On operad structures of moduli spaces and string theory

We construct a real compactification of the moduli space of punctured rational algebraic curves and show how its geometry yields operads governing homotopy Lie algebras, gravity algebras and Batalin-Vilkovisky algebras. These algebras appeared recently in the context of string theory, and we give a simple deduction of these algebraic structures from the formal axioms of conformal field theory and string theory.To the memory of Ansgar SchnizerResearch supported by an NSF Postdoctoral Research FellowshipResearch supported in part by NSF grant DMS-9206929 and a Research and Study Leave from the University of North Carolina-Chapel HillResearch supported in part by NSF grant DMS-9108269.A03     

Pfaffian bundles and the Ising model

An infinite volume Pfaffian formalism is developed for the Ising model.Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8421289     

Conjugacies for Tiling Dynamical Systems

We consider tiling dynamical systems and topological conjugacies between them. We prove that the criterion of being of finite type is invariant under topological conjugacy. For substitution tiling systems under rather general conditions, including the Penrose and pinwheel systems, we show that substitutions are invertible and that conjugacies are generalized sliding block codes.Research supported in part by NSF Vigre Grant DMS-0091946Research supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-0071643 and Texas ARP Grant 003658-158Acknowledgement The authors are grateful for the support of the Banff International Research Station, at which we formulated and proved Theorem 3.     

On multivortices in the electroweak theory II: Existence of Bogomol'nyi solutions in ℝ2

In this paper we study the Bogomol'nyi equations of the electroweak theory in the full plane. We will show that, for any distribution of the vortices, there exists a two parameter family of gauge-distinct solutions. Moreover, we also establish some sharp decay rate estimates for these solutions.Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-88-02858 and DOE grant DE-FG02-86ER250125     

Why instantons are monopoles

It is shown that instantons are hyperbolic monopoles for the loop group with non-maximal symmetry breaking at infinity.Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8506130     

On the Averages of Characteristic Polynomials From Classical Groups

We provide an elementary and self-contained derivation of formulae for averages of products and ratios of characteristic polynomials of random matrices from classical groups using classical results due to Weyl and Littlewood. The first author was supported in part by the NSF grant FRG DMS-0354662. The second author was supported in part by the NSF postdoctoral fellowship and by the NSF grant DMS-0501245.     

A Genus-3 Topological Recursion Relation

In this paper, we give a new genus-3 topological recursion relation for Gromov-Witten invariants of compact symplectic manifolds. This formula also applies to intersection numbers on moduli spaces of spin curves. A by-product of the proof of this formula is a new relation in the tautological ring of the moduli space of 1-pointed genus-3 stable curves. Research of the first author was partially supported by NSF grant DMS-0204824 Research of the second author was partially supported by NSF grant DMS-0505835     

On algebraic equations satisfied by hypergeometric correlators in WZW models. I

It is proven that integral expressions for conformal correlators insl(2) WZW model found in [SV] satisfy certain natural algebraic equations. This implies that the above integrals really take their values in spaces of conformal blocks.The second author was supported in part by the NSF grant DMS-9202280. The third author was supported in part by the NSF grant DMS-9203939     

Regularity of harmonic maps with prescribed singularities

In this paper, we studied the regularity problem for harmonic maps into hyperbolic spaces with prescribed singularities along codimension two submanifolds. This is motivated from one of Hawking's conjectures on the uniqueness of Kerr solutions among all axially symmetric asymptotically flat stationary solutions to the vacuum Einstein equation in general relativity.Research partially supported by a NSF grant DMS-8907849.Research partially supported by a NSF grant     

Precise Constants in Bosonization Formulas on Riemann Surfaces. I

A computation of the constant appearing in the spin-1 bosonization formula is given. This constant relates Faltings’ delta invariant to the zeta-regularized determinant of the Laplace operator with respect to the Arakelov metric. Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-0505512.     

The spectrum of the kinematic dynamo operator for an ideally conducting fluid

The spectrum of the kinematic dynamo operator for an ideally conducting fluid and the spectrum of the corresponding group acting in the space of continuous divergence free vector fields on a compact Riemannian manifold are described. We prove that the spectrum of the kinematic dynamo operator is exactly one vertical strip whose boundaries can be determined in terms of the Lyapunov-Oseledets exponents with respect to all ergodic measures for the Eulerian flow. Also, we prove that the spectrum of the corresponding group is obtained from the spectrum of its generator by exponentiation. In particular, the growth bound for the group coincides with the spectral bound for the generator.supported by the NSF grant DMS-9303767supported by the NSF grant DMS-9400518 and by the Summer Research Fellowship of the University of Missourisupported by the NSF grant DMS-9201357     

Are there chaotic tilings?

