A simple map with no prime factors

An ergodic measure-preserving transformationT of a probability space is said to be simple (of order 2) if every ergodic joining λ ofT with itself is eitherμ×μ or an off-diagonal measureμ _S , i.e.,μ _S (A×B)=μ(A∩S ^;−n ;B) for some invertible, measure preservingS commuting withT. Veech proved that ifT is simple thenT is a group extension of any of its non-trivial factors. Here we construct an example of a weakly mixing simpleT which has no prime factors. This is achieved by constructing an action of the countable Abelian group ℤ⊕G, whereG=⊕ _i=1 ^∞ ℤ₂, such that the ℤ-subaction is simple and has centralizer coinciding with the full ℤ⊕G-action.     

Ergodicity and weak-mixing of homogeneous extensions of measure-preserving transformations with applications to Markov shifts

Given a homogeneous extensionS of a measure-preserving transformationT, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the ergodicity and weak-mixing ofS in terms of functional equations. We then apply our findings to the case whenT is a Markov shift and the associated skewing function ofS depends on a finite number of coordinates. In this case, we obtain a simplification to the appropriate functional equations.     

Compact operators on a Banach space into the space of almost periodic functions

LetS be a topological semigroup andAP(S) the space of continous complex almost periodic functions onS. We obtain characterizations of compact and weakly compact operators from a Banach spaceX into AP(S). For this we use the almost periodic compactification ofS obtained through uniform spaces. For a bounded linear operatorT fromX into AP(S), letT ₅, be the translate ofT bys inS defined byT ₅(x)=(Tx) ₅ . We define topologies on the space of bounded linear operators fromX into AP(S) and obtain the necessary and sufficient conditions for an operatorT to be compact or weakly compact in terms of the uniform continuity of the maps→T ₅. IfS is a Hausdorff topological semigroup, we also obtain characterizations of compact and weakly compact multipliers on AP(S) in terms of the uniform continuity of the map S→μ_s, where μ_s denotes the unique vector measure corresponding to the operatorT ₅.     

Time-optimal controls of the equation of evolution in a separable and reflexive Banach space

Let a variable, closed, bounded, and convex subset ofX, a separable and reflexive Banach space, be denoted byG(t). Suppose thatG(t) varies upper-semicontinuously with respect to inclusion ast varies in [0,T]. We say that the strongly measurable mapu from [0,T] toX is an admissible control if, for almost everyt in [0,T],u(t) is an element ofU, a closed, bounded, and convex subset ofX, and u _p M ^1p, where p>1 andM>0.Ifx ^u is the weak solution todx/dt+A(t)x=u(t), 0tT, whereA(t) is as defined by Tanabe in Ref. 1, we say that the responsex ^u to the controlu hits the target in timeT ^u ifx ^u (0)=0 andx ^u (T ^u ) is an element ofG(T ^u ). If there is a control with this property, then there is a time-optimal control.     

Conjecture of Li and Praeger concerning the isomorphisms of Cayley graphs of A5

LetG be a finite group, andS a subset ofG \ |1| withS =S ⁻¹. We useX = Cay(G,S) to denote the Cayley graph ofG with respect toS. We callS a Cl-subset ofG, if for any isomorphism Cay(G,S) ≈ Cay(G,T) there is an α∈ Aut(G) such thatS ^α =T. Assume that m is a positive integer.G is called anm-Cl-group if every subsetS ofG withS =S ⁻¹ and | S | ≤m is Cl. In this paper we prove that the alternating groupA ₅ is a 4-Cl-group, which was a conjecture posed by Li and Praeger.     

Theories of linear order

LetT be a complete theory of linear order; the language ofT may contain a finite or a countable set of unary predicates. We prove the following results. (i) The number of nonisomorphic countable models ofT is either finite or 2^ω. (ii) If the language ofT is finite then the number of nonisomorphic countable models ofT is either 1 or 2^ω. (iii) IfS ₁(T) is countable then so isS _n(T) for everyn. (iv) In caseS ₁(T) is countable we find a relation between the Cantor Bendixon rank ofS ₁(T) and the Cantor Bendixon rank ofS _n(T). (v) We define a class of modelsL, and show thatS ₁(T) is finite iff the models ofT belong toL. We conclude that ifS ₁(T) is finite thenT is finitely axiomatizable. (vi) We prove some theorems concerning the existence and the structure of saturated models. Most of the results in this paper appeared in the author’s Master of Science thesis which was prepared at the Hebrew University under the supervision of Professor H. Gaifman.     

On simultaneous binary collisions in the planar n-body problem

Summary We will introduce thegeneralized Levi-Civita transformation (§2.3(a)) near the simultaneous binary collision (SBC) singularity of the planar n-body problem and study the asymptotic behaviour ofSBC orbits. Then, we will show the following in these variables: (1) For eachSBC orbit there is a unique simultaneous binary ejection (SBE) orbit, together they form a C¹ curve which we call a collision-ejection (C-E) orbit. (2) The collection of collision-ejection orbits form a C^o submanifold which we call the collision-ejection (C-E) manifold. (3) There is a sectorS, made of line segments through theSBC singularity, such that near by solutions leaveS no matter how thinS is, and only theC-E manifold lies entirely inS.     

