric valley-ridge inflection point (VRI) potential, whose energy surface (PES) features two sequential index-1 saddles (the upper and the lower), wi…

nlin.CD2013

Lagrangian Descriptors: A Method for Revealing Phase Space Structures of General Time Dependent Dynamical Systems

Ana M. Mancho, Stephen Wiggins, Jezabel Curbelo +1

In this paper we develop new techniques for revealing geometrical structures in phase space that are valid for aperiodically time dependent dynamical systems, which we refer to as…

nlin.CD2009

Geometrical Models of the Phase Space Structures Governing Reaction Dynamics

Holger Waalkens, Stephen Wiggins

Hamiltonian dynamical systems possessing equilibria of stability type display \emph{reaction-type dynamics} for energies close t…

nlin.CD2007

Wigner's Dynamical Transition State Theory in Phase Space: Classical and Quantum

Holger Waalkens, Roman Schubert, Stephen Wiggins

A quantum version of transition state theory based on a quantum normal form (QNF) expansion about a saddle-centre-...-centre equilibrium point is presented. A general algorithm is…

math.DS2019

Dynamics of the Morse Oscillator: Analytical Expressions for Trajectories, Action-Angle Variables, and Chaotic Dynamics

Vladimír Krajňák, Stephen Wiggins

We consider the one degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian system defined by the Morse potential energy function (the "Morse oscillator"). We use the geometry of the level sets to construct…

physics.chem-ph2026

A Phase Space Signature of Quantum Roaming in Chesnavich's Model

Stephen Wiggins

Roaming reactions occur when a molecule enters a near-dissociation region, avoids immediate separation, and later forms products by a pathway not controlled by the conventional tig…

quant-ph2026

A Periodic Orbit Trace Formula for Quantum Scrambling: The Role of the Normally Hyperbolic Invariant Manifold

Stephen Wiggins

Out-of-Time-Order Correlators (OTOCs) quantify quantum information scrambling, but their connection to localized phase-space structures, such as chemical transition states, require…

physics.chem-ph2022

Barry Carpenter. Pioneering Physical Organic Chemist, Teacher, Mentor and Friend

Stephanie R. Hare, Allan R. Pinhas, Julia Rehbein +2

This is the preface to a special issue of the Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry dedicated to an outstanding physical organic chemist, mentor and friend, Barry Carpenter on the…

nlin.CD2021

Transport and roaming on the Double van der Waals Potential Energy Surface

Francisco Gonzalez Montoya, Víctor J. García-Garrido, Broncio Aguilar-Sanjuan +1

This paper explores the phase space structures characterising transport for a double-well van der Waals potential surface. Trajectories are classified as inter-well, intra-well, an…

physics.chem-ph2014

Nonstatistical dynamics on the caldera

Peter Collins, Zeb C. Kramer, Barry K. Carpenter +2

We explore both classical and quantum dynamics of a model potential exhibiting a caldera: that is, a shallow potential well with two pairs of symmetry related index one saddles ass…

physics.chem-ph2010

The Flux-Flux Correlation Function for Anharmonic Barriers

Arseni Goussev, Roman Schubert, Holger Waalkens +1

The flux-flux correlation function formalism is a standard and widely used approach for the computation of reaction rates. In this paper we introduce a method to compute the classi…

math.DS2015

Negligibility of small divisor effects in the normal form theory for nearly-integrable Hamiltonians with decaying non-autonomous perturbations

Alessandro Fortunati, Stephen Wiggins

The paper deals with the problem of the existence of a normal form for a nearly-integrable real-analytic Hamiltonian with aperiodically time-dependent perturbation decaying (slowly…

math.DS2014

Persistence of Diophantine flows for quadratic nearly-integrable Hamiltonians under slowly decaying aperiodic time dependence

Alessandro Fortunati, Stephen Wiggins

The aim of this paper is to prove a Kolmogorov-type result for a nearly-integrable Hamiltonian, quadratic in the actions, with an aperiodic time dependence. The existence of a toru…

nlin.CD2024

Bifurcation of Dividing Surfaces Constructed from Period-Doubling Bifurcations of Periodic Orbits in a Caldera Potential Energy Surface

Matthaios Katsanikas, Makrina Agaoglou, Stephen Wiggins

In this work we analyze the bifurcation of dividing surfaces that occurs as a result of two period-doubling bifurcations in a 2D caldera-type potential. We study the structure, the…

physics.chem-ph2015

Phase space barriers and dividing surfaces in the absence of critical points of the potential energy: Application to roaming in ozone

