Boundaries of reduced free group C*-algebras

We prove that the crossed product C*-algebra C*_r(, ) of a freegroup with its boundary sits naturally between the reducedgroup C*-algebra C*_r and its injective envelope I(C*_r). In otherwords, we have natural inclusion C*_r C*_r(, ) I(C*_r) of C*-algebras.     

Logarithmic Convexity for Supremum Norms of Harmonic Functions

We prove the following convexity property for supremum normsof harmonic functions. Let be a domain in Rⁿ, ₀ and E a subdomainand a compact sebset of ,respectively. Then there exists a constant = (E, ₀, ) (0, 1) such that for all harmonic functions u on, the inequality is valid.The case of concentric balls E plays a key role in the proof.For positive harmonic funcitons ono osuch balls, we determinethe sharp constant in the inequlity.     

A Variation on a Theorem of Galvin and Hajnal

Let be a singular cardinal of regular uncountable cofinality. Let {(): < } be a continuous increasing sequence withlimit , and let =₍₎₊₍₎, < be regular cardinals. Let I be a normal ideal on , and assume that the reduced product_</I admits a cofinal -scale of ordinal functions. Then ₊, where =||||_I is the I-norm of .     

Finite groups in Stone-Cech compactifications

Let be an infinite cardinal and let G = ₂. Now let β Gbe the Stone–ech compactification of G as a discrete semigroup,and let =_<c_{β G} {xG\{0}:minsupp (x)}. We show that thesemigroup contains no nontrivial finite group.     

A reverse Denjoy theorem

Suppose that C₁ and C₂ are two simple curves joining 0 to ,non-intersecting in the finite plane except at 0 and enclosinga domain D which is such that, for all large r, has measure at most 2, where 0 < < .Suppose also that u is a non-constant subharmonic function inthe plane such that u(z) = B(|z|, u) for all large z C₁ C₂.Let A_D(r, u) = inf { u(z):z D and | z | = r }. It is shownthat if A_D(r, u) = O(1) (or A_D(r, u) = o(B(r, u))), then lim_r B(r, u)/r^/2 > 0 (or lim_r log B(r, u)/log r /2).     

The Series of Norms in a Soluble p-Group

The norm of a group G is the subgroup of elements of G whichnormalise every subgroup of G. We shall denote it (G). An ascendingseries of subgroups _i(G) in G may be defined recursively by:₀(G) = 1 and, for i 0, _i+1(G)/_i(G) = (G/_i(G)). For each i,the section _i+1(G)/i(G) clearly contains the centre of the groupG/_i(G). A result of Schenkman [8] gives a very close connectionbetween this norm series and the upper central series: _i(G) _i(G) _2i(G). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20E15.     

A Relation between Hausdorff Dimension and a Condition on Time Sets for the Image by the Brownian Sheet to Possess Interior Points

We prove that if W_{N, d} is a Brownian sheet mapping to R^d and E is a set in (0, )^N of Hausdorff dimensiongreater than , then for almost every rotation about a point x and translation _x such that _x(E) (0, )^N, the set _x(E) is such that almost surely W(E) containsinterior points. The techniques are adapted from Kahane andRosen and generalize to higher dimensional time and range.     

Approximation of Ground State Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of Dirichlet Laplacians

Let be a bounded connected open set in R^N, N 2, and let –0be the Dirichlet Laplacian defined in L²(). Let > 0 be thesmallest eigenvalue of –, and let > 0 be its correspondingeigenfunction, normalized by ||||₂ = 1. For sufficiently small>0 we let R() be a connected open subset of satisfying Let – 0 be the Dirichlet Laplacian on R(), and let >0and >0 be its ground state eigenvalue and ground state eigenfunction,respectively, normalized by ||||₂=1. For functions f definedon , we let Sf denote the restriction of f to R(). For functionsg defined on R(), we let Tg be the extension of g to satisfying 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification 47F05.     

