Approximation in L 1 -Norm by Elements of a Uniform Algebra

In this paper we deal with the following situation (for the terminology see [G]). Let A be a uniform algebra on the metric compact space Γ and let be a complex homomorphism of A . Suppose the set of representing measures of has finite dimension. Let be a core measure and let us assume that any real annihilating measure for A has the form S d μ , where S $\in$ L ^∞ _R (μ) . March 4, 1996.     

Brownian bridge on hyperbolic spaces and on homogeneous trees

Let B be the Brownian motion on a noncompact non Euclidean rank one symmetric space H. A typical examples is an hyperbolic space H _n , n > 2. For ν > 0, the Brownian bridge B ^(ν) of length ν on H is the process B _t , 0 ≤t≤ν, conditioned by B ₀ = B _ν = o, where o is an origin in H. It is proved that the process converges weakly to the Brownian excursion when ν→ + ∞ (the Brownian excursion is the radial part of the Brownian Bridge on ℝ³). The same result holds for the simple random walk on an homogeneous tree. Received: 4 December 1998 / Revised version: 22 January 1999     

Heat kernel expansions in vector bundles

Let M be a complete connected smooth (compact) Riemannian manifold of dimension n. Let Π:V→M be a smooth vector bundle over M. Let be a second order differential operator on M, where Δ is a Laplace-Type operator on the sections of the vector bundle V and b a smooth vector field on M. Let k_t(−,−) be the heat kernel of V relative to L. In this paper we will derive an exact and an asymptotic expansion for k_t(x,y₀) where y₀ is the center of normal coordinates defined on M, x is a point in the normal neighborhood centered at y₀. The leading coefficients of the expansion are then computed at x=y₀ in terms of the linear and quadratic Riemannian curvature invariants of the Riemannian manifold M, of the vector bundle V, and of the vector bundle section ? and its derivatives.We end by comparing our results with those of previous authors (I. Avramidi, P. Gilkey, and McKean-Singer).     

A minimax theorem for irreducible compact operators inL p-spaces

Let (X, Σ, μ) be a σ-finite measure space,T a compact irreducible (positive, linear) operator onL ^p (μ) (1≦p<+∞). It is shown that the spectral radiusr ofT is characterized by the minimax property {fx196-1} where ∑₀ denotes the ring of sets of finite measure and whereQ denotes the set of all, almost everywhere positive functions inL ^p. Moreover, ifr>0 then equality on either side is assumed ifff is the (essentially unique) positive eigenfunction ofT. Various refinements are given in terms of corresponding relations for irreducible finite rank operators approximatingT. Dedicated to H. G. Tillmann on his 60th birthday     

Asymptotic separation for independent trajectories of Markov processes

We say that n independent trajectories ξ₁(t),…,ξ _n (t) of a stochastic process ξ(t)on a metric space are asymptotically separated if, for some ɛ > 0, the distance between ξ _i (t _i ) and ξ _j (t _j ) is at least ɛ, for some indices i, j and for all large enough t ₁,…,t _n , with probability 1. We prove sufficient conitions for asymptotic separationin terms of the Green function and the transition function, for a wide class of Markov processes. In particular,if ξ is the diffusion on a Riemannian manifold generated by the Laplace operator Δ, and the heat kernel p(t, x, y) satisfies the inequality p(t, x, x) ≤ Ct ^−ν/2 then n trajectories of ξ are asymptotically separated provided . Moreover, if for some α∈(0, 2)then n trajectories of ξ^(α) are asymptotically separated, where ξ^(α) is the α-process generated by −(−Δ)^α/2. Received: 10 June 1999 / Revised version: 20 April 2000 / Published online: 14 December 2000 RID="*" ID="*" Supported by the EPSRC Research Fellowship B/94/AF/1782 RID="**" ID="**" Partially supported by the EPSRC Visiting Fellowship GR/M61573     

Exit time moments, boundary value problems, and the geometry of domains in Euclidean space

Let X _t be a diffusion in Euclidean space. We initiate a study of the geometry of smoothly bounded domains in Euclidean space using the moments of the exit time for particles driven by X _t , as functionals on the space of smoothly bounded domains. We provide a characterization of critical points for each functional in terms of an overdetermined boundary value problem. For Brownian motion we prove that, for each functional, the boundary value problem which characterizes critical points admits solutions if and only if the critical point is a ball, and that all critical points are maxima. Received: 23 January 1997 / Revised version: 21 January 1998     

Increment sizes of the principal value of Brownian local time

Let W be a standard Brownian motion, and define Y(t)= ∫₀ ^t ds/W(s) as Cauchy's principal value related to local time. We determine: (a) the modulus of continuity of Y in the sense of P. Lévy; (b) the large increments of Y. Received: 1 April 1999 / Revised version: 27 September 1999 / Published online: 14 June 2000     