Frédéric A. L. Mauguière, Peter Collins, Zeb C. Kramer +4

We examine the phase space structures that govern reaction dynamics in the absence of critical points on the potential energy surface. We show that in the vicinity of hyperbolic in…

physics.ao-ph2011

Transport Induced by Mean-Eddy Interaction: I. Theory, and Relation to Lagrangian Lobe Dynamics

Kayo Ide, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper we develop a method for the estimation of {\bf T}ransport {\bf I}nduced by the {\bf M}ean-{\bf E}ddy interaction (TIME) in two-dimensional unsteady flows. The method…

quant-ph2026

Born-Oppenheimer, Born-Huang, and exact factorization: quantum geometry and error in analytically transparent benchmark models

Stephen Wiggins

The phrase "potential energy surface" refers to several distinct objects. The Born-Oppenheimer construction gives a clamped-nucleus electronic eigenvalue, the single-surface Born-H…

math.DS2024

Data-Driven Model Identification Using Time Delayed Nonlinear Maps for Systems with Multiple Attractors

Athanasios P. lliopoulos, Evelyn Lunasin, John G. Michopoulos +2

This study presents a method, along with its algorithmic and computational framework implementation, and performance verification for dynamical system identification. The approach…

physics.ao-ph2006

Lagrangian transport through an ocean front in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea

Ana M. Mancho, Emilio Hernandez-Garcia, Des Small +2

We analyze with the tools of lobe dynamics the velocity field from a numerical simulation of the surface circulation in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. We identify relevant hyp…

math.DS2024

Roaming in acetaldehyde

Vladimír Krajňák, Stephen Wiggins

We investigate roaming in the photodissociation of acetaldehyde (CHCHO), providing insight into the contrasting roaming dynamics observed for this molecule compared to formalde…

nlin.CD2009

Phase space geometry and reaction dynamics near index two saddles

Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

We study the phase space geometry associated with index 2 saddles of a potential energy surface and its influence on reaction dynamics for degree-of-freedom (DoF) Hamiltonian s…

nlin.CD2018

Phase Space Analysis of the Non-Existence of Dynamical Matching in a Stretched Caldera Potential Energy Surface

Matthaios Katsanikas, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper we continue our studies of the two dimensional caldera potential energy surface in a parametrized family that allows for a study of the effect of symmetry on the phas…

physics.ao-ph2018

Lagrangian study of the final warming in the southern stratosphere during 2002: Part I. The Vortex Splitting at Upper Levels

Jezabel Curbelo, Carlos R. Mechoso, Ana M. Mancho +1

The present two-part paper provides a Lagrangian perspective of the final southern warming in 2002, during which the stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) experienced a unique splitting…

nlin.CD2010

A periodic orbit formula for quantum reactions through transition states

Roman Schubert, Holger Waalkens, Arseni Goussev +1

Transition State Theory forms the basis of computing reaction rates in chemical and other systems. Recently it has been shown how transition state theory can rigorously be realized…

physics.chem-ph2009

The Quantum Normal Form Approach to Reactive Scattering: The Cumulative Reaction Probability for Collinear Exchange Reactions

Arseni Goussev, Roman Schubert, Holger Waalkens +1

The quantum normal form approach to quantum transition state theory is used to compute the cumulative reaction probability for collinear exchange reactions. It is shown that for he…

nlin.CD2021

Reactive Islands for Three Degrees-of-Freedom Hamiltonian Systems

Vladimír Krajňák, Víctor J. García-Garrido, Stephen Wiggins

We develop the geometrical, analytical, and computational framework for reactive island theory for three degrees-of-freedom time-independent Hamiltonian systems. In this setting, t…

math.DS2017

Lagrangian Descriptors for Two Dimensional, Area Preserving, Autonomous and Nonautonomous Maps

Carlos Lopesino, Francisco Balibrea-Iniesta, Stephen Wiggins +1

In this paper we generalize the method of Lagrangian descriptors to two dimensional, area preserving, autonomous and nonautonomous discrete time dynamical systems. We consider four…

math.DS2024

A Causation-Based Computationally Efficient Strategy for Deploying Lagrangian Drifters to Improve Real-Time State Estimation

Erik Bollt, Nan Chen, Stephen Wiggins

Deploying Lagrangian drifters that facilitate the state estimation of the underlying flow field within a future time interval is practically important. However, the uncertainty in…

physics.ao-ph2020

The tipping times in an Arctic sea ice system under influence of extreme events

Fang Yang, Yayun Zheng, Jinqiao Duan +2

In light of the rapid recent retreat of Arctic sea ice, the extreme weather events triggering the variability in Arctic ice cover has drawn increasing attention. A non-Gaussian $α…

math.DS2016

Integrability and strong normal forms for non-autonomous systems in a neighbourhood of an equilibrium

