On the essential dimension of cyclic <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-groups

Let p be a prime number, let K be a field of characteristic not p, containing the p-th roots of unity, and let r≥1 be an integer. We compute the essential dimension of ℤ/p ^r ℤ over K (Theorem 4.1). In particular, i) We have ed_ℚ(ℤ/8ℤ)=4, a result which was conjectured by Buhler and Reichstein in 1995 (unpublished). ii) We have ed_ℚ(ℤ/p ^r ℤ)≥p ^r-1.     

On the pontryagin-steenrod-wu theorem

We present a short and direct proof (based on the Pontryagin-Thom construction) of the following Pontryagin-Steenrod-Wu theorem: (a) LetM be a connected orientable closed smooth (n + 1)-manifold,n≥3. Define the degree map deg: π ⁿ (M) →H ⁿ (M; ℤ) by the formula degf =f*[S ⁿ ], where [S ⁿ ] εH ⁿ (M; ℤ) is the fundamental class. The degree map is bijective, if there existsβ εH ₂(M, ℤ/2ℤ) such thatβ ·w ₂(M) ε 0. If suchβ does not exist, then deg is a 2-1 map; and (b) LetM be an orientable closed smooth (n+2)-manifold,n≥3. An elementα lies in the image of the degree map if and only ifρ ₂ α ·w ₂(M)=0, whereρ ₂: ℤ → ℤ/2ℤ is reduction modulo 2.     

Classification of framed links in 3-manifolds

We present a short and complete proof of the following Pontryagin theorem, whose original proof was complicated and has never been published in detail. Let M be a connected oriented closed smooth 3-manifold, L ₁(M) be the set of framed links in M up to a framed cobordism, and deg: L ₁(M) → H ₁(M; ℤ) be the map taking a framed link to its homology class. Then for each α ∈ H ₁(M; ℤ) there is a one-to-one correspondence between the set deg⁻¹ α and the group ℤ_2d(α), where d(α) is the divisibility of the projection of α to the free part of H ₁(M; ℤ).     

Invariant measures for certain expansive ℤ2-actions

Letp>1 be prime, and letY ⊂X=(ℤ/pℤ)^{ℤ 2}) be an infinite, closed, shift-invariant subgroup with the following properties: the restriction toY of the shift-actionσ of ℤ² onX is mixing with respect to the Haar measureλ _Y ofY, and every closed, shift-invariant subgroupZ ⊂Y is finite. We prove that every sufficiently mixing, non-atomic, shift-invariant probability measureμ onY is equal toλ _Y . The author would like to thank the Department of Mathematics, University of Vienna, for hospitality while this work was done.     

Correlation structure of intermittency in the parabolic Anderson model

Consider the Cauchy problem ∂u(x, t)/∂t = ℋu(x, t) (x∈ℤ^d, t≥ 0) with initial condition u(x, 0) ≡ 1 and with ℋ the Anderson Hamiltonian ℋ = κΔ + ξ. Here Δ is the discrete Laplacian, κ∈ (0, ∞) is a diffusion constant, and ξ = {ξ(x): x∈ℤ ^d } is an i.i.d.random field taking values in ℝ. G?rtner and Molchanov (1990) have shown that if the law of ξ(0) is nondegenerate, then the solution u is asymptotically intermittent. In the present paper we study the structure of the intermittent peaks for the special case where the law of ξ(0) is (in the vicinity of) the double exponential Prob(ξ(0) > s) = exp[−e ^{s /θ}] (s∈ℝ). Here θ∈ (0, ∞) is a parameter that can be thought of as measuring the degree of disorder in the ξ-field. Our main result is that, for fixed x, y∈ℤ ^d and t→∈, the correlation coefficient of u(x, t) and u(y, t) converges to ∥w _ρ∥⁻² _ℓ2Σ_{z ∈ℤd} w _ρ(x+z)w _ρ(y+z). In this expression, ρ = θ/κ while w _ρ:ℤ^d→ℝ⁺ is given by w _ρ = (v _ρ)^{⊗ d} with v _ρ: ℤ→ℝ⁺ the unique centered ground state (i.e., the solution in ℓ²(ℤ) with minimal l ²-norm) of the 1-dimensional nonlinear equation Δv + 2ρv log v = 0. The uniqueness of the ground state is actually proved only for large ρ, but is conjectured to hold for any ρ∈ (0, ∞). empty It turns out that if the right tail of the law of ξ(0) is thicker (or thinner) than the double exponential, then the correlation coefficient of u(x, t) and u(y, t) converges to δ _{x, y} (resp.the constant function 1). Thus, the double exponential family is the critical class exhibiting a nondegenerate correlation structure. Received: 5 March 1997 / Revised version: 21 September 1998     

On a cardinal group invariant related to decompositions of Abelian groups

For each Abelian groupG, a cardinal invariant χ(G) is introduced and its properties are studied. In the special caseG = ℤ ⁿ , the cardinalχ(ℤ ⁿ ) is equal to the minimal cardinality of an essential subset of ℤ ⁿ , i.e., a of a subsetA ⊂ ℤ ⁿ such that, for any coloring of the group ℤ ⁿ inn colors, there exists an infinite one-color subset that is symmetric with respect to some pointα ofA. The estimaten( ^{n +} l)/2 ≤χ(ℤ ⁿ ) < 2n is proved for alln and the relationχ(ℤ ⁿ ) =n(n + 1)/2 forn ≤ 3. The structure of essential subsets of cardinalityχ(ℤ ⁿ ) in ℤ ⁿ is completely described forn ≤ 3. Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 341–350, September, 1998.     

