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ForsChem Research Reports

2016-2
Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems
Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research, 050030 Medellin, Colombia
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org
ORCID : 0000-0002-7634-7161
doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36507.26403

Abstract
In this paper, the basic concept of variance algebra is used for describing fluctuation in
dynamical systems. By expressing any random variable as a function of standard random
variables (e.g. standard white noise, standard Markovian), the algebra of the expected value
and the variance is greatly simplified and easier to apply. Through three different case studies,
the validity and usefulness of variance algebra for modeling fluctuation in dynamical systems is
demonstrated. The stochastic model can be simulated using Monte Carlo simulation by
generating the corresponding random numbers for each type of random variable.

Keywords
Brownian motion; Differential Equations; Dynamical systems; Markovian processes; Random
variables; Shot noise; Stochastic modeling; Variance algebra; White noise

1. Introduction
Real processes (either static or dynamic) fluctuate as a result of the simultaneous effect of
multiple factors. These fluctuations are commonly interpreted as noise. Noisy process
variables fluctuate around a mean or average value. As the noise is reduced, the uncertainty in
the value of the process variables is also reduced, and in the limit of zero noise, a purely
deterministic process is obtained. Conventional modeling techniques are deterministic, as they
describe the average behavior of the processes without describing how the variables fluctuate.
Stochastic modeling techniques, on the other hand, take into account the probabilistic nature
of the processes describing them in a more realistic way. Modeling the behavior of the
fluctuations in a system can be done using Variance Algebra.[1]

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Previously, it was shown that simple variance linear algebra can be extended to arbitrary
nonlinear functions ( ) of random variables ( ) by transforming the function using a Taylor
power series expansion around the expected value ( ( )): [1]
( )
where

( )

( )

( ( ))

( ))

is the n-th derivative of

(1.1)
with respect to .

For the particular case when the random variable is a normal or Gaussian random variable, then
the nonlinear function can be expressed as a power series of the standard normal random
variable ( ) as follows:
( )

( )(

where

( ))

(1.2)

( ) is the standard deviation of .

An additional degree of complexity is found when the arbitrary function ( ) include time
derivatives of . That is, the function can be expressed as:
( )
where

( ))

(
( )

(1.3)

are the first, second, , and

-th time derivative of , respectively.

This is the case of dynamical systems. In a dynamical process, the derivatives with respect to
time of the process variables (either random or deterministic) have a significant role in the
process outcome, and understanding the behavior of fluctuation in a dynamical system is key
to obtain reliable dynamic stochastic models.
In Section 2, the mathematical foundations of variance algebra applied to dynamical systems
are presented. Section 3 includes three application case studies, exemplifying in detail the use
of variance algebra to dynamical systems. They include a microwave electronic circuit used for
wireless communication, the Brownian motion problem, and a cylindrical tank being filled with
water. Variance algebra can, however, be applied to any dynamical process.

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Hugo Hernandez
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2. Variance algebra of time derivatives


Let us first consider a dynamic random variable

In this case, the time derivatives of

are:
(2.1)
(2.2)

( )

(2.3)

For understanding the behavior of dynamical systems, let us consider the statistical behavior of
the first derivative of a random variable (not necessarily a normal random variable) with
respect to time:
( )

( )

( )

Given that the time step (


( )

( )

(2.4)

) is a known constant, then

( ( )

))

[ ( ( ))

( (

))]

(2.5)

( ( ) (

))]

(2.6)

Correspondingly, for the variance:


( )

( ( ))

( (

))

For the second derivative with respect to time, we have:


(

[ ( ( ))

( (

))]

[ ( ( ))
(

( ( ))

( (

( (
))

))

( (

( ( )

))]

(2.7)

))]

(2.8)

and in general,
(

( ))

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) ( ) ( (

))

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(2.9)

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

( ))

)(

))

)(

))

)(

)(

))]
(2.10)

The recurrence in the case of variance is possible, but a particular result depends on the
autocorrelation function (defined as the covariance of a random variable at two different times
or with a time lag) of the random variable. Let us consider three possible cases: White-noise
random variables, Markovian random variables and non-Markovian random variables.
2.1. Case I: White-noise random variables
White-noise random variables are those whose autocorrelation function is represented by
Diracs delta function:
[( ( )

( ( ))) ( (

Thus, for
( ( ) (

( (

)))]

( )

( )

(2.11)

, from Eq. (2.11) and the definition of covariance: [1]


))

( ( ))

( (

))

(2.12)

meaning that the value of the random variable at time


previous values.

is completely independent of its

Assuming that the expected value and the variance of the random variable remain constant
during the process, then the expected value and the variance for the -th derivative of with
respect to time become:
(

( ))

( ))

( )

( )

) ( )

( )

(2.13)
( )

(2.14)

Equation (2.14) is obtained because all covariance terms disappear, and a simple generalization
is possible.
If the variance is constant but the expected value of the white-noise random variable is a
function of time, ( )
( ), then

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

( ))

) ( ) (

( )(

(2.15)

The variance remains the same as in Eq. (2.14).


