Tjurina and Milnor Numbers of Matrix Singularities

To gain understanding of the deformations of determinants andPfaffians resulting from deformations of matrices, the deformationtheory of composites f F with isolated singularities is studied,where f : YC is a function with (possibly non-isolated) singularityand F : XY is a map into the domain of f, and F only is deformed.The corresponding T¹(F) is identified as (something like) thecohomology of a derived functor, and a canonical long exactsequence is constructed from which it follows that = µ(f F) – ß₀ + ß₁, where is the length of T¹(F) and ß_i is the lengthof Tor_i^O_Y(O_Y/J_f, O_X). This explains numerical coincidences observedin lists of simple matrix singularities due to Bruce, Tari,Goryunov, Zakalyukin and Haslinger. When f has Cohen–Macaulaysingular locus (for example when f is the determinant function),relations between and the rank of the vanishing homology ofthe zero locus of f F are obtained.     

Limits Along Parallel Lines and the Classical Fine Topology

The fine topology on Rⁿ (n2) is the coarsest topology for whichall superharmonic functions on Rⁿ are continuous. We refer toDoob [11, 1.XI] for its basic properties and its relationshipto the notion of thinness. This paper presents several theoremsrelating the fine topology to limits of functions along parallellines. (Results of this nature for the minimal fine topologyhave been given by Doob – see [10, Theorem 3.1] or [11,1.XII.23] – and the second author [15].) In particular,we will establish improvements and generalizations of resultsof Lusin and Privalov [18], Evans [12], Rudin [20], Bagemihland Seidel [6], Schneider [21], Berman [7], and Armitage andNelson [4], and will also solve a problem posed by the latterauthors. An early version of our first result is due to Evans [12, p.234], who proved that, if u is a superharmonic function on R³,then there is a set ER²x{0}, of two-dimensional measure 0, suchthat u(x, y,·) is continuous on R whenever (x, y, 0)E.We denote a typical point of Rⁿ by X=(X' x), where X'R^n–1and xR. Let :RⁿR^n–1x{0} denote the projection map givenby (X', x) = (X', 0). For any function f:Rⁿ[–, +] andpoint X we define the vertical and fine cluster sets of f atX respectively by C_V(f;X)={l[–, +]: there is a sequence (t_m) of numbersin R\{x} such that t_mx and f(X', t_m)l}| and C_F(f;X)={l[–, +]: for each neighbourhood N of l in [–,+], the set f^–1(N) is non-thin at X}. Sets which are open in the fine topology will be called finelyopen, and functions which are continuous with respect to thefine topology will be called finely continuous. Corollary 1(ii)below is an improvement of Evans' result.     

Von Neumann Eta-Invariants and C*-Algebra K-Theory

Let M be a smooth, compact, oriented, odd-dimensional Riemannianmanifold and let M be anormal covering of M. It is proved that the relative von Neumanneta-invariant ₍₂₎() of Cheeger and Gromov is a homotopy invariant when is torsion-free, discreteand the Baum–Connes assembly map µ_max:K₀(B) K₀(C*)is an isomorphism.     

Homology of GLn over algebraically closed fields

In this paper we define higher pre-Bloch groups _n(F) of a fieldF. When the base field is algebraically closed, we study itsconnection to the homology of the general linear groups withcoefficients in /l , where l is a positive integer. As a resultof our investigation we give a necessary and sufficient conditionfor the natural map H_n(GL_n–1(F), /l ) H_n(GL_n(F), /l )to be bijective. We prove that this map is bijective for n4.We also demonstrate that a certain property of _n() is equivalentto the validity of the Friedlander–Milnor isomorphismconjecture for (n+1)th homology of GL_n().     

A Strong Law for the Largest Nearest-Neighbour Link between Random Points

Suppose that X₁, X₂, X₃, ... are independent random points inR^d with common density f, having compact support with smoothboundary , with f| continuous. Let Rⁿ_{i, k} denote the distancefrom X_i to its kth nearest neighbour amongst the first n points,and let M_{n, k} = max_in Rⁿ_{i, k}. Let denote the volume of theunit ball. Then as n , , almost surely If instead the points lie in a compact smooth d-dimensionalRiemannian manifold K, then nM^d_{n, k}/log n (min_Kf)^–1,almost surely.     

Essential norms and localization moduli of Sobolev embeddings for general domains

We introduce new measures of non-compactness for the embeddingoperator E_p,q():L_p¹() L_q() and describe their relations withthe essential norm of E_{p, q}(), ‘local’ isoperimetricand isocapacitary constants. An explicit formula for the essentialnorm of E_{p, q}() is obtained for domains with a power cusp onthe boundary and bounded C¹ domains. The Neumann problem fora particular Schrödinger operator is discussed on domainswith a power cusp.     

