An iterated logarithm law for families of Brownian paths

Summary If n is large, a plot of log n independent Brownian paths over [0, n] is nearly certain to give the appearance of a shaded region having square root boundaries.Research of this author was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under grant MCS 82-00786This work was undertaken while B. Schreiber, of Wayne State University, was a Visiting Professor of Mathematics at Michigan State University, whose hospitality he wishes to acknowledge with gratitude.     

Lower bounds for the number of conjugacy classes in finite solvable groups

We prove first that if G is a finite solvable group of derived length d ≥ 2, then k(G) > |G|^1/(2^d−1), where k(G) is the number of conjugacy classes in G. Next, a growth assumption on the sequence [G⁽ⁱ⁾: G⁽ⁱ⁺¹⁾] ₁ ^d−1 , where G⁽ⁱ⁾ is theith derived group, leads to a |G|^1/(2d−1) lower bound for k(G), from which we derive a |G|^c/log ₂log₂|G| lower bound, independent of d(G). Finally, “almost logarithmic” lower bounds are found for solvable groups with a nilpotent maximal subgroup, and for all Frobenius groups, solvable or not.     

Ein Satz von l. Schur über vertauschbare matrizen

We give a new proof of a theorem of I. Schur, describing all commutative subalgebras of maximal dimension of the matrix ring _n.     

The onset of flow-rate limitation and flow-induced oscillations in collapsible tubes

Experiments were mounted to investigate the onset in a ‘Starling resistor’ of collapsible-tube oscillation, at the lowest possible Reynolds number so as to facilitate matched numerical simulations. The protocol adopted was to set pressure outside the tube and inside the tube at the upstream end, constant and equal to each other, then to progressively lower the downstream pressure past the point of tube collapse and, when this occurred, of oscillation onset. The working fluid was a glycerine/water mixture, and the silicone-rubber tube was suspended horizontally in air. Measurements were made of pressures and flow-rates and of the cross-sectional area at the approximate location of maximum oscillation; separately, the cross-sectional area of the tube in relation to transmural pressure was measured. Parameters varied in the flow experiments were the length of rigid pipe downstream of the collapsing tube, and the fluid viscosity. The pressure/flow-rate coordinates of both the point of peak flow-rate achieved before flow-rate limitation, and the point of oscillation onset, were satisfactorily independent of the pipe length downstream. Both points occurred at flow-rates that decreased with increasing fluid viscosity, so that the corresponding Reynolds numbers decreased more so. Oscillation did not break out below a Reynolds number of about 290 unless there was external mechanical agitation of the apparatus. The amplitude of oscillation decreased progressively towards zero at this point as viscosity was raised. After the flow-rate peak, flow limitation causes a local flow-rate minimum. When oscillation occurred, it started just before this minimum, and died away at the minimum.     

Gromov invariants for holomorphic maps from Riemann surfaces to Grassmannians

Two compactifications of the space of holomorphic maps of fixed degree from a compact Riemann surface to a Grassmannian are studied. It is shown that the Uhlenbeck compactification has the structure of a projective variety and is dominated by the algebraic compactification coming from the Grothendieck Quot Scheme. The latter may be embedded into the moduli space of solutions to a generalized version of the vortex equations studied by Bradlow. This gives an effective way of computing certain intersection numbers (known as ``Gromov invariants') on the space of holomorphic maps into Grassmannians. We carry out these computations in the case where the Riemann surface has genus one.

     

Approximation and extension of random functions

Stochastic versions of the extension theorems of Tietze and Dugundji are obtained, as well as an existence theorem for partitions of unity by random continuous functions. A form of the classical approximation theorem of Mergelyan valid for random holomorphic functions on random compact sets is presented. A similar approach yields versions of the approximation theorems of Runge, Arakelyan, and Vitushkin.Research of both authors was partially supported by the NSF under Grant No. DMS 85-02308