Newton Polygons of L Functions Associated with Exponential Sums of Polynomials of Degree Four over Finite Fields

Let F_q be the finite field of q elements with characteristic p and F_q^m its extension of degree m. Fix a nontrivial additive character Ψ of F_p. If f(x₁,…, x_n)∈F_q[x₁,…, x_n] is a polynomial, then one forms the exponential sum S_m(f)=∑_{(x1,…,xn)∈(Fq^m)ⁿ}Ψ(Tr_Fq^m/Fp(f(x₁,…,x_n))). The corresponding L functions are defined by L(f, t)=exp(∑^∞_m=0S_m(f)t^m/m). In this paper, we apply Dwork's method to determine the Newton polygon for the L function L(f(x), t) associated with one variable polynomial f(x) when deg f(x)=4. As an application, we also give an affirmative answer to Wan's conjecture for the case deg f(x)=4.     

Multiple positive solutions of nonhomogeneous elliptic systems with strongly indefinite structure and critical Sobolev exponents

In this paper, we study the existence of multiple positive solutions to some Hamiltonian elliptic systems −Δv=λu+u^p+εf(x), −Δu=μv+v^q+δg(x) in Ω;u,v>0 in Ω; u=v=0 on ∂Ω, where Ω is a bounded domain in R^N (N?3); 0?f, g∈L∞(Ω); 1/(p+1)+1/(q+1)=(N−2)/N, p,q>1; λ,μ>0. Using sub- and supersolution method and based on an adaptation of the dual variational approach, we prove the existence of at least two nontrivial positive solutions for all λ,μ∈(0,λ₁) and ε,δ∈(0,δ₀), where λ₁ is the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator −Δ with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions and δ₀ is a positive number.     

Boundedness in Nonlinear Asymmetric Oscillations

In this paper, the boundedness of all solutions of the nonlinear equation (?_p(x′))′+(p-1)[α?_p(x⁺)−β?_p(x⁻)]+f(x)+g(x)=e(t) is discussed, where e(t)∈C⁷ is 2π_p-periodic, f,g are bounded C⁶ functions, ?_p(u)=∣u∣^p−2u, p?2,α,β are positive constants, x⁺=max{x,0},x⁻=max{−x,0}.     

An umbral calculus for polynomials characterizing U(n) tensor operators

After the change of variables Δ_i = γ_i ? δ_i and x_{i,i + 1} = δ_i ? δ_{i + 1} we show that the invariant polynomials _μG⁽ⁿ⁾_q(, Δ_i, ; , x_i,i+1,) characterizing U(n) tensor operators 〈p, q,…, q, 0,…, 0〉 become an integral linear combination of Schur functions S_λ(γ ? δ) in the symbol γ ? δ, where γ ? δ denotes the difference of the two sets of variables {γ₁ ,…, γ_n} and {δ₁ ,…, δ_n}. We obtain a similar result for the yet more general bisymmetric polynomials ^m_μG⁽ⁿ⁾_q(γ₁ ,…, γ_n; δ₁ ,…, δ_m). Making use of properties of skew Schur functions $\text{S}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>\lambda </mtext><mtext>\rho </mtext>}}$ and S_λ(γ ? δ) we put together an umbral calculus for ^m_μG⁽ⁿ⁾_q(γ; δ). That is, working entirely with polynomials, we uniquely determine ^m_μG⁽ⁿ⁾_q(γ; δ) from ^m_μG⁽ⁿ⁾_{q ? 1}(γ; δ) and combinatorial rules involving Ferrers diagrams (i.e., partitions), provided that n ≥ (μ + 1)q. (This restriction does not interfere with writing the general case of ^m_μG⁽ⁿ⁾_q(γ; δ) as a linear combination of S_λ(γ ? δ).) As an application we deduce “conjugation” symmetry for ⁿ_μG⁽ⁿ⁾_q(γ; δ) from “transposition” symmetry by showing that these two symmetries are equivalent.     

