[ Abstract ]
In these lectures we discuss the formulation, approximation and applications of partial differential equations on stationary and evolving surfaces. Partial differential equations on surfaces occur in many applications. For example, traditionally they arise naturally in fluid dynamics, materials science, pattern formation on biological organisms and more recently in the mathematics of images. We will derive the conservation law on evolving surfaces and formulate a number of equations.

We propose a surface finite element method (SFEM) for the numerical solution of parabolic partial differential equations on hypersurfaces $\\Gamma$ in $\\mathbb R^{n+1}$. The key idea is based on the approximation of $\\Gamma$ by a polyhedral surface $\\Gamma_h$ consisting of a union of simplices (triangles for $n=2$, intervals for $n=1$) with vertices on $\\Gamma$. A finite element space of functions is then defined by taking the continuous functions on $\\Gamma_h$ which are linear affine on each simplex of the polygonal surface. We use surface gradients to define weak forms of elliptic operators and naturally generate weak formulations of elliptic and parabolic equations on $\\Gamma$. Our finite element method is applied to weak forms of the equations. The computation of the mass and element stiffness matrices are simple and straightforward. We give an example of error bounds in the case of semi-discretization in space for a fourth order linear problem. We extend this approach to pdes on evolving surfaces. We define an Eulerian level set method for partial differential equations on surfaces. The key idea is based on formulating the partial differential equation on all level set surfaces of a prescribed function $\\Phi$ whose zero level set is $\\Gamma$. We use Eulerian surface gradients to define weak forms
of elliptic operators which naturally generate weak formulations
of Eulerian elliptic and parabolic equations. This results in a degenerate equation formulated in anisotropic Sobolev spaces based on the level set function $\\Phi$. The resulting equation is then solved in one space dimension higher but can be solved on a fixed finite element grid.

Numerical experiments are described for several linear and Nonlinear partial differential equations. In particular the power of the method is demonstrated by employing it to solve highly nonlinear second and fourth order problems such as surface Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard equations and surface level set equations for geodesic mean curvature flow. In particular we show how surface level set and phase field models can be used to compute the motion of curves on surfaces. This is joint work with G. Dziuk(Freiburg).

[ Abstract ]
In these lectures we discuss the formulation, approximation and applications of partial differential equations on stationary and evolving surfaces. Partial differential equations on surfaces occur in many applications. For example, traditionally they arise naturally in fluid dynamics, materials science, pattern formation on biological organisms and more recently in the mathematics of images. We will derive the conservation law on evolving surfaces and formulate a number of equations.

We propose a surface finite element method (SFEM) for the numerical solution of parabolic partial differential equations on hypersurfaces $\\Gamma$ in $\\mathbb R^{n+1}$. The key idea is based on the approximation of $\\Gamma$ by a polyhedral surface $\\Gamma_h$ consisting of a union of simplices (triangles for $n=2$, intervals for $n=1$) with vertices on $\\Gamma$. A finite element space of functions is then defined by taking the continuous functions on $\\Gamma_h$ which are linear affine on each simplex of the polygonal surface. We use surface gradients to define weak forms of elliptic operators and naturally generate weak formulations of elliptic and parabolic equations on $\\Gamma$. Our finite element method is applied to weak forms of the equations. The computation of the mass and element stiffness matrices are simple and straightforward. We give an example of error bounds in the case of semi-discretization in space for a fourth order linear problem. We extend this approach to pdes on evolving surfaces. We define an Eulerian level set method for partial differential equations on surfaces. The key idea is based on formulating the partial differential equation on all level set surfaces of a prescribed function $\\Phi$ whose zero level set is $\\Gamma$. We use Eulerian surface gradients to define weak forms
of elliptic operators which naturally generate weak formulations
of Eulerian elliptic and parabolic equations. This results in a degenerate equation formulated in anisotropic Sobolev spaces based on the level set function $\\Phi$. The resulting equation is then solved in one space dimension higher but can be solved on a fixed finite element grid.

Numerical experiments are described for several linear and Nonlinear partial differential equations. In particular the power of the method is demonstrated by employing it to solve highly nonlinear second and fourth order problems such as surface Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard equations and surface level set equations for geodesic mean curvature flow. In particular we show how surface level set and phase field models can be used to compute the motion of curves on surfaces. This is joint work with G. Dziuk(Freiburg).

[ Abstract ]
Chondrules are small particles of silicate material of the order of a few millimeters in radius, and are the main component of chondritic meteorite.

