Mean-Field Critical Behavior for the Contact Process

The contact process is a model of spread of an infectious disease. Combining with the result of ref. 1, we prove that the critical exponents take on the mean-field values for sufficiently high dimensional nearest-neighbor models and for sufficiently spread-out models with d>4:()– _c as _c and ()( _c–)^–1 as _c, where () and () are the spread probability and the susceptibility of the infection respectively, and _c is the critical infection rate. Our results imply that the upper critical dimension for the contact process is at most 4.     

A contact process with a single inhomogeneous site

The one-dimensional basic contact process is a Markov process for which particles give birth on vacant nearest neighbor sites at rate >0 and particles die at rate one. We introduce a one-dimensional contact process with a single inhomogeneous site: the evolution is as above except that a particle located at the origin does not die. Let _c be the critical value of the basic contact process. We show that for _c the upper invariant measures of the inhomogeneous contact process and the basic contact process coincide except at a finite number of sites. The behavior at = _c is much more intersting: the upper invariant measure of the inhomogeneous contact process concentrates on configurations with infinitely many particles, while it is known that the critical basic contact process dies out. So a single inhomogeneity may provoke a perturbation unbounded in space. As a byproduct of our analysis we prove that the connectivity probabilities of the critical basic contact process are not summable. We also give a biological interpretation of this model.     

Cλ-Extended Oscillator Algebras and Some of Their Deformations and Applications to Quantum Mechanics

C-extended oscillator algebras generalizing the Calogero—Vasiliev algebra,where C is the cyclic group of order , are studied both from mathematical andapplied viewpoints. Casimir operators of the algebras are obtained and used toprovide a complete classification of their unitary irreducible representations underthe assumption that the number operator spectrum is nondegenerate. Deformedalgebras admitting Casimir operators analogous to those of their undeformedcounterparts are looked for, yielding three new algebraic structures. One of themincludes the Brzezi´nski et al. deformation of the Calogero—Vasiliev algebra as aspecial case. In its bosonic Fock-space representation, the realization ofC-extended oscillator algebras as generalized deformed oscillator ones is shown toprovide a bosonization of several variants of supersymmetric quantum mechanics:parasupersymmetric quantum mechanics of order p = – 1 for any , as wellas pseudosupersymmetric and orthosupersymmetric quantum mechanics of ordertwo for = 3.     

Painlevé test and energy level motion

From the eigenvalue H|_n()=E_n() |_n(), where HH₀+V, one can derive an autonomous system of first-order differential equations for the eigenvaluesE _n() and the matrix elements V_mn(), where is the independent variable. We perform a Painlevé test for this system and discuss the connection with integrability. It turns out that the equations of motion do not pass the Painlevé test, but a weaker form. The first integrals are polynomials and can be related to the Kowalewski exponents.     

Scattering states and bound states in λ℘(φ)2

By analyzing the Bethe-Salpeter equation for even ()₂ models we show that for weak coupling the mass spectrum is discrete and of finite multiplicity below 2m. Moreover on even states of energy less than 4(m–) we show that theS matrix is unitary. Herem is the physical mass and =()0 as 0. Our results rely essentially only on a simple assumption about the analyticity of the Bethe-Salpeter kernel which has been verified for weak coupling. For the interaction ⁴, (/m _o ² 1) we show that there are no even bound states of energy less than 4(m–).Work supported in part by NSF, Grant MPS 74-13252     

Fractal drums and then-dimensional modified Weyl-Berry conjecture

In this paper, we study the spectrum of the Dirichlet Laplacian in a bounded (or, more generally, of finite volume) open set R ⁿ (n1) with fractal boundary of interior Minkowski dimension (n–1,n]. By means of the technique of tessellation of domains, we give the exact second term of the asymptotic expansion of the counting functionN() (i.e. the number of positive eigenvalues less than ) as +, which is of the form ^/2 times a negative, bounded and left-continuous function of . This explains the reason why the modified Weyl-Berry conjecture does not hold generally forn2. In addition, we also obtain explicit upper and lower bounds on the second term ofN().     

Effective stimulated emission and excited-state absorption cross-section spectra of para-phenylene-ethynylene polymers

The effective stimulated emission cross-section spectra, em,eff(), the stimulated emission cross-section spectra, em(), and the excited-state absorption cross-section spectra, ex()=em()–em,eff(), of the conjugated polymers poly(2,5-dioctadecyloxy-paraphenylene-ethynylene-co-2,5-thienyl) (OPT) and poly(2,5-dioctadecyloxy-paraphenylene-ethynylene-co-2,5-pyridinyl) (OPP) in tetrahydrofuran are determined in the fluorescence region. em,eff() determined by a fluorescence amplification technique is found to be small compared to em() indicating that ex() is nearly as large as em(). The laser excitation to the wide inhomogeneously broadened S1-absorption band leads to the formation of spectrally structured inhomogeneously broadened lattice relaxed exciton conformations extending on average over two monomer units which are thought to be responsible for upper-to-lower-state stimulated emission and lower-to-upper-state (excited-state) absorption.     

