Rational Solutions of the Master Symmetries¶of the KdV Equation

In this article we characterize a certain class of rational solutions of the hierarchy of master symmetries for KdV. The result is that the generic rational potentials that decay at infinity and remain rational by all the flows of the master-symmetry KdV hierarchy are bispectral potentials for the Schr?dinger operator. By bispectral potentials we mean that the corresponding Schr?dinger operators possess families of eigenfunctions that are also eigenfunctions of a differential operator in the spectral variable. This complements certain results of Airault–McKean–Moser [4], Duistermaat–Grünbaum [10], and Magri–Zubelli [40]. As a consequence of bispectrality, the rational solutions of the master symmetries turn out to be solutions of a (generalized) string equation. Received: 28 January 1999 / Accepted: 22 October 1999     

Superconformal Invariance and the Geography¶of Four-Manifolds

The correlation functions of supersymmetric gauge theories on a four-manifold X can sometimes be expressed in terms of topological invariants of X. We show how the existence of superconformal fixed points in the gauge theory can provide nontrivial information about four-manifold topology. In particular, in the example of gauge group SU(2) with one doublet hypermultiplet, we derive a theorem relating classical topological invariants such as the Euler character and signature to sum rules for Seiberg–Witten invariants. A short account of this paper can be found in [1]. Received: 19 December 1998 / Accepted: 7 March 1999     

Strange Attractors Across the Boundary¶of Hyperbolic Systems

We study a bifurcation of Axiom A (hyperbolic) vector fields in dimension three leading to robust strange attractors with singularities. The Axiom A vector fields involved in the bifurcation exhibit a basic set equivalent to the suspension of a three symbol subshift. The attractors arising from this kind of bifurcation are not equivalent to the geometric Lorenz attractors. Received: 4 December 1998 / Accepted: 5 October 1999     

The Discrete Spectrum¶of the Perturbed Periodic Schrödinger Operator¶in the Large Coupling Constant Limit

Let A be a periodic Schr?dinger operator and let V ₀≥ 0 be a decaying potential. We study the number of the eigenvalues of the operator A(α) =A−αV ₀ inside a fixed interval (λ₁,λ₂). We obtain an asymptotic formula for as α→∞. Received: 12 September 2000 / Accepted: 22 November 2000     

Universality at the Edge of the Spectrum¶in Wigner Random Matrices

We prove universality at the edge for rescaled correlation functions of Wigner random matrices in the limit n→+∞. As a corollary, we show that, after proper rescaling, the 1^th, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc. eigenvalues of Wigner random hermitian (resp. real symmetric) matrix weakly converge to the distributions established by Tracy and Widom in G.U.E. (G.O.E.) cases. Received: 15 May 1999 / Accepted: 18 May 1999     

Breit–Wigner Approximation and the Distribution¶of Resonances

For operators with a discrete spectrum, {λ _j ²}, the counting function of λ _j 's, N (λ), trivially satisfies N ( λ+δ ) −N ( λ−δ ) =∑ _j δ_{λ j} ((λ−δ,λ+δ]). In scattering situations the natural analogue of the discrete spectrum is given by resonances, λ _j ∈ℂ₊, and of N (λ), by the scattering phase, s(λ). The relation between the two is now non-trivial and we prove that

Eigenvalues of the Dirac Operator on Manifolds¶with Boundary

Under standard local boundary conditions or certain global APS boundary conditions, we get lower bounds for the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator on compact spin manifolds with boundary. For the local boundary conditions, limiting cases are characterized by the existence of real Killing spinors and the minimality of the boundary. Received: 22 August 2000 / Accepted: 15 March 2001     

