Non-amenable finitely presented torsion-by-cyclic groups

Abstract. – We construct a finitely presented non-amenable group without free non-cyclic subgroups thus providing a finitely presented counterexample to von Neumann’s problem. Our group is an extension of a group of finite exponent n ≫ 1 by a cyclic group, so it satisfies the identity [x,y] ⁿ = 1. Manuscrit reĉu le 8 février 2001. RID="*" ID="*"Both authors were supported in part by the NSF grant DMS 0072307. In addition, the research of the first author was supported in part by the Russian Fund for Basic Research 99-01-00894 and by the INTAS grant, the research of the second author was supported in part by the NSF grant DMS 9978802.     

Sequences of words characterizing finite solvable groups

There are two sequences in two variables which characterize the solvability of finite groups. Namely, the sequence of Bandman, Greuel, Grunewald, Kunyavskii, Pfister and Plotkin which is defined by u ₁ = x ⁻² y ⁻¹ x and u_n=[x u_n-1^-1 x^-1, yu_n-1^-1 y^-1]{u_{n}=[x u_{n-1}^{-1} x^{-1}, yu_{n-1}^{-1} y^{-1}] } and the sequence of Bray, Wilson, and Wilson defined by s ₁ = x and s_n=[s_n-1 ^-y, s_n-1]{s_{n}=[s_{n-1} ^{-y}, s_{n-1}] }. We define new sequences and proof that six of them characterize the solvability of finite groups.     

Measure preserving transformations of multidimensional stable Lévy processes

Let ξ(t), t ∈ [0, 1], be an α-stable Lévy process in ℝ^d. Denote by {ie4563-01} the measure generated by ξ in the Skorokhod space {ie4563-02}. Under some conditions on the spectral measure of the process ξ, we construct a group of {ie4563-03}-preserving transformations of {ie4563-04}. Bibliography: 12 titles. __________ Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov POMI, Vol. 351, 2007, pp. 242–252.     

The quasivariety generated by a torsion-free Abelian-by-finite group

Let L_q(qG) be the quasivariety lattice contained in a quasivariety generated by a group G. It is proved that if G is a finitely generated torsion-free group in (i.e., G is an extension of an Abelian group by a group of exponent 2ⁿ), which is a split extension of an Abelian group by a cyclic group, then the lattice L_q(qG) is a finite chain. __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 407–427, July–August, 2007.     

A Freiheitssatz for products of groups

Denote byB a class of solvable groups having a finite normal series with torsion-free Abelian factors, and by % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfKttLearuqr1ngBPrgarmWu51MyVXgatC% vAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaeHbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharyavP1wz% ZbItLDhis9wBH5garqqtubsr4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbb% L8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpe% pae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-xfr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaam% aaeaqbaaGcbaWefv3ySLgzgjxyRrxDYbqehuuDJXwAKbIrYf2A0vNC% aGGbaiqb-fa8czaaraaaaa!475E!\[\bar \mathfrak{B}\] a class of groups every finitely generated subgroup of which is approximated by {ie193-3}. We prove that if {ie193-4} is a free product with relations of groups A₁,…,A_n in the class {ie193-5}, where n>m and all relations are taken from the Cartesian subgroups, then there exist distinct indices i₁,…,i_n-m such that gp(A_i1,…,Ai_n-m)=A_i1 *…* Ai_n-m. A similar fact is established for solvable products with relations. Supported by RFFR grant No. 99-01-00567. Translated fromAlgebra i Logika, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 354–367, May–June, 1999.     

