Orbit duality for flag manifolds

 A geometric proof of Matsuki duality for orbits on real and complex flag mani- folds is given. This is achieved by analyzing the gradient flow of the norm-squared of a moment map. Received: 19 April 2002 / Revised version: 12 July 2002 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 22F30; Secondary 14M15, 22E46, 32M10, 53C55     

A notion of rank in set theory without choice

 Starting from the definition of `amorphous set' in set theory without the axiom of choice, we propose a notion of rank (which will only make sense for, at most, the class of Dedekind finite sets), which is intended to be an analogue in this situation of Morley rank in model theory. Received: 22 September 2000 / Revised version: 14 May 2002 Published online: 19 December 2002 The research of the first author was supported by the SERC. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 03E25 Key words or phrases: Rank – Degree – Amorphous     

On the structure of rotation-invariant semigroups

 We generalize the notions of Girard algebras and MV-algebras by introducing rotation-invariant semigroups. Based on a geometrical characterization, we present five construction methods which result in rotation-invariant semigroups and in particular, Girard algebras and MV-algebras. We characterize divisibility of MV-algebras, and point out that integrality of Girard algebras follows from their other axioms. Received: 7 January 2002 / Revised version: 4 April 2002 / Published online: 19 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Supported by the National Scientific Research Fund Hungary (OTKA F/032782). Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 20M14, 06F05 Key words or phrases: Residuated lattice – Conjunction for non-classical logics     

Multifractal products of cylindrical pulses

 New multiplicative and statistically self-similar measures μ are defined on ℝ as limits of measure-valued martingales. Those martingales are constructed by multiplying random functions attached to the points of a statistically self-similar Poisson point process defined in a strip of the plane. Several fundamental problems are solved, including the non-degeneracy and the multifractal analysis of μ. On a bounded interval, the positive and negative moments of diverge under broad conditions. First received: 14 September 1999 / Resubmited: 27 June 2001 / Revised version: 30 May 2002 / Published online: 30 September 2002 Mathematics Subject Classification (2002): 28A80, 60G18, 60G44, 60G55, 60G57 Key words or phrases: Random measures – Multifractal analysis – Continuous time martingales – Statistically self-similar Poisson point processes     

Some stable vector bundles with reducible theta divisor

 Let C be a curve of genus g and L a line bundle of degree 2g on C. Let M_L be the kernel of the evaluation map . We show that when L is general enough, the rank g bundle M_L and its exterior powers are stable, but admit a reducible theta divisor. Received: 16 September 2002 / Revised version: 29 October 2002 Published online: 14 February 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14H60     

Exemples de Lattès et domaines faiblement sphériques de ℂ<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Superscript>

 We describe the attracting basins of the origin in ℂ ^k+1 for the polynomial lifts of Lattès examples. We show that the boundary of these bounded pseudoconvex domains is a quotient of a compact spherical hypersurface, and we describe the singularities that appear. These domains are surprising, because they are very close to the ball, and admit non injective proper holomorphic self-maps. We also explicit some Lattès examples in dimension 2. Received: 17 October 2002 / Revised version: 7 February 2003 Published online: 19 May 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14K25, 32S25, 32T99, 32H50     

The contact boundary of a complex polynomial

 We define the contact boundary of a complex polynomial f : ℂ ⁿ → ℂ as the intersection of some generic fiber with a large sphere. We show that, up to contact isotopy, this does not depend on the choice of the fiber (provided it is generic) and is invariant under polynomial automorphism of ℂ ⁿ . We next prove that the formal homotopy class of this contact boundary is invariant in a large family of deformations of polynomials, which are not necessarily topologically trivial. Received: 15 November 2002 Published online: 20 March 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 32S55, 53D15, 32S50     

Existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for an elliptic equation on ℝ<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis></Superscript> with indefinite linear part

 Via the Linking Theorem and Pseudo-index theory, we consider the existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for a class of elliptic problems in all of ℝ ^N with indefinite linear part involving resonance and non-resonance at any eigenvalue. Received: 9 September 2002 / Revised version: 14 February 2003 Published online: 24 April 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 35J20, 35J70     

On the Malgrange condition for complex polynomials of two variables

 We show that if P  ℂ[X, Y] is nonconstant, the set K _∞ (P) of points where the Malgrange condition fails to hold coincides with the roots of a constructible polynomial in one variable. This strengthens weaker related results in the literature. The proof given here is purely analytical and bypasses the algebraic and topological arguments involved in other approaches. Applications to both the real and complex Jacobian Conjectures and to the reducibility of P-z are discussed. Received: 11 October 2001 / Revised version: 2 April 2002 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 12D05, 14D06, 14R15, 32B10     

Lifting of morphisms to quotient presentations

 In this article we investigate algebraic morphisms between toric varieties. Given presentations of toric varieties as quotients we are interested in the question when a morphism admits a lifting to these quotient presentations. We show that this can be completely answered in terms of invariant divisors. As an application we prove that two toric varieties, which are isomorphic as abstract algebraic varieties, are even isomorphic as toric varieties. This generalizes a well-known result of Demushkin on affine toric varieties. Received: 11 March 2002 / Revised: 14 June 2002 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14M25, 14L30     

Local moduli spaces and Kuranishi maps

 We explain, in a non technical way, several general methods for constructing semi-universal deformations, especially by Kuranshi maps. Moreover, we give (standard) criteria of universality and smoothness of the semi-universal deformation, discuss the existence of operations on the base germ and describe intrinsically the Massey products. Received: 27 November 2001 / Revised version: 23 September 2002 Published online: 24 January 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 32 G 13, 14 A 22, 14 B 12, 22 E 65     

On the Oka principle in a Banach space,I

 Let X be a complex Banach space with a countable unconditional basis, Ω⊂X pseudoconvex open, G a complex Banach Lie group. We show that a Runge–type approximation hypothesis on X, G (which we also prove for G a solvable Lie group) implies that any holomorphic cocycle on Ω with values in G can be resolved holomorphically if it can be resolved continuously. Received: 1 March 2002 / Published online: 28 March 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 32L05, 32E30, 46G20 RID="*" ID="*" Kedves Szímuskának. RID="*" ID="*" To my dear Wife.     

