Algebra and number theory have always been counted among the most beautiful and fundamental mathematical areas with deep proofs and elegant results. However, for a long time they were not considered of any substantial importance for real-life applications. This has dramatically changed with the appearance of new topics such as modern cryptography, coding theory, and wireless communication. Nowadays we find applications of algebra and number theory frequently in our daily life. We mention security and error detection for internet banking, check digit systems and the bar code, GPS and radar systems, pricing options at a stock market, and noise suppression on mobile phones as most common examples. This book collects the results of the workshops "Applications of algebraic curves" and "Applications of finite fields" of the RICAM Special Semester 2013. These workshops brought together the most prominent researchers in the area of finite fields and their applications around the world. They address old and new problems on curves and other aspects of finite fields, with emphasis on their diverse applications to many areas of pure and applied mathematics.

This text provides an introduction to the topic of transcendental numbers for undergraduate and graduate students. Chapters 1 to 18 can be used for an introductory course in transcendental numbers aimed at senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students. Since the Schneider-Lang theorem is the main focus, the reader must have a rudimentary background in complex analysis. Some of the essential features of elliptic curve theory are introduced and made accessible so that the student can savor the beauty of the primary applications. The later chapters include additional, more demanding topics including Baker's theorem and its applications to the transcendence of special values of L-series; applications of Schneider's theorem and Nesterenko's theorem as they apply to special values of modular forms; and the emerging theory of multiple zeta values. This book is ideal for undergraduates and graduate students, as well as non-expert researchers wishing to learn more about transcendental numbers. The text includes many helpful exercises intended to facilitate practical mastery.

This book is summarizing the results of the workshop "Uniform Distribution and Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods" of the RICAM Special Semester on "Applications of Algebra and Number Theory" in October 2013. The survey articles in this book focus on number theoretic point constructions, uniform distribution theory, and quasi-Monte Carlo methods. As deterministic versions of the Monte Carlo method, quasi-Monte Carlo rules enjoy increasing popularity, with many fruitful applications in mathematical practice, as for example in finance, computer graphics, and biology. The goal of this book is to give an overview of recent developments in uniform distribution theory, quasi-Monte Carlo methods, and their applications, presented by leading experts in these vivid fields of research.

Most of the problems arising in science and engineering are nonlinear. They are inherently difficult to solve. Traditional analytical approximations are valid only for weakly nonlinear problems, and often break down for problems with strong nonlinearity. This book presents the current theoretical developments and applications of the Keller-box method to nonlinear problems. The first half of the book addresses basic concepts to understand the theoretical framework for the method. In the second half of the book, the authors give a number of examples of coupled nonlinear problems that have been solved by means of the Keller-box method. The particular area of focus is on fluid flow problems governed by nonlinear equation.

Commutative algebra, combinatorics, and algebraic geometry are thriving areas of mathematical research with a rich history of interaction. Connections Between Algebra and Geometry contains lecture notes, along with exercises and solutions, from the Workshop on Connections Between Algebra and Geometry held at the University of Regina from May 29-June 1, 2012. It also contains research and survey papers from academics invited to participate in the companion Special Session on Interactions Between Algebraic Geometry and Commutative Algebra, which was part of the CMS Summer Meeting at the University of Regina held June 2-3, 2012, and the meeting Further Connections Between Algebra and Geometry, which was held at the North Dakota State University February 23, 2013. This volume highlights three mini-courses in the areas of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry: differential graded commutative algebra, secant varieties, and fat points and symbolic powers. It will serve as a useful resource for graduate students and researchers who wish to expand their knowledge of commutative algebra, algebraic geometry, combinatorics, and the intricacies of their intersection.

The theory cf quadratic forms and the intimately related theory of sym metrie bilinear forms have a lang and rich his tory, highlighted by the work of Legendre, Gauss, Minkowski, and Hasse. (Compare Dickson] and Bourbaki, 24, p. 185].) Our exposition will concentrate on the rela tively recent developments which begin with and are inspired by Witt's 1937 paper "Theorie der quadratischen Formen in beliebigen Korpern." We will be particularly interested in the work of A. Pfister and M. Knebusch. However, some older material will be described, particularly in Chapter II. The presentation is based on lectures by Milnor at the Institute for Ad vanced Study, and at Haverford College under the Phillips Lecture Pro gram, during the Fall of 1970, as weIl as Iectures at Princeton University il1 1966. We want to thank J. Cunningham, M. Knebusch, M. Kneser, A. Rosenberg, W. Scharlau and J.-P. Serre for helpful suggestions and corrections. Prerequisites. The reader should be familiar with the rudiments of algebra., incJuding for example the concept of tensor product for mo dules over a commutative ring. A few individual sections will require quite a bit more. The logical relationship between the various chapters can be roughly described by the diagram below. There are also five appendices, largely self-contained, which treat special topics. I. Arbitrary commutative rings I H. The ring of V. Miscellaneous IIl. Fields integers examples IV. Dedekind domains Contents Chapter r. Basie Coneepts . . . . . . . ."

