Volodymyr Nekrashevych, International University Bremen, Germany,
and Kyiv Taras Shevchenko University, Ukraine

Self-Similar Groups

Expected publication date is September 21, 2005

Description

Self-similar groups (groups generated by automata) initially appeared as examples of groups that are easy to define but have exotic properties like nontrivial torsion, intermediate growth, etc. This book studies the self-similarity phenomenon in group theory and shows its intimate relationship with dynamical systems and more classical self-similar structures, such as fractals, Julia sets, and self-affine tilings. This connection is established through the central topics of the book, which are the notions of the iterated monodromy group and limit space.

A wide variety of examples and different applications of self-similar groups to dynamical systems and vice versa are discussed. In particular, it is shown that Julia sets can be reconstructed from the respective iterated monodromy groups and that groups with exotic properties can appear not just as isolated examples, but as naturally defined iterated monodromy groups of rational functions.

The book offers important, new mathematics that will open new avenues of research in group theory and dynamical systems. It is intended to be accessible to a wide readership of professional mathematicians.

Contents

Basic definitions and examples
Algebraic theory
Limit spaces
Orbispaces
Iterated monodromy groups
Examples and applications
Bibliography
Index

Details:

Series: Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, Volume 117
Publication Year: 2005
ISBN: 0-8218-3831-8
Paging: 231 pp.
Binding: Hardcover

Alexandru Buium, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Arithmetic Differential Equations

Expected publication date is September 28, 2005

Description

This monograph contains exciting original mathematics that will inspire new directions of research in algebraic geometry. Developed here is an arithmetic analog of the theory of ordinary differential equations, where functions are replaced by integer numbers, the derivative operator is replaced by a "Fermat quotient operator", and differential equations (viewed as functions on jet spaces) are replaced by "arithmetic differential equations". The main application of this theory concerns the construction and study of quotients of algebraic curves by correspondence with infinite orbits. Any such quotient usually reduces to a point in algebraic geometry. But many of the above quotients cease to be trivial (and become quite interesting) if one enlarges algebraic geometry by using arithmetic differential equations in place of algebraic equations.

This book, in part, follows a series of papers written by the author. However, a substantial amount of the material has never been published before. For most of the book, the only prerequisites are the basic facts of algebraic geometry and algebraic number theory. It is suitable for graduate students and researchers interested in algebraic geometry.

Contents

Main concepts and results
Preliminaries from algebraic geometry
Outline of delta-geometry
General theory
Global theory
Local theory
Birational theory
Applications
Spherical correspondences
Flat correspondences
Hyperbolic correspondences
List of results
Bibliography
Index

Details:

Series: Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, Volume 118
Publication Year: 2005
ISBN: 0-8218-3862-8
Paging: approximately 360 pp.
Binding: Hardcover


Barry Simon, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA

Trace Ideals and Their Applications: Second Edition

Expected publication date is September 3, 2005

"From a review of the first edition:

""Beautifully written and well organized ... indispensable for those interested in certain areas of mathematical physics for the expert and beginner alike. The author deserves to be congratulated both for his work in unifying a subject and for showing workers in the field new directions for future development.""

-- Zentralblatt MATH

Description
This is a second edition of a well-known book stemming from the author's lectures on the theory of trace ideals in the algebra of operators in a Hilbert space. Because of the theory's many different applications, the book was widely used and much in demand.

For this edition, the author has added four chapters on the closely related theory of rank one perturbations of self-adjoint operators. He has also included a comprehensive index and an addendum describing some developments since the original notes were published.

This book continues to be a vital source of information for those interested in the theory of trace ideals and in its applications to various areas of mathematical physics.

