Property (T) for C*-Algebras

A notion of Property (T) is defined for an arbitrary unitalC*-algebra A admitting a tracial state. This is extended toa notion of Property (T) for a pair (A, B) where B is a C*-subalgebraof A. Let be a discrete group and its reduced algebra. We show that has Property (T) if and only if the group has Property (T).More generally, given a subgroup of , the pair has Property (T) if and only if the pair of groups(, ) has Property (T). 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification46L05, 22D25.     

Characterization and reduction of pellicle degradation due to haze formation on leading edge technology photomasks

Since the adoption of deep ultraviolet lithography, time‐dependent haze defects have become an increasingly significant problem for the semiconductor industry as photomask lifetime continues to be shortened due to molecular contamination. With shorter wavelength lithography, the materials and space between the pellicle film and photomask surface can create a highly reactive environment resulting in the formation of haze defects on the photomask. One critical issue has been to understand the chemical mechanism of evolving defects on the photomask triggered by haze formation. This fundamental study was completed in a manufacturing environment in response to a sudden increase of haze defect growth during the transition to new device nodes. Time‐of‐Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Atomic Force Microscopy analysis techniques were essential in characterizing pellicle degradation in parallel with increased haze defect growth on the photomask surface. Extensive chemical and surface topography characterization of pellicle degradation led to a vitally important development and implementation of a design change in the pellicle frame for Flash Memory 3x and 2x nm node critical process layer photolithography. With an increased clearance between the pattern design and pellicle edge, the design modification ultimately brought an immense increase in photomask dose limitation between repell cleans and a reduction in haze growth, thus, reducing production costs and increasing wafer throughput.     

A Spectral Gap Property for Random Walks Under Unitary Representations

Let G be a locally compact group and μ a probability measure on G, which is not assumed to be absolutely continuous with respect to Haar measure. Given a unitary representation $\pi ,\mathcal{H}Let G be a locally compact group and μ a probability measure on G, which is not assumed to be absolutely continuous with respect to Haar measure. Given a unitary representation p,H\pi ,\mathcal{H} of G, we study spectral properties of the operator π(μ) acting on H\mathcal{H} Assume that μ is adapted and that the trivial representation 1 _G is not weakly contained in the tensor product p?[`(p)]\pi\otimes \overline\pi We show that π(μ) has a spectral gap, that is, for the spectral radius r_spec(p(m))r_{\rm spec}(\pi(\mu)) of π(μ), we have r_spec(p(m)) < 1.r_{\rm spec}(\pi(\mu))< 1. This provides a common generalization of several previously known results. Another consequence is that, if G has Kazhdan’s Property (T), then r_spec(p(m)) < 1r_{\rm spec}(\pi(\mu))< 1 for every unitary representation π of G without finite dimensional subrepresentations. Moreover, we give new examples of so-called identity excluding groups.     

Familles de graphes expanseurs et paires de HeckeFamilies of expanding graphs and Hecke pairs

Let H be a subgroup of a group G. Suppose that (G,H) is a Hecke pair and that H is finitely generated by a finite symmetric set of size k. Then G/H can be seen as a graph (possibly with loops and multiple edges) whose connected components form a family (X_i)_i∈I of finite k-regular graphs. In this Note, we analyse when the size of these graphs is bounded or tends to infinity and we present criteria for (X_i)_i∈I to be a family of expanding graphs as well as some examples. To cite this article: M.B. Bekka et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 463–468.     

On uniqueness of invariant means

The following results on uniqueness of invariant means are shown:

(i) Let be a connected almost simple algebraic group defined over . Assume that , the group of the real points in , is not compact. Let be a prime, and let be the compact -adic Lie group of the -points in . Then the normalized Haar measure on is the unique invariant mean on .

(ii) Let be a semisimple Lie group with finite centre and without compact factors, and let be a lattice in . Then integration against the -invariant probability measure on the homogeneous space is the unique -invariant mean on .