Automorphisms of groups and of schemes of finite type

We show first that certain automorphism groups of algebraic varieties, and even schemes, are residually finite and virtually torsion free. (A group virtually has a property if some subgroup of finite index has it.) The rest of the paper is devoted to a study of the groups of automorphisms. Aut(Γ) and outer automorphisms Out(Γ) of a finitely generated group Γ, by using the finite-dimensional representations of Γ. This is an old idea (cf. the discussion of Magnus in [11]). In particular the classes of semi-simplen-dimensional representations of Γ are parametrized by an algebraic varietyS _n (Γ) on which Out(Γ) acts. We can apply the above results to this action and sometimes conclude that Out(Γ) is residually finite and virtually torsion free. This is true, for example, when Γ is a free group, or a surface group. In the latter case Out(Γ) is a “mapping class group.” Partially supported by the NSF under Grant MCS 80-05802.     

Asymptotic behaviour of trajectories of unipotent flows on homogeneous spaces

We show that ifG is a semisimple algebraic group defined overQ and Γ is an arithmetic lattice inG:=G _R with respect to theQ-structure, then there exists a compact subsetC ofG/Γ such that, for any unipotent one-parameter subgroup {u _t} ofG and anyg∈G, the time spent inC by the {u _t}-trajectory ofgΓ, during the time interval [0,T], is asymptotic toT, unless {g ⁻¹u_tg} is contained in aQ-parabolic subgroup ofG. Some quantitative versions of this are also proved. The results strengthen similar assertions forSL(n,Z),n≥2, proved earlier in [5] and also enable verification of a technical condition introduced in [7] for lattices inSL(3,R), which was used in our proof of Raghunathan’s conjecture for a class of unipotent flows, in [8].     

Affinely equivalent complete flat manifolds

Let E _Aff(Γ,G, m) be the set of affine equivalence classes of m-dimensional complete flat manifolds with a fixed fundamental group Γ and a fixed holonomy group G. Let n be the dimension of a closed flat manifold whose fundamental group is isomorphic to Γ. We describe E _Aff(Γ,G, m) in terms of equivalence classes of pairs (ε, ρ), consisting of epimorphisms of Γ onto G and representations of G in ℝ ^m-n . As an application we give some estimates of card E _Aff(Γ,G, m).     

Algebraic modular forms

In this paper, we develop an algebraic theory of modular forms, for connected, reductive groupsG overQ with the property that every arithmetic subgroup Γ ofG(Q) is finite. This theory includes our previous work [15] on semi-simple groupsG withG(R) compact, as well as the theory of algebraic Hecke characters for Serre tori [20]. The theory of algebraic modular forms leads to a workable theory of modular forms (modp), which we hope can be used to parameterize odd modular Galois representations. The theory developed here was inspired by a letter of Serre to Tate in 1987, which has appeared recently [21]. I want to thank Serre for sending me a copy of this letter, and for many helpful discussions on the topic.     

Boundaries of random walks on graphs and groups with infinitely many ends

Consider an irreducible random walk {Z _n} on a locally finite graphG with infinitely many ends, and assume that its transition probabilities are invariant under a closed group Γ of automorphisms ofG which acts transitively on the vertex set. We study the limiting behaviour of {Z _n} on the spaceΩ of ends ofG. With the exception of a degenerate case,Ω always constitutes a boundary of Γ in the sense of Furstenberg, and {Z _n} converges a.s. to a random end. In this case, the Dirichlet problem for harmonic functions is solvable with respect toΩ. The degenerate case may arise when Γ is amenable; it then fixes a unique end, and it may happen that {Z _n} converges to this end. If {Z _n} is symmetric and has finite range, this may be excluded. A decomposition theorem forΩ, which may also be of some purely graph-theoretical interest, is derived and applied to show thatΩ can be identified with the Poisson boundary, if the random walk has finite range. Under this assumption, the ends with finite diameter constitute a dense subset in the minimal Martin boundary. These results are then applied to random walks on discrete groups with infinitely many ends.     

On cuspidal representations of general linear groups over discrete valuation rings

We define a new notion of cuspidality for representations of GL _n over a finite quotient o _k of the ring of integers o of a non-Archimedean local field F using geometric and infinitesimal induction functors, which involve automorphism groups G _λ of torsion o-modules. When n is a prime, we show that this notion of cuspidality is equivalent to strong cuspidality, which arises in the construction of supercuspidal representations of GL _n (F). We show that strongly cuspidal representations share many features of cuspidal representations of finite general linear groups. In the function field case, we show that the construction of the representations of GL _n (o _k ) for k ≥ 2 for all n is equivalent to the construction of the representations of all the groups G _λ . A functional equation for zeta functions for representations of GL _n (o _k ) is established for representations which are not contained in an infinitesimally induced representation. All the cuspidal representations for GL₄(o₂) are constructed. Not all these representations are strongly cuspidal.     