Likelihood ratio orderings of spacings of heterogeneous exponential random variables

Let X₁,X₂,…,X_n be independent exponential random variables such that X_i has failure rate λ for i=1,…,p and X_j has failure rate λ^* for j=p+1,…,n, where p≥1 and q=n-p≥1. Denote by D_i:n(p,q)=X_i:n-X_i-1:n the ith spacing of the order statistics , where X_0:n≡0. It is shown that D_i:n(p,q)?_lrD_i+1:n(p,q) for i=1,…,n-1, and that if λ?λ^* then , and for i=1,…,n, where ?_lr denotes the likelihood ratio order. The main results are used to establish the dispersive orderings between spacings.     

Heilbronn's conjecture on Waring's number (mod p)

Let p be a prime k|p−1, t=(p−1)/k and γ(k,p) be the minimal value of s such that every number is a sum of s kth powers . We prove Heilbronn's conjecture that γ(k,p)?k1/2 for t>2. More generally we show that for any positive integer q, γ(k,p)?C(q)k1/q for ?(t)?q. A comparable lower bound is also given. We also establish exact values for γ(k,p) when ?(t)=2. For instance, when t=3, γ(k,p)=a+b−1 where a>b>0 are the unique integers with a²+b²+ab=p, and when t=4, γ(k,p)=a−1 where a>b>0 are the unique integers with a²+b²=p.     

Construction of determinantal representation of trigonometric polynomials

For a pair of n×n Hermitian matrices H and K, a real ternary homogeneous polynomial defined by F(t,x,y)=det(tI_n+xH+yK) is hyperbolic with respect to (1,0,0). The Fiedler conjecture (or Lax conjecture) is recently affirmed, namely, for any real ternary hyperbolic polynomial F(t,x,y), there exist real symmetric matrices S₁ and S₂ such that F(t,x,y)=det(tI_n+xS₁+yS₂). In this paper, we give a constructive proof of the existence of symmetric matrices for the ternary forms associated with trigonometric polynomials.     

Critical potentials of the eigenvalues and eigenvalue gaps of Schrödinger operators

Let M be a compact Riemannian manifold with or without boundary, and let −Δ be its Laplace-Beltrami operator. For any bounded scalar potential q, we denote by λi(q) the ith eigenvalue of the Schrödinger type operator −Δ+q acting on functions with Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions in case ∂M≠∅. We investigate critical potentials of the eigenvalues λi and the eigenvalue gaps Gij=λj−λi considered as functionals on the set of bounded potentials having a given mean value on M. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a potential q to be critical or to be a local minimizer or a local maximizer of these functionals. For instance, we prove that a potential q∈L^∞(M) is critical for the functional λ₂ if and only if q is smooth, λ₂(q)=λ₃(q) and there exist second eigenfunctions f₁,…,fk of −Δ+q such that . In particular, λ₂ (as well as any λi) admits no critical potentials under Dirichlet boundary conditions. Moreover, the functional λ₂ never admits locally minimizing potentials.     

Homogeneous tri-additive forms and derivations

Gleason [A.M. Gleason, The definition of a quadratic form, Amer. Math. Monthly 73 (1966) 1049-1066] determined all functionals Q on K-vector spaces satisfying the parallelogram law Q(x+y)+Q(x-y)=2Q(x)+2Q(y) and the homogeneity Q(λx)=λ²Q(x). Associated with Q is a unique symmetric bi-additive form S such that Q(x)=S(x,x) and 4S(x,y)=Q(x+y)-Q(x-y). Homogeneity of Q corresponds to that of S: S(λx,λy)=λ²S(x,y). The associated S is not necessarily bi-linear.Let V be a vector space over a field K, char(K)≠2,3. A tri-additive form T on V is a map of V³ into K that is additive in each of its three variables. T is homogeneous of degree 3 if T(λx,λy,λz)=λ³T(x,y,z) for all .We determine the structure of tri-additive forms that are homogeneous of degree 3. One of the keys to this investigation is to find the general solution of the functional equation

F(t)+t³G(1/t)=0,     

Solving polynomial optimization problems via the truncated tangency variety and sums of squares

Let f,g_i,i=1,…,l,h_j,j=1,…,m, be polynomials on Rⁿ and S?{x∈Rⁿ∣g_i(x)=0,i=1,…,l,h_j(x)≥0,j=1,…,m}. This paper proposes a method for finding the global infimum of the polynomial f on the semialgebraic set S via sum of squares relaxation over its truncated tangency variety, even in the case where the polynomial f does not attain its infimum on S. Under a constraint qualification condition, it is demonstrated that: (i) The infimum of f on S and on its truncated tangency variety coincide; and (ii) A sums of squares certificate for nonnegativity of f on its truncated tangency variety. These facts imply that we can find a natural sequence of semidefinite programs whose optimal values converge, monotonically increasing to the infimum of f on S.     

