Wednesday, 4 November 2026: 0 new papers, 3 cross-lists and 1 replacement in Classical Physics (physics.class-ph), in arXiv's order, with full abstracts. The same papers as arXiv's own listing, set as a newspaper; every title links to arXiv.
Piezoelectric bending actuators provide deflections of several hundred micrometers and are used in electrical and mechanical engineering, acoustics, automation, automotive technology and healthcare. Highly efficient, low-cost piezoceramics offer a wide range of technical solutions. Their highpiezoelectric coefficients enable large strains at low electric field strengths. However, hysteresis, drift and creep impair positioning accuracy. Precise switching and positioning require compensation for these material-related effects, as well as varying mechanical loads and vibrations. A non-contact inductive proximity sensor is therefore combined with high-precision electronic circuit. Within a closed-loop control system, this sensor-actuator arrangement detects disturbances and enables their compensation, allowing highly efficient piezoceramics to be used for high-accuracy positioning. This paper investigates the electrodynamics of a specially developed eddy-current-based proximity sensor suitable for integration into confined spaces. A theoretical description explains its physical operating principle and enables analytical determination of the relative change in inductance as a function of actuator tip deflection. Experimental measurements validate the electrodynamic approach. The paper also considers energy harvesting applications. Measuring tip deflection allows the power dissipated in the piezoelectric transducer to be determined. The sensor system thus provides a basis for investigating and evaluating the performance of piezoelectric energy harvesters.
A magic square exemplifies balance in inequality: its $n^2$ entries $\{1,\dots,n^2\}$ are distinct, yet every row, column, and main diagonal sums to $\mu_n=n(n^2+1)/2$. Lifting centred grid cells into $\mathbb{R}^3$ as radial vectors $\mathbf{p}_{ij}(\lambda)=(x_j,y_i,\lambda z_{ij})$ and taking their convex hull---the Magic Gem $\mathcal{G}_\lambda(S)$---asks: when does line-sum equality suffice for equilibrium in 3D, and when a nonlinear realization breaks balance, how can an opposing inequality restore it? We test this across all $880$ order-$4$ magic squares in four regimes. For radial spokes from $O$, natural lengths balance identically, while unit spokes break equilibrium on all $832$ non-associative squares in 3D and on all squares in 2D, where the ring-radius ratio $r_2/r_1=\sqrt{5}$ bounds the resultant below by the Pell convergent $9/4\approx\sqrt{5}$. By length--weight duality, balance is restored via tip weights $\mathbf{w}^*>\mathbf{0}$ on $S^2$ or power-law spoke scaling ($r^{\alpha^*}$ in 2D and $(\mathbf{V}_3)_z=0$ in 3D). In 3D rotation, equal point masses make every semi-magic square an axisymmetric top with spherical-top transition $\lambda_{\mathrm{iso}}=(n^2+1)^{-1/2}$, whereas entry masses $m_{ij}=s_{ij}$ expose the quadrupole $Q_{xy}=\sum z_{ij}x_jy_i$, triggering $180^\circ$ Dzhanibekov flips on $824$ squares. Passing to the uniform solid hull $\mathcal{G}_0(S)$ shifts the centroid off $O$ on $829$ squares; re-engaging the opposing core $\mathcal{G}_1(S)$ restores balance via two-density inclusions, nested wireframes, or the $K_{n^2}$ strut network, while all $880$ hulls unfold into non-overlapping nets with $f_0-1$ glue tabs. Finally, $\lambda=1/5$ stabilizes $74.5\%$ of facets on a table, and alternating $\mathcal{G}_\lambda(S)$ with its mirror twin $\mathcal{G}_\lambda(r^2\overline{S})=-\mathcal{G}_\lambda(S)$ locks chiral blocks into a vertical tower.
Linear and nonlinear mechanical structures with closely spaced modes and non-classical (nonproportional) damping distribution are susceptible to modal interactions with energy exchanges between modes. In this work we analyze these interactions in a two-degree-of-freedom (2 DoF) coupled oscillator subject to impulse excitation, utilizing action-angle variables and the method of multiple scales. To show the basic steps of the methodology we start from the linear system, then proceed to analyze modal interactions in the system with strongly nonlinear cubic stiffness nonlinearity. In contrast to the linear case, once the dynamics of the nonlinear system is captured in 1:1 resonance, strongly nonlinear modal interactions occur depending on energy. These regimes as well as attraction to capture, 1:1 capture and escape from capture are analyzed in detail. Our analytical study determines the ranges of parameter values for which nonlinear modal interactions due to resonance capture occur. The analytical predictions are fully verified by direct numerical simulations of the governing equations of motion. Possible extensions of the present work to systems of oscillators with more DoF and other types of dissipative elements, e.g., friction or hysteresis are discussed.