Optimality in Infinite-Horizon Variational Problems under Sign Conditions

We consider infinite-horizon variational problems on several spaces of curves. We establish relations between these problems and the properties of their solutions. Notably, we exhibit situations where optimality in a given space of curves implies optimality in a bigger space of curves. We work with a domain of definition of the Lagrangian which has a very general form and we provide assumptions to ensure a satisfactory theory of the necessary conditions of optimality. We apply these results to actualized Lagrangians.     

Discrete Variational Calculus for B-Spline Curves

In this work, we study discrete variational problems, for B-spline curves, which are invariant under translation and rotation. We show this approach has advantages over studying smooth variational problems whose solutions are approximated by B-spline curves. The latter method has been well studied in the literature but leads to high order approximation problems. We are particularly interested in Lagrangians that are invariant under the special Euclidean group for which B-spline approximated curves are well suited. The main application we present here is the curve completion problem in 2D and 3D. Here, the aim is to find various aesthetically pleasing solutions as opposed to a solution of a physical problem. Smooth Lagrangians with special Euclidean symmetries involve curvature, torsion, and arc length. Expressions of these, in the original coordinates, are highly complex. We show that, by contrast, relatively simple discrete Lagrangians offer excellent results for the curve completion problem. The novel methods we develop for the discrete curve completion problem are general, and can be used to solve other discrete variational problems for B-spline curves. Our method completely avoids the difficulties of high order smooth differential invariants.     

Marcinkiewicz exponents and their application in boundary-value problems

We introduce certain new characteristics for non-rectifiable curves which allow to sharpen known solvability conditions for so-called jump boundary-value problems on that curves.     

On a class of constrained functional minimization problems and their numerical solution

We investigate a class of functional minimization problems with constraints. By means of variational principles, optimal control theory, and numerical methods for nonlinear equations, numerical methods and the corresponding computer software are established to solve the problems. These tools can be used in fitting curves with arbitrary smoothness, different boundary conditions, and constraints. For special boundary conditions, analytical expressions of the curves are derived. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithms by the means of curve fitting.     

Complex and tropical counts via positive characteristic

We study two classical families of enumerative problems: inflection lines of plane curves and theta-hyperplanes of canonical curves. In these problems the complex counts and the tropical counts disagree. Each problem suggests a prime with special behavior. On the one hand, we analyze the reduction modulo these special primes, and we prove that the complex solutions coalesce in uniform clusters. On the other hand, we observe that the counts in special characteristic and in tropical geometry match.     

Uniform approximation of curvature for smooth classes of plane curves

We consider problems of approximating the curvature of plane curves from smooth classes by the curvature of elements of smooth finite-dimensional function spaces (trigonometric polynomials, splines with equidistant knots) in the uniform norm.     

Minimal-energy splines: I. Plane curves with angle constraints

This is the first in a series of papers on minimal-energy splines. The paper is devoted to plane minimal-energy splines with angle constraints. We first consider minimal-energy spline segments, then general minimal-energy spline curves. We formulate problems for minimal-energy spline segments and curves, prove the existence of solutions, justify the Lagrange multiplier rules, and obtain some nice properties (e.g., the infinite smoothness). Finally, we report our computational experience on minimal-energy splines.     

Asymptotic properties of zeta functions over finite fields

In this paper we study asymptotic properties of families of zeta and L-functions over finite fields. We do it in the context of three main problems: the basic inequality, the Brauer–Siegel type results and the results on distribution of zeroes. We generalize to this abstract setting the results of Tsfasman, Vlăduţ and Lachaud, who studied similar problems for curves and (in some cases) for varieties over finite fields. In the classical case of zeta functions of curves we extend a result of Ihara on the limit behaviour of the Euler–Kronecker constant. Our results also apply to L-functions of elliptic surfaces over finite fields, where we approach the Brauer–Siegel type conjectures recently made by Kunyavskii, Tsfasman and Hindry.     

Convexity of the optimal stopping boundary for the American put option

We show that the optimal stopping boundary for the American put option is convex in the standard Black-Scholes model. The methods are adapted from ice-melting problems and rely upon studying the behavior of level curves of solutions to certain parabolic differential equations.     

