Subspace-Invariant AC0^0 Formulas

We consider the action of a linear subspace $U$ of $\{0,1\}^n$ on the set of AC$^0$ formulas with inputs labeled by literals in the set $\{X_1,\overline X_1,\dots,X_n,\overline X_n\}$, where an element $u \in U$ acts on formulas by transposing the $i$th pair of literals for all $i \in [n]$ such that $u_i=1$. A formula is {\em $U$-invariant} if it is fixed by this action. For example, there is a well-known recursive construction of depth $d+1$ formulas of size $O(n{\cdot}2^{dn^{1/d}})$ computing the $n$-variable PARITY function; these formulas are easily seen to be $P$-invariant where $P$ is the subspace of even-weight elements of $\{0,1\}^n$. In this paper we establish a nearly matching $2^{d(n^{1/d}-1)}$ lower bound on the $P$-invariant depth $d+1$ formula size of PARITY. Quantitatively this improves the best known $\Omega(2^{\frac{1}{84}d(n^{1/d}-1)})$ lower bound for {\em unrestricted} depth $d+1$ formulas, while avoiding the use of the switching lemma. More generally, for any linear subspaces $U \subset V$, we show that if a Boolean function is $U$-invariant and non-constant over $V$, then its $U$-invariant depth $d+1$ formula size is at least $2^{d(m^{1/d}-1)}$ where $m$ is the minimum Hamming weight of a vector in $U^\bot \setminus V^\bot$

Subspace-Invariant AC^0 Formulas

The n-variable PARITY function is computable (by a well-known recursive construction) by AC^0 formulas of depth d+1 and leaf size n2^{dn^{1/d}}. These formulas are seen to possess a certain symmetry: they are syntactically invariant under the subspace P of even-weight elements in {0,1}^n, which acts (as a group) on formulas by toggling negations on input literals. In this paper, we prove a 2^{d(n^{1/d}-1)} lower bound on the size of syntactically P-invariant depth d+1 formulas for PARITY. Quantitatively, this beats the best 2^{Omega(d(n^{1/d}-1))} lower bound in the non-invariant setting

A Milnor-Wood inequality for complex hyperbolic lattices in quaternionic space

We prove a Milnor-Wood inequality for representations of the fundamental group of a compact complex hyperbolic manifold in the group of isometries of quaternionic hyperbolic space. Of special interest is the case of equality, and its application to rigidity. We show that equality can only be achieved for totally geodesic representations, thereby establishing a global rigidity theorem for totally geodesic representations.Comment: 13 page

Geometry of invariant domains in complex semi-simple Lie groups

We investigate the joint action of two real forms of a semi-simple complex Lie group S by left and right multiplication. After analyzing the orbit structure, we study the CR structure of closed orbits. The main results are an explicit formula of the Levi form of closed orbits and the determination of the Levi cone of generic orbits. Finally, we apply these results to prove q-completeness of certain invariant domains in S.Comment: 20 page

Ergodic properties of infinite extensions of area-preserving flows

We consider volume-preserving flows $(\Phi^f_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ on $S\times \mathbb{R}$, where $S$ is a closed connected surface of genus $g\geq 2$ and $(\Phi^f_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ has the form $\Phi^f_t(x,y)=(\phi_tx,y+\int_0^t f(\phi_sx)ds)$, where $(\phi_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ is a locally Hamiltonian flow of hyperbolic periodic type on $S$ and $f$ is a smooth real valued function on $S$. We investigate ergodic properties of these infinite measure-preserving flows and prove that if $f$ belongs to a space of finite codimension in $\mathscr{C}^{2+\epsilon}(S)$, then the following dynamical dichotomy holds: if there is a fixed point of $(\phi_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ on which $f$ does not vanish, then $(\Phi^f_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ is ergodic, otherwise, if $f$ vanishes on all fixed points, it is reducible, i.e. isomorphic to the trivial extension $(\Phi^0_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$. The proof of this result exploits the reduction of $(\Phi^f_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ to a skew product automorphism over an interval exchange transformation of periodic type. If there is a fixed point of $(\phi_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ on which $f$ does not vanish, the reduction yields cocycles with symmetric logarithmic singularities, for which we prove ergodicity.Comment: 57 pages, 4 picture