K-theory of reduced C*-algebras and rapidly decreasing functions on groups

We associate to any length function L on a group a space of rapidly decreasing functions on (in the l ² sense), denoted by H _L (). When H _L () is contained in the reduced C*-algebra C _r ^* () of (), then it is a dense *-subalgebra of C _r ^* () and we prove a theorem of A. Connes which asserts that under this hypothesis H _L () has the same K-theory as C _r ^* (). We introduce another space of rapidly decreasing functions on (in the l ¹ sense), denoted by H _L ^1, (), which is always a dense *-subalgebra of the Banach algebra l ¹(), and we show that H _L ^1, () has the same K-theory as l ¹().     

Canonical contact forms on spherical CR manifolds

We construct the CR invariant canonical contact form can(J) on scalar positive spherical CR manifold (M,J), which is the CR analogue of canonical metric on locally conformally flat manifold constructed by Habermann and Jost. We also construct another canonical contact form on the Kleinian manifold ()/, where is a convex cocompact subgroup of Aut_CRS²ⁿ⁺¹=PU(n+1,1) and () is the discontinuity domain of . This contact form can be used to prove that ()/ is scalar positive (respectively, scalar negative, or scalar vanishing) if and only if the critical exponent ()<n (respectively, ()>n, or ()=n). This generalizes Nayatanis result for convex cocompact subgroups of SO(n+1,1). We also discuss the connected sum of spherical CR manifolds.     

A family of multiply extended grids

We construct an infinite family{ _n}_n=5 of finite connected graphs _n that are multiple extensions of the well-known extended grid discovered in [1] (which is isomorphic to ₅). The graphs _n are locally _n–1 forn > 5, and have the following property: the automorphism groupG(n) of _n permutes transitively the maximal cliques of _n (which aren-cliques) and the stabilizer of somen-clique of _n inG(n) induces _n on the vertices of. Furthermore we show that the clique complexes of the graphs _n are simply connected.     

On groups of polynomial subgroup growth

Summary Let be a finitely generated group anda _n ()=the number of its subgroups of indexn. We prove that, assuming is residually nilpotent (e.g., linear), thena _n () grows polynomially if and only if is solvable of finite rank. This answers a question of Segal. The proof uses a new characterization ofp-adic analytic groups, the theory of algebraic groups and the Prime Number Theorem. The method can be applied also to groups of polynomial word growth.Oblatum 1-VII-1989 & 7-VI-1990     

The Skorohod oblique reflection problem in domains with corners and application to stochastic differential equations

Summary The Skorohod oblique reflection problem for (D, , w) (D a general domain in ^d , (x),xD, a convex cone of directions of reflection,w a function inD(⁺, ^d )) is considered. It is first proved, under a condition on (D, ), corresponding to (x) not being simultaneously too large and too much skewed with respect to D, that given a sequence {w ⁿ} of functions converging in the Skorohod topology tow, any sequence {(x ⁿ, ⁿ)} of solutions to the Skorohod problem for (D, , w ⁿ) is relatively compact and any of its limit points is a solution to the Skorohod problem for (D, , w). Next it is shown that if (D, ) satisfies the uniform exterior sphere condition and another requirement, then solutions to the Skorohod problem for (D, , w) exist for everywD(⁺, ^d ) with small enough jump size. The requirement is met in the case when D is piecewiseC _b ¹ , is generated by continuous vector fields on the faces ofD and (x) makes and angle (in a suitable sense) of less than /2 with the cone of inward normals atD, for everyxD. Existence of obliquely reflecting Brownian motion and of weak solutions to stochastic differential equations with oblique reflection boundary conditions is derived.     

On the boundedness of Cauchy singular operator from the spaceL p toL q,p>q>-1

It is proved that for a Cauchy type singular operator, given by equality (1), to be bounded from the Lebesgue spaceL _p () tol _q (), as = _n=1 ^Ȟ _n , _n ={z:|z|=r _n }, it is necessary and sufficient that either condition (4) or (5) be fulfilled.     

