Systematic approaches to experimentation: The case of Pick's theorem

In this paper two 10th graders having an accumulated experience on problem-solving ancillary to the concept of area confronted the task to find Pick's formula for a lattice polygon's area. The formula was omitted from the theorem in order for the students to read the theorem as a problem to be solved. Their working is examined and emphasis is given to highlighting the students’ range of systematic approaches to experimentation in the context of problem solving and aspects of control that are reflected in these approaches.     

Factorization of proper holomorphic maps on irreducible bounded symmetric domains of rank≥2

We obtain rigidity results on arbitrary proper holomorphic maps F from an irreducible bounded symmetric domain Ω of rank ≥2 into any complex space Z. After lifting to the normalization of the subvariety F (Ω) Z, we prove that F must be the canonical projection map to the quotient space of Ω by a finite group of automorphisms. The approach is along the line of the works of Mok and Tsai by considering radial limits of bounded holomorphic functions derived from F and proving that proper holomorphic maps between bounded symmetric domains preserve certain totally geodesic subdomains. In contrast to the previous works, in general we have to deal with multivalent holomorphic maps for which Fatou’s theorem cannot be applied directly. We bypass the difficulty by devising a limiting process for taking radial limits of correspondences arising from proper holomorphic maps and by elementary estimates allowing us to define distinct univalent branches of the underlying multivalent map on certain subsets. As a consequence of our rigidity result, with the exception of Type-IV domains, any proper holomorphic map f : Ω→ D of Ω onto a bounded convex domain D is necessarily a biholomorphism. In the exceptional case where Ω is a Type-IV domain, either f is a biholomorphism or it is a double cover branched over a totally geodesic submanifold which can be explicitly described.     

Direct calculation of intermolecular potential energy surfaces

A variation perturbation method is presented for the direct calculation of intermolecular interaction energies. The theory is based on valence bond ideas but avoids the full evaluation of the matrix elements by expansion in powers of interchange, a procedure which is valid for small overlap between the systems. The participating excited states are regarded as polarized pseudo-states and are determined by optimizing the long-range multipole-multipole part of the interaction energy. The validity of these ideas is illustrated by a calculation of the He-He interaction. A remarkable simplification is pointed out, in which the interaction energy is given almost exactly by the sum of the repulsive term, calculated as zero + single interchange, plus the long-range interaction.     

Coupled horizontal and vertical bending vibrations of a stationary shaft with two cracks

This paper investigates the coupled bending vibrations of a stationary shaft with two cracks. It is known from the literature that, when a crack exists in a shaft, the bending, torsional, and longitudinal vibrations are coupled. This study focuses on the horizontal and vertical planes of a cracked shaft, whose bending vibrations are caused by a vertical excitation, in the clamped end of the model. When the crack orientations are not symmetrical to the vertical plane, a response in the horizontal plane is observed due to the presence of the cracks. The crack orientation is defined by the rotational angle of the crack, a parameter which affects the horizontal response. When more cracks appear in a shaft, then the coupling becomes stronger or weaker depending on the relative crack orientations. It is shown that a double peak appears in the vibration spectrum of a cracked or multi-cracked shaft.Modeling the crack in the traditional manner, as a spring, yields analytical results for the horizontal response as a function of the rotational angle and the depths of the two cracks. A 2×2 compliance matrix, containing two non-diagonal terms (those responsible for the coupling) serves to model the crack. Using the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, the equations for the natural frequencies and the coupled response of the shaft are defined. The experimental coupled response and eigenfrequency measurements for the corresponding planes are presented. The double peak was also experimentally observed.     

Stretcher-free high energy nonlinear amplification of femtosecond pulses in rod-type fibers

We report on the study of direct amplification of femtosecond pulses in an 80 mum core diameter microstructured Yb-doped rod-type fiber amplifier in the nonlinear regime. The system includes a compact single grating compressor for the compensation of the small dispersion in the amplifier. With a 1250 line/mm (l/mm) grating-based compressor, pulses as short as 49 fs with 870 nJ pulse energy and 12 MW peak power are obtained. Alternatively, the use of a 1740 l/mm grating allows the production of higher quality pulses of 70 fs, 1.25 microJ pulse energy, and 16 MW peak power.     

A study concerning splitting and jointly continuous topologies on C(Y,Z)

Let Y and Z be two fixed topological spaces and C(Y, Z) the set of all continuous maps from Y into Z. We construct and study topologies on C(Y, Z) that w^{e call F}n(τn)-family-open topologies. Furthermore, we find necessary and su?cient conditions such that these topologies to be splitting and jointly continuous. Finally, we present questions concerning a further study on this area.     

Calibrations and Intersecting Branes

We investigate the solutions of Nambu–Goto-type actions associated with calibrations. We determine the supersymmetry preserved by these solutions using the contact set of the calibration and examine their bulk interpretation as intersecting branes. We show that the supersymmetry preserved by such solutions is closely related to the spinor singlets of the subgroup G of Spin (9,1) or Spin (10,1) that rotates the tangent spaces of the brane. We find that the supersymmetry projections of the worldvolume solutions are precisely those of the associated bulk configurations. We also investigate the supersymmetric solutions of a Born–Infeld action. We show that in some cases this problem again reduces to counting spinor singlets of a subgroup of Spin (9,1) acting on the associated spinor representations. We also find new worldvolume solutions which preserve 1/8 of the supersymmetry of the bulk and give their bulk interpretation. Received: 20 May 1998 / Accepted: 16 November 1998     

String Thermalization in Static Spacetimes

We study the evolution, the transverse spreadingand the subsequent thermalization of string states inthe Weyl static axisymmetric spacetime. This possessesa singular event horizon on the symmetry axis and a naked singularity along the otherdirections. The branching diffusion process of stringbits approaching the singular black-hole horizonprovides the notion of the temperature that iscalculated for this process. We find that the solution of theFokker-Planck equation in the phase space of thetransverse variables of the string, can be factored asa product of two thermal distributions, provided that the classical conjugate variables satisfy theuncertainty principle. We comment on the possiblephysical significance of this result.     

Transfer measurements for the Ti+Ni systems at near barrier energies

Large enhancements have been observed in the sub-barrier fusion cross sections for Ti+Ni systems in our previous studies. Coupled channel calculations incorporating couplings to 2⁺ and 3⁻ states failed to explain these enhancements completely. A possibilty of transfer channels contributing to the residual enhancements had been suggested. In order to investigate the role of relevant transfer channels, measurements of one- and two-nucleon transfer were carried out for ^46,48Ti+⁶¹Ni systems. The present paper gives the results of these studies.