The dissertation is organized into two main parts. The first part considers fractal extension operators. Although extension operators are available for general subsets of Euclidean domains or metric spaces, our extension operator is unique in that it utilizes both the iterative nature of the fractal and finite element approximations to construct the operator. The resulting operator is especially well suited for future numerical work on domains with prefractal boundaries. In the dissertation we prove the existence of a linear extension operator, Π from the space of Hölder continuous functions on a fractal set S to the space of Hölder continuous functions on a larger domain Ω. Moreover this same extension operator maps functions of finite energy on the fractal to H1 functions on the larger domain Ω. In the second part, we consider boundary value problems in domains with fractal boundaries. First we consider the Sierpinski prefractal and how we might apply the technique of singular homogenization to thin layers constructed on the prefractal. We will also discuss numerical approximation in domains with fractal boundaries and introduce a finite element mesh developed for studying problems in domains with prefractal Koch boundaries. This mesh exploits the self-similarity of the Koch curve for arbitrary rational values of α and its construction is crucial for future numerical study of problems in domains with prefractal Koch curve boundaries. We also show a technique for mesh refinement so that singularities in the domain can be handled and present sample numerical results for the transmission problem.

The purpose of this paper is to construct sets, measures and energy forms of certain mixed nested fractals which are spatially homogeneous but not strictly self-similar. We start with the constructions of regular nested fractals, such as Sierpinski gaskets and Koch curves, by employing the iterated map system. Then we show that under the open set condition, the unique invariant (self-similar) measure consists with the normalized Hausdorff measure ristricted on the invariant set. The energy forms construced on regular Sierpinski gaskets and Koch curves is also proved to be a closed form. Next, we use the similar idea, by extending the iterated maps system into a general case, to construct the mixture sets, as well as measures and energy forms. It can be seen that the elements so constructed will not have any strict self-similarity, but them indeed satisfy some weak self-similar properties.

Quantum walks are the quantum mechanical analogue of classical random walks. Discrete-time quantum walks have been introduced and studied mostly on the line Z or higher dimensional space Z d but rarely defined on graphs with fractal dimensions because the coin operator depends on the position and the Fourier transform on the fractals is not defined. Inspired by its nature of classical walks, different quantum walks will be defined by choosing different shift and coin operators. When the coin operator is uniform, the results of classical walks will be obtained upon measurement at each step. Moreover, with measurement at each step, our results reveal more information about the classical random walks. In this dissertation, two graphs with fractal dimensions will be considered. The first one is Sierpinski gasket, a degree-4 regular graph with Hausdorff di- mension of df = ln 3/ ln 2. The second is the Cantor graph derived like Cantor set, with Hausdorff dimension of df = ln 2/ ln 3. The definitions and amplitude functions of the quantum walks will be introduced. The main part of this dissertation is to derive a recursive formula to compute the amplitude Green function. The exiting probability will be computed and compared with the classical results. When the generation of graphs goes to infinity, the recursion of the walks will be investigated and the convergence rates will be obtained and compared with the classical counterparts. / Mathematics

The dissertation consists of two parts. The first part (Chapter 1 to 4) is on some contributions to the development of a non-linear analysis on the quintessential fractal set Sierpinski gasket and its probabilistic interpretation. The second part (Chapter 5) is on the asymptotic tail decays for suprema of stochastic processes satisfying certain conditional increment controls. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are devoted to the establishment of a theory of backward problems for non-linear stochastic differential equations on the gasket, and to derive a probabilistic representation to some parabolic type partial differential equations on the gasket. In Chapter 2, using the theory of Markov processes, we derive the existence and uniqueness of solutions to backward stochastic differential equations driven by Brownian motion on the Sierpinski gasket, for which the major technical difficulty is the exponential integrability of quadratic processes of martingale additive functionals. A Feynman-Kac type representation is obtained as an application. In Chapter 3, we study the stochastic optimal control problems for which the system uncertainties come from Brownian motion on the gasket, and derive a stochastic maximum principle. It turns out that the necessary condition for optimal control problems on the gasket consists of two equations, in contrast to the classical result on ℝ^d, where the necessary condition is given by a single equation. The materials in Chapter 2 are based on a joint work with Zhongmin Qian (referenced in Chapter 2). Chapter 4 is devoted to the analytic study of some parabolic PDEs on the gasket. Using a new type of Sobolev inequality which involves singular measures developed in Section 4.2, we establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions to these PDEs, and derive the space-time regularity for solutions. As an interesting application of the results in Chapter 4 and the probabilistic representation developed in Chapter 2, we further study Burgers equations on the gasket, to which the space-time regularity for solutions is deduced. The materials in Chapter 4 are based on a joint work with Zhongmin Qian (referenced in Chapter 4). In Chapter 5, we consider a class of continuous stochastic processes which satisfy the conditional increment control condition. Typical examples include continuous martingales, fractional Brownian motions, and diffusions governed by SDEs. For such processes, we establish a Doob type maximal inequality. Under additional assumptions on the tail decays of their marginal distributions, we derive an estimate for the tail decay of the suprema (Theorem 5.3.2), which states that the suprema decays in a manner similar to the margins of the processes. In Section 5.4, as an application of Theorem 5.3.2, we derive the existence of strong solutions to a class of SDEs. The materials in this chapter is based on the work [44] by the author (Section 5.2 and Section 5.3) and an ongoing joint project with Guangyu Xi (Section 5.4).

