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.     

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).     

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.     

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.     

Bounds for the Independence Number of Critical Graphs

In 1968 Vizing conjectured that any independent vertex set ofan edge-chromatic critical graph G contains at most half ofthe vertices of G, that is, (G|(G)|). Let be the maximum vertexdegree in a critical graph. For each , we determine c() suchthat (G)c()|V)|. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 05C15,05C70.     

The Series of Norms in a Soluble p-Group

The norm of a group G is the subgroup of elements of G whichnormalise every subgroup of G. We shall denote it (G). An ascendingseries of subgroups _i(G) in G may be defined recursively by:₀(G) = 1 and, for i 0, _i+1(G)/_i(G) = (G/_i(G)). For each i,the section _i+1(G)/i(G) clearly contains the centre of the groupG/_i(G). A result of Schenkman [8] gives a very close connectionbetween this norm series and the upper central series: _i(G) _i(G) _2i(G). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20E15.     

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).     

Frame duality properties for projective unitary representations

Let be a projective unitary representation of a countable groupG on a separable Hilbert space H. If the set B of Bessel vectorsfor is dense in H, then for any vector x H the analysis operator_x makes sense as a densely defined operator from B to ²(G)-space.Two vectors x and y are called -orthogonal if the range spacesof _x and _y are orthogonal, and they are -weakly equivalent ifthe closures of the ranges of _x and _y are the same. These propertiesare characterized in terms of the commutant of the representation.It is proved that a natural geometric invariant (the orthogonalityindex) of the representation agrees with the cyclic multiplicityof the commutant of (G). These results are then applied to Gaborsystems. A sample result is an alternate proof of the knowntheorem that a Gabor sequence is complete in L²( ^d) ifand only if the corresponding adjoint Gabor sequence is ²-linearlyindependent. Some other applications are also discussed.     

On the Behaviour of the First Eigenfunction of the p-Laplacian Near its Critical Points

In this paper, the behaviour of the positive eigenfunction of in u_| = 0, p > 1, isstudied near its critical points. Under some convexity and symmetryassumptions on , is seen to have a unique critical point atx = 0; also, the behaviour of both and is determined nearby.Positive solutions u to some general problems –_pu = f(u)in , u_| = 0, are also considered, with some convexity restrictionson u. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 35B05 (primary),35J65, 35J70 (secondary).     

On the Efficiency of Coxeter Groups

If G is a finitely presented group and K is any (G,2)-complex(that is, a finite 2-complex with fundamental group G), thenit is well known that X(K) (G), where (G) = 1–rk H₁G+ dH₂G. We define (G) to be min{(K): K a (G, 2)-complex}, andwe say that G is efficient if (G)=(G). In this paper we givesufficient conditions for a Coxeter group to be efficient (Theorem4.2). We also give examples of inefficient Coxeter groups (Theorem5.1). In fact, we give an infinite family G_n(n = 2, 3, 4, ...)of Coxeter groups such that (G_n)–(G_n) as n . 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification 20F05, 20F55.     

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 .     

The Glauberman Correspondence and Subgroups of Operator Groups: a Counterexample

Let G and A be finite groups with coprime orders, and supposethat A acts on G by automorphisms. Let (G, A):Irr_A(G)Irr(C_G(A))be the Glauberman–Isaacs correspondence. Let B A andIrr_A(G). We exhibit a counterexample to the conjecture that(G, A) is an irreducible constituent of the restriction of (G,B) to C_G(A). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20C15.     

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.     

