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The method of Fractional Borel Summation is suggested in conjunction with self-similar factor approximants. The method used for extrapolating asymptotic expansions at small variables to large variables, including the variables tending to infinity, is described. The method is based on the combination of optimized perturbation theory, self-similar approximation theory, and Borel-type transformations. General Borel Fractional transformation of the original series is employed. The transformed series is resummed in order to adhere to the asymptotic power laws. The starting point is the formulation of dynamics in the approximations space by employing the notion of self-similarity. The flow in the approximation space is controlled, and ``deep'' control is incorporated into the definitions of the self-similar approximants. The class of self-similar approximations, satisfying, by design, the power law behavior, such as the use of self-similar factor approximants, is chosen for the reasons of transparency, explicitness, and convenience. A detailed comparison of different methods is performed on a rather large set of examples, employing self-similar factor approximants, self-similar iterated root approximants, as well as the approximation technique of self-similarly modified Pade - Borel approximations., Comment: 39 pages, 10 tables

Methods of determining, from small-variable asymptotic expansions, the characteristic exponents for variables tending to infinity are analyzed. The following methods are considered: diff-log Pad\'e summation, self-similar factor approximation, self-similar diff-log summation, self-similar Borel summation, and self-similar Borel-Leroy summation. Several typical problems are treated. The comparison of the results shows that all these methods provide close estimates for the large-variable exponents. The reliable estimates are obtained when different methods of summation are compatible with each other., Comment: Latex file, 19 pages

We consider the problem of finding approximate analytical solutions for nonlinear equations typical of physics applications. The emphasis is on the modification of the method of Pad\'e approximants that are known to provide the best approximation for the class of rational functions, but do not provide sufficient accuracy or cannot be applied at all for those nonlinear problems, whose solutions exhibit behaviour characterized by irrational functions. In order to improve the accuracy, we suggest a method of self-similarly corrected Pad\'e approximants, taking into account irrational functional behaviour. The idea of the method is in representing the sought solution as a product of two factors, one of which is given by a self-similar root approximant, responsible for irrational functional behaviour, and the other being a Pad\'e approximant corresponding to a rational function. The efficiency of the method is illustrated by constructing very accurate solutions for nonlinear differential equations. A thorough investigation is given proving that the suggested method is more accurate than the method of standard Pad\'e approximants., Comment: Latex file, 23 pages, 1 figure

The method of self-similar root approximants has earlier been shown to provide accurate interpolating formulas for functions for which small-variable expansions are given and the behaviour of the functions at large variables is known. Now this method is generalized for the purpose of extrapolating small-variable expansions to the region of finite and large variables, where the sought function exhibits critical behaviour. The procedure of calculating critical indices is formulated and illustrated by a variety of physical problems.

A novel type of approximants is introduced, being based on the ideas of self-similar approximation theory. The method is illustrated by the examples possessing the structure typical of many problems in applied mathematics. Good numerical convergence is demonstrated for the cases that can be compared with exact solutions, when these are available. The method is shown to be not less and as a rule essentially more accurate than that of Pade approximants. Comparison with other approximation methods is also given., Comment: Latex file, 15 pages

A method is suggested for interpolating between small-variable and large-variable asymptotic expansions. The method is based on self-similar approximation theory resulting in self-similar root approximants. The latter are more general than the two-sided Pade approximants and modified Pade approximants, including these as particular cases. Being more general, the self-similar root approximants guarantee the accuracy that is not worse, and often better, than that of the Pade approximants. The advantage of the root approximants is in their unambiguous definition and in the possibility of their construction, even when Pade approximants cannot be defined. Conditions for the unique definition of the root approximants are formulated. Several examples from high-energy physics illustrate the method., Comment: latex file, 18 pages

We describe a simple analytical method for effective summation of series, including divergent series. The method is based on self-similar approximation theory resulting in self-similar root approximants. The method is shown to be general and applicable to different problems, as is illustrated by a number of examples. The accuracy of the method is not worse, and in many cases better, than that of Pade approximants, when the latter can be defined., Comment: Latex file, 18 pages

The problem of extrapolating asymptotic perturbation-theory expansions in powers of a small variable to large values of the variable tending to infinity is investigated. The analysis is based on self-similar approximation theory. Several types of self-similar approximants are considered and their use in different problems of applied mathematics is illustrated. Self-similar approximants are shown to constitute a powerful tool for extrapolating asymptotic expansions of different natures., Comment: Latex file, 35 pages

