End-Point Equations and Regularity of Sub-Riemannian Geodesics

For a large class of equiregular sub-Riemannian manifolds, we show that length-minimizing curves have no corner-like singularities. Our first result is the reduction of the problem to the homogeneous, rank-2 case, by means of a nilpotent approximation. We also identify a suitable condition on the tangent Lie algebra implying existence of a horizontal basis of vector fields whose coefficients depend only on the first two coordinates x ₁, x ₂. Then, we cut the corner and lift the new curve to a horizontal one, obtaining a decrease of length as well as a perturbation of the end-point. In order to restore the end-point at a lower cost of length, we introduce a new iterative construction, which represents the main contribution of the paper. We also apply our results to some examples. Received: July 2006, Revision: October 2006, Accepted: November 2006     

Geodesics Closed On The Projective Plane

Given a C ^∞ Riemannian metric g on P ² we prove that (, g) has constant curvature iff all geodesics are closed. Therefore is the first non-trivial example of a manifold such that the smooth Riemannian metrics which involve that all geodesics are closed are unique up to isometries and scaling. This remarkable phenomenon is not true on the 2-sphere, since there is a large set of C ^∞ metrics whose geodesics are all closed and have the same period 2π (called Zoll metrics), but no metric of this set can be obtained from another metric of this set via an isometry and scaling. As a corollary we conclude that all two-dimensional P-manifolds are SC-manifolds. Received: April 2007; Revision: September 2007; Accepted: September 2007     

A Clifford Algebraic Framework for $$\mathfrak{sp}(m)$$-Invariant Differential Operators

We introduce a framework for studying differential operators which are invariant with respect to the real (complex) symplectic Lie algebra ( ), associated to a quaternionic structure on a vector space . To do so, these algebras are realized within the orthogonal Lie algebra . This leads in a natural way to a refinement of the recently introduced notion of complex Hermitean Clifford analysis, in which four variations of the classical Dirac operator play a dominant role. David Eelbode: Postdoctoral fellow supported by the F.W.O. Vlaanderen (Belgium).     

A 3-Local Characterization of M12 and SL3(3)

We identify the sporadic simple group M₁₂ and the simple group SL₃(3) from some part of their 3-local structure. We also present a graph theoretic analogue of our main theorem. Received: 6 October 2008, Revised: 25 October 2008     

Length Bounds on Curves Arising from Tight Geodesics

Let M be a complete hyperbolic 3-manifold admitting a homotopy equivalence to a compact surface ∑, such that the cusps of M are in bijective correspondence with the boundary components of ∑. Suppose we realise a tight geodesic in the curve complex as a sequence of closed geodesics M. There is an upper bound on the lengths of such curves in terms of the lengths of the terminal curves and the topologicial type of ∑. We give proofs of these and related bounds. Similar bounds have been proven by Minsky using the sophisticated machinery of hierarchies. Such bounds feature in the work of Brock, Canary and Minsky towards the ending lamination conjecture, and can also be used to study the action of the mapping class group on the curve complex. Received: January 2006, Revision: March 2007, Accepted: July 2007     

On a Bernoulli-integrable magnetohydrodynamic system

A geometric procedure is used to isolate four Bernoulli integrals for a nonlinear, two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic system. The general solution of the latter may thereby be constructed.     

Multiple Solutions for Asymptotically Linear Elliptic Systems

This paper is concerned with the following periodic Hamiltonian elliptic system

Pencils on double coverings of curves

Let X be a smooth curve of genus g. When and d ≥ π−2g+1 we show the existence of a double covering where C a smooth curve of genus π with a base-point-free pencil of degree d which is not the pull-back of a pencil on X. Received: 7 February 2007; Revised: 1 July 2008     

Lectures on the Orbital Stability of Standing Waves and Application to the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation

In the first part of these notes, we deal with first order Hamiltonian systems in the form where the phase space X may be infinite dimensional so as to accommodate some partial differential equations. The Hamiltonian is required to be invariant with respect to the action of a group of isometries where is skew-symmetric and JA  = AJ. A standing wave is a solution having the form for some and such that . Given a solution of this type, it is natural to investigate its stability with respect to perturbations of the initial condition. In this context, the appropriate notion of stability is orbital stability in the usual sense for a dynamical system. We present some of the important criteria for establishing orbital stability of standing waves. In the second part we consider the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation which provides an interesting example of this situation where standing waves appear as time-harmonic solutions. We show how the general theory applies to this case and review what is known about stability. Received: January 2008     

Estimates for Littlewood-Paley Functions and Extrapolation

We prove certain L ^p -estimates for Littlewood-Paley functions arising from rough kernels. The estimates are useful for extrapolation to prove L ^p -boundedness of the Littlewood-Paley functions under a sharp kernel condition.      

