Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of number fields. We formulate and study a conjectural equality between an element of the relative algebraic K-group $K_0(\mathbb{Z}[\mathrm{Gal}(L/K)], \mathbb{R})$ which is constructed from the equivariant Artin epsilon constant of $L/K$ and a sum of structural invariants associated to $L/K$. The precise conjecture is motivated by the requirement that a special case of the equivariant refinement of the Tamagawa Number Conjecture of Bloch and Kato (as formulated by Flach and the second-named author) should be compatible with the functional equation of the associated L-function. We show that, more concretely, our conjecture also suggests a completely systematic refinement of the central approach and results of classical Galois module theory. In particular, the evidence for our conjecture that we present here already strongly refines many of the main results of Galois module theory.

We investigate categorical and amalgamation properties of the functor $\operatorname{Id_c}$ assigning to every partially ordered abelian group $G$ its $\langle \vee, 0 \rangle$-semilattice of compact ideals $\operatorname{Id_c} G$. Our main result is the following.

Theorem 1. Every diagram of finite Boolean semilattices indexed by a finite dismantlable partially ordered set can be lifted, with respect to the$\operatorname{Id_c}$functor, by a diagram of pseudo-simplicial vector spaces.

Pseudo-simplicial vector spaces are a special kind of finite-dimensional partially ordered vector spaces with interpolation over the field of rational numbers. The methods introduced also make it possible to prove the following ring-theoretical result.

Theorem 2. For any countable distributive$\langle \vee, 0 \rangle$-semilattices$S$and$T$and any field$K$, any$\langle \vee, 0 \rangle$-homomorphism$f \colon S \to T$can be lifted, with respect to the$\operatorname{Id_c}$functor on rings, by a homomorphism $f \colon A \to B$of$K$-algebras, for countably dimensional locally matricial algebras$A$and$B$over$K$.

We also state a lattice-theoretical analogue of Theorem 2 (with respect to the $\operatorname{Con_c}$ functor), and we provide counterexamples to various related statements. In particular, we prove that the result of Theorem 1 cannot be achieved with simplicial vector spaces alone.

Let $K/k$ be a finite unramified Galois extension of number fields with Galois group $G$. This determines two homomorphisms from the ideal class group $\mathrm{Cl}_k$ of $k$: the capitulation map $\mathrm{Cl}_k \to \mathrm{Cl}_K$ and the Artin map $\mathrm{Cl}_k \twoheadrightarrow G^{\mathrm{ab}}$ onto the abelianization $G^{\mathrm{ab}}$ of $G$. We call (ker (capitulation), $\mathrm{Cl}_k$, Artin) the capitulation triple of $K / k$.

Artin's transition to group theory shows that any triple $(X, Y, \zeta)$ which arises in this way satisfies the group-theoretic property of being a transfer triple for $G$, defined as follows: there exist a group extension $A \rightarrowtail H \twoheadrightarrow G$ with $A$ finite abelian and an isomorphism $\eta : Y \stackrel{\sim}{\to} H^{\mathrm{ab}}$ such that $\eta (X)$ is the kernel of the transfer homomorphism $H^{\mathrm{ab}}\to A$, and $\zeta$ is the composite of $\eta$ with $H^{\mathrm{ab}}\to G^{\mathrm{ab}}$.

When $G$ is abelian, we show that a triple $(X, Y, \zeta)$ is a transfer triple for $G$ if and only if $|G| X = 0$ and $|G|$ divides $|X|$. Whether all transfer triples for $G$ can be realized arithmetically remains an unsolved problem.

For a braided tensor category ${\cal C}$ and a subcategory ${\cal K}$ there is a notion of a centralizer $C_{\cal C}({\cal K})$, which is a full tensor subcategory of ${\cal C}$. A pre-modular tensor category is known to be modular in the sense of Turaev if and only if the center ${\cal Z}_2({\cal C})\equiv C_{\cal C}({\cal C})$ (not to be confused with the center ${\cal Z}_1$ of a tensor category, related to the quantum double) is trivial, that is, consists only of multiples of the tensor unit, and $\dim{\cal C}\ne 0$. Here $\dim{\cal C} = \sum_i d(X_i)^2$, the $X_i$ being the simple objects.

