We prove a rigidity theorem in Poisson geometry around compact Poisson submanifolds, using the Nash–Moser fast convergence method. In the case of one-point submanifolds (fixed points), this implies a stronger version of Conn’s linearization theorem [2], also proving that Conn’s theorem is a manifestation of a rigidity phenomenon; similarly, in the case of arbitrary symplectic leaves, it gives a stronger version of the local normal form theorem [7]. We can also use the rigidity theorem to compute the Poisson moduli space of the sphere in the dual of a compact semisimple Lie algebra [17].

Wehrl used Glauber coherent states to define a map from quantum density matrices to classical phase space densities and conjectured that for Glauber coherent states the mininimum classical entropy would occur for density matrices equal to projectors onto coherent states. This was proved by Lieb in 1978 who also extended the conjecture to Bloch SU(2) spin-coherent states for every angular momentum$J$. This conjecture is proved here. We also recall our 1991 extension of the Wehrl map to a quantum channel from J to $${K=J+\frac{1}{2}, J+1, ... ,}$$ with $${K=\infty}$$ corresponding to the Wehrl map to classical densities. These channels were later recognized as the optimal quantum cloning channels. For each$J$and $${J < K \leqslant \infty}$$ we show that the minimal output entropy for the channels occurs for a J coherent state. We also show that coherent states both Glauber and Bloch minimize any concave functional, not just entropy.

We prove uniqueness of ground state solutions$Q$=$Q$(|$x$|) ≥ 0 of the non-linear equation $$(-\Delta)^s Q+Q-Q^{\alpha+1}= 0 \quad {\rm in} \, \mathbb{R},$$ where 0 <$s$< 1 and 0 <$α$< 4$s$/(1−2$s$) for $${s<\frac{1}{2}}$$ and 0 <$α$<$∞$for $${s\geq \frac{1}{2}}$$ . Here (−Δ)^{$s$}denotes the fractional Laplacian in one dimension. In particular, we answer affirmatively an open question recently raised by Kenig–Martel–Robbiano and we generalize (by completely different techniques) the specific uniqueness result obtained by Amick and Toland for $${s=\frac{1}{2}}$$ and$α$= 1 in [5] for the Benjamin–Ono equation.

In a recent important breakthrough D. Christodoulou has solved a long standing problem of General Relativity of evolutionary formation of trapped surfaces in the Einstein-vacuum space-times. He has identified an open set of regular initial conditions on an outgoing null hypersurface (both finite and at past null infinity) leading to a formation a trapped surface in the corresponding vacuum space-time to the future of the initial outgoing hypersurface and another incoming null hypersurface with the prescribed Minkowskian data. In this paper we give a simpler proof for a finite problem by enlarging the admissible set of initial conditions and, consistent with this, relaxing the corresponding propagation estimates just enough that a trapped surface still forms. We also reduce the number of derivatives needed in the argument from two derivatives of the curvature to just one. More importantly, the proof, which can be easily localized with respect to angular sectors, has the potential for further developments.

Durhuus and Jonsson (1995) introduced the class of “locally constructible” (LC) 3-spheres and showed that there are only exponentially many combinatorial types of simplicial LC 3-spheres. Such upper bounds are crucial for the convergence of models for 3D quantum gravity.