Linear semigroups with coarsely dense orbits

Let $S$ be a finitely generated abelian semigroup of invertible linear operators on a finite dimensional real or complex vector space $V$. We show that every coarsely dense orbit of $S$ is actually dense in $V$. More generally, if the orbit contains a coarsely dense subset of some open cone $C$ in $V$ then the closure of the orbit contains the closure of $C$. In the complex case the orbit is then actually dense in $V$. For the real case we give precise information about the possible cases for the closure of the orbit.Comment: We added comments and remarks at various places. 14 page

On certain modules of covariants in exterior algebras

We study the structure of the space of covariants $B:=\left(\bigwedge (\mathfrak g/\mathfrak k)^*\otimes \mathfrak g\right)^{\mathfrak k},$ for a certain class of infinitesimal symmetric spaces $(\mathfrak g,\mathfrak k)$ such that the space of invariants $A:=\left(\bigwedge (\mathfrak g/\mathfrak k)^*\right)^{\mathfrak k}$ is an exterior algebra $\wedge (x_1,...,x_r),$ with $r=rk(\mathfrak g)-rk(\mathfrak k)$. We prove that they are free modules over the subalgebra $A_{r-1}=\wedge (x_1,...,x_{r-1})$ of rank $4r$. In addition we will give an explicit basis of $B$. As particular cases we will recover same classical results. In fact we will describe the structure of $\left(\bigwedge (M_n^{\pm})^*\otimes M_n\right)^G$, the space of the $G-$equivariant matrix valued alternating multilinear maps on the space of (skew-symmetric or symmetric with respect to a specific involution) matrices, where $G$ is the symplectic group or the odd orthogonal group. Furthermore we prove new polynomial trace identities.Comment: Title changed. Results have been generalised to other infinitesimal symmetric space

A Note on the Equality of Algebraic and Geometric D-Brane Charges in WZW Models

The algebraic definition of charges for symmetry-preserving D-branes in Wess-Zumino-Witten models is shown to coincide with the geometric definition, for all simple Lie groups. The charge group for such branes is computed from the ambiguities inherent in the geometric definition.Comment: 12 pages, fixed typos, added references and a couple of remark

On Motives Associated to Graph Polynomials

The appearance of multiple zeta values in anomalous dimensions and $\beta$-functions of renormalizable quantum field theories has given evidence towards a motivic interpretation of these renormalization group functions. In this paper we start to hunt the motive, restricting our attention to a subclass of graphs in four dimensional scalar field theory which give scheme independent contributions to the above functions.Comment: 54

Ideals of Quasi-Symmetric Functions and Super-Covariant Polynomials for S_n

The aim of this work is to study the quotient ring R_n of the ring Q[x_1,...,x_n] over the ideal J_n generated by non-constant homogeneous quasi-symmetric functions. We prove here that the dimension of R_n is given by C_n, the n-th Catalan number. This is also the dimension of the space SH_n of super-covariant polynomials, that is defined as the orthogonal complement of J_n with respect to a given scalar product. We construct a basis for R_n whose elements are naturally indexed by Dyck paths. This allows us to understand the Hilbert series of SH_n in terms of number of Dyck paths with a given number of factors.Comment: LaTeX, 3 figures, 12 page

Berry phase in homogeneous K\"ahler manifolds with linear Hamiltonians

We study the total (dynamical plus geometrical (Berry)) phase of cyclic quantum motion for coherent states over homogeneous K\"ahler manifolds X=G/H, which can be considered as the phase spaces of classical systems and which are, in particular cases, coadjoint orbits of some Lie groups G. When the Hamiltonian is linear in the generators of a Lie group, both phases can be calculated exactly in terms of {\em classical} objects. In particular, the geometric phase is given by the symplectic area enclosed by the (purely classical) motion in the space of coherent states.Comment: LaTeX fil

Universal statistical properties of poker tournaments

We present a simple model of Texas hold'em poker tournaments which retains the two main aspects of the game: i. the minimal bet grows exponentially with time; ii. players have a finite probability to bet all their money. The distribution of the fortunes of players not yet eliminated is found to be independent of time during most of the tournament, and reproduces accurately data obtained from Internet tournaments and world championship events. This model also makes the connection between poker and the persistence problem widely studied in physics, as well as some recent physical models of biological evolution, and extreme value statistics.Comment: Final longer version including data from Internet and WPT tournament