Oded Goldreich / Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Foundations of Cryptography
Volume 1, Basic Tools

Now in Paperback (ISBN-13: 9780521035361 | ISBN-10: 0521035368)

Cryptography is concerned with the conceptualization, definition and construction of computing systems that address security concerns. The design of cryptographic systems must be based on firm foundations. This book presents a rigorous and systematic treatment of the foundational issues: defining cryptographic tasks and solving new cryptographic problems using existing tools. It focuses on the basic mathematical tools: computational difficulty (one-way functions), pseudorandomness and zero-knowledge proofs. The emphasis is on the clarification of fundamental concepts and on demonstrating the feasibility of solving cryptographic problems, rather than on describing ad-hoc approaches. The book is suitable for use in a graduate course on cryptography and as a reference book for experts. The author assumes basic familiarity with the design and analysis of algorithms; some knowledge of complexity theory and probability is also useful.

* Systematic and rigorous approach that is focused on concepts
* Each chapter has exercises and guidelines for solution

Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Computational difficulty; 3. Pseudorandom generators; 4. Zero-knowledge proof systems; Appendix A: background in computational number theory; Appendix B: brief outline of volume 2; Bibliography; Index.

Review

'The written style is excellent and natural, making the text rather comfortable to read even on quite advanced topics. The book is suitable for students in a graduate course on cryptography, and is also a useful reference text for experts.' The Mathematical Gazette

Peter Whittle / University of Cambridge

Networks
Optimisation and Evolution

Series: Cambridge Series in Statistical and Probabilistic Mathematics (No. 21)
Hardback (ISBN-13: 9780521871006 | ISBN-10: 052187100X)

Point-to-point vs. hub-and-spoke. Questions of network design are real and involve many billions of dollars. Yet little is known about optimizing design - nearly all work concerns optimizing flow assuming a given design. This foundational book tackles optimization of network structure itself, deriving comprehensible and realistic design principles. With fixed material cost rates, a natural class of models implies the optimality of direct source-destination connections, but considerations of variable load and environmental intrusion then enforce trunking in the optimal design, producing an arterial or hierarchical net. Its determination requires a continuum formulation, which can however be simplified once a discrete structure begins to emerge. Connections are made with the masterly work of Bendsoe and Sigmund on optimal mechanical structures and also with neural, processing and communication networks, including those of the Internet and the Worldwide Web. Technical appendices are provided on random graphs and polymer models and on the Klimov index.

* D'Arcy Thompson for the 21st century: path-breaking work on optimisation of network structure
* Whittle is renowned for his fundamental work on networks and optimisation
* Comprehensible, realistic design principles that accord with the evolution of networks in nature

Contents

1. Tour d'horizon; Part I. Distribution Networks: 2. Simple flows; 3. Continuum formulations; 4. Multi-class and destination-specific flows; 5. Design optimality under variable loading; 6. Concave costs and hierarchical structure; 7. Road networks; 8. Structural optimisation; Michell structures; 9. Structures: computational experience of evolutionary algorithms; 10. Structure design for variable loading; Part II. Artificial Neural Networks: 11. Models and learning; 12. Some particular nets; 13. Oscillatory operation; Part III. Processing Networks: 14. Queuing networks; 15. Time-sharing networks; Part IV. Communication Networks: 16. Loss networks: optimality and robustness; 17. Loss networks: stochastics and self-regulation; 18. Operation of the Internet; 19. Evolving networks and the World-wide Web; Appendix 1. Spatial integrals for the telephone problem; Appendix 2. Bandit and tax processes; Appendix 3. Random graphs and polymer models; References; Index.

E. Brian Davies

Linear Operators and their Spectra

Series: Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics (No. 106)
Hardback (ISBN-13: 9780521866293 | ISBN-10: 0521866294)

This wide ranging but self-contained account of the spectral theory of non-self-adjoint linear operators is ideal for postgraduate students and researchers, and contains many illustrative examples and exercises. Fredholm theory, Hilbert-Schmidt and trace class operators are discussed, as are one-parameter semigroups and perturbations of their generators. Two chapters are devoted to using these tools to analyze Markov semigroups. The text also provides a thorough account of the new theory of pseudospectra, and presents the recent analysis by the author and Barry Simon of the form of the pseudospectra at the boundary of the numerical range. This was a key ingredient in the determination of properties of the zeros of certain orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle. Finally, two methods, both very recent, for obtaining bounds on the eigenvalues of non-self-adjoint Schrodinger operators are described. The text concludes with a description of the surprising spectral properties of the non-self-adjoint harmonic oscillator.

