The density of prime divisors in the arithmetic dynamics of quadratic polynomials

Let f [x], and consider the recurrence given by a_n = f(a_{n –1}), with a₀ . Denote by P(f, a₀) the set of prime divisorsof this recurrence, that is, the set of primes dividing at leastone non-zero term, and denote the natural density of this setby D(P(f, a₀)). The problem of determining D(P(f, a₀)) whenf is linear has attracted significant study, although it remainsunresolved in full generality. In this paper, we consider thecase of f quadratic, where previously D(P(f, a₀)) was knownonly in a few cases. We show that D(P(f, a₀)) = 0 regardlessof a₀ for four infinite families of f, including f = x² + k,k \{–1}. The proof relies on tools from group theoryand probability theory to formulate a sufficient condition forD(P(f, a₀)) = 0 in terms of arithmetic properties of the forwardorbit of the critical point of f. This provides an analogy toresults in real and complex dynamics, where analytic propertiesof the forward orbit of the critical point have been shown todetermine many global dynamical properties of a quadratic polynomial.The article also includes apparently new work on the irreducibilityof iterates of quadratic polynomials.     

On Finite and InfiniteCk-A-Determinacy

Let f: (Rⁿ,0) (R^p,0) be a C map-germ. We define f to be finitely,or -, A-determined, if there exists an integer m such that allgerms g with j^mg(0) = j^mf(0), or if all germs g with the sameinfinite Taylor series as f, respectively, are A-equivalentto f. For any integer k, 0 k < , we can consider A' sC^kcounterpart (consisting of C^k diffeomorphisms) A^(k), and wecan define the notion of finite, or -,A^(k)-determinacy in asimilar manner. Consider the following conditions for a C germf: (a_k) f is -A^(k)-determined, (b_k) f is finitely A^(k)-determined,(t) , (g) there exists a representative f : U R^p defined on some neighbourhood U of 0 in Rⁿ such thatthe multigerm of f is stable at every finite set , and (g') every f' with j f'(0)=j f(0) satisfiescondition (g). We also define a technical condition which willimply condition (g) above. This condition is a collection ofp+1 Lojasiewicz inequalities which express that the multigermof f is stable at any finite set of points outside 0 and onlybecomes unstable at a finite rate when we approach 0. We willdenote this condition by (e). With this notation we prove thefollowing. For any C map germ f:(Rⁿ,0) (R^p,0) the conditions(e), (t), (g') and (a) are equivalent conditions. Moreover,each of these conditions is equivalent to any of (a_k) (p+1 k < , (b_k) (p+1 k < ). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification:58C27.     

On the Number of Singularities in Generic Deformations of Map Germs

Let f:Cⁿ, 0C^p, 0 be a K-finite map germ, and let i=(i₁, ...,i_k) be a Boardman symbol such that ⁱ has codimension n in thecorresponding jet space J^k(n, p). When its iterated successorshave codimension larger than n, the paper gives a list of situationsin which the number of ⁱ points that appear in a generic deformationof f can be computed algebraically by means of Jacobian idealsof f. This list can be summarised in the following way: f musthave rank n–i₁ and, in addition, in the case p=6, f mustbe a singularity of type ^i₁,i₂.     

A Strong Law for the Largest Nearest-Neighbour Link between Random Points

Suppose that X₁, X₂, X₃, ... are independent random points inR^d with common density f, having compact support with smoothboundary , with f| continuous. Let Rⁿ_{i, k} denote the distancefrom X_i to its kth nearest neighbour amongst the first n points,and let M_{n, k} = max_in Rⁿ_{i, k}. Let denote the volume of theunit ball. Then as n , , almost surely If instead the points lie in a compact smooth d-dimensionalRiemannian manifold K, then nM^d_{n, k}/log n (min_Kf)^–1,almost surely.     

The Range of Possible Values of f(x)

The purpose of this paper is to explain how to compute the rangeof possible values of a function of one variable, f(x), givenvalues of the function at n distinct points x₁ < x₂ <... < x_M–1 < x_M, and given a finite bound on thekth derivative of f: ||f^(k)|| L, 1 k n.     

De Paepe's Disc has Nontrivial Polynomial Hull

The topological disc (De Paepe's) isshown here to have non-trivial polynomially convex hull. Infact, the authors show that this holds for all discs of theform , where f is holomorphicon |z|r, and f(z=z²+a₃z³+..., with all coefficients a_n real,and at least one a_2n+1 0. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification32E20.     

Normal Families and Shared Values

For f a meromorphic function on the plane domain D and a C,let _f(a) = {z D: f(z) = a}. Let F be a family of meromorphicfunctions on D, all of whose zeros are of multiplicity at leastk. If there exist b 0 and h > 0 such that for every f F,_f(0) = _f^(k)(b) and 0 < |f^(k+1)(z)| h whenever z _f(0), thenF is a normal family on D. The case _f(0) = Ø is a celebratedresult of Gu [5]. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 30D45,30D35.     

