Joan Lindsay Orr

Research Publications

Joan Lindsay Orr

  1. 27 On the Primitive Ideals of Nest Algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    We show that Ringrose's diagonal ideals are primitive ideals, subject to the Continuum Hypothesis, and provide examples of a range of types of primitive ideals. Separately we provide a standard presentation for left ideals in a nest algebras, and explore their properties.
    Proc. Edinburgh Math. Soc., 63 (3), 2020, 737-760
    • math
  2. 26 A New Class of Maximal Triangular Algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    We describe a new class of maximal tringular algebras on B(H) which have uniform infinite multiplicity nests.
    Proc. Edinburgh Math. Soc., 61 (4), 2018, 909-931
    • math
  3. 25 Course Builder Skill Maps
    Boris Roussev, Pavel Simakov, John Orr, Amit Deutsch, John Cox, Michael Lenaghan, Mike Gainer
    In this paper, we present a new set of features introduced in Course Builder that allow instructors to add skill maps to their courses. We show how skill maps can be used to provide up-to-date and actionable information on students' learning behavior and performance.
    Proceedings of the Third (2016) ACM Conference on Learning @ Scale, 2016, 89-92
    • edu
  4. 24 The Maximal Two-Sided Ideals of Nest Algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    We give a necessary and sufficient criterion for an operator in a nest algebra to belong to a proper two-sided ideal of that algebra. Using this result, we describe the strong radical of a nest algebra, and give a general description of the maximal two-sided ideals.
    J. Operator Theory, 73, (2), 2015, 407-416
    • math
  5. 23 The Stable Ideals of a Continuous Nest Algebra, II
    John Lindsay Orr
    The paper presents a unified description of stable ideals of a continuous nest agebra as the kernels of limits of certain diagonal compressions. This description leads to natural formulas for the quotient norm, and criteria for when two limits give rise to the same ideal. Detailed information about sums of ideals is also obtained.
    J. Operator Theory, 57 (1), 2007, 67 - 94
    • math
  6. 22 Randomized Interval Analysis Checks for the Equivalence of Mathematical Expressions
    John Lindsay Orr, Travis Fisher, Stephen Scott
    The paper presents two algorithms that use Interval Analysis to make quick and effective comparisons of mathematical expressions. The algorithms are based on random sampling and admit only one-sided error, in the sense that equivalent expressions are never judged unequal.
    Preprint, June 2000. Manuscript 12 pages.
    • math
    • edu
  7. 21 Stable Ideals of Continuous Nest Algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    The paper characterizes those closed ideals of a continuous nest algebra which are fixed by the automorphism group. This provides a framework in which to organize previously known ideals, and introduce new examples.
    J. Operator Theory, 45, (2), 2001, 377-412
    • math
  8. 20 eGrade Student Learning Guide
    John Lindsay Orr, Bradbury Franklin
    Manual on effective study skills for students using my eGrade on-line assessment system.
    (ISBN: 0471395579), John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2000
    • edu
  9. 19 On-line Assessment Using the Wiley Web-Tests
    John Lindsay Orr, William J. Lewis
    Describes our development of an on-line homework management system at the University of Nebraska.
    Focus on Calculus 16, 1999, 7-8
    • edu
  10. 18 On-line Gateway Exams in Calculus
    John Lindsay Orr, William J. Lewis
    A description of the on-line Gateway Exam system which we developed at the University of Nebraska. This was an on-line mastery-learning system to ensure core computational competency in students in Calculus I and II.
    Focus on Calculus 14, 1998, 6-7
    • edu
  11. 17 Principal Bimodules of Nest Algebras
    K. R. Davidson, John Lindsay Orr
    We study weakly closed bimodules of nest algebras, and completely characterize those which are singly generated.
    J. Functional Analysis, 157, 1998, 488-533
    • math
  12. 16 Factorization of Triangular Operators and Ideals Through the Diagonal
    John Lindsay Orr, David R. Pitts
    Let D be a fixed diagonal operator. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for an upper triangular operator X to factor through X as ADB, where A and B are upper triangular operators. This leads to a description of the ideal generated by a diagonal operator in the algebra of upper triangular operators.
    Proc. Edinburgh Math. Soc., 40, 1997, 227-241
    • math
  13. 15 Connectedness of the Invertibles in Certain Nest Algebras
    K. R. Davidson, John Lindsay Orr, D. R. Pitts
    In an earlier paper (The Invertibles are Connected in Infinite Multiplicity Nest Algebras) it was shown that the group of inveribles in a nest algebra is connected, provided the algebra has infinite multiplicity. This paper extends that result to essentially all nest algebras that do not contain a copy of the algebra of infinite upper triangular matrices. It is still unknown whether the invertible group is connected in such an algebra.