This book is dedicated to the memory of Israel Gohberg (1928-2009) - one of the great mathematicians of our time - who inspired innumerable fellow mathematicians and directed many students. The volume reflects the wide spectrum of Gohberg's mathematical interests. It consists of more than 25 invited and peer-reviewed original research papers written by his former students, co-authors and friends. Included are contributions to single and multivariable operator theory, commutative and non-commutative Banach algebra theory, the theory of matrix polynomials and analytic vector-valued functions, several variable complex function theory, and the theory of structured matrices and operators. Also treated are canonical differential systems, interpolation, completion and extension problems, numerical linear algebra and mathematical systems theory.

*-algebras of unbounded operators in Hilbert space, or more generally algebraic systems of unbounded operators, occur in a natural way in unitary representation theory of Lie groups and in the Wightman formulation of quantum field theory. In representation theory they appear as the images of the associated representations of the Lie algebras or of the enveloping algebras on the Garding domain and in quantum field theory they occur as the vector space of field operators or the *-algebra generated by them. Some of the basic tools for the general theory were first introduced and used in these fields. For instance, the notion of the weak (bounded) commutant which plays a fundamental role in thegeneraltheory had already appeared in quantum field theory early in the six ties. Nevertheless, a systematic study of unbounded operator algebras began only at the beginning of the seventies. It was initiated by (in alphabetic order) BORCHERS, LASSNER, POWERS, UHLMANN and VASILIEV. J1'rom the very beginning, and still today, represen tation theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras and quantum field theory have been primary sources of motivation and also of examples. However, the general theory of unbounded operator algebras has also had points of contact with several other disciplines. In particu lar, the theory of locally convex spaces, the theory of von Neumann algebras, distri bution theory, single operator theory, the momcnt problem and its non-commutative generalizations and noncommutative probability theory, all have interacted with our subject."

About fifty years aga S. G. Mikhlin, in solving the regularization problem for two-dimensional singular integral operators [56], assigned to each such operator a func tion which he called a symbol, and showed that regularization is possible if the infimum of the modulus of the symbol is positive. Later, the notion of a symbol was extended to multidimensional singular integral operators (of arbitrary dimension) [57, 58, 21, 22]. Subsequently, the synthesis of singular integral, and differential operators [2, 8, 9]led to the theory of pseudodifferential operators [17, 35] (see also [35(1)-35(17)]*), which are naturally characterized by their symbols. An important role in the construction of symbols for many classes of operators was played by Gelfand's theory of maximal ideals of Banach algebras [201. Using this the ory, criteria were obtained for Fredholmness of one-dimensional singular integral operators with continuous coefficients [34 (42)], Wiener-Hopf operators [37], and multidimensional singular integral operators [38 (2)]. The investigation of systems of equations involving such operators has led to the notion of matrix symbol [59, 12 (14), 39, 41]. This notion plays an essential role not only for systems, but also for singular integral operators with piecewise-continuous (scalar) coefficients [44 (4)]. At the same time, attempts to introduce a (scalar or matrix) symbol for other algebras have failed.

One of the most challenging problems of contemporary theoretical physics is the mathematically rigorous construction of a theory which describes gravitation and the other fundamental physical interactions within a common framework. The physical ideas which grew from attempts to develop such a theory require highly advanced mathematical methods and radically new physical concepts. This book presents different approaches to a rigorous unified description of quantum fields and gravity. It contains a carefully selected cross-section of lively discussions which took place in autumn 2010 at the fifth conference "Quantum field theory and gravity - Conceptual and mathematical advances in the search for a unified framework" in Regensburg, Germany. In the tradition of the other proceedings covering this series of conferences, a special feature of this book is the exposition of a wide variety of approaches, with the intention to facilitate a comparison. The book is mainly addressed to mathematicians and physicists who are interested in fundamental questions of mathematical physics. It allows the reader to obtain a broad and up-to-date overview of a fascinating active research area.

This monograph aspires to lay the foundations of a new scientific discipline, demoeconomics, representing the synthesis of demography and spatial economics. This synthesis is performed in terms of interaction between population and its economic activity. The monograph appears a unique research work having no analogs in scientific literature. Demoeconomic systems are studied involving the macrosystems approach which combines the generalized entropy maximization principle and the local equilibria principle. Demoeconomic systems operate in an uncertain environment; thus and so, the monograph develops the methodology and technique of probabilistic modeling and forecasting of their evolution.