Strong orbit realization for minimal homeomorphisms

LetXbe a Cantor set,S a minimal self-homeomorphism ofX, and Μ anS-invariant Borel probability. LetT be an ergodic automorphism of a non-atomic Lebesgue probability space(Y,Ν). Then there is a minimal homeomorphismS′ with the same orbits asS such that (S′, Μ ) is measurably conjugate to (T, Ν). HereS′ can be chosen strongly orbit equivalent toS if and only if the periodic spectrum ofS is contained in the discrete spectrum ofT. Corollaries of these results generalize Dye’s Theorem and the Jewett-Krieger Theorem.     

Asymptotic behaviour of trajectories of unipotent flows on homogeneous spaces

We show that ifG is a semisimple algebraic group defined overQ and Γ is an arithmetic lattice inG:=G _R with respect to theQ-structure, then there exists a compact subsetC ofG/Γ such that, for any unipotent one-parameter subgroup {u _t} ofG and anyg∈G, the time spent inC by the {u _t}-trajectory ofgΓ, during the time interval [0,T], is asymptotic toT, unless {g ⁻¹u_tg} is contained in aQ-parabolic subgroup ofG. Some quantitative versions of this are also proved. The results strengthen similar assertions forSL(n,Z),n≥2, proved earlier in [5] and also enable verification of a technical condition introduced in [7] for lattices inSL(3,R), which was used in our proof of Raghunathan’s conjecture for a class of unipotent flows, in [8].     

Extensions of the measurable choice theorem by means of forcing

Using the method of forcing of set theory, we prove the following two theorems on the existence of measurable choice functions: LetT be the closed unit interval [0,1] and letm be the usual Lebesgue measure defined on the Borel subsets ofT. Theorem1. LetS⊂T×T be a Borel set such that for alltεT,S _t ^def={x|(t,x)εS} is countable and non-empty. Then there exists a countable series of Lebesgue-measurable functionsf _n: T→T such thatS _t={f_n(t)|nεω} for alltε[0,1],W _x={y|(x,y)εW} is uncountable. Then there exists a functionh:[0,1]×[0,1]→W with the following properties: (a) for each xε[0,1], the functionh(x,·) is one-one and ontoW _x and is Borel measurable; (b) for eachy, h(·, y) is Lebesgue measurable; (c) the functionh is Lebesgue measurable.     

Anti‐periodic solutions for evolution equations with mappings in the class (S+)

In this paper, we study the existence of anti‐periodic solutions for the first order evolution equation in a Hilbert space H, where G : H → ? is an even function such that ?G is a mapping of class (S₊) and f : ? → ? satisfies f(t + T) = –f(t) for any t ∈ ? with f(·) ∈ L²(0, T; H). (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Representability of Hom implies flatness

LetX be a projective scheme over a noetherian base schemeS, and letF be a coherent sheaf onX. For any coherent sheaf ε onX, consider the set-valued contravariant functor Hom(ε,F)S-schemes, defined by Hom(ε,F) (T)= Hom(ε _T ,F _T) where ε _T andF _T are the pull-backs of ε andF toX _T =X x _S T. A basic result of Grothendieck ([EGA], III 7.7.8, 7.7.9) says that ifF is flat over S then Kom_ε,F) is representable for all ε. We prove the converse of the above, in fact, we show that ifL is a relatively ample line bundle onX over S such that the functor Hom(L ^-n ,F) is representable for infinitely many positive integersn, thenF is flat overS. As a corollary, takingX =S, it follows that ifF is a coherent sheaf on S then the functorT ↦H°(T, F _t) on the category ofS-schemes is representable if and only ifF is locally free onS. This answers a question posed by Angelo Vistoli. The techniques we use involve the proof of flattening stratification, together with the methods used in proving the author’s earlier result (see [N1]) that the automorphism group functor of a coherent sheaf onS is representable if and only if the sheaf is locally free.     

Linear space data structures for two types of range search

This paper investigates the existence of linear space data structures for range searching. We examine thehomothetic range search problem, where a setS ofn points in the plane is to be preprocessed so that for any triangleT with sides parallel to three fixed directions the points ofS that lie inT can be computed efficiently. We also look atdomination searching in three dimensions. In this problem,S is a set ofn points inE ³ and the question is to retrieve all points ofS that are dominated by some query point. We describe linear space data structures for both problems. The query time is optimal in the first case and nearly optimal in the second.This research was conducted while the first author was with Brown University and the second author was with the Technical University of Graz, Austria. The first author was supported in part by NSF Grant MCS 83-03925.     

