Immanant Inequalities, Induced Characters, and Rank Two Partitions

If = {₁, ₂, ..., _s}, where _{1 2} ... _s > 0, is a partitionof n then denotes the associated irreducible character of S_n,the symmetric group on {1, 2, ..., n}, and, if cCS_n, the groupalgebra generated by C and S_n, then d_c(·) denotes thegeneralized matrix function associated with c. If c₁, c₂ CS_nthen we write c₁ c₂ in case (A) (A) for each n x n positivesemi-definite Hermitian matrix A. If cCS_n and c(e) 0, wheree denotes the identity in S_n, then or denotes (c(e))^–1 c. The main result, an estimate for the norms of tensors of a certainanti-symmetry type, implies that if = {₁, ₂, ..., _s, 1^t} isa partition of n such that s > 1 and _s = 2, and ' denotes{₁, ₂, ..., _s-1, 1^t} then (, _{2}) where denotes characterinduction from S_n–2 x S₂ to S_n. This in turn implies thatif = {₁, ₂, ..., _s, 1^t} with s > 1, _s = 2, and ßdenotes {₁ + 2, ₂, ..., _s-1, 1^t} then _ß which,in conjunction with other known results, provides many new inequalitiesamong immanants. In particular it implies that the permanentfunction dominates all normalized immanants whose associatedpartitions are of rank 2, a result which has proved elusivefor some years. We also consider the non-relationship problem for immanants– that is the problem of identifying pairs, (,ß)such that _ß and _ß are both false.     

A New Notion of Transitivity for Groups and Sets of Permutations

Let = {1, 2, ..., n} where n 2. The shape of an ordered setpartition P = (P₁, ..., P_k) of is the integer partition =(₁, ..., _k) defined by _i = |P_i|. Let G be a group of permutationsacting on . For a fixed partition of n, we say that G is -transitiveif G has only one orbit when acting on partitions P of shape. A corresponding definition can also be given when G is justa set. For example, if = (n – t, 1, ..., 1), then a -transitivegroup is the same as a t-transitive permutation group, and if = (n – t, t), then we recover the t-homogeneous permutationgroups. We use the character theory of the symmetric group S_n to establishsome structural results regarding -transitive groups and sets.In particular, we are able to generalize a celebrated resultof Livingstone and Wagner [Math. Z. 90 (1965) 393–403]about t-homogeneous groups. We survey the relevant examplescoming from groups. While it is known that a finite group ofpermutations can be at most 5-transitive unless it containsthe alternating group, we show that it is possible to constructa nontrivial t-transitive set of permutations for each positiveinteger t. We also show how these ideas lead to a combinatorialbasis for the Bose–Mesner algebra of the association schemeof the symmetric group and a design system attached to thisassociation scheme.     

Systems of Diagonal Equations Over p-Adic Fields

Let K be a p-adic field, and consider the system F = (F₁,...,F_R)of diagonal equations (1) with coefficients in K. It is an interesting problem in numbertheory to determine when such a system possesses a nontrivialK-rational solution. In particular, we define *(k, R, K) tobe the smallest natural number such that any system of R equationsof degree k in N variables with coefficients in K has a nontrivialK-rational solution provided only that N*(k, R, K). For example,when k = 1, ordinary linear algebra tells us that *(1, R, K)= R + 1 for any field K. We also define *(k, R) to be the smallestinteger N such that *(k, R, Q_p) N for all primes p.     

Contractions et Hyperdistributions a Spectre de Carleson

Let =(_n)_n1 be a log concave sequence such that lim inf_n+n/n^c>0for some c>0 and ((log _n)/n)_n1 is nonincreasing for some<1/2. We show that, if T is a contraction on the Hilbertspace with spectrum a Carleson set, and if ||T^–n||=O(_n)as n tends to + with _n11/(n log _n)=+, then T is unitary. Onthe other hand, if _n11/(n log _n)<+, then there exists a (non-unitary)contraction T on the Hilbert space such that the spectrum ofT is a Carleson set, ||T^–n||=O(_n) as n tends to +, andlim sup_n+||T^–n||=+.     