This book is based on the belief that, before students can make sense of any presentation of abstract mathematics, they need to be engaged in mental activities that will establish an experiential base for any future verbal explanations and to have the opportunity to reflect on their activities. This approach is based on extensive theoretical and empirical studies, as well as on the substantial experience of the authors in teaching Abstract Algebra. The main source of activities in this course is computer constructions, specifically, small programs written in the math-like programming language ISETL; the main tool for reflection is work in teams of two to four students, where the activities are discussed and debated. Because of the similarity of ISETL expressions to standard written mathematics, there is very little programming overhead: learning to program is inseparable from learning the mathematics. Each topic is first introduced through computer activities, which are then followed by a text section and exercises. The text section is written in an informal, discursive style, closely relating definitions and proofs to the constructions in the activities. Notions such as cosets and quotient groups become much more meaningful to the students than when they are presented in a lecture.

This book is concerned with cardinal number valued functions defined for any Boolean algebra. Examples of such functions are independence, which assigns to each Boolean algebra the supremum of the cardinalities of its free subalgebras, and cellularity, which gives the supremum of cardinalities of sets of pairwise disjoint elements. Twenty-one such functions are studied in detail, and many more in passing. The questions considered are the behaviour of these functions under algebraic operations such as products, free products, ultraproducts, and their relationships to one another. Assuming familiarity with only the basics of Boolean algebras and set theory, through simple infinite combinatorics and forcing, the book reviews current knowledge about these functions, giving complete proofs for most facts. A special feature of the book is the attention given to open problems, of which 185 are formulated. Based on Cardinal Functions on Boolean Algebras (1990) and Cardinal Invariants on Boolean Algebras (1996) by the same author, the present work is much larger than either of these. It contains solutions to many of the open problems of the earlier volumes. Among the new topics are continuum cardinals on Boolean algebras, with a lengthy treatment of the reaping number. Diagrams at the end of the book summarize the relationships between the functions for many important classes of Boolean algebras, including interval algebras, tree algebras and superatomic algebras.

This volume contains original research articles, survey articles and lecture notes related to the Computations with Modular Forms 2011 Summer School and Conference, held at the University of Heidelberg. A key theme of the Conference and Summer School was the interplay between theory, algorithms and experiment. The 14 papers offer readers both, instructional courses on the latest algorithms for computing modular and automorphic forms, as well as original research articles reporting on the latest developments in the field. The three Summer School lectures provide an introduction to modern algorithms together with some theoretical background for computations of and with modular forms, including computing cohomology of arithmetic groups, algebraic automorphic forms, and overconvergent modular symbols. The 11 Conference papers cover a wide range of themes related to computations with modular forms, including lattice methods for algebraic modular forms on classical groups, a generalization of the Maeda conjecture, an efficient algorithm for special values of p-adic Rankin triple product L-functions, arithmetic aspects and experimental data of Bianchi groups, a theoretical study of the real Jacobian of modular curves, results on computing weight one modular forms, and more.

There is no recent elementary introduction to the theory of discrete dynamical systems that stresses the topological background of the topic. This book fills this gap: it deals with this theory as 'applied general topology'. We treat all important concepts needed to understand recent literature. The book is addressed primarily to graduate students. The prerequisites for understanding this book are modest: a certain mathematical maturity and course in General Topology are sufficient.

The projectors are considered as simple but important type of matrices and operators. Their basic theory can be found in many books, among which Hal mas [177], [178] are of particular significance. The projectors or projections became an active research area in the last two decades due to ideas generated from linear algebra, statistics and various areas of algorithmic mathematics. There has also grown up a great and increasing number of projection meth ods for different purposes. The aim of this book is to give a unified survey on projectors and projection methods including the most recent results. The words projector, projection and idempotent are used as synonyms, although the word projection is more common. We assume that the reader is familiar with linear algebra and mathemati cal analysis at a bachelor level. The first chapter includes supplements from linear algebra and matrix analysis that are not incorporated in the standard courses. The second and the last chapter include the theory of projectors. Four chapters are devoted to projection methods for solving linear and non linear systems of algebraic equations and convex optimization problems.

The first book to explicitly use Mathematica so as to allow researchers and students to more easily compute and solve almost any kind of differential equation using Lie's theory. Previously time-consuming and cumbersome calculations are now much more easily and quickly performed using the Mathematica computer algebra software. The material in this book, and on the accompanying CD-ROM, will be of interest to a broad group of scientists, mathematicians and engineers involved in dealing with symmetry analysis of differential equations. Each section of the book starts with a theoretical discussion of the material, then shows the application in connection with Mathematica. The cross-platform CD-ROM contains Mathematica (version 3.0) notebooks which allow users to directly interact with the code presented within the book. In addition, the author's proprietary "MathLie" software is included, so users can readily learn to use this powerful tool in regard to performing algebraic computations.