On isomorphity of measure-preserving ℤ<Superscript>2</Superscript>-actions that have isomorphic Cartesian powers

Assume that Δ and Π are representations of the group ℤ² by operators on the space L ₂(X, μ) that are induced by measure-preserving automorphisms, and for some d, the representations Δ^⨂d and Π^⨂d are conjugate to each other, Δ(ℤ² \(0, 0)) consists of weakly mixing operators, and there is a weak limit (over some subsequence in ℤ² of operators from Δ(ℤ²)) which is equal to a nontrivial, convex linear combination of elements of Δ(ℤ²) and of the projection onto constant functions. We prove that in this case, Δ and Π are also conjugate to each other. Translated from Fundamentalnaya i Prikladnaya Matematika, Vol. 13, No. 8, pp. 193–212, 2007.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-rank of Ext<Subscript>ℤ</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>, ℤ) in certain models of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZFC</Emphasis>

We prove that if the existence of a supercompact cardinal is consistent with ZFC, then it is consistent with ZFC that the p-rank of Ext _ℤ(G, ℤ) is as large as possible for every prime p and for any torsion-free Abelian group G. Moreover, given an uncountable strong limit cardinal μ of countable cofinality and a partition of Π (the set of primes) into two disjoint subsets Π₀ and Π₁, we show that in some model which is very close to ZFC, there is an almost free Abelian group G of size 2^μ = μ⁺ such that the p-rank of Ext _ℤ(G, ℤ) equals 2^μ = μ⁺ for every p ∈ Π₀ and 0 otherwise, that is, for p ∈ Π₁. Number 874 in Shelah’s list of publications. Supported by the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research & Development project No. I-706-54.6/2001. Supported by a grant from the German Research Foundation DFG. __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 369–397, May–June, 2007.     

Sur le 2-groupe de classes d'idéaux de ℚ(√d,i)

Let ℕ,i=√−1,k=ℚ(√d,i) andC ₂ the 2-part of the class group ofk. Our goal is to determine alld such thatC ₂⋍ℤ/2ℤ×ℤ/2ℤ. Soientd∈ℕ,i=√−1,k=ℚ(√d,i), etC ₂ la 2-partie du groupe de classes dek. On s'intéresse à déterminer tous lesd tel queC ₂⋍ℤ/2ℤ×ℤ/2ℤ.      

Sumsets in difference sets

We study some properties of sets of differences of dense sets in ℤ² and ℤ³ and their interplay with Bohr neighbourhoods in ℤ. We obtain, inter alia, the following results.

Multidimensional version of M. A. Krasnoseľskii’s generalized contraction principle

Let M be a complete K-metric space with n-dimensional metric ρ(x, y): M × M → R ⁿ , where K is the cone of nonnegative vectors in R ⁿ . A mapping F: M → M is called a Q-contraction if ρ (Fx,Fy) ⩽ Qρ (x,y), where Q: K → K is a semi-additive absolutely stable mapping. A Q-contraction always has a unique fixed point x* in M, and ρ(x*,a) ⩽ (I - Q)^-1 ρ(Fa, a) for every point a in M. The point x* can be obtained by the successive approximation method x _k = Fx _k-1, k = 1, 2,..., starting from an arbitrary point x ₀ in M, and the following error estimates hold: ρ (x*, x _k ) ⩽ Q ^k (I - Q)^-1ρ(x ₁, _x ⁰) ⩽ (I - Q)^-1 Q ^k ρ(x ₁, x ₀), k = 1, 2,.... Generally the mappings (I - Q)^-1 and Q ^k do not commute. For n = 1, the result is close to M. A. Krasnosel’skii’s generalized contraction principle.     

Normal Cayley graphs of finite groups

LetG be a finite group and let S be a nonempty subset of G not containing the identity element 1. The Cayley (di) graph X = Cay(G, S) of G with respect to S is defined byV (X)=G, E (X)={(g,sg)|g∈G, s∈S} A Cayley (di) graph X = Cay (G,S) is said to be normal ifR(G) ◃A = Aut (X). A group G is said to have a normal Cayley (di) graph if G has a subset S such that the Cayley (di) graph X = Cay (G, S) is normal. It is proved that every finite group G has a normal Cayley graph unlessG≅ℤ₄×ℤ₂ orG≅Q ₈×ℤ ₂ ^r (r⩾0) and that every finite group has a normal Cayley digraph, where Z_m is the cyclic group of orderm and Q₈ is the quaternion group of order 8. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10231060) and the Doctorial Program Foundation of Institutions of Higher Education of China.     

