Solving the Gleason problem on linearly convex domains

Let be a bounded, connected linearly convex set in with boundary. We show that the maximal ideal (both in ) and ) consisting of all functions vanishing at is generated by the coordinate functions . Received: 2 July 2001; in final form: 26 September 2001 / Published online: 28 February 2002     

Non-trivial simple poles at negative integers and mass concentration at singularity

Let (X,0) be the germ of a normal space of dimension n+1 and let f be the germ at 0 of a holomorphic function on X. Assume both X and f have an isolated singularity at 0. Denote by J the image of the restriction map , where F is the Milnor fibre of f at 0. We prove that the canonical Hermitian form on , given by poles of order at in the meromorphic extension of , passes to the quotient by J and is non-degenerate on . We show that any non-zero element in J produces a “mass concentration” at the singularity which is related to a simple pole concentrated at for (in a non-na?ve sense). We conclude with an application to the asymptotic expansion of oscillatory integrals , for , when . Received: 28 May 2001 / Published online: 26 April 2002     

Microstructure related photoluminescence in a-CNx films deposited by reactive rf magnetron sputtering

We investigated the photoluminescence (PL) properties of carbon nitride films (CN_x) deposited by rf magnetron sputtering and compared them to their microstructure depending on the target self-bias. While many of the data are compatible with ‘a-C:H like’ PL properties the observed variation of the PL efficiency η with respect to the target bias cannot be easily explained by the standard models. It is suggested that the observed variation of η is rather dominated by a change in microstructure which depends on the bombardment intensity during growth than by the concentration of non-radiative centres.     

Farkas-type results for fractional programming problems

Considering a constrained fractional programming problem, within the present paper we present some necessary and sufficient conditions, which ensure that the optimal objective value of the considered problem is greater than or equal to a given real constant. The desired results are obtained using the Fenchel–Lagrange duality approach applied to an optimization problem with convex or difference of convex (DC) objective functions and finitely many convex constraints. These are obtained from the initial fractional programming problem using an idea due to Dinkelbach. We also show that our general results encompass as special cases some recently obtained Farkas-type results.     

Microlocal study of topological Radon transforms and real projective duality

Various topological properties of projective duality between real projective varieties and their duals are obtained by making use of the microlocal theory of (subanalytically) constructible sheaves developed by Kashiwara [M. Kashiwara, Index theorem for constructible sheaves, Astérisque 130 (1985) 193-209] and Kashiwara-Schapira [M. Kashiwara, P. Schapira, Sheaves on Manifolds, Grundlehren Math. Wiss., vol. 292, Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 1990]. In particular, we prove in the real setting some results similar to the ones proved by Ernström in the complex case [L. Ernström, Topological Radon transforms and the local Euler obstruction, Duke Math. J. 76 (1994) 1-21]. For this purpose, we describe the characteristic cycles of topological Radon transforms of constructible functions in terms of curvatures of strata in real projective spaces.     

An investigation of finite-size scaling for systems with long-range interaction: The spherical model

A method is suggested for the derivation of finite-size corrections in the thermodynamic functions of systems with pair interaction potential decaying at large distancesr asr ^{–d –} , whered is the space dimensionality and>0. It allows for a unified treatment of short-range (=2) and long-range (<2) interaction. The asymptotic analysis is illustrated by the mean spherical model of general geometryL ^d–d× ^d subject to periodic boundary conditions. The Fisher-Privman equation of state is generalized to arbitrary real values ofd, 0d. It is shown that the-expansion may be used to study the breakdown of standard finite-size scaling at the borderline dimensionalities.     

On the error of compound quadrature formulas forr-convex functions

LetC _m be a compound quadrature formula, i.e.C _m is obtained by dividing the interval of integration [a, b] intom subintervals of equal length, and applying the same quadrature formulaQ _n to every subinterval. LetR _m be the corresponding error functional. Iff ^(r) > 0 impliesR _m [f] > 0 (orR _m [f] < 0),=" then=" we=" say=">C _m is positive definite (or negative definite, respectively) of orderr. This is the case for most of the well-known quadrature formulas. The assumption thatf ^(r) > 0 may be weakened to the requirement that all divided differences of orderr off are non-negative. Thenf is calledr-convex. Now letC _m be positive definite or negative definite of orderr, and letf be continuous andr-convex. We prove the following direct and inverse theorems for the errorR _m [f], where , denotes the modulus of continuity of orderr:

Comparison theorems for weak splittings of bounded operators

Summary Comparison theorems for weak splittings of bounded operators are presented. These theorems extend the classical comparison theorem for regular splittings of matrices by Varga, the less known result by Wonicki, and the recent results for regular and weak regular splittings of matrices by Neumann and Plemmons, Elsner, and Lanzkron, Rose and Szyld. The hypotheses of the theorems presented here are weaker and the theorems hold for general Banach spaces and rather general cones. Hypotheses are given which provide strict inequalities for the comparisons. It is also shown that the comparison theorem by Alefeld and Volkmann applies exclusively to monotone sequences of iterates and is not equivalent to the comparison of the spectral radius of the iteration operators.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation grants DMS-8807338 and INT-8918502     

Radical concentration measurements in hydrocarbon diffusion flames

Absolute OH· concentrations and relative H-atom and O-atom profiles have been measured in a laminar, co-flowing methane/air diffusion flame burning at atmospheric pressure. Laser absorption and laser-induced fluorescence methods were used to probe the A ² X ²II_itransition in OH·. The maximum OH· concentration is found to be 1.8±0.2 ×10¹⁶ cm^–3 (mole fraction =5.0×10^–3) at a temperature of 2080 K, which is twice the value calculated assuming local total equilibrium but less than half that predicted from partial equilibrium (O₂+H₂ 2OH·). Multiphoton ionization (2+1 process at 243 nm) has been used to detect H atoms, while laser-induced fluorescence at 845 nm excited by two-photon absorption at 226 nm was employed to observe O atoms. In both cases it was found that low photon intensities (2×10⁸W/cm²) and a retroreflected beam, Doppler-free geometry was required in order to avoid the photolytic production of the species of interest. For all of the concentration profile data it is necessary to correct the raw signals for variations in collisional quenching. In the case of the multiphoton ionization measurements the variation in electron detection sensitivity as a function of flame position must be accounted for as well. Establishing absolute H-atom and O-atom concentrations is discussed in terms of partial equilibrium considerations and detailed flame structure calculations.Formerly the National Bureau of Standards     

Heat “polynomials” for a singular differential operator on (0, ∞)

We generalize the theory of the heat polynomials introduced by P. V. Rosenbloom and D. V. Widder for a more general class of singular differential operator on (0, ). The heat polynomials associated with the Bessel operator and studied by D. T. Haimo appear as a particular case in this paper. In the special cases of second derivative and Bessel operators the heat polynomials are in fact polynomials inx andt, however, this property does not hold in general.Communicated by Tom. H. Koornwinder.