Ordinal Operations on Surreal Numbers

An open problem posed by John H. Conway in [2] was whether onecould, on his system of numbers and games, ‘... defineoperations of addition and multiplication which will restricton the ordinals to give their usual operations’. Sucha definition for addition was later given in [4], and this paperwill show that a definition also exists for multiplication.An ordinal exponentiation operation is also considered.     

ALPERIN'S CONJECTURE FOR ALGEBRAIC GROUPS

We prove analogues for reductive algebraic groups of some resultsfor finite groups due to Knörr and Robinson from ‘Someremarks on a conjecture of Alperin’, J. London Math. Soc(2) 39 (1989), 48–60, which play a central rôlein their reformulation of Alperin's conjecture for finite groups.     

The Kissing Numbers of Convex Bodies -- A Brief Survey

Nearly four hundred years ago, the cubic close-packing of equalspheres in R³ was discovered by Kepler [21], in which each spheretouches 12 others. In 1694, Gregory and Newton discussed thefollowing thirteen spheres problem. Can a rigid material spherebe brought into contact with 13 other such spheres of the samesize? Gregory believed ‘yes’, while Newton thought‘no’. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classication 11H31,52C17.     

Locally Nilpotent p-Groups whose Proper Subgroups are Hypercentral or Nilpotent-by-Chernikov

Let G be a group and P be a property of groups. If every propersubgroup of G satisfies P but G itself does not satisfy it,then G is called a minimal non-P group. In this work we studylocally nilpotent minimal non-P groups, where P stands for ‘hypercentral’or ‘nilpotent-by-Chernikov’. In the first case weshow that if G is a minimal non-hypercentral Fitting group inwhich every proper subgroup is solvable, then G is solvable(see Theorem 1.1 below). This result generalizes [3, Theorem1]. In the second case we show that if every proper subgroupof G is nilpotent-by-Chernikov, then G is nilpotent-by-Chernikov(see Theorem 1.3 below). This settles a question which was consideredin [1–3, 10]. Recently in [9], the non-periodic case ofthe above question has been settled but the same work containsan assertion without proof about the periodic case. The main results of this paper are given below (see also [13]).     

The Riemann Hypothesis and Inverse Spectral Problems for Fractal Strings

Motivated in part by the first author's work [23] on the Weyl-Berryconjecture for the vibrations of ‘fractal drums’(that is, ‘drums with fractal boundary’), M. L.Lapidus and C. Pomerance [31] have studied a direct spectralproblem for the vibrations of ‘fractal strings’(that is, one-dimensional ‘fractal drums’) and establishedin the process some unexpected connections with the Riemannzeta-function = (s) in the ‘critical interval’0 < s < 1. In this paper we show, in particular, thatthe converse of their theorem (suitably interpreted as a naturalinverse spectral problem for fractal strings, with boundaryof Minkowski fractal dimension D (0,1)) is not true in the‘midfractal’ case when D = , but that it is true for all other D in the criticalinterval (0,1) if and only if the Riemann hypothesis is true.We thus obtain a new characterization of the Riemann hypothesisby means of an inverse spectral problem. (Actually, we provethe following stronger result: for a given D (0,1), the aboveinverse spectral problem is equivalent to the ‘partialRiemann hypothesis’ for D, according to which = (s)does not have any zero on the vertical line Re s = D.) Therefore,in some very precise sense, our work shows that the question(à la Marc Kac) "Can one hear the shape of a fractalstring?" – now interpreted as a suitable converse (namely,the above inverse problem) – is intimately connected withthe existence of zeros of = (s) in the critical strip 0 <Res < 1, and hence to the Riemann hypothesis.     

On the Analytic Order-Preserving Discrete-Time Dynamical Systems in Rn with every Fixed Point Stable

This paper studies the asymptotic behaviour of an analytic order-preservingdiscrete-time dynamical system in Rⁿ, which is usually generatedby a periodic cooperative system. The author proves that forsuch a dynamical system, if every fixed point is Liapunov stableand every positive semi-orbit has compact closure, then everypositive semi-orbit converges. This result does not requirethe assumption ‘strongly’ and gives an affirmativeanswer to the conjecture proposed by the author in [17] forthe analytic case.     