On the Behaviour of the First Eigenfunction of the p-Laplacian Near its Critical Points

In this paper, the behaviour of the positive eigenfunction of in u_| = 0, p > 1, isstudied near its critical points. Under some convexity and symmetryassumptions on , is seen to have a unique critical point atx = 0; also, the behaviour of both and is determined nearby.Positive solutions u to some general problems –_pu = f(u)in , u_| = 0, are also considered, with some convexity restrictionson u. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35B05 (primary),35J65, 35J70 (secondary).     

On Transitive Permutation Groups with Primitive Subconstituents

Let G be a transitive permutation group on a set such that,for , the stabiliser G induces on each of its orbits in \{}a primitive permutation group (possibly of degree 1). Let Nbe the normal closure of G in G. Then (Theorem 1) either N factorisesas N=GG for some , , or all unfaithful G-orbits, if any exist,are infinite. This result generalises a theorem of I. M. Isaacswhich deals with the case where there is a finite upper boundon the lengths of the G-orbits. Several further results areproved about the structure of G as a permutation group, focussingin particular on the nature of certain G-invariant partitionsof . 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20B07, 20B05.     

Correction: Abelian Varieties defined over their Fields of Moduli, I

Bull London Math. Soc, 4 (1972), 370–372. The proof of the theorem contains an error. Before giving acorrect proof, we state two lemmas. LEMMA 1. Let K/k be a cyclic Galois extension of degree m, let generate Gal (K/k), and let (A, I, ) be defined over K. Supposethat there exists an isomorphism :(A,I,) (A, I, ) over K suchthat v^m–1 ... = 1, where v is the canonical isomorphism(A^m, I^m, ^m) (A, I, ). Then (A, I, ) has a model over k, whichbecomes isomorphic to (A, I, ) over K. Proof. This follows easily from [7], as is essentially explainedon p. 371. LEMMA 2. Let G be an abelian pro-finite group and let : G Q/Z be a continuous character of G whose image has order p.Then either: (a) there exist subgroups G' and H of G such that H is cyclicof order p^m for some m, (G') = 0, and G = G' x H, or (b) for any m > 0 there exists a continuous character m ofG such that p^m _m = . Proof. If (b) is false for a given m, then there exists an element G, of order p^r for some r m, such that () ¦ 0. (Considerthe sequence dual to 0 Ker (p^m) G ^pm G). There exists an opensubgroup G_o of G such that (G₀) = 0 and has order p^r in G/G₀.Choose H to be the subgroup of G generated by , and then aneasy application to G/G₀ of the theory of finite abelian groupsshows the existence of G' (note that () ¦ 0 implies that is not a p-th. power in G). We now prove the theorem. The proof is correct up to the statement(iv) (except that (i) should read: F' k₁ F'ab). To removea minor ambiguity in the proof of (iv), choose to be an elementof Gal (F'_ab/k₂) whose image $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$ in Gal (k₁/k₂) generates this last group. The error occursin the statement that the canonical map v : A^P A acts on pointsby sending a^p a; it, of course, sends a a. The proof is correct, however, in the case that it is possibleto choose so that ^p = 1 (in Gal (F'/k₂)). By applying Lemma 2 to G = Gal (F'_ab/k₂) and the map G Gal(k₁/k₂) one sees that only the following two cases have to beconsidered. (a) It is possible to choose so that ^pm = 1, for some m, andG = G' x H where G' acts trivially on k₁ and H is generatedby . (b) For any m > 0 there exists a field K, F'ab K k₁ k₂is a cyclic Galois extension of degree p^m. In the first case, we let K F'_ab be the fixed field of G'.Then (A, I, ), regarded as being defined over K, has a modelover k₂. Indeed, if m = 1, then this was observed above, butwhen m > 1 the same argument applies. In the second case, let : (A, I, ) (A$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$, I$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$, $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$) be an isomorphism defined over k₁ and let v ... ^p–1 = µ(R). If is replaced by for some Aut_k1((A, I, )) then is replacedby ^P. Thus, as µ(R) is finite, we may assume that ^pm–1= 1 for some m. Choose K, as in (b), to be of degree p^m overk₂. Let _m be a generator of Gal (K/k₂) whose restriction tok₁ is $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$. Then : (A, I, ) (A^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$}, I^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$}, ^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$} = (A^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$m}, I^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$m}, ^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$m} is an isomorphism defined over K and v ^mpm–1, ... ^m =^pm–1 = 1, and so, by) Lemma 1, (A, I, ) has a model overk₂ which becomes isomorphic to (A, I, over K. The proof may now be completed as before. Addendum: Professor Shimura has pointed out to me that the claimon lines 25 and 26 of p. 371, viz that µ(R) is a puresubgroup of _R^*t, does not hold for all rings R. Thus this condition,which appears to be essential for the validity of the theorem,should be included in the hypotheses. It holds, for example,if µ(R) is a direct summand of µ(F).     