Superrigidity of lattices in solvable Lie groups

Summary Let be a closed, cocompact subgroup of a simply connected, solvable Lie groupG, such that Ad _G has the same Zariski closure as AdG. If : GL _n () is any finite-dimensional representation of , we show that virtually extends to a representation ofG. (By combining this with work of Margulis on lattices in semisimple groups, we obtain a similar result for lattices in many groups that are neither solvable nor semisimple.) Furthermore, we show that if is isomorphic to a closed, cocompact subgroup of another simply connected, solvable Lie groupG, then any isomorphism from to extends to a crossed isomorphism fromG toG. In the same vein, we prove a more concrete form of Mostow's theorem that compact solvmanifolds with isomorphic fundamental groups are diffeomorphic.Oblatum 5-VII-1994 & 15-IV-1995     

Extended generalized octagons and the groupHe

Let be an extended generalized octagon such that the points of a triple {u, v, w} not on a block are pairwise adjacent if and only if the distance betweenv andw in the local generalized octagon _u equals 3 and there is a thick line through any point of _u . Then is one of the two examples related to the groups 2·L ₃(4).2² andHe. It is also shown that does not admit further extensions.     

Continuous Quotients for Lattice Actions on Compact Spaces

Let < SL _n ( ) be a subgroup of finite index, where n 5. Suppose acts continuously on a manifold M, where ₁(M) = ⁿ , preserving a measure that is positive on open sets. Further assume that the induced action on H ¹(M) is non-trivial. We show there exists a finite index subgroup < and a equivariant continuous map : M ⁿ that induces an isomorphism on fundamental group. We prove more general results providing continuous quotients in cases where ₁(M) surjects onto a finitely generated torsion free nilpotent group. We also give some new examples of manifolds with actions.     

Über Tuttes Cages

An undirected graph of valencyd and girth is called a (d, )-cage if its automorphism group acts transitively on the set of alls-paths in ands(+1)/2. We discuss an elementary construction of two known families of cages which allows us to prove easily some facts about their automorphism groups. We give, for example, a new proof of the fact that the automorphism group ofSp ₄(2 ⁿ ) contains elements which are not induced by Sp ₄(2 ⁿ ).     

Bounding the diameter of a distance regular graph by a function ofk d

Let be a distance regular graph with diameterd, and _d () the set of vertices at distanced from. is said to be thin if the induced subgraph on _d () is a union of cliques for every vertex. We show that the diameterd is bounded above by a function depending only onk _d, which is the cardinality of _d (), if is not thin. We also investigate thin distance regular graphs witha _d 0.     

Critical points of essential norms of singular integral operators in weighted spaces

We show that for any simple piecewise Ljapunov contour there exists a power weight such that the essential norm |S | in the spaceL ₂(, ) does not depend on the angles of the contour and it is given by formula (2). All such weights are described. For the union =₁₂ of two simple piecewise Lyapunov curves we prove that the essential norm |S | inL ₂() is minimal if both ₁ and ₂ are smooth in some neighborhoods of the common points. It is the case when the norm |S | in the spaceL ₂() as well as inL ₂(, ) does not depend on the values of the angles and it can be calculated by formula (5).     

Limit of Solutions of a SDE with a Large Drift Driven by a Poisson Random Measure

We consider a sequence of {X _n} of R ^d-valued processes satisfying a stochastic differential equation driven by a Brownian motion and a compensated Poisson random measure, with _n ~ _n with a large drift. Let be a m-dimensional submanifold (m<d), where F vanishes. Then under some suitable growth conditions for _n ~ _n, and some conditions for F, we show that dist(X _n, )0 before it exits any given compact set, that is, the large drift term forces X _n close to . And if the coefficients converge to some continuous functions, any limit process must actually stay on and satisfy a certain stochastic differential equation driven by Brownian motion and white noise.     

Mortality of iterated Gallai graphs

For a finite or infinite graphG, theGallai graph (G) ofG is defined as the graph whose vertex set is the edge setE(G) ofG; two distinct edges ofG are adjacent in (G) if they are incident but do not span a triangle inG. For any positive integert, thetth iterated Gallai graph ^t (G) ofG is defined by ( ^t–1(G)), where ⁰(G):=G. A graph is said to beGallai-mortal if some of its iterated Gallai graphs finally equals the empty graph. In this paper we characterize Gallai-mortal graphs in several ways.     