The (Q, q)-Schur Algebra

In this paper we use the Hecke algebra of type B to define anew algebra S which is an analogue of the q-Schur algebra. Weshow that S has ‘generic’ basis which is independentof the choice of ring and the parameters q and Q. We then constructWeyl modules for S and obtain, as factor modules, a family ofirreducible S-modules defined over any field. 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification: 16G99, 20C20, 20G05.     

Bounds on the extensional strains in elastic homogeneous crystals under simple tension

Within the context of the linearized theory of elasticity, weconsider homogeneous crystals, which have orthorhombic, tetragonal,hexagonal symmetry or cubic symmetry (‘RTHC’ crystals).When such a crystal is subjected to a simple tension (or compression)of amount T in the direction n, there will be three, generallydifferent, extensional strains along the three mutually perpendiculardirections corresponding to the principal axes of strain. Thepurpose of this paper is to present a simple procedure to placebounds, upper and lower, on the possible extensional strainsin the crystal, both in the case when n is fixed in directionand in the case when n is arbitrary. The procedure allows usto determine whether the bounds are attained or not.     

Splendid Derived Equivalences for Blocks of Finite Groups

A central issue in finite group modular representation theoryis the relationship between the p-local structure and the p-modularrepresentation theory of a given finite group. In [5], Brouéposes some startling conjectures. For example, he conjecturesthat if e is a p-block of a finite group G with abelian defectgroup D and if f is the Brauer correspondent block of e of thenormalizer, N_G(D), of D then e and f have equivalent derivedcategories over a complete discrete valuation ring with residuefield of characteristic p. Some evidence for this conjecturehas been obtained using an important Morita analog for derivedcategories of Rickard [11]. This result states that the existenceof a tilting complex is a necessary and sufficient conditionfor the equivalence of two derived categories. In [5], Brouéalso defines an equivalence on the character level between p-blockse and f of finite groups G and H that he calls a ‘perfectisometry’ and he demonstrates that it is a consequenceof a derived category equivalence between e and f. In [5], Brouéalso poses a corresponding perfect isometry conjecture betweena p-block e of a finite group G with an abelian defect groupD and its Brauer correspondent p-block f of N_G(D) and presentsseveral examples of this phenomena. Subsequent research hasprovided much more evidence for this character-level conjecture. In many known examples of a perfect isometry between p-blockse, f of finite groups G, H there are also perfect isometriesbetween p-blocks of p-local subgroups corresponding to e andf and these isometries are compatible in a precise sense. In[5], Broué calls such a family of compatible perfectisometries an ‘isotypy’. In [11], Rickard addresses the analogous question of defininga p-locally compatible family of derived equivalences. In thisimportant paper, he defines a ‘splendid tilting complex’for p-blocks e and f of finite groups G and H with a commonp-subgroup P. Then he demonstrates that if X is such a splendidtilting complex, if P is a Sylow p-subgroup of G and H and ifG and H have the same ‘p-local structure’, thenp-local splendid tilting complexes are obtained from X via theBrauer functor and ‘lifting’. Consequently, in thissituation, we obtain an isotypy when e and f are the principalblocks of G and H. Linckelmann [9] and Puig [10] have also obtained important resultsin this area. In this paper, we refine the methods and program of [11] toobtain variants of some of the results of [11] that have widerapplicability. Indeed, suppose that the blocks e and f of Gand H have a common defect group D. Suppose also that X is asplendid tilting complex for e and f and that the p-local structureof (say) H with respect to D is contained in that of G, thenthe Brauer functor, lifting and ‘cutting’ by blockindempotents applied to X yield local block tilting complexesand consequently an isotypy on the character level. Since thep-local structure containment hypothesis is satisfied, for example,when H is a subgroup of G (as is the case in Broué'sconjectures) our results extend the applicability of these ideasand methods.     

