Normalizations of Eisenstein integrals for reductive symmetric spaces

We construct minimal Eisenstein integrals for a reductive symmetric space G/H as matrix coefficients of the minimal principal series of G. The Eisenstein integrals thus obtained include those from the \sigma-minimal principal series. In addition, we obtain related Eisenstein integrals, but with different normalizations. Specialized to the case of the group, this wider class includes Harish-Chandra's minimal Eisenstein integrals.Comment: 66 pages. Minor revisions. To be published in Journal of Functional Analysi

Particle-stabilized oscillating diver: a self-assembled responsive capsule

We report the experimental discovery of a self-assembled capsule, with density set by interfacial glass beads and an internal bubble, that automatically performs regular oscillations up and down a vial in response to a temperature gradient. Similar composites featuring interfacial particles and multiple internal compartments could be the solution to a variety of application challenges.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

KK-invariant cusp forms for reductive symmetric spaces of split rank one

Let $G/H$ be a reductive symmetric space of split rank $1$ and let $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G$. In a previous article the first two authors introduced a notion of cusp forms for $G/H$. We show that the space of cusp forms coincides with the closure of the $K$-finite generalized matrix coefficients of discrete series representations if and only if there exist no $K$-spherical discrete series representations. Moreover, we prove that every $K$-spherical discrete series representation occurs with multiplicity $1$ in the Plancherel decomposition of $G/H$.Comment: 12 page

The infinitesimal characters of discrete series for real spherical spaces

Let $Z=G/H$ be the homogeneous space of a real reductive group and a unimodular real spherical subgroup, and consider the regular representation of $G$ on $L^2(Z)$. It is shown that all representations of the discrete series, that is, the irreducible subrepresentations of $L^2(Z)$, have infinitesimal characters which are real and belong to a lattice. Moreover, let $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G$. Then each irreducible representation of $K$ occurs in a finite set of such discrete series representations only. Similar results are obtained for the twisted discrete series, that is, the discrete components of the space of square integrable sections of a line bundle, given by a unitary character on an abelian extension of $H$.Comment: To appear in GAF

Kan Strategisch Human resource Management (veel) Beter? Een spagaat tussen theorie en praktijk

Nederlandse werknemers behoren tot de meest tevreden werknemers van Europa, als we afgaan op de onderzoeken naar werktevredenheid van bijvoorbeeld Effectory of European Motivation Index. Scores voor ons land van rond de 70% worden al jaren opgetekend (2007: 68%, 2008: 69%, 2009: 68%) in brede arbeidssatisfactie surveys. Alleen Zweden lijkt het substantieel (2009: 75%) beter te doen dan ons land. Veenhoven toonde reeds eerder aan dat de levenstevredenheid in ons land eveneens op een hoog niveau ligt (gemiddeld 7.51 op een tienpunt schaal), waarbij ons land alleen Zweden (7.52) en Zwitserland (7.95) voor moet laten gaan (Veenhoven, 2002; World Database on Happiness, 2002; data voor Nederland, 1990) . Ons land kent een hoge arbeidsproductiviteit als we het bruto binnenlands product per gewerkt uur vergelijken met andere landen. Alleen Frankrijk, België en Ierland leken het in het afgelopen decennium beter te doen (CBS, 2006). Wordt gekeken naar het BBP per hoofd van de bevolking, dan legt ons land het af tegen flink wat andere landen, omdat het aantal gewerkte uren per werknemer (1354 uur) bij ons lager is dan in de twintig andere landen waarmee vergeleken wordt. Dit is onder meer het gevolg van een hoogontwikkelde deeltijdfactor, waarmee ons land zich onderscheidt van andere landen

The housing ladder, taxation, and borrowing constraints

Using a multi-tier model of the housing market, we show that both starters and movers benefit from mortgage interest deduction for higher income groups. However, such tax favouring also tends to facilitate house price explosions, especially when interest rates and downpayment ratios are low. More in general, the efficiency of implicit tax subsidies to homeowners depends critically on the price responsiveness of new construction, which is found to differ strongly from country to country. Irrespective of supply conditions, running down mortgage interest deduction is likely to detract from the profits of lending institutions