Bücher der Reihe Progress in Mathematics

This is the sixth annual volume of papers based on the outstanding lectures given at the Seminaire de Theorie des Nombres de Paris. The results presented in 1985-86 by an international group of mathematicians reflect the most recent work in many areas of number theory.

This volume contains the first two out of four chapters which are intended to survey a large part of the theory of theta functions. These notes grew out of a series of lectures given at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in the period October, 1978, to March, 1979, on which notes were taken and excellently written up by C. Musili and M. Nori. I subsequently lectured at greater length on the contents of Chapter III at Harvard in the fall of 1979 and at a Summer School in Montreal in August, 1980, and again notes were very capably put together by E. Previato and M. Stillman, respectively. Both the Tata Institute and the University of Montreal publish lecture note series in which I had promised to place write-ups of my lectures there. However, as the project grew, it became clear that it was better to tie all these results together, rearranging and consolidating the material, and to make them available from one place. I am very grateful to the Tata Institute and the University of Montreal for permission to do this, and to Birkhauser-Boston for publishing the final result. The first 2 chapters study theta functions strictly from the viewpoint of classical analysis. In particular, in Chapter I, my goal was to explain in the simplest cases why the theta functions attracted attention.

This book provides an overview of the latest progress on rationality questions in algebraic geometry. It discusses new developments such as universal triviality of the Chow group of zero cycles, various aspects of stable birationality, cubic and Fano fourfolds, rationality of moduli spaces and birational invariants of group actions on varieties, contributed by the foremost experts in their fields.The question of whether an algebraic variety can be parametrized by rational functions of as many variables as its dimension has a long history and played an important role in the history of algebraic geometry. Recent developments in algebraic geometry have made this question again a focal point of research and formed the impetus to organize a conference in the series of conferences on the island of Schiermonnikoog. The book follows in the tradition of earlier volumes, which originated from conferences on the islands Texel and Schiermonnikoog.

This volume comprises lecture notes, survey and research articles originating from the CIMPA Summer School Arithmetic and Geometry around Hypergeometric Functions held at Galatasaray University, Istanbul, June 13-25, 2005. It covers a wide range of topics related to hypergeometric functions, thus giving a broad perspective of the state of the art in the field.

This volume presents the invited lectures of the workshop "e;Infinite Dimensional Algebras and Quantum Integrable Systems"e; held in July 2003 at the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal, as a satellite workshop of the XIV International Congress on Mathematical Physics. In it, recent developments in the theory of infinite dimensional algebras, and their applications to quantum integrable systems, are reviewed by leading experts in the field.

In the last decade there has been an extraordinary confluence of ideas in mathematics and theoretical physics brought about by pioneering discoveries in geometry and analysis. The various chapters in this volume, treating the interface of geometric analysis and mathematical physics, represent current research interests. No suitable succinct account of the material is available elsewhere. Key topics include: * A self-contained derivation of the partition function of Chern- Simons gauge theory in the semiclassical approximation (D.H. Adams) * Algebraic and geometric aspects of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations in conformal field theory (P. Bouwknegt) * Application of the representation theory of loop groups to simple models in quantum field theory and to certain integrable systems (A.L. Carey and E. Langmann) * A study of variational methods in Hermitian geometry from the viewpoint of the critical points of action functionals together with physical backgrounds (A. Harris) * A review of monopoles in nonabelian gauge theories (M.K. Murray) * Exciting developments in quantum cohomology (Y. Ruan) * The physics origin of Seiberg-Witten equations in 4-manifold theory (S. Wu) Graduate students, mathematicians and mathematical physicists in the above-mentioned areas will benefit from the user-friendly introductory style of each chapter as well as the comprehensive bibliographies provided for each topic. Prerequisite knowledge is minimal since sufficient background material motivates each chapter.

Arithmetic algebraic geometry is in a fascinating stage of growth, providing a rich variety of applications of new tools to both old and new problems. Representative of these recent developments is the notion of Arakelov geometry, a way of "completing" a variety over the ring of integers of a number field by adding fibres over the Archimedean places. Another is the appearance of the relations between arithmetic geometry and Nevanlinna theory, or more precisely between diophantine approximation theory and the value distribution theory of holomorphic maps. Research mathematicians and graduate students in algebraic geometry and number theory will find a valuable and lively view of the field in this state-of-the-art selection.

