Logarithmic Convexity for Supremum Norms of Harmonic Functions

We prove the following convexity property for supremum normsof harmonic functions. Let be a domain in Rⁿ, ₀ and E a subdomainand a compact sebset of ,respectively. Then there exists a constant = (E, ₀, ) (0, 1) such that for all harmonic functions u on, the inequality is valid.The case of concentric balls E plays a key role in the proof.For positive harmonic funcitons ono osuch balls, we determinethe sharp constant in the inequlity.     

Approximation of Ground State Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of Dirichlet Laplacians

Let be a bounded connected open set in R^N, N 2, and let –0be the Dirichlet Laplacian defined in L²(). Let > 0 be thesmallest eigenvalue of –, and let > 0 be its correspondingeigenfunction, normalized by ||||₂ = 1. For sufficiently small>0 we let R() be a connected open subset of satisfying Let – 0 be the Dirichlet Laplacian on R(), and let >0and >0 be its ground state eigenvalue and ground state eigenfunction,respectively, normalized by ||||₂=1. For functions f definedon , we let Sf denote the restriction of f to R(). For functionsg defined on R(), we let Tg be the extension of g to satisfying 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification 47F05.     

On Transitive Permutation Groups with Primitive Subconstituents

Let G be a transitive permutation group on a set such that,for , the stabiliser G induces on each of its orbits in \{}a primitive permutation group (possibly of degree 1). Let Nbe the normal closure of G in G. Then (Theorem 1) either N factorisesas N=GG for some , , or all unfaithful G-orbits, if any exist,are infinite. This result generalises a theorem of I. M. Isaacswhich deals with the case where there is a finite upper boundon the lengths of the G-orbits. Several further results areproved about the structure of G as a permutation group, focussingin particular on the nature of certain G-invariant partitionsof . 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20B07, 20B05.     

On A Minimization Problem for Vector Fields in L1

This paper treats the problem of minimizing the norm of vectorfields in L¹ with prescribed divergence. The ridge of . playsan important role in the analysis, and in the case where R²is a polygonal domain, the ridge is thoroughly analysed andsome examples are presented. In the case where Rⁿ is a Lipschitzdomain and the divergence is a finite positive Borel measure,the infimum is calculated, and it is shown that if an extremalexists, then it is of the form ₁ = –Fd, where F is a nonnegativefunction and d(x) is the distance from x to the boundary .Finally, if R² is a polygonal domain and the measure is representedby a nonnegative continuous function, then an explicit expressionfor the extremal is given, and it is proven that this extremalis unique.     

Packing, Tiling, Orthogonality and Completeness

Let R^d be an open set of measure 1. An open set DR^d is calleda ‘tight orthogonal packing region’ for if D–Ddoes not intersect the zeros of the Fourier transform of theindicator function of , and D has measure 1. Suppose that isa discrete subset of R^d. The main contribution of this paperis a new way of proving the following result: D tiles R^d whentranslated at the locations if and only if the set of exponentialsE = {exp 2i, x: } is an orthonormal basis for L²(). (This resulthas been proved by different methods by Lagarias, Reeds andWang [9] and, in the case of being the cube, by Iosevich andPedersen [3]. When is the unit cube in R^d, it is a tight orthogonalpacking region of itself.) In our approach, orthogonality ofE is viewed as a statement about ‘packing’ R^d withtranslates of a certain non-negative function and, additionally,we have completeness of E in L²() if and only if the above-mentionedpacking is in fact a tiling. We then formulate the tiling conditionin Fourier analytic language, and use this to prove our result.2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 52C22, 42B99, 11K70.     

A Variation on a Theorem of Galvin and Hajnal

Let be a singular cardinal of regular uncountable cofinality. Let {(): < } be a continuous increasing sequence withlimit , and let =₍₎₊₍₎, < be regular cardinals. Let I be a normal ideal on , and assume that the reduced product_</I admits a cofinal -scale of ordinal functions. Then ₊, where =||||_I is the I-norm of .     

Multi-Bubble Solutions for Slightly Super-Critical Elliptic Problems in Domains with Symmetries

The aim of this paper is to show the existence of solutionswith an arbitrarily large number of bubbles for the slightlysuper-critical elliptic problem in , subject to the conditions that u > 0 in , and u = 0on , where > 0 is a small parameter and R^N is a boundeddomain with certain symmetries, for instance an annulus or atorus in R³. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35J25 (primary);35J20, 35J60 (secondary).     

A Remark on Zero and Peak Sets on Weakly Pseudoconvex Domains

Let be a relatively compact, smoothly bounded, pseudoconvexdomain of a Stein manifold, and let A() be the algebra of allcontinuous functions on which are holomorphic on . It is shown that a zero set on for A()is a peak set for A().     

