Embedding smooth and formal diffeomorphisms through the Jordan-Chevalley decomposition

In [Xiang Zhang, The embedding flows of C^∞ hyperbolic diffeomorphisms, J. Differential Equations 250 (5) (2011) 2283-2298] Zhang proved that any local smooth hyperbolic diffeomorphism whose eigenvalues are weakly nonresonant is embedded in the flow of a smooth vector field. We present a new and more conceptual proof of such result using the Jordan-Chevalley decomposition in algebraic groups and the properties of the exponential operator.We characterize the hyperbolic smooth (resp. formal) diffeomorphisms that are embedded in a smooth (resp. formal) flow. We introduce a criterion showing that the presence of weak resonances for a diffeomorphism plus two natural conditions imply that it is not embeddable. This solves a conjecture of Zhang. The criterion is optimal, we provide a method to construct embeddable diffeomorphisms with weak resonances if we remove any of the conditions.     

Erd?s-Ko-Rado for three sets

Fix integers k?3 and n?3k/2. Let F be a family of k-sets of an n-element set so that whenever A,B,C∈F satisfy |A∪B∪C|?2k, we have A∩B∩C≠∅. We prove that with equality only when ?_F∈FF≠∅. This settles a conjecture of Frankl and Füredi [2], who proved the result for n?k²+3k.     

Small maximally disjoint union-free families

A family F of k-subsets of an n-set X is disjoint union-free (DUF) if all disjoint pairs of elements of F have distinct unions; that is, if for every A,B,C,D∈F, A∩B=C∩D=∅ and A∪B=C∪D implies {A,B}={C,D}. DUF families of maximum size have been studied by Erdös and Füredi. Let F be DUF with the property that F∪{E} is not DUF for any k-subset E of X not already in F. Then F is maximally DUF. We introduce the problem of finding the minimum size of maximally DUF families and provide bounds on this quantity for k=3.     

Quasi-convex sequences in the circle and the 3-adic integers

In this paper, we present families of quasi-convex sequences converging to zero in the circle group T, and the group J₃ of 3-adic integers. These sequences are determined by increasing sequences of integers. For an increasing sequence , put gn=an+1−an. We prove that

(a)

the set {0}∪{±³−(an+1)|n∈N} is quasi-convex in T if and only if a₀>0 and gn>1 for every n∈N;

(b)

the set {0}∪{±an³|n∈N} is quasi-convex in the group J₃ of 3-adic integers if and only if gn>1 for every n∈N.

Moreover, we solve an open problem from [D. Dikranjan, L. de Leo, Countably infinite quasi-convex sets in some locally compact abelian groups, Topology Appl. 157 (8) (2010) 1347-1356] providing a complete characterization of the sequences such that {0}∪{±²−(an+1)|n∈N} is quasi-convex in T. Using this result, we also obtain a characterization of the sequences such that the set {0}∪{±²−(an+1)|n∈N} is quasi-convex in R.     

Values of the Pukánszky invariant in McDuff factors

In 1960 Pukánszky introduced an invariant associating to every masa in a separable II₁ factor a non-empty subset of N∪{∞}. This invariant examines the multiplicity structure of the von Neumann algebra generated by the left-right action of the masa. In this paper it is shown that any non-empty subset of N∪{∞} arises as the Pukánszky invariant of some masa in a separable McDuff II₁ factor containing a masa with Pukánszky invariant {1}. In particular the hyperfinite II₁ factor and all separable McDuff II₁ factors with a Cartan masa satisfy this hypothesis. In a general separable McDuff II₁ factor we show that every subset of N∪{∞} containing ∞ is obtained as a Pukánszky invariant of some masa.     

Results on infinite-dimensional topology and applications to the structure of the critical set of nonlinear Sturm-Liouville operators

We consider the nonlinear Sturm-Liouville differential operator F(u)=−u″+f(u) for u∈H_D²([0,π]), a Sobolev space of functions satisfying Dirichlet boundary conditions. For a generic nonlinearity we show that there is a diffeomorphism in the domain of F converting the critical set C of F into a union of isolated parallel hyperplanes. For the proof, we show that the homotopy groups of connected components of C are trivial and prove results which permit to replace homotopy equivalences of systems of infinite-dimensional Hilbert manifolds by diffeomorphisms.     