We prove several structural properties of modular categories. Our main technical tool is the following double centralizer theorem. Let ${\cal C}$ be a modular category and ${\cal K}$ a full tensor subcategory closed with respect to direct sums, subobjects and duals. Then $C_{\cal C}(C_{\cal C}({\cal K})) = {\cal K}$ and $\dim{\cal K}\cdot\dim C_{\cal C}({\cal K}) = \dim{\cal C}$.

We give several applications.

(1) If ${\cal C}$ is modular and ${\cal K}$ is a full modular subcategory, then ${\cal L}=C_{\cal C}({\cal K})$ is also modular and ${\cal C}$ is equivalent as a ribbon category to the direct product: ${\cal C}\simeq{\cal K}\boxtimes{\cal L}$. Thus every modular category factorizes (non-uniquely, in general) into prime modular categories. We study the prime factorizations of the categories $D(G)$-Mod, where $G$ is a finite abelian group.

(2) If ${\cal C}$ is a modular $*$-category and ${\cal K}$ is a full tensor subcategory then $\dim{\cal C}\ge\dim{\cal K}\cdot\dim {\cal Z}_2({\cal K})$. We give examples where the bound is attained and conjecture that every pre-modular ${\cal K}$ can be embedded fully into a modular category ${\cal C}$ with $\dim{\cal C}=\dim{\cal K}\cdot\dim {\cal Z}_2({\cal K})$.

(3) For every finite group $G$ there is a braided tensor $*$-category ${\cal C}$ such that ${\cal Z}_2({\cal C})\simeq\mbox{Rep}\,G$ and the modular closure/modularization $\overline{\cal C}$ is non-trivial.

This is a contribution to the study of line-transitive groups of automorphisms of finite linear spaces. Groups which are almost simple are of particular importance. In this paper almost simple line-transitive groups whose socle is an alternating group are classified. It is proved that the only alternating groups to occur are those of degrees 7 and 8, and that only one linear space occurs, namely a well-known space with 15 points and 35 lines. Although much of the proof exploits special properties of alternating groups, some general theory of groups acting line-transitively on finite linear spaces is developed.

The Gauss circle problem and the Dirichlet divisor problem are special cases of the problem of counting the points of the integer lattice in a planar domain bounded by a piecewise smooth curve. In the Bombieri–Iwaniec–Mozzochi exponential sums method we must count the number of pairs of arcs of the boundary curve which can be brought into coincidence by an automorphism of the integer lattice. These coincidences are parametrised by integer points close to certain plane curves, the resonance curves.

This paper sets up an iteration step from a strong hypothesis about integer points close to curves to a bound for the discrepancy, the number of integer points minus the area, as in the latest work on single exponential sums. The Bombieri–Iwaniec–Mozzochi method itself gives bounds for the number of integer points close to a curve in part of the required range, and it can in principle be used iteratively. We use a bound obtained by Swinnerton-Dyer's approximation determinant method. In the discrepancy estimate $O(R^K (\log R)^{\Lambda })$ in terms of the maximum radius of curvature $R$, we reduce $K$ from 2/3 (classical) and 46/73 (paper II in this series) to 131/208. The corresponding exponent in the Dirichlet divisor problem becomes $K/2 = 131/416$.

Suppose $\mathcal{O}$ is either the ring of integers of a number field, the ring of integers of a $p$-adic local field, or a field of characteristic $0$. Let $\mathcal{X}$ be a regular projective scheme which is flat and equidimensional over $\mathcal{O}$ of relative dimension $d$. Suppose $G$ is a finite group acting tamely on $\mathcal{X}$. Define ${\rm HCl}(\mathcal{O} G)$ to be the Hermitian class group of $\mathcal{O} G$. Using the duality pairings on the de Rham cohomology groups $H^*(X, \Omega^\bullet_{X / F})$ of the fiber $X$ of $\mathcal{X}$ over $F = {\rm Frac}(\mathcal{O})$, we define a canonical invariant $\chi_H(\mathcal{X}, G)$ in ${\rm HCl}(\mathcal{O} G)$ . When $d = 1$ and $\mathcal{O}$ is either $\mathbb{Z}$, $\mathbb{Z}_p$ or $\mathbb{R}$, we determine the image of $\chi_H(\mathcal{X}, G)$ in the adelic Hermitian classgroup ${\rm Ad\,HCl}(\mathbb{Z} G)$ by means of $\epsilon$-constants. We also show that in this case, the image in ${\rm Ad\,HCl}(\mathbb{Z} G)$ of a closely related Hermitian Euler characteristic $\chi_{H}(\mathcal{X}, G)(0)$ both determines and is determined by the $\epsilon_0$-constants of the symplectic representations of $G$.

