Pseudoinstantons in Metric-Affine Field Theory

In abstract Yang–Mills theory the standard instanton construction relies on the Hodge star having real eigenvalues which makes it inapplicable in the Lorentzian case. We show that for the affine connection an instanton-type construction can be carried out in the Lorentzian setting. The Lorentzian analogue of an instanton is a spacetime whose connection is metric compatible and Riemann curvature irreducible (pseudoinstanton). We suggest a metric-affine action which is a natural generalization of the Yang–Mills action and for which pseudoinstantons are stationary points. We show that a spacetime with a Ricci flat Levi-Civita connection is a pseudoinstanton, so the vacuum Einstein equation is a special case of our theory. We also find another pseudoinstanton which is a wave of torsion in Minkowski space. Analysis of the latter solution indicates the possibility of using it as a model for the neutrino.     

Quantum Cosmological Perfect Fluid Models

Perfect fluid Friedmann-Robertson-Walker quantum cosmological models for an arbitrary barotropic equation of state p = are constructed using Schutz's variational formalism. In this approach the notion of time can be recovered. By superposition of stationary states, finite-norm wave-packet solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation are found. The behaviour of the scale factor is studied by applying the many-worlds and the ontological interpretations of quantum mechanics. Singularity-free models are obtained for < 1. Accelerated expansion at present requires –1/3 > > – 1.     

New Quantization Method for Evaluation of Eigenenergies

A quantum dynamical equation is constructed as the limit of a sequence of functions (called Semiquantum momentum functions or SQMF). The quantum action variable J is defined as the limit of the sequence of contour integrals of SQMFs such that the quantization condition is J = n, where n is a nonnegative integer for eigenvalues and a noninteger for off eigenvalues. This quantization condition is exact and J is an analytic function of energy. Based on new definitions, an accurate numerical method is developed for obtaining eigenenergies. The method can be applied to both real and PT symmetric complex potentials. The validity and the accuracy of this new method is demonstrated with three illustrations.     

The Homogeneous Hamilton–Jacobi and Bernoulli Equations Revisited, II

It is shown that the admissible solutions of the continuity and Bernoulli or Burgers' equations of a perfect one-dimensional liquid are conditioned by a relation established in 1949–1950 by Pauli, Morette, and Van Hove, apparently, overlooked so far, which, in our case, stipulates that the mass density is proportional to the second derivative of the velocity potential. Positivity of the density implies convexity of the potential, i.e., smooth solutions, no shock. Non-elementary and symmetric solutions of the above equations are given in analytical and numerical form. Analytically, these solutions are derived from the original Ansatz proposed in Ref. 1 and from the ensuing operations which show that they represent a particular case of the general implicit solutions of Burgers' equation. Numerically and with the help of an ad hoc computer program, these solutions are simulated for a variety of initial conditions called compatible if they satisfy the Morette–Van Hove formula and anti-compatible if the sign of the initial velocity field is reversed. In the latter case, singular behaviour is observed. Part of the theoretical development presented here is rephrased in the context of the Hopf–Lax formula whose domain of applicability for the solution of the Cauchy problem of the homogeneous Hamilton–Jacobi equation has recently been enlarged.     

Majorana Transformation for Differential Equations

We present a method for reducing the order of ordinary differential equations satisfying a given scaling relation (Majorana scale-invariant equations). We also develop a variant of this method, aimed to reduce the degree of nonlinearity of the lower order equation. Some applications of these methods are carried out and, in particular, we show that second-order Emden–Fowler equations can be transformed into first-order Abel equations. The work presented here is a generalization of a method used by Majorana in order to solve the Thomas–Fermi equation.     

On Effective Conductivity on ℤ d Lattice

We study the effective conductivity _e for a random wire problem on the d-dimensional cubic lattice ^d , d2 in the case when random conductivities on bonds are independent identically distributed random variables. We give exact expressions for the expansion of the effective conductivity in terms of the moments of the disorder parameter up to the 5th order. In the 2D case using the duality symmetry we also derive the 6th order expansion. We compare our results with the Bruggeman approximation and show that in the 2D case it coincides with the exact solution up to the terms of 4th order but deviates from it for the higher order terms.     

On the Matrix Equation X^{ - 1} X* = A

Solvability conditions are examined for the matrix equation , which cannot be found in the well-known reference books on matrix theory. Methods for constructing solutions to this equation are indicated.     

Oscillation and Nonoscillation of Higher Order Self-Adjoint Differential Equations

Oscillation and nonoscillation criteria for the higher order self-adjoint differential equation (-1)ⁿ(t^alphay⁽ⁿ⁾)⁽ⁿ⁾+q(t)y = 0 (*) are established. In these criteria, equation (*) is viewed as a perturbation of the conditionally oscillatory equation (-1)ⁿ(t^alphay⁽ⁿ⁾)⁽ⁿ⁾ - µ,t^2n-y = 0, where _n, is the critical constant in conditional oscillation. Some open problems in the theory of conditionally oscillatory, even order, self-adjoint equations are also discussed.     

Global Attractivity of the Equilibrium of a Nonlinear Difference Equation

The authors consider the nonlinear difference equation x_n+1=x_n+x_n-kf(x_n-k),n=0,1,(0.1) where (0,1), k 0,1, and f C¹[[0,), [0,)] with f(x) < 0.They give sufficient conditions for the unique positive equilibrium of (0.1) to be a global attractor of all positive solutions. The results here are somewhat easier to apply than those of other authors. An application to a model of blood cell production is given.     

Characters of U q (gl(n))-Reflection Equation Algebra

We list characters (one-dimensional representations) of the reflection equation algebra associated with the fundamental vector representation of the Drinfeld–Jimbo quantum group _q (gl(n)).