Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2602.05753

Uniqueness of the Canonical Reciprocal Cost

Jonathan Washburn·Milan Zlatanović
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We study a rigidity problem for functions \(F:\R_{>0}\to\R_{\ge 0}\) that penalize deviation of a positive ratio from equilibrium \(x=1\). Assuming (i) a d'Alembert-type composition law on \(\R_{>0}\), and (ii) a single quadratic calibration at the identity (in logarithmic coordinates), we prove that \(F\) is uniquely determined. The composition law implies the normalization $F(1)=0.$ The unique solution is called the canonical reciprocal cost, namely the difference between the arithmetic and geometric means of \(x\) and its reciprocal. Our proof uses the logarithmic coordinates \(H(t)=F(e^t)+1\), where the composition law becomes d'Alembert's functional equation on \(\R\). The calibration provides the minimal regularity needed to invoke the classical classification of continuous solutions and fixes the remaining scaling freedom, selecting the hyperbolic-cosine branch. We also establish necessity of each assumption: without calibration the composition law admits a continuous one-parameter family, without the composition law the calibration does not determine the global form, and without regularity the composition law admits pathological non-measurable solutions. Finally, we establish a stability estimate for approximate solutions under bounded defect and characterize some properties of the canonical cost.

Explore related subjects

math.CA

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Jonathan Washburn, Milan Zlatanović. 2026-03-05. Uniqueness of the Canonical Reciprocal Cost. https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.05753

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

On the prime field spherical restriction conjecture in four dimensions: breaking the Stein-Tomas exponent and applications

Let $p$ be an odd prime. We prove the extension estimate $R_{S_j}^*(2\to r)\lesssim_r 1$ for every nonzero-radius sphere $S_j\subseteq\mathbb{F}_p^4$ and every $r\geq \, 34/11$, uniformly in $p$ and $j$. This improves the Stein--Tomas exponent $10/3$ established by Iosevich and Koh (2008). We also formulate a localized spherical restriction/extension conjecture that predicts the sharp dependence of the restriction norm on the size of the physical support. This conjecture implies the spherical extension estimates $R_{S_j}^*(2\to r)\lesssim_r 1$ for every $r>3$, and yields almost-every-pin distance estimates at the conjectured Erdős--Falconer exponent in four dimensions, up to an arbitrarily small power loss in the set-size hypothesis. Using the same method, we improve the bounds supplied by Fourier decay and Plancherel at intermediate support scales and derive new almost-every-pin distance estimates in $\mathbb{F}_p^4$.

math.CA↗
arXiv2026

Dimension-free estimates for discrete maximal functions over cubes in $\mathbb Z^d$

In this short note, we establish dimension-free $\ell^p(\mathbb Z^d)$ bounds, for all $p\in(1,\infty]$, for the discrete Hardy--Littlewood maximal functions associated with cubes in $\mathbb Z^d$, answering a question that had been open for a while. The key idea is to prove dimension-free bounds for the $\ell^p(\mathbb Z^d)$ norms of the differences of the corresponding averages. This follows from an ad hoc interpretation of the associated discrete multipliers as a special continuous family of multipliers to which basic fractional integration and complex interpolation can be applied. The same method also yields an elementary proof of Bourgain's dimension-free $L^p(\mathbb R^d)$ bounds for the Hardy--Littlewood maximal function associated with cubes in $\mathbb R^d$.

math.CA↗
arXiv2026

Establishing the Polynomial Wolff Axioms for $δ$-Separated $δ$-Tubes With #o-minimality

We establish the full version of a conjecture of Guth and Zahl, giving a lower bound for the volume of a semialgebraic set that has a large intersection with a collection of $δ$-separated $δ$-tubes. Our proof uses o-minimal methods to simplify the proof of Katz and Rogers, who proved the conjecture up to a small factor. We also establish that the constants depend polynomially on the complexity of the semialgebraic set, and more generally in the #o-minimal setting.

math.CA↗