Interpolation of positive operators

We study problems of interpolation of positive linear operators in couples of ordered Banach spaces. From this viewpoint, we study couples of noncommutative spaces L ₁, L _∞ associated with weights and traces on von Neumann algebras.     

On the uniform decay for the Korteweg–de Vries equation with weak damping

The aim of this work is to consider the Korteweg–de Vries equation in a finite interval with a very weak localized dissipation namely the H^?1‐norm. Our main result says that the total energy decays locally uniform at an exponential rate. Our analysis improves earlier works on the subject (Q. Appl. Math. 2002; LX (1):111–129; ESAIM Control Optim. Calculus Variations 2005; 11 (3):473–486) and gives a satisfactory answer to a problem suggested in (Q. Appl. Math. 2002; LX (1):111–129). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Letters to the Editor

The Mathematical Intelligencer encourages comments about the material in this issue. Letters to the editor should be sent to either of the editors-in-chief, Chandler Davis or Marjorie Senechal.     

Mathematical modelling and analytical solution for workpiece temperature in grinding

This paper deals with modelling the workpiece temperature field produced during the grinding process. The proposed model is given in terms of a two-dimensional boundary-value problem where the interdependence among the grinding wheel, the workpiece and the coolant is described by two variable functions in the boundary condition. An explicit integral form solution is constructed using the Laplace and Fourier transforms and the Green’s function method.     

The Systematics of Muonium Hyperfine Constants

The hyperfine constants for muonium in elemental and binary inorganic solids suggest formation of three different families of defect centre, with distinct electronic structures. The overall range of values, spanning nearly five orders of magnitude, and their correlation with host properties such as band gap and electron affinity, reveal a deep-to-shallow instability which has profound implications for the electrical properties of hydrogen impurity in electronic materials, both semiconducting and dielectric.     

A dynamic finite volume scheme for large-eddy simulation on unstructured grids

In recent years there has been considerable progress in the application of large-eddy simulation (LES) to increasingly complex flow configurations. Nevertheless a lot of fundamental problems still need to be solved in order to apply LES in a reliable way to real engineering problems, where typically finite-volume codes on unstructured meshes are used. A self-adaptive discretisation scheme, in the context of an unstructured finite-volume flow solver, is investigated in the case of isotropic turbulence at infinite Reynolds number. The Smagorinsky and dynamic Smagorinsky sub-grid scale models are considered. A discrete interpolation filter is used for the dynamic model. It is one of the first applications of a filter based on the approach presented by Marsden et al. In this work, an original procedure to impose the filter shape through a specific selection process of the basic filters is also proposed. Satisfactory results are obtained using the self-adaptive scheme for implicit LES. When the scheme is coupled with the sub-grid scale models, the numerical dissipation is shown to be dominant over the sub-grid scale component. Nevertheless the effect of the sub-grid scale models appears to be important and beneficial, improving in particular the energy spectra. A test on fully developed channel flow at Re_τ = 395 is also performed, comparing the non-limited scheme with the self-adaptive scheme for implicit LES. Once again the introduction of the limiter proves to be beneficial.     

How many black holes fit on the head of a pin?

The Bekenstein–Hawking entropy of certain black holes can be computed microscopically in string theory by mapping the elusive problem of counting microstates of a strongly gravitating black hole to the tractable problem of counting microstates of a weakly coupled D-brane system, which has no event horizon, and indeed comfortably fits on the head of a pin. We show here that, contrary to widely held beliefs, the entropy of spherically symmetric black holes can easily be dwarfed by that of stationary multi-black-hole “molecules” of the same total charge and energy. Thus, the corresponding pin-sized D-brane systems do not even approximately count the microstates of a single black hole, but rather those of a zoo of entropically dominant multicentered configurations. Fourth Award in the 2007 Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation.     

Nonlinear optical properties of regioregular main‐chain polyesters

We have prepared new polyesters containing quadratic, nonlinear optical (NLO) active chromophores covalently incorporated into the main chain. In these polymers, the sequence of the chromophore units along the main chain is rigorously head to tail. All the polyesters are processable, both in the melt and in solution. For one polyester, a full second‐order NLO characterization has been performed. An out‐of‐resonance d₃₃ coefficient of 21 pm/V at 1368 nm has been measured. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2719–2725, 2007     

<Superscript>6</Superscript>He + <Superscript>6</Superscript>He Clustering of <Superscript>12</Superscript>Be in a Microscopic Algebraic Approach

The norm kernel of the A=12 system composed of two ⁶He clusters, and the L=0 basis functions (in the SU(3) and angular momentum-coupled schemes) are analytically obtained in the Fock-Bargmann space. The norm kernel has a diagonal form in the former basis, but the asymptotic conditions are naturally defined in the latter one. The system is a good illustration for the method of projection of the norm kernel to the basis functions in the presence of SU(3) degeneracy that was proposed by the authors. The coupled-channel problem is considered in the algebraic version of the resonating-group method, with the multiple decay thresholds being properly accounted for. The structure of the ground state of ¹²Be obtained in the approximation of zero-range nuclear force is compared with the shell-model predictions. In the continuum part of the spectrum, the S-matrix is constructed, the asymptotic normalization coefficients are deduced and their energy dependence is analyzed.