Broken hyperbolic structures and affine foliations on surfaces

In this paper, we introduce two new kinds of structures on a non-compact surface: broken hyperbolic structures and broken measured foliations. The space of broken hyperbolic structures contains the Teichmüller space of the surface as a subspace. The space of broken measured foliations is naturally identified with the space of affine foliations of the surface. We describe a topology on the union of the space of broken hyperbolic structures and of the space of broken measured foliations which generalizes Thurston's compactification of Teichmüller space.     

Asymptotic approximation of functions and their derivatives by Müller’s Gamma operators

We obtain the complete asymptotic expansion of the image functions of Müller’s Gamma operators and of their derivatives. All expansion coefficients are explicitly calculated. Moreover, we study linear combinations of Gamma operators having a better degree of approximation than the operators themselves. Using divided differences we define general classes of linear combinations of which special cases were recently introduced and investigated by other authors.     

The mathematics of playing golf, or: a new class of difficult non-linear mixed integer programs

We consider a class of non-linear mixed integer programs with n integer variables and k continuous variables. Solving instances from this class to optimality is an NP-hard problem. We show that for the cases with k=1 and k=2, every optimal solution is integral. In contrast to this, for every k≥3 there exist instances where every optimal solution takes non-integral values. Received: August 2001 / Accepted: January 2002?Published online March 27, 2002     

Depth profiling of latex blends of fluorinated and fluorine‐free acrylates with laser‐induced secondary mass spectrometry

We explored phase separation and self‐assembly of perfluoroalkyl segments at the surface of polymer films obtained from latices of semifluorinated acrylate copolymers and the corresponding latex blends of nonfluorinated and semifluorinated polyacrylates. With laser‐induced secondary mass spectrometry the fluorine distribution was measured after annealing above the minimum film‐forming temperature of the polymers up to a depth of several micrometers. Depth profiles of a semifluorinated acrylate homopolymer and latex blends thereof with fluorine‐free alkylacrylates with 25, 50, and 75 mol % semifluorinated acrylate as well as a copolymer comprised of alkyl acrylate and semifluorinated acrylate (50/50 mol %) were investigated. In the case of latex blends containing both semifluorinated polyacrylates and fluorine‐free or low‐fluorine polymers, self‐assembly accounted for enrichment of the perfluoroalkyl segments at the surface. Coatings exhibiting low surface energy and having a substantially reduced total fluorine content were obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 360–367, 2003     

A complete asymptotic expansion of power means

The complete asymptotic expansion of power means in terms of Bell polynomials is obtained. Some results recently obtained by M. Bjelica are generalized.     

The shape invariant of triangles and trigonometry in two-point homogeneous spaces

We define a fourth basic invariant, which, besides the lengths of the three sides of a triangle, determines a triangle in the complex and quaternion projective spaces P ⁿ and P ⁿ (n2) uniquely up to isometry. We give inequalities describing the exact range of the four basic invariants. We express the angular invariants of a triangle with our basic invariants, giving a new completely elementary proof of the laws of trigonometry. As a corollary we derive a large number of congruence theorems. Finally we get, in exactly the same way, the corresponding results for triangles in the complex and quaternion hyperbolic spaces H ⁿ and H ⁿ (n2).     

Link maps and the geometry of their invariants

The geometry of two types of link homotopy invariants of a link map f:S^pS^qS^m is discussed. The first one is the -invariant which greatly generalizes the classical notion of linking number. The second one, the -invariant, is closely related to the linking behaviour of f|s^p with only the double point set of f|S^q, and therefore measures (to some extend) the obstruction to embedding S^q. These invariants are related by a Hopf invariant homomorphism. In many cases link maps are classified up to link homotopy here, and a setting is provided e.g. for future injectivity results for . Also the image of is studied, yielding an interesting double filtration of stable homotopy groups of spheres.