Fermionic solution of the Andrews-Baxter-Forrester model. II. Proof of Melzer's polynomial identities

We compute the one-dimensional configuration sums of the ABF model using the fermionic technique introduced in part I of this paper. Combined with the results of Andrews, Baxter, and Forrester, we prove polynomial identities for finitizations of the Virasoro characters as conjectured by Melzer. In the thermodynamic limit these identities reproduce Rogers-Ramanujan-type identities for the unitary minimal Virasoro characters conjectured by the Stony Brook group. We also present a list of additional Virasoro character identities which follow from our proof of Melzer's identities and application of Bailey's lemma.Dedicated to the memory of Piet Kasteleyn.     

Exact exponent for the number of persistent spins in the zero-temperature dynamics of the one-dimensional Potts model

For the zero-temperature Glauber dynamics of theq-state Potts model, the fractionr(q, t) of spins which never flip up to timet decays like a power lawr(q, t)t ^–(q) when the initial condition is random. By mapping the problem onto an exactly soluble one-species coagulation model (A+AA) or alternatively by transforming the problem into a free-fermion model, we obtain the exact expression of (q) for all values ofq. The exponent (q) is in general irrational, (3)=0.53795082..., (4)=0.63151575..., ..., with the exception ofq=2 andq=, for which (2)=3/8 and ()=1.     

A priori error estimates for numerical methods for scalar conservation laws. Part I: The general approach

In this paper, we construct a general theory of a priori error estimates for scalar conservation laws by suitably modifying the original Kuznetsov approximation theory. As a first application of this general technique, we show that error estimates for conservation laws can be obtained without having to use explicitly any regularity properties of the approximate solution. Thus, we obtain optimal error estimates for the Engquist-Osher scheme without using the fact (i) that the solution is uniformly bounded, (ii) that the scheme is total variation diminishing, and (iii) that the discrete semigroup associated with the scheme has the -contraction property, which guarantees an upper bound for the modulus of continuity in time of the approximate solution.

     

Complete solutions of a family of quartic Thue and index form equations

Continuing the recent work of the second author, we prove that the diophantine equation

for has exactly 12 solutions except when , when it has 16 solutions. If denotes one of the zeros of , then for we also find all with .

     

The covariance matrix of the Potts model: A random cluster analysis

We consider the covariance matrix,G ^mm =q ²<(_x,m);(_y,m)>, of thed-dimensionalq-states Potts model, rewriting it in the random cluster representation of Fortuin and Kasteleyn. In any of theq ordered phases, we identify the eigenvalues of this matrix both in terms of representations of the unbroken symmetry group of the model and in terms of random cluster connectivities and covariances, thereby attributing algebraic significance to these stochastic geometric quantities. We also show that the correlation length corresponding to the decay rate of one of the eigenvalues is the same as the inverse decay rate of the diameter of finite clusers. For dimensiond=2, we show that this correlation length and the correlation length of the two-point function with free boundary conditions at the corresponding dual temperature are equal up to a factor of two. For systems with first-order transitions, this relation helps to resolve certain inconsistencies between recent exact and numerical work on correlation lengths at the self-dual point _o. For systems with second order transitions, this relation implies the equality of the correlation length exponents from above and below threshold, as well as an amplitude ratio of two. In the course of proving the above results, we establish several properties of independent interest, including left continuity of the inverse correlation length with free boundary conditions and upper semicontinuity of the decay rate for finite clusters in all dimensions, and left continuity of the two-dimensional free boundary condition percolation probability at _o. We also introduce DLR equations for the random cluster model and use them to establish ergodicity of the free measure. In order to prove these results, we introduce a new class of events which we call decoupling events and two inequalities for these events. The first is similar to the FKG inequality, but holds for events which are neither increasing nor decreasing; the second is similar to the van den Berg-Kesten inequality in standard percolation. Both inequalities hold for an arbitrary FKG measure.     

Estimates of logarithmic Sobolev constat for finite-volume continuous spin systems

LetM be a compact, connected Riemannian manifold (with or without boundary); we study the logarithmic Sobolev constant for stochastic Ising models on . Let {} be a sequence of cubes inZ ^d ; we show that the logarithmic Sobolev constant for the finite systems onM ^A shrinks at most exponentially fast in ||^(d-1)/d (d2), which is sharp in order for the classical Ising models withM=[–1, 1]. Moreover, a geometrical lemma proved by L. E. Thomas is also improved.     

On the two-dimensional stochastic Ising model in the phase coexistence region near the critical point

We consider the two-dimensional stochastic Ising model in finite square with free boundary conditions, at inverse temperature >₀ and zero external field. Using duality and recent results of Ioffe on the Wulff construction close to the critical temperature, we extend some of the results obtained by Martinelli in the low-temperature regime to any temperature below the critical one. In particular we show that the gap in the spectrum of the generator of the dynamics goes to zero in the thermodynamic limit as an exponential of the side length of , with a rate constant determined by the surface tension along one of the coordinate axes. We also extend to the same range of temperatures the result due to Shlosman on the equilibrium large deviations of the magnetization with free boundary conditions.     

An energy-transport model for semiconductors derived from the Boltzmann equation

An energy-transport model is rigorously derived from the Boltzmann transport equation of semiconductors under the hypothesis that the energy gain or loss of the electrons by the phonon collisions is weak. Retaining at leading order electron-electron collisions and elastic collisions (i.e., impurity scattering and the elastic part of phonon collisions), a rigorous diffusion limit of the Boltzmann equation can be carried over, which leads to a set of diffusion equations for the electron density and temperature. The derivation is given in both the degenerate and nondegenerate cases.     

Optimal error estimates of a locally one-dimensional method for the multidimensional heat equation

For the multidimensional heat equation in a parallelepiped, optimal error estimates inL ₂(Q) are derived. The error is of the order of +¦h¦² for any right-hand sidef L ₂(Q) and any initial function ; for appropriate classes of less regularf andu ₀, the error is of the order of ((+¦h¦² ), 1/2<1.Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 60, No. 2, pp. 185–197, August, 1996.     

Classical verigin problem as a limit case of verigin problem with surface tension at free boundary

In this psper we consider Verigin problem with surface tension st free