Finite groups in Stone-Cech compactifications

Let be an infinite cardinal and let G = ₂. Now let β Gbe the Stone–ech compactification of G as a discrete semigroup,and let =_<c_{β G} {xG\{0}:minsupp (x)}. We show that thesemigroup contains no nontrivial finite group.     

On Transitive Permutation Groups with Primitive Subconstituents

Let G be a transitive permutation group on a set such that,for , the stabiliser G induces on each of its orbits in \{}a primitive permutation group (possibly of degree 1). Let Nbe the normal closure of G in G. Then (Theorem 1) either N factorisesas N=GG for some , , or all unfaithful G-orbits, if any exist,are infinite. This result generalises a theorem of I. M. Isaacswhich deals with the case where there is a finite upper boundon the lengths of the G-orbits. Several further results areproved about the structure of G as a permutation group, focussingin particular on the nature of certain G-invariant partitionsof . 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20B07, 20B05.     

Boundaries of reduced free group C*-algebras

We prove that the crossed product C*-algebra C*_r(, ) of a freegroup with its boundary sits naturally between the reducedgroup C*-algebra C*_r and its injective envelope I(C*_r). In otherwords, we have natural inclusion C*_r C*_r(, ) I(C*_r) of C*-algebras.     

The structure of the normalisers of the congruence subgroups of the Hecke group G5

Let = 2cos (/5) and let []. Denote the normaliser ofG₀() of the Hecke group G₅ in PSL₂() by N(G₀()). Then N(G₀())= G₀(/h), where h is the largest divisor of 4 such that h² divides. Further, N(G₀())/G₀() is either 1 (if h = 1), ₂ x ₂ (if h= 2) or ₄ x ₄ (if h = 4).     

The Series of Norms in a Soluble p-Group

The norm of a group G is the subgroup of elements of G whichnormalise every subgroup of G. We shall denote it (G). An ascendingseries of subgroups _i(G) in G may be defined recursively by:₀(G) = 1 and, for i 0, _i+1(G)/_i(G) = (G/_i(G)). For each i,the section _i+1(G)/i(G) clearly contains the centre of the groupG/_i(G). A result of Schenkman [8] gives a very close connectionbetween this norm series and the upper central series: _i(G) _i(G) _2i(G). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20E15.     

Correction: Abelian Varieties defined over their Fields of Moduli, I

Bull London Math. Soc, 4 (1972), 370–372. The proof of the theorem contains an error. Before giving acorrect proof, we state two lemmas. LEMMA 1. Let K/k be a cyclic Galois extension of degree m, let generate Gal (K/k), and let (A, I, ) be defined over K. Supposethat there exists an isomorphism :(A,I,) (A, I, ) over K suchthat v^m–1 ... = 1, where v is the canonical isomorphism(A^m, I^m, ^m) (A, I, ). Then (A, I, ) has a model over k, whichbecomes isomorphic to (A, I, ) over K. Proof. This follows easily from [7], as is essentially explainedon p. 371. LEMMA 2. Let G be an abelian pro-finite group and let : G Q/Z be a continuous character of G whose image has order p.Then either: (a) there exist subgroups G' and H of G such that H is cyclicof order p^m for some m, (G') = 0, and G = G' x H, or (b) for any m > 0 there exists a continuous character m ofG such that p^m _m = . Proof. If (b) is false for a given m, then there exists an element G, of order p^r for some r m, such that () ¦ 0. (Considerthe sequence dual to 0 Ker (p^m) G ^pm G). There exists an opensubgroup G_o of G such that (G₀) = 0 and has order p^r in G/G₀.Choose H to be the subgroup of G generated by , and then aneasy application to G/G₀ of the theory of finite abelian groupsshows the existence of G' (note that () ¦ 0 implies that is not a p-th. power in G). We now prove the theorem. The proof is correct up to the statement(iv) (except that (i) should read: F' k₁ F'ab). To removea minor ambiguity in the proof of (iv), choose to be an elementof Gal (F'_ab/k₂) whose image $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$ in Gal (k₁/k₂) generates this last group. The error occursin the statement that the canonical map v : A^P A acts on pointsby sending a^p a; it, of course, sends a a. The proof is correct, however, in the case that it is possibleto choose so that ^p = 1 (in Gal (F'/k₂)). By applying Lemma 2 to G = Gal (F'_ab/k₂) and the map G Gal(k₁/k₂) one sees that only the following two cases have to beconsidered. (a) It is possible to choose so that ^pm = 1, for some m, andG = G' x H where G' acts trivially on k₁ and H is generatedby . (b) For any m > 0 there exists a field K, F'ab K k₁ k₂is a cyclic Galois extension of degree p^m. In the first case, we let K F'_ab be the fixed field of G'.Then (A, I, ), regarded as being defined over K, has a modelover k₂. Indeed, if m = 1, then this was observed above, butwhen m > 1 the same argument applies. In the second case, let : (A, I, ) (A$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$, I$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$, $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$) be an isomorphism defined over k₁ and let v ... ^p–1 = µ(R). If is replaced by for some Aut_k1((A, I, )) then is replacedby ^P. Thus, as µ(R) is finite, we may assume that ^pm–1= 1 for some m. Choose K, as in (b), to be of degree p^m overk₂. Let _m be a generator of Gal (K/k₂) whose restriction tok₁ is $$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$. Then : (A, I, ) (A^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$}, I^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$}, ^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$} = (A^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$m}, I^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma }$$m}, ^{$$\stackrel{\&macr;}{\sigma}$$m} is an isomorphism defined over K and v ^mpm–1, ... ^m =^pm–1 = 1, and so, by) Lemma 1, (A, I, ) has a model overk₂ which becomes isomorphic to (A, I, over K. The proof may now be completed as before. Addendum: Professor Shimura has pointed out to me that the claimon lines 25 and 26 of p. 371, viz that µ(R) is a puresubgroup of _R^*t, does not hold for all rings R. Thus this condition,which appears to be essential for the validity of the theorem,should be included in the hypotheses. It holds, for example,if µ(R) is a direct summand of µ(F).     