Contents

Preliminaries
Calkin's theory of operator ideals and symmetrically normed ideals; convergence theorems for mathcal J_P
Trace, determinant, and Lidskii's theorem
f(x)g(-inabla)
Fredholm theory
Scattering with a trace condition
Bound state problems
Lots of inequalities
Regularized determinants and renormalization in quantum field theory
An introduction to the theory on a Banach space
Borel transforms, the Krein spectral shift, and all that
Spectral theory of rank one perturbations
Localization in the Anderson model following Aizenman-Molchanov
The Xi function
Addenda
Bibliography
Index

Details:

Series: Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, Volume 120
Publication Year: 2005
ISBN: 0-8218-3581-5
Paging: 150 pp.
Binding: Hardcover

Dana Schlomiuk, Universite de Montreal, QC, Canada, AndreiA. Bolibrukh, Steklov Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, Sergei Yakovenko, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, Vadim Kaloshin, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, and Alexandru Buium, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

On Finiteness in Differential Equations and Diophantine Geometry

Expected publication date is October 2, 2005

Description

This book focuses on finiteness conjectures and results in ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and Diophantine geometry. During the past twenty-five years, much progress has been achieved on finiteness conjectures, which are the offspring of the second part of Hilbert's 16th problem. Even in its simplest case, this is one of the very few problems on Hilbert's list which remains unsolved. These results are about existence and estimation of finite bounds for the number of limit cycles occurring in certain families of ODEs. The book describes this progress, the methods used (bifurcation theory, asymptotic expansions, methods of differential algebra, or geometry) and the specific results obtained. The finiteness conjectures on limit cycles are part of a larger picture that also includes finiteness problems in other areas of mathematics, in particular those in Diophantine geometry where remarkable results were proved during the same period of time. There is a chapter devoted to finiteness results in Diophantine geometry obtained by using methods of differential algebra, which is a connecting element between these parallel developments in the book.

The volume can be used as an independent study text for advanced undergraduates and graduate students studying ODEs or applications of differential algebra to differential equations and Diophantine geometry. It is also a good entry point for researchers interested these areas, in particular, in limit cycles of ODEs, and in finiteness problems.

Contributors to the volume include Andrei A. Bolibrukh and Alexandru Buium. Available from the AMS by A. Buium is Arithmetic Differential Equations, as Volume 118 in the Mathematical Surveys and Monographs series.

Contents

Finiteness problems in differential equations and Diophantine geometry
Linear differential equations, Fuchsian inequalities and multiplicities of zeros
Quantitative theory of ordinary differential equations and tangential Hilbert 16th problem
Around Hilbert-Arnol'd problem
Finiteness results in differential algebraic geometry and Diophantine geometry
o-minimal structures, real analytic geometry, and transseries
List of lectures
List of participants
List of participants II

Details:

Series: CRM Monograph Series, Volume 24
Publication Year: 2005
ISBN: 0-8218-2805-3
Paging: approximately 224 pp.
Binding: Hardcover


Sebastian Montiel and Antonio Ros, Universidad de Granada, Spain

Curves and Surfaces

Expected publication date is October 20, 2005

Description

This introductory textbook puts forth a clear and focused point of view on the differential geometry of curves and surfaces, emphasizing the global aspects. The excellent collection of examples and exercises (with hints) will help students in learning the material. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students will find this a nice entry point to differential geometry.

In order to study the global properties of curves and surfaces, it is necessary to have more sophisticated tools than are usually found in textbooks on the topic. In particular, students must have a firm grasp on certain topological theories. Indeed, this monograph treats the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem and discusses the Euler characteristic. The authors also cover Alexandrov's theorem on embedded compact surfaces in mathbb{R}^3 with constant mean curvature. The last chapter addresses the global geometry of curves, including periodic space curves and the four vertices theorem for plane curves that are not necessarily convex.

This volume is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in the differential geometry of curves and surfaces. It can also be used as an introduction to a more general study of differential geometry.

This book is jointly published by the AMS and the Real Sociedad Matematica Espanola (RSME).

Contents

Plane and space curves
Surfaces in Euclidean space
The second fundamental form
Separation and orientability
Integration on surfaces
Global extrinsic geometry
Intrinsic geometry of surfaces
The Gauss-Bonnet theorem
Global geometry of curves
Bibliography
Index

Details:

Series: Graduate Studies in Mathematics, Volume: 69
Publication Year: 2005
ISBN: 0-8218-3815-6
Paging: approximately 384 pp.
Binding: Hardcover