Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar

Speaker: Mayuko Yamashita, Kyoto University

Title: Topological Modular Forms, its equivariant refinements and relation with supersymmetric quantum field theories

Abstract: This talk is about the Segal-Stolz-Teichner program, which is one of the most deep and interesting topics relating homotopy theory and physics. Mathematically, they propose a geometric model of TMF, the spectrum (in homotopy theory) of Topological Modular Forms, in terms of supersymmetric quantum field theories. Their proposal, although far from solid formulation or a proof, has been a guiding principle leading us to many new interesting ideas and discoveries in both mathematics and physics. In this talk, I will give an overview of this topic, as well as my current works using equivariant twisted TMF.