We first prove that the Whitehead group of a torsion-free virtually solvable linear group vanishes. Next we make a reduction of the fibered isomorphism conjecture from virtually solvable groups to a class of virtually solvable $\mathbb {Q}$-linear groups. Finally we prove an L-theory analogue for elementary amenable groups.

We study Rees algebras of modules within a fairly general framework. We introduce an approach through the notion of Bourbaki ideals that allows the use of deformation theory. One can talk about the (essentially unique) generic Bourbaki ideal I(E) of a module E which, in many situations, allows one to reduce the nature of the Rees algebra of E to that of its Bourbaki ideal I(E). Properties such as Cohen–Macaulayness, normality and being of linear type are viewed from this perspective. The known numerical invariants, such as the analytic spread, the reduction number and the analytic deviation, of an ideal and its associated algebras are considered in the case of modules. Corresponding notions of complete intersection, almost complete intersection and equimultiple modules are examined in some detail. Special consideration is given to certain modules which are fairly ubiquitous because interesting vector bundles appear in this way. For these modules one is able to estimate the reduction number and other invariants in terms of the Buchsbaum–Rim multiplicity.

Let $F$ be a $p$-adic field and $K/F$ a finite, cyclic, tamely ramified field extension. We show, without any restriction, that base change from $F$ to K, in the sense of Arthur and Clozel, is compatible with the operation of $K/F$-lifting for simple characters defined by the authors in an earlier paper. This extends and completes the previous work, and represents a substantial step towards the goal of describing tamely ramified base change in terms of the structure theory of representations of Bushnell and Kutzko. We also give a consequence for the Langlands correspondence. The main step in the proof is to show that lifting of simple characters is compatible with automorphic induction, in the sense of Henniart and Herb, through an unramified extension. This is achieved via a new and independently interesting result concerning the conductor of a pair of supercuspidal representations. It gives a complete description of the minima of (a suitably normalized version of) the conductor when one of the representations is fixed. All results concerning the conductor are also valid for non-Archimedean local fields of positive characteristic.

Using results of Browkin and Schinzel one can easily determine quadratic number fields with trivial 2-primary Hilbert kernels. In the present paper we completely determine all bi-quadratic number fields which have trivial 2-primary Hilbert kernels. To obtain our results, we use several different tools, amongst which is the genus formula for the Hilbert kernel of an arbitrary relative quadratic extension, which is of independent interest. For some cases of real bi-quadratic fields there is an ambiguity in the genus formula, so in this situation we use instead Brauer relations between the Dedekind zeta-funtions and the Birch–Tate conjecture.

For a topological group $G$ we define $\cal N$ to be the set of all normal subgroups modulo which $G$ is a finite-dimensional Lie group. Call $G$ a pro-Lie group if, firstly, $G$ is complete, secondly, $\cal N$ is a filter basis, and thirdly, every identity neighborhood of $G$ contains some member of $\cal N$. It is easy to see that every pro-Lie group $G$ is a projective limit of the projective system of all quotients of $G$ modulo subgroups from $\cal N$. The converse implication emerges as a difficult proposition, but it is shown here that any projective limit of finite-dimensional Lie groups is a pro-Lie group. It is also shown that a closed subgroup of a pro-Lie group is a pro-Lie group, and that for any closed normal subgroup $N$ of a pro-Lie group $G$, for any one parameter subgroup $Y \colon \mathbb{R} \to G/N$ there is a one parameter subgroup $X \colon \mathbb{R}\to G$ such that $X(t) N = Y(t)$ for any real number $t$. The category of all pro-Lie groups and continuous group homomorphisms between them is closed under the formation of all limits in the category of topological groups and the Lie algebra functor on the category of pro-Lie groups preserves all limits and quotients.

Using variational measures, we characterize additive interval functions which are indefinite Henstock–Kurzweil integrals in the Euclidean space, answering a problem posed by W. B. Jurkat and R. W. Knizia and independently by Lee Peng-Yee and Chew Tuan-Seng. This also extends a result of Bongiorno, Di Piazza and Skvortsov.

