C*-Algebras of Singular Integral Operators with Shifts Having the Same Nonempty Set of Fixed Points

The C*-subalgebra of generated by all multiplication operators by slowly oscillating and piecewise continuous functions, by the Cauchy singular integral operator and by the range of a unitary representation of an amenable group of diffeomorphisms with any nonempty set of common fixed points is studied. A symbol calculus for the C*-algebra and a Fredholm criterion for its elements are obtained. For the C*-algebra composed by all functional operators in , an invertibility criterion for its elements is also established. Both the C*-algebras and are investigated by using a generalization of the local-trajectory method for C*-algebras associated with C*-dynamical systems which is based on the notion of spectral measure. Submitted: April 30, 2007. Accepted: November 5, 2007.     

The $${\overline{\partial}}$$-equation on homogeneous varieties with an isolated singularity

Let X be a regular irreducible variety in , Y the associated homogeneous variety in , and N the restriction of the universal bundle of to X. In the present paper, we compute the obstructions to solving the -equation in the L ^p -sense on Y for 1 ≤  p ≤  ∞ in terms of cohomology groups . That allows to identify obstructions explicitly if X is specified more precisely, for example if it is equivalent to or an elliptic curve.      

Invariant Measures for Univalent Self-Maps of the Unit Disc

We develop a translation-type model for univalent self-maps φ of the unit disc having an interior fixed-point and use the model to classify the φ-invariant measures on . We are particularly interested in maps which can be embedded in continuous semigroups of holomorphic self-maps of . Received: February 2, 2007. Revised: June 18, 2007. Accepted: July 4, 2007.     

Optimal Decompositions of Translations of L 2-Functions

In this paper we offer a computational approach to the spectral function for a finite family of commuting operators, and give applications. Motivated by questions in wavelets and in signal processing, we study a problem about spectral concentration of integral translations of functions in the Hilbert space . Our approach applies more generally to families of n arbitrary commuting unitary operators in a complex Hilbert space , or equivalent the spectral theory of a unitary representation U of the rank-n lattice in . Starting with a non-zero vector , we look for relations among the vectors in the cyclic subspace in generated by ψ. Since these vectors involve infinite “linear combinations,” the problem arises of giving geometric characterizations of these non-trivial linear relations. A special case of the problem arose initially in work of Kolmogorov under the name L ²-independence. This refers to infinite linear combinations of integral translates of a fixed function with l ²-coefficients. While we were motivated by the study of translation operators arising in wavelet and frame theory, we stress that our present results are general; our theorems are about spectral densities for general unitary operators, and for stochastic integrals. Work supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation.     

Characterization of Amalgamated Free Blocks of a Graph von Neumann Algebra

We identify two noncommutative structures naturally associated with countable directed graphs. They are formulated in the language of operators on Hilbert spaces. If G is a countable directed graphs with its vertex set V(G) and its edge set E(G), then we associate partial isometries to the edges in E(G) and projections to the vertices in V(G). We construct a corresponding von Neumann algebra as a groupoid crossed product algebra of an arbitrary fixed von Neumann algebra M and the graph groupoid induced by G, via a graph-representation (or a groupoid action) α. Graph groupoids are well-determined (categorial) groupoids. The graph groupoid of G has its binary operation, called admissibility. This has concrete local parts , for all e ∈ E(G). We characterize of , induced by the local parts of , for all e ∈ E(G). We then characterize all amalgamated free blocks of . They are chracterized by well-known von Neumann algebras: the classical group crossed product algebras , and certain subalgebras (M) of operator-valued matricial algebra . This shows that graph von Neumann algebras identify the key properties of graph groupoids. Received: December 20, 2006. Revised: March 07, 2007. Accepted: March 13, 2007.     

Numerically satisfactory solutions of Kummer recurrence relations

Pairs of numerically satisfactory solutions as for the three-term recurrence relations satisfied by the families of functions , , are given. It is proved that minimal solutions always exist, except when and z is in the positive or negative real axis, and that is minimal as whenever . The minimal solution is identified for any recurrence direction, that is, for any integer values of and . When the confluent limit , with fixed, is the main tool for identifying minimal solutions together with a connection formula; for , is the main tool to be considered.     

