The periodic decomposition problem

If a function $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ can be represented as the sum of $n$ periodic functions as $f=f_1+\dots+f_n$ with $f(x+\alpha_j)=f(x)$ ($j=1,\dots,n$), then it also satisfies a corresponding $n$-order difference equation $\Delta_{\alpha_1}\dots\Delta_{\alpha_n} f=0$. The periodic decomposition problem asks for the converse implication, which may hold or fail depending on the context (on the system of periods, on the function class in which the problem is considered, etc.). The problem has natural extensions and ramifications in various directions, and is related to several other problems in real analysis, Fourier and functional analysis. We give a survey about the available methods and results, and present a number of intriguing open problems

A potential theoretic minimax problem on the torus

We investigate an extension of an equilibrium-type result, conjectured by Ambrus, Ball and Erd\'elyi, and proved recently by Hardin, Kendall and Saff. These results were formulated on the torus, hence we also work on the torus, but one of the main motivations for our extension comes from an analogous setup on the unit interval, investigated earlier by Fenton. Basically, the problem is a minimax one, i.e. to minimize the maximum of a function $F$, defined as the sum of arbitrary translates of certain fixed "kernel functions", minimization understood with respect to the translates. If these kernels are assumed to be concave, having certain singularities or cusps at zero, then translates by $y_j$ will have singularities at $y_j$ (while in between these nodes the sum function still behaves realtively regularly). So one can consider the maxima $m_i$ on each subintervals between the nodes $y_j$, and look for the minimization of $\max F = \max_i m_i$. Here also a dual question of maximization of $\min_i m_i$ arises. This type of minimax problems were treated under some additional assumptions on the kernels. Also the problem is normalized so that $y_0=0$. In particular, Hardin, Kendall and Saff assumed that we have one single kernel $K$ on the torus or circle, and $F=\sum_{j=0}^n K(\cdot-y_j)= K + \sum_{j=1}^n K(\cdot-y_j)$. Fenton considered situations on the interval with two fixed kernels $J$ and $K$, also satisfying additional assumptions, and $F= J + \sum_{j=1}^n K(\cdot-y_j)$. Here we consider the situation (on the circle) when \emph{all the kernel functions can be different}, and $F=\sum_{j=0}^n K_j(\cdot- y_j) = K_0 + \sum_{j=1}^n K_j(\cdot-y_j)$. Also an emphasis is put on relaxing all other technical assumptions and give alternative, rather minimal variants of the set of conditions on the kernel

Áramlásba helyezett fűtött rúd felületi hőmérsékleteloszlásának kísérleti meghatározása

The experiment of the flow around rod has been searched by many researchers. The object of this study to analyze the flow around a Ød=10 mm diameter electrical heated rod that was placed in low speed flow (mainly laminar flow). The wall temperature Tw, widely found in the literature, is generally considered to be constant, because experimental measurements are carried out using mostly small diameter (max. ~2 mm) electrically heated rods [1,2]. In our case the diameter of the rod is Ød=10 mm, raising the question to whether the temperature distribution of the cylindrical surface depends on the flow direction at the angle measured. The surface temperature of a horizontally placed heated cylinder in an airflow was measured by thermo-graphic camera. The cross surface temperature was examined at different air speeds and different intensity of cylinder heating

Intertwining of maxima of sum of translates functions with nonsingular kernels

In previous papers we investigated so-called sum of translates functions $F({\mathbf{x}},t):=J(t)+\sum_{j=1}^n \nu_j K(t-x_j)$, where $J:[0,1]\to \underline{\mathbb{R}}:={\mathbb{R}}\cup\{-\infty\}$ is a "sufficiently nondegenerate" and upper-bounded "field function", and $K:[-1,1]\to \underline{\mathbb{R}}$ is a fixed "kernel function", concave both on $(-1,0)$ and $(0,1)$, and also satisfying the singularity condition $K(0)=\lim_{t\to 0} K(t)=-\infty$. For node systems ${\mathbf{x}}:=(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ with $x_0:=0\le x_1\le\dots\le x_n\le 1=:x_{n+1}$, we analyzed the behavior of the local maxima vector ${\mathbf{m}}:=(m_0,m_1,\ldots,m_n)$, where $m_j:=m_j({\mathbf{x}}):=\sup_{x_j\le t\le x_{j+1}} F({\mathbf{x}},t)$. Among other results we proved a strong intertwining property: if the kernels are also decreasing on $(-1,0)$ and increasing on $(0,1)$, and the field function is upper semicontinuous, then for any two different node systems there are $i,j$ such that $m_i({\mathbf{x}})<m_i({\mathbf{y}})$ and $m_j({\mathbf{x}})>m_j({\mathbf{y}})$. Here we partially succeed to extend this even to nonsingular kernels.Comment: The current v3 is a very slightly corrected version with a few updated references (former ArXiv prerints have already appeared or accepted, and this is now signified). Note that a v2 version was uplodaed recently by mistake (that was intended to be an updated new version for another paper) - it was requested that v2 be removed from the records of this paper. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2210.04348, arXiv:2112.1016

Does causal dynamics imply local interactions?

We consider quantum systems with causal dynamics in discrete spacetimes, also known as quantum cellular automata (QCA). Due to time-discreteness this type of dynamics is not characterized by a Hamiltonian but by a one-time-step unitary. This can be written as the exponential of a Hamiltonian but in a highly non-unique way. We ask if any of the Hamiltonians generating a QCA unitary is local in some sense, and we obtain two very different answers. On one hand, we present an example of QCA for which all generating Hamiltonians are fully non-local, in the sense that interactions do not decay with the distance. On the other hand, we show that all one-dimensional quasi-free fermionic QCAs have quasi-local generating Hamiltonians, with interactions decaying exponentially in the massive case and algebraically in the critical case. We also prove that some integrable systems do not have local, quasi-local nor low-weight constants of motion; a result that challenges the standard classification of integrability.Comment: 7+2 page