K-theory of fine topological algebras, Chern character, and assembly

TheK-theory of the group algebra [] for a countable, discrete group is defined in terms of the simplicial ring of smooth simplices on [], where [] is given the fine topology with respect to its finite-dimensional, linear subspaces. The assembly map for this theory :K _* B K _* [] is studied and shown to be a rational injection. The proof uses the Connes-Karoubi Chern character fromK-theory of Banach algebras to cyclic homology, here generalized to any fine topological algebra, and proved to be multiplicative.     

Covering the Hecke Triangle Surfaces

In the mid-1980s an equivalence was established between the simple closed geodesics on the Riemann surfaces obtained as quotients of the upper half plane H by any of the following subgroups of the modular group (1) : , (3), and ³. An axis of a hyperbolic element of (1) projects to a simple closed geodesic on one of these surfaces if and only if it does so on the other two.This equivalence was used to obtain a variety of Diophantine and geometric results. In subsequent related investigations, the role of (1) was assumed by the Hecke triangle group G_q for q 3. (For q = 3, we have (1) = G₃.) These works employed the analog of ³, denoted _q.In the context of the G_q, the present paper gives the analog of , which we denote _q. As in the case q = 3, we have [_q:_q] = 2. A rather full discussion of geometry of _q\ H is given. In particular, we demonstrate that the equivalence of simple closed geodesics on _q\ H and _q\ H does not hold for q 7.As of this writing, we have not been able to obtain an appropriate analog of (3).     

Convexity theories 0. Foundations

For an arbitrary prenormed semiring, the closed unit ball functor from the category _R pnSmod ¹ ofR-prenormedR-semimodules with contractions to the category of sets has a left adjoint. For such a semiringR the notion of finitary convexity theory overR is introduced and the category C of -modules is defined. It is shown that the canonical functor _R pnSmod ¹ C has a left adjoint. In caseR is a banach semiring one has infinitary convexity theories, in addition to the finitary ones, and again the canonical functor _R bnSmod ¹ C has a left adjoint.Many more happy returns, Nico. Sixty is forever.     

The conditions of selfadjointness of the operator of singular integration

It is proved that the operator of singular integration along a bounded rectifiable curve is self-adjoint in the weighted spaceL ₂(, ) if and only if is a circle and (t)=const.     

Exact boundary controllability onL 2(Ω) ×H −1(Ω) of the wave equation with dirichlet boundary control acting on a portion of the boundary∂Ω, and related problems

Consider the wave equation defined on a smooth bounded domain R ⁿ with boundary = _{0 1}. The control action is exercised in the Dirichlet boundary conditions only on ₁ and is of classL ₂(0,T: L ₂(₁)); instead, homogeneous boundary conditions of Dirichlet (or Neumann) type are imposed on the complementary part ₀. The main result of the paper is a theorem which, under general conditions on the triplet {, ₀, ₁} with ₀ , guarantees exact controllability on the spaceL ₂() ×H ^–1() of maximal regularity forT greater than a computable timeT ₀>0, which depends on the triplet. This theorem generalizes prior results by Lasiecka and the author [L-T.3] (obtained via uniform stabilization) and by Lions [L.5], [L.6] (obtained by a direct approach, different from the one followed here). The key technical issue is a lower bound on theL ₂(₁)-norm of the normal derivative of the solution to the corresponding homogeneous problem, which extends to a larger class of triplets {, ₀, ₁} prior results by Lasiecka and the author [L-T.3] and by Ho [H.1].This research was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant NSF-DMS-8301668 and by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant AFOSR-84-0365. This paper was presented at the IFIP WG7.2 Conference on Boundary Control and Boundary Variations held at the Départment de Mathématiques, Universite de Nice, 10–13 June 1986; at the International Conference on Control of Distributed Parameter Systems held at Vorau (Austria), 6–12 July 1986; and at the Second Workshop on Control of Systems Governed by Partial Differential Equations held at Val David, Quebec, 5–9 October 1986.