Notice that for a white-noise random variable, instantaneous changes are assumed. For this
reason the variance increases as the time step decreases. In practice, a pure white-noise
random variable is unlikely, but after a certain critical relaxation time
, white noise can safely
be assumed. Thus, for numerical purposes, precise calculation of derivatives of white-noise
random variables should be done using the critical relaxation time as time step. Derivatives
calculated at much larger time steps might introduce numerical errors, whereas derivatives
calculated using much smaller time steps might result in artifacts.
Let us define a standard white-noise random variable ( ) as a random variable with the
following properties:
(

(2.16)

( )
[ ( ) (

(2.17)
)]

( )

(2.18)

Thus, any arbitrary white-noise random variable ( ) can be expressed as a function of the
standard white-noise random variable ( ) as follows:

(2.19)

where is the expected value of

and

is the square root of the variance of .

The time derivatives of the standard white-noise random variable will have the following
properties (from Eq. 2.13 and 2.14):
(

( ))

(2.20)

( ))

(2.21)

2.2. Case II: Markovian random variables


A Markovian random variable refers to a random variable whose future values depend on the
present value, but not on any previous value. That is,

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

( )

( )

(2.22)

In other words, for a Markovian random variable the first derivative with respect to time is a
white-noise random variable with known constant expected value and variance. Therefore:
(

for

( )

(2.23)

Equation (2.22) is sometimes expressed as:


(

where ( )

( )

( )

(2.24)

( ).

The variance of the first derivative is simply:


( )

( )

(2.25)

For the second derivative:


(

Since ( )
( ( ) (

( )

( ( ) (

))]

(2.26)

( ) is a white-noise random variable, then


))

(2.27)

and
(

( )

(2.28)

In general, for higher order derivatives (


(

( ))

( )

):
)

( )

(2.29)

As it can be seen, it is possible to describe the behavior of the higher order derivatives as a
) is missing. From Eq. (2.24):
function of ( ). Only the behavior of (

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Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

( (

))

( (

( ( ))
))

( )

( ( ))

(2.30)
( )

( ( ) ( ))

(2.31)

Let us now consider that ( ) can be expressed as (from Eq. 2.19):

( )
where

( )

(2.32)

( ) is the standard white-noise random variable.

Then,
( ( ))

( ( ) ( ))

( ( )) ( ( ))

( ( ))

( ( )) ( ( ))
(2.33)

and
( (

))

( ( ))

( )

(2.34)

That means that both the expected value and the variance of the random variable change
linearly with time:
( ( ))

( ( ))

( ( ))

( )(

( ( ))

)
( )(

(2.35)
)

(2.36)

Furthermore, the variance of the random variable always increases with time, and such
increase depends on the time step considered. This is an important conclusion to be considered
when the system dynamics are solved using numerical methods. Of course, the smaller the
time step the calculation will be more precise, but the computation times will be longer.
It is also useful here to describe the Markovian random variable
Markovian random number
defined as:
( )

( )

in terms of a standard

(2.37)

with
(

( ))

( ))

(2.38)

Therefore,
(

( ))

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(2.39)

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Hugo Hernandez
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( ))

(2.40)

And given that Eq. (2.37) can be expressed as:


(

( )

( )

( ))

(2.41)

then
(

))
(

))

( ))

(2.42)

( ))

(2.43)

Thus,
( ))

( ))

(2.44)

Please notice that the standard Markovian random variable is not dimensionless (as the white
noise standard random variable). The standard Markovian random variable has units of time.
From this definition of the standard Markovian random variable, the Markovian random
variable can be expressed as:
( )

( )

( )

( )

(2.45)

Now, from Eq. (2.30), (2.34) and (2.45):


(
(

( )

)
)

(2.46)

In the limit of

( )

((

, Eq. (2.46) and Eq. (2.47) become:

(2.47)

(2.48)
)

(2.49)

or equivalently,
(

)
(

(2.50)

Differentiating Eq. (2.45) with time yields:

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(2.51)

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

Therefore, using Eq. (2.48) and (2.50)


(

Since

(
(

(2.52)

(Eq. 2.37), then


(2.53)

On the other hand, the variance of


(

calculated from Eq. (2.52) is:

) ((

( )

(2.54)

which is also consistent with the definition in Eq. 2.40, confirming the validity of this approach.

