Constructions of skew-tolerant and skew-detecting codes

The paradigm of skew-tolerant parallel asynchronous communication was introduced by Blaum and Bruck (see ibid., vol. 39, 1993) along with constructions for codes that can tolerate or detect skew. Some of these constructions were improved by Khachatrian (1991). In this paper these constructions are improved upon further, and the authors prove that the new constructions are, in a certain sense, optimal

Semiclassical analysis and sensitivity to initial conditions

We present several recent results concerning the transition between quantum and classical mechanics, in the situation where the underlying dynamical system has an hyperbolic behaviour. The special role of invariant manifolds will be emphasized, and the long time evolution will show how the quantum non-determinism and the classical chaotic sensitivity to initial conditions can be compared, and in a certain sense overlap

Billiards in convex bodies with acute angles

In this paper we investigate the existence of closed billiard trajectories in not necessarily smooth convex bodies. In particular, we show that if a body $K\subset \mathbb{R}^d$ has the property that the tangent cone of every non-smooth point $q\in \partial K$ is acute (in a certain sense) then there is a closed billiard trajectory in $K$.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Interpolating Between Topologies: Casimir Energies

A set of models is considered which, in a certain sense, interpolates between 1+1 free quantum field theories on topologically distinct backgrounds. The intermediate models may be termed free quantum field theories, though they are certainly not local. Their ground state energies are computed and shown to be finite. The possible relevance to changing spacetime topologies is discussed.Comment: 7 pages Revtex, Note and reference adde