Constant-sign and sign-changing solutions for nonlinear eigenvalue problems

We prove the existence of multiple constant-sign and sign-changing solutions for a nonlinear elliptic eigenvalue problem under Dirichlet boundary condition involving the p$p$-Laplacian. More precisely, we establish the existence of a positive solution, of a negative solution, and of a nontrivial sign-changing solution when the eigenvalue parameter λ$\lambda$ is greater than the second eigenvalue _λ2${\lambda }_2$ of the negative p$p$-Laplacian, extending results by Ambrosetti–Lupo, Ambrosetti–Mancini, and Struwe. Our approach relies on a combined use of variational and topological tools (such as, e.g., critical points, Mountain-Pass theorem, second deformation lemma, variational characterization of the first and second eigenvalue of the p$p$-Laplacian) and comparison arguments for nonlinear differential inequalities. In particular, the existence of extremal nontrivial constant-sign solutions plays an important role in the proof of sign-changing solutions.     

Frobenius groups and retract rationality

Let k$k$ be any field, G$G$ be a finite group acting on the rational function field k(_xg:g∈G)$k(x_g:g\in G)$ by h⋅_xg=_xhg$h\cdot x_g=x_{hg}$ for any h,g∈G$h,g\in G$. Define k(G)=k(_xg:g∈G)^G$k\left(G\right)=k{(x_g:g\in G)}^G$. Noether’s problem asks whether k(G)$k\left(G\right)$ is rational (= purely transcendental) over k$k$. A weaker notion, retract rationality introduced by Saltman, is also very useful for the study of Noether’s problem. We prove that, if G$G$ is a Frobenius group with abelian Frobenius kernel, then k(G)$k\left(G\right)$ is retract k$k$-rational for any field k$k$ satisfying some mild conditions. As an application, we show that, for any algebraic number field k$k$, for any Frobenius group G$G$ with Frobenius complement isomorphic to S_L2(_F5)$S{L}_2\left({\mathbb{F}}_5\right)$, there is a Galois extension field K$K$ over k$k$ whose Galois group is isomorphic to G$G$, i.e. the inverse Galois problem is valid for the pair (G,k)$(G,k)$. The same result is true for any non-solvable Frobenius group if k(_ζ8)$k\left({\zeta }_8\right)$ is a cyclic extension of k$k$.     

Fundamental solution of a higher step Grushin type operator

We examine a class of Grushin type operators _Pk$P_k$ where k∈_N0$k\in {\mathbb{N}}_0$ defined in (1.1). The operators _Pk$P_k$ are non-elliptic and degenerate on a sub-manifold of R^N+?${\mathbb{R}}^{N+?}$. Geometrically they arise via a submersion from a sub-Laplace operator on a nilpotent Lie group of step k+1$k+1$. We explain the geometric framework and prove some analytic properties such as essential self-adjointness. The main purpose of the paper is to give an explicit expression of the fundamental solution of _Pk$P_k$. Our methods rely on an appropriate change of coordinates and involve the theory of Bessel and modified Bessel functions together with Weber's second exponential integral.     

Weak convergence of censored and reflected stable processes

It is shown that if a sequence of open n$n$-sets _Dk$D_k$ increases to an open n$n$-set D$D$ then reflected stable processes in _Dk$D_k$ converge weakly to the reflected stable process in D$D$ for every starting point x$x$ in D$D$. The same result holds for censored α$\alpha$-stable processes for every x$x$ in D$D$ if D$D$ and _Dk$D_k$ satisfy the uniform Hardy inequality. Using the method in the proof of the above results, we also prove the weak convergence of reflected Brownian motions in unbounded domains.     

The scaling limit of Poisson-driven order statistics with applications in geometric probability

Let _ηt${\eta }_t$ be a Poisson point process of intensity t≥1$t\ge 1$ on some state space Y$\mathbb{Y}$ and let f$f$ be a non-negative symmetric function on Y^k${\mathbb{Y}}^k$ for some k≥1$k\ge 1$. Applying f$f$ to all k$k$-tuples of distinct points of _ηt${\eta }_t$ generates a point process _ξt${\xi }_t$ on the positive real half-axis. The scaling limit of _ξt${\xi }_t$ as t$t$ tends to infinity is shown to be a Poisson point process with explicitly known intensity measure. From this, a limit theorem for the m$m$-th smallest point of _ξt${\xi }_t$ is concluded. This is strengthened by providing a rate of convergence. The technical background includes Wiener–Itô chaos decompositions and the Malliavin calculus of variations on the Poisson space as well as the Chen–Stein method for Poisson approximation. The general result is accompanied by a number of examples from geometric probability and stochastic geometry, such as k$k$-flats, random polytopes, random geometric graphs and random simplices. They are obtained by combining the general limit theorem with tools from convex and integral geometry.     