2.3. Case III: Non-Markovian random variables


A more general case of random variables is that of non-Markovian random variables. In this
case the future state of the random variables depends not only on the present state but also
on past states, that is, on higher time derivatives. In general, this can be expressed as:
( )

( )

( )

( )

)(

( )

which is just a Taylor series expansion of ( ) around , and

( )(

(2.55)

Derivating Eq. (2.55) with respect to time, results in:


( )

( )(

)
)

(2.56)

and in general,
( )(

( )(

( )(

(2.57)

For small values of the time step, Eq. (2.57) can be approximated by the following recurrence:
( )(

( )(

)(

(2.58)

From Eq. (2.58), the expected value and the variance of the
(

( )(

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))

( )(

))

)(

))

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-th derivative are:


(2.59)
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Hugo Hernandez
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( )(

))

( )(

))

)(

))

(2.60)

If it is assumed that at a certain derivative ( -th derivative) there is a white-noise behavior, then
the -th derivative can be expressed as:
(

( )

(2.61)

( )

Therefore, for higher derivatives:


(

( )

(2.62)

For the (
(

( )
(
)

( ))

)-th derivative (Markovian random variable) the behavior will be:


(

(2.63)

(2.64)

with
(

)
(

(2.65)
)

(2.66)

)-th derivative can be defined in terms of a standard non-Markovian random number


The (
with a Markovian first derivative ( ) as:
(

(2.67)

where
(

)
(

(2.68)
)

(2.69)

and by taking the derivative on (2.67) and equating to (2.64):


(

(2.70)

Therefore:
(

By taking the limit


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in Eq. (2.60) for

(2.71)

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Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

) )]

(2.72)

Then, from Eq. (2.64) and (2.67):


(

)
(

)]

(2.73)

and replacing in Eq. (2.72):


(

( [
)

Now, from Eq. (2.60) for


(

(
(

)]

(2.74)

, assuming that the initial state is known:

)
)

(2.75)

and replacing in (2.74):


(

(
(

)]
)

Calculating the expected value of


(

(2.76)

and using definition (2.68):

(2.77)

Finally, calculating the variance and using definition (2.69):


( [

)])

)
)

)]

))
)

(2.78)

Factorizing and rearranging the last expression:


( [

)]

(
(

)
)
)

) ((

)
)

(2.79)

Considering that if both terms in the equation are equal to zero, then the overall expression
will be zero, it is found that one possible solution to Eq. (2.79) is:
(

(2.80)

So, basically it is possible to assume that the behavior of

is identical to

, and therefore:
(2.81)

Generalizing these results, for any


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(

( )

( )

( )

(2.82)

This means that for a non-Markovian case, it is possible to use the standard Markovian random
variable the all derivatives (up to the (
)-th derivative), and the same procedure of the
Markovian case can be used.
Furthermore, given that
(

, it is possible to assume that:

(2.83)

and therefore, Eq (2.82) becomes:


(

( )

( )

( )

(2.84)

for
Thus, for practical purposes, a white noise random variable can be assumed for the lower
derivatives. This last approximation, however, is not recommended for the Markovian
derivative (
)-th derivative.

3. Application examples
3.1. Microwave electronic circuit
The first example considered is a microwave electronic circuit, commonly used in wireless
communication by computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices.[2] Microwaves
operate at frequencies normally between 300 MHz and 300 GHz,[3] which correspond to time
scales in the range of 510-13 to 510-10 s. As there is a trend to design smaller, more efficient
devices, it is necessary to reduce power consumption and operate in the nanoampere scale or
even below.[4] Under these conditions, the number of electrons passing through the circuit at
the relevant microwave frequency is very small, and therefore shot noise becomes relevant.
Shot noise is a Poisson-type noise that takes place in electric circuits as a consequence of the
discrete nature of electrons.[5] When the number of electrons passing per unit time is
significantly larger than one, shot noise, as any Poisson process, approaches the behavior of a
normal or Gaussian distribution. Shot noise current is, in fact, a white-noise random variable.
The expected value and the variance of shot noise current are:[5]
(