On the invariant sets of a family of quadratic maps

The Julia setB for the mappingz (z–)² is considered, where is a complex parameter. For 2 a new upper bound for the Hausdorff dimension is given, and the monic polynomials orthogonal with respect to the equilibrium measure onB are introduced. A method for calculating all of the polynomials is provided, and certain identities which obtain among coefficients of the three-term recurrence relations are given. A unifying theme is the relationship betweenB and -chains ± (± (± ...), which is explored for –1/42 and for with ||1/4, with the aid of the Böttcher equation. ThenB is shown to be a Hölder continuous curve for ||<1/4.Supported by NSF Grant MCS-8104862Supported by NSF Grant MCS-8002731     

Realization of holonomic constraints and freezing of high frequency degrees of freedom in the light of classical perturbation theory. Part II

As in Part I of this paper, we consider the problem of the energy exchanges between two subsystems, of which one is a system of harmonic oscillators, while the other one is any dynamical system ofn degrees of freedom. Such a problem is of interest both for the realization of holonomic constraints of classical mechanics, and for the freezing of the internal degrees of freedom in molecular collisions. The results of Part I, which referred to the particular case =1, are here extended to the more difficult case >1. For the rate of energy transfer we find exponential estimates of Nekhoroshev's type, namely of the form exp (_*/)^1/a , where is a positive real number giving the size of the involved frequencies, and _* anda are constants. For the particularly relevant constanta we find in generala=1/ however, in the particular case when the frequencies are equal (collision of identical molecules), we finda=1 independently of , as conjectured by Jeans in the year 1903.     

A solvable model exhibiting a glass-like transition

A nonlinear equation of motion of an overdamped oscillator exhibiting a glass-like transition at a critical coupling constant _c is presented and solved exactly. Below _c , in the fluid phase, the oscillator coordinatex(t) decays to zero, while above _c , in the amorphous phase, it decays to a nonzero infinite time limit. Near _c the motion is slowed down by a nonlinear feedback mechanism andx(t) decays exponentially to its long time limit with a relaxation time diverging as (1 – / _c )^–3/2 and (/ _c –1)^–1 for < _c and > _c respectively. At _c x(t) exhibits a power law decay proportional tot ^– with exponent -1/2.     

A relation between a.c. spectrum of ergodic Jacobi matrices and the spectra of periodic approximants

We study ergodic Jacobi matrices onl ²(Z), and prove a general theorem relating their a.c. spectrum to the spectra of periodic Jacobi matrices, that are obtained by cutting finite pieces from the ergodic potential and then repeating them. We apply this theorem to the almost Mathieu operator: (H _{, ,} u)(n)=u(n+1)+u(n–1)+ cos(2n+)u(n), and prove the existence of a.c. spectrum for sufficiently small , all irrational 's, and a.e. . Moreover, for 0<2 and (Lebesgue) a.e. pair , , we prove the explicit equality of measures: |_ac|=||=4 –2.Work partially supported by the US-Israel BSF     

On the maximization of the central gravitational red-shift of a schwarzschild sphere with a given surface gravitational red-shift

Following Bondi static, spherically symmetric equilibrium configurations with a core and an envelope have been considered. It has been shown that for any configurations with nonnegative pressure and density and with a surface red-shiftz _s 4.77 arbitrarily large central red-shiftsz _c are possible in the limiting case of arbitrarily large radius. The effects of imposition of further constraints in the form of a real speed of sound not exceeding the speed of light are also examined. It is seen that for a given limiting sound-to-light-speed ratio . (i) There exists a limiting surface red-shiftz _s() 1.71. (ii) A configuration withz _s >z _s() is not possible, (iii) A configuration withz _s=z _s() has a unique and finitez _c=z _c(). (iv) Forz _s<z _s() arbitrarily large central red-shifts can be obtained for configurations with arbitrarily large radii.     