A novel method of summing asymptotic series is advanced. Such series repeatedly arise when employing perturbation theory in powers of a small parameter for complicated problems of condensed matter physics, statistical physics, and various applied problems. The method is based on the self-similar approximation theory involving self-similar root approximants. The constructed self-similar continued roots extrapolate asymptotic series to finite values of the expansion parameter. The self-similar continued roots contain, as a particular case, continued fractions and Pad\'{e} approximants. A theorem on the convergence of the self-similar continued roots is proved. The method is illustrated by several examples from condensed-matter physics., Comment: Latex file, 13 pages

The problem is addressed of defining the values of functions, whose variables tend to infinity, from the knowledge of these functions at asymptotically small variables close to zero. For this purpose, the extrapolation by means of different types of self-similar approximants is employed. Two new variants of such an extrapolation are suggested. The methods are illustrated by several examples of systems typical of chemical physics, statistical physics, and quantum physics. The developed methods make it possible to find good approximations for the strong-coupling limits from the knowledge of the weak-coupling expansions., Comment: latex file, 28 pages

The problem of extrapolation and interpolation of asymptotic series is considered. Several new variants of improving the accuracy of the self-similar approximants are suggested. The methods are illustrated by examples typical of chemical physics, when one is interested in finding the equation of state for a strongly interacting system. A special attention is payed to the study of the basic properties of fluctuating fluid membranes. It is shown that these properties can be well described by means of the method of self-similar approximants. For this purpose, the method has been generalized in order to give accurate predictions at infinity for a function, whose behavior is known only at the region of its variable close to zero. The obtained results for fluctuating fluid membranes are in good agreement with the known numerical data., Comment: Latex file, 26 pages

The problem is analyzed of extrapolating power series, derived for an asymptotically small variable, to the region of finite values of this variable. The consideration is based on the self-similar approximation theory. A new method is suggested for defining the odd self-similar factor approximants by employing an optimization procedure. The method is illustrated by several examples having the mathematical structure typical of the problems in statistical and chemical physics. It is shown that the suggested method provides a good accuracy even when the number of terms in the perturbative power series is small., Comment: Latex file, 16 pages

The method of self-similar factor approximants is shown to be very convenient for solving different evolution equations and boundary-value problems typical of physical applications. The method is general and simple, being a straightforward two-step procedure. First, the solution to an equation is represented as an asymptotic series in powers of a variable. Second, the series are summed by means of the self-similar factor approximants. The obtained expressions provide highly accurate approximate solutions to the considered equations. In some cases, it is even possible to reconstruct exact solutions for the whole region of variables, starting from asymptotic series for small variables. This can become possible even when the solution is a transcendental function. The method is shown to be more simple and accurate than different variants of perturbation theory with respect to small parameters, being applicable even when these parameters are large. The generality and accuracy of the method are illustrated by a number of evolution equations as well as boundary value problems., Comment: Latex file, 27 pages, 2 figures, 5 tables

A method is suggested allowing for the improvement of accuracy of self-similar factor and root approximants, constructed from asymptotic series. The method is based on performing a power transform of the given asymptotic series, with the power of this transformation being a control function. The latter is defined by a fixed-point condition, which improves the convergence of the sequence of the resulting approximants. The method makes it possible to extrapolate the behaviour of a function, given as an expansion over a small variable, to the region of the large values of this variable. Several examples illustrate the effectiveness of the method., Comment: Latex file, 10 pages, no figures

The problem of extrapolating the series in powers of small variables to the region of large variables is addressed. Such a problem is typical of quantum theory and statistical physics. A method of extrapolation is developed based on self-similar factor and root approximants, suggested earlier by the authors. It is shown that these approximants and their combinations can effectively extrapolate power series to the region of large variables, even up to infinity. Several examples from quantum and statistical mechanics are analysed, illustrating the approach., Comment: 21 pages, Latex file

In a previous work [Helmstetter, 2003], we have proposed a simple physical model to explain the accelerating displacements preceding some catastrophic landslides, based on a slider-block model with a state and velocity dependent friction law. This model predicts two regimes of sliding, stable and unstable leading to a critical finite-time singularity. This model was calibrated quantitatively to the displacement and velocity data preceding two landslides, Vaiont (Italian Alps) and La Clapi\`ere (French Alps), showing that the former (resp. later) landslide is in the unstable (resp. stable) sliding regime. Here, we test the predictive skills of the state-and-velocity-dependent model on these two landslides, using a variety of techniques. For the Vaiont landslide, our model provides good predictions of the critical time of failure up to 20 days before the collapse. Tests are also presented on the predictability of the time of the change of regime for la Clapi\`ere landslide., Comment: 30 pages with 12 eps figures

