Compact High-Order Finite Differences for Interface Problems in One Dimension

This paper is concerned with the construction and analysis ofcompact finite difference approximations to the model linearsource problem –(pu')' + qu = f where the functions p,q, and f can have jump discontinuities at a finite number ofpoints. Explicit formulae that give O(h²) O(h³) and O(h⁴) accuracyare derived, and a procedure for computing three-point schemesof any prescribed order of accuracy is presented. A rigoroustruncation and discretization error analysis is offered. Numericalresults are also given.     

Oscillation for First Order Superlinear Delay Differential Equations

Some almost sharp sufficient conditions of oscillation and nonoscillationare obtained for the superlinear delay differential equation x'(t)+p(t)[x((t))]=0, tt₀     

Restricted Set Addition in Groups I: The Classical Setting

The existing results are surveyed and several new results areproved for the cardinality of the restricted doubling 2^A ={a' + a':a',a' A,a' a'}, where A G is a subset of theset of elements of an (additively written) group G. In particular,known estimates for G = Z and G = Z/pZ are improved and a first-of-a-kindgeneral estimate valid for arbitrary G is given.     

Maximal Subsheaves of Torsion-Free Sheaves on Nodal Curves

Let Y be a reduced irreducible projective curve of arithmeticgenus g 2 with at most ordinary nodes as singularities. Fora subsheaf F of rank r', degree d' of a torsion-free sheaf Eof rank r, degree d, let s(E,F) = r'd-rd'. Define s_r'(E) = mins(E,F), where the minimum is taken over all subsheaves of Eof rank r'. For a fixed r', s_r' defines a stratification ofthe moduli space U(r,d) of stable torsion-free sheaves of rankr, degree d by locally closed subsets U_r',s. We study the nonemptinessand dimensions of the strata. We show that the general elementin each nonempty stratum is a vector bundle and it has onlyfinitely many (respectively unique) maximal subsheaves of rankr' for s r'(r-r')(g – 1) (respectively s < r'(r-r')(g– 1)). We prove that the tensor product of two generalstable vector bundles on an irreducible nodal curve Y is nonspecial.     

Compensated Compactness and Paracommutators

The paper provides a new look at compensated compactness andparacommutators. It is shown that there is a one-to-one correspondencebetween compensated quantities and paracommutators, that theH¹-regularity of compensated quantities is equivalent to boundedmean oscillation boundedness of paracommutators, that the weakconvergence of compensated quantities is equivalent to vanishingmean oscillation compactness of paracommutators, that the Schatten–vonNeumann S_p-property is a natural generalization of vanishingmean oscillation compactness, that the theory of paracommutatorsprovides a ready-made tool for S_p-regularity of compensatedquantities, and that the cut-off phenomenon of paracommutatorsexactly coincides with the vanishing moment properties of thecompensated quantities. Some further examples are given.     

A Characterization of Finite Tame Extensions

Let v be a henselian valuation of a field K. In this paper itis proved that any finite extension (K', v') of (K, v) is tameif and only if there exists 0 in K' such that v'() = v(Tr_K'/K())using elementary results of valuation theory. A special caseof this result, when the characteristic of the residue fieldof v is p > 0 and (K', v')/(K, v) is an extension of degreep, was proved in 1990 by J. P. Tignol (J. Reine Angew. Math.404 (1990) 1–38). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification12J10, 12J25, 13A18.     

Properties of a Semi-discrete Approximation to the Beam Equation

The solution of the equation w(x)u_tt+[p(x)u_xx]_xx = 0, 0 < x < L, t > 0, where it is assumed that w and p are positive on the interval[O, L], is approximated by using the method of straight lines.The resulting approximation is a linear system of differentialequations with coefficient matrix S. The matrix S is studiedunder very general boundary conditions which result in a conservativesystem. In all cases the matrix S is either an oscillation matrixor possesses nearly all the properties of an oscillation matrix.     