Ramanujan’s identities and representation of integers by certain binary and quaternary quadratic forms

We revisit old conjectures of Fermat and Euler regarding the representation of integers by binary quadratic form x ²+5y ². Making use of Ramanujan’s ₁ ψ ₁ summation formula, we establish a new Lambert series identity for $\sum_{n,m=-\infty }^{\infty}q^{n^{2}+5m^{2}}We revisit old conjectures of Fermat and Euler regarding the representation of integers by binary quadratic form x ²+5y ². Making use of Ramanujan’s ₁ ψ ₁ summation formula, we establish a new Lambert series identity for ?_n,m=-￥^￥q^n2+5m2\sum_{n,m=-\infty }^{\infty}q^{n^{2}+5m^{2}} . Conjectures of Fermat and Euler are shown to follow easily from this new formula. But we do not stop there. Employing various formulas found in Ramanujan’s notebooks and using a bit of ingenuity, we obtain a collection of new Lambert series for certain infinite products associated with quadratic forms such as x ²+6y ², 2x ²+3y ², x ²+15y ², 3x ²+5y ², x ²+27y ², x ²+5(y ²+z ²+w ²), 5x ²+y ²+z ²+w ². In the process, we find many new multiplicative eta-quotients and determine their coefficients.     

Periodic groups saturated by finite simple groups <Emphasis Type="Italic">U</Emphasis><Subscript>3</Subscript>(2<Superscript>m</Superscript>)

Let {ie166-01} be a set of finite groups. A group G is said to be saturated by the groups in {ie166-02} if every finite subgroup of G is contained in a subgroup isomorphic to a member of {ie166-03}. It is proved that a periodic group G saturated by groups in a set {U₃(2^m) | m = 1, 2, …} is isomorphic to U₃(Q) for some locally finite field Q of characteristic 2; in particular, G is locally finite. __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 288–306, May–June, 2008.     

Limit T-spaces

Let F be a field of prime characteristic p and let V _p be the variety of associative algebras over F without unity defined by the identities [[x, y], z] = 0 and x ⁴ = 0 if p = 2 and by the identities [[x, y], z] = 0 and x ^p = 0 if p > 2 (here [x, y] = xy − yx). Let A/V _p be the free algebra of countable rank of the variety V _p and let S be the T-space in A/V _p generated by x ₁² x ₂² ⋯ x _k² + V ₂, where k ∈ ℕ if p = 2, and by {ie4170-01}, where k ∈ ℕ and α ₁, …, α _2k ∈ {0, p − 1} if p > 2. As is known, S is not finitely generated as a T-space. In the present paper, we prove that S is a limit T-space, i.e., a maximal nonfinitely generated T-space. As a corollary, we have constructed a limit T-space in the free associative F-algebra without unity of countable rank. __________ Translated from Fundamentalnaya i Prikladnaya Matematika, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 135–159, 2007.     

Criteria of exponential decay for eigenfunctions of some classes of integral operators

We study sufficient conditions for exponential decay at infinity for eigenfunctions of a class of integral equations in unbounded domains in ℝ ⁿ . We consider integral operators K whose kernels have the form

Positive Cubature Formulas and Marcinkiewicz–Zygmund Inequalities on Spherical Caps

Let Π _n ^d denote the space of all spherical polynomials of degree at most n on the unit sphere $\mathbb{S}^{d}Let Π _n ^d denote the space of all spherical polynomials of degree at most n on the unit sphere \mathbbS^d\mathbb{S}^{d} of ℝ ^d+1, and let d(x,y) denote the geodesic distance arccos x⋅y between x,y ? \mathbbS^dx,y\in\mathbb{S}^{d} . Given a spherical cap