Taking into account the various criss-crossing among mathematical subject, Physical Combinatorics presents new results and exciting ideas from three viewpoints; representation theory, integrable models, and combinatorics. This work is concerned with combinatorial aspects arising in the theory of exactly solvable models and representation theory. Recent developments in integrable models reveal an unexpected link between representation theory and statistical mechanics through combinatorics.

This new book focuses on the analysis of the online strategy and development of the luxury industry, tracing the evolution of the Internet from a means of communication to a trade and distribution channel. The author provides a comprehensive evaluation and a critical assessment of the tactics required for the management of luxury brands online.

The theory of Frobenius splittings has made a significant impact in the study of the geometry of flag varieties and representation theory. This work, unique in book literature, systematically develops the theory and covers all its major developments.Key features:* Concise, efficient exposition unfolds from basic introductory material on Frobenius splittings-definitions, properties and examples-to cutting edge research* Studies in detail the geometry of Schubert varieties, their syzygies, equivariant embeddings of reductive groups, Hilbert Schemes, canonical splittings, good filtrations, among other topics* Applies Frobenius splitting methods to algebraic geometry and various problems in representation theory* Many examples, exercises, and open problems suggested throughout* Comprehensive bibliography and index This book will be an excellent resource for mathematicians and graduate students in algebraic geometry and representation theory of algebraic groups.

The algebra of primary cohomology operations computed by the well-known Steenrod algebra is one of the most powerful tools of algebraic topology. This book computes the algebra of secondary cohomology operations which enriches the structure of the Steenrod algebra in a new and unexpected way. The book solves a long-standing problem on the algebra of secondary cohomology operations by developing a new algebraic theory of such operations. The results have strong impact on the Adams spectral sequence and hence on the computation of homotopy groups of spheres.

This book presents a self-contained introduction to H.M. Stark¿s remarkable conjectures about the leading term of the Taylor expansion of Artin¿s L-functions at s=0. These conjectures can be viewed as a vast generalization of Dirichlet¿s class number formula and Kronecker¿s limit formula. They provide an unexpected contribution to Hilbert¿s 12th problem on the generalization of class fields by the values of transcendental functions.This volume also treats these topics: a proof of the main conjecture for rational characters, and Chinburg¿s invariant; P. Delgne¿s proof of a function field analogue; p-adic versions of the conjectures due to B. Gross and J.-P. Serre.This volume belongs on the shelf of every mathematics library.

This research monograph is a systematic exposition of the background, methods, and recent results in the theory of cycle spaces of ?ag domains. Some of the methods are now standard, but many are new. The exposition is carried out from the viewpoint of complex algebraic and differential geometry. Except for certain foundational material,whichisreadilyavailablefromstandardtexts,itisessentiallyself-contained; at points where this is not the case we give extensive references. After developing the background material on complex ?ag manifolds and rep- sentationtheory, wegiveanexposition(withanumberofnewresults)ofthecomplex geometric methods that lead to our characterizations of (group theoretically de?ned) cyclespacesandtoanumberofconsequences. Thenwegiveabriefindicationofjust how those results are related to the representation theory of semisimple Lie groups through, for example, the theory of double ?bration transforms, and we indicate the connection to the variation of Hodge structure. Finally, we work out detailed local descriptions of the relevant full Barlet cycle spaces. Cycle space theory is a basic chapter in complex analysis. Since the 1960s its importance has been underlined by its role in the geometry of ?ag domains, and by applications in the representation theory of semisimple Lie groups. This developed veryslowlyuntilafewofyearsagowhenmethodsofcomplexgeometry,inparticular those involving Schubert slices, Schubert domains, Iwasawa domains and suppo- ing hypersurfaces, were introduced. In the late 1990s, and continuing through early 2002, we developed those methods and used them to give a precise description of cycle spaces for ?ag domains. This effectively enabled the use of double ?bration transforms in all ?ag domain situations.