Ranks of abelian varieties over infinite extensions of the rationals

Let S be an infinite set of rational primes and, for some p ∈ S, let be the compositum of all extensions unramified outside S of the form , for . If , let be the intersection of the fixed fields by , for i = 1, . . , n. We provide a wide family of elliptic curves such that the rank of is infinite for all n ≥ 0 and all , subject to the parity conjecture. Similarly, let be a polarized abelian variety, let K be a quadratic number field fixed by , let S be an infinite set of primes of and let be the maximal abelian p-elementary extension of K unramified outside primes of K lying over S and dihedral over . We show that, under certain hypotheses, the -corank of sel _p ∞(A/F) is unbounded over finite extensions F/K contained in . As a consequence, we prove a strengthened version of a conjecture of M. Larsen in a large number of cases.     

On the Intertwining of \partial{\mathcal{D}}-Isometries

Let be a strictly pseudoconvex bounded domain in with C ² boundary . If a subnormal m-tuple T of Hilbert space operators has the spectral measure of its minimal normal extension N supported on , then T is referred to as a -isometry. Using some non-trivial approximation theorems in the theory of several complex variables, we establish a commutant lifting theorem for those -isometries whose (joint) Taylor spectra are contained in a special superdomain Ω of . Further, we provide a function-theoretic characterization of those subnormal tuples whose Taylor spectra are contained in Ω and that are quasisimilar to a certain (fixed) -isometry T (of which the multiplication tuple on the Hardy space of the unit ball in is a rather special example). Submitted: September 9, 2007. Revised: October 10, 2007. Accepted: October 24, 2007.     

A new family of maximal curves over a finite field

It has been known for a long time that the Deligne–Lusztig curves associated to the algebraic groups of type and defined over the finite field all have the maximum number of -rational points allowed by the Weil “explicit formulas”, and that these curves are -maximal curves over infinitely many algebraic extensions of . Serre showed that an -rational curve which is -covered by an -maximal curve is also -maximal. This has posed the problem of the existence of -maximal curves other than the Deligne–Lusztig curves and their -subcovers, see for instance Garcia (On curves with many rational points over finite fields. In: Finite Fields with Applications to Coding Theory, Cryptography and Related Areas, pp. 152–163. Springer, Berlin, 2002) and Garcia and Stichtenoth (A maximal curve which is not a Galois subcover of the Hermitan curve. Bull. Braz. Math. Soc. (N.S.) 37, 139–152, 2006). In this paper, a positive answer to this problem is obtained. For every q = n ³ with n = p ^r  > 2, p ≥ 2 prime, we give a simple, explicit construction of an -maximal curve that is not -covered by any -maximal Deligne–Lusztig curve. Furthermore, the -automorphism group Aut has size n ³(n ³ + 1)(n ² − 1)(n ² − n + 1). Interestingly, has a very large -automorphism group with respect to its genus . Research supported by the Italian Ministry MURST, Strutture geometriche, combinatoria e loro applicazioni, PRIN 2006–2007.     

Compact Differences of Weighted Composition Operators on Weighted Banach Spaces of Analytic Functions

Let be the weighted Banach space of analytic functions with a topology generated by weighted sup-norm. In the present article, we investigate the analytic mappings and which characterize the compactness of differences of two weighted composition operators on the space . As a consequence we characterize the compactness of differences of composition operators on weighted Bloch spaces.      

Ratios of Norms for Polynomials and Connected n-width Problems

Let be a bounded simply connected domain with boundary Γ and let be a regular compact set with connected complement. In this paper we investigate asymptotics of the extremal constants:

Semicrossed products of simple C*-algebras

Let and be C*-dynamical systems and assume that is a separable simple C*-algebra and that α and β are *-automorphisms. Then the semicrossed products and are isometrically isomorphic if and only if the dynamical systems and are outer conjugate. K. R. Davidson was partially supported by an NSERC grant. E. G. Katsoulis was partially supported by a summer grant from ECU     

Stable Ranks of Banach Algebras of Operator-Valued Analytic Functions

Let E be a separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, and let denote the algebra of all functions that are holomorphic. If is a subalgebra of , then using an algebraic result of Corach and Larotonda, we derive that under some conditions, the Bass stable rank of is infinite. In particular, we deduce that the Bass (and hence topological stable ranks) of the Hardy algebra , the disk algebra and the Wiener algebra are all infinite. Submitted: October 10, 2007., Revised: January 11, 2008., Accepted: January 12, 2007.     