Stable windings on hyperbolic surfaces

Let ℳ be a geometrically finite hyperbolic surface with infinite volume, having at least one cusp. We obtain the limit law under the Patterson-Sullivan measure on T ¹ℳ of the windings of the geodesics of ℳ around the cusps. This limit law is stable with parameter 2δ− 1, where δ is the Hausdorff dimension of the limit set of the subgroup Γ of M?bius isometries associated with ℳ. The normalization is t ^{−1/(2δ−1)}, for geodesics of length t. Our method relies on a precise comparison between geodesics and diffusion paths, for which we need to approach the Patterson-Sullivan measure mentioned above by measures that are regular along the stable leaves. Received: 8 October 1999 / Revised version: 2 June 2000 / Published online: 21 December 2000     

Martingales with given maxima and terminal distributions

Let μ be any probability measure onR with λ |x|dμ(x)<∞, and let μ^* denote its associated Hardy and Littlewood maximal p.m. It is shown that for any p.m.v for which μ<ν<μ^* in the usual stochastic order, there is a martingale (X _t)_0≦t≦1 for which sup_0≦t≦1 X _t andX ₁ have respective p.m. 'sv and μ. The proof uses induction and weak convergence arguments; in special cases, explicit martingale constructions are given. These results provide a converse to results of Dubins and Gilat [6]; applications are made to give sharp martingale and ‘prophet’ inequalities. Supported in part by NSF grants DMS-86-01153 and DMS-88-01818.     

Uniqueness of Embedding into a Gaussian Semigroup and a Poisson Semigroup with Determinate Jump Law on a Simply Connected Nilpotent Lie Group

Let {μ _t ⁽ⁱ⁾} _t≥0 (i=1,2) be continuous convolution semigroups (c.c.s.) on a simply connected nilpotent Lie group G. Suppose that μ ₁⁽¹⁾=μ ₁⁽²⁾. Assume furthermore that one of the following two conditions holds:

Engouffrement symplectique et intersections lagrangiennes

Let }L _t{,t ∈ [0, 1], be a path of exact Lagrangian submanifolds in an exact symplectic manifold that is convex at infinity and of dimension ≥6. Under some homotopy conditions, an engulfing problem is solved: the given path }L _t{ is conjugate to a path of exact submanifolds inT ^*L_o. This impliesL _t must intersectL _o at as many points as known by the generating function theory. Our Engulfing theorem depends deeply on a new flexibility property of symplectic structures which is stated in the first part of this work.

     

Entropy and reduced distance for Ricci expanders

Perelman has discovered two integral quantities, the shrinker entropy W and the (backward) reduced volume, that are monotone under the Ricci flow ∂_gij/∂t = − 2R_ij and constant on shrinking solitons. Tweaking some signs, we find similar formulae corresponding to the expanding case. The expanding entropy W₊ is monotone on any compact Ricci flow and constant precisely on expanders; as in Perelman, it follows from a differential inequality for a Harnack-like quantity for the conjugate heat equation, and leads to functionals μ₊ and v₊. The forward reduced volume θ₊ is monotone in general and constant exactly on expanders. A natural conjecture asserts that g(t)/t converges as t → ∞ to a negative Einstein manifold in some weak sense (in particular ignoring collapsing parts). If the limit is known a-priori to be smooth and compact, this statement follows easily from any monotone quantity that is constant on expanders; these include vol(g)/t^n/2 (Hamilton) and -λ (Perelman), as well as our new quantities. In general, we show that, if vol(g) grows like t^n/2(maximal volume growth) then W⁺, θ⁺ and -λ remain bounded (in their appropriate ways) for all time. We attempt a sharp formulation of the conjecture.     

A Reilly inequality for the first Steklov eigenvalue

Let M be a compact submanifold with boundary of a Euclidean space or a Sphere. In this paper, we derive an upper bound for the first non-zero eigenvalue p₁ of Steklov problem on M in terms of the r-th mean curvatures of its boundary ∂M. The upper bound obtained is sharp.     

Operator-semistable, operator semi-selfdecomposable probability measures and related nested classes on p-adic vector spaces

Let V be a finite dimensional p-adic vector space and let τ be an operator in GL(V). A probability measure μ on V is called τ-decomposable or m ? [(L)\tilde]₀(t)\mu\in {\tilde L}_0(\tau) if μ = τ(μ)* ρ for some probability measure ρ on V. Moreover, when τ is contracting, if ρ is infinitely divisible, so is μ, and if ρ is embeddable, so is μ. These two subclasses of [(L)\tilde]₀(t){\tilde L}_0(\tau) are denoted by L ₀(τ) and L ₀ ^#(τ) respectively. When μ is infinitely divisible τ-decomposable for a contracting τ and has no idempotent factors, then it is τ-semi-selfdecomposable or operator semi-selfdecomposable. In this paper, sequences of decreasing subclasses of the above mentioned three classes, [(L)\tilde]_m(t) é L_m(t) é L^#_m(t), 1 ￡ m ￡ ￥{\tilde L}_m(\tau)\supset L_m(\tau) \supset L^\#_m(\tau), 1\le m\le \infty , are introduced and several properties and characterizations are studied. The results obtained here are p-adic vector space versions of those given for probability measures on Euclidean spaces.     

