Colloquium

Speaker: Andrey Smirnov, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Title: Quantum K-theory at roots of unity

Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss a version of quantum K-theory introduced by A.Okounkov, which can be defined through quasimap counts. In this framework, the quantum K-theory ring is obtained as a specialization of the equivariant quasimap count at $q=1$, where $q$ is the equivariant parameter associated with the torus action on the source of the quasimaps. A related, but less explored, structure emerges when $q$ is specialized at the roots of unity. I will outline the key ideas behind this construction and its implications. As an application, I’ll also describe the spectrum of $p$-curvature for the quantum connection, which offers a new proof of a recent result by P.Etingof and A.Varchenko. This talk is based on joint work with P. Koroteev.