A Nonoscillation Theorem for Second-Order Nonlinear Differential Equations with Decaying Coefficients

The purpose of this paper is to give sufficient conditions forall nontrivial solutions of the nonlinear differential equationx ' a(t)g(x) = 0 to be nonoscillatory. Here, g(x) satisfiesthe sign condition xg(x) > 0 if x 0, but is not assumedto be monotone increasing. This differential equation includesthe generalized Emden–Fowler equation as a special case.Our main result extends some nonoscillation theorems for thegeneralized Emden–Fowler equation. Proof is given by meansof some Liapunov functions and phase-plane analysis.     

Perfect and Acyclic Subgroups of Finitely Presentable Groups

Acyclic groups of low dimension are considered. To indicatethe results simply, let G' be the nontrivial perfect commutatorsubgroup of a finitely presentable group G. Then def(G)1. Whendef(G)=1, G' is acyclic provided that it has no integral homologyin dimensions above 2 (a sufficient condition for this is thatG' be finitely generated); moreover, G/G' is then Z or Z². Naturalexamples are the groups of knots and links with Alexander polynomial1. A further construction is given, based on knots in S²x S¹.In these geometric examples, G' cannot be finitely generated;in general, it cannot be finitely presentable. When G is a 3-manifoldgroup it fails to be acyclic; on the other hand, if G' is finitelygenerated it has finite index in the group of a Q-homology 3-sphere.     

A Functional Relation for Accessory Parameters for Genus 2 Algebraic Curves with an Order 4 Automorphism

Let C be a genus 2 algebraic curve defined by an equation ofthe form y² = x(x² – 1)(x – a)(x – 1/a). Asis well known, the five accessory parameters for such an equationcan all be expressed in terms of a and the accessory parameter b corresponding to a. The main result of the paper is thatif a' = 1 – a², which in general yields a non-isomorphiccurve C', then b'a'(a'² – 1) = – – ba(a²– 1). This is proven by it being shown how the uniformizing functionfrom the unit disk to C' can be explicitly described in termsof the uniformizing function for C.     

Spectral Analysis of Higher-Order Differential Operators II: Fourth-Order Equations

We investigate the location and nature of the spectrum of thefourth-order self-adjoint equation (p₀ y')'+(p₁ y')'+qy=zwy subject to certain asymptotic assumptions on the coefficients.The main tools are the theory of asymptotic integration andthe Titchmarsh–Weyl M-matrix. Asymptotic integration yieldsasymptotic formulae for the solutions of the differential equationwhich are then used to derive properties of the M-matrix. Thecharacterisation of spectral properties in terms of the boundarybehaviour of M leads to the desired results.     

An algebraic loop theorem and the decomposition of PD3-pairs

Let (Y, X) denote a three-dimensional Poincaré pair (PD³-pair).By the work of Eckmann, Müller and Linnell we may suppose,up to a homotopy equivalence, that the boundary X is a closed2-manifold. We show that if a component of X fails to be ₁-injectivein Y, then there is an essential simple loop in X which is nullhomotopicin Y. It follows that there is a finite process of attaching2-disks along essential simple loops on X, and filling sphericalcomponents of X, which transforms (Y, X) into a PD³-pair (Y',X') with aspherical incompressible boundary X' and such that₁(Y) = ₁(Y'). The PD³-pair (Y', X') then admits a canonicaldecomposition as a connected sum of a finite number of asphericalPD³-pairs with incompressible boundary, together with a PD³-pairhaving virtually free (possibly finite) fundamental group andboundary a (possibly empty) disjoint union of projective planes.     

Sharp Distortion Estimate for Locally Schlicht Bloch Functions

Let B be the space of locally schlicht Bloch functions f whichare analytic in the unit disc with f(0) = f'(0) – 1 =0 satisfying 0 < |f'(z)|(1 – |z|²) 1. For each fixedz₀ we shall determine the shape of the set {logf'(z₀): fB},that is, we shall give the sharp distortion estimate for locallyschilcht Bloch functions.     

