Algebra & Discrete Mathematics Seminar
Fall 2002


Aug. 29 Robert E. Jamison Clemson University Rank Tolerance Graph Classes
Sept. 5 Gretchen L. Matthews Clemson University Semigroups of Triples of Points on Hermitian Curves
Sept. 12 Kevin James Clemson University A New Algorithm for Primality Testing
Sept. 19 none    
Sept. 26 none   Frank Morgan "Proof of the Double Bubble Conjecture" at Furman University
Oct. 3 Kevin James & Neil Calkin Clemson University REU in Computational Number Theory and Combinatorics
Oct. 10     Clemson Miniconference
Oct. 17 Jirapha Limbupasiriporn Clemson University Small Sets of Even Type in Finite Projective Planes of Even Order
Oct. 25 Gary Salazar* Trinity University An Examination of Affine Variety Codes with an Improved Minimum Distance Bound
Nov. 1 Shuhong Gao* Clemson University Multivariate polynomial interpolation and decoding of algebraic geometric codes
Nov. 7 Kevin Hutson & Doug Shier Furman University & Clemson University Stochastic Minimum Spanning Trees
Nov. 14 Wayne Goddard Computer Science,
Clemson University
Self-Stabilizing Graph Algorithms
Nov. 21 Shuhong Gao Clemson University Multivariate polynomial interpolation and decoding of algebraic geometric codes II
Nov. 28     Thanksgiving
Dec. 5 Mary E. Kurz Industrial Engineering, Clemson University Using Genetic Algorithms to Minimize Total Weighted Tardiness on Parallel Batch-Processing Machine

The ADM Seminar typically meets on Thursdays, 3:30-4:30, in Martin M-102.
* denotes special time and/or place



August 29, 2002

TITLE:                   Rank Tolerance Graph Classes
SPEAKER:            Robert E. Jamison
AFFILIATION:     Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
The objects of study in this talk arise from a natural extension of ideas that have grown out of the now classical notion of interval graph.  In an interval graph, each vertex is associated with an interval on the real line with two vertices adjacent if and only if their associated intervals intersect.  In 1982 Golumbic and others suggested associating "tolerances" with each interval so that  now two vertices are joined if and only if the length of the intersection of their associated intervals is at least the minimum of the two tolerances.  In 1987 McMorris and others proposed replacing the min function above by other joint tolerance functions, such as max or sum, and even by an arbitrary function phi.  In the investigation of phi-tolerance interval graphs, a particular case appeared to be of recurring interest ---namely, when all the intervals are nested to form a chain under inclusion.  In this case, the length of the intersection is just the minimum of the two lengths, and only the lengths, and not the actual intervals play a role in determining adjacency.  One can thus think of a phi-tolerance chain interval graph as arising from the assignment of two numbers t_v and r_v to each vertex v of the graph.  The first of these, t_v, is just a tolerance at the vertex v as before.  The second, r_v, represents a rank (or size) associated with the vertex v.  Then two vertices v and w are adjacent provided the minimum of their two ranks exceeds their joint tolerance --- that is,   phi(t_v,t_w)  \leq  min(r_v,r_w).  In this paper we will explore the extension that arises when the min on the right is also allowed to be replaced by a more general function rho.

This is joint work with Martin Charles Golumbic of the Caesarea Rothschild Institute of Computer Science, University of Haifa, Israel.



September 5, 2002

TITLE:                    Semigroups of Triples of Points on Hermitian Curves
SPEAKER:             Gretchen L. Matthews
AFFILIATION:      Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
Given a curve X over a field k, an object classically studied is the Weierstrass semigroup of a k-rational point P of X. This semigroup consists of those nonnegative integers n such that there is a rational function on X with a pole of order n at P and no other poles. This definition was generalized by Arbarello, Cornalba, Griffiths, and Harris to the Weierstrass semigroup of a pair of k-rational points on X. More recently, Ballico and Kim introduced the notion of the Weierstrass semigroup of an m-tuple of k-rational points on X. Weierstrass semigroups have proven useful in the construction of algebraic geometry codes.