B(e,a)={x ? \mathbbSd:d(x,e) ￡ a}    (e ? \mathbbSd, a ? (0,p) is bounded awayfrom p),B(e,\alpha)=\big\{x\in\mathbb{S}^{d}:d(x,e)\leq\alpha\big\}\quad \bigl(e\in\mathbb{S}^{d},\ \alpha\in(0,\pi)\ \mbox{is bounded awayfrom}\ \pi\bigr),      11. A fully invariant ideal of alternative algebras      V. T. Filippov 《Algebra and Logic》1997,36(3):193-203 Let ϕ be an associative commutative ring with 1, containing 1/6, and A be an alternative ϕ-algebra. Let D be an associator ideal of A and H a fully invariant ideal of A, generated by all elements of the form h(y, z, t, x, x)=[{[y, z], t, x}-, x]+[{[y, x], z, x}-, t], where [x, y]=xy−yx, {x, y, z}-=[[x, y], z]−[[x, z], y]+2[x,[y, z]]. Here we consider an ideal Q=H∩D and prove that Q4=0 in the algebra A. If A is unmixed, then HD=0, DH=0, and Q2=0 in particular. If A is a finitely generated unmixed algebra, then the ideal H lies in its associative center and Q=0. It follows that any finitely generated purely alternative algebra satisfies the identity h(y,z,t,x,x)=0. We also show that a fully invariant ideal H0 of the unmixed algebra A, generated by all elements of the form h(x, z, t, x, x), lies in its associative center and H0∩D=0. Consequently, every purely alternative algebra satisfies the identity h(x,z,t,x,x)=0. Translated fromAlgebra i Logika, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 323–340, May–June, 1997.      12. An inequality relating to triple product integrals of laguerre functions      D. Debbi  J. Gillis 《Israel Journal of Mathematics》1974,18(1):45-52 IfL n(x) is thenth Laguerre polynomial and {ie45-1}, then we can expand the functions {ie45-2} over (0, ∞) in terms of the set {ie45-3}, i.e., {ie45-4}. In this paper we prove, an old-standing conjecture that (−1) tKrt>0 for 0≦t≦r (r=0,1,…); i.e., that, in the sense defined by Trench, the set {ie45-5} is alternating with respect to the set {ie45-6}.      13. Central polynomials and matrix invariants      Antonio Giambruno  Angela Valenti 《Israel Journal of Mathematics》1996,96(1):281-297 LetK be a field, charK=0 andM n (K) the algebra ofn×n matrices overK. If λ=(λ1,…,λ m ) andμ=(μ 1,…,μ m ) are partitions ofn 2 let wherex 1,…,x n 2,y 1,…,y n 2 are noncommuting indeterminates andS n 2 is the symmetric group of degreen 2. The polynomialsF λ, μ , when evaluated inM n (K), take central values and we study the problem of classifying those partitions λ,μ for whichF λ, μ is a central polynomial (not a polynomial identity) forM n (K). We give a formula that allows us to evaluateF λ, μ inM(K) in general and we prove that if λ andμ are not both derived in a suitable way from the partition δ=(1, 3,…, 2n−3, 2n−1), thenF λ, μ is a polynomial identity forM n (K). As an application, we exhibit a new class of central polynomials forM n (K). In memory of Shimshon Amitsur Research supported by a grant from MURST of Italy.      14. Estimates for the real taylor coefficients in one function class      E. G. Kir’yatskiĭ 《Siberian Mathematical Journal》2010,51(1):48-52 Considering the class {ie48-01} of analytic functions {ie48-02} in the unit disk with a m,n ε ℝ and the nonvanishing nth divided difference [F(z);z 0, ⋯, z n ] for all z 0, ℝ, z n ∈ E we establish that {ie48-03}, where {ie48-04}. If n is an odd number then {ie48-05}.      15. Stability preservation theorems      Yu. L. Ershov 《Algebra and Logic》2008,47(3):155-165 The basic result of the paper is the main theorem worded as follows. Let {ie155-01} be a valued field such that {ie155-02} has characteristic p > 0 and let {ie155-03} be an extension of valued fields satisfying the following conditions: (i) there exists a set {ie155-04} for which {ie155-05} is a separating transcendence basis for a field {ie155-06} over FR; (ii) Γ R is p-pure in {ie155-07}, i.e., {ie155-08} does not contain elements of order p; (iii) there exists a set B1 ⊂ F0× such that the family {ie155-09} is linearly independent in the elementary p-group {ie155-10}; (iv) F0 is algebraic over F(B0 ⋃ B1). Then the property of being stable for {ie155-11} implies being stable for {ie155-12}. Supported by the Council for Grants (under RF President) and State Aid of Leading Scientific Schools (grant NSh-344.2008.1) and by RFBR (grant No. 08-01-00442-a). __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 269–287, May–June, 2008.      