Integer-valued fixed point index for compositions of acyclic maps

An integer-valued fixed point index for compositions of acyclic multivalued maps is constructed. This index has the additivity, homotopy invariance, normalization, commutativity, and multiplicativity properties. The acyclicity is with respect to the Čech cohomology with integer coefficients. The technique of chain approximation is used. Dedicated to the memory of Jean Leray     

A class of bounded operators on Sobolev spaces

We describe a class of nonlinear operators which are bounded on the Sobolev spaces , for and 1 < p < . As a corollary, we prove that the Hardy-Littlewood maximal operator is bounded on , for and 1 < p < ; this extends the result of J. Kinnunen [7], valid for s = 1. Received: 5 December 2000     

Euler’s fixed point theorem: The axis of a rotation

We give an elementary proof of what is perhaps the earliest fixed point theorem; namely Leonhard Euler’s theorem of 1775 on the existence of an axis v for any three-dimensional rotation R. The proof is constructive and shows that no multiplications are required to compute v. Dedicated to the memory of Leonhard Euler, “The Master of us all”, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth     

Nielsen periodic point theory for periodic maps on orientable surfaces

Let denote a periodic self map of minimal period m on the orientable surface of genus g with g>1. We study the calculation of the Nielsen periodic numbers NPn(f) and NΦn(f). Unlike the general situation of arbitrary maps on such surfaces, strong geometric results of Jiang and Guo allow for straightforward calculations when n≠m. However, determining NPm(f) involves some surprises. Because fm=idFg, fm has one Nielsen class Em. This class is essential because L(idFg)=χ(Fg)=2−2g≠0. If there exists k<m with L(fk)≠0 then Em reduces to the essential fixed points of fk. There are maps g (we call them minLef maps) for which L(gk)=0 for all k<m. We show that the period of any minLef map must always divide 2g−2. We prove that for such maps Em reduces algebraically iff it reduces geometrically. This result eliminates one of the most difficult problems in calculating the Nielsen periodic point numbers and gives a complete trichotomy (non-minLef, reducible minLef, and irreducible minLef) for periodic maps on Fg.We prove that reducible minLef maps must have even period. For each of the three types of periodic maps we exhibit an example f and calculate both NPn(f) and NΦn(f) for all n. The example of an irreducible minLef map is on F₄ and is of maximal period 6. The example of a non-minLef map is on F₂ and has maximal period 12 on F₂. It is defined geometrically by Wang, and we provide the induced homomorphism and analyze it. The example of an irreducible minLef map is a map of period 6 on F₄ defined by Yang. No algebraic analysis is necessary to prove that this last example is an irreducible minLef map. We explore the algebra involved because it is intriguing in its own right. The examples of reducible minLef maps are simple inversions, which can be applied to any Fg. Using these examples we disprove the conjecture from the conclusion of our previous paper.     

Extensions for Sobolev mappings between manifolds

We consider two compact Riemannian manifoldsM andN, such thatM has a boundary (but notN). We address the extension problem in the Sobolev class, namely, we investigate the question: foru W ^1–1/p,pM,N is there a mapV inW ^1/p(M,N) such thatV=u on M. Various results are given, and an emphasis is put on the special (simple) caseN=S ¹.     

A topological central point theorem

In this paper a generalized topological central point theorem is proved for maps of a simplex to finite-dimensional metric spaces. Similar generalizations of the Tverberg theorem are considered.     

Sobolev spaces and harmonic maps between singular spaces

Recently Korevaar and Schoen developed a Sobolev theory for maps from smooth (at least ) manifolds into general metric spaces by proving that the weak limit of appropriate average difference quotients is well behaved. Here we extend this theory to functions defined over Lipschitz manifold. As an application we then prove an existence theorem for harmonic maps from Lipschitz manifolds to NPC metric spaces. Received December 6, 1996 / Accepted March 4, 1997     

Sobolev type embeddings in the limiting case

We use interpolation methods to prove a new version of the limiting case of the Sobolev embedding theorem, which includes the result of Hansson and Brezis-Wainger for W _n ^k/k as a special case. We deal with generalized Sobolev spaces W _A ^k , where instead of requiring the functions and their derivatives to be in L_n/k, they are required to be in a rearrangement invariant space A which belongs to a certain class of spaces “close” to L_n/k. We also show that the embeddings given by our theorem are optimal, i.e., the target spaces into which the above Sobolev spaces are shown to embed cannot be replaced by smaller rearrangement invariant spaces. This slightly sharpens and generalizes an, earlier optimality result obtained by Hansson with respect to the Riesz potential operator. In memory of Gene Fabes. Acknowledgements and Notes This research was supported by Technion V.P.R. Fund-M. and C. Papo Research Fund.     