In this paper, we present a model of the growth starting from a seed crystal at the location of an outer part of pure melt droplet into spherical single crystal corresponding to a chondrule. The formation of rims surrounding a chondrule during solidification is simulated by using the phase field model in three dimensions. Our results display a well developed rim structure when we choose the initial temperature of a melt droplet more than the melting point under the condition of larger supercooling. Furthermore, we show that the size of a droplet plays an important role in the formation of rims during solidification.

[ Abstract ]
The telegraph process {X(t), t>0}, has been introduced (see Goldstein, 1951) as an alternative model to the Brownian motion B(t). This process describes a motion of a particle on the real line which alternates its velocity, at Poissonian times, from +v to -v. The density of the distribution of the position of the particle at time t solves the hyperbolic differential equation called telegraph equation and hence the name of the process. Contrary to B(t) the process X(t) has finite variation and continuous and differentiable paths. At the same time it is mathematically challenging to handle.

In this talk we will discuss inference problems for the estimation of the intensity of the Poisson process, either homogeneous and non homogeneous, from continuous and discrete time observations of X(t). We further discuss estimation problems for the geometric telegraph process S(t) = S(0) * exp{m - 0.5 * s^2) * t + s X(t)} where m is a known constant and s>0 and the intensity of the underlying Poisson process are two parameter of interest to be estimated. The geometric telegraph process has been recently introduced in Mathematical Finance to describe the dynamics of assets as an alternative to the usual geometric Brownian motion.

For discrete time observations we consider the "high frequency" approach, which means that data are collected at n+1 equidistant time points Ti=i * Dn, i=0,1,..., n, n*Dn = T, T fixed and such that Dn shrinks to 0 as n increases.

The process X(t) in non Markovian, non stationary and not ergodic thus we use approximation arguments to derive estimators. Given the complexity of the equations involved only estimators on the standard telegraph process can be studied analytically. We will also present a Monte Carlo study on the performance of the estimators for small sample size, i.e. Dn not shrinking to 0.

[ Abstract ]
We theoretically predicted that by applying an electric field
to a nonmagnetic system, a spin current is induced in a transverse
direction [1,2]. This is called a spin Hall effect. After its
theoretical predictions on semiconductors [1,2], it has been
extensively studied theoretically and experimentally, partly due
to a potential application to spintronics devices.
In particular, one of the topics of interest is quantum spin
Hall systems, which are spin analogues of the quantum Hall systems.
These systems are insulators in bulk, and have gapless edge states
which carry a spin current. These edge states are characterized
by a Z_2 topological number [3] of a bulk Hamiltonian.
If the topological number is odd, there appear gapless edge states
which carry spin current. In my talk I will briefly review the
spin Hall effect including its experimental results and present
understanding. Then I will focus on the quantum spin Hall systems,
and explain various properties of the Z_2 topological number and
its relation to edge states.
[1] S. Murakami, N. Nagaosa, and S.-C. Zhang, Science 301, 1348 (2003).
[2] J. Sinova et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 126603 (2004)
[3] C. L. Kane and E. J. Mele, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 146802, 226801 (2005)

[ Abstract ]
The quantum spin Hall phase is a novel state of matter with
topological properties. It might be realized in graphene and
probably also in type III semiconductors quantum wells.
Most recent theoretical treatments of this phase discuss its
occurrence in clean systems with perfect crystal symmetry.
In this seminar I will report on a recent work (in collaboration
with N. Nagaosa and M. Onoda) on disordered quantum spin Hall
systems. Following a brief introduction and background I will
discuss the persistence of topological terms also in disordered
systems (following a recent work of Sheng and Haldane) and
then present our results on the localization problem in two
dimensional systems. Due to spin-orbit interaction, there
is a metallic phase as is well known
for the symplectic ensemble. Together with the existence of
a topological term it leads to some surprising results regarding
the scaling theory of localization.

[ Abstract ]
One of the most fundamental invariants of any smooth projective variety is the canonical ring, the graded ring of all global pluricanonical holomorphic n-forms. We explain some of the recent ideas behind the proof of finite generation of the canonical ring and its connection with the programme of Iitaka and Mori in the classification of algebraic varieties.

[ Abstract ]
A 'quantum dot' is a tiny region of a solid, typically just nanometres in each direction, in which electrons can be confined. Semiconductor quantum dots are the focus of intense research geared towards exploiting this property for electronic devices. The most economical method of producing quantum dots is by self-assembly, where billions of dots can be grown simultaneously. The precise mechanism of self-assembly is not understood and is hampering efforts to control the characteristics of the dots. We have used a unique microscope to directly image semiconductor quantum dots as they are growing, which is a unique scanning tunnelling microscope placed within the molecular beam epitaxy growth chamber. The images elucidate the mechanism of InAs quantum dot nucleation on GaAs(001) substrate, demonstrating directly that not all deposited In is initially incorporated into the lattice, hence providing a large supply of material to rapidly form quantum dots via islands containing tens of atoms. kinetic Monte Carlo simulations based on first-principles calculations show that alloy fluctuations in the InGaAs wetting layer prior to are crucial in determining nucleation sites.

