A Semple-type approach to a problem of Goursat: The multi-flag case

We consider the problem of classifying the orbits within a tower of fibrations with fibers diffeomorphic to projective planes and we generalize the tower of fiber bundles due to J. Semple. This tower, which was rediscovered by Montgomery and Zhitomirskii in the context of subriemannian geometry, admits a natural action of the diffeomorphism group of affine 3-space, and these orbits correspond to classes of Goursat multi-flags. We demonstrate that it is possible to classify many of these orbits by elementary means by appealing to some basic tools in projective geometry, and the combinatorics of spatial curves.     

A tits alternative for groups that are residually of bounded rank

In this short note a Tits alternative for certain kinds of groups which are residually of rank at mostr is obtained. The main theorem states that ifG is a group that is residually (locally (soluble-by-finite) of rankr), then eitherG is locally (soluble-by-finite) orG contains a non-abelian free subgroup. The third author would like to thank the School of Mathematics at the University of Wales, Cardiff for its hospitality whild part of this work was being done.     

Commutators of nilpotent matrices

A matrix of zero trace is, with certain exceptions, the commutator of nilpotent matrices. It may (so far as we know) be necessary to go outside the original field for the entries of the nilpotent matrices.     

Ruin probabilities allowing for delay in claims settlement

In this paper we use martingale techniques to derive upper bounds for the probability of ruin for a risk process. The important difference between our results and previous results in this area is that our model for the risk process explicitly allows for delay in claims settlement.     

Fourier Analysis of Multigrid for a Model Two-Dimensional Convection-Diffusion Equation

We present a Fourier analysis of multigrid for the two-dimensional discrete convection-diffusion equation. For constant coefficient problems with grid-aligned flow and semi-periodic boundary conditions, we show that the two-grid iteration matrix can be reduced via a set of orthogonal transformations to a matrix containing individual 4×4 blocks. This enables a trivial computation of the norm of the iteration matrix demonstrating rapid convergence in the case of both small and large mesh Peclet numbers, where the streamline-diffusion discretisation is used in the latter case. We also demonstrate that these results are strongly correlated with the properties of the iteration matrix arising from Dirichlet boundary conditions. AMS subject classification (2000) 65F10, 65N22, 65N30, 65N55     

Gravitational Field Equations on Fefferman Space–Times

The total space \({\mathfrak M} \approx {\mathbb H}_1 \times S^1\) of the canonical circle bundle over the 3-dimensional Heisenberg group \({\mathbb H}_1\) is a space–time with the Lorentzian metric \(F_{\theta _0}\) (Fefferman’s metric) associated to the canonical Tanaka–Webster flat contact form \(\theta _0\) on \({\mathbb H}_1\). The matter and energy content of \(\mathfrak M\) is described by the energy-momentum tensor \({T}_{\mu \nu }\) (the trace-less Ricci tensor of \(F_{\theta _0}\)) as an effect of the non flat nature of Feferman’s metric \(F_{\theta _0}\). We study the gravitational field equations \(R_{\mu \nu } - (1/2) \, R \, g_{\mu \nu } = {T}_{\mu \nu }\) on \({\mathfrak M}\). We consider the first order perturbation \(g = F_{\theta _0} + \epsilon \, h\), \(\epsilon<< 1\), and linearize the field equations about \(F_{\theta _0}\). We determine a Lorentzian metric g on \({\mathfrak M}\) which solves the linearized field equations corresponding to a diagonal perturbation h.     

Enhanced alternating energy minimization methods for stochastic galerkin matrix equations

BIT Numerical Mathematics - In uncertainty quantification, it is commonly required to solve a forward model consisting of a partial differential equation (PDE) with a spatially varying uncertain...     

What one looks for in software for teaching mathematics

The purpose of this article is to delineate procedures for viewing education software intended for use in a mathematics classroom. These procedures are applicable at all levels.     

The Weil–Petersson Isometry Group

We prove that, for 3g–3+n>1 and (g,n)(1,2), the group of Weil–Petersson isometries of the Teichmüller space T _g,n coincides with the extended mapping class group.