Uniform limit theorems for Harris recurrent Markov chains

Summary We study uniform limit theorems for regenerative processes and get strong law of large numbers and central limit theorem of this type. Then we apply those results to Harris recurrent Markov chains based on some ideas of K. Athreya, P. Ney and E. Nummelin.     

On the length of optimal TSP circuits in sets of bounded diameter

Let V be a set of n points in R^k. Let d(V) denote the diameter of V, and l(V) denote the length of the shortest circuit which passes through all the points of V. (Such a circuit is an “optimal TSP circuit”.) l^k(n) are the extremal values of l(V) defined by l^k(n)=max{l(V)|V∈V_n^k}, where V_n^k={V|V?R^k,|V|=n, d(V)=1}. A set V∈V_n^k is “longest” if l(V)=l^k(n). In this paper, first some geometrical properties of longest sets in R² are studied which are used to obtain l²(n) for small n′s, and then asymptotic bounds on l^k(n) are derived. Let δ(V) denote the minimal distance between a pair of points in V, and let: δ^k(n)=max{δ(V)|V∈V_n^k}. It is easily observed that $\text{δ}{}^{\mathrm{k}}\text{(n)=O(n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}\text{)}$. Hence, $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{=}\text{lim sup}{}_{\mathrm{n\to \infty }}\text{δ}{}^{\mathrm{k}}\text{(n)n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}$ exists. It is shown that for all $\text{n, c}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}\text{≤δ}{}^{\mathrm{k}}\text{(n)}$, and hence, for all $\text{n, l}{}^{\mathrm{k}}\text{(n)≥ c}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1?1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}$. For k=2, this implies that $\text{l}{}^2\text{(n)≥(}\text{π}{}^2\text{12}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, which generalizes an observation of Fejes-Toth that $\text{lim}{}_{\mathrm{n\to \infty }}\text{l}{}^2\text{(n)n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{≥(}\text{π}{}^2\text{12}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}$. It is also shown that $\text{l}{}^{\mathrm{k}}\text{(n) ≤ [}\text{(3?√3)k}\text{(k?1)}\text{]nδ}{}^{\mathrm{k}}\text{(n) + o(n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}\text{) ≤ [}\text{(3?√3)k}\text{(k?1)}\text{]n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}\text{+ o(n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>k</mtext>}}\text{)}$. The above upper bound is used to improve related results on longest sets in k-dimensional unit cubes obtained by Few (Mathematika2 (1955), 141–144) for almost all k′s. For k=2, Few's technique is used to show that $\text{l}{}^2\text{(n)≤(}\text{πn}\text{2}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{+ O(1)}$.     

Effects of an oscillating field on a diffusion process in the presence of a trap

Consider a diffusion process on an infinite line terminated by a trap and modulated by a periodic field. When the frequency is equal to zero the mean time to trapping will be finite or infinite, depending on the sign of the field. We ask whether this behavior can be changed by an oscillatory field, and show that it cannot for pure Brownian motion. We suggest that transition can appear when the signal propagation velocity is finite as for the telegrapher's equation. We further suggest that the asymptotic time dependence of the survival probability is proportional tot ^–1/2 just as in the case of ordinary diffusion. The same conclusion is shown to hold for a system whose dynamics is governed by the equation , whereL is a constant.     

First passage time problems in time-dependent fields

This paper discusses the simplest first passage time problems for random walks and diffusion processes on a line segment. When a diffusing particle moves in a time-varying field, use of the adjoint equation does not lead to any simplification in the calculation of moments of the first passage time as is the case for diffusion in a time-invariant field. We show that for a discrete random walk in the presence of a sinusoidally varying field there is a resonant frequency * for which the mean residence time on the line segment is a minimum. It is shown that for a random walk on a line segment of lengthL the mean residence time goes likeL ² for largeL when *, but when =* the dependence is proportional toL. The results of our simulation are numerical, but can be regarded as exact. Qualitatively similar results are shown to hold for diffusion processes by a perturbation expansion in powers of a dimensionless velocity. These results are extended to higher values of this parameter by a numerical solution of the forward equation.     

