On the number of distinct block sizes in partitions of a set

AbstractThe average number of distinct block sizes in a partition of a set of n elements is asymptotic to e log n as n → ∞. In addition, almost all partitions have approximately e log n distinct block sizes. This is in striking contrast to the fact that the average total number of blocks in a partition is ∼n(log n)−1 as n → ∞

Unipotent classes in the classical groups parameterized by subgroups

This paper describes how to use subgroups to parameterize unipotent classes in the classical algebraic group in characteristic 2. These results can be viewed as an extension of the Bala-Carter Theorem, and give a convenient way to compare unipotent classes in a group $G$ with unipotent classes of a subgroup $X$ where $G$ is exceptional and $X$ is a Levi subgroup of classical type.Comment: 14 pages. Minor changes and rewriting compared to version

Stable Frank-Kasper phases of self-assembled, soft matter spheres

Single molecular species can self-assemble into Frank Kasper (FK) phases, finite approximants of dodecagonal quasicrystals, defying intuitive notions that thermodynamic ground states are maximally symmetric. FK phases are speculated to emerge as the minimal-distortional packings of space-filling spherical domains, but a precise quantitation of this distortion and how it affects assembly thermodynamics remains ambiguous. We use two complementary approaches to demonstrate that the principles driving FK lattice formation in diblock copolymers emerge directly from the strong-stretching theory of spherical domains, in which minimal inter-block area competes with minimal stretching of space-filling chains. The relative stability of FK lattices is studied first using a diblock foam model with unconstrained particle volumes and shapes, which correctly predicts not only the equilibrium {\sigma} lattice, but also the unequal volumes of the equilibrium domains. We then provide a molecular interpretation for these results via self-consistent field theory, illuminating how molecular stiffness regulates the coupling between intra-domain chain configurations and the asymmetry of local packing. These findings shed new light on the role of volume exchange on the formation of distinct FK phases in copolymers, and suggest a paradigm for formation of FK phases in soft matter systems in which unequal domain volumes are selected by the thermodynamic competition between distinct measures of shape asymmetry.Comment: 40 pages, 22 figure

Restricted exchangeable partitions and embedding of associated hierarchies in continuum random trees

We introduce the notion of a restricted exchangeable partition of $\mathbb{N}$. We obtain integral representations, consider associated fragmentations, embeddings into continuum random trees and convergence to such limit trees. In particular, we deduce from the general theory developed here a limit result conjectured previously for Ford's alpha model and its extension, the alpha-gamma model, where restricted exchangeability arises naturally.Comment: 35 pages, 5 figure