Monotone method for singular BVP in the presence of upper and lower solutions

In this paper we examine existence of monotone approximations of solutions of singular boundary value problem -(p(x)y^′(x))^′=q(x)f(x,y,py^′) for 0<x?b and lim_x→0⁺p(x)y^′(x)=0,α₁y(b)+β₁p(b)y^′(b)=γ₁. Under quite general conditions on f(x,y,py^′) we show that solution of the singular two point boundary value problem is unique. Here is allowed to have integrable singularity at x=0 and we do not assume .     

Numerical computation and analysis of the Titchmarsh–Weyl mα(λ) function for some simple potentials

This article is concerned with the Titchmarsh–Weyl m_α(λ) function for the differential equation d²y/dx²+[λ−q(x)]y=0. The test potential q(x)=x², for which the relevant m_α(λ) functions are meromorphic, having simple poles at the points λ=4k+1 and λ=4k+3, is studied in detail. We are able to calculate the m_α(λ) function both far from and near to these poles. The calculation is then extended to several other potentials, some of which do not have analytical solutions. Numerical data are given for the Titchmarsh–Weyl m_α(λ) function for these potentials to illustrate the computational effectiveness of the method used.     

Solutions with exponential character to a linear functional equation and roots of its characteristic equation

We study the connection between solutions of the functional equation φ(x)=S_∫φ(x+M(s))σ(ds) which are comparable at infinity with functions of the form xeλx, and real roots of the characteristic equation S_∫eλM(s)σ(ds)=1.     

An application of L-functions of imaginary quadratic fields

Let F₁(x, y),…, F_2h+1(x, y) be the representatives of equivalent classes of positive definite binary quadratic forms of discriminant ?q (q is a prime such that q ≡ 3 mod 4) with integer coefficients, then the number of integer solutions of F_i(x, y) = n (i = 1,…, 2h + 1) can be calculated for each natural number n using L-functions of imaginary quadratic field $\text{Q}$((?q)^1/2).     

Compositions of Polynomials with Coefficients in a Given Field

Let F ⊂ K be fields of characteristic 0, and let K[x] denote the ring of polynomials with coefficients in K. Let p(x) = ∑_k = 0ⁿa_kx^k ∈ K[x], a_n ≠ 0. For p ∈ K[x]\F[x], define D_F(p), the F deficit of p, to equal n − max{0 ≤ k ≤ n : a_k∉F}. For p ∈ F[x], define D_F(p) = n. Let p(x) = ∑_k = 0ⁿa_kx^k and let q(x) = ∑_j = 0^mb_jx^j, with a_n ≠ 0, b_m ≠ 0, a_n, b_m ∈ F, b_j∉F for some j ≥ 1. Suppose that p ∈ K[x], q ∈ K[x]\F[x], p, not constant. Our main result is that p ° q ∉ F[x] and D_F(p ° q) = D_F(q). With only the assumption that a_nb_m ∈ F, we prove the inequality D_F(p ° q) ≥ D_F(q). This inequality also holds if F and K are only rings. Similar results are proven for fields of finite characteristic with the additional assumption that the characteristic of the field does not divide the degree of p. Finally we extend our results to polynomials in two variables and compositions of the form p(q(x, y)), where p is a polynomial in one variable.     