16. Construction of positive definite cubature formulae and approximation of functions via Voronoi tessellations      Allal Guessab  Gerhard Schmeisser 《Advances in Computational Mathematics》2010,32(1):25-41 Let Ω ⊂ ℝ d be a compact convex set of positive measure. In a recent paper, we established a definiteness theory for cubature formulae of order two on Ω. Here we study extremal properties of those positive definite formulae that can be generated by a centroidal Voronoi tessellation of Ω. In this connection we come across a class of operators of the form Ln[f](x): = ?i=1n fi(x)(f(yi) + á?f(yi), x-yi?)L_n[f](\boldsymbol{x}):= \sum_{i=1}^n \phi_i(\boldsymbol{x})(f(\boldsymbol{y}_i) + \langle\nabla f(\boldsymbol{y}_i), \boldsymbol{x}-\boldsymbol{y}_i\rangle), where y1,..., yn\boldsymbol{y}_1,\dots, \boldsymbol{y}_n are distinct points in Ω and {ϕ 1, ..., ϕ n } is a partition of unity on Ω. We present best possible pointwise error estimates and describe operators L n with a smallest constant in an L p error estimate for 1 ≤ p < ∞ . For a generalization, we introduce a new type of Voronoi tessellation in terms of a twice continuously differentiable and strictly convex function f. It allows us to describe a best operator L n for approximating f by L n [f] with respect to the L p norm.      17. The combinatorics of a three-line circulant determinant      Nicholas A. Loehr  Gregory S. Warrington  Herbert S. Wilf 《Israel Journal of Mathematics》2004,143(1):141-156 We study the polynomial , where ω is a primitivepth root of unity. This polynomial arises in CR geometry [1]. We show that it is the determinant of thep×p circulant matrix whose first row is (1, −x,0,…,0,−y,0,…,0), the −y being in positionq+1. Therefore, the coefficients of this polynomial Φ are integers that count certain classes of permutations. We show that all of the permutations that contribute to a fixed monomialx rys in Φ have the same sign, and we determine that sign. We prove that a monomialx rys appears in Φ if and only ifp dividesr+sq. Finally, we show that the size of the largest coefficient of the monomials in Φ grows exponentially withp, by proving that the permanent of the circulant whose first row is (1, 1, 0, …, 0, 1, 0, …, 0) is the sum of the absolute values of the monomials in the polynomial Φ. Supported by NSF Postdoctoral research grants.      18. On the strong law of large numbers for dependent random variables      J. R. Blum  M. Brennan 《Israel Journal of Mathematics》1980,37(3):241-245 Let {X n} n =1/∞ be a sequence of random variables with partial sumsS n, and let {ie241-1} be the σ-algebra generated byX 1,…,X n. Letf be a function fromR toR and suppose {ie241-2}. Under conditions off and moment conditions on theX' ns, we show thatS n/n converges a.e. (almost everywhere). We give several applications of this result. Research supported by N.S.F. Grant MCS 77-26809      19. Estimation and detection of a function from tensor product spaces      Yu. I. Ingster  I. A. Suslina 《Journal of Mathematical Sciences》2008,152(6):897-920 We observe an unknown function of d variables ƒ(t), t ∈ [0, 1]d, in the white Gaussian noise of level ε > 0. We assume that {ie4526-01}, where {ie4526-02} is a ball in the Hilbert space {ie4526-03} of tensor product structure. Under minimax setup, we consider two problems: estimate ƒ (for quadratic losses) and detect ƒ, i.e., test the null hypothesis H0: ƒ = 0 against the alternatives {ie4526-04}. We are interested in the case {ie4526-05}. We study sharp, rate, and log-asymptotics (as ε → 0 and d → ∞) in the problems. In particular, we show that log-asymptotics are essentially different for d ≪ log ε−1 and d ≫ log ε−1. Bibliography: 19 titles. __________ Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov POMI, Vol. 351, 2007, pp. 180–218.      20. The unbounded-error communication complexity of symmetric functions      Alexander A. Sherstov 《Combinatorica》2011,31(5):583-614 We prove an essentially tight lower bound on the unbounded-error communication complexity of every symmetric function, i.e., f(x,y)=D(|x∧y|), where D: {0,1,…,n}→{0,1} is a given predicate and x,y range over {0,1} n . Specifically, we show that the communication complexity of f is between Θ(k/log5 n) and Θ(k logn), where k is the number of value changes of D in {0,1,…, n}. Prior to this work, the problem was solved only for the parity predicate D (Forster 2001).