Sandwiching C0-Semigroups

Let T = {T(t)}_t0 be a C₀-semigroup on a Banach space X. Thefollowing results are proved. (i) If X is separable, there exist separable Hilbert spacesX₀ and X₁, continuous dense embeddings j₀:X₀ X and j₁:X X₁,and C₀-semigroups T₀ and T₁ on X₀ and X₁ respectively, suchthat j₀ T₀(t) = T(t) j₀ and T₁(t) j₁ = j₁ T(t) for all t 0. (ii) If T is -reflexive, there exist reflexive Banach spacesX₀ and X₁ , continuous dense embeddings j:D(A²) X₀, j₀:X₀ X, j₁:X X₁, and C₀-semigroups T₀ and T₁ on X₀ and X₁ respectively,such that T₀(t) j = j T(t), j₀ T₀(t) = T(t) j₀ and T(t) j₁ = j₁ T(t) for all t 0, and such that (A₀) = (A) = (A₁),where A_k is the generator of T_k, k = 0, Ø, 1.     

Quadratic Integrals and Factorization of Linear Operators

We consider operators on the matrix-valued disc algebra. Weshow that any bounded linear operator to a Banach space X of cotype 2 induces a boundedoperator GX defined on some weighted Bergman space G on theunit disc. We give sufficient conditions on the weight forthe formal inclusion to be 2–C*-summing. Decompositions of T with respect to operator-valuedmeasures are obtained.     

Skew Products of Shifts with a Compact Lie Group

We consider aperiodic shifts of finite type with an equilibriumstate m and associated skew-products _f where f: XG is Hölderand G is a compact Lie group. We show that generically _f isweak-mixing and give constructive methods for achieving weak-mixingby perturbing an arbitrary f at a finite number of small neighbourhoods.When _f is not ergodic we describe the (closed) ergodic decompositionprecisely. The key result shows that certain measurable eigenfunctionsare essentially Hölder continuous. This leads to conditionsfor weak-mixing or ergodicity in terms of a functional equationwhich involves Hölder rather than measurable functions.     

Regularity Conditions and Bernoulli Properties of Equilibrium States and g-Measures

When T : X X is a one-sided topologically mixing subshift offinite type and : X R is a continuous function, one can definethe Ruelle operator L : C(X) C(X) on the space C(X) of real-valuedcontinuous functions on X. The dual operator always has a probability measure as an eigenvectorcorresponding to a positive eigenvalue ( = with > 0). Necessary and sufficient conditionson such an eigenmeasure are obtained for to belong to twoimportant spaces of functions, W(X, T) and Bow (X, T). For example, Bow(X, T) if and only if is a measure with a certain approximateproduct structure. This is used to apply results of Bradleyto show that the natural extension of the unique equilibriumstate µ of Bow(X, T) has the weak Bernoulli propertyand hence is measure-theoretically isomorphic to a Bernoullishift. It is also shown that the unique equilibrium state ofa two-sided Bowen function has the weak Bernoulli property.The characterizations mentioned above are used in the case ofg-measures to obtain results on the ‘reverse’ ofa g-measure.     

A Torsion-Free Milnor-Moore Theorem

Let X be the space of Moore loops on a finite, q-connected,n-dimensional CW complex X, and let R Q be a subring containing1/2. Let (R) be the least non-invertible prime in R. For a gradedR-module M of finite type, let FM = M/Torsion M. We show thatthe inclusion P FH_*(X;R) of the sub-Lie algebra of primitiveelements induces an isomorphism of Hopf algebras provided that (R) n/q. Furthermore, the Hurewiczhomomorphism induces an embedding of F(_*(X) R) in P, with P/F(_*(X)R)torsion. As a corollary, if X is elliptic, then FH_*(X;R) isa finitely generated R-algebra.     

Direct Sums of Operator Spaces

It is proved that if X and Y are operator spaces such that everycompletely bounded operator from X into Y is completely compactand Z is a completely complemented subspace of X Y, then thereexists a completely bounded automorphism : X Y X Y with completelybounded inverse such that Z = X₀ Y₀, where X₀ and Y₀ are completelycomplemented subspaces of X and Y, respectively. If X and Yare homogeneous, the existence is proved of such a under aweaker assumption that any operator from X to Y is strictlysingular. An upper estimate is obtained for ||||_cb||^–1||_cbif X and Y are separable homogeneous Hilbertian operator spaces.Also proved is the uniqueness of a ‘completely unconditional’basis in X Y if X and Y satisfy certain conditions.     

Extremal Properties of Contraction Semigroups on Hilbert and Banach Spaces

Let f be a unit vector and T = {T(t) = e^tA: t 0} be a (C₀)contraction semigroup generated by A on a complex Hilbert spaceX. If |T(t)f,f| 1 as t then f is an eigenvector of A correspondingto a purely imaginary eigenvalue. If one allows X to be a Banachspace, the same situation can be considered by replacing T(t)f,fby (T(t)f) where is a unit vector in X^* dual to f. If |(T(t)f)| 1, as t , is f an eigenvector of A? The answer is sometimesyes and sometimes no.     

Tensor Products and Operators in Spaces of Analytic Functions

Let X be an infinite dimensional Banach space. The paper provesthe non-coincidence of the vector-valued Hardy space H^p(T, X)with neither the projective nor the injective tensor productof H^p(T) and X, for 1 < p < . The same result is provedfor some other subspaces of L^p. A characterization is givenof when every approximable operator from X into a Banach spaceof measurable functions F(S) is representable by a functionF:S X* as x F(·), x. As a consequence the existenceis proved of compact operators from X into H^p(T) (1 p <) which are not representable. An analytic Pettis integrablefunction F:T X is constructed whose Poisson integral does notconverge pointwise.     