Normal Elements of C*-Algebras of Real Rank Zero without Finite-Spectrum Approximants

We investigate inductive limits of Toeplitz-type C*-algebras.One example, which has real-rank zero, is the middle term ofan exact sequence where is a Bunce-Deddens algebra and I is AF. Using Berg's technique,we produce a normal element N that is not the limit of finite-spectrumnormals. Moreover, this is an example of a normal element inan inductive limit that is not the limit of normal elementsof the approximating subalgebras. A second example is an embedding of C() ( the closed disk) into , where is a simple AF algebra and is the Toeplitz algebra.Let _n, for n 2, be the CW complex obtained as the quotientof by an n-fold identification of the boundary. (So ₂ = RP².)Regarding C(_n) as a subalgebra of C(), we find nontrivial embeddingsof C(_n) into type I inductive limits. From this, we producea *-homomorphism, for n odd, C₀(_n\{pt}) _{n + 1}, that inducesan isomorphism on K-theory. More generally, for X a connectedCW complex minus a point, and for n odd, we show that the map is a split surjection.     

The Convergence of a Class of Quasimonotone Reaction-Diffusion Systems

It is proved that every solution of the Neumann initial-boundaryproblem converges to some equilibrium, if the system satisfies (i) F_i/u_j 0 for all 1 i j n, (ii) F(u * g(s)) h(s) * F(u) wheneveru and 0 s 1, where x *y = (x₁y₁, ..., x_ny_n) and g, h : [0, 1] [0, 1]ⁿ are continuousfunctions satisfying g_i(0) = h_i(0) = 0, g_i(1) = h_i(1) = 1, 0< g_i(s); h_i(s) < 1 for all s (0, 1) and i = 1, 2, ...,n, and (iii) the solution of the corresponding ordinary differentialequation system is bounded in . We also study the convergence of the solution of the Lotka–Volterrasystem where r_i > 0, 0, and a_ij 0 for i j.     

Moments of Some Stopping Rules

Let X_n for n1 be independent random variables with . Set . Define T_k,c,m=inf{nm:|k!S_k,n|>cn^k/2}.We study critical values c_k,p for k2 and p>0, such that for c<c_k,p and all m, and for c>c_k,p and all sufficientlylarge m. In particular, c_1,1=c_2,1=1, c_3,1=2 and c_4,1=3 undercertain moment conditions on X₁, when X_n are identically distributed.We also investigate perturbed stopping rules of the form T_h,m=inf{nm:h(S_1,n/n^1/2)<_nor >_n} for continuous functions h and random variables _naand _nb with a<b. Related stopping rules of the Wiener processare also considered via the Uhlenbeck process.     

Metrical Theorems on Prime Values of the Integer Parts of Real Sequences II

Let [ ] denote the integer part. Among other results in [3]we gave a complete solution to the following problem. PROBLEM. Given an increasing sequence a_n R⁺, n = 1, 2, ...,where a_n as n , are there infinitely many primes in the sequence[a_n] for almost all ?     

Base Sizes and Regular Orbits for Coprime Affine Permutation Groups

Let G be a permutation group on a finite set . A sequence B=(₁,..., _b) of points in is called a base if its pointwise stabilizerin G is the identity. Bases are of fundamental importance incomputational algorithms for permutation groups. For both practicaland theoretical reasons, one is interested in the minimal basesize for (G, ), For a nonredundant base B, the elementary inequality2^|B||G|||^|B| holds; in particular, |B|log|G|/log||. In the casewhen G is primitive on , Pyber [8, p. 207] has conjectured thatthe minimal base size is less than Clog|G|/log|| for some (large)universal constant C. It appears that the hardest case of Pyber's conjecture is thatof primitive affine groups. Let H=GV be a primitive affine group;here the point stabilizer G acts faithfully and irreduciblyon the elementary abelian regular normal subgroup V of H, andwe may assume that =V. For positive integers m, let mV denotethe direct sum of m copies of V. If (v₁, ..., v_m)mV belongsto a regular G-orbit, then (0, v₁, ..., v_m) is a base for theprimitive affine group H. Conversely, a base (₁, ..., _b) forH which contains 0V= gives rise to a regular G-orbit on (b–1)V. Thus Pyber's conjecture for affine groups can be viewed asa regular orbit problem for G-modules, and it is therefore aspecial case of an important problem in group representationtheory. For a related result on regular orbits for quasisimplegroups, see [4, Theorem 6].     