Alessandro Fortunati, Stephen Wiggins

The paper deals with the problem of existence of a convergent "strong" normal form in the neighbourhood of an equilibrium, for a finite dimensional system of differential equations…

nlin.CD2019

Roaming at Constant Kinetic Energy: Chesnavich's Model and the Hamiltonian Isokinetic Thermostat

Vladimír Krajňák, Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

We consider the roaming mechanism for chemical reactions under the nonholonomic constraint of constant kinetic energy. Our study is carried out in the context of the Hamiltonian is…

physics.chem-ph2013

Multiple Transition States and Roaming in Ion-Molecule Reactions: a Phase Space Perspective

Frederic A. L. Mauguiere, Peter Collins, Gregory S. Ezra +2

We provide a dynamical interpretation of the recently identified `roaming' mechanism for molecular dissociation reactions in terms of geometrical structures in phase space. These a…

math-ph2012

Isomerization dynamics of a buckled nanobeam

Peter Collins, Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

We analyze the dynamics of a model of a nanobeam under compression. The model is a two mode truncation of the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation subject to compressive stress. We consid…

math.DS2019

Finding NHIM in 2 and 3 degrees-of-freedom with Hénon-Heiles type potential

Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

We present the capability of Lagrangian descriptors for revealing the high dimensional phase space structures that are of interest in nonlinear Hamiltonian systems with index-1 sad…

physics.chem-ph2014

Roaming dynamics in Ketene isomerization

Frédéric A. L. Mauguière, Peter Collins, Gregory S. Ezra +2

A reduced two dimensional model is used to study Ketene isomerization reaction. In light of recent results by Ulusoy \textit{et al.} [J.\ Phys.\ Chem.\ A {\bf 117}, 7553 (2013)], t…

physics.chem-ph2026

Phase Space Bottlenecks in an Adiabatic Marcus Hamiltonian: Cusp Geometry, NHIMs, and Mixed Valence Electron Transfer

Stephen Wiggins

Marcus--Hush theory explains electron transfer in terms of reorganization energies, driving forces, electronic couplings, and reduced free-energy or energy-gap descriptions. These…

physics.data-an2017

High Dimensional Cluster Analysis Using Path Lengths

Kevin McIlhany, Stephen Wiggins

A hierarchical scheme for clustering data is presented which applies to spaces with a high number of dimension (). The data set is first reduced to a smaller set of par…

math.DS2021

Hamiltonian pitchfork bifurcation in transition across index-1 saddles

Wenyang Lyu, Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

We study the effect of changes in the parameters of a two-dimensional potential energy surface on the phase space structures relevant for chemical reaction dynamics. The changes in…

nlin.CD2021

The time evolution of the trajectories after the selectivity in a symmetric potential energy surface with a post-transition-state bifurcation

Douglas Haigh, Matthaios Katsanikas, Makrina Agaoglou +1

Selectivity is an important phenomenon in chemical reaction dynamics. This can be quantified by the branching ratio of the trajectories that visit one or the other wells to the tot…

math.DS2017

A Theoretical Framework for Lagrangian Descriptors

Carlos Lopesino, Francisco Balibrea-Iniesta, Víctor J. García-Garrido +2

This paper provides a theoretical background for Lagrangian Descriptors (LDs). The goal of achieving rigourous proofs that justify the ability of LDs to detect invariant manifolds…

physics.ao-ph2011

Transport Induced by Mean-Eddy Interaction: II. Analysis of Transport Processes

Kayo Ide, Stephen Wiggins

We present a framework for the analysis of transport processes resulting from the mean-eddy interaction in a flow. The framework is based on the {\bf T}ransport {\bf I}nduced by th…

math.DS2015

Normal forms à la Moser for aperiodically time-dependent Hamiltonians in the vicinity of a hyperbolic equilibrium

Alessandro Fortunati, Stephen Wiggins

The classical theorem of Moser, on the existence of a normal form in the neighbourhood of a hyperbolic equilibrium, is extended to a class of real-analytic Hamiltonians with aperio…

quant-ph2026

Bridging Classical Sensitivity and Quantum Scrambling: A Tutorial on Out-of-Time-Ordered Correlators