    Canadian Math. Bulletin. 38, (4), 1995, 412-420
    • math
  14. 14 Shuffling of Linear Orders
    John Lindsay Orr
    Canadian Math. Bulletin, 38, (2), 1995, 223-229
    • math
  15. 13 Some Representations of TAF Algebras
    John Lindsay Orr, Justin R. Peters
    Pacific J. Math., 167, (1), 1995, 129-161
    • math
  16. 12 The Invertibles are Connected in Infinite Multiplicity Nest Algebras
    K. R. Davidson, John Lindsay Orr
    This paper shows that the group of invertibles is connected in nest algebras with infinite multiplicity. (Infinite multiplicity in this context means that the nest has no finite rank atoms.)
    Bull. London Math. Soc., 27, 1995, 155-161
    • math
  17. 11 Triangular Algebras and Ideals of Nest Algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    This work is motivated by a construction proposed by Kadison and Singer for building new maximal triangular algebras out of nest algebras and their ideals. This leads to the study of diagonal-disjoint ideals of nest algebras. We show that Larson's ideal is the largest diagonal-disjoint ideal in any nest algebra. From this we can construct the first concrete examples of maximal triangular algebras in B(H) which are not nest algebras. These examples allow us to answer longstanding questions on the structure of maximal triangular algebras. We also introduce and classify new families of maximal triangular algebras.
    Memoirs of the Amer. Math. Soc., 562 (117), 1995.
    • math
  18. 10 Epimorphisms of Nest Algebras
    K. R. Davidson, K. Harrison, John Lindsay Orr
    We attempt a classification of the epimorphisms that can map between two nest algebras. In nearly all cases this classification is achieved. In all cases the epimorphisms are automatically continuous.
    International J. Math., 6, (5), 1995,  657-687
    • math
  19. 9 The Jacobson Radical of a CSL Algebra
    K. R. Davidson, John Lindsay Orr
    We develop a general framework to characterize the Jacobson radical of a completely distributive CSL algebra, which reduces the problem to a combinatoric problem. We solve this combinatoric problem in two dimensions, hence characterizing the Jacobson radical of width-two CSLs (both the completely distributive case, and the non CD ).
    Transactions of the Amer. Math. Soc., 334, (2), 1994, 925-947
    • math
  20. 8 The Maximal Ideals of a Nest Algebra
    John Lindsay Orr
    This paper gives a concrete description of the maximal ideals of a continuous nest algebra. The concrete form enables us to describe all ideals in the lattice of ideals generated by the maximal ideals. It is shown that this lattice contains all closed ideals which contain the ideal which is the meet of the maximal ideals. This lattice is shown to be closed under sums and products, which coincide with joins and meets of ideals.
    J. Functional Analysis, 124, (1), 1994, 119-134
    • math
  21. 7 An Estimate on the Norm of the Product of Infinite Block Operator Matrices
    John Lindsay Orr
    Using methods of infinite Ramsey theory, a lower bound is found for the quantity sup( ||XDY|| ) where X and Y are infinite block operator matrices and the supremum is taken as D ranges over all contractive block diagonal operators.
    J. Combinatorial Theory (Series A), 63, (2), 1993, 195-209
    • math
  22. 6 Representation and Refinement for Reflexive Operator Algebras with Completely Distributive Commutative Subspace Lattice
    John Lindsay Orr, S. C. Power
    Indiana U. Math. J., 40, (2), 1991, 617-638
    • math
  23. 5 On the closure of triangular algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    An example is presented of a maximal triangular subalgebra of B(H) which is not norm-closed. Variants of this example show that transitive maximal triangular subalgebras of  B(H)  and maximal triangular subalgebras of the II1 factor can also fail to be norm-closed.
    Amer. J. Math., 112, 1990, 481-497
    • math
  24. 4 Triangular algebras and ideals of nest algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    This announcement reports on the results of Triangular Algebras and Ideals of Nest Algebras and The Maximal Ideals of a Nest Algebra
    Bull. Amer. Math. Soc., 23, (2), 1990, 461-467
    • math
  25. 3 On generators of the radical of a nest algebra
    John Lindsay Orr
    Ths paper characterizes those nest algebras for which the Jacobson radical is singly generated. It is shown that the radical is singly generated if and only if it is countably generated.
    J. London Math. Soc., 40, (2), 1989, 547-562
    • math
  26. 2 A note on quasicentral approximate units in B(H)
    John Lindsay Orr
    Proc. Amer. Math. Soc., 105, (1), 1989, 149-150
    • math
  27. 1 Diagonal-disjoint ideals of nest algebras
    John Lindsay Orr
    Ph.D. Thesis, University of London, 1989
    • math