A Note on Positivity of Elementary Operators

We show that operators on n x n matrices which are representablein the form (where a_i andb_i are n x n matrices) and are k-positive for must be completely positive. As a consequence, elementaryoperators on a C^*-algebra with minimal length l which are k-positivefor must be completely positive. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 47B47, 46L05, 47B65.     

On the Optimum Criterion of Polynomial Stability

The purpose of this note is to answer the question raised byNie & Xie (1987). Let f(x)=a₀xⁿ+a₁x^n–1+...+a_n be apositive-coefficient polynomial. The numbers ₁=a_i-1a_i+2/a_ia_i+1(i=1, ..., n–2) are called determining coefficients. Theoptimum criterion problem was posed as follows: for n3, findthe maximal number (n) such that the polynomial f(x) is stableif _i < (n) (1in–2). For n6, we show that (n)=ß,where ß is the unique real root of the equation x(x+1)²=1.     

On the Discreteness and Convergence in n-Dimensional Mobius Groups

Throughout this paper, we adopt the same notations as in [1,6, 8] such as the Möbius group M(Rⁿ), the Clifford algebraC_n–1, the Clifford matrix group SL(2, _n), the Cliffordnorm of ||A||=(|a|²+|b|²+|c|²+|d|²) (1) and the Clifford metric of SL(2, _n) or of the Möbius groupM(Rⁿ) d(A₁,A₂)=||A₁–A₂||(|a₁–a₂|²+|b₁–b₂|²+|c₁–c₂|²+|d₁–d₂|²)(2) where |·| is the norm of a Clifford number and represents f_i M(), i = 1,2, and so on. In addition, we adopt some notions in [6, 12]:the elementary group, the uniformly bounded torsion, and soon. For example, the definition of the uniformly bounded torsionis as follows.     

A remark on the representation of Zolotarev polynomials

Zolotarev polynomials are the polynomials that have minimaldeviation from zero on [–1, 1] with respect to the norm||xⁿ – x^n–1 + a_n–2 x^n–2 + ... + a₁x+ a_n|| for given and for all a_k . This note complements the paper of F. Pehersforfer [J. LondonMath. Soc. (1) 74 (2006) 143–153] with exact (not asymptotic)construction of the Zolotarev polynomials with respect to thenorm L₁ for || < 1 and with respect to the norm L₂ for || 1 in the form of Bernstein–Szegö orthogonal polynomials.For all in L₁ and L₂ norms, the Zolotarev polynomials satisfyexactly (not asymptotically) the triple recurrence relationof the Chebyshev polynomials.     

Shapiro's Cyclic Sum

Shapiro's cyclic sum is defined by , If K is the cone in Rⁿ of points withnon-negative coordinates, it is shown that the minimum of Ein K is a fixed point of T², where T is the non-linear operatordefined by (Tx)_i = x_n–i+1/(x_n–i+2 + x_n–i+3)²for i = 1,2,...,n. It is conjectured that Tx = S^kx, where Sis the shift operator in Rⁿ, and a proof is given under someadditional hypotheses. One of the consequences is a simple proofthat at the minimum point, a_i(x) = a_n–i+1–k(x) fori = 1,2,...,n.     

A Criterion for Finite Topological Determinacy of Map-Germs

Let f, g: (Rⁿ, 0) (R^p, 0) be two C map-germs. Then f and gare C⁰-equivalent if there exist homeomorphism-germs h and lof (Rⁿ, 0) and (R^p, 0) respectively such that g = l f h^–1.Let k be a positive integer. A germ f is k-C⁰-determined ifevery germ g with j^k g(0) = j^k f(0) is C⁰-equivalent to f. Moreover,we say that f is finitely topologically determined if f is k-C⁰-determinedfor some finite k. We prove a theorem giving a sufficient conditionfor a germ to be finitely topologically determined. We explainthis condition below. Let N and P be two C manifolds. Consider the jet bundle J^k(N,P) with fiber J^k(n, p). Let z in J^k(n, p) and let f be suchthat z = j^kf(0). Define Whether (f) < k depends only on z, not on f. We can thereforedefine the set Let W^k(N, P) be the subbundle of J^k(N, P) with fiber W^k(n, p).Mather has constructed a finite Whitney (b)-regular stratificationS^k(n, p) of J^k(n, p) – W^k(n, p) such that all strata aresemialgebraic and K-invariant, having the property that if S^k(N,P) denotes the corresponding stratification of J^k(N, P) –W^k(N, P) and f C(N, P) is a C map such that j^kf is multitransverseto S^k(N, P), j^kf(N) W^k(N, P) = and N is compact (or f is proper),then f is topologically stable. For a map-germ f: (Rⁿ, 0) (R^p, 0), we define a certain ojasiewiczinequality. The inequality implies that there exists a representativef: U R^p such that j^kf(U – 0) W^k (Rⁿ, R^p = and suchthat j^kf is multitransverse to S^k (Rⁿ, R^p) at any finite setof points S U – 0. Moreover, the inequality controlsthe rate j^kf becomes non-transverse as we approach 0. We showthat if f satisfies this inequality, then f is finitely topologicallydetermined. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 58C27.     