Correction: on the Intersection Matrices of Curves lying on Irregular Algebraic Surfaces

Professor W. F. Hammond has kindly drawn my attention to a blunderin 4 of the above paper. He referred to the ( – 2r) xß submatrix D of the skew-symmetric matrix displayednear the top of page 181, of which it is asserted that it issquare and non-singular, and pointed out that, from the factthat the matrix of which D forms part is regular, it may onlybe deduced that the columns of D are linearly independent; thatis, it only follows that – 2r ß. The validity of the equation – 2r = ß is essentialto the succeeding argument and, fortunately, may be establishedby alternative means. Using the nomenclature of the paper, wehave on F the set ₁^*, ..., _2r^*, ₁^*, ..., _ß^* of independent3-cycles (independent because they cut independent 1-cycleson the curve C), which may be completed, to form a basis forsuch cycles on F, by a further set ₁', ..., _2q–2r–pof independent 3-cycles, each of which meets C in a cycle homologousto zero on C. The cycles ₁^*, ..., ^* are invariant cycles andare independent on F so that, if > 2r + ß, thereis a non-trivial linear combination ^* of these having zero intersectionon C with each of the cycles ₁^*, ..., _2r^*, ₁^*, ..., _ß^*.Thus we have. (^* ._k^*)c = 0 = (^* ._i^*)c i.e. (^* ._k^*) = 0 = (^* ._i^* on F (1 k 2r; 1 i ß). Furthermore, (_j . C) 0 on C and we have (^* ._j .C)_C = 0 i.e. (^* ._j) = 0 on F (1 j 2q – 2r – ß). It now follows that ^* 0 on F (for it has zero intersectionwith every member of a basic set of 3-cycles on F). But thiscondradicts the assumption that ^* is a non-trivial linear combinationof the independent cycles ₁^*, ...,^*; and hence < 2r + ß.     

On Extensions of Myers' Theorem

Let M be a compact Riemannian manifold, and let h be a smoothfunction on M. Let p^h(x) = inf||–₁(Ric_x(,)–2Hess(h_x(,)).Here Ric_x denotes the Ricci curvature at x and Hess(h) is theHessian of h. Then M has finite fundamental group if ^h–p^h<0. Here ^h =:+2L_h is the Bismut-Witten Laplacian. This leadsto a quick proof of recent results on extension of Myers' theoremto manifolds with mostly positive curvature. There is also asimilar result for noncompact manifolds.     

An Upper Estimate for a Heat Kernel With Neumann Boundary Condition

Using an upper solution we obtain a bound from above for theheat kernel (x,y,t) for a region which is star-shaped withrespect to one of the points, say y. The estimate is for theNeumann problem and holds for short times. The form of the boundis moreover, for x\Y(y), Here Y(y) is a closed subset of R^Nwith measure zero, d(x,y) is the minimum distance between xand y via the boundary :d(x,y) = inf_Z(|x-z| + |y-z|), and f(.,y)is a positive function, continuous away from Y, and equal tounity on .     

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.     

The Symmetrized Bidisc and Lempert's Theorem

Let G C² be the open symmetrized bidisc, namely G = {(₁ + ₂,₁₂) : |₁| < 1, |₂| < 1}. In this paper, a proof is giventhat G is not biholomorphic to any convex domain in C². By combiningthis result with earlier work of Agler and Young, the authorshows that G is a bounded domain on which the Carathéodorydistance and the Kobayashi distance coincide, but which is notbiholomorphic to a convex set. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification32F45 (primary), 15A18 (secondary).     

A Combinatorial Application of the Maximal Ergodic Theorem

Let X be a compact space,µ a Borel probability measureon X, T: X X a measure preserving continuous transformationand g: X R a continuous function. Then for some yX, This Lemma is used to give an alternative proof of a resultby Ruzsa [6], which implies the following extension of a resultof Bergelson [1]. If E N satisfies then there exists a set N such that n–1|[1,n]| (E) for all, n 1, and any finite subset{₁, ... _k} satisfies Ø. 7 Moria St., Ramat Hasharon, Israel     

Intersections of Odd Order Hall Subgroups

Given a set of odd primes and a -solvable finite group G, onecan choose three (not necessarily distinct) Hall -subgroupsof G whose intersection is O(G). This statement relies on aresult concerning long orbits in coprime actions of groups ofodd order. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 20D20.