A Combinatorial Application of the Maximal Ergodic Theorem

Let X be a compact space,µ a Borel probability measureon X, T: X X a measure preserving continuous transformationand g: X R a continuous function. Then for some yX, This Lemma is used to give an alternative proof of a resultby Ruzsa [6], which implies the following extension of a resultof Bergelson [1]. If E N satisfies then there exists a set N such that n–1|[1,n]| (E) for all, n 1, and any finite subset{₁, ... _k} satisfies Ø. 7 Moria St., Ramat Hasharon, Israel     

Approximation of Ground State Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of Dirichlet Laplacians

Let be a bounded connected open set in R^N, N 2, and let –0be the Dirichlet Laplacian defined in L²(). Let > 0 be thesmallest eigenvalue of –, and let > 0 be its correspondingeigenfunction, normalized by ||||₂ = 1. For sufficiently small>0 we let R() be a connected open subset of satisfying Let – 0 be the Dirichlet Laplacian on R(), and let >0and >0 be its ground state eigenvalue and ground state eigenfunction,respectively, normalized by ||||₂=1. For functions f definedon , we let Sf denote the restriction of f to R(). For functionsg defined on R(), we let Tg be the extension of g to satisfying 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification 47F05.     

The {ell}1-norm of the Fourier transform on compact vector spaces

Suppose that G is a compact Abelian group. If A G, then howsmall can ||_A||_A(G) be? In general, there is no non-triviallower bound. In a recent preprint, Green and Konyagin show thatif has sparse small subgroup structure and A has density with (1 – ) >> 1, then||_A||_A(G) does admit a non-trivial lower bound. In this paperwe address the complementary case of groups with duals havingrich small subgroup structure, specifically the case when Gis a compact vector space over ₂. The results themselves arerather technical to state, but the following consequence capturestheir essence: if is a set of density as close to 1/3 as possible, then we show that . We include a number of examples andconjectures which suggest that what we have shown is very farfrom a complete picture.     

Logarithmic Convexity for Supremum Norms of Harmonic Functions

We prove the following convexity property for supremum normsof harmonic functions. Let be a domain in Rⁿ, ₀ and E a subdomainand a compact sebset of ,respectively. Then there exists a constant = (E, ₀, ) (0, 1) such that for all harmonic functions u on, the inequality is valid.The case of concentric balls E plays a key role in the proof.For positive harmonic funcitons ono osuch balls, we determinethe sharp constant in the inequlity.     

On the Efficiency of Coxeter Groups

If G is a finitely presented group and K is any (G,2)-complex(that is, a finite 2-complex with fundamental group G), thenit is well known that X(K) (G), where (G) = 1–rk H₁G+ dH₂G. We define (G) to be min{(K): K a (G, 2)-complex}, andwe say that G is efficient if (G)=(G). In this paper we givesufficient conditions for a Coxeter group to be efficient (Theorem4.2). We also give examples of inefficient Coxeter groups (Theorem5.1). In fact, we give an infinite family G_n(n = 2, 3, 4, ...)of Coxeter groups such that (G_n)–(G_n) as n . 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification 20F05, 20F55.     

Relation Modules of Infinite Groups

Let F_n be the free group of rank n with basis x₁, x₂, ..., x_n,and let d(G) denote the minimal number of generators of thefinitely generated group G. Suppose that n d(G). There existsan exact sequence and wemay view the free abelian group as a right ZG-module by defining (rR')^g = r^g–1R' for allg G, where g^–1 is any preimage of g under , and = (g^–1)^–1 r(g^–1),the conjugate of r by g^–1. We call the relation module of G associated with the presentation(1), and say that has ambient rank n. Furthermore, we call the group F_n/R' the free abelianizedextension of G associated with (1). 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification 20F05, 20C07.     