From the original hard cover edition:In the modern age of almost universal computer usage, practically every individual in a technologically developed society has routine access to the most up-to-date cryptographic technology that exists, the so-called RSA public-key cryptosystem. A major component of this system is the factorization of large numbers into their primes. Thus an ancient number-theory concept now plays a crucial role in communication among millions of people who may have little or no knowledge of even elementary mathematics. Hans Riesel's highly successful first edition of this book has now been enlarged and updated with the goal of satisfying the needs of researchers, students, practitioners of cryptography, and non-scientific readers with a mathematical inclination. It includes important advances in computational prime number theory and in factorization as well as re-computed and enlarged tables, accompanied by new tables reflecting current research by both the author and his coworkers and by independent researchers. The book treats four fundamental problems: the number of primes below a given limit, the approximate number of primes, the recognition of primes and the factorization of large numbers. The author provides explicit algorithms and computer programs, and has attempted to discuss as many of the classically important results as possible, as well as the most recent discoveries. The programs include are written in PASCAL to allow readers to translate the programs into the language of their own computers. The independent structure of each chapter of the book makes it highly readable for a wide variety of mathematicians, students of applied number theory, and others interested in both study and research in number theory and cryptography.

A number of important topics in complex analysis and geometry are covered in this excellent introductory text. Written by experts in the subject, each chapter unfolds from the basics to the more complex. The exposition is rapid-paced and efficient, without compromising proofs and examples that enable the reader to grasp the essentials. The most basic type of domain examined is the bounded symmetric domain, originally described and classified by Cartan and Harish- Chandra. Two of the five parts of the text deal with these domains: one introduces the subject through the theory of semisimple Lie algebras (Koranyi), and the other through Jordan algebras and triple systems (Roos). Larger classes of domains and spaces are furnished by the pseudo-Hermitian symmetric spaces and related R-spaces. These classes are covered via a study of their geometry and a presentation and classification of their Lie algebraic theory (Kaneyuki). In the fourth part of the book, the heat kernels of the symmetric spaces belonging to the classical Lie groups are determined (Lu). Explicit computations are made for each case, giving precise results and complementing the more abstract and general methods presented. Also explored are recent developments in the field, in particular, the study of complex semigroups which generalize complex tube domains and function spaces on them (Faraut). This volume will be useful as a graduate text for students of Lie group theory with connections to complex analysis, or as a self-study resource for newcomers to the field. Readers will reach the frontiers of the subject in a considerably shorter time than with existing texts.

Matroids appear in diverse areas of mathematics, from combinatorics to algebraic topology and geometry. This largely self-contained work provides an intuitive and interdisciplinary treatment of Coxeter matroids, a new and beautiful generalization of matroids which is based on a finite Coxeter group.Key topics and features:* Systematic, clearly written exposition with ample references to current research* Matroids are examined in terms of symmetric and finite reflection groups* Finite reflection groups and Coxeter groups are developed from scratch* The Gelfand-Serganova Theorem is presented, allowing for a geometric interpretation of matroids and Coxeter matroids as convex polytopes with certain symmetry properties* Matroid representations and combinatorial flag varieties are studied in the final chapter* Many exercises throughout* Excellent bibliography and indexAccessible to graduate students and research mathematicians alike, Coxeter Matroids can be used as an introductory survey, a graduate course text, or a reference volume.

A basic principle governing the boundary behaviour of holomorphic func- tions (and harmonic functions) is this: Under certain growth conditions, for almost every point in the boundary of the domain, these functions ad- mit a boundary limit, if we approach the bounda-ry point within certain approach regions. For example, for bounded harmonic functions in the open unit disc, the natural approach regions are nontangential triangles with one vertex in the boundary point, and entirely contained in the disc [Fat06]. In fact, these natural approach regions are optimal, in the sense that convergence will fail if we approach the boundary inside larger regions, having a higher order of contact with the boundary. The first theorem of this sort is due to J. E. Littlewood [Lit27], who proved that if we replace a nontangential region with the rotates of any fixed tangential curve, then convergence fails. In 1984, A. Nagel and E. M. Stein proved that in Euclidean half- spaces (and the unit disc) there are in effect regions of convergence that are not nontangential: These larger approach regions contain tangential sequences (as opposed to tangential curves). The phenomenon discovered by Nagel and Stein indicates that the boundary behaviour of ho)omor- phic functions (and harmonic functions), in theorems of Fatou type, is regulated by a second principle, which predicts the existence of regions of convergence that are sequentially larger than the natural ones.