Boundaries of reduced free group C*-algebras

We prove that the crossed product C*-algebra C*_r(, ) of a freegroup with its boundary sits naturally between the reducedgroup C*-algebra C*_r and its injective envelope I(C*_r). In otherwords, we have natural inclusion C*_r C*_r(, ) I(C*_r) of C*-algebras.     

Analytic Discs Attached From the Outside Have Knotted Boundaries

Let be a pseudoconvex domain in C² with smooth boundary, andlet be a smooth embedded analytic disc intersecting transversally along the curve A. Then A isknotted in . 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 32U99.     

The structure of the normalisers of the congruence subgroups of the Hecke group G5

Let = 2cos (/5) and let []. Denote the normaliser ofG₀() of the Hecke group G₅ in PSL₂() by N(G₀()). Then N(G₀())= G₀(/h), where h is the largest divisor of 4 such that h² divides. Further, N(G₀())/G₀() is either 1 (if h = 1), ₂ x ₂ (if h= 2) or ₄ x ₄ (if h = 4).     

The Dirichlet problem by variational methods

Let ^N be a bounded open set and C( ). Assume that has an extensionC() such that H^–1().Then by the Riesz representation theorem there exists a unique

We show that u+ coincides with the Perron solutionof the Dirichlet problem

This extends recent results by Hildebrandt [Math. Nachr. 278(2005), 141–144] and Simader [Math. Nachr. 279 (2006),415–430], and also gives a possible answer to Hadamard'sobjection against Dirichlet's principle.     

A bifurcation problem governed by the boundary condition II

In this work we consider the problem u = a(x)u^p in on , where is a smooth bounded domain, isthe outward unit normal to , is regarded as a parameter and0 < p < 1. We consider both cases where a(x) > 0 in or a(x) is allowed to vanish in a whole subdomain ₀ of . Ourmain results include existence of non-negative non-trivial solutionsin the range 0 < < ₁, where ₁ is characterized by meansof an eigenvalue problem, uniqueness and bifurcation from infinityof such solutions for small , and the appearance of dead coresfor large enough .     

Fitted and Unfitted Finite-Element Methods for Elliptic Equations with Smooth Interfaces

This paper considers the finite-element approximation of theelliptic interface problem: -?(u) + cu = f in Rⁿ (n = 2 or3), with u = 0 on , where is discontinuous across a smoothsurface in the interior of . First we show that, if the meshis isoparametrically fitted to using simplicial elements ofdegree k - 1, with k 2, then the standard Galerkin method achievesthe optimal rate of convergence in the H¹ and L² norms overthe approximations _l⁴ of _l where _{l 2}. Second, since itmay be computationally inconvenient to fit the mesh to , weanalyse a fully practical piecewise linear approximation ofa related penalized problem, as introduced by Babuska (1970),based on a mesh that is independent of . We show that, by choosingthe penalty parameter appropriately, this approximation convergesto u at the optimal rate in the H¹ norm over _l⁴ and in the L²norm over any interior domain _l^* satisfying _l^* _l^** _l⁴ for somedomain _l^**. Present address: School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences,University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH     

Finite groups in Stone-Cech compactifications

Let be an infinite cardinal and let G = ₂. Now let β Gbe the Stone–ech compactification of G as a discrete semigroup,and let =_<c_{β G} {xG\{0}:minsupp (x)}. We show that thesemigroup contains no nontrivial finite group.     

A reverse Denjoy theorem

Suppose that C₁ and C₂ are two simple curves joining 0 to ,non-intersecting in the finite plane except at 0 and enclosinga domain D which is such that, for all large r, has measure at most 2, where 0 < < .Suppose also that u is a non-constant subharmonic function inthe plane such that u(z) = B(|z|, u) for all large z C₁ C₂.Let A_D(r, u) = inf { u(z):z D and | z | = r }. It is shownthat if A_D(r, u) = O(1) (or A_D(r, u) = o(B(r, u))), then lim_r B(r, u)/r^/2 > 0 (or lim_r log B(r, u)/log r /2).     

On a theorem of K. Schmidt

Let Y be a locally compact group, Aut(Y) be the group of topologicalautomorphisms of Y and (Y) be the set of continuous positivedefinite functions on Y which have unit value at the identity.A function (Y²) is said to be of product type if there aresuch functions _j (Y) that (u, v) = ₁(u)₂(v). Define the mappingT: Y² Y² by the formula T(u, v) = (A₁ uA₂ v, A₃ u A₄ v), whereA_j Aut(Y), and assume that T is a one-to-one transform. K.Schmidt proved: (i) if both (u, v) and (T(u, v)) are of producttype, then the functions _j are infinitely divisible; (ii) ifY is Abelian, both (u, v) and (T(u, v)) are of product type,and (u, v) 0, then the functions _j are Gaussian. We show thatstatement (i), generally, is not valid, but K. Schmidt's proofholds true if (u, v) 0. We also give another proof of statement(ii). Our proof uses neither the Levy–Khinchin formulafor a continuous infinitely divisible positive definite functionnor (i) on which K. Schmidt's proof is based.     

