Noncommutative Riemannian Geometry of the Alternating Group A_4

We study the noncommutative Riemannian geometry of the alternating group A_4=(Z_2 \times Z_2)\cross Z_3 using a recent formulation for finite groups. We find a unique `Levi-Civita' connection for the invariant metric, and find that it has Ricci-flat but nonzero Riemann curvature. We show that it is the unique Ricci-flat connection on $A_4$ with the standard framing (we solve the vacuum Einstein's equation). We also propose a natural Dirac operator for the associated spin connection and solve the Dirac equation. Some of our results hold for any finite group equipped with a cyclic conjugacy class of 4 elements. In this case the exterior algebra $\Omega(A_4)$ has dimensions $1:4:8:11:12:12:11:8:4:1$ with top-form 9-dimensional. We also find the noncommutative cohomology $H^1(A_4)=C$.Comment: 28 pages Latex no figure

Nanotechnology patenting in China and Germany:a comparison of patent landscapes by bibliographic analyses

This article gives a general overview on the patent landscapes of China and Germany within the emerging field of nanotechnology. A keyword based search, using the search term “nano”, on SciFinder Scholar™ for the time period of 1985 to 2007 leads to 51,490 patent references overall and 12,979 Chinese and 2,901 German ones respectively. Bibliographic analyses focus on the historical trends in nanotechnology patenting as well as on major patent applicants, technological fields and international patenting strategies in China and Germany. They illustrate an above-average growth rate in nanotechnology patents for China, but a rather below-average one for Germany. Major differences in regard to the role of universities and research institutes in applied research and therefore as patent applicants are similarly emphasized as diverging international patenting strategies. Implications for future Chinese-German collaborations in applied nanotechnology research and potential improvements for future analyses are discussed.<br

All bicovariant differential calculi on Glq(3,C) and SLq(3,C)

All bicovariant first order differential calculi on the quantum group GLq(3,C) are determined. There are two distinct one-parameter families of calculi. In terms of a suitable basis of 1-forms the commutation relations can be expressed with the help of the R-matrix of GLq(3,C). Some calculi induce bicovariant differential calculi on SLq(3,C) and on real forms of GLq(3,C). For generic deformation parameter q there are six calculi on SLq(3,C), on SUq(3) there are only two. The classical limit q-->1 of bicovariant calculi on SLq(3,C) is not the ordinary calculus on SL(3,C). One obtains a deformation of it which involves the Cartan-Killing metric.Comment: 24 pages, LaTe

Noncommutative geometry and physics: a review of selected recent results

This review is based on two lectures given at the 2000 TMR school in Torino. We discuss two main themes: i) Moyal-type deformations of gauge theories, as emerging from M-theory and open string theories, and ii) the noncommutative geometry of finite groups, with the explicit example of Z_2, and its application to Kaluza-Klein gauge theories on discrete internal spaces.Comment: Based on lectures given at the TMR School on contemporary string theory and brane physics, Jan 26- Feb 2, 2000, Torino, Italy. To be published in Class. Quant. Grav. 17 (2000). 3 ref.s added, typos corrected, formula on exterior product of n left-invariant one-forms corrected, small changes in the Sect. on integratio

Differential Calculi on Commutative Algebras

A differential calculus on an associative algebra A is an algebraic analogue of the calculus of differential forms on a smooth manifold. It supplies A with a structure on which dynamics and field theory can be formulated to some extent in very much the same way we are used to from the geometrical arena underlying classical physical theories and models. In previous work, certain differential calculi on a commutative algebra exhibited relations with lattice structures, stochastics, and parametrized quantum theories. This motivated the present systematic investigation of differential calculi on commutative and associative algebras. Various results about their structure are obtained. In particular, it is shown that there is a correspondence between first order differential calculi on such an algebra and commutative and associative products in the space of 1-forms. An example of such a product is provided by the Ito calculus of stochastic differentials. For the case where the algebra A is freely generated by `coordinates' x^i, i=1,...,n, we study calculi for which the differentials dx^i constitute a basis of the space of 1-forms (as a left A-module). These may be regarded as `deformations' of the ordinary differential calculus on R^n. For n < 4 a classification of all (orbits under the general linear group of) such calculi with `constant structure functions' is presented. We analyse whether these calculi are reducible (i.e., a skew tensor product of lower-dimensional calculi) or whether they are the extension (as defined in this article) of a one dimension lower calculus. Furthermore, generalizations to arbitrary n are obtained for all these calculi.Comment: 33 pages, LaTeX. Revision: A remark about a quasilattice and Penrose tiling was incorrect in the first version of the paper (p. 14

