Remarks on a unified theory for classical and generalized interpolation and extrapolation

A unified theory for generalized interpolation, as developed by Mühlbach, and classical polynomial interpolation is discussed. A fundamental theorem for generalized linear iterative interpolation is given and used to derive generalizations of the classical formulae due to Neville, Aitken and Lagrange. Using Mühlbach's definition of generalized divided differences, Newton's generalized interpolation formula, including an expression for the error term, is derived as a pure identity.     

Uniform interpolation and the existence of sequent calculi

This paper presents a uniform and modular method to prove uniform interpolation for several intermediate and intuitionistic modal logics. The proof-theoretic method uses sequent calculi that are extensions of the terminating sequent calculus $\mathsf{G4ip}$ for intuitionistic propositional logic. It is shown that whenever the rules in a calculus satisfy certain structural properties, the corresponding logic has uniform interpolation. It follows that the intuitionistic versions of $\mathsf{K}$ and $\mathsf{KD}$ (without the diamond operator) have uniform interpolation. It also follows that no intermediate or intuitionistic modal logic without uniform interpolation has a sequent calculus satisfying those structural properties, thereby establishing that except for the seven intermediate logics that have uniform interpolation, no intermediate logic has such a sequent calculus.     

Generalized Markov fields and Dirichlet forms

We prove that Gaussian measure-indexed random fields, of which the covariance functional is given by the dual form of a transient Dirichlet form, have the global Markov property (where global here means w.r.t. arbitrary, not necessarily open sets), if and only if the Dirichlet form has the local property. Applications to Nelson's free Euclidean field of quantum theory and to Rozanov's generalized random functions are given.     

Differential equations with singular fields

This paper investigates the well posedness of ordinary differential equations and more precisely the existence (or uniqueness) of a flow through explicit compactness estimates. Instead of assuming a bounded divergence condition on the vector field, a compressibility condition on the flow (bounded Jacobian) is considered. The main result provides existence under the condition that the vector field belongs to BV in dimension 2 and SBV in higher dimensions.     

The ovals in the Excerpta Mathematica and the origins of Descartes’ method of normals

The only occurrence of Descartes’ method of normals before La Géométrie (1637) is to be found in the Excerpta Mathematica. These mathematical fragments, published posthumously among others works in 1701, and dated by Tannery before 1629, deal with curves used in dioptrics which Descartes called ovals. I study in detail two of the texts on ovals together with the related texts in La Géométrie in order to shed light on the geometrical origins of Descartes’ method of normals.     

On the Cauchy problem for integro-differential operators in Sobolev classes and the martingale problem

The existence and uniqueness in Sobolev spaces of solutions of the Cauchy problem to parabolic integro-differential equation with variable coefficients of the order α∈(0,2)$\alpha \in (0,2)$ is investigated. The principal part of the operator has kernel m(t,x,y)/|y|^d+α$m(t,x,y)/{|y|}^{d+\alpha }$ with a bounded nondegenerate m, Hölder in x and measurable in y. The lower order part has bounded and measurable coefficients. The result is applied to prove the existence and uniqueness of the corresponding martingale problem.     

Non vanishing loci of Hodge numbers of local systems

We show that closures of families of unitary local systems on quasiprojective varieties for which the dimension of a graded component of Hodge filtration has a constant value can be identified with a finite union of polytopes. We also present a local version of this theorem. This yields the “Hodge decomposition” of the set of unitary local systems with a non-vanishing cohomology extending Hodge decomposition of characteristic varieties of links of plane curves studied by the author earlier. We consider a twisted version of the characteristic varieties generalizing the twisted Alexander polynomials. Several explicit calculations for complements to arrangements are made. A. Libgober was supported by National Science Foundation grant.     

Lyapunov exponents,bifurcation currents and laminations in bifurcation loci

Bifurcation loci in the moduli space of degree d rational maps are shaped by the hypersurfaces defined by the existence of a cycle of period n and multiplier 0 or e ^iθ. Using potential-theoretic arguments, we establish two equidistribution properties for these hypersurfaces with respect to the bifurcation current. To this purpose we first establish approximation formulas for the Lyapunov function. In degree d = 2, this allows us to build holomorphic motions and show that the bifurcation locus has a lamination structure in the regions where an attracting basin exists.