Counting isomorphism classes of pointed hyperelliptic curves of genus 4 over finite fields with even characteristic

This paper is devoted to counting the number of isomorphism classes of pointed hyperelliptic curves over finite fields. We deal with the genus 4 case and the finite fields are of even characteristics. The number of isomorphism classes is computed and the explicit formulae are given. This number can be represented as a polynomial in q of degree 7, where q is the order of the finite field. The result can be used in the classification problems and it is useful for further studies of hyperelliptic curve cryptosystems, e.g. it is of interest for research on implementing the arithmetics of curves of low genus for cryptographic purposes. It could also be of interest for point counting problems; both on moduli spaces of curves, and on finding the maximal number of points that a pointed hyperelliptic curve over a given finite field may have.     

A Discrete Phenomenon in the C and Analytic Regularity of the Blow-Up Curve of Solutions to the Liouville Equation in One Space Dimension

We give a complete discussion of the C^∞ or analytic regularity of blow-up curves for Cauchy problems or some mixed problems for the Liouville equation in one space dimension. In the case of mixed problems, the regularity results depend on the boundary condition: actually, we show the existence of a sequence of boundary conditions for which the regularity of the blow-up curve is better than in the general case.     

Inverse stochastic dominance constraints and rank dependent expected utility theory

We consider optimization problems with second order stochastic dominance constraints formulated as a relation of Lorenz curves. We characterize the relation in terms of rank dependent utility functions, which generalize Yaari's utility functions. We develop optimality conditions and duality theory for problems with Lorenz dominance constraints. We prove that Lagrange multipliers associated with these constraints can be identified with rank dependent utility functions. The problem is numerically tractable in the case of discrete distributions with equally probable realizations. Research supported by the NSF awards DMS-0303545, DMS-0303728, DMI-0354500 and DMI-0354678.     

Computing eigenvalues of Sturm–Liouville problems by Hermite interpolations

We establish a new method to compute the eigenvalues of Sturm?CLiouville problems by the use of Hermite interpolations at equidistant nodes. We rigorously give estimates for the error by considering both truncation and amplitude errors. We compare the results of the new technique with those involving the classical sinc method as well as a SLEIGN2-based method. We also introduce curves that illustrate the enclosure intervals.     

New metric characteristics of nonrectifiable curves and their applications

We introduce new metric characteristics for nonrectifiable curves. They admit applications to the theory of boundary value problems for analytic functions. Using these characteristics, we in particular obtain some sharper conditions than those available for the solvability of the jump problem and the Riemann problem in domains with nonrectifiable boundaries.     

Partial Differential Equations That Are Hard to Classify

Semi-linear n×n systems of the form A∂u/∂x+B∂u/∂y=f can generally be solved, at least locally, provided data are imposed on non-characteristic curves. There are at most n characteristic curves and they are determined by the coefficient matrices on the left-hand sides of the equations. We consider cases where such problems become degenerate as a result of ambiguity associated with the definition of characteristic curves. In such cases, the existence of solutions requires restrictions on the data and solutions might not be unique.     

On the characterizations of the breakdown points of nonlinear vibrating string

We consider the mixed initial and boundary value problem of a hyperbolic 2-conservation law which describes the motion of a model of nonlinear vibrating string. It is known that solutions of such problems eventually break down in the sense that some of their first-order derivatives become unbounded at finite time. We call a point at which the breakdown first occurs a breakdown point. We prove that there are at most finitely many breakdown points. We also characterize such points in regard to existence or nonexistence of shock curves.     

Asymptotics of tangent points for planar curves

In this paper, we prove a universal inequality described the asymptotic behavior of tangent points for differentiable planar curves. As corollaries, we obtain some (partially known) assertions on the asymptotics of mean value points for a number of the classical theorems in analysis, We formulate some unsolved problems.     

Asymptotics for mixed Dirichlet–Robin problems in irregular domains

We study the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions of two-dimensional elliptic problems with Robin boundary conditions on the “prefractal” curves approximating the Koch curve type fractals.     

Numerical solutions of shock curves of hyperbolic 1-conservation laws

We consider hyperbolic 1-conservation laws. Such laws appear in problems of traffic flow, flood waves, and chemical exchange processes, etc., as illustrated by Whitham. We present certain numerical methods that estimates the shock curves of such laws. These include (i) linear and quadratic interpolations to approximate the left and right states of a shock curve (ii) predictor-corrector methods to solve shock differenhtial equations.     

Homogenization of Fučík Eigencurves

In this work we study the convergence of an homogenization problem for half-eigenvalues and Fu?ík eigencurves. We provide quantitative bounds on the rate of convergence of the curves for periodic homogenization problems.