Normal Transversality and Uniform Bounds

Let A be a commutative ring. A graded A-algebra U = _n0 U_n isa standard A-algebra if U₀ = A and U = A[U₁] is generated asan A-algebra by the elements of U₁. A graded U-module F = _n0F_nis a standard U-module if F is generated as a U-module by theelements of F₀, that is, F_n = U_nF₀ for all n 0. In particular,F_n = U₁F_n–1 for all n 1. Given I, J, two ideals of A,we consider the following standard algebras: the Rees algebraof I, R(I) = _n0Iⁿtⁿ = A[It] A[t], and the multi-Rees algebraof I and J, R(I, J) = _n0(_p+q=nI^pJ^qu^pv^q) = A[Iu, Jv] A[u, v].Consider the associated graded ring of I, G(I) = R(I) A/I =_n0Iⁿ/Iⁿ⁺¹, and the multi-associated graded ring of I and J,G(I, J) = R(I, J) A/(I+J) = _n0(_p+q=nI^pJ^q/(I+J)I^pJ^q). We canalways consider the tensor product of two standard A-algebrasU = _p0U_p and V = _q0V_q as a standard A-algebra with the naturalgrading U V = _n0(_p+q=nU_p V_q). If M is an A-module, we havethe standard modules: the Rees module of I with respect to M,R(I; M) = _n0IⁿMtⁿ = M[It] M[t] (a standard R(I)-module), andthe multi-Rees module of I and J with respect to M, R(I, J;M) = _n0(_p+q=nI^pJ^qMu^pv^q) = M[Iu, Jv] M[u, v] (a standard R(I,J)-module). Consider the associated graded module of M withrespect to I, G(I; M) = R(I; M) A/I = _n0IⁿM/Iⁿ⁺¹M (a standardG(I)-module), and the multi-associated graded module of M withrespect to I and J, G(I, J; M) = R(I, J; M) A/(I+J) = _n0(_p+q=nI^pJ^qM/(I+J)I^pJ^qM)(a standard G(I, J)-module). If U, V are two standard A-algebras,F is a standard U-module and G is a standard V-module, thenF G = _n0(_p+q=nF_p G_q) is a standard U V-module. Denote by :R(I) R(J; M) R(I, J; M) and :R(I, J; M) R(I+J;M) the natural surjective graded morphisms of standard RI) R(J)-modules. Let :R(I) R(J; M) R(I+J; M) be . Denote by :G(I) G(J; M) G(I, J; M) and :G(I, J; M) G(I+J; M) the tensor productof and by A/(I+J); these are two natural surjective gradedmorphisms of standard G(I) G(J)-modules. Let :G(I) G(J; M) G(I+J; M) be . The first purpose of this paper is to prove the following theorem.     

Decomposability of Reflexive Cycle Algebras

We give, for each n 3, an example of a reflexive operator algebra_n with the following properties: (i) each finite rank operatorwith rank less than n – 1 is the sum of rank-one operatorsin _n, and (ii) there is an operator of rank n – 1 in _nwhich is not the sum of rank-one operators in _n. The invariantsubspace lattice of _n is finite and distributive with 2n join-irreducibleelements. We show also that the indecomposability of _n is relatedto the existence of a chordless cycle in a bipartite graph associatedwith _n.     

Extremal Subgroups in Chevalley Groups

Throughout this paper G(k) denotes a Chevalley group of rankn defined over the field k, where n3. Let be the root systemassociated with G(k) and let ={₁, ₂, ..., _n} be a set of fundamentalroots of , with ⁺ being the set of positive roots of with respectto . For and ⁺, let n() be the coefficient of in the expressionof as a sum of fundamental roots; so =n(). Also we recall thatht(), the height of , is given by ht()=n(). The highest rootin ⁺ will be denoted by . We additionally assume that the Dynkindiagram of G(k) is connected.     

