On the Topology of Isolated Singularities in Analytic Spaces
The aim of this book is to give an overview of selected topics on the topology of real and complex isolated singularities, with emphasis on its relations to other branches of geometry and topology. The first chapters are mostly devoted to complex singularities and a myriad of results spread in a vast literature, which are presented here in a unified way, accessible to non-specialists. Among the topics are the fibration theorems of Milnor; the relation with 3-dimensional Lie groups; exotic spheres; spin structures and 3-manifold invariants; the geometry of quadrics and Arnold's theorem which states that the complex projective plane modulo conjugation is the 4-sphere. The second part of the book studies pioneer work about real analytic singularities which arise from the topological and geometric study of holomorphic vector fields and foliations. In the low dimensional case these turn out to be related to fibred links in the 3-sphere defined by meromorphic functions. This provides new methods for constructing manifolds equipped with a rich geometry.
Hypoelliptic estimates and spectral theory for Fokker-Planck operators and witten Laplacians
There has recently been a renewal of interest in Fokker-Planck operators, motivated by problems in statistical physics, in kinetic equations and differential geometry. Compared to more standard problems in the spectral theory of partial differential operators, those operators are not self-adjoint and only hypoelliptic. The aim of the analysis is to give, as generally as possible, an accurate qualitative and quantitative description of the exponential return to the thermodynamical equilibrium. While exploring and improving recent results in this direction this volume proposes a review of known techniques on: the hypoellipticity of polynomial of vector fields and its global counterpart; the global Weyl-Hörmander pseudo-differential calculus, the spectral theory of non-self-adjoint operators, the semi-classical analysis of Schrödinger-type operators.
GPU-Based Interactive Visualization Techniques
This book focuses on efficient visualization techniques, which are the prerequisite for the interactive exploration of complex data sets. High performance is primarily achieved by devising algorithms for the fast graphics processing units (GPUs) of modern graphics hardware. Other aspects discussed in the book include parallelization on cluster computers with several GPUs, adaptive rendering methods, multi-resolution models, and non-photorealistic rendering techniques for visualization. Covering both the theoretical foundations and practical implementations of algorithms, this book provides the reader with a basis to understand and reproduce modern GPU-based visualization approaches.
Essential Topology
Taking a direct route, Essential Topology brings the most important aspects of modern topology within reach of a second-year undergraduate student. Based on courses given at the University of Wales Swansea, it begins with a discussion of continuity and, by way of many examples, leads to the celebrated ""Hairy Ball theorem"" and on to homotopy and homology: the cornerstones of contemporary algebraic topology. While containing all the key results of basic topology, Essential Topology never allows itself to get mired in details. Instead, the focus throughout is on providing interesting examples that clarify the ideas and motivate the student, reflecting the fact that these are often the key examples behind current research.
Limit Cycles of Differential Equations
Contains the lecture series originally delivered at the "Advanced Course on Limit Cycles of Differential Equations" in the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica Barcelona in 2006.The topics covered are the center-focus problem for polynomial vector fields, and the application of abelian integrals to limit cycle bifurcations. Both topics are related to Hilbert's sixteenth problem. In particular, the book will be of interest to students and researchers working in the qualitative theory of dynamical systems.
Calculus of variations and nonlinear partial differential equations : With a historical overview by Elvira Mascolo : Lectures given at the C.I.M.E. Summer School held in Cetraro, Italy, June 27 - July 2, 2005
This volume provides the texts of lectures given by L. Ambrosio, L. Caffarelli, M. Crandall, L.C. Evans, N. Fusco at the Summer course held in Cetraro (Italy) in 2005. These are introductory reports on current research by world leaders in the fields of calculus of variations and partial differential equations. The topics discussed are transport equations for nonsmooth vector fields, homogenization, viscosity methods for the infinite Laplacian, weak KAM theory and geometrical aspects of symmetrization. A historical overview of all CIME courses on the calculus of variations and partial differential equations is contributed by Elvira Mascolo.