Parametric inference for discretely observed multidimensional diffusions with small diffusion coefficient

We consider a multidimensional diffusion X$X$ with drift coefficient b(α,_Xt)$b(\alpha ,X_t)$ and diffusion coefficient ?σ(β,_Xt)$?\sigma (\beta ,X_t)$. The diffusion sample path is discretely observed at times _tk=kΔ$t_k=k\Delta$ for k=1…n$k=1\dots n$ on a fixed interval [0,T]$[0,T]$. We study minimum contrast estimators derived from the Gaussian process approximating X$X$ for small ?$?$. We obtain consistent and asymptotically normal estimators of α$\alpha$ for fixed Δ$\Delta$ and ?→0$?\to 0$ and of (α,β)$(\alpha ,\beta )$ for Δ→0$\Delta \to 0$ and ?→0$?\to 0$ without any condition linking ?$?$ and Δ$\Delta$. We compare the estimators obtained with various methods and for various magnitudes of Δ$\Delta$ and ?$?$ based on simulation studies. Finally, we investigate the interest of using such methods in an epidemiological framework.     

Which finite simple groups are unit groups?

We prove that if G$G$ is a finite simple group which is the unit group of a ring, then G$G$ is isomorphic to: (a) a cyclic group of order 2; or (b) a cyclic group of prime order 2^k−1$2^k-1$ for some k$k$; or (c) a projective special linear group _PSLn(_F2)${PSL}_n\left({\mathbb{F}}_2\right)$ for some n≥3$n\ge 3$. Moreover, these groups do all occur as unit groups. We deduce this classification from a more general result, which holds for groups G$G$ with no non-trivial normal 2-subgroup.     

A boundary blow-up elliptic problem with an inhomogeneous term

By a perturbation method and constructing comparison functions, we reveal how the inhomogeneous term h$h$ affects the exact asymptotic behaviour of solutions near the boundary to the problem △u=b(x)g(u)+λh(x)$△u=b\left(x\right)g\left(u\right)+\lambda h\left(x\right)$, u>0$u>0$ in Ω$\Omega$, u_|∂Ω=∞$u{|}_{\partial \Omega }=\infty$, where Ω$\Omega$ is a bounded domain with smooth boundary in R^N${\mathbb{R}}^N$, λ>0$\lambda >0$, g∈C¹[0,∞)$g\in C^1[0,\infty )$ is increasing on [0,∞)$[0,\infty )$, g(0)=0$g\left(0\right)=0$, g^′$g^{\prime }$ is regularly varying at infinity with positive index ρ$\rho$, the weight b$b$, which is non-trivial and non-negative in Ω$\Omega$, may be vanishing on the boundary, and the inhomogeneous term h$h$ is non-negative in Ω$\Omega$ and may be singular on the boundary.     

The relaxed Newton method derivative: Its dynamics and non-linear properties

The dynamic behaviour of the one-dimensional family of maps f(x)=_c2[(a−1)x+_c1]^{−λ/(α−1)}$f\left(x\right)=c_2{[(a-1)x+c_1]}^{-\lambda /(\alpha -1)}$ is examined, for representative values of the control parameters a,_c1$a,c_1$, _c2$c_2$ and λ$\lambda$. The maps under consideration are of special interest, since they are solutions of the relaxed Newton method derivative being equal to a constant a$a$. The maps f(x)$f\left(x\right)$ are also proved to be solutions of a non-linear differential equation with outstanding applications in the field of power electronics. The recurrent form of these maps, after excessive iterations, shows, in an _xn$x_n$ versus λ$\lambda$ plot, an initial exponential decay followed by a bifurcation. The value of λ$\lambda$ at which this bifurcation takes place depends on the values of the parameters a,_c1$a,c_1$ and _c2$c_2$. This corresponds to a switch to an oscillatory behaviour with amplitudes of f(x)$f\left(x\right)$ undergoing a period doubling. For values of a$a$ higher than 1 and at higher values of λ$\lambda$ a reverse bifurcation occurs. The corresponding branches converge and a bleb is formed for values of the parameter _c1$c_1$ between 1 and 1.20. This behaviour is confirmed by calculating the corresponding Lyapunov exponents.     

A note on distance-regular graphs with a small number of vertices compared to the valency

In this note we study distance-regular graphs with a small number of vertices compared to the valency. We show that for a given α>2$\alpha >2$, there are finitely many distance-regular graphs Γ$\Gamma$ with valency k$k$, diameter D≥3$D\ge 3$ and v$v$ vertices satisfying v≤αk$v\le \alpha k$ unless (D=3$D=3$ and Γ$\Gamma$ is imprimitive) or (D=4$D=4$ and Γ$\Gamma$ is antipodal and bipartite). We also show, as a consequence of this result, that there are finitely many distance-regular graphs with valency k≥3$k\ge 3$, diameter D≥3$D\ge 3$ and _c2≥εk$c_2\ge \epsilon k$ for a given 0<ε<1$0<\epsilon <1$ unless (D=3$D=3$ and Γ$\Gamma$ is imprimitive) or (D=4$D=4$ and Γ$\Gamma$ is antipodal and bipartite).     