Stephen Wiggins

In classical dynamical systems, chaotic behavior is often associated with exponential sensitivity to initial conditions together with global phase-space structure. Translating this…

math.DS2021

A bridge between invariant dynamical structures and uncertainty quantification

Guillermo García-Sánchez, Ana M. Mancho, Stephen Wiggins

We develop a new quantifier for forward time uncertainty for trajectories that are solutions of models generated from data sets. Our uncertainty quantifier is defined on the phase…

math.DS2013

Normal Form and Nekhoroshev stability for nearly-integrable Hamiltonian systems with unconditionally slow aperiodic time dependence

Alessandro Fortunati, Stephen Wiggins

The aim of this paper is to extend the results of Giorgilli and Zehnder for aperiodic time dependent systems to a case of general nearly-integrable convex analytic Hamiltonians. Th…

physics.ao-ph2024

New links between invariant dynamical structures and uncertainty quantification

Guillermo Garcia-Sanchez, Ana Maria Mancho, Makrina Agaoglou +1

This paper proposes a new uncertainty measure, appropriate for quantifying the performance of transport models in assessing the origin or source of a given observation. It is found…

nlin.CD2022

The Nature of Reactive and Non-reactive Trajectories for a Three Dimensional Caldera Potential Energy Surface

Matthaios Katsanikas, Stephen Wiggins

We used for the first time the method of periodic orbit dividing surfaces in a non-integrable Hamiltonian system with three degrees of freedom. We have studied the structure of the…

cond-mat.stat-mech2009

Microcanonical rates, gap times, and phase space dividing surfaces

Gregory S. Ezra, Holger Waalkens, Stephen Wiggins

The general approach to classical unimolecular reaction rates due to Thiele is revisited in light of recent advances in the phase space formulation of transition state theory for m…

nlin.CD2019

Tilting and Squeezing: Phase space geometry of Hamiltonian saddle-node bifurcation and its influence on chemical reaction dynamics

Víctor J. García-Garrido, Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

In this article we present the influence of a Hamiltonian saddle-node bifurcation on the high-dimensional phase space structures that mediate reaction dynamics. To achieve this goa…

quant-ph2021

Quantum dynamics of a one degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian saddle-node bifurcation

Wenyang Lyu, Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper, we study the quantum dynamics of a one degree-of-freedom (DOF) Hamiltonian that is a normal form for a saddle node bifurcation of equilibrium points in phase space.…

math.DS2005

A lambda-lemma for normally hyperbolic invariant manifolds

Jacky Cresson, Stephen Wiggins

Let be a smooth manifold and be a , diffeomorphism. Let be a normally hyperbolic invariant manifold, not necessarily compact. We prove an analogue…

nlin.CD2020

Phase space structure and escape time dynamics in a Van der Waals model for exothermic reactions

Francisco Gonzalez Montoya, Stephen Wiggins

We study the phase space structures that control the transport in a classical Hamiltonian model for a chemical reaction. This model has been proposed to study the yield of products…

math.DS2017

Chaotic Dynamics in Nonautonomous Maps: Application to the Nonautomous Henon Map

Francisco Balibrea-Iniesta, Carlos Lopesino, Stephen Wiggins +1

In this paper we analyze chaotic dynamics for two dimensional nonautonomous maps through the use of a nonautonomous version of the Conley-Moser conditions given previously. With th…

quant-ph2010

Quantum Theory of Reactive Scattering in Phase Space

Arseni Goussev, Roman Schubert, Holger Waalkens +1

We review recent results on quantum reactive scattering from a phase space perspective. The approach uses classical and quantum versions of normal form theory and the perspective o…

math.DS2023

Navigating Phase Space Transport with the Origin-Fate Map

Malcolm Hillebrand, Matthaios Katsanikas, Stephen Wiggins +1

We introduce and demonstrate the usage of the origin-fate map (OFM) as a tool for the detailed investigation of phase space transport in reactant-product type systems. For these sy…

nlin.CD2020

Elementary exposition of realizing phase space structures relevant to chemical reaction dynamics

Wenyang Lyu, Shibabrat Naik, Stephen Wiggins

In this article, we review the analytical and numerical approaches for computing the phase space structures in two degrees-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems that arise in chemical rea…

nlin.CD2018

Phase Space Structure and Transport in a Caldera Potential Energy Surface

Matthaios Katsanikas, Stephen Wiggins

We study phase space transport in a 2D caldera potential energy surface (PES) using techniques from nonlinear dynamics. The caldera PES is characterized by a flat region or shallow…

nlin.CD2005

The efficient computation of transition state resonances and reaction rates from a quantum normal form