A novel method of summation for power series is developed. The method is based on the self-similar approximation theory. The trick employed is in transforming, first, a series expansion into a product expansion and in applying the self-similar renormalization to the latter rather to the former. This results in self-similar factor approximants extrapolating the sought functions from the region of asymptotically small variables to their whole domains. The method of constructing crossover formulas, interpolating between small and large values of variables is also analysed. The techniques are illustrated on different series which are typical of problems in statistical mechanics, condensed-matter physics, and, generally, in many-body theory., Comment: 30 pages + 5 ps figures, some misprints have been corrected

We use a mathematical technique, the self-similar functional renormalization, to construct formulas for the average conductivity that apply for large heterogeneity, based on perturbative expansions in powers of a small parameter, usually the log-variance $\sigma_Y^2$ of the local conductivity. Using perturbation expansions up to third order and fourth order in $\sigma_Y^2$ obtained from the moment equation approach, we construct the general functional dependence of the transport variables in the regime where $\sigma_Y^2$ is of order 1 and larger than 1. Comparison with available numerical simulations give encouraging results and show that the proposed method provides significant improvements over available expansions., Comment: Latex, 14 pages + 5 ps figures

The problem of reconstructing functions from their asymptotic expansions in powers of a small variable is addressed by deriving a novel type of approximants. The derivation is based on the self-similar approximation theory, which presents the passage from one approximant to another as the motion realized by a dynamical system with the property of group self-similarity. The derived approximants, because of their form, are named the self-similar factor approximants. These complement the obtained earlier self-similar exponential approximants and self-similar root approximants. The specific feature of the self-similar factor approximants is that their control functions, providing convergence of the computational algorithm, are completely defined from the accuracy-through-order conditions. These approximants contain the Pade approximants as a particular case, and in some limit they can be reduced to the self-similar exponential approximants previously introduced by two of us. It is proved that the self-similar factor approximants are able to reproduce exactly a wide class of functions which include a variety of transcendental functions. For other functions, not pertaining to this exactly reproducible class, the factor approximants provide very accurate approximations, whose accuracy surpasses significantly that of the most accurate Pade approximants. This is illustrated by a number of examples showing the generality and accuracy of the factor approximants even when conventional techniques meet serious difficulties., Comment: 22 pages + 11 ps figures

Accelerating displacements preceding some catastrophic landslides have been found empirically to follow a time-to-failure power law, corresponding to a finite-time singularity of the velocity $v \sim 1/(t_c-t)$ [{\it Voight}, 1988]. Here, we provide a physical basis for this phenomenological law based on a slider-block model using a state and velocity dependent friction law established in the laboratory and used to model earthquake friction. This physical model accounts for and generalizes Voight's observation: depending on the ratio $B/A$ of two parameters of the rate and state friction law and on the initial frictional state of the sliding surfaces characterized by a reduced parameter $x_i$, four possible regimes are found. Two regimes can account for an acceleration of the displacement. We use the slider-block friction model to analyze quantitatively the displacement and velocity data preceding two landslides, Vaiont and La Clapi\`ere. The Vaiont landslide was the catastrophic culmination of an accelerated slope velocity. La Clapi\`ere landslide was characterized by a peak of slope acceleration that followed decades of ongoing accelerating displacements, succeeded by a restabilizing phase. Our inversion of the slider-block model on these data sets shows good fits and suggest to classify the Vaiont (respectively La Clapi\`ere) landslide as belonging to the velocity weakening unstable (respectively strengthening stable) sliding regime., Comment: shortened by focusing of the frictional model, Latex document with AGU style file of 14 pages + 11 figures (1 jpeg photo of figure 6 given separately) + 1 table

We apply the technique of self-similar exponential approximants based on successive truncations of continued exponentials to reconstruct functional laws of the quasi-exponential class from the knowledge of only a few terms of their power series. Comparison with the standard Pad\'e approximants shows that, in general, the self-similar exponential approximants provide significantly better reconstructions., Comment: Revtex file, 21 pages, 21 figures