The Glauberman Correspondence and Subgroups of Operator Groups: a Counterexample

Let G and A be finite groups with coprime orders, and supposethat A acts on G by automorphisms. Let (G, A):Irr_A(G)Irr(C_G(A))be the Glauberman–Isaacs correspondence. Let B A andIrr_A(G). We exhibit a counterexample to the conjecture that(G, A) is an irreducible constituent of the restriction of (G,B) to C_G(A). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 20C15.     

Intersections of the Left and Right Essential Spectra of 2 x 2 Upper Triangular Operator Matrices

In this paper, perturbations of the left and right essentialspectra of 2 x 2 upper triangular operator matrix M_C are studied,where is an operator acting on the Hilbert space H K. For given operators A and B, thesets and are determined, where _le(T) and _re(T) denote, respectively,the left essential spectrum and the right essential spectrumof an operator T. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 47A10,47A55.     

A Variation on a Theorem of Galvin and Hajnal

Let be a singular cardinal of regular uncountable cofinality. Let {(): < } be a continuous increasing sequence withlimit , and let =₍₎₊₍₎, < be regular cardinals. Let I be a normal ideal on , and assume that the reduced product_</I admits a cofinal -scale of ordinal functions. Then ₊, where =||||_I is the I-norm of .     

Corrigendum: Elliptic Curves and Quadratic Recurrence Sequences

The statement of the numerical values and z₀ on page 167 of[1, Section 3] contained an error. The values that were actuallyused were (to nine decimal places): thesebeing shifted, by the periods 2₁ and 2₃ respectively, comparedwith the values given in [1] (with ₁ = 1.496729323 and ₃ = 1.225694691i).With ₀ = ₁ and (z) denoting the sigma function (z; g2, g3) withinvariants g2 = 4, g3 = –1 associated with the ellipticcurve given by equation (3.2), these values of and z₀ yield and the latter three values all agreewith those stated in the paper (apart from rounding down thelast digit in the imaginary part of A). 2000 Mathematics SubjectClassification 11B37 (primary), 33E05, 37J35 (secondary).     

On A Minimization Problem for Vector Fields in L1

This paper treats the problem of minimizing the norm of vectorfields in L¹ with prescribed divergence. The ridge of . playsan important role in the analysis, and in the case where R²is a polygonal domain, the ridge is thoroughly analysed andsome examples are presented. In the case where Rⁿ is a Lipschitzdomain and the divergence is a finite positive Borel measure,the infimum is calculated, and it is shown that if an extremalexists, then it is of the form ₁ = –Fd, where F is a nonnegativefunction and d(x) is the distance from x to the boundary .Finally, if R² is a polygonal domain and the measure is representedby a nonnegative continuous function, then an explicit expressionfor the extremal is given, and it is proven that this extremalis unique.     

A Sharp Comparison Result Concerning Schrodinger Heat Kernels

Let G₀ and G be the heat kernels of and –V respectively.Under some sharp conditions on V, a proof is given that G(x,t;y,0)/G₀(x,t;y,0)can be bounded from above and below by two positive constants.This largely improves the well-known bounds G(x,t;y,0)/G₀(x,t;y,0) t (0,T]. The result answers an open question of V. Liskevichand Yu. Semenov, in the case where V 0. A sharp global boundin time is also obtained when V 0. 2000 Mathematics SubjectClassification 35K05.     

Frame duality properties for projective unitary representations

Let be a projective unitary representation of a countable groupG on a separable Hilbert space H. If the set B of Bessel vectorsfor is dense in H, then for any vector x H the analysis operator_x makes sense as a densely defined operator from B to ²(G)-space.Two vectors x and y are called -orthogonal if the range spacesof _x and _y are orthogonal, and they are -weakly equivalent ifthe closures of the ranges of _x and _y are the same. These propertiesare characterized in terms of the commutant of the representation.It is proved that a natural geometric invariant (the orthogonalityindex) of the representation agrees with the cyclic multiplicityof the commutant of (G). These results are then applied to Gaborsystems. A sample result is an alternate proof of the knowntheorem that a Gabor sequence is complete in L²( ^d) ifand only if the corresponding adjoint Gabor sequence is ²-linearlyindependent. Some other applications are also discussed.     

Reaping Numbers of Boolean Algebras

A subset A of a Boolean algebra B is said to be (n,m)-reapedif there is a partition of unity p B of size n such that |{b p:b a 0}| m for all a A. The reaping number r_n,m (B) ofa Boolean algebra B is the minimum cardinality of a set A B\{0}which cannot be (n,m)-reaped. It is shown that for each n, thereis a Boolean algebra B such that r_n+1,2(B) r_n,2(B). Also, {r_n,m(B):mn } consists of at most two consecutive cardinals. The existenceof a Boolean algebra B such that r_n,m (B) r_n',m' (B) is equivalentto a statement in finite combinatorics which is also discussed.