[ Abstract ]
The {\\it Yamabe constant} $Y(M, C)$ of a given closed conformal manifold
$(M, C)$ is defined by the infimum of
the normalized total-scalar-curavarure functional $E$
among all metrics in $C$.
The study of the second variation of this functional $E$ led O.Kobayashi and Schoen
to independently introduce a natural differential-topological invariant $Y(M)$,
which is obtained by taking the supremum of $Y(M, C)$ over the space of all conformal classes.
This invariant $Y(M)$ is called the {\\it Yamabe invariant} of $M$.
For the study of the Yamabe invariant,
the relationship between $Y(M, C)$ and those of its conformal coverings
is important, the case when $Y(M, C)> 0$ particularly.
When $Y(M, C) \\leq 0$, by the uniqueness of unit-volume constant scalar curvature metrics in $C$,
the desired relation is clear.
When $Y(M, C) > 0$, such a uniqueness does not hold.
However, Aubin proved that $Y(M, C)$ is strictly less than
the Yamabe constant of any of its non-trivial {\\it finite} conformal coverings,
called {\\it Aubin's Lemma}.
In this talk, we generalize this lemma to the one for the Yamabe constant of
any $(M_{\\infty}, C_{\\infty})$ of its {\\it infinite} conformal coverings,
under a certain topological condition on the relation between $\\pi_1(M)$ and $\\pi_1(M_{\\infty})$.
For the proof of this, we aslo establish a version of positive mass theorem
for a specific class of asymptotically flat manifolds with singularities.

[ Abstract ]
題材は流体力学ですが,内容的には超局所解析の考え方を駆使する問題

[ Abstract ]
We develop an approach to the study of meromorphic connections with logarithmic poles along a Saito free divisor. In particular, basic properties of Christoffel symbols of such connections are established. We also compute the set of all integrable meromorphic connections with logarithmic poles and describe the corresponding spaces of horizontal sections for some examples of Saito free divisors including the discriminants of the minimal versal deformations of $A_2$- and of $A_3$-singularities, and a divisor in $\mathbf{C}^3$ which appeared in a work of M. Sato in the context of the theory of prehomogeneous spaces.

[ Abstract ]
「ゆらぎ」とは、決まった規則がないままにゆらゆらと漂っているさまをあわらしている。わたしたちは、明確な動きの背後には規則があると自然に信じ、その規則を探ろうとするが、「ゆらゆら」に特別の意味をみようとしないだろう。ところで、それがゆえに、「ゆらゆら」の背後に何らかの構造が埋まっていることがわかったときには、衝撃が一段と大きい。
ゆらぎから新しい構造を抜き出した例を並べると、理論物理学史のひとつの断片ができる。講演前半部分では、このなかから20世紀前半のふたりの研究成果をアレンジしながら紹介したい。そのふたりとは、アインシュタインとオンサーガである。ゆらぎと対峙することで、マクロ側の普遍的法則を抽出し、直接みることができないミクロ側の性質を暴いた。これらの成果を踏まえて、講演後半部分では、ゆらぎの背後に新しい構造を見出そうとするわたしたちの最近の試みを紹介したい。

[ Abstract ]
Haplotype information is important for many analyses but it is not always possible to obtain. This work is motivated to seek haplotype information from diploid population data. We present a new approach to know the haplotype information using classical methods. We do not intend to say that our method is better than the well-known EM based approache for practical purposes, but our way is attractive in some sense.

[ Abstract ]
In this talk we present our study of the behavior of the singular set
$\\{u=|\\nabla u| =0\\}$ for solutions $u$ to the free boundary problem
$$
\\Delta u = f\\chi_{\\{u\\geq 0\\} } -g\\chi_{\\{u<0\\}},
$$
where $f$ and $g$ are H\\"older continuous functions, $f$ is positive and $f+g$ is negative. Such problems arise in an eigenvalue optimization for composite membranes.
We show that if for a singular point $z$ there are $r_0>0$, and $c_0>0$ such that the density assumption
$|\\{u< 0\\}\\cap B_r(z)|\\geq c_0 r2 \\forall r< r_0$
holds, then $z$ is isolated.