Triangulated functors,homological functors,tilts, and lifts

 Let T be a triangulated category and let X be an object of T. This paper studies the questions: Does there exist a triangulated functor G : D(ℤ)  T with G(ℤ)≌X? Does there exist a triangulated functor H : T  D(ℤ) with h⁰ ⊚ H ⋍ Hom_T (X, −)? To what extent are G and H unique? One spin off is a proof that the homotopy category of spectra is not the stable category of any Frobenius category with set indexed coproducts. Received: 8 March 2002 / Revised version: 18 October 2002 Published online: 14 February 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 18E30, 55U35     

Local flat duality of abelian varieties

 Let K be a field complete for a discrete valuation and with algebraically closed residue field of positive characteristic p. We prove the existence of a non-degenerate pairing between the first (flat) cohomology group of an abelian variety A _K over K and the fundamental group of the Néron model of the dual abelian variety. This pairing extends to the p-primary components a pairing introduced by Shafarevich in [16]. We relate this pairing with Grothendieck's pairing. Received: 7 January 2002 / Revised version: 6 December 2002 Published online: 24 April 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14k05, 14F20, 14G22     

Indecomposable cycles on special quartics in ℙ<Superscript>3</Superscript>

 In this note we give an example of an indecomposable higher Chow cycle on a special family of quartics in ℙ³. The example is obtained as an extension of a cycle in the higher Chow group CH ² (K,1) of a singular Kummer surface. Received: 19 June 2002 / Revised version: 17 October 2002 Published online: 24 April 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14C15, 14C25, 14H10, 14H28, 14F42     

On projective curves of maximal regularity

 Let 𝒞⊆ℙ ^r _K be a non-degenerate projective curve of degree d>r+1 of maximal regularity so that 𝒞 has an extremal secant line . We show that 𝒞∪ is arithmetically Cohen Macaulay if d<2r−1 and we study the Betti numbers and the Hartshorne-Rao module of the curve 𝒞. Received: 27 March 2002; in final form: 24 May 2002 / Published online: 1 April 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (1991): 14H45, 13D02. The second author was partially supported by Swiss National Science Foundation (Projects No. 20-52762.97 and 20-59237.99).     

Decomposition of test sets in stochastic integer programming

 We study Graver test sets for linear two-stage stochastic integer programs and show that test sets can be decomposed into finitely many building blocks whose number is independent on the number of scenarios of the stochastic program. We present a finite algorithm to compute the building blocks directly, without prior knowledge of test set vectors. Once computed, building blocks can be employed to solve the stochastic program by a simple augmentation scheme, again without explicit knowledge of test set vectors. Finally, we report preliminary computational experience. Received: March 14, 2002 / Accepted: March 27, 2002 Published online: September 27, 2002 Key words. test sets – stochastic integer programming – decomposition methods Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 90C15, 90C10, 13P10     

Weak convergence to fractional Brownian motion in Brownian scenery

 Kesten and Spitzer have shown that certain random walks in random sceneries converge to stable processes in random sceneries. In this paper, we consider certain random walks in sceneries defined using stationary Gaussian sequence, and show their convergence towards a certain self-similar process that we call fractional Brownian motion in Brownian scenery. Received: 17 April 2002 / Revised version: 11 October 2002 / Published online: 15 April 2003 Research supported by NSFC (10131040). Mathematics Subject Classification (2002): 60J55, 60J15, 60J65 Key words or phrases: Weak convergence – Random walk in random scenery – Local time – Fractional Brownian motion in Brownian scenery     

Universal abelian covers of quotient-cusps

 The quotient-cusp singularities are isolated complex surface singularities that are double-covered by cusp singularities. We show that the universal abelian cover of such a singularity, branched only at the singular point, is a complete intersection cusp singularity of embedding dimension 4. This supports a general conjecture that we make about the universal abelian cover of a ℚ-Gorenstein singularity. Received: 3 February 2001 / Revised version: 8 March 2002 / Published online: 10 February 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 14B05, 14J17, 32S25 This research was supported by grants from the Australian Research Council and the NSF (first author) and the the NSA (second author).     

Computing twisted signatures and L-classes of stratified spaces

 This paper establishes an Atiyah-type characteristic class formula for both the twisted signature and the twisted L-classes of a singular space. The result, in its present form, applies to coefficient systems that satisfy a transversality condition near the singularities. This condition is frequently automatically satisfied, e.g. on supernormal spaces or for local systems arising in certain geometric mapping situations. We obtain applications to stratified maps by combining our formula with the Cappell-Shaneson signature formula. Received: 15 May 2002 / Revised version: 23 September 2002 / Published online: 8 April 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 32S50, 32S60, 55N25, 55N33, 55R55, 57N80, 57R20, 57R45, 58A35, 58K10 All authors supported in part by NSF grants.