Real quaternion analysis is a multi-faceted subject. Created to describe phenomena in special relativity, electrodynamics, spin etc., it has developed into a body of material that interacts with many branches of mathematics, such as complex analysis, harmonic analysis, differential geometry, and differential equations. It is also a ubiquitous factor in the description and elucidation of problems in mathematical physics. In the meantime real quaternion analysis has become a well established branch in mathematics and has been greatly successful in many different directions. This book is based on concrete examples and exercises rather than general theorems, thus making it suitable for an introductory one- or two-semester undergraduate course on some of the major aspects of real quaternion analysis in exercises. Alternatively, it may be used for beginning graduate level courses and as a reference work. With exercises at the end of each chapter and its straightforward writing style the book addresses readers who have no prior knowledge on this subject but have a basic background in graduate mathematics courses, such as real and complex analysis, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, and theory of distributions.

This volume consists of the English translations of the letters exchanged between Emil Artin to Helmut Hasse written from 1921 until 1958. The letters are accompanied by extensive comments explaining the mathematical background and giving the information needed for understanding these letters. Most letters deal with class field theory and shed a light on the birth of one of its most profound results: Artin's reciprocity law.

An understanding of emergent computation requires a profound revision of the most fundamental ideas. A noticeable attempt of such a rethinking is a world view in which natural systems are seen not as separate entities but as integrated parts of a unified whole. The book for the first time presents such a mathematical structure, which remarkably is based on integers as the single concept. As integers are considered to be the most fundamental entities irreducible to something simpler, this makes the mathematical structure a final theory, and thus we do not have to look for its explanation in terms of deeper concepts. The book is not only applicable to models of computation and optimization but also has scientific consequences, as it contributes to a rethinking of the most fundamental ideas about nature. Audience: The book is written at a level suitable for advanced undergraduate students and graduate students as well as research workers and practitioners in computer science information technology, mathematics and physics. The book is suitable as a reference or as supplementary reading material for an advanced graduate course. Only a basic knowledge of calculus is required.

The volume is the outcome of the conference "Lie superalgebras," which was held at the Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica, Rome, in 2012. The conference gathered virtually all the main specialists in the subject, and the talks held provided comprehensive insights into the newest trends in research on Lie superalgebras (and related topics like vertex algebras, representation theory and supergeometry). The book includes both extended abstracts of the conference papers and new original works related to the theme of the conference.

The conjugate operator method is a powerful recently developed technique for studying spectral properties of self-adjoint operators. One of the purposes of this volume is to present a refinement of the original method due to Mourre leading to essentially optimal results in situations as varied as ordinary differential operators, pseudo-differential operators and N-body Schroedinger hamiltonians. Another topic is a new algebraic framework for the N-body problem allowing a simple and systematic treatment of large classes of many-channel hamiltonians. The monograph will be of interest to research mathematicians and mathematical physicists. The authors have made efforts to produce an essentially self-contained text, which makes it accessible to advanced students. Thus about one third of the book is devoted to the development of tools from functional analysis, in particular real interpolation theory for Banach spaces and functional calculus and Besov spaces associated with multi-parameter C0-groups. Certainly this monograph (containing a bibliography of 170 items) is a well-written contribution to this field which is suitable to stimulate further evolution of the theory. (Mathematical Reviews)

Line and hyperplane location problems play an important role not only in operations research and location theory, but also in computational geometry and robust statistics. This book provides a survey on line and hyperplane location combining analytical and geometrical methods. The major portion of the text presents new results on this topic, including the extension of some special cases to all distances derived from norms and a discussion of restricted problems in the plane. Almost all results are proven in the text and most of them are illustrated by examples. Furthermore, relations to classical facility location and to problems in computational geometry are pointed out. Audience: The book is suitable for researchers, lecturers, and graduate students working in the fields of location theory or computational geometry.

Transportation problems belong to the domains mathematical program ming and operations research. Transportation models are widely applied in various fields. Numerous concrete problems (for example, assignment and distribution problems, maximum-flow problem, etc. ) are formulated as trans portation problems. Some efficient methods have been developed for solving transportation problems of various types. This monograph is devoted to transportation problems with minimax cri teria. The classical (linear) transportation problem was posed several decades ago. In this problem, supply and demand points are given, and it is required to minimize the transportation cost. This statement paved the way for numerous extensions and generalizations. In contrast to the original statement of the problem, we consider a min imax rather than a minimum criterion. In particular, a matrix with the minimal largest element is sought in the class of nonnegative matrices with given sums of row and column elements. In this case, the idea behind the minimax criterion can be interpreted as follows. Suppose that the shipment time from a supply point to a demand point is proportional to the amount to be shipped. Then, the minimax is the minimal time required to transport the total amount. It is a common situation that the decision maker does not know the tariff coefficients. In other situations, they do not have any meaning at all, and neither do nonlinear tariff objective functions. In such cases, the minimax interpretation leads to an effective solution.