On the arithmetic of tame monoids with applications to Krull monoids and Mori domains

Let H be an atomic monoid (e.g., the multiplicative monoid of a noetherian domain). For an element b∈H, let ω(H,b) be the smallest  N∈N₀∪{∞} having the following property: if  n∈N and  a₁,…,a_n∈H are such that b divides  a₁⋅…⋅a_n, then b already divides a subproduct of a₁⋅…⋅a_n consisting of at most N factors. The monoid H is called tame if . This is a well-studied property in factorization theory, and for various classes of domains there are explicit criteria for being tame. In the present paper, we show that, for a large class of Krull monoids (including all Krull domains), the monoid is tame if and only if the associated Davenport constant is finite. Furthermore, we show that tame monoids satisfy the Structure Theorem for Sets of Lengths. That is, we prove that in a tame monoid there is a constant M such that the set of lengths of any element is an almost arithmetical multiprogression with bound M.     

Analytical and numerical investigation of mixed-type functional differential equations

This paper is concerned with the approximate solution of a linear non-autonomous functional differential equation, with both advanced and delayed arguments. We search for a solution x(t), defined for t∈[−1,k], (k∈N), that satisfies this equation almost everywhere on [0,k−1] and assumes specified values on the intervals [−1,0] and (k−1,k]. We provide a discussion of existence and uniqueness theory for the problems under consideration and describe numerical algorithms for their solution, giving an analysis of their convergence.     

Concentration phenomena for a fourth-order equation with exponential growth: The radial case

We let Ω be a smooth bounded domain of R⁴ and a sequence of functions (Vk)_k∈N∈C⁰(Ω) such that limk→+∞Vk=1 in . We consider a sequence of functions (uk)_k∈N∈C⁴(Ω) such that Δ²uk=Vke4uk in Ω for all k∈N. We address in this paper the question of the asymptotic behavior of the (uk)'s when k→+∞. The corresponding problem in dimension 2 was considered by Brézis and Merle, and Li and Shafrir (among others), where a blow-up phenomenon was described and where a quantization of this blow-up was proved. Surprisingly, as shown by Adimurthi, Struwe and the author in [Adimurthi, F. Robert and M. Struwe, Concentration phenomena for Liouville equations in dimension four, J. Eur. Math. Soc., in press, available on http://www-math.unice.fr/~frobert], a similar quantization phenomenon does not hold for this fourth-order problem. Assuming that the uk's are radially symmetrical, we push further the analysis of the mentioned work. We prove that there are exactly three types of blow-up and we describe each type in a very detailed way.     

Concentration on minimal submanifolds for a singularly perturbed Neumann problem

We consider the equation −ε²Δu+u=up in Ω⊆RN, where Ω is open, smooth and bounded, and we prove concentration of solutions along k-dimensional minimal submanifolds of ∂Ω, for N?3 and for k∈{1,…,N−2}. We impose Neumann boundary conditions, assuming 1<p<(N−k+2)/(N−k−2) and ε→⁰⁺. This result settles in full generality a phenomenon previously considered only in the particular case N=3 and k=1.     

Birth of limit cycles bifurcating from a nonsmooth center

This paper is concerned with a codimension analysis of a two-fold singularity of piecewise smooth planar vector fields, when it behaves itself like a center of smooth vector fields (also called nondegenerate Σ-center). We prove that any nondegenerate Σ-center is Σ  -equivalent to a particular normal form _Z0$Z_0$. Given a positive integer number k   we explicitly construct families of piecewise smooth vector fields emerging from _Z0$Z_0$ that have k hyperbolic limit cycles bifurcating from the nondegenerate Σ  -center of _Z0$Z_0$ (the same holds for k=∞$k=\infty$). Moreover, we also exhibit families of piecewise smooth vector fields of codimension k   emerging from _Z0$Z_0$. As a consequence we prove that _Z0$Z_0$ has infinite codimension.     

Controllability on the group of diffeomorphisms

Given a compact manifold M, we prove that any bracket generating family of vector fields on M, which is invariant under multiplication by smooth functions, generates the connected component of the identity of the group of diffeomorphisms of M.     

Adding machines, kneading maps, and endpoints

Given a unimodal map f, let I=[c₂,c₁] denote the core and set E={(x₀,x₁,…)∈(I,f)|xi∈ω(c,f) for all i∈N}. It is known that there exist strange adding machines embedded in symmetric tent maps f such that the collection of endpoints of (I,f) is a proper subset of E and such that limk→∞Q(k)≠∞, where Q(k) is the kneading map.We use the partition structure of an adding machine to provide a sufficient condition for x to be an endpoint of (I,f) in the case of an embedded adding machine. We then show there exist strange adding machines embedded in symmetric tent maps for which the collection of endpoints of (I,f) is precisely E. Examples of this behavior are provided where limk→∞Q(k) does and does not equal infinity, and in the case where limk→∞Q(k)=∞, the collection of endpoints of (I,f) is always E.     