A problem of Hirst on continued fractions with sequences of partial quotients

Let B denote an infinite sequence of positive integers b₁ <b₂ < ..., and let denote the exponent of convergence ofthe series _{n = 1} 1/b_n; that is, = inf {s 0 : _{n = 1} 1/b_n^s <}. Define E(B) = {x [0, 1]: a_n(x) B (n 1) and a_n(x) asn }. K. E. Hirst [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 38 (1973) 221–227]proved the inequality dim_H E(B) /2 and conjectured (see ibid.,p. 225 and [T. W. Cusick, Quart. J. Math. Oxford (2) 41 (1990)p. 278]) that equality holds. In this paper, we give a positiveanswer to this conjecture.     

The A-Polynomial has Ones in the Corners

1. Definition of the A-polynomial The A-polynomial was introduced in [3] (see also [5]), and wepresent an alternative definition here. Let M be a compact 3-manifoldwith boundary a torus T. Pick a basis , µ of ₁T, whichwe shall refer to as the longitude and meridian. Consider thesubset R_U of the affine algebraic variety R = Hom (₁M, SL₂C)having the property that () and (µ) are upper triangular.This is an algebraic subset of R, since one just adds equationsstating that the bottom-left entries in certain matrices arezero. There is a well-defined eigenvalue map given by taking the top-left entries of () and (µ).1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 57M25, 57M50.     

Frame duality properties for projective unitary representations

Let be a projective unitary representation of a countable groupG on a separable Hilbert space H. If the set B of Bessel vectorsfor is dense in H, then for any vector x H the analysis operator_x makes sense as a densely defined operator from B to ²(G)-space.Two vectors x and y are called -orthogonal if the range spacesof _x and _y are orthogonal, and they are -weakly equivalent ifthe closures of the ranges of _x and _y are the same. These propertiesare characterized in terms of the commutant of the representation.It is proved that a natural geometric invariant (the orthogonalityindex) of the representation agrees with the cyclic multiplicityof the commutant of (G). These results are then applied to Gaborsystems. A sample result is an alternate proof of the knowntheorem that a Gabor sequence is complete in L²( ^d) ifand only if the corresponding adjoint Gabor sequence is ²-linearlyindependent. Some other applications are also discussed.     

Correction: on the Intersection Matrices of Curves lying on Irregular Algebraic Surfaces

Professor W. F. Hammond has kindly drawn my attention to a blunderin 4 of the above paper. He referred to the ( – 2r) xß submatrix D of the skew-symmetric matrix displayednear the top of page 181, of which it is asserted that it issquare and non-singular, and pointed out that, from the factthat the matrix of which D forms part is regular, it may onlybe deduced that the columns of D are linearly independent; thatis, it only follows that – 2r ß. The validity of the equation – 2r = ß is essentialto the succeeding argument and, fortunately, may be establishedby alternative means. Using the nomenclature of the paper, wehave on F the set ₁^*, ..., _2r^*, ₁^*, ..., _ß^* of independent3-cycles (independent because they cut independent 1-cycleson the curve C), which may be completed, to form a basis forsuch cycles on F, by a further set ₁', ..., _2q–2r–pof independent 3-cycles, each of which meets C in a cycle homologousto zero on C. The cycles ₁^*, ..., ^* are invariant cycles andare independent on F so that, if > 2r + ß, thereis a non-trivial linear combination ^* of these having zero intersectionon C with each of the cycles ₁^*, ..., _2r^*, ₁^*, ..., _ß^*.Thus we have. (^* ._k^*)c = 0 = (^* ._i^*)c i.e. (^* ._k^*) = 0 = (^* ._i^* on F (1 k 2r; 1 i ß). Furthermore, (_j . C) 0 on C and we have (^* ._j .C)_C = 0 i.e. (^* ._j) = 0 on F (1 j 2q – 2r – ß). It now follows that ^* 0 on F (for it has zero intersectionwith every member of a basic set of 3-cycles on F). But thiscondradicts the assumption that ^* is a non-trivial linear combinationof the independent cycles ₁^*, ...,^*; and hence < 2r + ß.     