In this talk, we restrict our attention to Hermitian curves, that is, curves defined by the equation y^q+y=x^{q+1} over the finite field with q^2 elements. The Weierstrass semigroups of any rational point and of any pair of rational points on this curve are known. We explore Weierstrass semigroups of triples of rational points on Hermitian curves. In particular, we determine the Weierstrass semigroup of any triple of collinear points on such a curve. Using the automorphism group, we determine the maximum number of distinct semigroups that arise as the Weierstrass semigroup of some triple of points on a Hermitian curve.



September 12, 2002

TITLE:                   A New Algorithm for Primality Testing
SPEAKER:            Kevin James
AFFILIATION:     Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
Since ancient times mathematicians have been fascinated by questions involving prime numbers. One of the most fundamental such questions is that of determining if a given number is prime or composite. The oldest algorithm for answering this question is the Sieve of Eratosthenes. To determine if n is a prime the sieve takes time proportional to nlog(log(n)).  This running time is said to be exponential since the input is of size log(n).  (It takes log(n) bits to store n.) Since the time of Eratosthenes there have been many improvements in the area of primality testing. There are some algorithms which are quite fast but unfortunately nondeterministic. The best deterministic algorithm prior to the one being discussed in this talk is the APR test which has a running time which is subexponential but still not polynomial. In this talk we will discuss a new primality testing algorithm which is deterministic and has polynomial running time.



October 3, 2002

TITLE:                   REU in Computational Number Theory and Combinatorics
SPEAKER:            Neil Calkin & Kevin James
AFFILIATION:     Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
In this talk, we discuss the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Computational Number Theory and Combinatorics held at Clemson during Summer 2002.


October 17, 2002

TITLE:                    Small Sets of Even Type in Finite Projective Planes of Even Order
SPEAKER:             Jirapha Limbupasiriporn
AFFILIATION:      Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
A set of points in a finite projective plane is of even type if every line of the plane meets it evenly.  The incidence vector of such a set will be in the dual of the binary code of the plane.  We consider here sets of q+t points in planes of even order that are met in 0, 2, or t 2 points by the lines of the plane.  It follows that t divides q.  Korchmaros and Marzzocca gave a construction and a canonical form for such sets in the desarguesian plane of even order q.  They showed that sets of size q+4 of type (0,2,4) (i.e., met by lines in 0, 2, or 4 points) always exist in the desarguesian plane of order q=4,8,16.

In this talk, we discuss some of the work of Korchmaros and Marzzocca and then investigate the existence of sets of size q+t of type (0,2,t) for t=4,8 in the desarguesian plane of even order q.



October 25, 2002

TITLE:                An Examination of Affine Variety Codes with an Improved Minimum Distance Bound
SPEAKER:         Gary Salazar
AFFILIATION:  Trinity University

ABSTRACT:
A brief introduction to affine variety codes will be presented.  We will investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the commonly implemented Feng-Rao bound on minimum distance.  We present an alternate bound which is at least as good as the Feng-Rao bound along with many examples to illustrate their similarities and differences.



November 1, 2002
SPECIAL TIME AND PLACE:  2:30 pm, Martin E-001

TITLE:                 Multivariate polynomial interpolation and decoding of algebraic geometric codes
SPEAKER:          Shuhong Gao
AFFILIATION:   Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
We present a new algorithm for multivariate polynomial interpolation.  It is a natural generalization of Newton's (or Garner's) algorithm for univariate polynomials, and it computes simultaneously a Newton basis for the interpolation space and a Grobner basis for the vanishing ideal of given points. This algorithm is suitable for numerical and symbolic computation. In particular, we show how it yields an online algorithm for decoding algebraic geometric codes.



November 7, 2002

TITLE:                     Stochastic Minimum Spanning Trees
SPEAKER:              Kevin Hutson & Doug Shier
AFFILIATION:        Furman University

ABSTRACT:
The minimum spanning tree (MST) problem is a classical network optimization problem in which the nodes of an edge-weighted graph are to be connected at minimum total cost or weight. Such problems are encountered in a variety of applications, from the planning of distribution systems and the design of circuit boards, to the analysis of clustering data.