Fixed point sets of fiber-preserving maps

Let be a fiber bundle where E, B and Y are connected finite polyhedra. Let be a fiber-preserving map and a closed, locally contractible subset. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for A and its subsets to be the fixed point sets of maps fiber homotopic to f. The necessary conditions correspond to those introduced by Schirmer in 1990 but, in the fiber-preserving setting, homotopies are fiberpreserving. Those conditions are shown to be sufficient in the presence of additional hypotheses on the bundle and on the map f. The hypotheses can be weakened in the case that f is fiber homotopic to the identity.     

A fixed point theorem for the pseudo-circle

Let f:C→C be a self-map of the pseudo-circle C. Suppose that C is embedded into an annulus A, so that it separates the two components of the boundary of A. Let F:A→A be an extension of f to A (i.e. F|C=f). If F is of degree d then f has at least |d−1| fixed points. This result generalizes to all plane separating circle-like continua.     

Sobolev inequalities on homogeneous spaces

We consider a homogeneous spaceX=(X, d, m) of dimension 1 and a local regular Dirichlet forma inL ² (X, m). We prove that if a Poincaré inequality of exponent 1p< holds on every pseudo-ballB(x, R) ofX, then Sobolev and Nash inequalities of any exponentq[p, ), as well as Poincaré inequalities of any exponentq[p, +), also hold onB(x, R).Lavoro eseguito nell'ambito del Contratto CNR Strutture variazionali irregolari.     

On preimages of a class of generalized monotone operators

In this paper we first provide a geometric interpretation of the Minty-Browder monotonicity which allows us to extend this concept to the so called h-monotonicity, still formulated in an analytic way. A topological concept of monotonicity is also known in the literature: it requires the connectedness of all preimages of the operator involved. This fact is important since combined with the local injectivity, it ensures global injectivity. When a linear structure is present on the source space, one can ask for the preimages to even be convex. In an earlier paper, the authors have shown that Minty-Browder monotone operators defined on convex open sets do have convex preimages, obtaining as a by-product global injectivity theorems. In this paper we study the preimages of h-monotone operators, by showing that they are not divisible by closed connected hypersurfaces, and investigate them from the dimensional point of view. As a consequence we deduce that h-monotone local homeomorphisms are actually global homeomorphisms, as the proved properties of their preimages combined with local injectivity still produce global injectivity.     

Hilbert scales and Sobolev spaces defined by associated Legendre functions

In this paper we study the Hilbert scales defined by the associated Legendre functions for arbitrary integer values of the parameter. This problem is equivalent to studying the left-definite spectral theory associated to the modified Legendre equation. We give several characterizations of the spaces as weighted Sobolev spaces and prove identities among the spaces corresponding to the lower regularity index.     

On fixed points of stratified maps

Nielsen fixed point theory deals with the fixed point sets of self maps on compact polyhedra. In this note, we shall extend it to stratified maps, to consider fixed points on (noncompact) strata. The extension was motivated by our recent work on the braid forcing problem in which the deleted symmetric products are indispensable. The stratified viewpoint is theoretically as natural as the equivariant Nielsen fixed point theory, while it can be more tractable computationally and more flexible in applications. This work was partially supported by an NSFC grant and a BMEC grant.     

Refined limiting imbeddings for Sobolev spaces of vector-valued functions

We prove a refined limiting imbedding theorem of the Brézis-Wainger type in the first critical case, i.e. , for Sobolev spaces and Bessel potential spaces of functions with values in a general Banach space E. In particular, the space E may lack the UMD property.