Inviscid Limits¶of the Complex Ginzburg–Landau Equation

In the inviscid limit the generalized complex Ginzburg–Landau equation reduces to the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation. This limit is proved rigorously with H ¹ data in the whole space for the Cauchy problem and in the torus with periodic boundary conditions. The results are valid for nonlinearities with an arbitrary growth exponent in the defocusing case and with a subcritical or critical growth exponent at the level of L ² in the focusing case, in any spatial dimension. Furthermore, optimal convergence rates are proved. The proofs are based on estimates of the Schr?dinger energy functional and on Gagliardo–Nirenberg inequalities. Received: 2 April 1999 / Accepted: 29 March 2000     

On the Large Time Asymptotics¶of Decaying Burgers Turbulence

The decay of Burgers turbulence with compactly supported Gaussian “white noise” initial conditions is studied in the limit of vanishing viscosity and large time. Probability distribution functions and moments for both velocities and velocity differences are computed exactly, together with the “time-like” structure functions T _n (t,τ)≡< (u(t+τ) -u(t)) ⁿ >. The analysis of the answers reveals both well known features of Burgers turbulence, such as the presence of dissipative anomaly, the extreme anomalous scaling of the velocity structure functions and self similarity of the statistics of the velocity field, and new features such as the extreme anomalous scaling of the “time-like” structure functions and the non-existence of a global inertial scale due to multiscaling of the Burgers velocity field. We also observe that all the results can be recovered using the one point probability distribution function of the shock strength and discuss the implications of this fact for Burgers turbulence in general. Received: 4 October 1999 / Accepted: 4 February 2000     

On the Characteristic Polynomial¶ of a Random Unitary Matrix

We present a range of fluctuation and large deviations results for the logarithm of the characteristic polynomial Z of a random N×N unitary matrix, as N→∞. First we show that , evaluated at a finite set of distinct points, is asymptotically a collection of i.i.d. complex normal random variables. This leads to a refinement of a recent central limit theorem due to Keating and Snaith, and also explains the covariance structure of the eigenvalue counting function. Next we obtain a central limit theorem for ln Z in a Sobolev space of generalised functions on the unit circle. In this limiting regime, lower-order terms which reflect the global covariance structure are no longer negligible and feature in the covariance structure of the limiting Gaussian measure. Large deviations results for ln Z/A, evaluated at a finite set of distinct points, can be obtained for . For higher-order scalings we obtain large deviations results for ln Z/A evaluated at a single point. There is a phase transition at A= ln N (which only applies to negative deviations of the real part) reflecting a switch from global to local conspiracy. Received: 27 June 2000 / Accepted: 30 January 2001     

Derivation of the Euler Equations¶from a Caricature of Coulomb Interaction

A caricature of collisionless plasma involving 2N particles of opposite charge is introduced. The N first particles are called "ions" and don't move. The N other particles are called "electrons". At each time, there is a one-to-one matching between electrons and ions and each pair is linked by a "spring" so that each electron oscillates with fixed frequency )^у. The essential point is that the matching between electrons and ions is updated at every discrete time n‰, n˸,1,2,..., so that the total potential energy of the system stays minimal. This leads to a non trivial interaction which turns out to be a caricature of Coulomb interaction. It is proven that, provided the N ions are equally spaced in a bounded domain D and ), ‰ and N^у tend to zero at appropriate rates, the electrons behave as the fluid parcels of an incompressible inviscid liquid moving inside D according to the Euler equations. Our proof relies on a result of P. Lax on the approximation of volume-preserving transformations by permutations.     

The Split Property and the Symmetry Breaking¶of the Quantum Spin Chain

We consider the relationship between the symmetry breaking and the split property of pure states of quantum spin chains. We obtain a representation theoretic condition implying that the half-sided uniform mixing condition leads to symmetry breaking of translationally invariant pure states. This is a mathematical generalization of Dichotomy previously found by I. Affleck and E. Lieb and M. Aizenman and B. Nachtergaele for ground states of a special class of Hamiltonians. Received: 1 February 1999 / Accepted: 5 December 2000     