)
(

(3.1)
)

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(3.2)

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Hugo Hernandez
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where
is the charge of an individual electron, is the electric current
entering in the circuit, and is the characteristic time scale of the circuit, which in this case, is
the reciprocal of the characteristic microwave frequency.
Electronic circuits of this type usually contain chokes (Fig. 1), inductors used to block analog
current (AC) while allowing the passing of direct current (DC). Chokes are preferred over
resistors as they do not dissipate power, and therefore, do not heat the circuit. When the
current flow through the choke ( ) changes, a voltage ( ) is induced according to Faradays
law of induction:[6]
(3.3)
where is a property of the conductor material, called Inductance.

Figure 1. Graphical representation of an electronic choke


For the microwave circuit considered, the current flow is given by:
(3.4)
Therefore, the induced voltage will be:
(

(3.5)

The shot noise current can be expressed in function of the standard white noise variable ( )
as:
| |

(3.6)

Replacing Eq. (3.6) in Eq. (3.5) yields:

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
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hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

| |

| |

(3.7)

Thus, the expected value of the induced voltage is:


( )

(3.8)

and its variance is:


( )

| |

[ (

(3.9)

where
is the numerical time step considered. Although it is desirable to set
for
improved accuracy, computational limitations require the use of larger values for the time step.
If the input current were a constant (DC current), then:
( )

(3.10)
| |

( )

(3.11)

Actually, the input current is expected to be a sinusoidal wave (AC current) with the following
general expression:
( )

( (

(3.12)

In this case:
( )
( )

( (
|

( (

)
)|

(3.13)
( (

Considering a relatively small time step


( )

)|

( (

)] (3.14)

, then
| |

(3.15)

which is the same result as the one obtained in Eq. (3.11).

Equations (3.13) and (3.15) can be compared with simulation to test their validity. A dynamic
simulation (numerical solution) of the differential equation (3.3) is performed using Eulers
method with a time step
for a total time of
, and considering the
following parameters:
(
),
,
(
),
,
(20 turns of 30-gauge copper wire in a 0.5 cm diameter coil). The
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Hugo Hernandez
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results obtained are compared to the results of a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of algebraic
equations (3.13) and (3.15), and graphically summarized in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Dynamic simulation (upper plot) vs. Monte Carlo simulation (lower plot) of voltage
induced by a choke in a microwave circuit operating at 160 GHz for a 0.1 A, 60 Hz AC current.
Additional parameters:
,
,
.
By considering even lower currents, in the nanoampere range, the effect of shot noise is
increasingly significant. The results obtained for a 1 nA input current are presented in Figure 3,
for both the dynamic and the MC simulation. All other parameters are the same used in the
previous case. It is possible to observe that at this scale, the induction voltage of the input
current is less significant that the voltage induced by shot noise.
These results validate the approach described in Section 2.1 for representing the dynamics of
white-noise random variables using variance algebra.

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Hugo Hernandez
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Figure 3. Dynamic simulation (upper plot) vs. Monte Carlo simulation (lower plot) of voltage
induced by a choke in a microwave circuit operating at 160 GHz for a 1 nA, 60 Hz AC current.
Additional parameters:
,
,
.

3.2. Brownian motion


Let us now consider the motion of a microscopic spherical particle in a liquid. Such particle will
be subject to two main forces: A random force originating from the multiple collisions of the
particle with the molecules of the liquid, and a drag force originating from the viscous
resistance of the fluid. Thus, the corresponding equation of motion (Brownian motion) for the
particle is:[7]
(3.16)
where is the mass of the particle, is the velocity vector of the particle, is the viscosity of
the liquid, is the radius of the particle, and is the random force vector caused by molecular

motion, which is a white-noise random variable given by


with
, and
(

) , where

is Boltzmanns constant,

is the temperature

of the liquid, and is an interaction parameter from the Born repulsion potential.
For solving this problem, let us first consider the equations of motion for each Cartesian
direction:
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Hugo Hernandez
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hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

(3.17)

where the subscript indicates the direction (


decreased because for 3 dimensions:
.