Combinatorial Thom–Hirzebruch Characteristic Classes

With any flat combinatorial metric on an arbitrary oriented combinatorial manifold, one associates a family of signature operators S _t depending on a small real parameter t. These operators have support on a Const. t-neighborhood of the diagonal and inherit the local symmetry of the combinatorial structure. One shows that when t0, the measures ^d , introduced by Connes, Sullivan and the author, applied onto the operators S _t , converge toward a simplicial chain representing the Thom–Hirzebruch homology class of corresponding degree.     

Simplicial algorithm to solve the nonlinear complementarity problem onS n×R + m

In this paper, a simplicial algorithm is developed to solve the nonlinear complementarity problem onS ⁿ×R ₊ ^m . Furthermore, a condition for convergence is formulated. The triangulation which underlies the algorithm is a combination of the V-triangulation ofS ⁿ and the K-triangulation ofR ₊ ^m . Therefore, we will call it the VK-triangulation.The author wishes to thank Professor G. van der Laan for his valuable comments.     

Every T-space is equivalent to a T-space of continuous functions

A T-space U of degree k is a (k + 1)-dimensional vector space over (the real line) of real-valued functions defined on a linearly ordered set, satisfying the condition: for every nonzero u ε U, Z(u), the number of distinct zeros of u and ^-(u), the number of alternations in sign of u(t) with increasing t, each do not exceed k. It is demonstrated that given a T-space U of degree k > 0 on an arbitrary linearly ordered set T, there is a subset T′ of the real line and a nonsingular linear map L:U→ C(T′), the set of continuous functions on T′, such that the following hold: L(U) is a T-space of degree k; for u ε U, Z(u) = Z(L(u)), S^−(u) = S^−(L(u); and for some order-preserving bijection Θ:T → T′, u(t) = O if and only if L(u)(Θ(t) = 0. It is also shown that a T-space on a subset T can be extended to a T-space on the closure of T in ]inf T, sup T], provided that there are no “interval gaps” in T. Examples show that, in general, a T-space cannot be extended across an “interval gap” in its domain, and cannot be extended to both the infimum and supremum of its domain. Conditions for a T-space to be Markov, and to admit an adjoined function are derived.     

Finitary reconstruction of a measure preserving transformation

This paper considers thefinitary reconstruction of an ergodic measure preserving transformationT of a complete separable metric spaceX from a single trajectoryx, Tx, …, or more generally, from a suitable reconstruction sequence x=x ₁,x ₂, … withx _i∈X. Ann-sample reconstruction is a functionT _n: X ⁿ⁺¹ →X; the map (·;x ₁, …,x _n)is treated as an estimate ofT(·) based on then initial elements of x. Given a reference probability measureμ ₀ and constantM>1, functionsT ₁,T ₂, … are defined, and it is shown that for everyμ with 1/M≤dμ/dμ ₀≤M, everyμ-preserving transformationT, and every reconstruction sequence x forT, the estimates (·;x ₁, …,x _nconverge toT in the weak topology. For the family of interval exchange transformations of [0, 1] a simple family of estimates is described and shown to be consistent both pointwise and in the strong topology. However, it is also shown that no finitary estimation scheme is consistent in the strong topology for the family of all ergodic Lebesgue measure preserving transformations of the unit interval, even if x is assumed to be a generic trajectory ofT. Supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-9501926.     

Existence d’un generateur suivant une sous-suite de densite superieure nulle

Ergodic theory: for every dynamical system (X,A,T, μ), totally ergodic and of finite entropy, there exist a sequenceS of integers, of upper density zero, and a partitionQ ofX, such that V _i∈S T ⁻ⁱ Q is the whole σ-algebraA. Furthermore, there is a “universal” sequenceS ⁰ for which this property is true if we restrict ourselves to the class of strongly mixing systems.      

Convergence of non-ergodic dynamical systems

Summary Let {T _t} be a flow on a probability space (S,L,}) which describes the time evolution of a dynamical system with state space S, and interpret as the initial distribution of the system. Then the distribution of the system at time t is given by T _t ^–1 . Our aim is to study the asymptotic behavior of T _t ^–1 both in general and in the particular cases of random rate and almost periodic systems. The results seem to indicate that convergence or mean convergence is the normal behavior in the non-ergodic case.     

Constrained Ramsey numbers of graphs

Given two graphs G and H, let f(G,H) denote the minimum integer n such that in every coloring of the edges of K_n, there is either a copy of G with all edges having the same color or a copy of H with all edges having different colors. We show that f(G,H) is finite iff G is a star or H is acyclic. If S and T are trees with s and t edges, respectively, we show that 1+s(t?2)/2≤f(S,T)≤(s?1)(t²+3t). Using constructions from design theory, we establish the exact values, lying near (s?1)(t?1), for f(S,T) when S and T are certain paths or star‐like trees. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 42: 1–16, 2003