Finite Volume Methods and their Analysis

Finite volume methods are widely used and highly successfulin computing solutions to conservation laws, such as those occurringin fluid dynamics: but little analysis of their behaviour hasbeen carried out. In this paper we use model problems in oneand two dimensions to initiate a study of such methods, especiallythe cell vertex method. In one dimension it shows that finitevolume methods give accurate flux values at volume boundaries:thus, even for the self-adjoint equation (a?'=f, these gradientvalues can be more accurate than for finite element methods.The cell vertexes schemes are aimed at convection dominatedproblems and have highly advantageous properties for convection-diffusionproblems: but we give error bounds for these four-point approximationsto the pure diffusion problem in one dimension which indicatestheir remarkable robustness. Finally, an analysis of the cellvertex scheme for the pure advection problem in two dimensionsis given. It explains the insensitivity of the method to meshstretching in the coordinate directions, maintaining second-orderaccuracy on any mesh.     

Structural Stability of Constrained Polynomial Systems

The structural stability of constrained polynomial differentialsystems of the form a(x, y)x'+b(x, y)y'=f(x, y), c(x, y)x'+d(x,y)y'=g(x, y), under small perturbations of the coefficientsof the polynomial functions a, b, c, d, f and g is studied.These systems differ from ordinary differential equations at‘impasse points’ defined by ad–bc=0. Extensionsto this case of results for smooth constrained differentialsystems [7] and for ordinary polynomial differential systems[5] are achieved here. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification34C35, 34D30.     

Optimal Regularity and Fredholm Properties of Abstract Parabolic Operators in Lp Spaces on the Real Line

We study the operator Lu(t):= u'(t) – A(t) u(t) on L^p(R; X) for sectorial operators A(t), with t R, on a Banachspace X that are asymptotically hyperbolic, satisfy the Acquistapace–Terreniconditions, and have the property of maximal L^p-regularity.We establish optimal regularity on the time interval R showingthat L is closed on its minimal domain. We further give conditionsfor ensuring that L is a semi-Fredholm operator. The Fredholmproperty is shown to persist under A(t)-bounded perturbations,provided they are compact or have small A(t)-bounds. We applyour results to parabolic systems and to generalized Ornstein–Uhlenbeckoperators. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35K20, 35K90,47A53.     

Bounded Solutions of Some Second Order Nonlinear Differential Equations

We prove Landesman–Lazer type existence conditions forthe solutions bounded on the real line, together with theirfirst derivatives, for some second order nonlinear differentialequations of the form x'+cx'+f(t, x)=0. The proofs use upperand lower solutions techniques together with some limiting arguments.     

Boundary-value problems for shallow elastic membrane caps

Consider the general nonlinear boundary-value problem (p(t)y' (t))' = p(t)q(t) f (t, y(t), y' (t)), t 1, g(y(1), y' (1))= 0, where the function f may be singular at the point y(1)= 0 and p(1) 0. We obtain conditions which guarantee existenceof positive and bounded solutions of the above problem. As anapplication we prove existence and uniqueness of rotationallysymmetric solutions to a nonlinear boundary-value problem, representingthe elastic deformation of a spherical cap.     

Derived Subgroups of Products of an Abelian and a Cyclic Subgroup

Let G be a finite group and suppose that G = AB, where A andB are abelian subgroups. By a theorem of Ito, the derived subgroupG' is known to be abelian. If either of the subgroups A or Bis cyclic, then more can be said. The paper shows, for example,that G'/(G'A) is isomorphic to a subgroup of B in this case.     

Tangent Bundle of a Manifold and its Homotopy Type

There is a homotopy equivalence :MM' between closed smooth manifoldsof an odd dimension such that *TM', TM are stably isomorphicbut not isomorphic to each other.