Noncommutative Geometry of Finite Groups

A finite set can be supplied with a group structure which can then be used to select (classes of) differential calculi on it via the notions of left-, right- and bicovariance. A corresponding framework has been developed by Woronowicz, more generally for Hopf algebras including quantum groups. A differential calculus is regarded as the most basic structure needed for the introduction of further geometric notions like linear connections and, moreover, for the formulation of field theories and dynamics on finite sets. Associated with each bicovariant first order differential calculus on a finite group is a braid operator which plays an important role for the construction of distinguished geometric structures. For a covariant calculus, there are notions of invariance for linear connections and tensors. All these concepts are explored for finite groups and illustrated with examples. Some results are formulated more generally for arbitrary associative (Hopf) algebras. In particular, the problem of extension of a connection on a bimodule (over an associative algebra) to tensor products is investigated, leading to the class of `extensible connections'. It is shown that invariance properties of an extensible connection on a bimodule over a Hopf algebra are carried over to the extension. Furthermore, an invariance property of a connection is also shared by a `dual connection' which exists on the dual bimodule (as defined in this work).Comment: 34 pages, Late

Rings and rigidity transitions in network glasses

Three elastic phases of covalent networks, (I) floppy, (II) isostatically rigid and (III) stressed-rigid have now been identified in glasses at specific degrees of cross-linking (or chemical composition) both in theory and experiments. Here we use size-increasing cluster combinatorics and constraint counting algorithms to study analytically possible consequences of self-organization. In the presence of small rings that can be locally I, II or III, we obtain two transitions instead of the previously reported single percolative transition at the mean coordination number $\bar r=2.4$, one from a floppy to an isostatic rigid phase, and a second one from an isostatic to a stressed rigid phase. The width of the intermediate phase $~ \bar r$ and the order of the phase transitions depend on the nature of medium range order (relative ring fractions). We compare the results to the Group IV chalcogenides, such as Ge-Se and Si-Se, for which evidence of an intermediate phase has been obtained, and for which estimates of ring fractions can be made from structures of high T crystalline phases.Comment: 29 pages, revtex, 7 eps figure

Classification of bicovariant differential calculi on the Jordanian quantum groups GL_{g,h}(2) and SL_{h}(2) and quantum Lie algebras

We classify all 4-dimensional first order bicovariant calculi on the Jordanian quantum group GL_{h,g}(2) and all 3-dimensional first order bicovariant calculi on the Jordanian quantum group SL_{h}(2). In both cases we assume that the bicovariant bimodules are generated as left modules by the differentials of the quantum group generators. It is found that there are 3 1-parameter families of 4-dimensional bicovariant first order calculi on GL_{h,g}(2) and that there is a single, unique, 3-dimensional bicovariant calculus on SL_{h}(2). This 3-dimensional calculus may be obtained through a classical-like reduction from any one of the three families of 4-dimensional calculi on GL_{h,g}(2). Details of the higher order calculi and also the quantum Lie algebras are presented for all calculi. The quantum Lie algebra obtained from the bicovariant calculus on SL_{h}(2) is shown to be isomorphic to the quantum Lie algebra we obtain as an ad-submodule within the Jordanian universal enveloping algebra U_{h}(sl(2)) and also through a consideration of the decomposition of the tensor product of two copies of the deformed adjoint module. We also obtain the quantum Killing form for this quantum Lie algebra.Comment: 33 pages, AMSLaTeX, misleading remark remove