The structure of the normalisers of the congruence subgroups of the Hecke group G5

Let = 2cos (/5) and let []. Denote the normaliser ofG₀() of the Hecke group G₅ in PSL₂() by N(G₀()). Then N(G₀())= G₀(/h), where h is the largest divisor of 4 such that h² divides. Further, N(G₀())/G₀() is either 1 (if h = 1), ₂ x ₂ (if h= 2) or ₄ x ₄ (if h = 4).     

On a theorem of K. Schmidt

Let Y be a locally compact group, Aut(Y) be the group of topologicalautomorphisms of Y and (Y) be the set of continuous positivedefinite functions on Y which have unit value at the identity.A function (Y²) is said to be of product type if there aresuch functions _j (Y) that (u, v) = ₁(u)₂(v). Define the mappingT: Y² Y² by the formula T(u, v) = (A₁ uA₂ v, A₃ u A₄ v), whereA_j Aut(Y), and assume that T is a one-to-one transform. K.Schmidt proved: (i) if both (u, v) and (T(u, v)) are of producttype, then the functions _j are infinitely divisible; (ii) ifY is Abelian, both (u, v) and (T(u, v)) are of product type,and (u, v) 0, then the functions _j are Gaussian. We show thatstatement (i), generally, is not valid, but K. Schmidt's proofholds true if (u, v) 0. We also give another proof of statement(ii). Our proof uses neither the Levy–Khinchin formulafor a continuous infinitely divisible positive definite functionnor (i) on which K. Schmidt's proof is based.     

Cardinal Invariants and Eventually Different Functions

In this paper we study several kinds of maximal almost disjointfamilies. In the main result of this paper we show that forsuccessor cardinals , there is an unexpected connection betweeninvariants a_e(), b() and a certain cardinal invariant m_d(⁺)on ⁺. As a corollary we get for example the following result.For a successor cardinal , even assuming that ^< = and 2= ⁺, the following is not provable in Zermelo–Fraenkelset theory. There is a ⁺-cc poset which does not collapse andwhich forces a() = ⁺ < a_e() = ⁺⁺ = 2. We also apply the ideasfrom the proofs of these results to study a = a() and non(M).2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 03E17 (primary), 03E05(secondary).     

Corrigendum: Elliptic Curves and Quadratic Recurrence Sequences

The statement of the numerical values and z₀ on page 167 of[1, Section 3] contained an error. The values that were actuallyused were (to nine decimal places): thesebeing shifted, by the periods 2₁ and 2₃ respectively, comparedwith the values given in [1] (with ₁ = 1.496729323 and ₃ = 1.225694691i).With ₀ = ₁ and (z) denoting the sigma function (z; g2, g3) withinvariants g2 = 4, g3 = –1 associated with the ellipticcurve given by equation (3.2), these values of and z₀ yield and the latter three values all agreewith those stated in the paper (apart from rounding down thelast digit in the imaginary part of A). 2000 Mathematics SubjectClassification 11B37 (primary), 33E05, 37J35 (secondary).     

Cocroissance Des Groupes A Petite Simplification

Let be a group presented by e₁,...,e_m|r₁,...,r_k, L the freegroup generated by e₁,...,e_m, and N = Ker(L). Let c_n be thenumber of elements of length n in N. We know that c = lim sup(c_n)^1/n exists and that (2m–1) < c 2m – 1. ifN {1}. We prove that if the group satisfies a condition slightlyweaker than the small cancellation condition C^'() with <1/6, then c(2m–1) when the lengths of the relations r_itend to infinity. A consequence of this result is a theoremof Grigorchuk.