<p>In 1989 Jun Kigami made an analytic construction of a Laplacian on the Sierpiński gasket, a construction that he extended to post critically finite fractals. Since then, this field has evolved into a proper theory of analysis on fractals. The new results obtained in this thesis are all in the setting of Kigami's theory. They are presented in three papers.</p><p>Strichartz recently showed that there are first order linear differential equations, based on the Laplacian, that are not solvable on the Sierpiński gasket. In the first paper we give a characterization on the polynomial p so that the differential equation p(Δ)u=f is solvable on any open subset of the Sierpiński gasket for any f continuous on that subset. For general p we find the open subsets on which p(Δ)u=f is solvable for any continuous f.</p><p>In the second paper we describe the infinitesimal geometric behavior of a large class of smooth functions on the Sierpiński gasket in terms of the limit distribution of their local eccentricity, a generalized direction of gradient. The distribution of eccentricities is codified as an infinite dimensional perturbation problem for a suitable iterated function system, which has the limit distribution as an invariant measure. We extend results for harmonic functions found by Öberg, Strichartz and Yingst to larger classes of functions.</p><p>In the third paper we define and study intrinsic first order derivatives on post critically finite fractals and prove differentiability almost everywhere for certain classes of fractals and functions. We apply our results to extend the geography is destiny principle, and also obtain results on the pointwise behavior of local eccentricities. Our main tool is the Furstenberg-Kesten theory of products of random matrices.</p>

In 1989 Jun Kigami made an analytic construction of a Laplacian on the Sierpiński gasket, a construction that he extended to post critically finite fractals. Since then, this field has evolved into a proper theory of analysis on fractals. The new results obtained in this thesis are all in the setting of Kigami's theory. They are presented in three papers. Strichartz recently showed that there are first order linear differential equations, based on the Laplacian, that are not solvable on the Sierpiński gasket. In the first paper we give a characterization on the polynomial p so that the differential equation p(Δ)u=f is solvable on any open subset of the Sierpiński gasket for any f continuous on that subset. For general p we find the open subsets on which p(Δ)u=f is solvable for any continuous f. In the second paper we describe the infinitesimal geometric behavior of a large class of smooth functions on the Sierpiński gasket in terms of the limit distribution of their local eccentricity, a generalized direction of gradient. The distribution of eccentricities is codified as an infinite dimensional perturbation problem for a suitable iterated function system, which has the limit distribution as an invariant measure. We extend results for harmonic functions found by Öberg, Strichartz and Yingst to larger classes of functions. In the third paper we define and study intrinsic first order derivatives on post critically finite fractals and prove differentiability almost everywhere for certain classes of fractals and functions. We apply our results to extend the geography is destiny principle, and also obtain results on the pointwise behavior of local eccentricities. Our main tool is the Furstenberg-Kesten theory of products of random matrices.

<p>Fractal analysis is an important tool when we need to study geometrical objects less regular than ordinary ones, e.g. a set with a non-integer dimension value. It has developed intensively over the last 30 years which gives a hint to its young age as a branch within mathematics.</p><p>In this thesis we take a look at some basic measure theory needed to introduce certain definitions of fractal dimensions, which can be used to measure a set's fractal degree. Comparisons of these definitions are done and we investigate when they coincide. With these tools different fractals are studied and compared.</p><p>A key idea in this thesis has been to sum up different names and definitions referring to similar concepts.</p>

Fractal analysis is an important tool when we need to study geometrical objects less regular than ordinary ones, e.g. a set with a non-integer dimension value. It has developed intensively over the last 30 years which gives a hint to its young age as a branch within mathematics. In this thesis we take a look at some basic measure theory needed to introduce certain definitions of fractal dimensions, which can be used to measure a set's fractal degree. Comparisons of these definitions are done and we investigate when they coincide. With these tools different fractals are studied and compared. A key idea in this thesis has been to sum up different names and definitions referring to similar concepts.