The standard network model assumes that all edge weight data are known with certainty. In this talk we discuss a stochastic version of the MST problem in which edges assume a finite number of states (with different edge weights) according to a known probability distribution. The problem of determining the resulting distribution of the weight w(T) of a minimum spanning tree T now becomes considerably more difficult.

First we review some standard topics related to spanning trees in graphs (fundamental cutsets and cycles) as well as the classical optimality conditions for the deterministic MST problem. These ideas are then combined to develop stochastically larger and stochastically smaller distributions that bound the unknown distribution of w(T).  As a result we are able to generalize some existing approaches in the literature; in the process we obtain approximations to the expected weight E[w(T)] of a stochastic MST.  Computational results are also presented to show that for certain classes of problems, we can obtain reasonable approximations to the unknown distribution of w(T) with only a modest computational effort.



November 14, 2002

TITLE:                Self-Stabilizing Graph Algorithms
SPEAKER:         Wayne Goddard
AFFILIATION:   Computer Science, Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
A distributed algorithm is designed to run on a computer network where each processor in the network has only local information and can communicate directly only with its neighbors. In a distributed graph  algorithm, the nodes are supposed to solve some problem based on the arbitrary topology of the entire network, even though there is no global coordinator nor global clock. It is furthermore self-stabilizing if the nodes' memories can start with arbitrary values and the algorithm
is still guaranteed to work. The talk is designed to be an introduction to self-stabilizing graph algorithms. We will consider algorithms for problems such as maximal independent set, spanning trees, domination and colorings.

This includes joint work with S.T. Hedetniemi, D.P. Jacobs and P.K. Srimani.



November 21, 2002

TITLE:                 Multivariate polynomial interpolation and decoding of algebraic geometric codes II
SPEAKER:          Shuhong Gao
AFFILIATION:    Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
We present a new algorithm for multivariate polynomial interpolation.  It is a natural generalization of Newton's (or Garner's) algorithm for univariate polynomials, and it computes simultaneously a Newton basis for the interpolation space and a Grobner basis for the vanishing ideal of given points. This algorithm is suitable for numerical and symbolic computation. In particular, we show how it yields an online algorithm for decoding algebraic geometric codes.



December 5, 2002

TITLE:                 Using Genetic Algorithms to Minimize Total Weighted Tardiness on Parallel Batch-Processing Machine
SPEAKER:          Mary E. Kurz
AFFILIATION:   Industrial Engineering, Clemson University

ABSTRACT:
A recent area of interest in machine scheduling focuses on parallel batch-processing machines.  A batch processing machine is one in which jobs are grouped together into batches and processed simultaneously on a machine.  This occurs in the semi-conductor industry where wafers must be ?baked? in ovens during a key operation, diffusion.  Individual wafers are grouped into lots, which may be grouped further into batches that can be loaded into the ovens together.  As the production process for wafers is re-entrant, the wafers revisit this operation several times; each batch requires on the order of 10 hours of baking per visit.  Due in part to the long processing time, several parallel ovens are often used.  Though the diffusion ovens are not intended to be the bottleneck tool group, poor utilization of the ovens can induce this tool group to become the bottleneck in the system.  One possible objective when scheduling these parallel batch processing machines is minimizing the total weighted tardiness for all jobs, which penalizes jobs for completing after their assigned due dates in a manner consistent with their relative importances.

The problem of interest is minimizing total weighted tardiness on parallel batch processing machines, where the jobs are not available at the same time.  Because this problem has several NP-hard problems as generalizations, we use a particular type of genetic algorithm to provide approximate solutions to this problem.  In this seminar, we will discuss methods to decode a chromosome into a problem solution, consisting of an assignment of jobs to batches, batches to machines and the ordering of the batches on these machines.


Algebra and Discrete Math Seminar Fall 1999-Spring 2002