Cores of Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds and Limits of Kleinian Groups II

Troels Jørgensen conjectured that the algebraic and geometriclimits of an algebraically convergent sequence of isomorphicKleinian groups agree if there are no new parabolics in thealgebraic limit. We prove that this conjecture holds in ‘most’cases. In particular, we show that it holds when the domainof discontinuity of the algebraic limit of such a sequence isnon-empty (see Theorem 3.1). We further show, with the sameassumptions, that the limit sets of the groups in the sequenceconverge to the limit set of the algebraic limit. As a corollary,we verify the conjecture for finitely generated Kleinian groupswhich are not (non-trivial) free products of surface groupsand infinite cyclic groups (see Corollary 3.3). These resultsare extensions of similar results for purely loxodromic groupswhich can be found in [4]. Thurston [32] previously establishedthese results in the case when the Kleinian groups are freelyindecomposable (see also Ohshika [24, 25, 27]). Using differenttechniques from ours, Ohshika [26] has proven versions of theseresults for purely loxodromic function groups.     

Kazhdan-Lusztig Cells, q-Schur Algebras and James' Conjecture

We consider the Dipper–James q-Schur algebra S_q(n, r)_k,defined over a field k and with parameter q 0. An understandingof the representation theory of this algebra is of considerableinterest in the representation theory of finite groups of Lietype and quantum groups; see, for example, [6] and [11]. Itis known that S_q(n, r)_k is a semisimple algebra if q is nota root of unity. Much more interesting is the case when S_q(n,r)_k is not semisimple. Then we have a corresponding decompositionmatrix which records the multiplicities of the simple modulesin certain ‘standard modules’ (or ‘Weyl modules’).A major unsolved problem is the explicit determination of thesedecomposition matrices.     

Groups Quasi-Isometric to H2xR

The most powerful geometric tools are those of differentialgeometry, but to apply such techniques to finitely generatedgroups seems hopeless at first glance since the natural metricon a finitely generated group is discrete. However Gromov recognizedthat a group can metrically resemble a manifold in such a waythat geometric results about that manifold carry over to thegroup [18, 20]. This resemblance is formalized in the conceptof a ‘quasi-isometry’. This paper contributes toan ongoing program to understand which groups are quasi-isometricto which simply connected, homogeneous, Riemannian manifolds[15, 18, 20] by proving that any group quasi-isometric to H²xRis a finite extension of a cocompact lattice in Isom(H²xR) orIsom((2, R)).     

Interfacial instabilities and fingering formation in Hele-Shaw flow

The interfacial instability of Hele-Shaw flow has been a crucialissue for the understanding of the pattern formation of viscousfingers in a Hele-Shaw cell. By using a unified asymptotic approach,we derive two different types of instability mechanisms for‘slightly’ time-dependent finger solutions; namely,(i) the global-trapped-wave (GTW) instability; and (ii) thezero-frequency (null-f) instability. On the basis of these instabilitymechanisms, the selection of viscous finger formation is clarified;the apparent contradiction between the previous linearstabilityanalysis by Tanveer (1987, Phys. Fluid 30, 1589) and othersand the numerical simulations by DeGregoria & Schwartz (1986,J. Fluid Mech. 164, 383)and the experimental evidence is reconciled.     

THE DENSITY OF INTEGRAL POINTS ON COMPLETE INTERSECTIONS

In this paper, an upper bound for the number of integral pointsof bounded height on an affine complete intersection definedover is proven. The proof uses an extension to complete intersectionsof the method used for hypersurfaces by Heath-Brown (The densityof rational points on non-singular hypersurfaces, Proc. IndianAcad. Sci. Math. Sci. 104 (1994) 13–29), the so called‘q-analogue’ of van der Corput's AB process.     

