Generating well-behaved utility functions for compromise programming

The purpose of this paper is to seek utility functions satisfying a weak condition which guarantees that the utility optimum always belongs to the compromise set. This set is a special subset of the attainable or feasible set, which is generated through the application of the well-known operational research approach called compromise programming. It is shown that there are large families of utility functions satisfying this condition, thus reinforcing the value of compromise programming as a good surrogate of the traditional utility optimum.Thanks are due to the reviewers for their helpful suggestions. The English editing by Ms. Christine Méndez is appreciated. The authors have been supported by the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT), Madrid, Spain.     

A topological characterization of classical BRST cohomology

The recent identification of classical BRST cohomology with the vertical cohomology of a certain fibration is used to compute it in terms of the classical observables and the topology of the gauge orbits. When the gauge orbits are compact and orientable, a duality theorem is exhibited.     

Static cylindrically symmetric solution of the Kaluza-Klein equations

In this paper we investigate the (static) solution of the Kaluza-Klein equations for a cylindrically symmetric current distribution. Specifically, we are interested in the fields generated by a long, cylindrical solenoid. We shall examine in some detail the concept of effective mass of a charged test particle. We shall show that, for a certain charge-to(rest)mass ratio of the test particle, the effective mass becomes imaginary at a certain distance from the axis of our solenoid.     

A confidence interval for the slope of a truncated regression

Summary Bhattacharya, Chernoff and Yang (1983) proposed a nonparametric estimate for the slope of a regression lineY = _o X + V subjected to the truncationYy ₀. The estimate corresponds to the zero-crossing of a random functionS _n (). In this paper an estimate for the asymptotic variance of the estimate of the slope is proposed and the rate of convergence is given. The proofs rest heavily on the local behavior ofS _n () in the neighborhood of the true value _o.     

On the permanence of the null character of Maxwell fields

A critical review of known results about the permanence conditions for the null character of the solutions to the (vacuum) Maxwell equations, is presented. Concomitants of the electromagnetic field and the metric tensor are constructed, which give the principal directions of the field in covariant form. The known permanence conditions are generalized in order to includeall the (local) null fields; the above concomitants allow these conditions to be explicitly formulated in terms of the electromagnetic field.Supported in part by Conselleria de Cultura, Educació i Ciència de la Generalitat Valenciana.     

Laser properties of coactivated YAP: Nd free of colour centres

YAP:Nd, Cr grown under Ar-H₂ or Ar-He-H₂ atmosphere possesses good energy transfer from Cr³⁺ to Nd³⁺ but suffers from the colour centre formation. The centre formation was completely prevented using further admixture of Ce³⁺ and 10^–4–10^–3 wt. % Fe. Small luminescence quenching of Cr³⁺ or Nd³⁺ due to iron ions is negligible in the presence of Ce³⁺. The crystals may be also heavily doped with Nd³⁺ because the increased pumping efficiency compensates the shortening of the luminescence lifetime. YAP: Nd, Ce, Cr, Fe is advisible active laser material particularly for all the types of pulsed lasers.