Fixed exciton number level density for a finite potential well

We present a calculation of the nuclear level density _ph(E) for a fixed number of particlesp and holesh, taking into account the energy dependence of the singleparticle level densityg(). We demonstrate the significant effects of the finite depth of the potential well (continuum effect) and the finite surface thickness of the nucleus on the value of _ph(E).Communicated by: X. Campi     

A uniform CLT for uniformly bounded families of martingale differences

This paper develops a method to get empirical central limit theorems for martingale differences that are uniformly bounded. The main idea is to generalize to martingales some ideas of E. Gine and J. Zinn [Ann. Prob. 12, 929–989 (1984)]. We consider two examples: An extension of a theorem of R. Dudley from i.i.d. to a certain type of Markov chain, and a uniform CLT for the baker's transformation.     

Ring stain effect at room temperature in silver nanoparticles yields high electrical conductivity

We demonstrate that metallic rings formed spontaneously at room temperature via evaporation of aqueous drops containing silver nanoparticles (20-30 nm in diameter) exhibit high electrical conductivity (up to 15% of that for bulk silver). The mechanism underlying this self-assembly phenomena is the "ring stain effect", where self-pinning is combined with capillary flow to form a ring consisting of close-packed metallic nanoparticles along the perimeter of a drying droplet. Our macroscopic and microscopic (applying conductive atomic force microscopy) transport measurements show that the conductivity of the ring, which has a metallic brightness, is orders of magnitude larger than that of corresponding aggregates developed without the ring formation, where high conductivity is known to appear only after annealing at high temperature.     

On charge conjugation

The group of automorphisms of the conformal algebra su(2, 2) has four components giving the usual four components of symmetries of space time. Only two of these components extend to symmetries of the conformal superalgebra — the identity component and the component which induces the parity transformation,P, on space time. There is no automorphism of the conformal superalgebra which inducesT or PT on space time. Automorphisms of su(2, 2) which belong to these last two components induce transformations on the conformal superalgebra which reverse the sign of the odd brackets. In this sense conformal supersymmetry prefers CP to CPT. The operator of charge conjugation acting on spinors, as is found in the standard texts, induces conformal inversion and hence a parity transformation on space time, when considered as acting on the odd generators of the conformal superalgebra. Although it commutes with Lorentz transformations, it does not commute with all of su(2, 2). We propose a different operator for charge conjugation. Geometrically it is induced by the Hodge star operator acting on twistor space. Under the known realization of conformal states from the inclusion SU(2, 2) Sp(8) and the metaplectic representations, its action on states is induced by the unique (up to phase) antilinear intertwining operator between the two metaplectic representations. It is consistent with the split orthosymplectic algebras and hence, by the inclusion of the superconformal in the orthosymplectic, with the orthosymplectic algebra.     

Synthesis of vicinal bromo-fluoro organic compounds using elemental fluorine

The direct action of fluorine on bromine at ?78° produces BrF which, without any isolation or purification, adds readily across various double bonds providing there is some hydrogen donor in the reaction mixture. Only trans addition of the elements of BrF was observed. When the reaction was applied to enons an easy elimination of HF can take place thus producing α-bromo enons.In our previous work we described the reaction of some olefins with IF, a reagent which was prepared $\text{in}$$\text{situ}$ by the action of F₂ on I₂[1]. The literature deals with several other fluorohalogens, among them the three known bromo-fluoro compounds, BrF, BrF₃ and BrF₅, although only the last two are well characterized[2]. However, because of the instability and the high reactivity of these compounds, they have hardly been employed in organic chemistry[3].We wish to describe here for the first time, an efficient and convenient method of synthesizing vicinal bromo-fluoro compounds using the primary source of the fluorine atoms, namely elemental fluorine itself[4].When a mixture of F₂/N₂ is bubbled through a cold (?78°C), dilute solution of Br₂ (20 mmolar) in CFCl₃ (Freon) the bromine disappears and mainly BrF is produced. However, despite previous efforts, it seems that this compound cannot be isolated since it disproportionates easily to the very reactive BrF₃ and halogen on the aromatic ring can not be ascertained. The third product proved to be the corresponding bromo-ethoxy compound XV (15% yield). Prolonged chromatography or traces of HF from the reaction mixture results in the elimination of HF thus producing, quantitatively, 6-bromocumarin XVI[8]. 2-Bromo-3-fluoro cyclopentanone XVII (oil) if formed in 90% yield and isolated in almost pure form. As in the case of cumarin, XVII readily loses HF producing the 2-bromoclopentenone (XVIII)[9] in quantitative yield.