Burns' Equivariant Tamagawa Invariant T{Omega}loc(N/Q,1) for some Quaternion Fields

Inspired by the work of Bloch and Kato in [2], David Burns constructedseveral ‘equivariant Tamagawa invariants’ associatedto motives of number fields. These invariants lie in relativeK-groups of group-rings of Galois groups, and in [3] Burns gaveseveral conjectures (see Conjecture 3.1) about their values.In this paper I shall verify Burns' conjecture concerning theinvariant T^loc(N/Q,1) for some families of quaternion extensionsN/Q. Using the results of [9] I intend in a subsequent paperto verify Burns' conjecture for those families of quaternionfields which are not covered here.     

Shape-preserving interpolation by G1 and G2 PH quintic splines

The interpolation of a planar sequence of points p₀, ..., p_Nby shape-preserving G¹ or G² PH quintic splines with specifiedend conditions is considered. The shape-preservation propertyis secured by adjusting ‘tension’ parameters thatarise upon relaxing parametric continuity to geometric continuity.In the G² case, the PH spline construction is based on applyingNewton–Raphson iterations to a global system of equations,commencing with a suitable initialization strategy—thisgeneralizes the construction described previously in NumericalAlgorithms 27, 35–60 (2001). As a simpler and cheaperalternative, a shape-preserving G¹ PH quintic spline schemeis also introduced. Although the order of continuity is lower,this has the advantage of allowing construction through purelylocal equations.     

A queueing model of activities in an intensive care unit

^** Email: griffiths{at}cardiff.ac.uk Activities in an intensive care unit (ICU) at a major teachinghospital are modelled by means of a queue-theoretic approach.Using data supplied by the ICU relating to the admissions process,the bed availability and the length of stay of patients, itwas possible to fit theoretical distributions to the observed‘arrival’ and ‘service’ distributions.Queueing equations relevant to a multi-channel system havingrandom arrivals and hyper-exponential service times for eachchannel are set up, and solved iteratively. Results obtainedmatch well with observations, and the model is then utilisedto investigate several ‘what if? ’ scenarios. Referenceis made to a simulation model developed in conjunction withthe queueing model.     

Parameter-free H(div) preconditioning for a mixed finite element formulation of diffusion problems

^** Email: c.powell{at}manchester.ac.uk Mixed finite element formulations of generalised diffusion problemsyield linear systems with ill-conditioned, symmetric and indefinitecoefficient matrices. Preconditioners with optimal work complexitythat do not rely on artificial parameters are essential. Weimplement lowest order Raviart–Thomas elements and analysepractical issues associated with so-called ‘H(div) preconditioning’.Properties of the exact scheme are discussed in Powell &Silvester (2003, SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl., 25, 718–738).We extend the discussion, here, to practical implementation,the components of which are any available multilevel solverfor a weighted H(div) operator and a pressure mass matrix. Anew bound is established for the eigenvalue spectrum of thepreconditioned system matrix and extensive numerical resultsare presented.     

Quadratisation de Certaines Structures de Poisson

On sait associer à certaines structures de Poisson surRⁿ, de 1-jet nul en 0, des actions de R² sur Rⁿ, donnéespar le ‘rotationnel’ de leur partie quadratiqueet un autre champ de vecteurs. Lorsque ces actions sont ‘nonrésonantes’ et ‘hyperboliques’, onmontre que ces structures sont ‘quadratisables’,en ce sens qu'il existe des coordonnées dans lesquelles,elles sont quadratiques. Dans le cas de la dimension 3, nosrésultats mènent à la ‘non-dégénérescence’générique des structures de Poisson quadratiquesà rotationnels inversibles. We can associate with some Poisson structures defined on Rⁿwith a zero 1-jet at zero, actions from R² on Rⁿ, given by the‘curl’ of their quadratic part and another vectorfield. Assuming that those actions are ‘hyperbolics’and without ‘resonances’, we give a normal formfor those structures. On R³, we prove that every quadratic Poissonstructure with invertible curl, is generically ‘non degenerate’.