The S-matrix for abstract scattering systems

Let S() be the S-matrix at energy for an abstract scattering system. We derive a bound, in terms of the interaction, on integrals of the form h () S()- _HS ² d, where denotes the Hilbert-Schmidt norm.Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

The asymmetric contact process on a finite set

The contact process onZ has one phase transition; let _c be the critical value at which the transition occurs. Let _N be the extinction time of the contact process on {0,...,N}. Durrett and Liu (1988), Durrett and Schonmann (1988), and Durrett, Schonmann, and Tanaka (1989) have respectively proved that the subcritical, supercritical, and critical phases can be characterized using a large finite system (instead ofZ) in the following way. There are constants ₁() and ₂() such that if < _c , lim _{N N} /logN = 1/₁(); if > _c , lim _N log _N /N = ₂(); if = _c , lim _{N N} /N= and lim _{N N} /N ⁴=0 in probability. In this paper we consider the asymmetric contact process onZ when it has two distinct critical values _c1< _c2. The arguments of Durrett and Liu and of Durrett and Schonmann hold for < _c1 and > _c2. We show that for [ _c1< _c2), lim _{N N} /N=-1/, (where _i is an edge speed) and for = _c2, lim _N log _N /logN=2 in probability.     

Zero measure spectrum for the almost Mathieu operator

We study the almost Mathieu operator: (H _{, ,} u)(n)=u(n+1)+u(n-1)+ cos (2n+)u(n), onl ² (Z), and show that for all ,, and (Lebesgue) a.e. , the Lebesgue measure of its spectrum is precisely |4–2|. In particular, for ||=2 the spectrum is a zero measure cantor set. Moreover, for a large set of irrational 's (and ||=2) we show that the Hausdorff dimension of the spectrum is smaller than or equal to 1/2.Work partially supported by the GIF     

Schrödinger Operators with Empty Singularly Continuous Spectra

Let H be a semibounded perturbation of the Laplacian H ₀ in L ²( ^d ). For an admissible function sufficient conditions are given for the completeness of the scattering system (H), (H ₀). If is the exponential function and if e^{– H} is an integral operator we denote the kernel of the difference D = e^{– H} – e^{– H} ₀ by D (x, y), > 0. The singularly continuous spectrum of H is empty if^d dx ^d dy |D(x,y)| (1 + |y|²)< for some > 1. This result is applied to potential perturbations and to perturbations by imposing Dirichlet boundary conditions.     

Superradiating 4P-4S-3P cascade of sodium vapour arising on the leading edge of the exciting laser pulse

Investigations of the superradiating cascade of sodium vapour 4P-4S-3P ₁ = 2.21 µm and ₂=1.14 µm) arising on the leading edge of the exciting laser pulse were carried out. The dependences of the actual delay time _D of the ₁ pulse on the population rise time of the laser-excited 4P state were measured and compared with those calculated following the existing theoretical model. The dependence of the actual delay time _D on the inverse density of excited atoms 1/N* is also presented. Analysis of this dependence revealed the influence of the Doppler dephasing and of the second, ₂, transition on the formation of the ₁ superradiance.     

Geometry and combinatorics of Julia sets of real quadratic maps

For real a correspondence is made between the Julia setB forz(z–)², in the hyperbolic case, and the set of-chains±(±(±..., with the aid of Cremer's theorem. It is shown how a number of features ofB can be understood in terms of-chains. The structure ofB is determined by certain equivalence classes of-chains, fixed by orders of visitation of certain real cycles; and the bifurcation history of a given cycle can be conveniently computed via the combinatorics of-chains. The functional equations obeyed by attractive cycles are investigated, and their relation to-chains is given. The first cascade of period-doubling bifurcations is described from the point of view of the associated Julia sets and-chains. Certain Julia sets associated with the Feigenbaum function and some theorems of Lanford are discussed.Supported by NSF grant No. MCS-8104862.Supported by NSF grant No. MCS-8203325.     

Tunable UV radiation at short wavelengths (188–240 nm) generated by sum-frequency mixing in lithium borate

Sum-frequency mixing (₃=₁+₂) of UV laser radiation (₁=266 nm and 213 nm) and tunable coherent infrared light (₂=1.2–2.6 m) in lithium borate (LBO) generates radiation at short wavelengths (₃=188–242 nm). The UV radiation at ₁ is produced by the fourth and fifth harmonic of a pulsed Nd-YAG laser. The infrared light is generated with an optical parametric oscillator of beta barium borate. The phase-matching angle is measured as function of ₃ and compared with calculated values. For UV laser radiation at shorter wavelengths (173 nm₁213 nm) the calculations predict an extension of the tuning range of the sum-frequency generated at ₃ to wavelengths as short as the LBO transmission cutoff at 160 nm.     

Time evolution of infinite classical systems with singular,long range,two body interactions

Existence of dynamics for infinitely many hard-spheres inv dimensions is proven in a set of full equilibrium measure.Singular unbounded perturbations are considered with pair potentials diverging as (x – a)^–, >2 anda is the hard-core diameter. Long range forces are allowed with potentials decreasing at infinity asx , <v. The result corrects and generalizes a proof given in a previous paper by the same authors.Research partially supported by a CNR fellowship Posit. 204530.Research partially supported by a CNR fellowship.