Cusp forms

LetG andH ⊂G be two real semisimple groups defined overQ. Assume thatH is the group of points fixed by an involution ofG. Letπ ⊂L ²(H\G) be an irreducible representation ofG and letf επ be aK-finite function. Let Γ be an arithmetic subgroup ofG. The Poincaré seriesP _f(g)=Σ_H∩ΓΓ f(γ{}itg) is an automorphic form on Γ\G. We show thatP _f is cuspidal in some cases, whenH ∩Γ\H is compact. Partially supported by NSF Grant # DMS 9103608.     

Deformation of proper actions on reductive homogeneous spaces

Let G be a real reductive Lie group and H a closed reductive subgroup of G. We investigate the deformation of standard compact quotients of G/H, that is, of quotients of G/H by discrete groups Γ that are uniform lattices in some closed reductive subgroup L of G acting properly and cocompactly on G/H. For L of real rank 1, we prove that after a small deformation in G, such a group Γ keeps acting properly discontinuously and cocompactly on G/H. More generally, we prove that the properness of the action of any convex cocompact subgroup of L on G/H is preserved under small deformations, and we extend this result to reductive homogeneous spaces G/H over any local field. As an application, we obtain compact quotients of SO(2n, 2)/U(n, 1) by Zariski-dense discrete subgroups of SO(2n, 2) acting properly discontinuously.     

Rigidity problem for lattices in solvable Lie groups

The paper concerns rigidity problem for lattices in simply connected solvable Lie groups. A lattice Γ⊂G is said to be rigid if for any isomorphism ϕ:Γ→Γ′ with another lattice Γ′⊂G there exists an automorphism which extends ϕ. An effective rigidity criterion is proved which generalizes well-known rigidity theorems due to Malcev and Saito. New examples of rigid and nonrigid lattices are constructed. In particular, we construct: a) rigid lattice Γ⊂G which is not Zariski dense in the adjoint representation ofG, b) Zariski dense lattice Γ⊂G which is not rigid, c) rigid virtually nilpotent lattice Γ in a solvable nonnilpotent Lie groupG.     

On positivity of solutions of degenerate boundary value problems for second-order elliptic equations

In this paper we study thedegenerate mixed boundary value problem:Pu=f in Ω,B _u =gon Ω∂Г where ω is a domain in ℝ ⁿ ,P is a second order linear elliptic operator with real coefficients, Γ⊆∂Ω is a relatively closed set, andB is an oblique boundary operator defined only on ∂Ω/Γ which is assumed to be a smooth part of the boundary. The aim of this research is to establish some basic results concerning positive solutions. In particular, we study the solvability of the above boundary value problem in the class of nonnegative functions, and properties of the generalized principal eigenvalue, the ground state, and the Green function associated with this problem. The notion of criticality and subcriticality for this problem is introduced, and a criticality theory for this problem is established. The analogs for the generalized Dirichlet boundary value problem, where Γ=∂Ω, were examined intensively by many authors.     

On the commutativity degree of compact groups

In any finite group G, the commutativity degree of G (denoted by d(G)) is the probability that two randomly chosen elements of G commute. More generally, for every n ≥ 2 the nth commutativity degree (denoted by d _n (G)) is the probability that a randomly chosen ordered (n + 1)-tuple of the group elements is mutually commuting. The aim of this paper is to generalize the definition of d(G) and d _n (G) to every compact group G (infinite and even uncountable). We shall state some results concerning compact groups and we will extend some results in Erfanian et al. (Comm. Algebra 35 (2007), 4183–4197) and Lescot (J. Algebra 177 (1995), 847–869).     

On the abelianizations of congruence subgroups of Aut(<Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>)

Let F _n be the free group of rank n, and let Aut⁺(F _n ) be its special automorphism group. For an epimorphism π : F _n → G of the free group F _n onto a finite group G we call the standard congruence subgroup of Aut⁺(F _n ) associated to G and π. In the case n = 2 we fully describe the abelianization of Γ⁺(G, π) for finite abelian groups G. Moreover, we show that if G is a finite non-perfect group, then Γ⁺(G, π) ≤ Aut⁺(F ₂) has infinite abelianization.     