Correction: Abelian Varieties defined over their Fields of Moduli, I

Bull London Math. Soc, 4 (1972), 370–372. The proof of the theorem contains an error. Before giving acorrect proof, we state two lemmas. LEMMA 1. Let K/k be a cyclic Galois extension of degree m, let generate Gal (K/k), and let (A, I, ) be defined over K. Supposethat there exists an isomorphism :(A,I,) (A, I, ) over K suchthat v^m–1 ... = 1, where v is the canonical isomorphism(A^m, I^m, ^m) (A, I, ). Then (A, I, ) has a model over k, whichbecomes isomorphic to (A, I, ) over K. Proof. This follows easily from [7], as is essentially explainedon p. 371. LEMMA 2. Let G be an abelian pro-finite group and let : G Q/Z be a continuous character of G whose image has order p.Then either: (a) there exist subgroups G' and H of G such that H is cyclicof order p^m for some m, (G') = 0, and G = G' x H, or (b) for any m > 0 there exists a continuous character m ofG such that p^m _m = . Proof. If (b) is false for a given m, then there exists an element G, of order p^r for some r m, such that () ¦ 0. (Considerthe sequence dual to 0 Ker (p^m) G ^pm G). There exists an opensubgroup G_o of G such that (G₀) = 0 and has order p^r in G/G₀.Choose H to be the subgroup of G generated by , and then aneasy application to G/G₀ of the theory of finite abelian groupsshows the existence of G' (note that () ¦ 0 implies that is not a p-th. power in G). We now prove the theorem. The proof is correct up to the statement(iv) (except that (i) should read: F' k₁ F'ab). To removea minor ambiguity in the proof of (iv), choose to be an elementof Gal (F'_ab/k₂) whose image $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$ in Gal (k₁/k₂) generates this last group. The error occursin the statement that the canonical map v : A^P A acts on pointsby sending a^p a; it, of course, sends a a. The proof is correct, however, in the case that it is possibleto choose so that ^p = 1 (in Gal (F'/k₂)). By applying Lemma 2 to G = Gal (F'_ab/k₂) and the map G Gal(k₁/k₂) one sees that only the following two cases have to beconsidered. (a) It is possible to choose so that ^pm = 1, for some m, andG = G' x H where G' acts trivially on k₁ and H is generatedby . (b) For any m > 0 there exists a field K, F'ab K k₁ k₂is a cyclic Galois extension of degree p^m. In the first case, we let K F'_ab be the fixed field of G'.Then (A, I, ), regarded as being defined over K, has a modelover k₂. Indeed, if m = 1, then this was observed above, butwhen m > 1 the same argument applies. In the second case, let : (A, I, ) (A$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$, I$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$, $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$) be an isomorphism defined over k₁ and let v ... ^p–1 = µ(R). If is replaced by for some Aut_k1((A, I, )) then is replacedby ^P. Thus, as µ(R) is finite, we may assume that ^pm–1= 1 for some m. Choose K, as in (b), to be of degree p^m overk₂. Let _m be a generator of Gal (K/k₂) whose restriction tok₁ is $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$. Then : (A, I, ) (A^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$}, I^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$}, ^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$} = (A^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$m}, I^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$m}, ^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$m} is an isomorphism defined over K and v ^mpm–1, ... ^m =^pm–1 = 1, and so, by) Lemma 1, (A, I, ) has a model overk₂ which becomes isomorphic to (A, I, over K. The proof may now be completed as before. Addendum: Professor Shimura has pointed out to me that the claimon lines 25 and 26 of p. 371, viz that µ(R) is a puresubgroup of _R^*t, does not hold for all rings R. Thus this condition,which appears to be essential for the validity of the theorem,should be included in the hypotheses. It holds, for example,if µ(R) is a direct summand of µ(F).     

An Example on Sobolev Space Approximation

For each d2 we construct a connected open set R^d such that = int (clos()), and for each k 1 and each p [1, ), the subsetW^k, () fails to be dense in the Sobolev space W^{k, p}(), in thenorm of W^{k, p}(). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 46E35,46F05.     

The Model Plasma Problem: Existence of a Solution Branch

We are interested in the model plasma problem –u = u⁺in ,u = –d on , _au⁺ dx=j where is a bounded domain in with boundary ; here, j isa given positive number, the function u and the positive number are the unknowns of the problem, and d is a real parameter.Using a variant of the implicit function theorem, we can provethe existence of a global solution branch parametrized by d.The method has the advantage that it can be used for analysingthe approximation of the above problem by a finite-element method.