Log-periodic oscillations have been found to decorate the usual power law behavior found to describe the approach to a critical point, when the continuous scale-invariance symmetry is partially broken into a discrete-scale invariance (DSI) symmetry. We classify the `Weierstrass-type'' solutions of the renormalization group equation F(x)= g(x)+(1/m)F(g x) into two classes characterized by the amplitudes A(n) of the power law series expansion. These two classes are separated by a novel ``critical'' point. Growth processes (DLA), rupture, earthquake and financial crashes seem to be characterized by oscillatory or bounded regular microscopic functions g(x) that lead to a slow power law decay of A(n), giving strong log-periodic amplitudes. In contrast, the regular function g(x) of statistical physics models with ``ferromagnetic''-type interactions at equibrium involves unbound logarithms of polynomials of the control variable that lead to a fast exponential decay of A(n) giving weak log-periodic amplitudes and smoothed observables. These two classes of behavior can be traced back to the existence or abscence of ``antiferromagnetic'' or ``dipolar''-type interactions which, when present, make the Green functions non-monotonous oscillatory and favor spatial modulated patterns., Comment: Latex document of 29 pages + 20 ps figures, addition of a new demonstration of the source of strong log-periodicity and of a justification of the general offered classification, update of reference list

We develop theoretical formulas for the prediction of the rupture of systems which are known to exhibit a critical behavior, based solely on the knowledge of the early time evolution of an observable, such as the acoustic emission rate as a function of time or of stress. From the parameterization of such early time evolution in terms of a low-order polynomial, we use the functional renormalization approach introduced by Yukalov and Gluzman to transform this polynomial into a function which is asymptotically a power law. The value of the critical time tc,conditioned on the assumption that tc exists, is thus determined from the knowledge of the coefficients of the polynomials. We test with success this prediction scheme with respect to the order of the polynomials and as a function of noise., Comment: Latex 14 pages + 7 eps figures, submitted to the special issue of Computational Seismology dedicated to the 80-anniversary of Prof. Vladimir I. Keilis-Borok

We analyze a self-consistent theory of crack growth controlled by a cumulative damage variable d(t) dependent on stress history. As a function of the damage exponent $m$, which controls the rate of damage dd/dt \propto sigma^m as a function of local stress $\sigma$, we find two regimes. For 0 < m < 2, the model predicts a finite-time singularity. This retrieves previous results by Zobnin for m=1 and by Bradley and Wu for 0 < m < 2. To improve on this self-consistent theory which neglects the dependence of stress on damage, we apply the functional renormalization method of Yukalov and Gluzman and find that divergences are replaced by singularities with exponents in agreement with those found in acoustic emission experiments. For m =2 and m > 2, the rupture dynamics is not defined without the introduction of a regularizing scheme. We investigate three regularization schemes involving respectively a saturation of damage, a minimum distance of approach to the crack tip and a fixed stress maximum. In the first and third schemes, the finite-time singularity is replaced by a crack dynamics defined for all times but which is controlled by either the existence of a microscopic scale at which the stress is regularized or by the maximum sustainable stress. In the second scheme, a finite-time singularity is again found. In the first two schemes within this regime m > 2, the theory has no continuous limit., Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, two references and relation with earlier work added

An analytical method is advanced for constructing interpolation formulae for complicated problems of statistical mechanics, in which just a few terms of asymptotic expansions are available. The method is based on the self-similar approximation theory, being its variant where control functions are defined from asymptotic crossover conditions. Several examples from statistical physics demonstrate that the suggested method results in rather simple and surprisingly accurate formulae., Comment: 1 file, 23 pages, LaTex

Starting from the characterization of the past time evolution of market prices in terms of two fundamental indicators, price velocity and price acceleration, we construct a general classification of the possible patterns characterizing the deviation or defects from the random walk market state and its time-translational invariant properties. The classification relies on two dimensionless parameters, the Froude number characterizing the relative strength of the acceleration with respect to the velocity and the time horizon forecast dimensionalized to the training period. Trend-following and contrarian patterns are found to coexist and depend on the dimensionless time horizon. The classification is based on the symmetry requirements of invariance with respect to change of price units and of functional scale-invariance in the space of scenarii. This ``renormalized scenario'' approach is fundamentally probabilistic in nature and exemplifies the view that multiple competing scenarii have to be taken into account for the same past history. Empirical tests are performed on on about nine to thirty years of daily returns of twelve data sets comprising some major indices (Dow Jones, SP500, Nasdaq, DAX, FTSE, Nikkei), some major bonds (JGB, TYX) and some major currencies against the US dollar (GBP, CHF, DEM, JPY). Our ``renormalized scenario'' exhibits statistically significant predictive power in essentially all market phases. In constrast, a trend following strategy and trend + acceleration following strategy perform well only on different and specific market phases. The value of the ``renormalized scenario'' approach lies in the fact that it always finds the best of the two, based on a calculation of the stability of their predicted market trajectories., Comment: Latex, 27 pages

