Topologies of nodal sets of random band limited functions

It is shown that the topologies and nestings of the zero and nodal sets of random (Gaussian) band limited functions have universal laws of distribution. Qualitative features of the supports of these distributions are determined. In particular the results apply to random monochromatic waves and to random real algebraic hyper-surfaces in projective space.Comment: An announcement of recent results. Includes an announcement of the resolution of some open questions from the older version. 11 pages, 6 figure

Integral points on Markoff type cubic surfaces

For integers $k$, we consider the affine cubic surface $V_{k}$ given by $M({\bf x})=x_{1}^2 + x_{2}^2 +x_{3}^2 -x_{1}x_{2}x_{3}=k$. We show that for almost all $k$ the Hasse Principle holds, namely that $V_{k}(\mathbb{Z})$ is non-empty if $V_{k}(\mathbb{Z}_p)$ is non-empty for all primes $p$, and that there are infinitely many $k$'s for which it fails. The Markoff morphisms act on $V_{k}(\mathbb{Z})$ with finitely many orbits and a numerical study points to some basic conjectures about these "class numbers" and Hasse failures. Some of the analysis may be extended to less special affine cubic surfaces.Comment: 57 pages, many figures, revised Introduction, Sec. 5 and Appendi

Real zeros of holomorphic Hecke cusp forms

This note is concerned with the zeros of holomorphic Hecke cusp forms of large weight on the modular surface. The zeros of such forms are symmetric about three geodesic segments and we call those zeros that lie on these segments, real. Our main results give estimates for the number of real zeros as the weight goes to infinity