Roman Schubert, Holger Waalkens, Stephen Wiggins

A quantum version of a recent formulation of transition state theory in {\em phase space} is presented. The theory developed provides an algorithm to compute quantum reaction rates…

physics.flu-dyn2023

Lagrangian Descriptors with Uncertainty

Nan Chen, Evelyn Lunasin, Stephen Wiggins

Lagrangian descriptors provide a global dynamical picture of the geometric structures for arbitrarily time-dependent flows with broad applications. This paper develops a mathematic…

physics.geo-ph2025

A Mathematical Framework for Quantifying Nonlinear Uncertainty Propagation in Eddy Identification Criteria

Charlotte Moser, Nan Chen, Stephen Wiggins

Ocean eddies are swirling mesoscale features that play a fundamental role in oceanic transport and mixing. Eddy identification relies on diagnostic criteria that are inherently non…

physics.ao-ph2018

Lagrangian study of the final warming in the southern stratosphere during 2002: Part II. 3D structure

Jezabel Curbelo, Carlos R. Mechoso, Ana M. Mancho +1

This two-part paper aims to provide a Lagrangian perspective of the final southern warming in spring of 2002, during which the stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) experienced a unique…

cond-mat.stat-mech2008

Impenetrable Barriers in Phase Space for Deterministic Thermostats

Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

We investigate the relation between the phase space structure of Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian deterministic thermostats. We show that phase space structures governing reaction d…

nlin.CD2020

Exploring Isomerization Dynamics on a Potential Energy Surface with an Index-2 Saddle using Lagrangian Descriptors

Víctor J. García-Garrido, Makrina Agaoglou, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper we explore the phase space structures governing isomerization dynamics on a potential energy surface with four wells and an index-2 saddle. For this model, we analyze…

nlin.CD2020

Revealing Roaming on the Double Morse Potential Energy Surface with Lagrangian Descriptors

Francisco Gonzalez Montoya, Stephen Wiggins

In this paper, we analyse the phase space structure of the roaming dynamics in a two degree of freedom potential energy surface consisting of two identical planar Morse potentials…

math.DS2017

Lagrangian Descriptors for Stochastic Differential Equations: A Tool for Revealing the Phase Portrait of Stochastic Dynamical Systems

Francisco Balibrea-Iniesta, Carlos Lopesino, Stephen Wiggins +1

In this paper we introduce a new technique for depicting the phase portrait of stochastic differential equations. Following previous work for deterministic systems, we represent th…

physics.chem-ph2026

A Three-Degree-of-Freedom Chesnavich Model for Roaming: Derivation, Phase-Space Geometry, NHIM-Anchored Dividing Surfaces, and Roaming Transport

Stephen Wiggins

Roaming reactions, in which a dissociating fragment moves through a flat region of the potential surface rather than down the minimum-energy path, lie outside the assumptions of co…

math.DS2025

Taming Uncertainty in a Complex World: The Rise of Uncertainty Quantification -- A Tutorial for Beginners

Nan Chen, Stephen Wiggins, Marios Andreou

This paper provides a tutorial about uncertainty quantification (UQ) for those who have no background but are interested in learning more in this area. It exploits many very simple…

cond-mat.stat-mech2010

Phase space structure and dynamics for the Hamiltonian isokinetic thermostat

Peter Collins, Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

We investigate the phase space structure and dynamics of a Hamiltonian isokinetic thermostat, for which ergodic thermostat trajectories at fixed (zero) energy generate a canonical…

physics.ao-ph2024

Structured pathways in the turbulence organizing recent oil spill events in the Eastern Mediterranean

Guillermo Garcia-Sanchez, Ana M. Mancho, Antonio G. Ramos +2

The chaotic nature of ocean motion is a major challenge that hinders the discovery of spatio-temporal current routes that govern the transport of material. Certain material, such a…

physics.chem-ph2010

Phase space barriers and dividing surfaces in the absence of critical points of the potential energy

Gregory S. Ezra, Stephen Wiggins

We consider the existence of invariant manifolds in phase space governing reaction dynamics in situations where there are no saddle points on the potential energy surface in the re…

physics.flu-dyn2023

Launching Drifter Observations in the Presence of Uncertainty

Nan Chen, Evelyn Lunasin, Stephen Wiggins

Determining the optimal locations for placing extra observational measurements has practical significance. However, the exact underlying flow field is never known in practice. Sign…

math.DS2021

Support vector machines for learning reactive islands

Shibabrat Naik, Vladimír Krajňák, Stephen Wiggins

We develop a machine learning framework that can be applied to data sets derived from the trajectories of Hamilton's equations. The goal is to learn the phase space structures that…