Polynomial Cunningham chains

A sequence of prime numbers p₁,p₂,p₃,…, such that pi=2pi−1+? for all i, is called a Cunningham chain of the first or second kind, depending on whether ?=1 or −1 respectively. If k is the smallest positive integer such that 2pk+? is composite, then we say the chain has length k. It is conjectured that there are infinitely many Cunningham chains of length k for every positive integer k. A sequence of polynomials f₁(x),f₂(x),… in Z[x], such that f₁(x) has positive leading coefficient, each fi(x) is irreducible in Q[x] and fi(x)=xfi−1(x)+? for all i, is defined to be a polynomial Cunningham chain of the first or second kind, depending on whether ?=1 or −1 respectively. If k is the least positive integer such that fk+1(x) is reducible in Q[x], then we say the chain has length k. In this article, for polynomial Cunningham chains of both kinds, we prove that there are infinitely many chains of length k and, unlike the situation in the integers, that there are infinitely many chains of infinite length, by explicitly giving infinitely many polynomials f₁(x), such that fk+1(x) is the only term in the sequence that is reducible.     

Using Stepanov's method for exponential sums involving rational functions

For any additive character ψ and multiplicative character χ on a finite field F_q, and rational functions f,g in F_q(x), we show that the elementary Stepanov-Schmidt method can be used to obtain the corresponding Weil bound for the sum ∑_x∈Fq?Sχ(g(x))ψ(f(x)) where S is the set of the poles of f and g. We also determine precisely the number of characteristic values ω_i of modulus q^1/2 and the number of modulus 1.     

On the existence of graphs of diameter two and defect two

In the context of the degree/diameter problem, the ‘defect’ of a graph represents the difference between the corresponding Moore bound and its order. Thus, a graph with maximum degree d and diameter two has defect two if its order is n=d²−1. Only four extremal graphs of this type, referred to as (d,2,2)-graphs, are known at present: two of degree d=3 and one of degree d=4 and 5, respectively. In this paper we prove, by using algebraic and spectral techniques, that for all values of the degree d within a certain range, (d,2,2)-graphs do not exist.The enumeration of (d,2,2)-graphs is equivalent to the search of binary symmetric matrices A fulfilling that AJ_n=dJ_n and A²+A+(1−d)I_n=J_n+B, where J_n denotes the all-one matrix and B is the adjacency matrix of a union of graph cycles. In order to get the factorization of the characteristic polynomial of A in Q[x], we consider the polynomials F_i,d(x)=f_i(x²+x+1−d), where f_i(x) denotes the minimal polynomial of the Gauss period , being ζ_i a primitive ith root of unity. We formulate a conjecture on the irreducibility of F_i,d(x) in Q[x] and we show that its proof would imply the nonexistence of (d,2,2)-graphs for any degree d>5.     

Note on forced oscillation of nth-order sublinear differential equations

In the case of oscillatory potentials, we establish an oscillation theorem for the forced sublinear differential equation x(n)+q(t)λ|x|sgnx=e(t), t∈[t₀,∞). No restriction is imposed on the forcing term e(t) to be the nth derivative of an oscillatory function. In particular, we show that all solutions of the equation x^″+tαsintλ|x|sgnx=mtβcost, t?0, 0<λ<1 are oscillatory for all m≠0 if β>(α+2)/(1−λ). This provides an analogue of a result of Nasr [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 126 (1998) 123] for the forced superlinear equation and answers a question raised in an earlier paper [J.S.W. Wong, SIAM J. Math. Anal. 19 (1988) 673].     

The Rotation Number Approach to the Periodic Fuc caron ik Spectrum

In this paper, we study the Fu?ik spectrum of the problem: (^*) ?+(λ₊+q₊(t))x₊+(λ₋+q₋(t))x₋=0 with the 2π-periodic boundary condition, where q_±(t) are 2π-periodic. After introducing a rotation number function ρ(λ₊, λ₋) for (^*), we prove using the Hamiltonian structure and the positive homogeneity of (^*) that for any positive integer n, the two boundary curves of the domain ρ⁻¹(n/2) in the (λ₊, λ₋)-plane are Fu?ik curves of (^*). The result obtained in this paper shows that such a spectrum problem is much like that of the higher dimensional Fu?ik spectrum with the Dirichlet condition. In particular, it remains open if the Fu?ik spectrum of (^*) is composed of only these curves.