Self-Similar Random Processes and Infinite-Dimensional Configuration Spaces

We discuss various infinite-dimensional configuration spaces that carry measures quasiinvariant under compactly-supported diffeomorphisms of a manifold M corresponding to a physical space. Such measures allow the construction of unitary representations of the diffeomorphism group, which are important to nonrelativistic quantum statistical physics and to the quantum theory of extended objects in d-dimensional Euclidean space. Special attention is given to measurable structure and topology underlying measures on generalized configuration spaces obtained from self-similar random processes (both for d = 1 and d > 1), which describe infinite point configurations having accumulation points

Asymptotic equivalence of probability measures and stochastic processes

Let $P_n$ and $Q_n$ be two probability measures representing two different probabilistic models of some system (e.g., an $n$-particle equilibrium system, a set of random graphs with $n$ vertices, or a stochastic process evolving over a time $n$) and let $M_n$ be a random variable representing a 'macrostate' or 'global observable' of that system. We provide sufficient conditions, based on the Radon-Nikodym derivative of $P_n$ and $Q_n$, for the set of typical values of $M_n$ obtained relative to $P_n$ to be the same as the set of typical values obtained relative to $Q_n$ in the limit $n\rightarrow\infty$. This extends to general probability measures and stochastic processes the well-known thermodynamic-limit equivalence of the microcanonical and canonical ensembles, related mathematically to the asymptotic equivalence of conditional and exponentially-tilted measures. In this more general sense, two probability measures that are asymptotically equivalent predict the same typical or macroscopic properties of the system they are meant to model.Comment: v1: 16 pages. v2: 17 pages, precisions, examples and references added. v3: Minor typos corrected. Close to published versio

Generalized Quantum Theory of Recollapsing Homogeneous Cosmologies

A sum-over-histories generalized quantum theory is developed for homogeneous minisuperspace type A Bianchi cosmological models, focussing on the particular example of the classically recollapsing Bianchi IX universe. The decoherence functional for such universes is exhibited. We show how the probabilities of decoherent sets of alternative, coarse-grained histories of these model universes can be calculated. We consider in particular the probabilities for classical evolution defined by a suitable coarse-graining. For a restricted class of initial conditions and coarse grainings we exhibit the approximate decoherence of alternative histories in which the universe behaves classically and those in which it does not. For these situations we show that the probability is near unity for the universe to recontract classically if it expands classically. We also determine the relative probabilities of quasi-classical trajectories for initial states of WKB form, recovering for such states a precise form of the familiar heuristic "J d\Sigma" rule of quantum cosmology, as well as a generalization of this rule to generic initial states.Comment: 41 pages, 4 eps figures, revtex 4. Modest revisions throughout. Physics unchanged. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Group analysis of differential equations and generalized functions

We present an extension of the methods of classical Lie group analysis of differential equations to equations involving generalized functions (in particular: distributions). A suitable framework for such a generalization is provided by Colombeau's theory of algebras of generalized functions. We show that under some mild conditions on the differential equations, symmetries of classical solutions remain symmetries for generalized solutions. Moreover, we introduce a generalization of the infinitesimal methods of group analysis that allows to compute symmetries of linear and nonlinear differential equations containing generalized function terms. Thereby, the group generators and group actions may be given by generalized functions themselves.Comment: 27 pages, LaTe

On discrete integrable equations with convex variational principles

We investigate the variational structure of discrete Laplace-type equations that are motivated by discrete integrable quad-equations. In particular, we explain why the reality conditions we consider should be all that are reasonable, and we derive sufficient conditions (that are often necessary) on the labeling of the edges under which the corresponding generalized discrete action functional is convex. Convexity is an essential tool to discuss existence and uniqueness of solutions to Dirichlet boundary value problems. Furthermore, we study which combinatorial data allow convex action functionals of discrete Laplace-type equations that are actually induced by discrete integrable quad-equations, and we present how the equations and functionals corresponding to (Q3) are related to circle patterns.Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures. Revision of the whole manuscript, reorder of sections. Major changes due to additional reality conditions for (Q3) and (Q4): new Section 2.3; Theorem 1 and Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 update