We consider the Zariski closure of Thom–Boardman strata $\Sigma^{i, j}$ in the jet space for map-germs $(\mathbf{C}^n, 0)\to(\mathbf{C}^p, 0)$. We apply the geometric technique of calculating syzygies to the desingularization of $\Sigma^{i, j}$ constructed by Ronga. We investigate when the normalization of the coordinate ring of $\Sigma^{i, j}$ is rational in the cases $i = n - p + 1$ or $i = j = 1$. We also consider when these coordinate rings are normal with rational singularities.

It is shown how many of the partial theta function identities in Ramanujan's lost notebook can be generalized to infinite families of such identities. Key in our construction is the Bailey lemma and a new generalization of the Jacobi triple product identity. By computing residues around the poles of our identities we find a surprising connection between partial theta function identities and Garrett–Ismail–Stanton-type extensions of multisum Rogers–Ramanujan identities.

We establish the correspondence between Euclidean differential geometry of submanifolds in $\mathbb{R}^n$ and projective differential geometry of submanifolds in $\mathbb{R}^{n +1 }$ under stereographic projection to quadrics of revolution (and to a more general class of quadrics called quasi-revolution quadrics). V. D. Sedykh found a relation between Lagrangian and Legendrian singularities by stereographic projection to a sphere in Euclidean space. We generalise Sedykh's results in several directions, for instance:

(1) such a relation holds for any stereographic projection of a hyperplane to a quasi-revolution quadric in $\mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R}$, where here $\mathbb{R}^n$ denotes Euclidean space;

(2) when the quadric is a paraboloid the relation between Lagrangian and Legendrian singularities is the most natural one, and the calculations, formulas and proofs are simpler;

(3) using the classical theory of poles, polars and polar duality, we construct the natural isomorphism between the front of the Lagrange submanifold of the normal map (considered as a subvariety in $J^0(\mathbb{R}^n) = \mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R}$) and the front of the Legendre submanifold of the tangential map (considered as a subvariety in the space $(\mathbb{R}^{n + 1})^\vee$ of affine n-dimensional subspaces in $\mathbb{R}^{n + 1}$).

As a consequence of our results we obtain a formula to calculate the vertices of smooth curves in $\mathbb{R}^n$. Our results may be applied to calculate and study umbilic points of surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^3$, or more generally to study the contact of submanifolds in Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^n$ with k-spheres, for $k = 1,\ldots,n - 1$, in terms of the contact of submanifolds in $\mathbb{R}^{n + 1}$ with $(k + 1)$-planes.

We remark that it is possible to obtain additional geometric information when stereographic projection is replaced by an inversion.

Let $F:(0, \infty) \times [0, \infty) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a function of Carathéodory type. We establish the inequality $$ \int_{\mathbb{R}^{N}} F( | x |, u(x) ) dx \leq \int_{\mathbb{R}^{N} } F( | x |, u^{\ast}(x)) dx. $$ where $u^{\ast}$ denotes the Schwarz symmetrization of $u$, under hypotheses on $F$ that seem quite natural when this inequality is used to obtain existence results in the context of elliptic partial differential equations. We also treat the case where $\mathbb{R}^N$ is replaced by a set of finite measure. The identity $$ \int_{\mathbb{R}^{N}} G(u(x)) dx = \int_{\mathbb{R}^{N}} G(u^{\ast}(x)) dx $$ is also discussed under the assumption that $G : [0,\infty) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is a Borel function.

Let $(S, 0)$ be a normal surface germ and Let $f$ a non-constant regular function on Let $(S, 0)$ with Let $f(0) = 0$. Using any additive invariant on complex algebraic varieties one can associate a zeta function to these data, where the topological and motivic zeta functions are the roughest and the finest zeta functions, respectively. In this paper we are interested in a geometric determination of the poles of these functions. The second author has already provided such a determination for the topological zeta function in the case of non-singular surfaces. Here we give a complete answer for all normal surfaces, at least on the motivic level. The topological zeta function however seems to be too rough for this purpose, although for negative poles, which are the only ones in the non-singular case, we are able to prove exactly the same result as for non-singular surfaces.

We also give and verify a (natural) definition for when a rational number is a pole of the motivic zeta function.

The paper extends to complex Hamiltonian systems previous work of the authors on the Sims extension of the Titchmarsh–Weyl theory for Sturm–Liouville equations with complex potentials, and analyses the spectral properties of associated non-self-adjoint operators.

A complete classification is given of finite primitive permutation groups which contain an abelian regular subgroup. This solves a long-standing open problem in permutation group theory initiated by W. Burnside in 1900.