On the Approximation Numbers for the Finite Sections of Block Toeplitz Matrices

In this paper we discuss the asymptotic distribution of theapproximation numbers of the finite sections for a Toeplitzoperator and µ R, witha continuous matrix-valued generating function a. We prove thatthe approximation numbers of the finite sections T_n(a) = P_nT(a)P_nhave the k-splitting property, provided T(a) is a Fredholm operatoron . 2000 Mathematics SubjectClassification 47B35 (primary), 15A18, 47A58, 47A75, 65F20 (secondary).     

On a question of Sarkozy and Sos for bilinear forms

We prove that, if 2 k₁ k₂, then there is no infinite sequence of positive integers such that the representation functionr(n) = #{(a, a'): n = k₁a + k₂a', a, a' } is constant for nlarge enough. This result completes the previous work of Diracand Moser for the special case k₁ = 1 and answers a questionposed by Sárkozy and Sós.     

A Necessary and Sufficient Condition for a Linear Differential System to be Strongly Monotone

In order to present the results of this note, we begin withsome definitions. Consider a differential system [formula] where IR is an open interval, and f(t, x), (t, x)IxRⁿ, is acontinuous vector function with continuous first derivativesf_r/x_s, r, s=1, 2, ..., n. Let D_xf(t, x), (t, x)IxRⁿ, denote the Jacobi matrix of f(t,x), with respect to the variables x₁, ..., x_n. Let x(t, t₀,x₀), tI(t₀, x₀) denote the maximal solution of the system (1)through the point (t₀, x₀)IxRⁿ. For two vectors x, yRⁿ, we use the notations x>y and x>>yaccording to the following definitions: [formula] An nxn matrix A=(a_rs) is called reducible if n2 and there existsa partition [formula] (p1, q1, p+q=n) such that [formula] The matrix A is called irreducible if n=1, or if n2 and A isnot reducible. The system (1) is called strongly monotone if for any t₀I, x₁,x₂Rⁿ [formula] holds for all t>t₀ as long as both solutions x(t, t₀, x_i),i=1, 2, are defined. The system is called cooperative if forall (t, x)IxRⁿ the off-diagonal elements of the nxn matrix D_xf(t,x) are nonnegative. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification34A30, 34C99.     

Stability in the Sense of Bounded Average Power

An R^m-valued sequence (x_k): = (x_k : k = 1, 2, ...), e.g. generatedrecursively by x_k = f_k (x_k–_k, U_k), is called ‘averagepth power bounded’ if (1/K) is bounded uniformly in K= 1, 2,.... (The case p = 2 may correspond to ‘power’in the physical sense.) This is a notion of stability. Givenestimates of the form: f_k (x, u) < a x + ¶ _k conditionsare obtained on the coefficient sequence (a_k) and the inputestimates e_k:=¶_k (u_k) which ensure this form of stabilityfor the output (x_k). In particular, a condition (utilized inan application to adaptive control) is obtained which imposes(i) a bound b on (a_k) and a ‘sparsity measure’ m(K) on #{kK: a_k>} as K ( >1) (ii) average pth power boundednesson (e_k), and (iii) a growth condition on (e_k) related to b andm (•). This condition is sharp.     

Morphisms Between Koszul Complexes II

Let K. denote the graded Koszul complex associated to the regularsequence (x₀, ..., x_n) in the graded polynomial ring A = k[x₀,..., x_n], |x_i| = 1 for all i, over an arbitrary field k. Let denote the Koszul complex associated to another regular sequence of homogeneous elements(p₀, ..., p_n) in A. In [5] we have studied ranks of graded chaincomplex morphisms with the property f₀ = id. Let ^k (respectively, '^k) denote the kernelof the Koszul differential d: K_k K_k–1 (respectively,), and let denote the restriction of f_k. The main result wasthat Rank . 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification 13D25.     

The Asymptotic Behaviour of the Coefficients in Stokes's Series for Surface Gravity Waves

It is shown that the asymptotic behaviour of the coefficientsa_n at high order n and at large wave steepness ak is determinedmainly by the limiting form of the wave crest. In a lower rangeof n, a_n, decreases like n^–, corresponding to the Stokes120° corner flow. In an upper range, a_n, decreases exponentiallywith n. The transition occurs when n³ is O(1) where is relatedto the steepness ak of the waves by ² = 2.0[(ak)_max –ak].