* The first genuinely accessible account of non-self-adjoint operator theory and spectral theory; for graduate students and academic researchers
* Written by a well-known and respected author, with much experience in this field
* Gives the first account of pseudospectra written from a pure mathematical point of view

Contents

Preface; 1. Elementary operator theory; 2. Function spaces; 3. Fourier transforms and bases; 4. Intermediate operator theory; 5. Operators on Hilbert space; 6. One-parameter semigroups; 7. Special classes of semigroup; 8. Resolvents and generators; 9. Quantitative bounds on operators; 10. Quantitative bounds on semigroups; 11. Perturbation theory; 12. Markov chains and graphs; 13. Positive semigroups; 14. NSA Schrodinger operators.

Ming-Jun Lai / University of Georgia
Larry L. Schumaker / Vanderbilt University, Tennessee

Spline Functions on Triangulations

Series: Encyclopedia of Mathematics and its Applications (No. 110)
Hardback (ISBN-13: 9780521875929 | ISBN-10: 0521875927)

Spline functions are universally recognized as highly effective tools in approximation theory, computer-aided geometric design, image analysis, and numerical analysis. The theory of univariate splines is well known but this text is the first comprehensive treatment of the analogous bivariate theory. A detailed mathematical treatment of polynomial splines on triangulations is outlined, providing a basis for developing practical methods for using splines in numerous application areas. The detailed treatment of the Bernstein-Bezier representation of polynomials will provide a valuable source for researchers and students in CAGD. Chapters on smooth macro-element spaces will allow engineers and scientists using the FEM method to solve partial differential equations numerically with new tools. Workers in the geosciences will find new tools for approximation and data fitting on the sphere. Ideal as a graduate text in approximation theory, and as a source book for courses in computer-aided geometric design or in finite-element methods.

* First book to offer a detailed treatment of bivariate splines
* Provides a basis for developing practical methods for using splines in numerous application areas
* Up-to-date and comprehensive account, suitable for mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, geoscientists, biologists and computer scientists working in academia or industry

Contents

Preface; 1. Bivariate polynomials; 2. Bernstein-Bezier methods for bivariate polynomials; 3. B-patches; 4. Triangulations and quadrangulations; 5. Bernstein-Bezier methods for spline spaces; 6. C1 Macro-element spaces; 7. C2 Macro-element spaces; 8. Cr Macro-element spaces; 9. Dimension of spline splines; 10. Approximation power of spline spaces; 11. Stable local minimal determining sets; 12. Bivariate box splines; 13. Spherical splines; 14. Approximation power of spherical splines; 15. Trivariate polynomials; 16. Tetrahedral partitions; 17. Trivariate splines; 18. Trivariate macro-element spaces; Bibliography; Index.

Brendan Hassett / Rice University, Houston

Introduction to Algebraic Geometry

Hardback (ISBN-13: 9780521870948 | ISBN-10: 0521870941)
Paperback (ISBN-13: 9780521691413 | ISBN-10: 0521691419)

Algebraic geometry, central to pure mathematics, has important applications in such fields as engineering, computer science, statistics and computational biology, which exploit the computational algorithms that the theory provides. Users get the full benefit, however, when they know something of the underlying theory, as well as basic procedures and facts. This book is a systematic introduction to the central concepts of algebraic geometry most useful for computation. Written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics and researchers in application areas, it focuses on specific examples and restricts development of formalism to what is needed to address these examples. In particular, it introduces the notion of Grobner bases early on and develops algorithms for most everything covered. It is based on courses given over the past five years in a large interdisciplinary programme in computational algebraic geometry at Rice University, spanning mathematics, computer science, biomathematics and bioinformatics.

* Exposition of theory motivated by computational applications
* Lots of carefully chosen problems and exercises - many with hints and morals - build intuition and facility
* Solutions to a significant number of exercises available at author's website

Contents

Introduction; 1. Guiding problems; 2. Division algorithm and Grobner bases; 3. Affine varieties; 4. Elimination; 5. Resultants; 6. Irreducible varieties; 7. Nullstellensatz; 8. Primary decomposition; 9. Projective geometry; 10. Projective elimination theory; 11. Parametrizing linear subspaces; 12. Hilbert polynomials and Bezout; Appendix. Notions from abstract algebra; References; Index.