). The variance of the random force is

The particle velocity in each direction can be expressed in terms of the standard Markovian
random variable
as:

(3.18)

Therefore, for the particle acceleration in each direction we have:

(3.19)

with an expected value of:


(

(3.20)

From which

(3.21)

That is, the velocity of the particle in each direction tends to an average value of zero for
, independently of its initial average value.
Obtaining the variance to Eq. (3.19) and rearranging:
(
For

(3.22)

, then:

(3.23)

Neglecting the rate of change in the standard deviation of the particle velocity:

(3.24)

Thus, replacing (3.21) and (3.24) in (3.18):


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Hugo Hernandez
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hugo.hernandez@forschem.org
(

)
(

(3.25)

Thus, for the particle velocity in each direction, the expected value is:
( )

(3.26)

and its variance:


( )

(3.27)

Now, from the definition of variance and using Eq. (3.26):


(

(3.28)

and considering that

(3.29)

then
(

The variance of
(

(3.30)

can be obtained after squaring Eq. (3.25):


(

(3.31)

Considering that the standard Markovian random variable behaves as a normal random
variable, then
(

,
(

(3.32)

and therefore:
(

(3.33)

After having described the velocity of the particle, let us now consider its position:

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(3.34)
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Hugo Hernandez
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where the integral can be approximated by a summation as:

The expected value of


( )

(3.35)

is then:
(

(3.36)

and its variance:


( )

) (

(3.37)

Thus, the particle position can be expressed in terms of the standard white noise random
variable as:

(3.38)

The magnitude of the distance traveled by the particle from its initial position is:

(3.39)

where

)
(

) [
(

) )

(3.40)

The expected value of (


((

) [

) is:

) (

(3.41)

and its variance:


((

) )

For a particle initially at rest at

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)
(

, and

(3.42)

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)
(

((

(
)

(3.43)

) )
((

)
)

(3.44)

(3.45)

)
(

) )

(3.46)

Let us consider a numerical example. A colloidal particle with a radius


, and a mass
is placed in water at
. At this temperature, water viscosity is
. The Born repulsion parameter is assumed to be
. Let us assume
that the particle is initially at rest. The velocity and position of the particle will be determined
for 10000 time steps (a period of almost 3 seconds), by dynamic simulation using Eq. (3.16) and
the results are compared to the expected values determined in Eq. (3.43) and (3.45). Figure 4
shows the comparison between the simulated and the expected value of the square velocity
of the particle predicted by variance algebra. In Figure 5, the same comparison is made for the
square displacement ( ) of the particle.
x 10

Square velocity of the particle v2 (m2/s2)

-3

Dynamic simulation
Expected value (predicted by variance algebra)

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

0.5

1.5
Time (s)

2.5

Figure 4. Comparison of the dynamic simulation (black) of the square velocity of a particle
during Brownian motion and the corresponding expected value predicted by variance algebra
(blue).
,
,
,
,
,
.

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org
x 10

Square displacement of the particle x2 (m2)

3.5

-7

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Dynamic simulation
Expected value (predicted by variance algebra)
0

0.5

1.5
Time (s)

2.5

Figure 5. Comparison of the dynamic simulation (black) of the square displacement of a particle
during Brownian motion and the corresponding expected value predicted by variance algebra
(blue).
,
,
,
,
,
.
Figures 6 and 7 show the comparative results when the particle is initially in motion, with a
velocity of 0.2 m/s in a random direction. In this case, the prediction is made with Eq. (3.33) and
(3.41). The simulation is run at a time step 100 times smaller and only for a period of 3 ms, in
order to observe in detail the relaxation of the particle.

Square velocity of the particle v2 (m2/s2)

0.045
Dynamic simulation
Expected value (predicted by variance algebra)

0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0

0.5

1.5
Time (s)

2.5

3
x 10

-3

Figure 6. Comparison of the dynamic simulation (black) of the square velocity of a particle
during Brownian motion and the corresponding expected value predicted by variance algebra
(blue).
,
,
,
,
,
.

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org
x 10

Square displacement of the particle x2 (m2)

-9

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
Dynamic simulation
Expected value (predicted by variance algebra)

0.5
0

0.5

1.5
Time (s)

2.5

3
x 10

-3

Figure 7. Comparison of the dynamic simulation (black) of the square displacement of a particle
during Brownian motion and the corresponding expected value predicted by variance algebra
(blue).
,
,
,
,
,
.
As it can be observed, both the initial relaxation and the long-range behavior of the motion of
the particle can be predicted by variance algebra. It is also important to notice that the
behavior predicted by Eq. (3.45), which is equivalent to the Einsteins equation,[8] is a relevant
result for understanding molecular diffusion and mass transfer.