Quadrature Domains with Infinite Volume

We discuss quadrature domains for subharmonic functions and prove the existence of core quadrature domains for certain positive measures. The core quadrature domains are the smallest quadrature domains as measures and inherit good properties from quadrature domains with finite volume. We next discuss new balayage for the class of harmonic functions integrable in a neighborhood of ∞. We give several estimates of balayage measures. The new balayage is introduced to construct quadrature domains for harmonic functions. Submitted: June 26, 2008. Accepted: July 24, 2008.     

Hardy-Littlewood system and representations of integers by an invariant polynomial

Let f be an integral homogeneous polynomial of degree d, and let be the level set for each . For a compact subset in ), set

Distance sets corresponding to convex bodies

Suppose that is a 0-symmetric convex body which denes the usual norm

Infinite Classes of Dihedral Snarks

Flower snarks and Goldberg snarks are two infinite families of cyclically 5–edge–connected cubic graphs with girth at least five and chromatic index four. For any odd integer k, k > 3, there is a Flower snark, say J _k , of order 4k and a Goldberg snark, say B _k , of order 8k. We determine the automorphism groups of J _k and B _k for every k and prove that they are isomorphic to the dihedral group D _4k of order 4k. Research performed within the activity of INdAM–GNSAGA with the financial support of the Italian Ministry MIUR, project “Strutture Geometriche, Combinatoria e loro Applicazioni”.     

On a conjecture of Schmutz

In this work we discuss Schmutz’s conjecture that in dimension 2 to 8 the distinct norms that occur in the lattices with the best known sphere packings are strictly greater than those in any other lattice of the same covolume. We see that the ternary conjecture is not true. However, it seems that there is but one exception: one lattice, where for one length the conjecture fails. Received: 11 February 2008, Revised: 20 May 2008     

Maximal subnear-rings of functions

For a group G, let M(G) denote the near-ring of functions on G. We characterize all maximal subnear-rings of M(G) and show that for many classes of groups, E(G), the near-ring generated by the semigroup, End(G) of G, is never maximal as a subnear-ring of M ₀ (G). Received: 25 April 2008     

Some Physics Questions in Hyperbolic Complex Space

In hyperbolic complex space, the Clifford algebra is isomorphic to that of a corresponding Minkowski geometry. We define the hyperbolic imaginary unit j (j² = 1, j ≠   ±  1, j*  =   − j) to generate a class of Clifford algebras. We can introduce a class of non-Euclidean spaces and discuss the general form of 4-dimensional Lorentz transformation, and related special relativistic physics.     

Combinatorial and Geometric Methods in Topology

Starting from the (apparently) elementary problem of deciding how many different topological spaces can be obtained by gluing together in pairs the faces of an octahedron, we will describe the central r?le played by hyperbolic geometry within three-dimensional topology. We will also point out the striking difference with the two dimensional case, and we will review some of the results of the combinatorial and computational approach to three-manifolds developed by different mathematicians over the last several years. Lecture held by Carlo Petronio in the Seminario Matematico e Fisico di Milano on April 23, 2007     

Local Minimal Curves in Homogeneous Reductive Spaces of the Unitary Group of a Finite von Neumann Algebra

We study the metric geometry of homogeneous reductive spaces of the unitary group of a finite von Neumann algebra with a non complete Riemannian metric. The main result gives an abstract sufficient condition in order that the geodesics of the Levi-Civita connection are locally minimal. Then, we show how this result applies to several examples. To my family     

Spherical Singular Integrals, Monogenic Kernels and Wavelets on the Three-Dimensional Sphere

The construction of wavelets relies on translations and dilations which are perfectly given in . On the sphere translations can be considered as rotations but it is difficult to say what are dilations. For the 2-dimensional sphere there exist two different approaches to obtain wavelets which are worth to be considered. The first concept goes back to W. Freeden and collaborators who define wavelets by means of kernels of spherical singular integrals. The other concept developed by J.P. Antoine and P. Vandergheynst is a purely group theoretical approach and defines dilations as dilations in the tangent plane. Surprisingly both concepts coincides for zonal functions. We will define singular integrals and kernels of singular integrals on the three dimensional sphere which are also approximate identities. In particular the Cauchy kernel in Clifford analysis is a kernel of a singular integral, the singular Cauchy integral, and an approximate identity. Furthermore, we will define wavelets on the 3-dimensional sphere by means of kernels of singular integrals. This paper is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Jarolim Bureš Received: October, 2007. Accepted: February, 2008.