Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Bound On The Number Of Spanning Trees In Bipartite Graphs, Cheng Wai Koo

HMC Senior Theses

Richard Ehrenborg conjectured that in a bipartite graph G with parts X and Y, the number of spanning trees is at most the product of the vertex degrees divided by |X|⋅|Y|. We make two main contributions. First, using techniques from spectral graph theory, we show that the conjecture holds for sufficiently dense graphs containing a cut vertex of degree 2. Second, using electrical network analysis, we show that the conjecture holds under the operation of removing an edge whose endpoints have sufficiently large degrees.

Our other results are combinatorial proofs that the conjecture holds for …

Realizing The 2-Associahedron, Patrick N. Tierney

HMC Senior Theses

The associahedron has appeared in numerous contexts throughout the field of mathematics. By representing the associahedron as a poset of tubings, Michael Carr and Satyan L. Devadoss were able to create a gener- alized version of the associahedron in the graph-associahedron. We seek to create an alternative generalization of the associahedron by considering a particle-collision model. By extending this model to what we dub the 2- associahedron, we seek to further understand the space of generalizations of the associahedron.

Topological Data Analysis For Systems Of Coupled Oscillators, Alec Dunton

HMC Senior Theses

Coupled oscillators, such as groups of fireflies or clusters of neurons, are found throughout nature and are frequently modeled in the applied mathematics literature. Earlier work by Kuramoto, Strogatz, and others has led to a deep understanding of the emergent behavior of systems of such oscillators using traditional dynamical systems methods. In this project we outline the application of techniques from topological data analysis to understanding the dynamics of systems of coupled oscillators. This includes the examination of partitions, partial synchronization, and attractors. By looking for clustering in a data space consisting of the phase change of oscillators over a …

Line-Of-Sight Pursuit And Evasion Games On Polytopes In R^N, John Phillpot

HMC Senior Theses

We study single-pursuer, line-of-sight Pursuit and Evasion games in polytopes in $\mathbb{R}^n$. We develop winning Pursuer strategies for simple classes of polytopes (monotone prisms) in Rⁿ, using proven algorithms for polygons as inspiration and as subroutines. More generally, we show that any Pursuer-win polytope can be extended to a new Pursuer-win polytope in more dimensions. We also show that some more general classes of polytopes (monotone products) do not admit a deterministic winning Pursuer strategy. Though we provide bounds on which polytopes are Pursuer-win, these bounds are not tight. Closing the gap between those polytopes known to be …

Visual Properties Of Generalized Kloosterman Sums, Paula Burkhardt '16, Alice Zhuo-Yu Chan '14, Gabriel Currier '16, Stephan Ramon Garcia, Florian Luca, Hong Suh '16

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

For a positive integer m and a subgroup A of the unit group (Z/mZ)^x, the corresponding generalized Kloosterman sum is the function K(a, b, m, A) = Σ_uEA e(au+bu^-1/m). Unlike classical Kloosterman sums, which are real valued, generalized Kloosterman sums display a surprising array of visual features when their values are plotted in the complex plane. In a variety of instances, we identify the precise number-theoretic conditions that give rise to particular phenomena.

Lattices From Hermitian Function Fields, Albrecht Böttcher, Lenny Fukshansky, Stephan Ramon Garcia, Hiren Maharaj

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

We consider the well-known Rosenbloom-Tsfasman function field lattices in the special case of Hermitian function fields. We show that in this case the resulting lattices are generated by their minimal vectors, provide an estimate on the total number of minimal vectors, and derive properties of the automorphism groups of these lattices. Our study continues previous investigations of lattices coming from elliptic curves and finite Abelian groups. The lattices we are faced with here are more subtle than those considered previously, and the proofs of the main results require the replacement of the existing linear algebra approaches by deep results of …

Lattices From Tight Equiangular Frames, Albrecht Böttcher, Lenny Fukshansky, Stephan Ramon Garcia, Hiren Maharaj, Deanna Needell

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

We consider the set of all linear combinations with integer coefficients of the vectors of a unit tight equiangular (k,n) frame and are interested in the question whether this set is a lattice, that is, a discrete additive subgroup of the k-dimensional Euclidean space. We show that this is not the case if the cosine of the angle of the frame is irrational. We also prove that the set is a lattice for n = k + 1 and that there are infinitely many k such that a lattice emerges for n = 2k …

Best Approximations, Lethargy Theorems And Smoothness, Caleb Case

CMC Senior Theses

In this paper we consider sequences of best approximation. We first examine the rho best approximation function and its applications, through an example in approximation theory and two new examples in calculating n-widths. We then further discuss approximation theory by examining a modern proof of Weierstrass's Theorem using Dirac sequences, and providing a new proof of Chebyshev's Equioscillation Theorem, inspired by the de La Vallee Poussin Theorem. Finally, we examine the limits of approximation theorem by looking at Bernstein Lethargy theorem, and a modern generalization to infinite-dimensional subspaces. We all note that smooth functions are bounded by Jackson's Inequalities, but …

Exploration Of Curvature Through Physical Materials, Lucinda-Joi Chu-Ketterer

Pitzer Senior Theses

Parametric equations are commonly used to describe surfaces. Looking at parametric equations does not provide tangible information about an object. Thus through the use of physical materials, an understanding of the limitations of the materials allows someone to gain a broader understanding of the surface. A M$\ddot{o}$bius strip and Figure 8 Klein bottle were created through knitting due to the precision and steady increase in curvature allowed through knitting. A more standard Klein bottle was created through crochet due to the ease in creating quick increases in curvature. Both methods demonstrate the change in curvature for both surfaces where the …