A lattice in more than two Kac-Moody groups is arithmetic

Let Γ < G ₁ × … × G _n be an irreducible lattice in a product of infinite irreducible complete Kac-Moody groups of simply laced type over finite fields. We show that if n ≥ 3, then each G _i is a simple algebraic group over a local field and Γ is an S-arithmetic lattice. This relies on the following alternative which is satisfied by any irreducible lattice provided n ≥ 2: either Γ is an S-arithmetic (hence linear) group, or Γ is not residually finite. In that case, it is even virtually simple when the ground field is large enough. More general CAT(0) groups are also considered throughout.     

Černý’s conjecture and group representation theory

Let us say that a Cayley graph Γ of a group G of order n is a Černy Cayley graph if every synchronizing automaton containing Γ as a subgraph with the same vertex set admits a synchronizing word of length at most (n−1)². In this paper we use the representation theory of groups over the rational numbers to obtain a number of new infinite families of Černy Cayley graphs.     

Deformations of complex structures on Γ/SL 2(C)

LetG be a connected complex semisimple Lie group. Let Γ be a cocompact lattice inG. In this paper, we show that whenG isSL ₂(C), nontrivial deformations of the canonical complex structure onX exist if and only if the first Betti number of the lattice Γ is non-zero. It may be remarked that for a wide class of arithmetic groups Γ, one can find a subgroup Γ′ of finite index in Γ, such that Γ′/[Γ′,Γ′] is finite (it is a conjecture of Thurston that this is true for all cocompact lattices inSL(2, C)). We also show thatG acts trivially on the coherent cohomology groupsH ⁱ(Γ/G, O) for anyi≥0.     

One-regular Normal Cayley Graphs on Dihedral Groups of Valency 4 or 6 with Cyclic Vertex Stabilizer

A graph G is one-regular if its automorphism group Aut（G） acts transitively and semiregularly on the arc set. A Cayley graph Cay（Г, S） is normal if Г is a normal subgroup of the full automorphism group of Cay（Г, S）. Xu, M. Y., Xu, J. （Southeast Asian Bulletin of Math., 25, 355-363 （2001）） classified one-regular Cayley graphs of valency at most 4 on finite abelian groups. Marusic, D., Pisanski, T. （Croat. Chemica Acta, 73, 969-981 （2000）） classified cubic one-regular Cayley graphs on a dihedral group, and all of such graphs turn out to be normal. In this paper, we classify the 4-valent one-regular normal Cayley graphs G on a dihedral group whose vertex stabilizers in Aut（G） are cyclic. A classification of the same kind of graphs of valency 6 is also discussed.     

On the prime graph of <Emphasis Type="Italic">PSL</Emphasis>(2, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>) where <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> > 3 is a prime number

Let G be a finite group. We define the prime graph Γ(G) as follows. The vertices of Γ(G) are the primes dividing the order of G and two distinct vertices p, q are joined by an edge if there is an element in G of order pq. Recently M. Hagie [5] determined finite groups G satisfying Γ(G) = Γ(S), where S is a sporadic simple group. Let p > 3 be a prime number. In this paper we determine finite groups G such that Γ(G) = Γ(PSL(2, p)). As a consequence of our results we prove that if p > 11 is a prime number and p ≢ 1 (mod 12), then PSL(2, p) is uniquely determined by its prime graph and so these groups are characterizable by their prime graph. The third author was supported in part by a grant from IPM (No. 84200024).     

On maximal proper subgroups of field automorphism groups

Let G be the automorphism group of an extension of algebraically closed fields of characteristic zero of transcendence degree n, 1 ≤ n ≤ ∞. In this paper we

Polynomial Approximation of Conformal Maps

Let G be a finite domain, bounded by a Jordan curve Γ , and let f ₀ be a conformal map of G onto the unit disk. We are interested in the best rate of uniform convergence of polynomial approximation to f ₀ , in the case that Γ is piecewise-analytic without cusps. In particular, we consider the problem of approximating f ₀ by the Bieberbach polynomials π _n and derive results better than those in [5] and [6] for the case that the corners of Γ have interior angles of the form π/N . In the proof, the Lehman formulas for the asymptotic expansion of mapping functions near analytic corners are used. We study the question when these expansions contain logarithmic terms. December 6, 1995. Date revised: August 5, 1996.