We develop a class of examples in the form of tiling dynamical systems for use as toy models in statistical mechanics, to analyze the possible existence of disordered crystals. We give the first such models which are disordered in the sense of having no discrete spectrum.Research supported in part by a grant from the Israel Science and Technology MinistryResearch supported in part by NSF Grant No. DMS-9001475     

Completely integrable gradient flows

In this paper we exhibit the Toda lattice equations in a double bracket form which shows they are gradient flow equations (on their isospectral set) on an adjoint orbit of a compact Lie group. Representations for the flows are given and a convexity result associated with a momentum map is proved. Some general properties of the double bracket equations are demonstrated, including a discussion of their invariant subspaces, and their function as a Lie algebraic sorter.Supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-90-02136, NSF PYI Grant DMS-9157556, and a Seed Grant from Ohio State UniversitySupported in part by AFOSR grant AFOSR-96-0197, by U.S. Army Research Office grant DAAL03-86-K-0171 and by NSF grant CDR-85-00108Supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-8922699     

Random walk in random environment: A counterexample?

We describe a family of random walks in random environments which have exponentially decaying correlations, nearest neighbor transition probabilities which are bounded away from 0, and yet are subdiffusive in any dimensiond<.This author partially supported by NSF grant DMS 83-1080This author partially supported by NSF grant DMS-85-05020 and the Army Research Office through the Mathematical Sciences Institute at Cornell University     

Kac-Moody monopoles and periodic instantons

It is shown that calorons, or periodic instantons are the same as monopoles with the loop group as their structure group. Their twistor correspondences and spectral data are defined. The spectral data is shown to determine the general caloron.Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8506130     

An Integral Spectral Representation of the Propagator for the Wave Equation in the Kerr Geometry

We consider the scalar wave equation in the Kerr geometry for Cauchy data which is smooth and compactly supported outside the event horizon. We derive an integral representation which expresses the solution as a superposition of solutions of the radial and angular ODEs which arise in the separation of variables. In particular, we prove completeness of the solutions of the separated ODEs. This integral representation is a suitable starting point for a detailed analysis of the long-time dynamics of scalar waves in the Kerr geometry. Research supported by NSERC grant # RGPIN 105490-2004. Research supported in part by the NSF, Grant No. DMS-010-3998. Research supported in part by the NSF, Grant No. 33-585-7510-2-30.     

Computer calculation of Witten's 3-manifold invariant

Witten's 2+1 dimensional Chern-Simons theory is exactly solvable. We compute the partition function, a topological invariant of 3-manifolds, on generalized Seifert spaces. Thus we test the path integral using the theory of 3-manifolds. In particular, we compare the exact solution with the asymptotic formula predicted by perturbation theory. We conclude that this path integral works as advertised and gives an effective topological invariant.The first author is supported by NSF grant DMS-8805684, an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, and a Presidential Young Investigators award. The second author is supported by NSF grant DMS-8902153     

Thickenings and conformal gravity

A twistor correspondence is given for complex conformal space-times with vanishing Bach and Eastwood-Dighton tensors; when the Weyl curvature is algebraically general, these equations are precisely the conformal version of Einstein's vacuum equations with cosmological constant. This gives a fully curved version of the linearized correspondence of Baston and Mason [B-M].Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8704401     

Elliptic quantum many-body problem and double affine Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation

The elliptic-matrix quantum Olshanetsky-Perelomov problem is introduced for arbitrary root systems by means of an elliptic version of the Dunkl operators. Its equivalence with the double affine generalization of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation (in the induced representations) is established.Partially supported by NSF grant number DMS-9301114 and UNC Research Counsel grant     

A Remark on Asymptotic Completeness for the Critical Nonlinear Klein-Gordon Equation

We give a short proof of asymptotic completeness and global existence for the cubic Nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation in one dimension. Our approach to dealing with the long range behavior of the asymptotic solution is by reducing it, in hyperbolic coordinates to the study of an ODE. Similar arguments extend to higher dimensions and other long range type nonlinear problems. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000): 35L15, 74J30, 76B15 ★ Part of this work was done while H.L. was a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, supported by the NSF grant DMS-0111298 to the Institute. H.L. was also partially supported by the NSF Grant DMS-0200226. † Also a member of the Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton. Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-0100490.