Arithmetic degree and associated graded modules

We prove that the arithmetic degree of a graded or local ring A is bounded above by the arithmetic degree of any of its associated graded rings with respect to ideal I in A. In particular, if Spec(A) is equidimensional and has an embedded component (i.e., A has an embedded associated prime ideal), then the normal cone of Spec(A) along V(I) has an embedded component too. This extends a result of W. M. Ruppert about embedded components of the tangent cone.Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 13H15, 13A30; Secondary 13D45, 14Q99     

On the chromatic polynomial of a graph

Let P(G,λ) be the chromatic polynomial of a graph G with n vertices, independence number α and clique number ω. We show that for every λ≥n, ()^α≤≤ () ^{n −ω}. We characterize the graphs that yield the lower bound or the upper bound.?These results give new bounds on the mean colour number μ(G) of G: n− (n−ω)() ^{n −ω}≤μ(G)≤n−α() ^α. Received: December 12, 2000 / Accepted: October 18, 2001?Published online February 14, 2002     

Links in a thickened surface

For a given two-dimensional surface μ, we studi invariants for oriented links in μ×[0,1] which generalize the two-variable HOMFLY polynomials when μ is the 2-disk. These invariants are connected to multiparameter quantum groups whose special properties are discussed. Si studiano gli invarianti dei nodi in spazi del tipo μ×[0,1], dove μ è una superficie. Questi invarianti generalizzano gli invarianti di HOMFLY.

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(Conferenza tenuta dal Prof. P. Cotta-Ramusino il 16 maggio 1991)     

Involutions for upper triangular matrix algebras

In this paper we describe completely the involutions of the first kind of the algebra UT_n(F) of n×n upper triangular matrices. Every such involution can be extended uniquely to an involution on the full matrix algebra. We describe the equivalence classes of involutions on the upper triangular matrices. There are two distinct classes for UT_n(F) when n is even and a single class in the odd case.Furthermore we consider the algebra UT₂(F) of the 2×2 upper triangular matrices over an infinite field F of characteristic different from 2. For every involution *, we describe the *-polynomial identities for this algebra. We exhibit bases of the corresponding ideals of identities with involution, and compute the Hilbert (or Poincaré) series and the codimension sequences of the respective relatively free algebras.Then we consider the *-polynomial identities for the algebra UT₃(F) over a field of characteristic zero. We describe a finite generating set of the ideal of *-identities for this algebra. These generators are quite a few, and their degrees are relatively large. It seems to us that the problem of describing the *-identities for the algebra UT_n(F) of the n×n upper triangular matrices may be much more complicated than in the case of ordinary polynomial identities.     

Euler characteristics of general linear sections and polynomial Chern classes

We obtain a precise relation between the Chern–Schwartz–MacPherson class of a subvariety of projective space and the Euler characteristics of its general linear sections. In the case of a hypersurface, this leads to simple proofs of formulas of Dimca–Papadima and Huh for the degrees of the polar map of a homogeneous polynomial, extending these formula to any algebraically closed field of characteristic \(0\), and proving a conjecture of Dolgachev on ‘homaloidal’ polynomials in the same context. We generalize these formulas to subschemes of higher codimension in projective space. We also describe a simple approach to a theory of ‘polynomial Chern classes’ for varieties endowed with a morphism to projective space, recovering properties analogous to the Deligne–Grothendieck axioms from basic properties of the Euler characteristic. We prove that the polynomial Chern class defines homomorphisms from suitable relative Grothendieck rings of varieties to \(\mathbb{Z }[t]\).     

Evolution in complex systems

What features characterize complex system dynamics? Power laws and scale invariance of fluctuations are often taken as the hallmarks of complexity, drawing on analogies with equilibrium critical phenomena. Here we argue that slow, directed dynamics, during which the system's properties change significantly, is fundamental. The underlying dynamics is related to a slow, decelerating but spasmodic release of an intrinsic strain or tension. Time series of a number of appropriate observables can be analyzed to confirm this effect. The strain arises from local frustration. As the strain is released through “quakes,” some system variable undergoes record statistics with accompanying log‐Poisson statistics for the quake event times. We demonstrate these phenomena via two very different systems: a model of magnetic relaxation in type II superconductors and the Tangled Nature model of evolutionary ecology and show how quantitative indications of aging can be found. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 10: 49–56, 2004     

Braids on surfaces and finite type invariants

We prove that there is no functorial universal finite type invariant for braids in Σ×I if the genus of Σ is positive. To cite this article: P. Bellingeri, L. Funar, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 338 (2004).