Automorphisms on a Lie group contracting modulo a compact subgroup and applications to semistable convolution semigroups

Let ( _t ) _t0 be a -semistable convolution semigroup of probability measures on a Lie groupG whose idempotent ₀ is the Haar measure on some compact subgroupK. Then all the measures ₁ are supported by theK-contraction groupC _K() of the topological automorphism ofG. We prove here the structure theoremC _K()=C()K, whereC() is the contraction group of . Then it turns out that it is sufficient to study semistable convolution semigroups on simply connected nilpotent Lie groups that have Lie algebras with a positive graduation.     

Ergodicity of a measure-valued Markov chain induced by random transformations

Let Z ₁, Z ₂,... be a sequence of i.i.d. random transformations (possibly discontinuous) of a compact metric space M, and let E denote the space of normalized mass distributions on M. Given in E, let _n denote the random measure °(Z _n °...°Z ₁)^–1 (when well-defined). We construct the transition probability P of the E-valued Markov chain ( _n ), and give a necessary and sufficient condition for P to have a unique invariant measure concentrated on the degenerate mass distributions. Convergence to statistical equilibrium of the associated discrete-time stochastic flow is investigated.Research supported by NSF grants INT-8420360 and DMS-8502802. This work was done while the author was visiting the Universities of Warwick and Minnesota     

Rational contractive and unitary interpolants in realized form

A solution of the rational Nehari problem is given in terms of a realization. Other aspects of this problem, like one step extension, maximum entropy interpolants and unitary interpolants, are also analyzed for the rational case. The results are based on earlier work of H. Dym and I. Gohberg.Dedicated to M.S. Livic on the occasion of his seventieth birthday, with admiration     

Biological effects of the hand-arm vibration syndrome: historical perspective and current research

The objective of this paper is to highlight gaps of information regarding mechanisms of vascular, neurological, and musculo-skeletal damage caused by vibration. Also addressed is evidence that high noise level may act synergistically to the development of vibration syndrome of the hand and arm. Areas of research currently active in psychophysical and neurophysiological investigations to increase our understanding of tactile and spatial discrimination are discussed. Although the importance of sensory loss or "fine touch" is understood, there is neither a proven objective scientific test with which the syndrome can be diagnosed nor is there a scale of damage assessment. Determining the exact role of the central nervous system in assessing damage from vibration is difficult in view of nonspecific symptoms reported from eastern Europe and from Japan. To complicate matters still further, there is the possibility that repeated, rapid mechanical movements of the hand and arm associated with handling heavy tools produce carpal tunnel syndrome but that the injury is not directly attributed to vibration. Therefore, it follows that there could exist an element of carpal tunnel syndrome in many vibration syndrome cases.     

Progressing waves on spherical spacetimes

A family of spherically symmetrical spacetimes that are transparent to minimally coupled scalar multipole waves is investigated. The concept of transparency is reformulated in terms of the established concept of progressing waves. The set of spherically symmetric spacetimes and the family of wave equations for which the transparency condition can be shown to hold is generalized.     

Relative index theorems and supersymmetric scattering theory

We discuss supersymmetric scattering theory and employ Krein's theory of spectral shift functions to investigate supersymmetric scattering systems. This is the basis for the derivation of relative index theorems on some classes of open manifolds. As an example we discuss the de Rham complex for obstacles in ^N and asymptotically flat manifolds. It is shown that the absolute or relative Euler characteristic of an obstacle in ^N may be obtained from scattering data for the Laplace operator on forms with absolute or relative boundary conditions respectively. In the case of asymptotically flat manifolds we obtain the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem for theL ²-Euler characteristic.On leave of absence from Institute of Physics, Leningrad State University, Leningrad