On the Circumference of 2-Connected $$\mathcal{P}_{3}$$-Dominated Graphs

Let G be a connected graph. For at distance 2, we define , and , if then . G is quasi-claw-free if it satisfies , and G is P ₃-dominated() if it satisfies , for every pair (x, y) of vertices at distance 2. Certainly contains as a subclass. In this paper, we prove that the circumference of a 2-connected P ₃-dominated graph G on n vertices is at least min or , moreover if then G is hamiltonian or , where is a class of 2-connected nonhamiltonian graphs.     

On tight projective designs

It is shown that among all tight designs in , where is or , or (quaternions), only 5-designs in (Lyubich, Shatalora Geom Dedicata 86: 169–178, 2001) have irrational angle set. This is the only case of equal ranks of the first and the last irreducible idempotent in the corresponding Bose-Mesner algebra.      

A spectral characterization of the uniform continuity of strongly continuous groups

Let X be a Banach space and a strongly continuous group of linear operators on X. Set and where is the unit circle and denotes the spectrum of T(t). The main result of this paper is: is uniformly continuous if and only if is non-meager. Similar characterizations in terms of the approximate point spectrum and essential spectra are also derived. Received: 14 June 2006, Revised: 27 September 2007     

Passive Systems with a Normal Main Operator and Quasi-selfadjoint Systems

Passive systems with and as an input and output space and as a state space are considered in the case that the main operator on the state space is normal. Basic properties are given and a general unitary similarity result involving some spectral theoretic conditions on the main operator is established. A passive system with is said to be quasi-selfadjoint if ran . The subclass of the Schur class is the class formed by all transfer functions of quasi-selfadjoint passive systems. The subclass is characterized and minimal passive quasi-selfadjoint realizations are studied. The connection between the transfer function belonging to the subclass and the Q-function of T is given. Received: December 16, 2007., Accepted: March 4, 2008.     

On the number of moduli of plane sextics with six cusps

Let be the variety of irreducible sextics with six cusps as singularities. Let be one of irreducible components of . Denoting by the space of moduli of smooth curves of genus 4, we consider the rational map sending the general point [Γ] of Σ, corresponding to a plane curve , to the point of parametrizing the normalization curve of Γ. The number of moduli of Σ is, by definition the dimension of Π(Σ). We know that , where ρ(2, 4, 6) is the Brill–Noether number of linear series of dimension 2 and degree 6 on a curve of genus 4. We prove that both irreducible components of have number of moduli equal to seven.      

Syzygies of grids of projective lines

In this paper we study the syzygy modules of a grid or a fat grid of . We compute the minimal free resolution for the ideal of a complete grid in , and we conjecture this resolution in . Moreover we compute the minimal free resolution for the ideal of an incomplete grid of . We also conjecture the minimal free resolution for the ideal of a fat complete grid in .      

On the spectrum of lamplighter groups and percolation clusters

Let be a finitely generated group and X its Cayley graph with respect to a finite, symmetric generating set S. Furthermore, let be a finite group and the lamplighter group (wreath product) over with group of “lamps” . We show that the spectral measure (Plancherel measure) of any symmetric “switch–walk–switch” random walk on coincides with the expected spectral measure (integrated density of states) of the random walk with absorbing boundary on the cluster of the group identity for Bernoulli site percolation on X with parameter . The return probabilities of the lamplighter random walk coincide with the expected (annealed) return probabilities on the percolation cluster. In particular, if the clusters of percolation with parameter are almost surely finite then the spectrum of the lamplighter group is pure point. This generalizes results of Grigorchuk and Żuk, resp. Dicks and Schick regarding the case when is infinite cyclic. Analogous results relate bond percolation with another lamplighter random walk. In general, the integrated density of states of site (or bond) percolation with arbitrary parameter is always related with the Plancherel measure of a convolution operator by a signed measure on , where or another suitable group. M. Neuhauser’s research supported by the Marie-Curie Excellence Grant MEXT-CT-2004-517154. The research of W. Woess was partially supported by Austrian Science Fund (FWF) P18703-N18.