The self-similar analysis of time series is generalized by introducing the notion of scenario probabilities. This makes it possible to give a complete statistical description for the forecast spectrum by defining the average forecast as a weighted fixed point and by calculating the corresponding a priori standard deviation and variance coefficient. Several examples of stock-market time series illustrate the method., Comment: two additional references are included

Sharp changes in time series representing market dynamics are studied by means of the self--similar analysis suggested earlier by the authors. These sharp changes are market booms and crashes. Such crises phenomena in markets are analogous to critical phenomena in physics. A simple classification of the market crisis phenomena is given., Comment: 1 file, 10 pages, RevTex

A general analytical method is developed for describing crossover phenomena of arbitrary nature. The method is based on the algebraic self-similar renormalization of asymptotic series, with control functions defined by crossover conditions. The method can be employed for such difficult problems for which only a few terms of asymptotic expansions are available, and no other techniques are applicable. As an illustration, analytical solutions for several important physical problems are presented., Comment: 1 file, 19 pages, RevTex

An approach is suggested defining effective sums of divergent series in the form of self-similar exponential approximants. The procedure of constructing these approximants from divergent series with arbitrary noninteger powers is developed. The basis of this construction is the self-similar approximation theory. Control functions governing the convergence of exponentially renormalized series are defined from stability and fixed-point conditions and from additional asymptotic conditions when the latter are available. The stability of the calculational procedure is checked by analyzing cascade multipliers. A number of physical examples for different statistical systems illustrate the generality and high accuracy of the approach., Comment: 1 file, 37 pages, RevTex, 1 table

An approach is developed for constructing simple analytical formulae accurately approximating solutions to eigenvalue problems of quantum mechanics. This approach is based on self-similar approximation theory. In order to derive interpolation formulae valid in the whole range of parameters of considered physical quantities, the self-similar renormalization procedure is complimented here by boundary conditions which define control functions guaranteeing correct asymptotic behaviour in the vicinity of boundary points. To emphasize the generality of the approach, it is illustrated by different problems that are typical for quantum mechanics, such as anharmonic oscillators, double-well potentials, and quasiresonance models with quasistationary states. In addition, the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation is considered, for which both eigenvalues and wave functions are constructed., Comment: 1 file, 30 pages, RevTex, no figures

Two possible definitions of fixed points in the self-similar analysis of time series are considered. One definition is based on the minimal-difference condition and another, on a simple averaging. From studying stock market time series, one may conclude that these two definitions are practically equivalent. A forecast is made for the stock market indices for the end of March 1998., Comment: 1 file, 6 pages, LaTex

The self-similar analysis of time series, suggested earlier by the authors, is applied to the description of market crises. The main attention is payed to the October 1929, 1987 and 1997 stock market crises, which can be successfully treated by the suggested approach. The analogy between market crashes and critical phenomena is emphasized., Comment: Corrections are made to match the published version

An approach is suggested for analyzing time series by means of resummation techniques of theoretical physics. A particular form of such an analysis, based on the algebraic self-similar renormalization, is developed and illustrated by several examples from the stock market time series., Comment: Corrections are made to match the published version

A variant of self-similar approximation theory is suggested, permitting an easy and accurate summation of divergent series consisting of only a few terms. The method is based on a power-law algebraic transformation, whose powers play the role of control functions governing the fastest convergence of the renormalized series. A striking relation between the theory of critical phenomena and optimal control theory is discovered: The critical indices are found to be directly related to limits of control functions at critical points. The method is applied to calculating the critical indices for several difficult problems. The results are in very good agreement with accurate numerical data., Comment: 1 file, 5 pages, RevTex

A method is developed for calculating effective sums of divergent series. This approach is a variant of the self-similar approximation theory. The novelty here is in using an algebraic transformation with a power providing the maximal stability of the self-similar renormalization procedure. The latter is to be repeated as many times as it is necessary in order to convert into closed self-similar expressions all sums from the series considered. This multiple and complete renormalization is called self-similar bootstrap. The method is illustrated by several examples from statistical physics., Comment: 1 file, 22 pages, RevTex

We consider the method of self-similar renormalization for calculating critical temperatures and critical indices. A new optimized variant of the method for an effective summation of asymptotic series is suggested and illustrated by several different examples. The advantage of the method is in combining simplicity with high accuracy., Comment: 1 file, 44 pages, RevTex