3.3. Stirred tank


The last example considered is a stirred tank containing a pure liquid, as represented
schematically in Figure 8. This example illustrates how the white-noise standard random
variable can also be assumed to simplify complex dynamic situations. The dynamical model of
the liquid level ( ) is obtained from the conservation of mass:[9]
(

(3.47)

where is the mass of liquid in the tank, is the inlet volumetric flow of liquid,
of the tank, and is the density of the liquid.

is the radius

Because of environmental thermal fluctuations and the effect of stirring, the liquid density can
be considered as a white-noise random variable with expected value and variance .

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

Figure 8. Graphical representation of the stirred tank system


Additionally, let us consider the situation in which the liquid inlet flowrate also behaves as a
white-noise random variable with expected value and variance . Therefore
(

)(

(3.48)

Re-arranging:

(3.49)

The non-linearity in Eq. (3.49) can be transformed by a truncated power series expansion [1]
into:

( )(

( )

( )

(3.50)

Now, because of the fluctuation in density, the behavior of the level is not purely Markovian.
Let us assume that we can describe the liquid level as a function of the more general standard
white-noise random variable. Then:

)( )(

()

()

(3.51)

Taking the expected value operators:

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(3.52)

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

and the variance operator (neglecting the rate of change in the standard deviation of the liquid
level):
(

( ) (

() (

()

()

() )

(3.53)

() )

For validation purposes, let us consider a tank of 1 meter in diameter (


) and 1 meter

high. The tank is filled with water to an initial level of 20 centimeters (


). At time
, a valve is fully opened allowing a flowrate of water fluctuating around a constant
average value
, and with a standard deviation
. The liquid density
presents a value of
, with a relatively large standard deviation of
. Considering a sampling rate of 1 Hz (
(3.53), the dynamics of liquid level will be described by:

), then from Eq. (3.52) and

(3.54)

(3.55)

Figure 9 shows the comparison of the results obtained by dynamic simulation of Eq. (3.48) and
by MC simulation of Eq. (3.54) and (3.55) for a period of 5 minutes. For clarity, the residuals of
the level with respect to its expected value (noise) for both dynamic and MC simulation are
presented in Figure 10. In the absence of density fluctuations, the system would be better
described as a function of the standard Markovian random variable.

Figure 9. Simulation of the filling of a tank with water, considering fluctuations in the flowrate
and the liquid density, by dynamic simulation (blue) and Monte Carlo simulation (green).
,
,
,
,
,
,
,

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Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

Figure 10. Liquid level noise obtained by dynamic simulation (blue) and Monte Carlo simulation
(green) during the filling of a tank with water, considering fluctuations in the flowrate and the
liquid density.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
In the previous examples, it can be observed that in spite of the mathematical complexities
that can arise in a dynamic model, it is always possible to describe the fluctuation of all the
output variables with a simple stochastic model derived from variance algebra, as long as the
fluctuation in the input variables is known.

Acknowledgments
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public,
commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

References
[1] Hernandez, H. (2016). Modelling the effect of fluctuation in nonlinear systems using variance
algebra - Application to light scattering of ideal gases. ForsChem Research Reports 2016-1, 1-20.
doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36501.52969.
[2] Rohde, U. L., & Rudolph, M. (2013). RF/microwave circuit design for wireless applications.
John Wiley & Sons.
[3] Sorrentino, R., & Bianchi, G. (2010). Microwave and RF engineering (Vol. 1). John Wiley &
Sons.

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2016-2 (25 / 26)

Variance algebra applied to dynamical systems


Hugo Hernandez
ForsChem Research
hugo.hernandez@forschem.org

[4] Morimura, H., Oshima, S., Matsunaga, K., Shimamura, T., & Harada, M. (2014). Ultra-lowpower circuit techniques for mm-size wireless sensor nodes with energy harvesting. IEICE
Electronics Express, 11(20), 20142009.
[5] Engelberg, S. (2006). Random signals and noise: a mathematical introduction. CRC Press.
[6] Fujimoto, M. (2007). Physics of classical electromagnetism (Vol. 240). Springer Science &
Business Media.
[7] Langevin, P. (1908). Sur la thorie du mouvement brownien. CR Acad. Sci. Paris, 146(530533), 530.
[8] Einstein, A. (1905). ber die von der moleklarkinetischen Theorie der Wrme gefrderte
Bewegung von in ruhenden Flssigkeiten suspendierten Teilchen. Annalen der Physik und
Chemie, 17, 549-560.
[9] Ghasem, N., & Henda, R. (2014). Principles of Chemical Engineering Processes: Material and
Energy Balances. CRC Press.

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