Identity Theorems for Functions of Bounded Characteristic

Suppose that f(z) is a meromorphic function of bounded characteristicin the unit disk :|z|<1. Then we shall say that f(z)N. Itfollows (for example from [3, Lemma 6.7, p. 174 and the following])that where h₁(z), h₂(z) are holomorphic in and have positive realpart there, while ₁(z), ₂(z) are Blaschke products, that is, where p is a positive integer or zero, 0<|a_j|<1, c isa constant and (1–|a_j|)<. We note in particular that, if c0, so that f(z)0, (1.1) so that f(z)=0 only at the points a_j. Suppose now that z_j isa sequence of distinct points in such that |z_j|1 as j and (1–|z_j|)=. (1.2) If f(z_j)=0 for each j and fN, then f(z)0. N. Danikas [1] has shown that the same conclusion obtains iff(z_j)0 sufficiently rapidly as j. Let _j, _j be sequences of positivenumbers such that _j< and _j as j. Danikas then defines and proves Theorem A.     

Antisupercyclic Operators and Orbits of the Volterra Operator

We say that a bounded linear operator T acting on a Banach spaceB is antisupercyclic if for any x B either Tⁿx = 0 for somepositive integer n or the sequence {Tⁿx/||Tⁿx||} weakly convergesto zero in B. Antisupercyclicity of T means that the angle criterionof supercyclicity is not satisfied for T in the strongest possibleway. Normal antisupercyclic operators and antisupercyclic bilateralweighted shifts are characterized. As for the Volterra operator V, it is proved that if 1 p and any f L_p [0,1] then the limit lim_n (n!||Vⁿf||_p)^1/n doesexist and equals 1 – inf supp (f). Upon using this asymptoticformula it is proved that the operator V acting on the Banachspace L_p[0,1] is antisupercyclic for any p (1,). The same statementfor p = 1 or p = is false. The analogous results are provedfor operators when the real part of z C is positive.     

Stability and Asymptotic Stability of Functional-Differential Equations

We investigate asymptotic behaviour of solutions of the functional-differentialequation where f and g arelocally Lipschitz functions, C is a continuous matrix and thesmooth lag function obeys 0 (t) t for t 0. We transformthe equation into a delay equation with an infinity of delaysand use a theorem of Söderlind to derive sufficient conditionsfor stability and for asymptotic stability in the case lim_t (t) = . The situation is qualitatively different when lim_t (t) = * < and we outline stability conditions for thatcase by employing direct techniques.     

Periodic Solutions of Lienard Equations with Asymmetric Nonlinearities at Resonance

The existence of 2-periodic solutions of the second-order differentialequation where a, b satisfy and p(t)=p(t+2),t R, is examined. Assume that limits lim_x±F(x)=F(±)(F(x)=) and lim_x±g(x)=g(±)exist and are finite. It is proved that the equation has atleast one 2-periodic solution provided that the zeros of thefunction ₁ are simple and the zeros of the functions ₁, ₂ aredifferent and the signs of ₂ at the zeros of ₁ in [0,2/n) donot change or change more than two times, where ₁ and ₂ aredefined as follows: Moreover, it is also proved that the given equation has at leastone 2-periodic solution provided that the following conditionshold: with 1 p < q 2.     

Coherent Products in a Finite Group along a Linear Ordering

Let C = (C, ) be a linear ordering, E a subset of {(x, y):x< y in C} whose transitive closure is the linear orderingC, and let :E G be a map from E to a finite group G = (G, •).We showed with M. Pouzet that, when C is countable, there isF E whose transitive closure is still C, and such that (p) = (x_o, x₁)•(x₁, x₂)•....•(x_{n– 1}, x_n) G depends only upon the extremities x₀, x_n ofp, where p = (x_o, x₁...,x_n) (with 1 n < ) is a finite sequencefor which (x_i, x_{i + 1}) F for all i < n. Here, we show thatthis property does not hold if C is the real line, but is stilltrue if C does not embed an ₁-dense linear ordering, or evena 2-dense linear ordering when Martin's Axiom holds (it followsin particular that it is independent of ZFC for linear orderingsof size ). On the other hand, we prove that this property isalways valid if E = {(x,y):x < y in C}, regardless of anyother condition on C.     

Contractions et Hyperdistributions a Spectre de Carleson

Let =(_n)_n1 be a log concave sequence such that lim inf_n+n/n^c>0for some c>0 and ((log _n)/n)_n1 is nonincreasing for some<1/2. We show that, if T is a contraction on the Hilbertspace with spectrum a Carleson set, and if ||T^–n||=O(_n)as n tends to + with _n11/(n log _n)=+, then T is unitary. Onthe other hand, if _n11/(n log _n)<+, then there exists a (non-unitary)contraction T on the Hilbert space such that the spectrum ofT is a Carleson set, ||T^–n||=O(_n) as n tends to +, andlim sup_n+||T^–n||=+.