The Helmholtz equation in a non-smooth inclusion

In this paper, we study the Helmholtz equation in a non-smooth inclusion, i.e., in a doubly connected bounded domain B$B$ in R²$R^2$ with boundary ∂B$\partial B$ that consists of two disjoint closed curves Γ$\Gamma$ and _Γ0${\Gamma }_0$. The existence and uniqueness of a solution to the Helmholtz equation for mixed boundary conditions on Γ$\Gamma$ are obtained by using Riesz–Fredholm theory.     

Characterizations of hypersurfaces of a Danielewski type

Let k$k$ be a field of characteristic zero and R$R$ a factorial affine k$k$-domain. Let B$B$ be an affineR$R$-domain. In terms of locally nilpotent derivations, we give criteria for B$B$ to be R$R$-isomorphic to the residue ring of a polynomial ring R[_X1,_X2,Y]$R[X_1,X_2,Y]$ over R$R$ by the ideal (_X1X2−φ(Y))$(X_1{X}_2-\phi \left(Y\right))$ for φ(Y)∈R[Y]?R$\phi \left(Y\right)\in R\left[Y\right]?R$.     

On the least distance eigenvalue of a graph

Denote by D(G)=_(di,j)n×n$D(G)={(d_{i,j})}_{n\times n}$ the distance matrix of a connected graph G with n   vertices, where _dij$d_{ij}$ is equal to the distance between vertices _vi$v_i$ and _vj$v_j$ in G  . The least eigenvalue of D(G)$D(G)$ is called the least distance eigenvalue of G  , denoted by _λn${\lambda }_n$. In this paper, we determine all the graphs with _λn∈[−2.383,0]${\lambda }_n\in [-2.383,0]$.     

Minimum degree and disjoint cycles in generalized claw-free graphs

For s≥3$s\ge 3$ a graph is _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free if it does not contain an induced subgraph isomorphic to _K1,s$K_{1,s}$. Cycles in _K1,3$K_{1,3}$-free graphs, called claw-free graphs, have been well studied. In this paper we extend results on disjoint cycles in claw-free graphs satisfying certain minimum degree conditions to _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free graphs, normally called generalized claw-free graphs. In particular, we prove that if G$G$ is _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free of sufficiently large order n=3k$n=3k$ with δ(G)≥n/2+c$\delta \left(G\right)\ge n/2+c$ for some constant c=c(s)$c=c\left(s\right)$, then G$G$ contains k$k$ disjoint triangles. Analogous results with the complete graph _K3$K_3$ replaced by a complete graph _Km$K_m$ for m≥3$m\ge 3$ will be proved. Also, the existence of 2$2$-factors for _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free graphs with minimum degree conditions will be shown.     

Finite order spreading models

Extending the classical notion of spreading model, the k$k$-spreading models of a Banach space are introduced, for every k∈N$k\in \mathbb{N}$. The definition, which is based on the k$k$-sequences and plegma families, reveals a new class of spreading sequences associated to a Banach space. Most of the results of the classical theory are stated and proved in the higher order setting. Moreover, new phenomena like the universality of the class of the 2-spreading models of _c0$c_0$ and the composition property are established. As consequence, a problem concerning the structure of the k$k$-iterated spreading models is solved.     

Concentration and multiplicity of solutions for a fourth-order equation with critical nonlinearity

In this paper, we consider the problem (_Pε)$(P_{\epsilon })$ : Δ²u=u^n+4/n-4+εu,u>0${\mathrm{\Delta }}^{2}u=u^{n+4/n-4}+\epsilon u,u>0$ in Ω,u=Δu=0$\Omega ,u=\mathrm{\Delta }u=0$ on ∂Ω$\mathrm{\partial }\Omega$, where Ω$\Omega$ is a bounded and smooth domain in Rⁿ,n>8${\mathbb{R}}^n,n>8$ and ε>0$\epsilon >0$. We analyze the asymptotic behavior of solutions of (_Pε)$(P_{\epsilon })$ which are minimizing for the Sobolev inequality as ε→0$\epsilon \to 0$ and we prove existence of solutions to (_Pε)$(P_{\epsilon })$ which blow up and concentrate around a critical point of the Robin's function. Finally, we show that for ε$\epsilon$ small, (_Pε)$(P_{\epsilon })$ has at least as many solutions as the Ljusternik–Schnirelman category of Ω$\Omega$.