On the structure of the augmentation quotient group for some nonabelian 2-groups

Let G be a finite nonabelian group, ℤG its associated integral group ring, and Δ(G) its augmentation ideal. For the semidihedral group and another nonabelian 2-group the problem of their augmentation ideals and quotient groups Q _n (G) = Δ ⁿ (G)/Δ ⁿ⁺¹(G) is deal with. An explicit basis for the augmentation ideal is obtained, so that the structure of its quotient groups can be determined.     

Preduals of semigroup algebras

For a locally compact group G, the measure convolution algebra M(G) carries a natural coproduct. In previous work, we showed that the canonical predual C ₀(G) of M(G) is the unique predual which makes both the product and the coproduct on M(G) weak^*-continuous. Given a discrete semigroup S, the convolution algebra ℓ ¹(S) also carries a coproduct. In this paper we examine preduals for ℓ ¹(S) making both the product and the coproduct weak^*-continuous. Under certain conditions on S, we show that ℓ ¹(S) has a unique such predual. Such S include the free semigroup on finitely many generators. In general, however, this need not be the case even for quite simple semigroups and we construct uncountably many such preduals on ℓ ¹(S) when S is either ℤ₊×ℤ or (ℕ,⋅).     

Totally Disconnected and Locally Compact Heisenberg-Weyl Groups

Harmonic analysis on ℤ(p ^ℓ ) and the corresponding representation of the Heisenberg-Weyl group HW[ℤ(p ^ℓ ),ℤ(p ^ℓ ),ℤ(p ^ℓ )], is studied. It is shown that the HW[ℤ(p ^ℓ ),ℤ(p ^ℓ ),ℤ(p ^ℓ )] with a homomorphism between them, form an inverse system which has as inverse limit the profinite representation of the Heisenberg-Weyl group \mathfrak HW[\mathbbZ_p,\mathbbZ_p,\mathbbZ_p]\mathfrak {HW}[{\mathbb{Z}}_{p},{\mathbb{Z}}_{p},{\mathbb{Z}}_{p}]. Harmonic analysis on ℤ _p is also studied. The corresponding representation of the Heisenberg-Weyl group HW[(ℚ _p /ℤ _p ),ℤ _p ,(ℚ _p /ℤ _p )] is a totally disconnected and locally compact topological group.     

Solvability of nonlocal elliptic problems in weight spaces

In this paper we consider elliptic equations of order 2m in a bounded domainQ є R ⁿ with boundaryδQ and nonlocal conditions relating the traces of the solution and its derivatives on (n − 1)-dimensional smooth manifolds Γ _i (∪ _i =∂δQ) to their values on some compact setF ⊂Q, whereF ∩δQ ≠ Φ. The Fredholm solvability of these problems in the weight spacesV _{p, a} ^/l+2m (Q) is proved for arbitrary 1<p <∞. Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 67, No. 6, pp. 882–898, June, 2000. This research was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research under grant No. 99-01-00028.     

Some zero-sum constants with weights

For an abelian group G, the Davenport constant D(G) is defined to be the smallest natural number k such that any sequence of k elements in G has a nonempty subsequence whose sum is zero (the identity element). Motivated by some recent developments around the notion of Davenport constant with weights, we study them in some basic cases. We also define a new combinatorial invariant related to (ℤ/nℤ) ^d , more in the spirit of some constants considered by Harborth and others and obtain its exact value in the case of (ℤ/nℤ)² where n is an odd integer.     

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.     

Almost-sure central limit theorem for a Markov model of random walk in dynamical random environment

Summary We consider a model of random walk on ℤ^ν, ν≥2, in a dynamical random environment described by a field ξ={ξ _t (x): (t,x)∈ℤ^ν+1}. The random walk transition probabilities are taken as P(X _{t +1}= y|X _t = x,ξ _t =η) =P ₀( y−x)+ c(y−x;η(x)). We assume that the variables {ξ _t (x):(t,x) ∈ℤ^ν+1} are i.i.d., that both P ₀(u) and c(u;s) are finite range in u, and that the random term c(u;·) is small and with zero average. We prove that the C.L.T. holds almost-surely, with the same parameters as for P ₀, for all ν≥2. For ν≥3 there is a finite random (i.e., dependent on ξ) correction to the average of X _t , and there is a corresponding random correction of order to the C.L.T.. For ν≥5 there is a finite random correction to the covariance matrix of X _t and a corresponding correction of order to the C.L.T.. Proofs are based on some new L ^p estimates for a class of functionals of the field. Received: 4 January 1996/In revised form: 26 May 1997     

Riesz basis, Paley-Wiener class and tempered splines

The Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund inequality and the Bernstein inequality are established on ∮2m(T,R)∩L2(R) which is the space of polynomial splines with irregularly distributed nodes T={tj}j∈Z, where {tj}j∈Z is a real sequence such that {eitξ}j∈Z constitutes a Riesz basis for L2([-π,π]). From these results, the asymptotic relation E(f,Bπ,2)2=lim E(f,∮2m(T,R)∩L2(R))2 is proved, where Bπ,2 denotes the set of all functions from L2(R) which can be continued to entire functions of exponential type ≤π, i.e. the classical Paley-Wiener class.