Asymptotics of the porous media equation via Sobolev inequalities

Let M be a compact Riemannian manifold without boundary. Consider the porous media equation , u(0)=u₀∈L^q, ? being the Laplace-Beltrami operator. Then, if q?2∨(m-1), the associated evolution is L^q-L^∞ regularizing at any time t>0 and the bound ‖u(t)‖_∞?C(u₀)/t^β holds for t<1 for suitable explicit C(u₀),γ. For large t it is shown that, for general initial data, u(t) approaches its time-independent mean with quantitative bounds on the rate of convergence. Similar bounds are valid when the manifold is not compact, but u(t) approaches u≡0 with different asymptotics. The case of manifolds with boundary and homogeneous Dirichlet, or Neumann, boundary conditions, is treated as well. The proof stems from a new connection between logarithmic Sobolev inequalities and the contractivity properties of the nonlinear evolutions considered, and is therefore applicable to a more abstract setting.     

An extension of Hawkes theorem on the Hausdorff dimension of a Galton–Watson tree

Let ? be the genealogical tree of a supercritical multitype Galton–Watson process, and let Λ be the limit set of ?, i.e., the set of all infinite self-avoiding paths (called ends) through ? that begin at a vertex of the first generation. The limit set Λ is endowed with the metric d(ζ, ξ) = 2 ⁻ⁿ where n = n(ζ, ξ) is the index of the first generation where ζ and ξ differ. To each end ζ is associated the infinite sequence Φ(ζ) of types of the vertices of ζ. Let Ω be the space of all such sequences. For any ergodic, shift-invariant probability measure μ on Ω, define Ω_μ to be the set of all μ-generic sequences, i.e., the set of all sequences ω such that each finite sequence v occurs in ω with limiting frequency μ(Ω(v)), where Ω(v) is the set of all ω′?Ω that begin with the word v. Then the Hausdorff dimension of Λ∩Φ⁻¹ (Ω_μ) in the metric d is

Martingale transforms and L p -norm estimates of Riesz transforms on complete Riemannian manifolds

Under the condition that the Bakry–Emery Ricci curvature is bounded from below, we prove a probabilistic representation formula of the Riesz transforms associated with a symmetric diffusion operator on a complete Riemannian manifold. Using the Burkholder sharp L ^p -inequality for martingale transforms, we obtain an explicit and dimension-free upper bound of the L ^p -norm of the Riesz transforms on such complete Riemannian manifolds for all 1 < p < ∞. In the Euclidean and the Gaussian cases, our upper bound is asymptotically sharp when p→ 1 and when p→ ∞. Research partially supported by a Delegation in CNRS at the University of Paris-Sud during the 2005–2006 academic year.     

Dirichlet spectrum and heat content

Let M be a complete Riemannian manifold and D⊂M a smoothly bounded domain with compact closure. We use Brownian motion to study the relationship between the Dirichlet spectrum of D and the heat content asymptotics of D. Central to our investigation is a sequence of invariants associated to D defined using exit time moments. We prove that our invariants determine that part of the spectrum corresponding to eigenspaces which are not orthogonal to constant functions, that our invariants determine the heat content asymptotics associated to the manifold, and that when the manifold is a generic domain in Euclidean space, the invariants determine the Dirichlet spectrum.     

Homogenous projective factors for actions of semi-simple Lie groups

We analyze the structure of a continuous (or Borel) action of a connected semi-simple Lie group G with finite center and real rank at least 2 on a compact metric (or Borel) space X, using the existence of a stationary measure as the basic tool. The main result has the following corollary: Let P be a minimal parabolic subgroup of G, and K a maximal compact subgroup. Let λ be a P-invariant probability measure on X, and assume the P-action on (X,λ) is mixing. Then either λ is invariant under G, or there exists a proper parabolic subgroup Q⊂G, and a measurable G-equivariant factor map ϕ:(X,ν)→(G/Q,m), where ν=∫ _K kλdk and m is the K-invariant measure on G/Q. Furthermore, The extension has relatively G-invariant measure, namely (X,ν) is induced from a (mixing) probability measure preserving action of Q. Oblatum 14-X-1997 & 18-XI-1998 / Published online: 20 August 1999     

TT-eigentensors for the Lichnerowicz Laplacian on some asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds with warped products metrics

Let (M =]0, ∞[×N, g) be an asymptotically hyperbolic manifold of dimension n + 1 ≥ 3, equipped with a warped product metric. We show that there exist no TT L ²-eigentensors with eigenvalue in the essential spectrum of the Lichnerowicz Laplacian Δ _L . If (M, g) is the real hyperbolic space, there is no symmetric L ²-eigentensors of Δ _L .