On the independence of Heegner points in the function field case

Let ∞ be a fixed place of a global function field k. Let E be an elliptic curve defined over k which has split multiplicative reduction at ∞ and fix a modular parametrization ΦE:X₀(N)→E. Let be Heegner points associated to the rings of integers of distinct quadratic “imaginary” fields K₁,…,Kr over (k,∞). We prove that if the “prime-to-2p” part of the ideal class numbers of ring of integers of K₁,…,Kr are larger than a constant C=C(E,ΦE) depending only on E and ΦE, then the points P₁,…,Pr are independent in . Moreover, when k is rational, we show that there are infinitely many imaginary quadratic fields for which the prime-to-2p part of the class numbers are larger than C.     

Dynamics of a new family of iterative processes for quadratic polynomials

In this work we show the presence of the well-known Catalan numbers in the study of the convergence and the dynamical behavior of a family of iterative methods for solving nonlinear equations. In fact, we introduce a family of methods, depending on a parameter m∈N∪{0}. These methods reach the order of convergence m+2 when they are applied to quadratic polynomials with different roots. Newton’s and Chebyshev’s methods appear as particular choices of the family appear for m=0 and m=1, respectively. We make both analytical and graphical studies of these methods, which give rise to rational functions defined in the extended complex plane. Firstly, we prove that the coefficients of the aforementioned family of iterative processes can be written in terms of the Catalan numbers. Secondly, we make an incursion into its dynamical behavior. In fact, we show that the rational maps related to these methods can be written in terms of the entries of the Catalan triangle. Next we analyze its general convergence, by including some computer plots showing the intricate structure of the Universal Julia sets associated with the methods.     

A singular approach to discontinuous vector fields on the plane

In this paper we deal with discontinuous vector fields on R² and we prove that the analysis of their local behavior around a typical singularity can be treated via singular perturbation. The regularization process developed by Sotomayor and Teixeira is crucial for the development of this work.     

Shadows of ordered graphs

Isoperimetric inequalities have been studied since antiquity, and in recent decades they have been studied extensively on discrete objects, such as the hypercube. An important special case of this problem involves bounding the size of the shadow of a set system, and the basic question was solved by Kruskal (in 1963) and Katona (in 1968). In this paper we introduce the concept of the shadow ∂G of a collection G of ordered graphs, and prove the following, simple-sounding statement: if n∈N is sufficiently large, |V(G)|=n for each G∈G, and |G|<n, then |∂G|?|G|. As a consequence, we substantially strengthen a result of Balogh, Bollobás and Morris on hereditary properties of ordered graphs: we show that if P is such a property, and |Pk|<k for some sufficiently large k∈N, then |Pn| is decreasing for k?n<∞.     

The topology of flows near a dicritical singularity

In this paper, we prove a topological finite determinacy theorem for a generic family of C^∞ vector fields at a dicritical singularity in any dimension.     

Modular periodicity of binomial coefficients

We prove that if the signed binomial coefficient viewed modulo p is a periodic function of i with period h in the range 0?i?k, then k+1 is a power of p, provided h is not too large compared to k. (In particular, 2h?k suffices). As an application, we prove that if G and H are multiplicative subgroups of a finite field, with H<G, and such that 1-α∈G for all α∈G?H, then G∪{0} is a subfield.     

Global solvability for first order real linear partial differential operators

F. Treves, in [17], using a notion of convexity of sets with respect to operators due to B. Malgrange and a theorem of C. Harvey, characterized globally solvable linear partial differential operators on C^∞(X), for an open subset X of Rn.Let P=L+c be a linear partial differential operator with real coefficients on a C^∞ manifold X, where L is a vector field and c is a function. If L has no critical points, J. Duistermaat and L. Hörmander, in [2], proved five equivalent conditions for global solvability of P on C^∞(X).Based on Harvey-Treves's result we prove sufficient conditions for the global solvability of P on C^∞(X), in the spirit of geometrical Duistermaat-Hörmander's characterizations, when L is zero at precisely one point. For this case, additional non-resonance type conditions on the value of c at the equilibrium point are necessary.