Symplectic Structures of Moduli Space¶of Higgs Bundles over a Curve and Hilbert Scheme¶of Points on the Canonical Bundle

The moduli space of triples of the form (E,θ,s) are considered, where (E,θ) is a Higgs bundle on a fixed Riemann surface X, and s is a nonzero holomorphic section of E. Such a moduli space admits a natural map to the moduli space of Higgs bundles simply by forgetting s. If (Y,L) is the spectral data for the Higgs bundle (E,θ), then s defines a section of the line bundle L over Y. The divisor of this section gives a point of a Hilbert scheme, parametrizing 0-dimensional subschemes of the total space of the canonical bundle K _X , since Y is a curve on K _X . The main result says that the pullback of the symplectic form on the moduli space of Higgs bundles to the moduli space of triples coincides with the pullback of the natural symplectic form on the Hilbert scheme using the map that sends any triple (E,θ,s) to the divisor of the corresponding section of the line bundle on the spectral curve. Received: 15 January 2000 / Accepted: 25 March 2001     

On the Distribution of Free Path Lengths¶for the Periodic Lorentz Gas

Consider the domain

On the Absolutely Continuous Spectrum¶of One-Dimensional Schrödinger Operators¶with Square Summable Potentials

For continuous and discrete one-dimensional Schrödinger operators with square summable potentials, the absolutely continuous part of the spectrum is essentially supported by [0,X) and [ф,2] respectively. This fact is proved by considering a priori estimates for the transmission coefficient.     

A Change of Coordinates on the Large Phase Space¶of Quantum Cohomology

The Gromov–Witten invariants of a smooth, projective variety V, when twisted by the tautological classes on the moduli space of stable maps, give rise to a family of cohomological field theories and endow the base of the family with coordinates. We prove that the potential functions associated to the tautological ψ classes (the large phase space) and the κ classes are related by a change of coordinates which generalizes a change of basis on the ring of symmetric functions. Our result is a generalization of the work of Manin–Zograf who studied the case where V is a point. We utilize this change of variables to derive the topological recursion relations associated to the κ classes from those associated to the ψ classes. Received: 2 August 1999 / Accepted: 30 September 2000     

Twisting of Quantum Differentials and¶the Planck Scale Hopf Algebra

We show that the crossed modules and bicovariant differential calculi on two Hopf algebras related by a cocycle twist are in 1-1 correspondence. In particular, for quantum groups which are cocycle deformation-quantisations of classical groups the calculi are obtained as deformation-quantisations of the classical ones. As an application, we classify all bicovariant differential calculi on the Planck scale Hopf algebra . This is a quantum group which has an limit as the functions on a classical but non-Abelian group and a limit as flat space quantum mechanics. We further study the noncommutative differential geometry and Fourier theory for this Hopf algebra as a toy model for Planck scale physics. The Fourier theory implements a T-duality-like self-duality. The noncommutative geometry turns out to be singular when and is therefore not visible in flat space quantum mechanics alone. Received: 28 October 1998 / Accepted: 7 March 1999     

A Fleming–Viot Particle Representation¶of the Dirichlet Laplacian

We consider a model with a large number N of particles which move according to independent Brownian motions. A particle which leaves a domain D is killed; at the same time, a different particle splits into two particles. For large N, the particle distribution density converges to the normalized heat equation solution in D with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The stationary distributions converge as N→∞ to the first eigenfunction of the Laplacian in D with the same boundary conditions. Received: 11 November 1999 / Accepted: 19 May 2000     

On Action-Angle Variables¶for the Second Poisson Bracket of KdV

We prove that on the Sobolev spaces H ^N (S ¹) (N≥ 0), each leaf of the foliation, induced by the second Poisson bracket of KdV, admits global action-angle variables. The actions with respect to the first bracket raise to the actions with respect to the second bracket. The angles for the first bracket are, at the same time, angles for the second bracket. Received: 12 November 1999 / Accepted: 9 May 2000