The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) is known for its capability and universality in solving combinatorial optimization problems on near-term quantum devices. The results yielded by QAOA depend strongly on its initial variational parameters. Hence, parameter selection for QAOA becomes an active area of research, as bad initialization might deteriorate the quality of the results, especially at great circuit depths. We first discuss the patterns of optimal parameters in QAOA in two directions: the angle index and the circuit depth. Then, we discuss the symmetries and periodicity of the expectation that is used to determine the bounds of the search space. Based on the patterns in optimal parameters and the bounds restriction, we propose a strategy that predicts the new initial parameters by taking the difference between the previous optimal parameters. Unlike most other strategies, the strategy we propose does not require multiple trials to ensure success. It only requires one prediction when progressing to the next depth. We compare this strategy with our previously proposed strategy and the layerwise strategy for solving the Max-cut problem in terms of the approximation ratio and the optimization cost. We also address the non-optimality in previous parameters, which is seldom discussed in other works despite its importance in explaining the behavior of variational quantum algorithms.

Motion capture data are widely used in different research fields such as medical, entertainment, and industry. However, most motion researches using motion capture data are carried out in the time-domain. To understand human motion complexities, it is necessary to analyze motion data in the frequency-domain. In this paper, to analyze human motions, we present a framework to transform motions into the instantaneous frequency-domain using the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT). The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) that is a part of HHT decomposes nonstationary and nonlinear signals captured from the real-world experiments into pseudo monochromatic signals, so-called intrinsic mode function (IMF). Our research reveals that the multivariate EMD can decompose complicated human motions into a finite number of nonlinear modes (IMFs) corresponding to distinct motion primitives. Analyzing these decomposed motions in Hilbert spectrum, motion characteristics can be extracted and visualized in instantaneous frequency-domain. For example, we apply our framework to (1) a jump motion, (2) a foot-injured gait, and (3) a golf swing motion.

In 1975 one of the coauthors, Ikebe, showed that the problem of computing the zeros of the regular Coulomb wave functions and their derivatives may be reformulated as the eigenvalue problem for infinite matrices. Approximation by truncation is justified but no error estimates are given there. The class of eigenvalue problems studied there turns out to be subsumed in a more general problem studied by Ikebe et al. in 1993, where an extremely accurate asymptotic error estimate is shown. In this paper, we apply this error formula to the former case to obtain error formulas in a closed, explicit form.

The change of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) direction from northward to duskward has an important impact on the inner magnetosphere. This impact is analyzed with the help of a new parallel version of the global three‐dimensional full particle simulation code. For northward IMF, bands of weak magnetic field (sash) form poleward of the cusp at high latitudes in each hemisphere. These sashes move to the equator (within opposite quadrants) as the IMF rotates duskward and merge into one another to form the characteristic “Crosstail‐S” within the neutral sheet of the magnetotail. These macroscopic magnetic patterns (sashes and Crosstail‐S) evidenced herein are in a good agreement with results of previous 3D MHD simulations and experimental observations. Moreover, the analysis of particle fluxes shows that “sashes” and “Crosstail‐S” act as magnetic groove to facilitate the entry and injection of magnetosheath particles into the inner magnetosphere. Injected particles are accelerated after the IMF changes its direction from northward to duskward.