A fully invariant ideal of alternative algebras

Let ϕ be an associative commutative ring with 1, containing 1/6, and A be an alternative ϕ-algebra. Let D be an associator ideal of A and H a fully invariant ideal of A, generated by all elements of the form h(y, z, t, x, x)=[{[y, z], t, x}-, x]+[{[y, x], z, x}-, t], where [x, y]=xy−yx, {x, y, z}-=[[x, y], z]−[[x, z], y]+2[x,[y, z]]. Here we consider an ideal Q=H∩D and prove that Q⁴=0 in the algebra A. If A is unmixed, then HD=0, DH=0, and Q²=0 in particular. If A is a finitely generated unmixed algebra, then the ideal H lies in its associative center and Q=0. It follows that any finitely generated purely alternative algebra satisfies the identity h(y,z,t,x,x)=0. We also show that a fully invariant ideal H₀ of the unmixed algebra A, generated by all elements of the form h(x, z, t, x, x), lies in its associative center and H₀∩D=0. Consequently, every purely alternative algebra satisfies the identity h(x,z,t,x,x)=0. Translated fromAlgebra i Logika, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 323–340, May–June, 1997.     

An inequality relating to triple product integrals of laguerre functions

IfL _n(x) is thenth Laguerre polynomial and {ie45-1}, then we can expand the functions {ie45-2} over (0, ∞) in terms of the set {ie45-3}, i.e., {ie45-4}. In this paper we prove, an old-standing conjecture that (−1) ^tK_rt>0 for 0≦t≦r (r=0,1,…); i.e., that, in the sense defined by Trench, the set {ie45-5} is alternating with respect to the set {ie45-6}.     

Central polynomials and matrix invariants

LetK be a field, charK=0 andM _n (K) the algebra ofn×n matrices overK. If λ=(λ₁,…,λ _m ) andμ=(μ ₁,…,μ _m ) are partitions ofn ² let wherex ₁,…,x _n ²,y ₁,…,y _n ² are noncommuting indeterminates andS _n ² is the symmetric group of degreen ². The polynomialsF ^{λ, μ} , when evaluated inM _n (K), take central values and we study the problem of classifying those partitions λ,μ for whichF ^{λ, μ} is a central polynomial (not a polynomial identity) forM _n (K). We give a formula that allows us to evaluateF ^{λ, μ} inM(K) in general and we prove that if λ andμ are not both derived in a suitable way from the partition δ=(1, 3,…, 2n−3, 2n−1), thenF ^{λ, μ} is a polynomial identity forM _n (K). As an application, we exhibit a new class of central polynomials forM _n (K). In memory of Shimshon Amitsur Research supported by a grant from MURST of Italy.     

Estimates for the real taylor coefficients in one function class

Considering the class {ie48-01} of analytic functions {ie48-02} in the unit disk with a _m,n ε ℝ and the nonvanishing nth divided difference [F(z);z ₀, ⋯, z _n ] for all z ₀, ℝ, z _n ∈ E we establish that {ie48-03}, where {ie48-04}. If n is an odd number then {ie48-05}.     

Stability preservation theorems

The basic result of the paper is the main theorem worded as follows. Let {ie155-01} be a valued field such that {ie155-02} has characteristic p > 0 and let {ie155-03} be an extension of valued fields satisfying the following conditions: (i) there exists a set {ie155-04} for which {ie155-05} is a separating transcendence basis for a field {ie155-06} over F_R; (ii) Γ _R is p-pure in {ie155-07}, i.e., {ie155-08} does not contain elements of order p; (iii) there exists a set B₁ ⊂ F₀^× such that the family {ie155-09} is linearly independent in the elementary p-group {ie155-10}; (iv) F₀ is algebraic over F(B₀ ⋃ B₁). Then the property of being stable for {ie155-11} implies being stable for {ie155-12}. Supported by the Council for Grants (under RF President) and State Aid of Leading Scientific Schools (grant NSh-344.2008.1) and by RFBR (grant No. 08-01-00442-a). __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 269–287, May–June, 2008.     