Generators and defining relations for ring of invariants of commuting locally nilpotent derivations or automorphisms

Let A be an algebra over a field K of characteristic zero andlet ₁, ..., _sDer _K(A) be commuting locally nilpotent K-derivationssuch that _i(x_j) equals _ij, the Kronecker delta, for some elementsx₁, ..., x_sA. A set of generators for the algebra is found explicitly and a set of defining relationsfor the algebra A is described. Similarly, let ₁, ..., _s Aut_K(A)be commuting K-automorphisms of the algebra A is given suchthat the maps _i – id_A are locally nilpotent and _i (x_j)= x_j + _ij, for some elements x₁, ..., x_s A. A set of generatorsfor the algebra A: = {a A | ₁(a) = ... = _s(a) = a} is foundexplicitly and a set of defining relations for the algebra Ais described. In general, even for a finitely generated non-commutativealgebra A the algebras of invariants A and A are not finitelygenerated, not (left or right) Noetherian and a minimal numberof defining relations is infinite. However, for a finitely generatedcommutative algebra A the opposite is always true. The derivations(or automorphisms) just described appear often in many differentsituations (possibly) after localization of the algebra A.     

The Characterisation of the Regularity of the Jacobian Determinant in the Framework of Potential Spaces

We give necessary and sufficient conditions on the parameterss₁, s₂, ..., s_m, p₁, p₂, ..., p_m such that the Jacobian determinantextends to a bounded operator from into Z'. Here all spaces are defined on Rⁿ and 2mn. In almostall cases the regularity of the Jacobian determinant is calculatedexactly.     

A Mean Value Property of Poly-Temperatures on a Strip Domain

We consider the iterates of the heat operator on Rⁿ⁺¹={(X, t); X=(x₁, x₂, ..., x_n)Rⁿ, tR}. Let Rⁿ⁺¹ be a domain,and let m1 be an integer. A lower semi-continuous and locallyintegrable function u on is called a poly-supertemperatureof degree m if (–H)^mu0 on (in the sense of distribution). If u and –u are both poly-supertemperatures of degreem, then u is called a poly-temperature of degree m. Since His hypoelliptic, every poly-temperature belongs to C(), andhence (–H)^m u(X, t)=0 (X, t). For the case m=1, we simply call the functions the supertemperatureand the temperature. In this paper, we characterise a poly-temperature and a poly-supertemperatureon a strip D={(X, t);XRⁿ, 0<t<T} by an integral mean on a hyperplane. To state our result precisely,we define a mean A[·, ·]. This plays an essentialrole in our argument.     

The Baire Method for the Prescribed Singular Values Problem

The paper investigates the vectorial Dirichlet problem definedby S_j( u(x))=1,xnO; a.e., j=1,...,n, u(x)=\(x),\,x\in|O. end{cases}Here O is an open bounded subset of Rⁿ with boundary |O, and_j(A) (j=1,...,n) denote the singular values of the gradient u(x). The existence of solutions is established under one ofthe following assumptions: : O – Rⁿ is continuous on Oand locally contractive on O, or : |O – Rⁿ is contractiveon |O. This extends a result due to Dacorogna and Marcellini.The approach is based on the Baire category method developedearlier by the authors.     

Sharp Upper Bound to the First Nonzero Neumann Eigenvalue for Bounded Domains in Spaces of Constant Curvature

The main result of this paper is that for a domain containedin a hemisphere of the n-dimensional sphere Sⁿ the first nonzeroNeumann eigenvalue µ₁() is less than or equal to the firstnonzero Neumann eigenvalue µ₁(D) where D is a geodesicball in Sⁿ of the same measure as . Equality occurs if and onlyif is isometric to D. This result generalizes old results ofSzegö and Weinberger which gave the corresponding upperbound for µ₁() in the Euclidean case, and a result ofChavel for domains in Sⁿ which restricted to lie in a geodesicball of radius when n = 2and to even smaller geodesic balls for larger n. The techniquesused are analogous to those for our recent proof of the Payne-Pólya-Weinbergerconjecture: rearrangement inequalities and properties of specialfunctions are the key elements. The general approach is a directextension of Weinberger's for domains in Rⁿ.