On a problem proposed by H. Braß concerning the remainder term in quadrature for convex functions

Summary We prove that the error inn-point Gaussian quadrature, with respect to the standard weight functionw1, is of best possible orderO(n ^–2) for every bounded convex function. This result solves an open problem proposed by H. Braß and published in the problem section of the proceedings of the 2. Conference on Numerical Integration held in 1981 at the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (Hämmerlin 1982; Problem 2). Furthermore, we investigate this problem for positive quadrature rules and for general product quadrature. In particular, for the special class of Jacobian weight functionsw _, (x)=(1–x)(1+x), we show that the above result for Gaussian quadrature is not valid precisely ifw _, is unbounded.Dedicated to Prof. H. Braß on the occasion of his 55th birthday     

On two theorems of I. M. Singer about homogenous spaces

A theorem of I. M. Singer [9] states that a Riemannian manifold is locally homogeneous if and only if the Riemannian curvature tensor and its covariant derivatives are the same at each point up to some orderk _M + 1.In the present paper we reprove this theorem by a more direct approach.By using the same approach we also prove, in addition, that a homogeneous Riemannian manifold is completely determined by the curvature and its covariant derivatives at some point up to orderk _M + 2. Moreover, we show how to reconstruct a homogeneous Riemannian manifold only from these curvature data. Finally, we formulate precisely and prove a statement which was announced without proof by Singer in [9].This work was partially supported by the M. P. I. fondi 40%.     

A numerical analysis of chaotic behaviour in Bianchi IX models

In this paper we investigate the chaotic behaviour of the Bianchi IX cosmological models using techniques developed in the study of dynamical systems and chaotic behaviour. We numerically calculate the Lyapunov exponent, , and show that instead of converging to a constant value, it decreases steadily. We study this effect further by studying the Lyapunov exponent using short-time averages. We show that the usual method of calculating is invalid in the case of a cosmological model.     

Primitive points on constant elliptic curves over function fields

Letf:CE be a non-constant rational map between curves over a finite field, whereE is elliptic. We estimate the number of rational points ofC whose image underf generate the group of rational points ofE.     

Antiferromagnetism of type II in nonstoichiometric YbP

A polycrystalline smaple of nonstoichiometric ytterbium phosphide, YbP_0.84, was investigated by neutron scattering, Mössbauer spectroscopy and bulk magnetic measurements. Neutron diffraction experiments prove the existence of antiferromagnetic type II ordering belowT _N =0.64 K, in contrast to the observed antiferromagnetic type III ordering in the stoichiometric Kondo-like compounds YbN and YbAs. The temperature dependence of the average ordered magnetic moment per Yb³⁺ ion with saturation value _Yb = 1.03(7) _B is similar to that of YbN. Mössbauer experiments prove the magnetic phase transition to be first order with different regions in the sample having slightly different transition temperatures. By means of inelastic neutron scattering the crystal-field level scheme was established to be ₆ – ₈(19meV) – ₇(43meV).     

Nonlinear properties of surface “screw” instability in symmetric semiconductor plates

For the first time we study the nonlinear properties of the surface screw instability (SSI) when waves are excited at both faces of a plate and the interaction between them must be taken into account. The nature of the SSI development and the stability of surface screw waves against modulation are examined. Diagrams of the regions where the SSI development is soft and explosive as well as the regions of modulated waves are given in the space of parameters characterizing the electro-hole plasma and external fields.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 30–34, April 1990.     

Disordered charge distributions and dielectric loss in extra dense flint glasses

The complex permittivities of some extra dense flint glasses (EDF glasses) have been studied. The dielectric features of the samples are dominated by their PbO content. Both refractive indices and dielectric losses exhibit a close relation to the concentration of Pb ions. The latter are located either at sites of the network atoms or filling the potential minima interstitially. They can be identified by their different relaxation mechanisms. The dispersion in the submillimeter wave and FIR area is characterized by a very broad distribution of comparably sharp resonant states. Thermal lens — or hysteresis effects can be excluded.     

Large deviation estimates for a conditional probability distribution. Applications to random interaction Gibbs measures

Summary Let (X _i ,Y _i ) ^d , be independent identically distributed random variables with arbitrary distribution. We show that, for almost every(Y _i ) _i , the conditional law of the empirical field given(Y _i ) _i satisfies to large deviation inequalities. This applies to the study of Gibbs measures with random interaction, in the case of some mean-field models as well as of short range summable interaction. We show that the pressure is nonrandom, and is given by a variational formula. These random Gibbs measures have the same large deviation rate, which does not depend on the particular realization of the interaction; their local behaviour is described in terms of conditional probabilities given the interaction of solutions to the variational formula.     

A Dynamic location problem for graphs

We introduce a class of optimization problems, calleddynamic location problems, involving the processing of requests that occur sequentially at the nodes of a graphG. This leads to the definition of a new parameter of graphs, called the window indexWX(G), that measures how large a window into the future is needed to solve every instance of the dynamic location problem onG optimally on-line. We completely characterize this parameter:WX(G)k if and only ifG is a weak retract of a product of complete graphs of size at mostk. As a byproduct, we obtain two (polynomially recognizable) structural characterizations of such graphs, extending a result of Bandelt.