Construction of positive definite cubature formulae and approximation of functions via Voronoi tessellations

Let Ω ⊂ ℝ ^d be a compact convex set of positive measure. In a recent paper, we established a definiteness theory for cubature formulae of order two on Ω. Here we study extremal properties of those positive definite formulae that can be generated by a centroidal Voronoi tessellation of Ω. In this connection we come across a class of operators of the form L_n[f](x): = ?_i=1ⁿ f_i(x)(f(y_i) + á?f(y_i), x-y_i?)L_n[f](\boldsymbol{x}):= \sum_{i=1}^n \phi_i(\boldsymbol{x})(f(\boldsymbol{y}_i) + \langle\nabla f(\boldsymbol{y}_i), \boldsymbol{x}-\boldsymbol{y}_i\rangle), where y₁,..., y_n\boldsymbol{y}_1,\dots, \boldsymbol{y}_n are distinct points in Ω and {ϕ ₁, ..., ϕ _n } is a partition of unity on Ω. We present best possible pointwise error estimates and describe operators L _n with a smallest constant in an L ^p error estimate for 1 ≤ p < ∞ . For a generalization, we introduce a new type of Voronoi tessellation in terms of a twice continuously differentiable and strictly convex function f. It allows us to describe a best operator L _n for approximating f by L _n [f] with respect to the L ^p norm.     

The combinatorics of a three-line circulant determinant

We study the polynomial , where ω is a primitivepth root of unity. This polynomial arises in CR geometry [1]. We show that it is the determinant of thep×p circulant matrix whose first row is (1, −x,0,…,0,−y,0,…,0), the −y being in positionq+1. Therefore, the coefficients of this polynomial Φ are integers that count certain classes of permutations. We show that all of the permutations that contribute to a fixed monomialx ^ry^s in Φ have the same sign, and we determine that sign. We prove that a monomialx ^ry^s appears in Φ if and only ifp dividesr+sq. Finally, we show that the size of the largest coefficient of the monomials in Φ grows exponentially withp, by proving that the permanent of the circulant whose first row is (1, 1, 0, …, 0, 1, 0, …, 0) is the sum of the absolute values of the monomials in the polynomial Φ. Supported by NSF Postdoctoral research grants.     

On the strong law of large numbers for dependent random variables

Let {X _n} _n ^=1/∞ be a sequence of random variables with partial sumsS _n, and let {ie241-1} be the σ-algebra generated byX ₁,…,X _n. Letf be a function fromR toR and suppose {ie241-2}. Under conditions off and moment conditions on theX' _ns, we show thatS _n/n converges a.e. (almost everywhere). We give several applications of this result. Research supported by N.S.F. Grant MCS 77-26809     

Estimation and detection of a function from tensor product spaces

We observe an unknown function of d variables ƒ(t), t ∈ [0, 1]^d, in the white Gaussian noise of level ε > 0. We assume that {ie4526-01}, where {ie4526-02} is a ball in the Hilbert space {ie4526-03} of tensor product structure. Under minimax setup, we consider two problems: estimate ƒ (for quadratic losses) and detect ƒ, i.e., test the null hypothesis H₀: ƒ = 0 against the alternatives {ie4526-04}. We are interested in the case {ie4526-05}. We study sharp, rate, and log-asymptotics (as ε → 0 and d → ∞) in the problems. In particular, we show that log-asymptotics are essentially different for d ≪ log ε⁻¹ and d ≫ log ε⁻¹. Bibliography: 19 titles. __________ Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov POMI, Vol. 351, 2007, pp. 180–218.     

The unbounded-error communication complexity of symmetric functions

We prove an essentially tight lower bound on the unbounded-error communication complexity of every symmetric function, i.e., f(x,y)=D(|x∧y|), where D: {0,1,…,n}→{0,1} is a given predicate and x,y range over {0,1} ⁿ . Specifically, we show that the communication complexity of f is between Θ(k/log⁵ n) and Θ(k logn), where k is the number of value changes of D in {0,1,…, n}. Prior to this work, the problem was solved only for the parity predicate D (Forster 2001).